CHAPTER 438: CHAPTER 406: HIS HIGHNESS’S SUDDEN COUNTERATTACK (24TH UPDATE)

Without asking for a reason, they directly accused them, clearly prepared in advance.

Xue Yinhuan didn’t expect to encounter such a thing just as she was about to leave the palace, leaving her at a loss for a moment.

The spot on her calf where the dog had bitten her throbbed with severe pain, causing her to lose her balance and collapse to the ground.

Beside her, Zilan had already fallen to her knees.

Anyone in the palace knew of the Ministry of Punishment, a place that dealt with errant palace staff. Once you enter, you can’t leave without being beaten, and the palace maids who enter standing but leave lying down are countless.

"Please forgive us, Lady Zhaoyi," Zilan cried out, "I am Zilan, a palace maid from Xianfu Palace, following orders from Lady Qing to escort Miss Xue out of the palace. We never expected a little white dog would suddenly run out midway and clamp onto Miss Xue’s leg without letting go. My lady acted out of self-defense when she threw the dog off, without intending to harm it."

Deng Zhaoyi sneered coldly, "Ridiculous! Little Bai is dead, and you tell me it wasn’t intentional? You all, quickly tie them up and take them to the Ministry of Punishment so the old bastards can extract the truth. Let’s see who’s behind this."

Zilan cried even more fiercely, begging and kowtowing as she spoke, "Lady Zhaoyi, please be magnanimous and forgive Miss Xue."

"How dare a mere maid negotiate with me? Seize her!"

Xue Yinhuan sat limply on the ground clutching the spot where the dog had bitten her, lips devoid of color, almost unable to speak.

Even being slow-witted, she realized the dog’s teeth were poisoned.

The maids and nannies beside Deng Zhaoyi swiftly lifted her up.

Xue Yinhuan couldn’t stand steadily, staggering forward, and darkness seemed to close in.

Soon, her consciousness became blurred, unable to discern who was who, only feeling herself being dragged forward for some distance.

"Stop!"

At this moment, a clear and authoritative voice came from another path.

Everyone turned to look and saw Empress Su, promptly releasing Xue Yinhuan and kneeling down together.

Deng Zhaoyi stepped forward to pay respects, "What brings the Empress here?"

Empress Su’s gaze rested on Xue Yinhuan, "I was passing by and heard a commotion from afar. What is happening here?"

Deng Zhaoyi, feeling wronged, wiped her tears with a handkerchief while crying, "Empress, you must uphold justice for me. The pet His Majesty gave me was killed by this little wench’s kick."

The direction in which Deng Zhaoyi pointed was precisely Xue Yinhuan.

No, it wasn’t like that.

Xue Yinhuan wanted to explain that she only flung the dog off, and that wasn’t enough force to kill it. Besides, being poisoned clearly indicated something was wrong with the dog beforehand.

But although she moved her lips slightly, no sound came out, only cold sweat broke out continuously on her forehead.

In her daze, she heard Empress Su say, "I can understand Deng Zhaoyi’s grief over losing a beloved pet, but how can a pet compare to a human life? I recall the Emperor often praises Deng Zhaoyi’s gentle nature. That young lady is clearly injured, and Deng Zhaoyi usually wouldn’t even harm an ant; surely she can’t bear to let someone die without helping?"

Deng Zhaoyi said something that Xue Yinhuan couldn’t quite hear, followed by the Empress’s voice again, "Considering my face, could you let this matter slide instead of bringing it before the Emperor?"

Afterwards, Xue Yinhuan completely lost consciousness, not knowing what happened next.

When she awoke, she found herself in Kunning Palace.

Empress Su had arranged for a palace maid to keep watch, and upon seeing Xue Yinhuan awake, the maid hurriedly asked if she still felt uncomfortable.

Xue Yinhuan pursed her lips.

The palace maid continued, "You were bitten by a dog. Deng Zhaoyi refused to let it go and wanted to send you to the Ministry of Punishment. It was the Empress who appeared in time to save you."

Feeling the pain in her calf, Xue Yinhuan was unable to leave the bed to meet the Empress, so she asked the palace maid, "Please convey my deepest gratitude to Her Majesty the Empress for saving my life."

The palace maid nodded, "The Imperial Physician has seen you; your wound requires bed rest. Please rest. I will go notify the Empress that you are awake."

Xue Yinhuan appeared grateful and then asked, "Does Lady Qing know about this matter?"

