The Emperor and Empress, along with the Imperial Concubines, were startled by these words. Pei Tingyue’s mind went blank for a moment.
All eyes turned to the corner of the bedchamber.
Xie Chen’s deep eyes swirled with unreadable emotions as he pointed at the pile of powder and challenged Pei Tingyue,
“Consort Pei, explain this.”
She had fallen into the trap after all.
No matter how cautious she had been, she couldn’t escape it.
Pei Tingyue struggled to suppress the bone-chilling cold rising from her feet, her mind racing to devise a countermeasure.
Feigning helplessness, she rose and knelt trembling before Xie Chen. “It’s true that this Nanzhu hairpin was Pinqie’s congratulatory gift to Consort Shu, but Pinqie would never dare harbor any ill intentions toward Her Highness.”
Before the Emperor and Empress could speak, Huang Jieyu, who shared the same palace as Consort Shu (Jiang), stood up indignantly. Pointing at Pei Tingyue, she said bitterly, “The hairpin you gifted contained aconite powder, witnessed by everyone in this hall. How dare you deny it?!”
Pei Tingyue glanced around the hall—everyone wore cold, indifferent expressions.
As if terrified, her slender frame trembled unsteadily. Her eyes reddened as she defended herself in a shaky voice,
“Not only has Pinqie only recently entered the palace with shallow foundations, making it impossible to obtain a poison like aconite, but even considering motive—Pinqie has never had any grievances with Consort Shu. Why would Pinqie go to such lengths to harm her?”
Huang Jieyu pondered for a moment before sneering, “No grievances? How could there be no grievances! For the past two months, you alone enjoyed lavish imperial favor. But recently, His Majesty rarely visits the Imperial Harem, and when he does, it’s to see Consort Shu. You must have resented her for stealing your spotlight and deliberately sought revenge!”
Pei Tingyue calmly identified the flaw in this argument. With sorrow, she replied, “But Pinqie gifted the hairpin before His Majesty began visiting Consort Shu due to her pregnancy. How could Pinqie have resented her beforehand?”
Huang Jieyu choked, then stubbornly insisted, “But the fact remains—the Nanzhu hairpin contained aconite powder!”
Steeling herself, she knelt before the Emperor and Empress. “This Consort Pei refuses to admit guilt until faced with irrefutable evidence. Pinqie implores Your Majesties to authorize a search of her palace!”
Huang Jieyu’s argument held some merit—without a search, Consort Pei’s innocence couldn’t be proven. But a palace search was no trivial matter. Empress Cui hesitated, “Your Majesty… this…”
Xie Chen contemplated briefly before taking action. He commanded sternly, “Liang Yao, take your men and personally search Consort Pei’s residence.”
Liang Yao led his men away from the hall entrance.
Everyone waited anxiously, their hearts on edge.
Understanding the gravity of the situation, the Imperial Concubines remained silent, not daring to whisper or even exchange glances.
Only Consort Xian (Xie) added fuel to the fire: “One truly cannot judge by appearances! Who would have thought Consort Pei, with such a beautiful face, could harbor such filthy intentions!”
Empress Cui intervened, “Until the matter is settled, Consort Xian must not speak recklessly.”
A mocking smile touched Consort Xian’s lips, but she said no more.
From the moment “palace search” was mentioned, Pei Tingyue had not uttered another word.
She knelt upright with downcast eyes, frantically analyzing the situation in her heart.
Even though she had meticulously inspected her quarters before leaving and found nothing amiss, Pei Tingyue was now certain that Liang Yao would inevitably discover “incriminating evidence” in the back hall.
From the moment Consort Shu (Jiang) began experiencing abdominal pain, she had fallen into someone’s trap—a carefully laid scheme, one loop after another. The mastermind would not allow her to escape.
Once “evidence” was found in her palace, all clues would point to her. No amount of explanation or cries of innocence would be of any use.
Pei Tingyue could already imagine her fate in a moment.
If the Emperor still found her useful and intended to continue using her as a shield, her punishment would likely be demotion and confinement!
If the Emperor deemed her useless, she would be cast into the Cold Palace—a certain path to death.
Who was it?
Who exactly wanted her dead?
Consort Xian (Xie), Lin Zhaorong, or perhaps Consort Shu (Jiang)!
Come to think of it, even Huang Jieyu—usually taciturn but acting unusually today—was suspicious!
Anyone could be behind it…
Pei Tingyue dug her nails into her palm, forcing herself to calm down.
She wanted neither of these outcomes!
She needed to break free from this trap.
Taking a deep breath, Pei Tingyue was about to review the sequence of events when her peripheral vision caught the golden hairpin discarded on the floor. A strange feeling flickered in her heart.
Her breath hitched as she quickly seized upon this anomaly, staring intently at the hairpin on the ground.
This Nanzhu Zānzi was specially commissioned from the Internal Affairs Bureau’s craftsmen after she learned of Consort Shu (Jiang)’s pregnancy.
The golden hairpin itself was made by melting down an old-style hairpin she provided, while the Nanzhu Pearls used for the floral decoration were a gift from Noble Consort Song.
But now, she noticed something amiss!
That old-style golden hairpin had been thick—even thicker than this Nanzhu golden hairpin—and solid through and through.
Logically, the craftsmen should have used all the gold she sent. Yet now, this Nanzhu golden hairpin was not only thinner than the original but also hollow!
The weight of the gold didn’t match!
Pei Tingyue suddenly realized she had fallen into this trap from the moment she commissioned the hairpin.
The mastermind had not only bribed her palace maid, knowing full well her intention behind making the hairpin, but also corrupted the craftsman to deliberately craft it hollow—all to conceal Wu Tou powder.
What an elaborate scheme.
But this discrepancy in the gold’s weight also gave her a chance to break the trap.
Pei Tingyue held no hope of catching the mastermind. She understood clearly: anyone daring to act against Consort Shu (Jiang) and frame her right under the Emperor and Empress’s watchful eyes must have the means to escape unscathed.
At the very least, this doubt could drag the “Wu Tou harming the fetus” incident into a new phase. As long as the situation changed, she had a chance to escape.
Pei Tingyue exhaled softly, inwardly grateful she had noticed this detail.
Approximately the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
Liang Yao hurried in.
No one dared even breathe heavily, waiting for him to speak.
Liang Yao knelt to report: “Your Majesty, Empress, this servant has obtained results.”
“This was found in a hidden compartment of Consort Pei’s bed.”
The little eunuch behind him immediately presented a handkerchief bundle, clearly wrapped around something.
Xia Yuanpan stepped forward to open it.
After a moment, he declared: “This is Wu Tou powder.”
An uproar swept through the hall.
Huang Jieyu looked like a triumphant rooster, gloating at Pei Tingyue: “Consort Pei, what do you have to say for yourself now?”
Pei Tingyue stared in shock, her strength deserting her as she collapsed to the floor. She murmured, “How can this be! How is this possible!”
Her usually captivating peach-blossom eyes instantly misted over.
Clutching Xie Chen’s robes desperately, she looked fragile and pitiable: “Pinqie truly didn’t do it! Pinqie has no idea how this happened! Whatever about Wu Tou or harming the fetus—it has nothing to do with Pinqie!”
Pointing at the handkerchief on the floor, she protested, “If Pinqie really did this, why would Pinqie be foolish enough to keep such damning evidence?”
Huang Jieyu’s eyes were filled with disgust. “Even now, you still refuse to admit it?!”
Just as Pei Tingyue was about to continue her act and reach for the golden hairpin, a weak voice came from the bed.