Chapter 113: Dust Settles

Chapter 113: Dust Settles

"Your Majesty, do you doubt me?"

As it happened, the entourage brought to the Summer Retreat was minimal and practical, yet both Eunuch Chen and Zi Ling were present—undoubtedly deliberate.

If Yin Shihuai had truly acted alone, why would Zi Ling, someone who carried out such unsavory tasks for her, be constantly by her side? She should have been left in the Rear Palace to gain time in case the plot was exposed, allowing her to be dealt with upon their return.

Time could erase too many traces. Even the most infuriating matters would fade with the passing days.

Though he now felt grief and pity witnessing Talent Lady Yu's loss, he might not have the same inclination to seek redress later.

These rouge compacts first implicated the Inner Servants Bureau, then Noble Consort Mi's trusted confidant—the trail was too obvious, making Yin Shihuai's involvement seem less likely.

Her temperament was neither steady nor meticulous. As one of the Four Consorts wielding sole authority over the Rear Palace, she had drawn discontent from both the court and the inner chambers. There were surely no lack of envious rivals.

Those who could bring down Yin Shihuai through Talent Lady Yu's misfortune while benefiting from it were likely those in high positions who disliked her.

Shen Huai pondered briefly, only to realize Yin Shihuai's arrogance had made her enemies everywhere in the palace. Aside from Noble Consort Zhen, scarcely anyone held her in favor.

With Talent Lady Yu losing her child now, the Empress still unwell and far in the Rear Palace, the only ones capable of overseeing palace affairs were Noble Consort Wang, Concubine Lian, and...

Su Jiaojiao.

Shen Huai cast her a fleeting glance before lowering his gaze, reluctant to linger on her visage.

She was close to Noble Consort Mi and had no reason to do such a thing. Noble Consort Wang had long been occupied with Shen Nanzhou and rarely involved herself in affairs. As for Xu Qingwu—

That was more ambiguous.

If they sought the mastermind through motive alone, they had reached an impasse.

Noble Consort Wang and Xu Qingwu were both likely and unlikely culprits. Yet in the end, the truth was never the most important thing.

Even as a prince, he had witnessed countless schemes and deceptions.

The Imperial Consorts employed endless tricks to vie for favor and power, weaving intricate tapestries of truth and deception where one misstep could unravel everything.

The internal justice of the Rear Palace paled in comparison to the stability of the realm.

Zi Ling was in Noble Consort Mi's Jade Linglong Pavilion. Before long, a purple-clad palace maid was escorted in. Her expression was preternaturally composed, and despite being restrained, she appeared far less disheveled than Eunuch Chen had upon arrival.

A guard struck behind her knees with the flat of his sword, forcing her to kneel before His Majesty.

Zi Ling had long served by Noble Consort Mi's side. Shen Huai, having once favored her, naturally remembered her. She was quiet and composed, standing out in Crimson Cloud Hall for her efficiency, earning Noble Consort Mi's trust.

That such a maid would betray her mistress was a plain demonstration that appearances could be deceiving.

Seeing Zi Ling brought in, Talent Lady Yu turned her head and asked in a trembling voice, "Eunuch Chen, now that Zi Ling is here, look carefully—was she the one who delivered those things to you?"

Eunuch Chen, kneeling at the Emperor's feet, stole a glance before quickly averting his eyes. Raising his arms high, he prostrated himself and pleaded, "Your Majesty, it was indeed Zi Ling! She was the one who delivered those items to this humble servant. The eunuchs outside and I saw it clearly—there’s no mistake!"

Shen Huai gazed down upon Zi Ling. "Is this true?"

Zi Ling composed her hands demurely and knelt upright before him, lowering her gaze as she replied calmly, "Your Majesty, it was indeed this humble servant who did it."

Unsurprised, he pressed on, "Who ordered you to do it?"

The moment the words left his lips, the hall fell into profound silence—so quiet one could hear a drop of water.

Zi Ling was silent for a moment before saying, "No one ordered me to do this."

