Chapter 150 Death of Consort Yu

Chapter 150: Consort Yu's Demise

The Trail Goes Cold

"Consort Yu?" Shen Huai frowned, his voice icy. "She is currently under palace-imposed seclusion, with no visitors allowed. How could she instruct Deposed Lady Jiang? Moreover, Consort Yu and Deposed Lady Jiang had no prior connection—how could they be linked?"

"And the cold palace is guarded day and night. How did Deposed Lady Jiang escape? These useless guards will pay dearly for this!"

Cai Shan bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, after the incident last night, I launched an investigation."

"The cold palace is sparsely staffed, and with the New Year’s Eve banquet, only half the guards remained. The bitter cold drove them to drink heavily, and they fell asleep. Once they did, Deposed Lady Jiang took her chance and fled."

He raised his head slightly, speaking respectfully, "The guards' drunkenness allowed her to slip out. But what struck me as odd was how Deposed Lady Jiang knew exactly where Consort Zhen would be. It was too much of a coincidence, so I interrogated the negligent guards. They claimed someone came bearing Your Majesty’s decree, telling them to drink for warmth—hence why they dared to indulge."

"Having attended Your Majesty all evening, I knew no such decree existed. Someone must have forged it and leaked information to Deposed Lady Jiang, framing Consort Zhen."

Cai Shan glanced at Su Jiaojiao and continued softly but logically, "I recall Deposed Lady Jiang was sent to the cold palace for plotting against Consort Zhen before. Her motive to harm her now makes sense. As for Consort Yu, she has always resented Consort Zhen, and their feud is no secret. Superficially, it adds up."

Shen Huai’s displeasure deepened. "How did Consort Yu bribe outsiders? How did she even know about Deposed Lady Jiang’s grudge against Consort Zhen? This reeks of deeper corruption!"

Cai Shan bowed in agreement, then hesitantly added, "The palace maid who delivered the false decree has been captured. A bracelet belonging to Consort Yu was found in her quarters, and under interrogation, she broke. She claimed Consort Yu’s maid, Lvwan, dangled a fortune if she helped release someone from the cold palace."

At this, Su Jiaojiao’s tears turned to ice in her eyes. Her voice was cold. "Everyone knows forging an imperial decree is punishable by death. She’d never gamble her life unless someone assured her the decree was genuine—just needing a little something added to the wine."

"And," she added, her hatred surging at the memory of last night, "Noble Consort Lan had a traitor among her attendants. If not for that, I wouldn’t have been carefully lured to the Hidden Fragrance Pavilion."

Though all evidence pointed to Consort Yu, the holes in the story were obvious.

Moreover, Stripped of her allies except for Lvwan, how could she orchestrate such a scheme?

Su Jiaojiao knew without doubt—in this harem, only the Empress had both the motive and cunning to want her dead.

If not the Empress, who else could have freed Deposed Lady Jiang and meticulously led Su Jiaojiao to the pavilion?

If not for this, she wouldn’t have lost Yu Ye.

Consort Yu, the Empress—they’ll pay with their lives!

Shen Huai glanced at Su Jiaojiao’s agitated expression and knew the matter wasn’t so simple. He ordered coldly, "Bring Consort Yu for questioning. Detain everyone involved."

Cai Shan hurriedly obeyed and left. Only then did Shen Huai’s stern expression soften slightly.

He looked at Su Jiaojiao, his tone gentler. "Jiaojiao, trust me. I will give you justice."

As he reached out to adjust her slipping blanket, she coldly swatted his hand away, her brows furrowed as if repulsed. "Don’t touch me!"

The palace servants witnessing this tensed, bowing their heads even lower.

None could have imagined the formerly docile Consort Zhen would change so drastically after the incident, defying the Emperor himself.

And yet… the Emperor didn’t seem angered. Instead, he spoke to her gently, as if handling fractured glass.

Those who had long served by his side had always known of his deep favor toward Consort Zhen—showering her with every luxury and unparalleled honor.

Yet despite such extreme favor, it remained within the bounds of imperial affection. In the past, the Emperor had treated Consort Mi and even later the Empress similarly, though to varying degrees.

But today was unprecedented—the aloof, inscrutable Emperor, whom all regarded with distant reverence, had humbled himself so deeply before a woman of the inner court.

Since ancient times, the majesty of an emperor was inviolable. Yet now, it seemed Consort Zhen had truly captured His Majesty’s heart—perhaps even surpassing the Empress herself.

Soon, a palace maid serving in the imperial presence entered with a bowl of tonic brew for Su Jiaojiao. She curtsied and said softly, "Your Majesty, the tonic for the Lady is ready, at the perfect temperature."

Shen Huai glanced over and beckoned, "Bring it here."

He took the bowl himself, lifting a spoonful to Su Jiaojiao’s lips, softly coaxing her, "Jiaojiao, drink your medicine."

But Su Jiaojiao shifted away, unwilling to let him near. She gave him a cool, distant look and said, "I have a request."

Shen Huai paused, taken aback by her timing. But guilt already weighed on him, and she had only just cheated death. As long as she recovered, what was one request? Even a hundred would be granted.

He sighed softly, gazing at her intently. "Speak."

Su Jiaojiao took the bowl from his hands and downed it in one swallow, as if the bitterness meant nothing. Staring at the black residue at the bottom, her voice carried an ineffable sorrow. "Aside from the honorary adoption into the Su family, I want Yu Ye to be buried with full honors and enshrined in the Su ancestral hall. Then, summon monks to the palace to perform prayer rites for her soul for three days."

Prayer rites had always been reserved for royal nobility—never before for a mere maid.

But Yu Ye had been precious to Su Jiaojiao, and with the honorary adoption, it wouldn’t be unreasonable for Consort Zhen to pray for her "sister" in the palace. After brief consideration, Shen Huai said, "You have my word."

With that promise, Su Jiaojiao averted her eyes coldly, unwilling to speak another word.

Though the Emperor bore no direct blame for Yu Ye’s death—the fault lay solely with the Empress—what harem conflict didn’t trace back to him?

Now that Yu Ye had fallen victim to the palace’s schemes, how could Su Jiaojiao not direct her hatred and fury at the Emperor?

Recalling all that had transpired these past months, her heart held only disappointment and resentment for him—none of the fleeting tenderness from their private moments before.

A chilly silence settled between them.

Though Shen Huai wished she would speak to him, he didn’t dare push, fearing to upset her and worsen her health. So he let her be.

Moreover, he was still pondering the incident of her fall into the water.

Even if Consort Yu were truly behind it, she might not be the mastermind.

Having known Xu Qingwu for years, Shen Huai believed he understood her somewhat.

She was spoiled, prideful, and quick to anger—but not inherently wicked. Never before had she actively schemed to harm others.

Why would she choose the height of the New Year’s banquet to go through such elaborate lengths, using Deposed Lady Jiang?

Someone behind the scenes must have woven this web, connecting every thread before manipulating Xu Qingwu’s hand to kill Su Jiaojiao.

Perhaps even the lily fragrance poisoning had been Xu Qingwu’s doing under this person’s instigation.

That someone in his harem could be so cunning and audacious was utterly shocking.

Before long, Cai Shan hurried in from outside.

He strode swiftly to the Emperor and exclaimed in shock, "Your Majesty, Consort Yu... is dead."