Consort Zhao first cast a half-smiling glance over Jing Guifei’s face before supporting the Empress Dowager. “Your Majesty, since there’s an interesting spectacle outside, shall this humble consort accompany you to see it?”
The Empress Dowager rose and walked out.
The surrounding crowd who had overheard Jing Guifei’s words immediately followed behind with mocking expressions.
Halfway there, Consort Zhao suddenly gasped dramatically. She looked at Jing Guifei and said, “I heard the fiancé of that Liu family sister whom you brought into the palace is the young master of Anyang Marquis Manor. Could it be…”
She pretended to be shocked and covered her mouth.
Jing Guifei sneered inwardly. She ought to be grateful that Consort Zhao had spoken up, though she couldn’t acknowledge it now.
“Impossible! My sister was taken by Chun’er to rest!” Jing Guifei declared emphatically, raising her voice. “There’s no need for Consort Zhao to worry. It definitely couldn’t be Chan’er.”
The group was led forward and soon arrived near the room where Liu Chan was staying.
Seeing the tightly closed door not far away, the Empress Dowager darkened her expression and ordered the matron beside her, “Go open the door and see who’s inside.”
Noticing the Empress Dowager’s reaction wasn’t as she had anticipated, Jing Guifei couldn’t resist speaking up, “Aunt, why don’t we just go in and catch that pair of dogs—”
Before she could finish the phrase “dog man and woman,” the Empress Dowager shot her a sharp glance that made her instinctively fall silent.
The Empress Dowager withdrew her gaze and gave Consort Zhao a meaningful look.
Consort Zhao immediately understood and turned around. “Honorable ladies, I’ve ordered this year’s newly tributed Biluochun tea to be prepared. Why don’t you all come with me to taste it?”
At these words, none of the present ladies were fools. Those who had been eagerly anticipating the spectacle now showed clear signs of apprehension.
Sordid affairs within the palace were different from those outside—how could they be allowed to witness such things?!
Still, they had already learned that the young master of Anyang Marquis Manor was misbehaving in the palace. They could inquire about the details after today.
“Now that you mention it, I am rather thirsty. How fortunate to taste the tributed Biluochun today,” someone quickly spoke up.
Everyone nodded in agreement and immediately began dispersing in small groups.
Jing Guifei was itching to rush the Empress Dowager to the room in just a few steps, already showing her eagerness to “catch them in the act.”
The Empress Dowager glanced at her thoughtfully.
“Since the Noble Consort is in a hurry, let’s go see first.” She rotated the Buddhist beads in her hand and spoke calmly. “This old woman is advanced in years and shouldn’t have to witness such filth.”
Jing Guifei, currently consumed by her excitement, immediately complied.
She quickly reached the room’s entrance with Chun’er and several matrons.
When she heard the unmistakably seductive panting of a woman inside—undoubtedly Liu Chan’s—the corner of her mouth lifted in a smirk.
“Break the door down!”
Two stout matrons stepped forward and without hesitation kicked the door forcefully.
The door, which had only been lightly closed, shuddered violently under the impact with a loud bang before becoming unsteady.
Jing Guifei sneered and led the group inside.
Before even steadying herself, she immediately shouted, “Guards! Arrest this dog man and woman who dare defile the palace—”
“Outrageous!”
Xiao Lin’s voice roared with ninety percent fury and ten percent hoarseness from recently concluded intimacy, stunning everyone present.
He casually pulled over the nearby bedding to cover Liu Chan, who had not yet fully shed her lingering desire, and drew her into his embrace.
“Don’t be afraid.” Xiao Lin patted her back.
Jing Guifei felt her mind explode with a buzzing sound. She instinctively took two steps forward, and when she clearly saw Xiao Lin’s face, her legs grew even weaker.
How could… how could it be the Emperor!
Jing Guifei instinctively glanced at Chun’er beside her. Didn’t they say Meng Xun had entered this room?!
Chun’er’s shock was no less than Jing Guifei’s. Her entire face turned deathly pale, and she immediately knelt on the ground with a thud, bowing her head and not daring to speak.
Jing Guifei looked up at Xiao Lin’s cold expression and nervously explained, “Your Majesty, it was all because the servants outside said…”
“Where is Meng Xun?” Xiao Lin’s gaze was sharp.
“Meng Xun, he…” Just as Jing Guifei was about to speak, alarm bells rang in her heart. She immediately denied it and forced a smile, “Isn’t Meng Xun Sister Chan’er’s fiancé? Why is Your Majesty now with Sister Chan’er…”
As she watched Xiao Lin put down the unconscious Liu Chan, get out of bed directly, casually pick up his robe, and approach her step by step.
Jing Guifei’s words died on her lips, unable to even maintain her smile.
“The Noble Consort has quite the nerve.” Xiao Lin walked up to her, suddenly grabbed her chin, his eyes icy cold. “Daring to scheme against someone in the Empress Dowager’s Shou’an Palace. It seems I’ve been too lenient with you all this time.”
“No… This humble consort wouldn’t dare.” Jing Guifei felt the pain from her chin but could only endure it while trying to explain, “Someone saw Sister Chan’er’s fiancé come to this room. I was afraid he might have ill intentions toward Chan’er, so I quickly brought people here. Please see clearly, Your Majesty.”
She truly couldn’t understand—Meng Xun had clearly entered the room…
Even if it had been a different man, she could have accepted it, but how could it possibly have been the Emperor!
At that moment, Huang Jiu hurriedly dragged Royal Physician Wang in from outside. Upon entering the room and seeing the scene, his heart sank.
This is bad!
He had been so focused on fetching Royal Physician Wang that he had overlooked the fact that the Emperor and Miss Liu were alone together in the same room, especially when Miss Liu had been drugged with the Love Potion.
Huang Jiu’s gaze swept over everyone present, and he quickly guessed what had happened.
He hurried to Xiao Lin’s side, “Your Majesty, Royal Physician Wang is here.”
“Go check on her.” Xiao Lin’s tone was calm and unreadable.
Huang Jiu immediately acknowledged the order. Having served the Emperor for many years, he naturally understood that His Majesty was in a state of great anger. Last time, Jing Guifei had schemed against the Emperor and Miss Liu in Weiyang Palace, and now she dared to pull this stunt in Shou’an Palace. One must know that the Emperor deeply despised women who actively sought to climb into his bed, and even more so those with venomous hearts.
Thinking this, Huang Jiu couldn’t help but give Jing Guifei a look that said “you’re on your own.”
He led Royal Physician Wang to the bedside.
Liu Chan on the bed had her eyes tightly closed, but tears occasionally slid down her temples, disappearing into her thick hair. The quilt trembled slightly, making her appear utterly pitiful.
Huang Jiu sighed and spoke softly, “Miss Liu, let Royal Physician Wang examine you.”
After a long while, a pale, delicate hand slowly emerged from under the quilt and rested on the edge of the bed.
At the same time, Liu Chan turned her head to the other side, her tears falling even more freely.
Huang Jiu immediately felt even more sympathy for her!
Such a fine young lady, to have encountered something like this—she must be completely unable to accept it.
Fortunately, the man in question was the Emperor, not that damned frivolous playboy.
But with her innocent nature…
Just as he was thinking this, Royal Physician Wang spoke up, “The drug this young lady was poisoned with is the same as what His Majesty encountered last time.”
“Brothel Aphrodisiac?” Xiao Lin frowned. “Huang Jiu, search this room.”