Chapter 63: Jiang Cai Nu, do you have anything to say? [One + two updates]

Chapter 63: Jiang Cai Nu, Do You Have Anything to Say? (Part 1 & 2)

Jiang Yunran walked alongside Wei Shangjian.

The vermilion palace walls swept past them, like a fleeting afterimage in the sunset’s glow, quickly dissolving into the deep night.

Wei Shangjian walked briskly, entirely disregarding Jiang Yunran’s pace. It wasn’t until he rounded the Zhōngsī Gate that he noticed the silence behind him.

Wei Shangjian’s expression soured. He paused, turning to cast a glance back.

He saw Jiang Yunran, leisurely strolling, her hand resting on Qing Dai’s arm.

The palace staff on either side bowed as she passed. Some of the younger, less worldly ones even wore expressions of envy.

This Jiang Cai Nu, recently rising in prominence, was indeed exceptionally beautiful.

Even in simple, everyday attire, she was a vision of breathtaking beauty and grace, her radiant face luminous in the palace alley.

Anyone passing by at that moment would be compelled to look at her.

Beauty is innate, but grace is cultivated.

It takes years of nurturing to bloom like mutton-fat jade. Yet, this Cai Nu, born of common stock, showed no trace of timidity or vulgarity.

Like the other consorts, she carried herself with poise, elegance, and dignity.

Wei Shangjian’s eyes darkened, and he increasingly felt she was a thorny problem.

Taking a deep breath, Wei Shangjian said calmly, "My lady, please hasten. Her Highness is unwell and cannot wait much longer for you."

His words were exceedingly polite, yet his attitude was entirely different. The passing palace staff, witnessing the scene, quickened their steps, eager to avoid the brewing conflict, all secretly fearful.

Was Virtuous Consort Xu about to discipline Jiang Cai Nu?

No one in the palace dared to offend Virtuous Consort Xu. She was willful, reckless, and, more importantly, she had been born into the Household of Earl Zhongyi—blessed by birth.

Jiang Yunran sighed inwardly. It seemed stalling was no longer an option.

She replied, "I understand."

By the time the two hurried to Lingxin Palace, many unfamiliar faces had gathered outside.

Jiang Yunran quickly scanned the crowd, realizing she recognized none of the matrons or palace women, guessing that Empress Dowager Renhui had already arrived.

Sure enough, Wei Shangjian first politely greeted two matrons before leading Jiang Yunran directly to the main hall.

This was Jiang Yunran’s first visit to Lingxin Palace.

With no time to look around, she followed Wei Shangjian quickly into Lingxin Palace’s main hall.

As soon as she entered, a pungent, mingled scent assailed her.

Jiang Yunran didn’t even frown. After a swift glance, she knelt directly on the cushion below the hall.

"I pay my respects to Empress Dowager, Imperial Dowager Consort, Noble Consort Yao, and Virtuous Consort. May Your Ladyships enjoy endless fortune and peace."

After paying her respects, she straightened up, her demeanor respectful and courteous, yet without being overly submissive or timid.

Empress Dowager Renhui lowered her gaze, her calm eyes resting on Jiang Yunran’s face.

Her breath caught for a moment.

The resemblance was striking.

On Yong Ning’s birthday, due to other matters, she hadn’t properly looked at this newly favored concubine.

Now, she was finally seeing her true appearance.

Empress Dowager Renhui maintained a calm smile. After a pause, she said, "Jiang Cai Nu, rise and speak."

Once Jiang Yunran stood, the Empress Dowager turned to the Imperial Dowager Consort beside her.

The two elders occupied the main seats, with only Noble Consort Yao seated below them. Behind Noble Consort Yao, veiled by a green gauze screen, was a faint, barely discernible figure.

Virtuous Consort Xu was gravely ill—it seemed no pretense. She could no longer sit upright and had to lie behind the green gauze screen, unable to receive visitors.

Her attendant, Meiying, stood beside Empress Dowager Renhui, looking thin and exhausted, as though the past month had been extremely difficult.

Seeing that Jiang Yunran remained composed, Empress Dowager Renhui nodded in satisfaction. She said to the Imperial Dowager Consort, "Sister Shen, shall we proceed with the interrogation directly, or wait for the Emperor?"

