Free Web NovelChapter 97: Chapter 52: Reputation Ruined, Banished from the Palace
The personnel from the Palace Justice Department arrived quickly. The interrogation, taking of statements, and signing of confessions were all handled in one swift process. After taking testimonies from the others in succession, it was Luo Xiuying’s turn. She had planned to remain defiant, but when two burly, broad-waisted nannies from the Palace Justice Department stepped forward, she was so frightened her legs gave out and she almost fell to her knees. So, she confessed everything truthfully.
Song Qinghan had not only given her silver, but had also promised that after Luo Xiuying left the palace, she would have her family look after the Luo Family.
Hearing this, Song Yunzhao’s expression flickered. ’This involves our families,’ she thought. ’I wonder if Father will be affected.’
Song Qinghan was selfish and would likely give no thought to Mr. Song. But Song Yunzhao couldn’t do the same. Her father had always treated her well, and she couldn’t let him get dragged down by Song Qinghan.
When it was Song Qinghan’s turn, she tried to deny everything and shift the blame. However, the testimonies from Zhao Xiaoyu and Luo Xiuying were damning, and with Song Yunzhao watching her like a hawk, Song Qinghan’s struggles were futile. She wilted completely, the only sign of life being the raging fire in her eyes as she glared at Song Yunzhao.
After the interrogation, the matter of punishment still needed to be reported to higher authorities. Song Yunzhao and the others watched as Song Qinghan and her accomplices were led away to be temporarily held in solitary confinement. Only then did they leave, relieved.
Once the young women had left, Nanny Zhang let out a slight sigh of relief. Clutching the written testimonies, she looked at Nanny Yin and said, "This still needs to be reported to the higher-ups. Should you go, or I?"
Nanny Yin replied, "You’ve handled it this far. You should be the one to go."
Nanny Zhang laughed. "You certainly know how to get out of work." After a pause, she added, "Nanny Su will definitely not let this rest, so you won’t be avoiding work entirely. I’ll go over to Consort Shu’s, and you’ll have to go report to Consort Zhuang."
Nanny Yin nodded. "Very well. As long as Consort Shu doesn’t interfere, this matter should blow over. But if she insists on getting involved, I foresee a lot more trouble."
"The final review is about to happen," Nanny Zhang said. "Consort Shu is unlikely to make any unnecessary moves. Nanny Su won’t dare take it too far, either. With Consort Zhuang acting as a counterbalance, we can navigate this."
"Let’s hope so."
Having come to an agreement, the two went their separate ways. At Cuiwei Palace, Nanny Zhang did not see Nanny Su. When she made her report, she explained the situation with perfect clarity and waited for Consort Shu’s command.
Consort Shu glanced at Nanny Zhang, a small smile playing on her lips. She spoke slowly, "Nanny Zhang, We hear you have been taking quite good care of that Miss Song."
Hearing this, Nanny Zhang immediately replied, "Your Highness, this servant would not dare overstep her authority. Everything was handled strictly according to the rules."
Consort Shu chuckled lightly. Without even glancing at the written testimonies, she tossed them casually onto a small side table. "You’re a clever woman, Nanny. Of course you wouldn’t do anything foolish. You may go." frёewebηovel.cѳm
Nanny Zhang’s brow furrowed. She could hear the hidden meaning in Consort Shu’s words, but she gave no promises. She simply bowed and took her leave.
Only after leaving Cuiwei Palace did Nanny Zhang allow herself a slight sigh of relief, quickening her steps back toward Zhichun Palace.
Back in Song Yunzhao’s room, Song Yexi and He Lan Yun were present, and Han Jinyi had come over as well. The four of them sat together, waiting for news.
"I wonder what the outcome will be," Song Yexi said softly, her voice filled with worry. "Song Qinghan is so vicious. To think she’d resort to ramming the boat... What if someone had actually died?"
