On a winter afternoon, the warm sun shone a bit brighter, its light streaming through the windows and spilling onto the main hall, bringing a slight warmth to Nianyao’s hands and feet as she knelt on the floor.
She watched clearly as her own breath formed a mist-like white cloud, gradually dissipating into the air until it vanished without a trace.
Her senses seemed heightened, allowing her to see even the tiniest specks of dust floating in the air.
Time felt as though it had come to a standstill. The breathing of those around her, the impatient shuffling of the maids restraining her behind her—the sound of their shoes scraping against the floor.
Suddenly, amid the jostling, someone’s voice spoke up.
“Shh, the Empress Dowager has arrived.”
Nianyao perked up her ears, naturally not missing these words.
Soft footsteps in delicate shoes moved toward the main hall, and the Empress Dowager’s unique scent of sandalwood drifted into Nianyao’s nostrils.
She shifted direction, kneeling and bowing toward the main seat.
“Your humble servant greets the Empress Dowager.”
No one had expected her to be the first to speak.
Even the Empress Dowager seated above showed a flicker of interest in her eyes.
Her gaze fell upon Nianyao, carrying a hint of regret.
She had originally thought she would meet Jiang Nianyao, who had inherited Prime Minister Jiang’s integrity.
But now, Jiang Nianyao was no different from any other maid in the palace.
Except for her audacity in requesting an audience—despite being a convicted criminal, her guilt seemingly set in stone.
The Empress Dowager straightened her posture, picked up the teacup beside her, gently brushed away the tea leaves floating on the surface, and only then spoke.
“What brings you to seek this grieving one?”
Before Nianyao could speak, the matron who had previously convicted her stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, this criminal slave is ignorant. Allow this servant to discipline her. It was unnecessary for Your Majesty to trouble yourself with this journey.”
Nianyao turned her head to look at the matron, a flash of hatred gleaming in her eyes.
But she hadn’t expected the Empress Dowager’s displeased words to follow.
“When did this grieving one ask you?”
The matron’s face turned pale, stammering and unable to speak.
“Nianyao, you speak.”
Suddenly called by her name by the Empress Dowager, even Nianyao was momentarily taken aback.
She straightened her back but kept her eyes lowered, not looking up.
Nianyao struggled to suppress a sob but still spoke slowly.
“This servant is merely the lowest-ranking maid in the Palace of Longevity and Peace. Such a precious item as the Eastern Pearl could never have passed through this servant’s hands. This baseless accusation—this servant does not accept it. The Empress Dowager is benevolent and kind-hearted, and will surely restore this servant’s innocence.”
She emphasized the words “innocence.”
Back then, her father’s innocence was known throughout the court. Even the Empress Dowager had once advised the Emperor, but…
Now, even if she had to exploit the Empress Dowager’s lingering guilt toward her father, so be it.
She had to survive in the depths of the palace.
Only by surviving could there be hope.
Just as Nianyao had anticipated.
The Empress Dowager looked down at Nianyao’s straightened back and was instantly reminded of the aged Prime Minister Jiang.
A flicker of depth passed through the Empress Dowager’s eyes.
“Do not think that by flattering this grieving one a few times, you can escape unscathed.”
Though she spoke this way, her demeanor relaxed slightly.
“Who searched Nianyao and found the Eastern Pearl?”
The matron who had been reprimanded earlier stepped forward, her face pale.
“Your Majesty, it was this old servant.”
The matron glanced at Nianyao, already harboring resentment toward her in her heart.
Even if Nianyao avoided the Palace of Punishment this time, she would not let her off easily afterward.
In the palace, tormenting a palace servant without backing was effortless.
The Empress Dowager’s light, airy words drifted over: “Since you conducted the search, then you tell us—how could a mere third-rank palace servant like her possibly come into contact with this consort’s Eastern Pearl?”
But in the next instant, her voice suddenly turned sharp. “Could it be that you all have been negligent in your duties? How could even a lowly third-rank maid be allowed to serve in the inner chambers?”
As soon as the Empress Dowager uttered these words, all the palace maids and matrons in the hall were startled and hurriedly knelt down.
“This old servant/your servant dares not.”
While everyone else trembled in fear, Nianyao slowly raised her head and looked toward the Empress Dowager seated in the main position.
Although she had served in the Palace of Longevity and Peace for two years, as a third-rank palace servant, Nianyao could not often catch a glimpse of the Empress Dowager’s esteemed face.
The time Nianyao remembered the Empress Dowager most vividly was back when, as the legitimate daughter of the Jiang family, she accompanied her mother to pay respects to Her Majesty at the Spring Banquet.
At that time, she was only eight or nine years old, and the Empress Dowager was also much younger than she was now.
She did not seem like the peerlessly noble Empress Dowager, but rather like a grandmother from the neighborhood, smiling and beckoning, handing her a handful of milk candies imported from a vassal state.
Returning from her reverie, Nianyao looked at the Empress Dowager, whose temples were gradually graying, and suppressed her unusual emotions.
The Empress Dowager swept her gaze over the crowd and spoke: “In that case, Nianyao had no opportunity to touch the Eastern Pearl. It seems someone investigated the wrong person.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the matron kneeling to Nianyao’s right swayed violently.
Her face pale, she stammered: “But, but Your Majesty. The Eastern Pearl was indeed found on Nianyao’s bed!”
It seemed someone did not want Nianyao to get off easily. A trembling, soft, and delicate voice came from a corner of the hall.
“This servant, this servant once saw Nianyao holding a crown, as if she was taking it to the Jewelry Bureau.”
As soon as these words were spoken, all eyes fell on that palace maid.
Even Nianyao was no exception.
Only, Nianyao narrowed her eyes slightly.
The palace servants in the Palace of Longevity and Peace were countless; if it were anyone else, she might not necessarily recognize them all.
But this person, she knew very well.
It was Xiao He, the palace maid who shared a room with her and usually swept fallen leaves in the courtyard.
Xiao He seemed to have a thin skin; with so many eyes now focused on her, even her arms couldn’t help but tremble.
The Empress Dowager, however, looked at her with interest.
“Oh? You say this crown was once handled by Nianyao?”
This was the first time Xiao He had been personally questioned by the Empress Dowager, and she flushed with excitement.
She took small, hurried steps to the center of the hall and knelt beside Nianyao.
“Replying to Your Majesty, this servant shares a room with Nianyao, so naturally we pay attention to each other’s daily activities. That day, that day…”
As Xiao He spoke, she seemed to still be mindful of Nianyao beside her, glancing at her several times, her eyes revealing a fearful expression.
Nianyao had already made her calculations.
It seemed she had misjudged people before. She had thought everyone in her room was one who avoided trouble, waiting to leave the palace at twenty-four.
Now it appeared that someone harbored greater ambitions.
Nianyao did not say anything, but the Empress Dowager, hearing this, addressed her.
“Do you have anything to say in your defense?”
Nianyao bowed forward: “This servant has nothing to refute.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the matron beside her jumped up and pointed an accusing finger. “See what I said! It must be you. Now you admit your guilt!”
Nianyao did not look at her, her voice timid yet clear and logical: “All items handled by the Jewelry Bureau are recorded in the registry. This humble servant implores Your Highness to summon the female scribe of the Jewelry Bureau for questioning.”
As soon as the words were spoken, Xiao He’s face beside her suddenly turned deathly pale.