Forced Into the Palace: Becoming the Emperor's Favorite-Chapter 385: No Room for Others

Isn’t this just adding trouble for herself?

But now it’s too late for regret because she realized she had already been confined to the courtyard.

Outside the door stood guards, each with a serious demeanor.

She was both furious and filled with regret.

She had endured for more than a month; why couldn’t she hold back last night?

And as for this Ming Pin, she could have died sooner or later, but she just had the bad luck to fall into her trap.

The more she thought about it, the more upset she became, and she started to cry with a whimper.

But now, crying was of no use.

She still didn’t know what her future held.

On another end, after Lin Xingzhi reported everything to the Emperor, the Emperor did not immediately take action.

Instead, he shared the same thought as Lin Xingzhi, suspecting that there was more to it.

"Everything Ming Pin ate, used, wore, and drank has been thoroughly checked by the Imperial Physician, with nothing suspicious found. However, I am wondering if something in Ming Pin’s room conflicted with that kind of incense powder, causing toxic gas when together, which led to Ming Pin’s poisoning and death."

His speculation wasn’t without reason.

Having been in the Imperial Armor Army, he naturally had more insight into these matters.

The Emperor thought for a moment, then asked.

"What about the palace maid?"

"The Imperial Physician is still treating her."

"How confident are they?"

"About thirty percent."

"What if we send her back to the Dong Family and let your second uncle and aunt take care of her?"

"I’m not sure, but with my second aunt’s Golden Needle Skill, perhaps the chances could be better."

"Then arrange for someone to send her there, make sure to keep it discreet on the way."

"Yes."

Like the Emperor, Lin Xingzhi also thought Qiao Xin was a key figure.

People who seek death often have unspeakable secrets behind them.

Therefore, he not only arranged for someone to send Qiao Xin to the Dong Family’s medical clinic but also started tracing Qiao Xin’s family whereabouts on another front.

After all, many times, people’s betrayal is either for profit or family.

No clues had emerged regarding Qiao Xin, and another bad news came through.

In the middle of summer, Ming Pin’s body was not easy to preserve.

Despite Qin An ordering a large amount of ice to be placed where the coffin was kept in the scorching heat.

The body still showed signs of stench.

If left like this, it might soon become a bigger issue.

Originally, her body was supposed to be buried after the investigation concluded, but the weather was uncooperative.

So, the forensic doctor meticulously examined her from head to toe. After recording everything, she was sent to the Consort Mausoleum.

But compared to the Lin Guifei who was just recently buried, it seemed much more shabby.

After all, she was just an unloved concubine.

When the coffin left the traveling palace, no one even came to send it off.

However, Lin Wanyi had Qiu Ming make a trip, adding a lot of mourning gifts.

Ming Pin’s passing made the already withering harem seem even more empty.

With Princess Consort Ying recuperating, except for Consort Qian beside the Empress Dowager, only Lin Wanyi was left to serve the Emperor in the traveling palace.

No matter how you looked at it, it seemed somewhat inadequate, but for the Emperor, it couldn’t be better.

He was not a man of lust, so the number of concubines in the harem didn’t make much difference to him.

Moreover, for him, his grand ambitions were not yet fulfilled.

These affairs of the heart and love, spending his efforts on Lin Wanyi alone was enough.

But while the Emperor thought this way, some meddling courtiers couldn’t bear it any longer.

Initially, they used rumors among the common folk to speak against it.

Unfortunately, the Emperor paid no heed.

Seeing the Emperor like this, those self-proclaimed upright courtiers couldn’t contain themselves.

They began to preach morals and ethics, past calamities, to lecture the Emperor.

The most obvious was demanding the Emperor to put the selection of new consorts on the agenda, preferably starting a new round of selections by March next year to fill the harem.

Alas, the Emperor wouldn’t relent.

Looking at the high stacks of remonstrative memorials piled in his study, he couldn’t help but sneer.

He then had Dong Yuzhong handle them.

The ministers who submitted petitions waited and waited but did not receive the desired response.

So, one by one, they began to spread rumors among the common folk.

Directly targeting Lin Wanyi.

Claiming she couldn’t tolerate others, thus persecuting concubines throughout the harem.

Princess Consort Lan, Lin Guifei, Lady Chu, Ming Pin, every single one of them, she supposedly had them killed.

And the Emperor, as if bewitched by some potion, was protecting her.

It looked like the country was on the brink of ruin; thus, everyone started talking about it.

They couldn’t wait to nail Lin Wanyi with the reputation of "Evil Concubine" and have her executed to settle the score.

However, Lin Wanyi had been too low-key before, leaving nothing for people to pin against her.

Therefore, although the rumors became more and more intense, for those who understood the truth, they were nothing but nonsense.

In the Prince Mansion, the Fourth Prince Consort listened to some gossip.

It was already an indecent arrangement of Lin Wanyi’s numerous vicious means.

She was always protective, and now her goddaughter was being scolded; how could she let it pass?

"A bunch of fools, they don’t even think, if the Imperial Concubine were truly so sinister, would those speaking courtiers still be alive? One after the other, they only know to smear women, simply vile!"

She pounded the nanmu table with her fist; it became red, yet she did not utter a word of pain.

Instead, the Fourth Prince beside her felt distressed and immediately pulled her over to check.

The bruising was severe, and there was blame in his eyes.

"Look at your hand, don’t joke with your own body even when you’re angry; if you want, deal with those who have no restraint in their mouths, huh, rest assured, Princess Consort, I will vent this for you!"

The Emperor was already quite displeased with this matter, and now, adding the Fourth Prince to the mix.

As a result, within a few days, the winds in Shengjing City changed.

Where once everyone was discussing how the Consort Yin Ning was so scheming and seductive within the palace.

Now it turned into sensational news about certain ministers’ wives fighting at home, chopping each other in altercations.

Or scenes of sons engaging in orgies, getting caught red-handed during debauchery.

More scandalously, tales of certain individuals consorting with the same prostitute as their sons and grandsons.

The uproar in the city was increasingly out of control.

Those who spread information were the ones losing face.

And the Fourth Prince Consort didn’t remain idle; she spread many messages among the public.

All about Lin Wanyi’s virtuous deeds.

She even attributed all the good deeds she had done anonymously before to Lin Wanyi.

All those who had received favors were profoundly grateful to Lin Wanyi.

Suddenly, those who were previously unaware of the truth among the common people changed their tune.

Becoming particularly supportive of Lin Wanyi.

The Dong Family and Lin Family took the opportunity to build momentum.

Sending many medicines, grains, oils, and more to charitable halls around the city.

Thus, Consort Yin Ning’s reputation was completely turned around.