CHAPTER 637: CHAPTER 637

Ding Xiang stood to one side, daring neither to advise nor to stop what was happening, utterly at a loss.

Suddenly, there was an announcement from outside the door.

"The Empress has arrived!"

As if granted amnesty, Ding Xiang twisted her body and hurried to receive her. She completely forgot her mistress in the process.

When the Empress stepped into the courtyard, she saw all the servants kneeling on the ground, with only Honored Lady Du acting mad.

"Bitches! You’re all bitches!"

Her face twisted, Honored Lady Du’s expression was fierce, her eyes full of malice as she screamed shrilly.

The Empress’s complexion changed immediately.

"How dare you! Impudence!"

But Honored Lady Du, as if she hadn’t heard, kept on howling.

Ding Xiang and the others kneeling below were already sweating with fear. Sister Ji, Yu Lan, and others were so frightened that their faces turned pale.

Sister Ji’s eyes hardened, and she scolded,

"What are you waiting for, seize your mistress at once!"

"She’s going mad! If she hurts the Empress, which of you can bear the responsibility?"

As the steward Sister in charge beside the Empress, Sister Ji held a position of dignity and honor. Given the urgency of the situation, what she said couldn’t be faulted.

Upon her command, several of Honored Lady Du’s servants joined forces to subdue her to the ground.

The Empress rubbed her throbbing temples. Holding Yu Lan’s hand, she said, still shaken, "Please call for the Imperial Physician, hurry!"

Ding Xiang responded with an affirmative and ran outside. The Empress then commanded, "Wait, go tell them at Zhaochen Palace as well, at least let Eunuch Li know!"

If this wasn’t my doing, then there must be a bigger fish in the palace!

"Yes!" the Palace Maid replied and withdrew.

The Empress calmed herself, then walked inside, the corner of her mouth curving into a cold smile once more. This bigger fish is not a simple one! To use Honored Lady Du to kill Honored Lady Cheng’s child, and then throw the blame onto me to take the fall. What a clever scheme to kill two birds with one stone!

The Empress took a seat in Honored Lady Du’s quarters. Soon, an Imperial Physician from the Imperial Medical Bureau arrived, and a Little Eunuch was sent from Zhaochen Palace.

Li Shengan would not dare to let the Emperor know. But he could not afford to slight the Empress, so it had to be done this way.

The ferocious-looking Honored Lady Du was already restrained on the bed, with her mouth gagged. Her wildly thrashing limbs were also being subdued by a few strong Palace Maids, no longer flailing about.

The Imperial Physician stepped forward to check her pulse. Stroking his beard, his expression turned increasingly grave.

"Your Highness, about Honored Lady Du..."

The Empress’s heart was in her throat. "What about her?"

The Imperial Physician took another look at Honored Lady Du’s eyes and tongue coating. Then, he respectfully responded, "Honored Lady Du’s pulse is fast and chaotic, her face is contorted, her eyes are cloudy, her tongue coating is pale. These are... symptoms of hysteria!"

The Empress was so shocked she could barely speak. "Hysteria!"

The Imperial Physician affirmed once more, "Indeed, patients with hysteria become delirious and mentally disturbed when agitated, and in severe cases... they may end up like Honored Lady Du! Harming themselves and others!"

The Empress paused for a moment, then pressed further, "So... it’s not poisoning? Nor is it done by someone else’s hand?"

The Imperial Physician nodded. "It appears to be the result of long-standing repression!"

The Empress breathed a sigh of relief. Could this be proof of my innocence?

After instructing the Imperial Physician to take good care of her, the Empress led her entourage away.

She returned to her quarters to rethink the events and personally went to Zhaochen Palace.

Emperor Zhao Junyao had returned from court and was discussing matters with his ministers. The Empress waited for more than one Shi Chen.

In the outer chamber without an ice basin, wearing the dignified and heavy palace attire, she felt unbearably hot. She, almost fainting from the heat, finally received the Emperor’s summons just before the noon meal.

