CHAPTER 118: CHAPTER 117 TROUBLE

In the past, he had always summoned her discreetly, doting on her in secret.

Now, he had only openly doted on her for a few days, and someone framed her!

Did this mean that he, the Emperor, couldn’t even dote on a woman he favored? Did he need the Harem’s permission to dote on whomever he pleased?

This was simply preposterous!

In the Harem, the rivalries among women were even fiercer than those in the Imperial Court.

He had never cared to meddle in these affairs, but when a child was involved, he would absolutely not tolerate it.

Lady Xia?

Heh...

Lady Xia was a mere Honored Lady. What conflict could she possibly have with Noble Consort Shih that would drive her to risk her life like this?

Zhao Junyao had a strong suspicion in his heart as to who was behind it.

Pity there was no evidence.

Without evidence, he couldn’t take action against anyone! At least, not openly.

The Punishment Department had always worked for the Emperor, especially Director Wei Sheng.

He was as senior as Imperial Censor Zhou Lin.

Both had served him since his time in the Eastern Palace and were deeply trusted by the Emperor.

Li Shengan hurriedly conveyed the Emperor’s oral instructions.

Before leaving, he pulled Wei Sheng aside and asked, "This was very unlike you. Concluding it was Lady Xia’s doing based merely on a purse—no wonder the Emperor is angry!"

Wei Sheng looked up, ready to argue, but suddenly his gaze fixed on something. After a moment, he bowed his head and admitted, "Indeed, it is my fault this time!"

He was an uneducated, illiterate eunuch who had reached his current position entirely due to his keen eyes.

Although he couldn’t compare to the officials from the Ministry of Justice or the Imperial Inspectorate outside the palace, he was more than capable of handling the sordid affairs within the Harem.

When it came to judging cases, he was quite methodical.

Seeing his reaction, Li Shengan said, "Since you realize it, I won’t say any more. Carry out your duties well!"

With that, Li Shengan patted Wei Sheng’s shoulder and departed.

After seeing Li Shengan off, Wei Sheng’s face remained stern, his expression grave, as if deep in thought.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he suddenly looked up.

"Attendants!"

A Little Eunuch immediately came to his side.

"What are your orders, Eunuch Wei?"

"Where is the evidence?" he asked.

The Little Eunuch hesitated for a moment before deftly fetching the purse found in Xiao Hui’s room.

Wei Sheng took it, examined it front and back, and then...

He tossed the purse aside.

"Eunuch Wei, what are you doing?" The Little Eunuch scrambled to pick it up from the ground.

Wei Sheng scolded him, his face stern. "Didn’t you see that the Little Eunuch following Eunuch Li was wearing an identical one at his waist?"

This meant Lady Xia might possess many such purses.

She might have gifted them to numerous servants!

If this could be considered evidence, then anyone could do his job!

Wei Sheng was furious.

Although he was a eunuch, he valued impartiality. He would neither shield anyone nor wrongly accuse anyone.

Being duped this time made him feel he had lost considerable face.

The Little Eunuch was so thoroughly scolded he dared not utter a word.

Wei Sheng glanced at him and then ordered, "Bring that Palace Maid here. I want to question her myself!"

The Little Eunuch hastily assented and hurried off.

Are you sure you want to question a mute, Eunuch Wei? he muttered to himself.

However, Eunuch Wei was notoriously hot-tempered, so the Little Eunuch wouldn’t dare to voice his doubts.

Xiao Hui was soon brought in. Upon seeing Eunuch Wei, she immediately began to shake her head and weep, mumbling incoherently through her tears.

Seeing this, Wei Sheng dismissed everyone else. Then, softening his tone, he said, "I will ask, and you will answer. If what I say is correct, nod. If it’s incorrect, shake your head."

Hearing this, Xiao Hui nodded vigorously, her eyes brimming with tears.

Heavens, Eunuch Wei is finally willing to hear my explanation!

Wei Sheng wasted no more words. "Think carefully. From the moment you received the bundle until you delivered it to Xifu Palace, did anything unusual happen along the way?"

The moment Xiao Hui heard this, she frowned and began to think deeply.

After what seemed an eternity, she looked up and gently shook her head.

"Nothing?" Eunuch Wei asked.

Xiao Hui nodded.

Nothing? Absolutely nothing!

Eunuch Wei was baffled. This... How am I supposed to proceed?

In all his years in the palace, he had interrogated all sorts of people; he could even make the dead speak.

But against a mute, he was utterly helpless!

No matter how many times he asked, the answer was always that nothing unusual had occurred. Eunuch Wei had no choice but to release Xiao Hui.

He then ordered his men to continue searching the Sewing Room.

There must be some clue somewhere, he thought.

The Punishment Department took no action against Xia Ruqing.

But in the Harem, certain people were not about to let her off so easily.

The very night Xiao Hui was apprehended, rumors swept through the palace, claiming she had acted under Lady Xia’s orders to harm the Noble Consort.

「The next day」

When Xia Ruqing went to Jiaofang Hall to pay her respects, the way everyone regarded her had changed.

Honored Lady Hu began to taunt her with sarcasm.

"Who would have thought Lady Xia could harbor such malicious intent! With the Emperor’s backing, you even dare to harm Her Highness the Noble Consort!" Honored Lady Hu sneered.

Her words caused an immediate uproar.

The Empress quickly intervened, "Lady Hu, you mustn’t speak so recklessly without evidence!"

Honored Lady Hu scoffed. "Your Majesty, you may not be aware, but there’s some unsavory business between Lady Xia and that Xiao Hui who delivered the clothes. The evidence has already been seized by the Punishment Department!"

She then added, "Now... it’s just that the Emperor is shielding her, so the Punishment Department dares not touch her!"

The Empress looked utterly shocked. "Can this be true?"

The other women of the Harem also stared at Xia Ruqing in disbelief.

Meanwhile, Consort Yun, Consort Zheng Pin, and others like them wore expressions of unconcealed delight.

So, Lady Xia, your downfall has come this quickly? they mused. After offending both the Empress and the Noble Consort, did you really think you could escape unscathed? This time, with solid evidence, not even the Emperor can protect you!

When a wall is about to collapse, everyone gives it a push!

Just as they were all eagerly waiting to see Lady Xia humiliated, Xia Ruqing suddenly gave a cold laugh and rose from her seat.

She first kowtowed to the Empress, then bowed respectfully to Consort Ning and the other consorts of higher rank than herself.

Then, she turned and took a bundle from Zi Yue’s hands.

When the cloth wrapping was undone, its contents spilled out with a soft rustle.

Everyone peered closer. It was nothing less than a dense pile of embroidered purses!

Xia Ruqing sneered. "Your Majesty, can someone be convicted solely on the basis of a single embroidered purse? If that’s the case, Your Majesty should first investigate just how many palace attendants in this Harem possess such items!"

Having spoken, she slowly walked up to the Empress and said respectfully, "Lady Yu Lan has delivered items to Qingya Residence for me before. She herself must possess at least two of these, wouldn’t you agree?"

Xia Ruqing then slowly, step by step, approached Consort Ning and continued with equal respect, "That time in the Imperial Garden, I lost a handkerchief. Fortunately, Lady Lan Xiang, who serves Your Highness, found it and returned it to me. Lady Lan Xiang also has one of these."

Continuing, she slowly walked toward Consort Hui Pin. "Your Highness has always lived a secluded life and rarely interacts with servants like myself. I’ve also had few opportunities to speak with the senior palace maids who attend you. However..."