The Imperial Dowager Consort’s gaze didn’t even fall on Jiang Yunran.

She said coldly, "Proceed with the interrogation directly. His Majesty is busy with state affairs and may not have time to come."

She seemed to still remember Jiang Yunran’s previous rejection and treated her with noticeable coldness.

Empress Dowager Renhui showed no curiosity and said directly, "Ruan Baolin, you may speak."

A door in the green gauze screen opened, and an acrid medicinal smell wafted out.

It was much stronger than when Murong Jieyu had been ill—bitter and mixed with the smell of blood, making one’s skin crawl.

Recalling Virtuous Consort Xu’s earlier spitting blood, Jiang Yunran began to form a suspicion.

Ruan Hanzhen hurried out from behind the green gauze screen. Her face was pale, but she maintained the dignity of a Lady Baolin.

After first paying her respects and being granted a seat, she sat in another side seat and said, "Reporting to Empress Dowager, I previously felt unwell and sent my attendant, Matron Xing, to the Imperial Medical Institute to fetch a physician. Matron Xing went to the Imperial Medical Institute three times and each time found Jiang Cai Nu’s maid there. I found it suspicious."

Jiang Yunran stood below the hall, her hands clasped calmly, her expression serene.

Ruan Hanzhen didn’t look at her but instead addressed Empress Dowager Renhui earnestly, "When I previously visited Virtuous Consort Xu, I felt her condition didn’t seem like an illness but rather... poisoning."

As soon as the word "poisoning" was uttered, even Noble Consort Yao looked up at her.

Jiang Yunran couldn’t help but glance sideways at Noble Consort Yao.

She had previously claimed illness, saying she was unwell, and had rarely been seen around the palace these past two months, even withdrawing her name from the list of consorts for imperial visits.

But now, she appeared normal, though her expression seemed more forlorn, with less of her usual calm gentleness and more of a brooding air.

It seemed more like emotional distress.

Ruan Hanzhen continued, "I was puzzled and wanted Virtuous Consort Xu to recover quickly, so I discreetly watched the Imperial Medical Institute. I discovered that Jiang Cai Nu’s maid went to the Imperial Medical Institute at regular intervals, even though she herself wasn’t ill and appeared in good health."

"From this, I can conclude that Jiang Cai Nu is undoubtedly involved with the Imperial Medical Institute."

Jiang Yunran still appeared unperturbed.

Ruan Hanzhen was about to elaborate further when the Imperial Noble Dowager Consort, growing somewhat impatient, interjected, "Just speak plainly. The context and details are not important."

Ruan Hanzhen was momentarily silenced.

She had crafted her words carefully to present her actions as coincidental—neither deliberately investigating Moral Consort Xu’s illness nor specifically targeting Jiang Yunran.

Clearly, the Imperial Noble Dowager Consort was not buying it.

Ruan Hanzhen paused briefly before continuing, "A young pharmacy assistant surnamed Guo in the Imperial Hospital told Matron Xing that the reason Lady Jiang sent her maid to the Imperial Hospital every day was due to lingering summer heat from the earlier hot weather. Recently, she also frequently suffered from headaches and night sweats, requiring the Imperial Hospital to prescribe *Huoxiang Zhengqi Shui* to dispel the summer heat."

But this didn’t add up.

Sure enough, Noble Consort Yao, who had been managing palace affairs for several months, spoke softly, "Cai Nu Jiang, when you were a Selected Attendant, your monthly allowance included ice. You were entitled to one block of ice every other day."

Before Jiang Yunran could respond, Ruan Hanzhen hurriedly said, "Your Ladyship is absolutely right—this is the crux of the matter!"

Her eagerness even drew a glance from Empress Dowager Renhui.

Ruan Hanzhen seemed completely absorbed in her own thoughts, oblivious to the Empress Dowager’s gaze.

"I then ordered an investigation into the ice storage and questioned the staff for several days. Finally, a young eunuch spoke up, saying that Lady Jiang had collected ice two or three times previously. However, from late August onward, she stopped collecting it herself. Instead, her ice was retrieved by Beauty Situ, though Lady Jiang’s maid was always present."

