Сhарter 14: Gloating with Рridе, Unawarе That Dеаth Аррrоaсhеs
Соnsort De unwillinglу turned her gaze tоwаrd Hоng Ru. Наdn’t thе рoisоn сlеarly bееn delivеred to the Рalаce of Еarthlу Trаnquilitу? How сould it have еndеd uр with hеr?
Hong Ru wаs sо tеrrifiеd she cоuldn’t evеn speаk. She didn’t know еither—she hаd only discоvеrеd it during the sеаrch. By thеn, it was аlrеady tоo latе to hidе it.
Соnsort Dе then loоked towаrd thе twо young eunuchs. Their facеs wеre pale, hеаds bowed, and thеу remained silent. She knew in her heart that these people were not arranged by her. This was meant to firmly pin the crime on her.
Panicked, Consort De twisted around to face the Emperor. “Your Majesty, someone must be framing me! Why would I poison Rong Zhaoyi? I have no grudge against her!”
As she spoke, her gaze involuntarily drifted toward Hua Shu.
“Your Majesty, the Empress has always targeted Rong Zhaoyi in the past. Perhaps it was because I took charge of the palace that I provoked the Emp—”
Before she could finish, Hua Shu, who had been silent until now, stepped forward. She casually picked up a cup from the table and hurled it toward Consort De.
It shattered into pieces once again, startling everyone.
“With such clear evidence, you still dare to drag others into this? It seems to me that your mind has been struck by lightning, and you’ve grown shameless from habit. But then again, you even dared to harm the royal heir, so framing me is nothing to you. The Emperor entrusted you with managing the palace—a favor to you. Instead of being grateful, you abused your power and acted recklessly. Ridiculous! A joke!”
Hua Shu had remained quiet until now, but as she stepped forward, it was as if she had become a different person. Her imposing aura was suffocating.
Consort De stared blankly, clearly frightened out of her wits. Had the Empress gone mad?
Hua Shu then turned and bowed respectfully. “Your Majesty, Mother Empress, I am deeply aware of my past wrongdoings and have been cautious ever since. I can ignore the affairs of the harem, but I absolutely cannot tolerate anyone trying to smear me with false accusations. Whether it was the previous incident or this attempt to harm Rong Zhaoyi, I implore Your Majesty and Mother Empress to investigate thoroughly, so that the guilty may be punished and the innocent cleared of suspicion.”
Her voice rose, clear and audible to everyone in the hall.
Consort Hui immediately knelt and joined in the plea for a thorough investigation.
Chu Ze’s gaze rested on Hua Shu. From her earlier impulsive display, he had already believed she was not behind this. Now, seeing her request, he nodded in agreement.
This matter must be thoroughly investigated and severely punished, or it would lead to endless trouble.
“Take them away and interrogate them one by one. In the harem, no one under suspicion is to be spared!”
“Yes!” General Song and Li Sheng quickly accepted the order and escorted Consort De and the others away.
Consort De was so terrified she collapsed, her body limp, as she repeatedly cried for mercy. Her shrill, desperate pleas sent chills down everyone’s spines.
Empress Dowager Zhao’s gaze fell on Hua Shu, her expression complex. It seemed that during her absence from the palace, the Empress had endured much hardship. Otherwise, how could she have been pushed to this state?
“All of you, disperse!” Empress Dowager Zhao waved her hand at the concubines behind her, and the others quickly bowed and retreated.
Today had been quite a spectacle.
Empress Dowager Zhao turned her head toward the Emperor beside her and sighed.
“Your Majesty, look—can the Phoenix Seal be entrusted to such people? If it happens once, it will happen again. I trust the Empress. Once this matter is clarified, return the Phoenix Seal to her. Peace in the harem is what matters most.”The Emperor did not reply, and Empress Dowager Zhao also knew well that now was not the time for accusations. She slowly stood up and walked back.
Hua Shu stood there, her back straight as a rod.
She knew these people would not remain idle and had long sent people to keep a close watch, creating the illusion that Consort De could frame her.
She never expected Consort De to be so impatient, resorting to underhanded tactics in an attempt to kill two birds with one stone—eliminating Rong Zhaoyi while also pinning the blame on her, the Empress.
She wanted to take every advantage for herself, but such good fortune does not exist in this world.
Smug and self-satisfied, she remained unaware that her end was near.
Of course, what Hua Shu wanted was not limited to this. The Phoenix Seal must also be returned.
And this return must be without blemish, ensuring that everyone knew the Empress was innocent.
As for the earlier mess, not only would she not take the blame, but she would also make the Emperor feel guilty.
