But let’s get back to the story.

Since the Emperor had handed the case over to the Punishment Department, within less than three days, someone from the Punishment Department came with a report. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"Your Majesty, this servant has collected all the evidence and found that Honored Lady Du’s actions were not without trace!" he stated. "Even at Honored Lady Cheng’s place, there was also..."

Zhao Junyao put down the memorandum in his hand and narrowed his eyes. "Oh?" He looked at Wei Sheng indifferently. "What do you mean?"

Wei Sheng then recounted how Honored Lady Cheng had spent a significant amount of time in Consort Ning’s palace on the day of her childbirth. He went into such detail that he did not even omit the fact that Honored Lady Cheng’s complexion looked rather poor after she returned. Moreover, he also repeated the information about Honored Lady Du having made several visits to Jiaofang Hall a long time ago.

Though said without specific intent, the listener interpreted it with great interest. This was already the second time Zhao Junyao had heard the information about ’Honored Lady Du’s frequent visits to Jiaofang Hall.’ Once from Zhaoxiang Pavilion’s Managing Eunuch, and once from Wei Sheng. Whether it was a coincidence or not, piecing these bits of information together, it wasn’t difficult to speculate that the Empress was the mastermind. After all, Consort Ning was one of the Empress’s people, and Honored Lady Du had privately visited Jiaofang Hall. Furthermore, Honored Lady Cheng had coincidentally been invited by Consort Ning to her palace on that very day. All this information made the entire case progressively clearer.

Zhao Junyao’s gaze suddenly sharpened. "Empress!"

She actually hadn’t given up. Had he been too lenient?

Back when the Fan Family was implicated in a crime, he hadn’t held her accountable—had that made her smug?

Or was she not satisfied with just raising one Princess and also harbored designs on the Prince?

The more Zhao Junyao thought about it, the angrier he became. The various incidents that had occurred in the imperial court during this period also piled up, making things even more infuriating.

"Summon someone!" Zhao Junyao didn’t listen further and simply gave an order. "Go, summon the Empress over here!"

His tone was so chilling that it sent shivers down one’s spine.

Li Shengan dared not delay; he bowed promptly and exited.

Wei Sheng also dared not stay any longer and withdrew.

「Jiaofang Hall」

The Empress, upon receiving the message, hurried over. It had been several days since Consort Cheng Pin’s incident, and the Emperor hadn’t allowed her to get involved at all. She knew in her heart that the Emperor suspected her and had already been feeling uneasy. She was desperate to find an opportunity to explain everything clearly to the Emperor. But unfortunately...

Upon entering the Imperial Study Room, the Empress knelt respectfully to perform the grand salute.

"This concubine greets..."

Before her head could touch the ground, she heard a BANG! A tea cup shattered in front of her, the ground scattered with innumerable fragments.

The Empress’s back stiffened, uncertain whether to complete the kowtow.

"Your Majesty..." Her voice trembled, tears brimming in her eyes. "This concubine does not know what wrongs she has committed to enrage Your Majesty so, but this concubine is willing to accept the punishment!"

Eventually, the Empress did kowtow, though she did not press hard when her forehead touched the shards. Even so, when she rose, a bloody mark was on her forehead.

Zhao Junyao couldn’t care less about these minor details. His chest seethed with a towering rage, and he let out a cold laugh. "Hmph!"

"The Empress knows exactly what she has done, does she not?"

"Back then, Noble Concubine Shih concocted a scheme to keep the child but get rid of the mother. Does... the Empress, seeing this, perhaps feel tempted herself?"

Zhao Junyao’s voice was low, each word like a heavy hammer pounding on ice, full of chill.

The Empress’s body shook violently. A dreadful premonition rose in her heart. Damn, the Emperor had probably blamed this incident on her after all.

But... The Empress held back her tears.

"Your Majesty, I implore you to see clearly—this concubine knew nothing about Little Sister Consort Cheng Pin’s matter! Please, Your Majesty, see clearly!"

"This concubine cannot bear such a burden!"

Zhao Junyao looked at her with a mocking smile. "You cannot bear it?"

"Then could my unborn child bear it?"

"Empress, that child is only eight months along, with still more than a month before birth! What exactly is your heart made of!"

"I thought that by having you raise the Princess, you might develop some compassion. I didn’t expect you to remain so hard-hearted!"

He rarely scolded women like this; this time, he was truly enraged. His voice was very loud, loud enough to be heard even through several layers of walls.

Li Shengan felt a chill creep down his spine, his mind went blank. He thought, if the Emperor scolded him like this, he would most likely be done for. As for the Empress... Alas!

Lately, the Emperor has been incredibly busy, managing myriad affairs, sometimes discussing politics with the officials until midnight! Doesn’t the Empress know about this? Why at this time... Alas! Li Shengan mused, feeling sorry for the Empress.

The situation inside became increasingly uncontrollable. Zhao Junyao grew angrier as he spoke and smashed another antique vase.

The Empress was so frightened that she no longer dared to say anything in rebuttal, much less cry. She only lowered her head, remaining silent.

It was unclear how much time passed, but eventually, the Emperor had finally vented his anger.

Zhao Junyao coldly uttered, "If such a thing happens again, I will depose you!"

With that, he left with a flick of his sleeve.

After the Emperor left, the Empress’s body could no longer hold her up. She collapsed to the ground in a heap. The Imperial Study Room was empty; only the utter mess left behind silently mocked her.

The Empress cried and laughed, tears spilling all over the floor.

Who could tell her how this undeserved disaster had come about? Who could? How had Honored Lady Du’s malicious scheme against Consort Cheng Pin become her own sin? She had never meddled in this matter from the very beginning! Such injustice, a grave injustice indeed! But... the Emperor didn’t know!

Sister Ji and Yu Lan hurried over.

"Your Majesty, are you alright!"

"Your Majesty, do not fear. Now that the Emperor has left, your servants will help you up!"

The two supported the Empress from either side, propping her up. Luckily, there was a cushioned sedan chair outside the palace, and it was late. It was pitch dark outside, so nothing was visible. This prevented the Empress from losing face.

Returning to Jiaofang Hall, the night grew deeper. The Empress submerged herself in the bathtub, sobbing silently. After a long while, she finally vented the anguish in her heart. The pain lessened, but she still felt wronged.

That night, the Empress tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She just could not understand why the Emperor was so certain it had been her doing.

Could it be that the Emperor thought Honored Lady Du was her person?! But no, she wasn’t! It wasn’t true! Oh, the injustice!

The Empress wanted to cry but had no tears left.

Early the next morning, the Empress arose, dark circles under her eyes.

"Yu Lan, Sister Ji, where is Honored Lady Du now?"

Yu Lan quickly responded, "She’s at Consort Hui Pin’s Zhaoxiang Pavilion. It’s said she’s unwell and has been put under guard!"

The Empress seemed to see a glimmer of hope. "Good! Let’s go, let us have a look!"

Yu Lan was surprised. "Ah?!" The Empress, going to visit an Honored Lady?

The Empress turned around and said earnestly, "What’s wrong? Is that not allowed?"

Yu Lan quickly nodded. "It’s allowed, it’s allowed!"

「The side hall of Zhaoxiang Pavilion, Honored Lady Du’s quarters.」

Early in the morning, a shrill scream echoed from within.

"AH!"

"You... a bunch of lowlifes! Climbing high by trampling others, you despicable people!"

The voice came from Honored Lady Du!