Su Jiaojiao watched her impassively as Talent Lady Yu burst into tears, crying, "You're just a mere palace maid! What grudge could you possibly hold against me? Where did you get this poison, and why would you want to harm me? If you claim no one instructed you, how can I believe you? What a loyal servant, shielding your master at all costs..."

Shen Huai's expression remained unchanged as he fixed his gaze on Zi Ling and said, "Deceiving the emperor, poisoning an imperial consort, and plotting against the imperial heir—these are crimes punishable by the execution of your nine familial generations. If you speak the truth, I may show leniency."

Yet Zi Ling merely flickered her eyes briefly and replied calmly, "I alone am responsible for my actions. Your Majesty may punish or execute me as you see fit—I have nothing more to say."

Seeing this, the last shred of hope in Su Jiaojiao's heart was extinguished.

Had Zi Ling immediately admitted her guilt and blamed Noble Consort Mi to save herself, it would have been too obvious, leaving room for persuasion.

But now, she fully accepted responsibility, stubbornly refusing to implicate Noble Consort Mi, playing the perfect loyal servant, revealing nothing.

The more she acted this way, the heavier the suspicion weighed on Noble Consort Mi.

Seeing Zi Ling's defiance, Shen Huai lost interest in further questioning and simply wished to conclude the matter swiftly. He said coldly, "Take Zi Ling away and interrogate her thoroughly until she speaks the truth."

As Zi Ling was dragged away, Eunuch Chen shrank back in fear, kowtowing frantically to the emperor and pleading, "Your Majesty, please see clearly! It was Zi Ling who delivered the rouge under Noble Consort Mi's name—this humble servant knew nothing! I only carried out orders from the noble consort! I am innocent! Please spare me, Your Majesty, in recognition of my loyalty!"

Shu Jieyu glanced at him coolly and remarked, "His Majesty's wisdom will discern right from wrong. Why must you so desperately plead for absolution, Eunuch Chen? It only makes you seem guilty."

Shen Huai kicked him away and ordered coldly, "Lock them up and await judgment."

Several palace servants were dragged into the darkness by the guards. Su Jiaojiao glanced back—the night was thick, so dark no shapes could be discerned, as if those taken away had not been led elsewhere but swallowed whole by an unfathomable, viscous swamp, disappearing without a trace.

Talent Lady Yu wiped her tears with a handkerchief, sobbing softly, while Ting Qing whispered beside her, "My lady, please don't cry. You've just suffered a miscarriage—if you strain your eyes from crying, what then? His Majesty has already ordered a thorough investigation. Justice will surely be served."

Shen Huai scanned the room, where a crowd of people stood or knelt in disorder, irritating him. Since Zi Ling was already under interrogation, there was no need to keep everyone confined in Qilixiang.

He no longer looked at the women in the room, instead turning his eyes outside and issuing a cold command: "Until Zi Ling's interrogation yields results, Qilixiang and Yulinglong are to be placed under house arrest. No one enters or leaves. Judgment will be passed once the truth is uncovered."

Noble Consort Mi abruptly lifted her eyes to Shen Huai, disbelief in her voice as she asked, "Yulinglong confined? Your Majesty... you don't trust me?"

Shen Huai replied indifferently, "Your guilt remains unproven. This is for the sake of fairness in the imperial harem."

From the bed, Talent Lady Yu lowered her eyes meekly and said softly, "Even my Qilixiang is under house arrest—clearly, His Majesty wishes to prevent further mishaps. If everyone in the harem simply demands His Majesty's trust, where would fairness and truth lie? In the end, evidence must speak for itself."

"Zi Ling is Your Highness's trusted confidante, and she used items from your palace to harm the child in my womb. Whether she admits it or not, Your Highness cannot escape blame for failing to discipline your subordinates. Yet His Majesty has only ordered confinement. What is there to resent?"

Noble Consort Mi burned with anger but could do nothing, for Talent Lady Yu's words held truth.

Zi Ling was her palace maid, and it was rouge from her storeroom that had caused Talent Lady Yu to miscarry. Regardless of the outcome, her negligence in managing her subordinates and her role in the loss of an imperial heir were undeniable facts.

