Huang Jiu responded promptly and immediately began searching around the room. Soon, he found some burnt incense ashes hidden beneath a concealed cabinet.
He collected them with a handkerchief and presented them to Xiao Lin. “Your Majesty…”
Xiao Lin glanced at the ashes, then turned his gaze to Jing Guifei kneeling on the floor. “Guifei, what do you have to say for yourself?”
“No…” Jing Guifei quickly shook her head, “It wasn’t me…”
At that moment, a man in black hurried in from outside, whispered a few words to Huang Jiu’s ear, then quickly departed.
Huang Jiu addressed Xiao Lin respectfully, “Your Majesty, Meng Xun has confessed. He instructed Jing Guifei to drug Miss Liu’s wine and gave her a box of incense. They had some previous connections outside the palace. What would you…”
This matter had escalated seriously!
Not only was there secret communication between a palace consort and an outside man, but they were dealing with filthy love potions typically found in brothels—a grave offense indeed.
Jing Guifei’s face grew increasingly pale, her body swaying unsteadily.
Before she could think of any defense, a delicate, tearful voice spoke up from nearby. “I don’t believe Sister had anything to do with this…”
Liu Chan struggled to sit up, clutching the blanket tightly with her hands. Her eyes were red-rimmed, like an injured fawn too frightened to tend its wounds—innocent and fearful.
She shook her head, “Sister has always been kind to me, Your Majesty…”
Xiao Lin seemed not to hear her words as he addressed Jing Guifei.
“If you produce the incense he gave you now, I will believe you were coerced, and you shall remain my guifei,” Xiao Lin said quietly. “If you refuse to admit it, then you may go reside in the Cold Palace.”
Banished to the Cold Palace?
Jing Guifei stared in disbelief, her body going weak as she collapsed to the floor.
“Your Highness, he threatened you into this! You must beg His Majesty for justice!” Chun’er finally reacted, urgently tugging at Jing Guifei’s sleeve. “Your Highness!”
If Jing Guifei were truly sent to the Cold Palace, what good fate could await her personal maid?
When the master falls, all followers suffer alike.
In a daze, Jing Guifei retrieved a box from her sleeve. Huang Jiu promptly took it and handed it to the waiting Royal Physician Wang.
Royal Physician Wang opened it, sniffed, and nodded. “This is the incense.”
Xiao Lin glanced back at the young girl sitting on the bed, seeing her slowly shake her head, face streaked with tears, appearing utterly unconvinced.
He felt a moment of hesitation.
With such an innocent nature, could she survive in the harem?
“Your Majesty, although Meng Xun gave me this incense, I never…” Jing Guifei attempted to explain, but seeing the impatience already evident on Xiao Lin’s face, her words trailed off again.
Even if the incense came from Meng Xun, the fact remained that she had drugged Liu Chan’s wine.
Further explanations were useless—the Emperor wouldn’t believe her.
“By my decree, Jing Guifei is demoted to…”
“Wait.”
Xiao Lin’s words were cut short by the Empress Dowager’s voice from outside. He looked up to see her entering, supported by attendants.
The Empress Dowager’s gaze swept the room, quickly grasping the situation.
Her disdainful eyes rested briefly on Jing Guifei before turning to Xiao Lin. “If the guifei has erred, it is because I failed to teach her properly. If Your Majesty is angry, direct your displeasure at me instead.”
“I wouldn’t dare,” Xiao Lin replied calmly.
Though he spoke these words, the respect had vanished from his expression.
Xiao Lin cast a deep glance at the Empress Dowager. “Mother must be weary today. I shall dismiss the palace banquet outside. Since you wish to instruct the Guifei in etiquette, I’ll trouble you with this matter.”
Without waiting for the Empress Dowager’s response, he turned directly to Chun’er beside Jing Guifei. “This palace maid failed to advise her mistress. Drag her out and beat her to death with clubs.”
“Spare me, Your Majesty! Spare my life!” Chun’er turned pale with terror.
Jing Guifei barely had time to react. “Your Majesty, Chun’er is my personal maid who came with me from my parental home. I cannot lose her. Please show mercy!”
She clearly understood the Emperor was making an example of Chun’er to warn herself.
But Chun’er was her most trusted confidante. Losing her would be like having her arms cut off.
“Enough,” the Empress Dowager spoke again, fingering her prayer beads. “Today marks my birthday—it’s inauspicious to shed blood. Grant me this face, Your Majesty, and send this maid to the Laundering Room.”
The Laundering Room was where palace servants who committed offenses were sent, forced to labor day and night under harsh conditions.
But… at least she would survive.
Chun’er, her face ashen, was dragged away.
“Guifei, come with me,” the Empress Dowager commanded before turning to leave.
Her attending matron hastily helped Jing Guifei to her feet to follow.
After the Empress Dowager’s retinue departed, Huang Jiu tactfully escorted Royal Physician Wang out, carefully closing the door behind them to give the Emperor and Lady Liu privacy.
Liu Chan’s eyes reddened as she looked toward Xiao Lin, her lower lip trembling as fresh tears threatened to fall.
“Enough,” Xiao Lin said to her, a trace of helplessness in his tone. “I didn’t intend to touch you, but what’s done is done. Will you stay by my side?”
He admitted taking advantage of the situation.
But she should have been more vigilant against schemes—technically, he had saved her.
“I…” Liu Chan’s body trembled slightly, the quilt she’d been clutching tightly slipping to reveal a delicate shoulder.
She flustered to retrieve the covering.
Xiao Lin sighed, unusually patient with a woman. He grasped Liu Chan’s small hand and pulled her into his embrace.
“From today onward, you shall be a Da Ying in my palace. I’ll have you lodged close to my quarters.” He pondered briefly. “I know you yearn for a devoted partnership, but as Emperor, I cannot grant that wish. Until you come to terms with this, I won’t summon you to my bed.”
The lower rank was meant to protect her.
Liu Chan’s small hands clutched his robes tightly as she leaned limply against his chest, appearing utterly fragile.
Where Xiao Lin couldn’t see, a glint of triumphant satisfaction flashed in her eyes.
Today’s scheme had unfolded more perfectly than she’d imagined.
Knowing Xiao Lin’s suspicious nature, she had prepared elaborate excuses, aware that even sacrificing her body might not earn his full trust.
Yet Meng Xun and Jing Guifei’s plotting had inadvertently aided her.
At the banquet, had Jing Guifei not stared at her wine cup while Meng Xun leered at her, she might not have detected the drugged wine. But noticing it allowed her to turn their scheme to her advantage.
Only…
She had nearly achieved two goals at once—undermining Jing Guifei’s position in the palace. Unfortunately, the Empress Dowager’s protection remained. No wonder Jing Guifei had ruthlessly harmed so many in her previous life without ever losing her standing.
“Did Sister really do it?” Liu Chan sobbed softly.
“Yes,” Xiao Lin nodded.
On this matter, he had no intention of explaining further. Though he was extremely angered, Jing Guifei couldn’t be touched—at least not for the sake of a mere Liu Chan.