"Knowing that Beauty Situ and Moral Consort Xu were very close, I suspected that the ice intended for Lady Jiang might have been supplied to Moral Consort Xu. So, I first went to question Beauty Situ."

Jiang Yunran couldn’t help but admire her.

Though somewhat impulsive, Ruan Hanzhen’s approach was thorough. If she had dragged Beauty Situ into this today and failed to prove her case, she would have made another enemy.

No wonder Beauty Situ was not present in Lingxin Palace—Ruan Hanzhen had already cleared her of "suspicion."

At this point, Matron Meiying stepped forward and bowed, "What Lady Baolin said is true. Moral Consort Xu, in poor health, was still sensitive to heat and needed ice. However, the palace’s ice reserves were limited, and Her Highness could not force others to give up their share, so she had to find another way."

"Beauty Situ, concerned for Moral Consort Xu, specifically asked Lady Jiang’s maid and purchased the ice from Lady Jiang with silver."

It was a fair transaction—Moral Consort Xu and Beauty Situ had not abused their power, and Jiang Yunran had also benefited. A win-win situation.

However, it made Jiang Yunran appear somewhat petty.

Jiang Yunran finally responded, "Reporting to Empress Dowager, this humble one comes from a modest background and is not bothered by heat or cold. As it was already approaching mid-autumn, I did not find the palace particularly hot. Since Beauty Situ was short on ice, I thought it fitting to offer mine to her. Her Highness, out of kindness, rewarded my maid—a gesture of her generosity."

How eloquently put.

Almost flawless.

After all this back-and-forth, with so many people coming forward to testify, the cause of Moral Consort Xu’s illness still had not been addressed.

Even Empress Dowager Renhui shifted her posture and said, "Lady Baolin, get straight to the point."

Ruan Hanzhen forced a smile and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."

She then looked directly at Jiang Yunran and said, word by word, "Cai Nu Jiang, after learning that Moral Consort Xu needed ice, you devised a bold plan. Every day, after collecting the ice, you instructed your maid to tamper with it before it was delivered to Lingxin Palace. Over time, as the ice lingered near Moral Consort Xu, the poison took effect, and she fell gravely ill."

The word "poisoning" exploded like thunder in Lingxin Palace.

Jiang Yunran slightly raised her eyes to look at Ruan Hanzhen. "Lady Baolin, words alone are not proof. You cannot convict me of poisoning Moral Consort Xu based on a few simple statements. I refuse to accept this accusation."

Ruan Hanzhen glared coldly at her. "You refuse to repent even at death’s door."

"Bring in the evidence."

A moment later, a eunuch pushed in a handcart.

Jiang Yunran recognized it as the cart used to transport ice, but the eunuch was unfamiliar.

The eunuch knelt as soon as he entered, his face pale.

Ruan Hanzhen said, "Tell us what happened."

The eunuch cautiously glanced at Jiang Yunran before speaking in a low voice, "This lowly one is a servant in the ice storage, surnamed Wang. I was the one who delivered ice to Cai Nu Jiang."

He paused, lowered his head, and dared not look at Jiang Yunran again.

He was putting on quite a performance.

"After a few deliveries, Cai Nu Jiang personally spoke to me, rewarded me, and told me that I no longer needed to deliver ice to Tingxue Palace. Henceforth, the ice would be sent to Lingxin Palace."

"She instructed me to always use this handcart."

At this point, the eunuch was in tears but dared not cry aloud.

He kowtowed to Empress Dowager Renhui. "Empress Dowager, this lowly one truly did not know the handcart had been poisoned. If I had known, I would never have used it."

How theatrical.

The focus was not on the ice itself but on the handcart that had come into contact with it.

Empress Dowager Renhui and the Imperial Noble Dowager Consort both paled. They exchanged a glance and simultaneously turned their stern gazes toward Jiang Yunran.

Now, with both witness and material evidence present, how could Jiang Yunran possibly turn the situation around?

Ruan Hanzhen was exhilarated. She looked triumphantly at Jiang Yunran, her eyes conveying a clear message:

You’re doomed. Beg for mercy.

Empress Dowager Renhui’s expression turned grave. She looked at Jiang Yunran and said calmly, "Cai Nu Jiang, do you have anything to say?"