The Empress respectfully performed a salute and repeated the diagnosis from the Imperial Physician earlier that morning.

Zhao Junyao snorted coldly after listening. "Empress, what exactly are you trying to say with these words?"

A chill touched the heart of the Empress. Married to him for so many years, even though their relationship was not perfectly harmonious, surely there should be at least this much trust?

Suppressing the bitterness within her, she straightened her back and once again spoke respectfully, "Your Majesty, this concubine has failed to properly manage the harem. I’ve led Little Sister Consort Cheng Pin and the Little Prince into grave danger, where they suffered between life and death. This concubine’s sin is unforgivable, and I am willing to accept punishment!"

"However, the matter concerning Honored Lady Du was indeed not this concubine’s doing, please see the truth, Your Majesty!"

Her gaze was steely, her back straight, and her eyes were piercing, showing no sign of evasion. She did indeed appear not the slightest bit guilty. But Zhao Junyao was an emperor, and emperors don’t make mistakes. Even if they did, they were still right, and one had to go along with it. Unfortunately, the Empress didn’t understand this.

Moreover, Zhao Junyao, already distressed over the grain prices in Jiangnan, had no interest in finding out whether the Empress had been wrongfully accused. The affairs of the harem, for him, were only a concern when he had time to spare. When he was busy, they weren’t a concern at all.

Thus, Zhao Junyao still showed no pleasant expression. He waved his hand dismissively and said coldly, "Since the Empress is willing to accept punishment, then return to your Jiaofang Hall and reflect upon your actions for a month!"

A light sentence from him, and the Empress nearly collapsed to the ground. "Thank You, Your Majesty!"

She kowtowed, trembling as she left. Once back in Jiaofang Hall, tears poured down the face of the Empress like rain.

A trip made in vain, effort made to no end. She didn’t clear her own name and instead brought a punishment upon herself. Wasn’t this a public slap in the face?

In the past, no matter what, the Emperor would warn her in private! He kept up appearances for her. But this time, he put it right out in the open!

With this event, how could she still establish rules or maintain her dignity?! This truly was... an unjust disaster!

"My lady, please be strong, there are still long days ahead!" Sister Ji had no idea how else to console her and could only say this.

Yu Lan also cried in worry. "What is all this! Why should..."

"Presumptuous!" The Empress, with her eyes red and swollen, interrupted her. "Dare to comment on the Emperor’s decision behind his back; do you no longer wish to live?!"

"It’s just confinement to think things over. What haven’t I experienced over these years?"

Indeed, there was nothing in the harem that could defeat her.

Dethrone the Empress? The Empress sneered inwardly. Your Majesty, this concubine will never give you that chance!

She had endured beyond the Noble Consort, outlasted the Empress Dowager, brought the Third Princess to her side, and achieved everything she had today. She would not allow anyone to take it from her. Not even the Emperor.

"It’s just taking the blame, this palace accepts it!"

Having said this, the Empress gritted her teeth and commanded, "Go, tell the harem that they need not come to pay respects for the next month!"

"Say that this palace wishes to reflect behind closed doors, copy Buddhist scriptures to pray for the Little Prince’s good fortune!"

Yu Lan bit her lip and tearfully acknowledged the order.

Sister Ji, however, was somewhat worried. "Your Highness, if it’s difficult for you to bear, don’t keep it bottled up. It could harm your health!"

The Empress’s gaze became sharp, she took a deep breath, and sneered coldly. "I’m not holding it in, nor will it harm my body. This palace intends to live a long and enduring life!"

"To live a dignified and honorable life, even without a Prince, I am still the legitimate Empress!"

Sister Ji didn’t know what more to say.

「This matter, too, would come to pass.」

Once word spread in the harem that the Empress would be reflecting behind closed doors for a month, all were shocked. Could it be related to the harm that came to Honored Lady Cheng?

While everyone guessed, at this critical moment, no one dared to show their face. Each stayed quiet and in order in their own chambers, and no one dared to speak out of turn.