"I have some idea who is behind her."
"It's good that Your Highness has an idea."
After bathing, Li Zhu changed into her sleeping garments.
Li Shengyuan had finished earlier and even brought memorials from Qinzheng Palace. When Li Zhu emerged, she saw him "writing furiously."
Li Zhu marveled at how energetic this man was.
Noticing her arrival, Li Shengyuan set down his vermilion brush.
"I heard someone put medicine in your food today?"
"Yes, it was a laxative."
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Li Shengyuan was somewhat angry.
"Today is the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration. This concubine was afraid of disturbing Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager."
"So now you know how to be obedient. I heard the palace maid who administered the poison committed suicide. Do you have any suspicions about who might be behind this?"
[No need to suspect—it's Su Jieyu.]
"This concubine dare not make baseless conjectures."
"Harming imperial consorts cannot be tolerated. I will find out who is responsible."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. You don't know—I almost ate those laxative-laced wontons. If I had embarrassed myself at the banquet, I would never have been able to show my face again."
Playing along with Li Zhu's act, Li Shengyuan pulled her onto his lap.
"My beloved consort has suffered an injustice."
Li Zhu wasn't sure how she ended up sitting on the dog emperor's lap.
[I have to say, the dog emperor's thighs are really firm!]
Li Shengyuan nodded inwardly, thinking the person on his lap had rather soft buttocks.
But he couldn't let her stay seated any longer, or this woman would start mentally cursing him as a pervert again.
Before Li Zhu could fully enjoy the experience, she was abruptly lifted off those firm thighs.
"It's getting late. Let's rest."
~~
Although Li Shengyuan had promised to help her uncover the mastermind, Li Zhu had no intention of letting Su Jieyu off easily.
The Su family's story was far too sensational to keep bottled up at home. It was time to air it out and let everyone join in the excitement.
"Zhi Zi, come here."
Li Zhu beckoned and whispered into Zhi Zi's ear.
Fo Shou didn't know what Li Zhu had told Zhi Zi, but she saw the maid's eyes widen in great excitement.
After a moment, Zhi Zi stammered, "Your Highness, is everything you just said true?"
Li Zhu nodded—she never spread false rumors.
"Yes, this servant will go handle it immediately."
"Go ahead. I trust you."
After Zhi Zi hurried off excitedly, Fo Shou's curiosity reached its peak.
Seeing Fo Shou's anxious but hesitant expression, Li Zhu laughed. "Don't be impatient, Fo Shou."
"Your Highness, what exactly did you tell Zhi Zi?"
"Hahaha, you'll find out tomorrow. It's something very delicious."
"Delicious?"
"That's right—an extremely juicy piece of gossip!"
The next day, a scandalous rumor spread throughout the rear palace.
In Changle Hall, Su Jieyu smashed all the teacups and teapots on the table.
"Nonsense! Sheer nonsense!"
Su Jieyu's palace maid knelt trembling on the floor. Naturally, she didn't believe the palace rumors either.
How could the Jieyu's mother possibly have… committed adultery with her uncle?
"Who started these rumors? When I find out, I'll tear their mouth to shreds!"
"Your Highness, please calm down."
"Calm down? If you want me to calm down, then go find out who started these rumors!"
"I know! It must be that bitch Li Zhu! That whore!"
"Your Highness, watch your words!"
Exhausted from her tantrum, Su Jieyu collapsed into her chair.
"Qing Lu, isn't it utterly ridiculous? Mother and Uncle are ten years apart in age. Mother said she watched Uncle grow up. After Father passed away, Mother remained a widow. Uncle feared we would be bullied, so he never separated the household. How despicable are those who fabricate such rumors! They've made Mother and Uncle sound so indecent—how will Mother face people from now on!"
Qing Lu was the Palace Maid Su Jieyu brought from her residence, having served by her side for over a decade.
Qing Lu's feelings were complicated. The Jieyu firmly believed her mother and Second Master were innocent, but Qing Lu didn't believe it at all.
Back at the residence, the Second Master often appeared in the Madame's courtyard.
At first, Qing Lu also thought the Madame treated the Second Master like a junior.
But one day, when she went to the Madame's courtyard to fetch something, she saw the Second Master emerging from the Madame's bedchamber.
That day, Qing Lu saw murderous intent in the Second Master's eyes.
Fortunately, because she was the young lady's chief maid, the Second Master only warned her to forget what she saw that day.
But Qing Lu couldn't forget.
Unable to shatter the naive Su Jieyu's illusions, Qing Lu comforted her: "Yes, it's truly despicable."
"No! Rumors will only intensify. I cannot sit idly by!" Su Jieyu sprang to her feet.
"Jieyu, where are you going?"
"I'm going to Qinzheng Palace to see the Emperor! I'll ask His Majesty to clear my name and the Su family's reputation!"
"No." Qing Lu grabbed Su Jieyu's sleeve in panic. "Your Highness, innocence needs no defense."
"What do you mean 'innocence needs no defense'? If these rumors continue for a few more days, even if Mother jumped into the Yellow River, she couldn't wash herself clean!"
"Your Highness, don't go! You mustn't!" Qing Lu held on desperately.
"Why are you stopping me? Do you… know something?"
Qing Lu shook her head tearfully.
"Speak!" Su Jieyu shouted.
"Six years ago, this servant saw… saw the Second Master coming out of the Madame's bedchamber."
"Qing Lu, do you realize what you're saying?"
Qing Lu nodded.
"Qing Lu, you deserve death!"
But Qing Lu continued: "This servant saw it with my own eyes. And Your Highness, don't you think the Eldest Young Master resembles the Second Master more and more?"
"Uncle and Father were blood brothers! It's normal for younger brothers to resemble their uncles!"
"But Your Highness, the Eldest Young Master was born after his father's death. The timing is too coincidental."
Su Jieyu pointed at Qing Lu, breaking down and saying: "Are you suggesting that Mother and Uncle were…".. were…"
She couldn't bring herself to say "adultery," nor dared she believe it.
"Qing Lu, have I been too indulgent with you?"
"Your Highness, stop deceiving yourself. If the Eldest Young Master weren't the Second Master's son, why would he treat him better than his own Second Young Master?"
Su Jieyu froze, suddenly remembering.
Su Guanwen trailed after his younger brother Su Guanwu like a servant, just as her aunt's daughter Su Mo followed her around like a maid.
But she had always thought Su Mo was naturally servile.
So this… this was the disgraceful truth!
Su Jieyu's world spun, and she fainted.
In Qinzheng Palace, Li Shengyuan finished listening to Ji An's report and understood that Li Zhu had made her move.
He had to admit, this "scandal" about the Su family was truly explosive.
"Ji An, immediately order the Jinyiwei to investigate the Su family."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"