"If the outcome is unfair, we’ll just take it to a higher authority," He Lan Yun declared, full of confidence.
Han Jinyi glanced at He Lan Yun. ’She can say that because she has the Prince Zhenbei Mansion backing her.’ Han Jinyi’s family status was better than Song Yunzhao’s, but it didn’t grant her the same kind of power He Lan Yun wielded.
After a moment’s thought, she said, "If we really do decide to escalate this, we must plan it carefully. Otherwise, it won’t be you or I who suffers the misfortune, but someone else."
This "someone else," of course, referred to Song Yunzhao and Song Yexi, the two with the weakest family backgrounds in their group.
Song Yexi was about to lose her mind. She was so angry she wished she could just beat Song Qinghan a hundred times to feel better. ’When I get back to the manor, I’m going to tell my family everything she’s done.’
The reason Song Yunzhao dared to make such a scene was because her decision was based on her knowledge of the harem’s power dynamics, which she had learned from a book.
After Consort Chu’s death, the three highest-ranking concubines, the most powerful women in the harem, were each acting in their own interests. All of them coveted the position of Imperial Concubine. Therefore, none of them could afford to do anything that would give the others an opening to attack them or become the subject of damaging gossip.
This resulted in a stalemate, with each of them keeping the others in check. It was just like that time a housekeeper had tried to take her away; they had to do it furtively and didn’t dare to summon her for an open audience.
She was certain that as long as she blew the situation up big enough to attract the attention of all three top concubines, it would, paradoxically, be the easiest way to solve the problem.
The real danger lay in being hesitant or fearful and not daring to make a scene. That would only make it convenient for certain people to strike from the shadows.
"Yun Zhao, what do you think?"
Song Yunzhao returned from her thoughts and looked at Song Yexi. "I think this may go more smoothly than we anticipate," she said. "After all, the matter has already been blown wide open. There’s more than one powerful consort in the harem, so someone is bound to ensure justice is served. Moreover, Your Majesty never gave the harem explicit orders to get involved in the selection process, so the consorts must all be proceeding with extreme caution."
Han Jinyi felt that made sense and gave Song Yunzhao another look. ’I used to think she just had a bad temper,’ she mused. ’I never realized her mind was so sharp.’
An hour later, the decision on their punishment arrived.
Song Qinghan, Luo Xiuying, and Zhao Xiaoyu were all to be expelled from the palace. They weren’t just being eliminated from the selection—they were being banished for committing an offense. It was said that Zhao Xiaoyu fainted on the spot.
Luo Xiuying was a little better off. She stared intently at Song Qinghan, who had promised her a handsome reward. So, while being expelled from the palace was a disgrace, her family background wasn’t great to begin with, so the impact on her future wouldn’t be too severe.
It was a different story for Song Qinghan.
Song Yunzhao went to see her specifically. When the two sisters met, Song Qinghan’s eyes were so red with hatred that she looked ready to lunge forward and strangle her.
Song Yunzhao met her glare with a faint smile. "Song Qinghan, did you ever imagine you’d see this day? Kicked out of the palace like a pathetic stray?"
"Song Yunzhao!" Song Qinghan’s voice was a sharp screech, like scraping metal.
"Angry already?" Song Yunzhao chuckled. "Song Qinghan, you tried to harm me repeatedly. Did you really think there was no such thing as retribution? This *is* your retribution. Your reputation is ruined, and you’ve been expelled from the palace. Let’s see what kind of decent marriage proposal you can get now that you’re back with the Song Family. You wanted to spend your life walking all over me, to grind me into the mud so I could never recover. A pity that will only ever be a dream. For the rest of your days, this is all you’ll amount to."
Darkness flooded Song Qinghan’s vision as a wave of pure fury surged through her, and she lunged at Song Yunzhao.
Song Yunzhao was prepared for this. As Song Qinghan lunged, she delivered a swift kick. ’Let the feud between us sisters end here and now.’
