The empress dowager had weathered the imperial harem for decades; what rise and fall had she not witnessed? Consort Chun suddenly bleeding was clearly not necessarily a coincidence.
Her dignified countenance instantly took on an imposing air, and suspicion had already arisen in her heart. “She was fine just moments ago. How did she suddenly start bleeding? Investigate this for me.”
At her words, everyone seated below became utterly terrified. They were even more convinced that this was a conspiracy, afraid that one careless mistake or a false accusation would leave them bearing the blame.
Consort Chun had already been carried into the palace hall. Even from a great distance, everyone present could hear her shrill, desperate cries.
The only ones present who remained calm were Jiang Yiyun, Gu Hanjue, and Chu Yexuan.
After an unknown length of time, the imperial physician approached the steps with trembling legs. “Reporting to the empress dowager and the emperor. Imperial consort’s pregnancy cannot be saved. This humble minister will do everything in his power to preserve imperial consort’s life.”
The empress dowager was greatly shocked. “What? She was perfectly fine just moments ago. How could the child suddenly be gone?”
“Imperial consort must have accidentally eaten or touched something unclean, which caused the miscarriage.”
“Something unclean?” The empress dowager narrowed her eyes.
“How dare you!” The furious shout made everyone present tremble.
Although Chu Yinheng was young, he clearly knew the methods of the people from the palace and therefore loathed them intensely.
Jiang Yiyun, on the other hand, sat as immovable as a mountain, appearing somewhat mature and composed.
From the corner, Chu Yexuan coldly surveyed the scene once, then continued pouring and drinking his own wine.
“Someone actually managed to tamper with things under my watch. Do you take this seat for dead?” His voice was deep yet gentle, drawing everyone’s gaze toward its source.
A smile curled Gu Hanjue’s lips, and his eyes were as enchanting as peach blossoms. Though his face was clearly amiable, he gave off an imposing presence without needing to show anger. Once his words rang out, those hoping to watch the spectacle immediately lost the mood.
He never took the initiative to meddle in the imperial harem’s trivial affairs. Aside from openly and covertly contending with Empress Jiang Yiyun, he spent the rest of his time as a spectator. Today, however, his behavior made everyone feel that something was unusual.
Chu Yinheng’s brows drew together slightly. He could not understand what exactly Prince Bianjian meant by this.
“Bang!” The empress dowager had not thought so far ahead. She slammed the table and rose, fury surging within her. “Investigate! Give this dowager the truth revealed. Who is so bold as to dare commit violence in the imperial palace?”
This was Chu Yinheng’s first child. Even if Consort Chun did not please him, it was still his own flesh and blood. He had not expected the situation to become this way.
There was no use saying more. He had already moved into the inner hall to check on her.
Seeing that the emperor had moved, everyone followed behind him. On the surface, they claimed to be concerned about Consort Chun, but in truth, they were going to watch the excitement.
In the outer room, everyone listened to Consort Chun cry out in pain. In their inner hearts, they cheered with delight, though not a trace of it showed on their faces.
Jiang Yiyun glanced from the corner of her eye at Qiying beside her. Seeing that the palace maid showed not the slightest bit of tension, she could tell how skilled she was at hiding her emotions and how suited she was to surviving in the imperial palace.
Before long, a palace attendant hurried over and knelt before the palace hall. “Reporting to the empress dowager, our investigation found that someone put arsenic in imperial consort’s tea. However, imperial consort drank very little, so her life has not yet been endangered.”
This result did not surprise many people. In the imperial palace, this sort of intrigue was commonplace.
“Summon everyone connected to this tea before this seat. This seat would also like to know who is so bold.”
After speaking, Gu Hanjue cast another sidelong glance at everyone. They all lowered their heads. “Not a single person present is permitted to leave.”
Before the empress dowager could speak, Gu Hanjue had already overstepped his authority and made the decision. Neither she nor Chu Yinheng dared reveal their displeasure openly.
Everyone shuddered with dread and regretted coming to the palace banquet. They all knew that Gu Hanjue was ruthless and vicious. He had once gouged out the eyes and carved out the hearts of court officials who had offended him in the Golden Hall, while remaining completely unapologetic, leaving even the emperor unable to stop him.
If anyone became involved now, they would surely meet a terrible end. Even if they themselves were not implicated, witnessing someone else being punished would likely give them nightmares for several days.
Before long, several palace attendants approached trembling, terrified that an unexpected disaster would descend upon them.
“Was the tea handled by the several of you?” Chu Yinheng asked first.