————

Jiang Yunran stepped forward, kneeling once more on the cushion, her expression calm. Her beautiful phoenix eyes gazed steadily into the distance, showing no trace of anxiety or fear.

No one could detect any panic or fear from her demeanor.

It was as if the matter had absolutely nothing to do with her.

Even Empress Dowager Renhui inwardly praised her—regardless of the outcome, she certainly knew how to handle pressure. She had some merits.

"Reporting to Empress Dowager, this matter has nothing to do with me. I do not know this eunuch and have no idea why he would falsely accuse me," Jiang Yunran paused, then added, "I can prove my innocence. I beg Empress Dowager to grant me an opportunity."

Her words were like openly accusing Ruan Hanzhen of framing an imperial concubine.

Ruan Hanzhen’s face instantly darkened, her once delicate and clear features now tinged with severity.

"Cai Nu Jiang, are you suggesting that I deliberately framed you?"

She sneered, "What worth do you possess that would compel me to go to such lengths, risking the charge of deceiving the sovereign, just to frame you?"

Though furious, she still kept her composure.

A mere seventh-rank Cai Nu is indeed not worth the effort for a sixth-rank Baolin to frame, as it holds no significance.

It seems that after the confrontation at Qian Yuan Palace that day, Matron Xing had counseled her thoroughly upon returning, gradually bringing clarity to Ruan Hanzhen’s thoughts.

She must restrain her temper and remain clear-headed at all times.

Otherwise, she could easily be manipulated.

That day at Qian Yuan Palace was a painful lesson.

Today, Ruan Hanzhen’s rebuttal is far more forceful.

Every word strikes at the core.

Lingxin Palace had been closed off for a long time, filled with the bitter scent of medicine. After several high-ranking consorts arrived, the doors and windows were thrown open, allowing cool breezes to sweep through, slowly dispersing the medicinal odor.

Yet the scent of blood lingering behind the green gauze screen showed no sign of stopping.

Churning and surging, it seemed ready at any moment to snuff out the life of Moral Consort Xu, who had long been plagued by illness.

Jiang Yunran suddenly realized that the Imperial Hospital was powerless against Moral Consort Xu’s condition, only able to keep her lingering on without achieving a full recovery.

In other words, the Imperial Hospital had not found an antidote and could not treat the poison afflicting Moral Consort Xu.

And Moral Consort Xu herself had likely realized this as well.

She might even be aware of the warfare beyond the palace, the imprisonment of her maternal clan, and the inescapable guilt of the Zhao family, which would ultimately lead to their execution and the eradication of their lineage.

Would the crimes of the Zhao family implicate the Household of Earl Zhongyi? And would they implicate her as well?

Today, using Baolin Ruan as a mouthpiece, Moral Consort Xu deliberately blew things out of proportion, aiming only to appear vulnerable and proclaim her innocence.

She also used her own frail body to salvage a sliver of hope for her maternal relatives.

Both the Xu and Zhao families were ladders that had propelled her upward; losing one meant losing a crucial support.

Whether out of familial affection or rationality, preventing the Zhao family’s downfall was the most prudent course of action.

Ruthless, yet decisive.

This Changxin Palace, this Jade Capital, this pinnacle of power, this wealth and glory—all are built upon the corpses of countless fools.

Jiang Yunran felt grateful for her mother’s meticulous guidance since childhood and for the many trustworthy companions she had.

They had helped her climb out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, change her name, struggle for survival, and stand once again in these resplendent halls.

In just a moment, Ruan Hanzhen had accurately and keenly pinpointed the flaw in Jiang Yunran’s statement.

She sat upright in her chair, her expression cold and disdainful.

As if watching insignificant ants, she scorned their struggles.

“Cai Nu Jiang, you claim you can clear your name, but it’s nothing more than just talk. Why not take a look at my evidence now?”

“Matron Xing, present it for Their Highnesses to see.”

Ruan Hanzhen turned, her expression respectful, and said, “Your Majesty, these are the pieces of evidence submitted by this eunuch. Among them, this sachet originates from Tingxue Palace.”

“I may lack talent and my embroidery is not exceptional, but even I can see that this sachet matches Cai Nu Jiang’s previous embroidery work.”

