CHAPTER 83: CHAPTER 78: CONCUBINE JIANG? CONSORT JIANG!

Xie Zhixing didn’t beat around the bush and said directly:

"Give me the bell."

Yun Jiao was ready to negotiate with the Emperor, but the fourth sentence he said after entering unexpectedly was to ask for the evidence.

She blinked.

She originally thought the Emperor would comfort her a bit, like in TV dramas. After all, she’s somewhat favored now. Shouldn’t the Emperor embrace her first thing upon entering, offering a "my love, you’ve been frightened" and "I will make those who harmed you pay" package?

A little eunuch beside her held a tray and gestured for her to place the bell on it to avoid directly touching the evidence. Yun Jiao handed it over without hesitation — the highest judge in the harem is the Emperor. If he wants to let it go lightly, it’s futile to list all the evidence.

In the entire harem, the person who least needs to destroy evidence is the Emperor.

She was so obedient that Xie Zhixing softened and explained to her: "I may not necessarily do you justice, but the person who assaulted you will surely receive her deserved punishment."

He was used to speaking in imperative sentences. Those who could reach the Emperor’s side in the previous dynasty were the most intelligent people. He didn’t need to explain much, and they could understand immediately. There was never a time when the Emperor needed to accommodate the concubines; in a melodramatic novel, he would be the type who never talks.

Seeing Yun Jiao looking at him blankly, handing over the crucial evidence without asking why, Xie Zhixing instead wanted to explain it to her.

After he finished speaking, Yun Jiao said, "I understand, Your Majesty still has to give face to the Empress Dowager."

Not necessarily doing her justice means this matter won’t be publicly trialed.

But he would investigate thoroughly, and someone would definitely pay the price.

Xie Zhixing looked at her in surprise, then nodded after a moment: "Mother is not an unreasonable person, and moreover, if such things frequently occur, others would think of my harem as disharmonious, which is ultimately not a good thing."

Those who don’t think often, when they have a moment of clarity, it’s even more striking.

The eunuchs beside the Emperor were like NPCs; they bowed their heads, pretending they hadn’t heard, and Xie Zhixing didn’t avoid them when he spoke: "The harem has become like this partly due to the Empress’s problems and partly due to my kindness and leniency."

If concubines using such methods were directly thrown into the Cold Palace or severely punished, those who dared to offend again would greatly reduce.

Aside from harming lives, which is the Emperor’s limit, these small tricks require him to consider many aspects. However, this time he will give the culprit a profound lesson.

"Even the family of an Emperor is still a family, I understand His Majesty’s thoughts."

Xie Zhixing’s expression eased significantly.

Of course, he wouldn’t naively believe the backcourt could be harmonious like sisters, just like every morning court meeting has conflicting interests, those well-read ministers would want to beat each other’s brains out, not to mention the harem concubines.

If not for the ancestral rules being in place, Xie Zhixing would want to abolish the rankings.

Stop fighting, everyone shall be a Servant Consort!

Stop competing, I love no one!"

...

Chief Su took the evidence to investigate and soon found out who was behind it.

The culprit was too easy to guess; the senior harem members on the scene guessed eight or nine out of ten correctly.

Concubine Jiang resented Consort Xi for embarrassing her at the birthday banquet. Not only did she want to outshine her in the main event, but she also wanted to make her look foolish, so she bribed the palace maid from the Imperial Household responsible for the dance costume to add cat-attracting powder into the bell. The cat was previously raised by Concubine Feng and later sent back to the cat house for being no longer cute when grown.

As for the palace maid who attempted to remove the evidence, she too had taken Jiang’s silver taels.

Consorts with low rank couldn’t control a palace, and their clothes often passed through various hands, offering countless opportunities for mischief.

The bell tied to the skirt hem couldn’t take a life.

Concubine Jiang thought she had the Empress Dowager’s protection, and her family background was far superior to Yun Jiao’s, so even if her sabotage was discovered, she’d at most get her salary docked or be confined. The imperial edict came down, leaving her dumbfounded.

"The Emperor wants to demote me to a Consort?????"

As a Consort, she is no longer the master of a palace and naturally cannot refer to herself as ’Ben Gong.’

Qin Laicai, who came to deliver the decree, was Su Yinglu’s godson. He started by patiently comforting her: "This is the Emperor’s decree. It’s best for the young mistress to accept it first."

Being called ’young mistress’ made Consort Jiang break down.

When she first entered the palace, she held the rank of Consort and was promoted to Concubine by the Empress Dowager after serving the bed. Given her family background, once she became pregnant and safely gave birth to a prince or princess, she could steadily be promoted to Concubine.

Consort Jiang, enduring her collapse, accepted the decree and clung to Qin Laicai’s arm, refusing to let go: "Doesn’t the Emperor have anything else to say? Aren’t there gifts to soothe me? What did I do wrong? How could the Emperor say I have no remorse? It’s you, this damn slave, who took others’ silver and maligned me before the Emperor!"

The more one used certain means to harm others, the more one would suspect if someone was using the same means to harm them.

Qin Laicai, after all, served before the Imperial Court. In front of Chief Su, he was like a son; among other palace maids and eunuchs, he was like a grandfather. Being tugged by Consort Jiang made him a little angry, and he instantly collected his smile, dealing with it officially: "The Emperor has no other decree. I am just a messenger eunuch, not daring to breathe before the Emperor. Any chatter would have long gotten me sent away! I’m just reminding the young mistress according to the rules that as a Consort, she can’t refer to herself as ’Ben Gong.’"

"You!"

Consort Jiang trembled with anger. Qin Laicai tucked his hands and said, "If the young mistress has no other matters, I must take my leave. There’s another decree to deliver and I can’t delay."

"What decree?"

Upon hearing the Emperor had another decree, Consort Jiang’s eyes lit up.

"This..."

"Stammering, how can you serve before the Imperial Court!" She glared at him fiercely.

Consort Jiang was filled with frustration and was looking for someone to vent on. She couldn’t handle Consort Xi but couldn’t she handle a eunuch?

Even Chief Su would have to be courteous to her on the surface.

Qin Laicai certainly didn’t dare to show her his face. As a eunuch, accustomed to being bullied, many were psychologically dark and twisted. He deliberately put on a timid and fearful expression, humbling himself as he stammered:

"Reporting to the young mistress, it’s the decree for Consort Xi’s promotion to Concubine. It really can’t be delayed! Please spare this servant!"

Although stammering, he spoke every word clearly, fearing Consort Jiang might mishear.

Consort Jiang wished she were deaf.

She could not accept it, nor did she want to accept it.

"What did you say? She’s childless, why is she being promoted to Concubine? How long has she been a Consort? How could the Empress Dowager agree!"

"It’s useless to talk to you, I must find the Empress Dowager!"

Qin Laicai kindly reminded, "The Emperor has just dined with Her Ladyship, the Empress Dowager. If the young mistress goes now, she’s likely to encounter the Emperor."

Consort Jiang thought that either her demotion or Consort Xi’s promotion had to be revoked. Since the Emperor was at Changle Palace, she had to plead her grievance to him.

However, when she arrived at Changle Palace, the nanny told her that Her Ladyship, the Empress Dowager, was behind closed doors, praying to Buddha and not seeing anyone.

Consort Jiang stood there in a daze.