Although he was wary of Gu Hanjue, if he allowed someone else to make decisions even in this “family matter,” would he not become a puppet emperor? Where would that leave his dignity?
“The tea was brought by this servant. Junior eunuch Xiaochunzi accompanied me along the way. The route was short, and guards surrounded us on all sides. This servant had no time to tamper with it.” After speaking, he glanced at the junior eunuch beside him.
The person beside him replied, “The two of us delivered the tea together and can testify for each other. There was absolutely no opportunity for poisoning along the way. We beg the emperor…” The two men lowered their eyes to glance at Gu Hanjue beside them, then continued, “…and lord to investigate clearly.”
Although the two men were answering the emperor, it seemed more as though they were explaining themselves to Gu Hanjue.
Chu Yinheng was visibly displeased and asked again, “What about the others?”
The two palace maids hurriedly bowed. One of them said, “The two of us served the tea together. I carried it at the time, and she presented it to Consort Chun. We can testify for each other, and a senior palace matron was beside us as well. Even if this servant had a hundred lives, I would never dare poison Consort Chun.”
The senior palace matron beside them wanted to testify, but before she could speak, she was interrupted. “Fine. Just tell me who brewed this tea and where the tea leaves came from.” Gu Hanjue went straight to the point, which was also the key issue.
Jiang Yiyun perked up, because the real show was only beginning at this moment.
Several servants looked at one another, then all glanced at Jiang Yiyun, who was the empress. None of them dared speak.
Gu Hanjue cast a sidelong glance at Jiang Yiyun, then smiled. “Do not be afraid. If you did not do it, nothing will happen to you. Just say who brewed the tea.”
His tone was gentle and his smile full of warmth. He clearly appeared easy to get along with, yet the more he acted this way, the more worried everyone became.
Especially the words “Do not be afraid”—when spoken by him, they sounded like a gentle trap.
Jiang Yiyun gave a cold snort and said indifferently, “There is no need to ask. I brewed the tea.”
She, who had remained unnoticed all this time, startled everyone. The empress dowager and Chu Yinheng both froze slightly.
“Elder sister, how could it be you? Yinger absolutely refuses to believe you did this.” Jia Yinger finally made her entrance.
Jiang Yiyun gave a cold, mocking laugh. “Younger sister, what do you mean? What have I done? Could brewing a cup of tea really make you look so worried?”
The moment she replied, Chu Yinheng could no longer hold back, and his brows pressed even lower.
“Elder sister, there was poisoning in the tea. Younger sister knows that you harbor resentment, but no matter what, this was the emperor’s flesh and blood. How could you be so ruthless?”
Jia Yinger once again began playing the kind and magnanimous Noble Consort Li, serving as a model for all the sisters in the imperial palace and winning everyone’s outward submission.
“Elder sister, do you know that this child was the emperor’s first flesh and blood? He had not even been born before… Poor younger sister consort chun must be heartbroken.”
As she spoke, she worked herself into the proper emotion. In moments, crystalline tears glimmered at the corners of her eyes, moving enough to make others ache with sorrow and drawing the entire room into the atmosphere of grief.
Of everyone in the room, the one who felt the most heartache for her was Chu Yinheng. When Consort Chun lost the child, he had not worn an expression as troubled as this.
“Yinger, do not grieve.” He gently stroked the back of the frail, delicate woman and comforted her.
Chu Yinheng’s heart ached, and he turned to Jiang Yiyun. “Were you the one who administered this poisoning?”
Jiang Yiyun’s heart also ached. Looking directly at the person before her, she said, “your subject and consort admits to having brewed the tea, but when did I ever say that I administered the poisoning?”
She showed no fear whatsoever. Her resolute and awe-inspiring bearing made the emperor before her retreat slightly.
When had he begun caring only about Jia Yinger’s feelings, losing all reason and failing to distinguish right from wrong? Especially toward the woman before him, he had shown not the slightest trace of fairness.
“Then explain why there was poisoning in the tea, and who can testify for you?”
His words contradicted his heart. He was not deliberately making things difficult for her; rather, whenever he faced her, he could never restrain himself.
Every time he saw her eyes, resentment would rise within him. He hated that this woman was clearly excellent, yet was still not as gentle and considerate as Jia Yinger.
“At the time, I was with my maidservant, Qiying. Everything I did and did not do was seen clearly by her.” She glanced at Qiying beside her and replied calmly.
Jia Yinger’s gaze flickered, but her brows furrowed slightly as she said to Qiying, “Qiying, you must testify for elder sister. Do not speak recklessly.”
“I… I…” Qiying stammered, unable to say anything.