“If not for this object as proof and a hefty bribe, why would this eunuch believe her? Why would he offend Beauty Situ for her sake?”

From a distance, Jiang Yunran could see the two sachets presented by Matron Xing were strikingly similar.

One was made by her at the Weaving Bureau and had now fallen into Ruan Hanzhen’s hands, used as comparative evidence.

Empress Dowager Renhui said to the Imperial Noble Dowager Consort beside her, “Consort Shen, you excel at embroidery. Take a look?”

The Imperial Noble Dowager Consort examined them carefully, even narrowing her eyes for a better look.

But in the end, she seemed hesitant. “I can’t tell if they are truly identical.”

The Imperial Noble Dowager Consort added, “I’m old, my eyes are failing, and I can’t make out the stitches clearly. Besides…”

She paused, refusing to jump to conclusions despite her previous disagreements with Jiang Yunran, remaining objective and fair.

“Besides, embroidery techniques are easily imitated. Since the stitches are concealed by the threads, any skilled embroiderer selected from the Weaving Bureau could mimic another’s technique, achieving near-identical resemblance.”

“This cannot reliably serve as evidence.”

Ruan Hanzhen’s expression shifted slightly.

A look of gratitude was evident on Jiang Yunran’s face, and she seemed to relax entirely.

But how could Ruan Hanzhen let her off the hook so easily?

She was so close to success—just one step away—and she could not give up now.

The atmosphere in Lingxin Palace was stretched to the breaking point, like a drawn bowstring awaiting the release of the arrow.

It remained to be seen whose chest the beautiful fletched arrow would pierce.

Ruan Hanzhen tightened her grip on her handkerchief, exchanged a glance with Matron Xing, and composed herself.

Just as she was about to speak and press her advantage, Noble Consort Yao, seated ahead, suddenly spoke.

“If embroidery isn’t reliable, what about the fabric?”

Matron Qiu Yi, standing behind Noble Consort Yao, stepped forward, took the two sachets from the Imperial Noble Dowager Consort, and presented them to Noble Consort Yao.

The light in the hall was somewhat dim. The setting sun, blocked by layers of palaces, cast faint rays into the room, isolating each person in their own space.

Above, the twelve lotus-shaped palace lanterns glowed softly, illuminating the ornate palace that had lain silent for dozens of days.

It was only then that Jiang Yunran noticed how tastefully Lingxin Palace was arranged, exuding elegance and refinement inside and out.

The furniture was classical, the decorations subtle, and even the hanging scroll on the wall depicted “Returning Geese”—a stark contrast to Moral Consort Xu’s outwardly arrogant and domineering demeanor.

Noble Consort Yao studied the sachets in her hand carefully, slightly extending her arm to display their beautiful colors in the threads of sunlight.

“This one was made by Cai Nu Jiang, using fine lotus-root-hued brocade and Suzhou embroidery techniques. The stitches are delicate, and the embroidered cat is lifelike. In all my years, this is the most exquisite sachet I have ever seen.”

She first complimented Jiang Yunran.

Then she continued, “This one, allegedly, was given by Cai Nu Jiang to eunuch Wang as proof.”

She held the sachet in her hand. “Judging solely by the Suzhou embroidery technique, there is almost no difference. The only distinctions lie in the expression of the embroidered cat and the additional ball in its paw. That’s all.”

"But the fabric used for this pouch is rather particular."

Noble Consort Yao's voice was soft, as gentle and kind as ever, and she articulated her analysis very clearly.

"I recall that when Cai Nu Jiang was appointed as a Selected Attendant, His Majesty issued an oral decree awarding eight bolts of tribute satin upon her," Noble Consort Yao said. "At the time, the Palace Matron Bureau sent over an inventory list. I glanced at it and noticed there was one bolt of water-red shimmering satin."

"This color is vibrant, almost too strikingly vibrant. This year, only two bolts were offered as tribute to the palace, and one of them ended up in Cai Nu Jiang’s possession."

Jiang Yunran had a sudden moment of clarity.

She couldn’t help but marvel at how early the person behind this had begun plotting everything.

That single bolt of shimmering satin, given to Tingxue Palace from the very start, had been chosen as the "evidence."