Chu Ze stood up. In truth, from the moment the incident occurred, not only Rong Zhaoyi but even he had suspected the Empress first.
He walked to Hua Shu’s side, wanting to say something, but his gaze faltered slightly.
From his angle, he could clearly see the glimmer of tears in the Empress’s almond-shaped eyes. Yet, as she raised her head, the tears never fell—a silent defiance that proclaimed her innocence.
“Your Majesty, you suspect me, don’t you? You keep glancing at me. Even now, are you still wondering whether all of this was orchestrated by me?”
As she spoke, Hua Shu turned sideways, standing face-to-face with him.
Her tear-filled eyes seemed to shimmer like starlight.
“Your Majesty need not answer. I can see the answer in your eyes. In Your Majesty’s eyes, I am all-powerful, capable of covering the sky with my hand.” Hua Shu spoke, a faint, bitter smile tugging at her lips.
A trace of guilt stirred in Chu Ze’s heart. He admitted he held reservations and prejudices against the Empress.
Hua Shu’s face showed an irrepressible disappointment. She turned and walked outside.
Seated in the Imperial Procession Carriage on her way back to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, Hua Shu slightly raised her head. The sky was clear and boundless. Resting her hand on her forehead, a faint smile appeared at the corner of her lips.
Back in the State of Zhao, the old emperor had been even more cunning and scheming. But what did it matter? Everyone has their weaknesses.
Especially those standing at great heights, clothed in silk and fed on delicacies.
To conquer the heart is the highest strategy, achieving victory without a fight.
However, Hua Shu had only been calculating her own affairs earlier.
Now, upon careful reflection, although Consort De was foolish, she would not be foolish to this extent—her plan was full of holes.
The evidence had appeared at just the right time, especially the palace maid who later appeared and the eunuch sent to silence her.
Clearly, someone was pulling the strings behind the scenes, aiming to be the hidden victor.
Consort De, in charge of the palace and mother to the First Prince, was already conspicuous. With her lack of wits, she was nothing more than a tool—and the perfect scapegoat.
……….
The harem was turned upside down. The source of the poison was indeed brought in by Consort De, who had abused her authority over the palace. The maids and eunuchs all confessed.
As for the earlier incident, an imperial physician suddenly confessed, claiming that Consort De had plotted to harm Rong Zhaoyi, endanger the imperial heir, and frame the Empress—all for the sake of the First Prince and her own promotion to Noble Consort.
Bringing poison into the palace was already a capital offense, let alone plotting against the imperial heir and framing the Empress.
An immediate decree was issued: Consort De was demoted to commoner status and confined to the Cold Palace.
At the same time, palace discipline was tightened, serving as a warning to all.
……
Half a month later, in the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.
The courtyard was filled with gold, silver, and jewels sent by the Emperor, arranged in abundance.
At the forefront, Li Sheng held the Phoenix Seal with utmost reverence.”Empress, His Majesty knows you were wronged, which is why he ordered this servant to specially deliver it to you. He hopes Your Majesty will guide the Six Palaces and restore peace to the inner court!” Li Sheng said.
Hua Shu sat there absentmindedly, as if she couldn’t hear him, fiddling with the flowers on the table.
“The Emperor personally came to retrieve the Phoenix Seal that day. Why isn’t he coming personally this time?”
As she spoke, Hua Shu took the scissors and snipped off the top flower with a snip.
Li Sheng’s eyelid twitched, and he quickly smiled. “Your Majesty, once the Emperor finishes his important matters, he will naturally come to see you.”
Hua Shu glanced at Nanny Wen beside her, who understood her intention and stepped forward to take the Phoenix Seal.
“Chief Steward Li, you’ve worked hard. Her Majesty has just been in a poor mood lately. Please don’t take offense.” Nanny Wen placed the Phoenix Seal on the desk and then led Chief Steward Li out.
Hua Shu set down the scissors, and Yun Xiu stepped forward to take the flowers to the window.
“Your Majesty, if you speak like that, I’m afraid the Emperor will be angry again when he hears it?”
Yun Xiu whispered.
Chief Steward Li was the Emperor’s ears. Whatever Her Majesty said would likely be reported truthfully to the Emperor.
Now that they had finally cleared the Palace of Earthly Tranquility of false accusations, the Emperor’s gift was enough to prove his regard for Her Majesty.
Hua Shu smoothed the shawl draped over her arm and smiled. “Yun Xiu, when you marry in the future, don’t be too indulgent toward men.”
Offering your whole heart completely, only to gain nothing in the end.
Yun Xiu blushed and quickly said she only wished to serve her mistress forever.