CHAPTER 44: CHAPTER 43: SELF-PROVING INNOCENCE

What did any of this have to do with anything?

But, to save her own life, she still had to maintain her rationality and steady her mind.

After having Xiao Xizi recount the entire incident, she lay by the window alone, deep in thought.

If only there were surveillance cameras! she yearned.

Zi Yue came in and announced, "My lady, the Empress requests your presence..."

「...」

In Jiaofang Hall, Xia Ruqing knelt on the ground.

At the Empress’s side were tomorrow’s banquet menu and a stack of festival gift lists sent up by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Her complexion was not good, somewhat pale. Xia Ruqing kept her head down, silent.

The day after tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, she thought. Please don’t confine me! That would be such bad luck!

After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the Empress finished looking at the menu. Seeing Xia Ruqing still kneeling, she hurriedly said, "Lady Xia, please rise. Look at my memory. These days have really been too hectic!"

"Thank you, Empress!"

Xia Ruqing’s voice trembled slightly, sounding fearful.

In fact, she was rolling her eyes internally. This isn’t a lapse in memory; this is intimidation.

If you could forget the Emperor too, *then* that would truly be a lapse in memory!

However, outwardly, Xia Ruqing appeared very obedient, with a hint of grievance in her eyes.

After all, she was just an egg, and they were the stone, right?

To stay alive, she had to be perceptive!

The Empress spoke.

"I have thought it over. You shall investigate this matter yourself!"

"If you are wrongly accused, then prove your innocence. If you cannot, then I can only act according to the rules!"

The Empress’s meaning was clear:

I am very busy. If you want to clear your name, do it yourself. Otherwise, I’ll assume you are the one who poisoned her!

Such a ruthless move!

But thinking that she still had a chance to turn things around, she felt a surge of excitement!

Xia Ruqing looked bewildered.

"Empress, this servant is foolish and fears she may not be capable..."

The Empress has given me so much power! No matter how happy I am inside, I have to act afraid.

Otherwise, if the Empress sees me get excited the moment I hear about having power...

The Empress will become suspicious: You’re just an Honored Lady, and you’re so eager for power?

As expected, seeing her feigned fear, the Empress smiled with satisfaction.

"Do not be afraid. I will have Yu Fu, who attends me, assist you."

After speaking, she granted Lady Xia many privileges: she could move freely in and out of the Imperial Kitchen and question the Little Eunuchs, among other things. With her confidante Yu Fu watching, Lady Xia wouldn’t dare make any other moves!

Xia Ruqing hesitated for a moment before ’tremblingly’ agreeing.

The Empress added, "If you still haven’t figured it out by the New Year’s Eve banquet the day after tomorrow... do not blame me for being heartless!"

She certainly didn’t want to bring all these messy issues into the New Year!

"Yes! This servant thanks the Empress!"

Xia Ruqing obediently responded.

At this time, apart from being compliant, what else can I do?

「...」

Before noon, the news had spread.

Honored Lady Hu, who had awoken from her coma, nearly fainted again from anger upon hearing this!

"It was clearly that wretch Lady Xia who poisoned me, yet the Empress actually favors her!"

"I was almost killed by the poison, and the Empress lets the murderer investigate the case! Is there no justice left in this world?!"

"Emperor, I want to see the Emperor!"

Honored Lady Hu cried and made a scene.

Palace Maid Rong Qiu was terribly anxious.

"My lady, please don’t speak so recklessly! The walls have ears!"

Openly criticizing the Empress... do you not want to live?

"You’ve just recovered; the Imperial Physician said you need to rest quietly!"

"This matter will not just pass by. Whether it’s Lady Xia or someone else, the Empress will surely give us an explanation!"

"Just wait calmly for the outcome!"

Rong Qiu had a splitting headache.

"Who else could it be? Who else in this Harem would wish for my death so eagerly!"

"Hmph! I’m just waiting! I want to see what she can find out!"

Honored Lady Hu, almost faint with anger, cursed a few more times but ultimately didn’t make any more fuss.

As for the others in the Harem, although they had all received the news, since the end of the year was approaching, no one wanted to invite bad luck by discussing the affair. They just quietly awaited developments.

Whether it was Consort Zheng Pin, Consort Yun, or Noble Concubine Shih, they were probably all waiting for Xia Ruqing’s downfall.

As for Honored Lady Hu, she wished nothing more than for Xia Ruqing to drop dead immediately to appease the hatred in her heart!

Xia Ruqing’s situation remained grim.

She prayed to the heavens, They say that when Heaven is about to confer a great responsibility upon a person, it first visits them with hardship to temper their heart and mind!

Are You, Great Heaven, about to give me such a great responsibility?

I don’t need it! I really don’t! she thought, feeling tears stream down her face.

「...」

Xia Ruqing began her investigation.

Based on the facts:

Xiao Xizi was the prime suspect. After all, aside from the Imperial Kitchen staff, only Xiao Xizi had touched that bowl of milk cheese.

Zi Yue was somewhat unconvinced.

"That eunuch named Xiao Zhaozi also touched it! Maybe..."

Xia Ruqing was somewhat speechless. "Servants whose masters die under suspicious circumstances in the palace rarely meet good ends. Even for great benefits, they wouldn’t directly poison their master to death!"

At most, they might betray their master for personal gain, but not murder.

"She didn’t die from the poison, did she?" Xiao Xizi mumbled quietly, head bowed.

Xia Ruqing and Zi Yue felt frustrated with his lack of understanding, but his dejected demeanor still made them chuckle.

That night, Xia Ruqing went over the entire incident again in her mind.

If Xiao Xizi and Xiao Zhaozi are eliminated as suspects, then the clues must still be in the Imperial Kitchen!

I have to personally visit the Imperial Kitchen tomorrow!

Once she had made up her mind, she tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.

I only have one day tomorrow, and I’m not a detective.

Neither Eunuch Li nor the Empress found anything.

I have no confidence in myself at all!

For a moment, she wondered forlornly:

Will the Emperor, the big boss, help me out?!

After all, I’ve served him for so long. Could he really be so heartless?

But then she thought again, The Emperor is so busy with year-end affairs, like a spinning top.

He didn’t even pay much attention to Honored Lady Hu, who had one foot in the grave; he only stayed for the time it took an incense stick to burn before leaving.

Am I worth much more than Honored Lady Hu to him?

In his heart, the life of a minor concubine like me is probably worth just that much.

Thinking this, she felt like crying again. It’s heartbreaking!

Stop, stop, stop!

No tears! Absolutely no tears! What use is crying?! Can it save my life?!

No!

Can it vindicate my innocence?!

It cannot!

Xia Ruqing hugged the quilt tightly, forcing herself to calm down, to think of nothing, and slowly closed her eyes.

「...」

The next day, Xia Ruqing got up early.

She didn’t even stop to eat and went straight to the Imperial Kitchen.

That day, she practically turned the Imperial Kitchen upside down, but just like before, she found nothing!

The trail has gone cold...

By the time she returned, the sky was completely dark.

That night, Xia Ruqing was so worried she couldn’t sleep. She lay on her bed staring at an empty bowl, lost in thought all night long.

Xia Ruqing murmured, "Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve."

Zi Yue said, "My lady, you should sleep a little! Staying up all night isn’t a solution!"

"Zi Yue," Xia Ruqing asked, "if the culprit isn’t in the Imperial Kitchen, where do you think they could be?"

"This servant doesn’t know. Perhaps... it’s the person we least expect," Zi Yue replied.

"The least expected..." Xia Ruqing murmured, and before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.