Now, two months had passed in the blink of an eye.

They had been incredibly patient and thorough.

Jiang Yunran raised her eyes to look at Noble Consort Yao, whose gaze remained calm and focused solely on the pouch, without giving her so much as a glance.

Focused, earnest, intelligent, and lucid—this was the Consort capable of overseeing the Six Palaces.

Only after saying this did Noble Consort Yao turn to the Imperial Noble Dowager Consort, with some apology in her voice. "Dowager Consort, I've spoken out of turn."

The Imperial Noble Dowager Consort regarded her with great admiration. "As expected of Noble Consort Yao’s niece—so clever, very much like her in her day."

"How is this overstepping? Palace affairs are complex and require someone as intelligent and upright as you to properly manage the matters of the Six Palaces."

The Imperial Noble Dowager Consort turned back to Empress Dowager Renhui, a touch of envy in her eyes. "Congratulations, Elder Sister, you have a proper successor."

These words were put quite diplomatically.

But the deeper meaning behind them made Ruan Hanzhen curl her fingers.

Wait—wouldn't the Empress Dowager’s successor be the Empress?

Empress Dowager Renhui smiled faintly. "You flatter me, Younger Sister. I saw promise in this child precisely because of her attentiveness."

As she spoke, Empress Dowager Renhui lifted her eyelids and let her gaze rest directly on Jiang Yunran.

"Cai Nu Jiang, now, what have you to say now?"

Jiang Yunran noticed that Empress Dowager Renhui didn’t seem to particularly like her, yet there was no excessive dislike either. Her expression was complex, something Jiang Yunran couldn’t quite read at the moment.

But this wasn’t a pressing matter. She lowered her eyes, bowed her head, and then straightened up again.

She remained kneeling on the cushion, motionless, her back straight.

"Your Majesty, what the Imperial Consort said is entirely accurate. To make matters worse, I have already used this bolt of shimmering satin to make clothing. The leftover scraps are all stored in the warehouse, so I cannot prove whether a piece is missing or not."

Upon hearing this, Ruan Hanzhen’s face brightened. She immediately spoke up: "Your Majesty, since Cai Nu Jiang has admitted her guilt, perhaps we could—"

Empress Dowager Renhui said calmly, "Baolin Ruan, you are too impatient."

Ruan Hanzhen pursed her lips, her eyes reddening, making her look quite pitiful.

"Your servant is also concerned about Virtuous Consort. If Cai Nu Jiang truly is the one behind this, she must know what the poison is and would certainly be able to produce an antidote."

"Earlier, your servant saw how Virtuous Consort suffered and found it truly unbearable, which is why I am so anxious. I beg Your Majesty for forgiveness."

Her reasoning was impeccable.

Empress Dowager Renhui’s expression softened slightly. She turned back to Jiang Yunran and said, "Cai Nu Jiang, I grant you two more sentences to defend yourself."

Jiang Yunran nodded, lowering her eyes as she spoke. "First, the Weaving Bureau also has a bolt of this fabric in storage. It can be brought for comparison. Second, I don't actually know this eunuch Wang. I implore Your Majesty to order the Court of Judicial Review to conduct a thorough questioning. For the sake of Virtuous Consort’s condition, this person who falsely accused me of being the culprit must be connected to the real perpetrator."

She raised her eyes, looking steadily at Empress Dowager Renhui, her own eyes also filling with tears.

Playing pitiful wasn't difficult.

"I beg Your Majesty to see justice done for me and clear my name."

Empress Dowager Renhui looked at her and asked, "You still haven’t given me a reasonable explanation."

Jiang Yunran bit her lip and finally spoke. "Actually, it was I who discovered the issue with the ice cellar early on and reported it directly."

"What!"

Ruan Hanzhen’s face was full of shock. She half-rose from her seat, as if to confront Jiang Yunran.

Fortunately, Noble Consort Yao’s voice calmed her surprise.

"Why was I unaware of your report? Linfang Palace did not receive any vermilion memorial from Tingxue Palace."

In palace matters, all reports and discussions regarding the inner court were to be submitted via vermilion memorial.

Just then, a deep voice sounded from outside the hall.

"Because she reported it to Myself."