Free Web NovelChapter 171: Chapter 74: I’m So Ruthless, I’ll Even Screw Myself Over
At this thought, Song Yunzhao’s eyes darted. She rose from the Emperor’s embrace and turned to Zhu Ruolan, who was shrinking back, wishing she could disappear on the spot. "Your Majesty, this incident began with Zhu Cairen. Why don’t you question her? You will soon know whether I am telling the truth."
Zhu Ruolan had not expected Song Yunzhao to single her out at this moment, and her face turned pale.
Feng Yi looked down at Song Yunzhao. He knew this little fox was probably just acting. After all, before he arrived, she had been standing ramrod straight, confronting Consort Shu without a trace of fear.
But seeing her now, with her eyes red and her face streaked with tears, still made him feel a sense of unease. He pulled her a little closer and looked at her. "Zhu Cairen? What does this have to do with her?"
This was the very question Song Yunzhao had been waiting for. She immediately said, "Your Majesty, do you recall the matter of Lu Pin sending me that silver-white satin?"
Feng Yi nodded. Of course, he remembered. Lu Pin had been confined to her quarters and had her allowance docked because of it. But for Yun Zhao to bring this up now, and to mention Zhu Cairen... ’Could there be more to this story?’
Feng Yi’s interest was suddenly piqued.
In front of everyone, Song Yunzhao recounted what Feng Yunjin had told her, sticking only to the basic facts of the matter and leaving out any other details.
"Lu Pin and I have never been on good terms, so I thought she was deliberately trying to annoy and mock me. That’s why I filed a complaint. Who knew there was another reason for her actions? I had not yet uncovered the truth, so I didn’t want to rashly disturb Your Majesty with it again, which is why I hadn’t mentioned it. By coincidence, I came to the gardens for a stroll and happened upon Zhu Cairen, so I asked her a few questions. But who would have thought that Lady Shufei would suddenly jump in and accuse me of reprimanding and punishing another concubine without cause? I am only a Noble Consort, and I had done nothing wrong. How could I accept such an accusation? I tried to reason with her, but I never imagined Lady Shufei would use her authority to settle a personal score and try to have me beaten to death. Every word I’ve said is true. I implore Your Majesty to uncover the truth."
After Feng Yunjin had told her about Lu Zhixue’s situation, Song Yunzhao had guessed there was someone behind Zhu Ruolan. She couldn’t be sure if it was Consort Shu, Qin Xiyue, or someone else. She had been waiting for the right opportunity to bring this matter to light, and now, it had finally arrived.
Her task was simply to give the Emperor an opening. Who he managed to uncover was none of her concern.
Hearing Song Yunzhao drag Lu Zhixue and Feng Yunjin into the matter, the situation instantly became more complex.
"Your Majesty, Consort Song is absolutely right. Since this involves Lu Pin, it would be best to investigate it thoroughly," Consort Zhuang said, stepping forward from the crowd. Her eyes swept over everyone present before finally landing on Qin Xiyue. "Consort Qin, I recall that you and Lu Pin have always been on good terms. Do you know the truth of this matter?"
Hearing Consort Zhuang call her name, Qin Xiyue looked up at her and replied, "In response to Consort Zhuang, although I am on good terms with Lu Pin, she has never mentioned this to me, so I dare not make any assertions."
Consort Wan, not wanting Consort Zhuang to steal the spotlight, quickly interjected, "Consort Zhuang, what’s the use of asking Consort Qin? Consort Song just said that Lu Pin asked Feng Xiaoyuan to deliver a message for her. You should be asking Feng Xiaoyuan." Without waiting for Consort Zhuang to speak, she turned to Feng Yunjin herself. "Feng Xiaoyuan, since you were willing to pass on a message for Lu Pin, you must know the details. You tell us."
Song Yunzhao kept her head down, remaining silent as she leaned tightly against the Emperor. Hidden by her long sleeves, her finger reached out to hook his.
Feng Yi was speechless.
He discreetly glanced at Song Yunzhao out of the corner of his eye. He saw her with her head bowed, looking utterly wronged, terrified, and listless—a truly pitiful sight.
Although he suspected she was acting, when Song Yunzhao’s finger hooked his again, he turned his hand and enveloped hers in his palm. Only then did he notice how ice-cold her hand was, and he couldn’t help but frown.
’So she wasn’t pretending? She was genuinely frightened?’
He recalled her earlier words about Consort Shu wanting to have her beaten to death. ’Perhaps it wasn’t an exaggeration after all. Was she really that scared?’
Song Yunzhao felt the Emperor’s grip tighten slightly around her hand. He didn’t pull away, nor did he scold her. It seemed her small test had yielded good results.
’The Emperor may be a scoundrel, but he has a conscience sometimes.’
At that moment, Feng Yunjin had already stepped forward to briefly recount what Lu Zhixue had entrusted to her. Like Song Yunzhao, she didn’t mention a single word about their respective families, only explaining how Lu Zhixue discovered that Zhu Cairen had framed her.
Zhu Ruolan cried out that she had been wronged. She knew Lu Zhixue had no proof. As long as she refused to admit it, how could they convict her without evidence?
The matter reached a stalemate.
Feng Yi remained silent, his hand still holding Yun Zhao’s as before.
However, Song Yunzhao noticed his fingertips twitch slightly and knew that he was not without a plan.
Thinking of this, she lifted her foot and, under the cover of her wide skirts, gave Anshun a gentle kick.
Anshun immediately shuffled a step forward on his knees, bowed his head, and said to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, every master has Palace Attendants serving them. With strict interrogation, the truth can surely be uncovered."
Meng Jiuchang, who had been silent all this time, glanced at Anshun. ’This boy is quite cunning, knowing how to make an impression on His Majesty.’ Thinking this, he also bowed and chimed in, "Your Majesty, Anshun has a point. Zhu Cairen has attendants by her side who would surely know of her every move. A thorough investigation would not necessarily be fruitless."
Zhu Ruolan’s heart leaped into her throat. Although she had avoided outsiders at the time, she hadn’t been constantly on guard against her own attendants. Besides, some things had indeed been carried out by them...
Feng Yi’s eyes swept over Zhu Ruolan’s drained face, then across the crowd, before finally resting on Consort Shu.
Consort Shu’s heart tightened, but she dared not let any of her turmoil show on her face, instead maintaining a look of extreme grievance.
"Consort Shu, is there anything else you’d like to say?"
Consort Shu’s hands clenched together so tightly that her handkerchief was twisted out of shape. She wanted to force a smile, but with her heart pounding like a drum, she found she couldn’t even manage that.
She had been in the palace for so long; how could she not recognize the warning in the Emperor’s tone? ’This is my last chance.’
Consort Shu composed herself before speaking. "Your Majesty, if what Consort Song says is true, then this concubine must have been deceived by Zhu Cairen. I believed she was truly being oppressed by Consort Song, which is why I misunderstood her."
Consort Zhuang’s eyes narrowed slightly. ’I can’t believe Consort Shu actually backed down,’ she thought. ’What a pity. Such a good opportunity.’
She hesitated, debating whether to kick Consort Shu while she was down. Just as she was about to make up her mind, she heard the Emperor say, "Zhu Cairen, is what Consort Shu says true?"
Consort Shu was trying to make Zhu Cairen her scapegoat. It was all up to how Zhu Ruolan chose to respond.
Zhu Ruolan’s eyes were fixed on Consort Shu, but Consort Shu did not look back at her.
Song Yunzhao looked at neither Zhu Ruolan nor Consort Shu. Shielded by the Emperor’s broad figure, her gaze was fixed intently on Qin Xiyue.
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