Earlier, before the emperor, Zi Ling had admitted to the deed but refused to name her as the instigator. Did Zi Ling have some unspoken reason?

But that couldn't be right. If she truly hadn't wanted this scandal to taint Noble Consort Mi, she wouldn't have stolen the rouge from the storeroom in the first place. Her actions were clearly meant to trap Noble Consort Mi in a position of cruelty and injustice. And now, before the emperor, she played the role of unwavering loyalty—for whose benefit?

What was her goal?

This entire affair had been orchestrated against her from the start, each step meticulously planned to corner her in a hopeless situation. She knew there were still many details to scrutinize, but events had unfolded too quickly—too many unanswered questions remained.

What truly disappointed her was that, even with all this mounting evidence pointing at her, the emperor should never have believed such baseless accusations.

To think that she would order Zi Ling to take rouge from her own storeroom and use it to harm Talent Lady Yu's unborn child—how absurd! How could the emperor believe it? Why would he?

She had once thought the emperor merely fickle, his affections as changeable as the wind among the women of the harem. After her own miscarriage, she had realized her own foolishness and given up longing for the emperor's favor.

Yet, he was still someone she had once loved. A thread of affection and a sliver of hope lingered in her heart—that even without unique devotion, the four years they had shared, their shared trust and understanding, still counted for something.

Not until today did she realize that even these scraps of affection were due to her own naive foolishness—nothing but her one-sided fantasy.

If four years of her adoration and devoted service couldn’t earn His Majesty's trust in her character, then what could?

Everything she had firmly believed in was nothing but her own delusion.

Noble Consort Mi looked at His Majesty and suddenly reeled backward, only prevented from falling by Yu Ling's quick support.

Seemingly oblivious, she stared blankly at His Majesty. Everything around her seemed to blur, fading into wavering light like disturbed water beyond her vision.

Yes, four years—how fleeting as moonbeams on water.

The ridiculous one was herself.

Utterly disappointed, the ever-proud Noble Consort Mi, with her eyes grown red, bit her lip hard to hold back tears, and said coldly, "Your servant offers no objection."

Su Jiaojiao shot a conflicted look at Noble Consort Mi but knew nothing could be said now. She merely curtsied to bid His Majesty farewell.

The summer night breeze, cool and faint, swept into the room, snuffing out two candles in silence. The flickering shadows deepened the desolation.

By the next evening, after enduring nearly a full day and night of torture, Zi Ling, at death's door, finally confessed that it was Noble Consort Mi who had given the orders.

In Qilixiang, faced with irrefutable evidence, His Majesty’s decision finally brought this tempest to a close.

Noble Consort Mi was demoted to Consort Mi, relieved of her duties overseeing the six palaces.

Placed in confinement at Yulinglong, she was to return to the palace with the imperial entourage and remain under house arrest in Jiangyun Hall, forbidden to leave without summons.

Talent Lady Yu was promoted to Beauty Yu as consolation.

For crimes as grave as conspiring against imperial consorts, harming the imperial heir, and failing to discipline her subordinates, the punishment should have been confinement in the Cold Palace or even execution.

Yet His Majesty only demoted her to Consort Mi, retaining her status as a principal consort.

Apart from considering Consort Mi’s family background, Su Jiaojiao suspected that His Majesty might have also sensed the complexity behind the matter.

But with evidence undeniable, failing to act would only disillusion everyone.

Though the confinement and loss of authority dealt a heavy blow, sparing Consort Mi’s life was a silver lining.

The only unexpected twist was that while the Empress was still convalescing and Noble Consort Wang was occupied with caring for the eldest prince, and while Su Jiaojiao herself was too closely associated with Consort Mi to avoid suspicion, Concubine Lian, best positioned to administer the six palaces, was not granted the honor.

Instead, His Majesty elevated Shu Jieyu to Noble Consort Shu, commending her virtuous temperament, judging her most fit to manage inner palace matters during the Empress’s convalescence.