The palace maid shook her head, "The Empress wished to wait until you awoke to hear your opinion. If you want Lady Qing to visit, Her Majesty will have someone inform her. If you wish to keep it secret, Kunning Palace will ensure no word gets out."

Xue Yinhuan mulled over this for a moment and requested, "Could you avoid letting my aunt know? I don’t want her to worry."

"I will inform Her Majesty," the palace maid said before turning to leave, closing the door behind her as she went to report to Empress Su in the main hall.

Empress Su leaned against the phoenix throne, with a brazier in front of her, warming the entire hall.

Sitting below her was Deng Zhaoyi, who had previously caused a scene in the Imperial Garden, but now had changed her demeanor and was chatting merrily with Empress Su.

After the palace maid entered, she paid respects to both Empress and Zhaoyi.

Empress Su asked her, "Is she awake?"

"Awake," replied the palace maid. "She even asked me to convey her gratitude to you for saving her life, Your Majesty."

Empress Su smirked, "Seems she knows to repay kindness, not bad."

Deng Zhaoyi looked at Empress Su in confusion, "I don’t understand why Your Majesty set this up to make her owe you such a huge favor."

Empress Su smiled gently, "If you want to watch a good show, just make this matter as big as possible, the bigger the better."

Deng Zhaoyi still couldn’t fathom the Empress’s purpose, but did not dare to ask further. According to Empress Su’s plan, in the afternoon she tearfully went to Qianqing Palace to complain to Emperor Guangxi, saying her beloved pet granted by the Emperor had been killed by Xue Yinhuan, the niece of Consort Qing from Xianfu Palace.

While she was lamenting, she unexpectedly found the Eldest Prince Zhao Xi was also present.

Deng Zhaoyi did not mention it, and Emperor Guangxi could not remember there was even a Consort Qing.

He frowned and looked at Deng Zhaoyi, "Is it really dead?"

"I wouldn’t dare deceive the Emperor. Little Bai’s body has just been buried, if the Emperor wishes to see it, I can have it dug up right away."

She said, then burst into tears again.

Emperor Guangxi replied, "It’s just a dog. I can reward you with another one later."

"But... but I have feelings for Little Bai," Deng Zhaoyi cried continuously, her tears streaming down.

Emperor Guangxi pinched the bridge of his nose, "If it really makes you angry, then drag the person who killed Little Bai down and give them a few more lashes."

Upon hearing this, Deng Zhaoyi hesitantly glanced at Zhao Xi.

Emperor Guangxi narrowed his eyes slightly, "Speak plainly. What kind of etiquette is it to hide things in front of me?"

Deng Zhaoyi stammered, "I heard people say Miss Xue is close to His Highness, I dare not punish her casually."

Emperor Guangxi quickly shifted his gaze to Zhao Xi, as if seeking an answer.

Deng Zhaoyi carefully observed Zhao Xi’s reaction.

The Empress had said over the years there were other concubines who specifically brought girls to find excuses to get close to Zhao Xi, but Xue Yinhuan was the first whom Zhao Xi took the initiative to talk to.

Zhao Xi might have feelings for Xue Yinhuan that are different from others.

Whether this is true depends entirely on Deng Zhaoyi’s test.

If Zhao Xi wants to protect Xue Yinhuan, then it shows he has feelings for her.

For the always unassailable Eldest Prince, having feelings is equivalent to having a weakness, and by then the Empress can use the favor Xue Yinhuan owes her to find a way to send the girl to Zhao Xi’s side.

A person with a fatal weakness is not so difficult to deal with.

"Xixi, have you taken a fancy to Xue Yinhuan?" Emperor Guangxi’s gaze lingered on Zhao Xi.

Zhao Xi’s expression remained unchanged throughout. Upon hearing Emperor Guangxi’s question, he did not immediately answer but looked at Deng Zhaoyi with confusion, "Who is Xue Yinhuan?"

Deng Zhaoyi: "..."

Before she could say a word, Zhao Xi’s questioning voice came again, "I have never known a girl surnamed Xue. Yet Lady Zhaoyi insists she is close to me. Is this hearsay or a deliberate slander?"

Sidening himself, Zhao Xi directly faced Emperor Guangxi, "I ask Father to look into this. I have never heard of this person."

Deng Zhaoyi had never anticipated the situation to unfold like this. Seeing Emperor Guangxi’s worsening expression, she hurriedly kneeled on the ground and crawled forward, "Emperor, it’s not like that, I didn’t defame His Highness."

Emperor Guangxi’s voice was low and angry, "If not defamation, then did you see it with your own eyes?"

"I... I heard it from a palace attendant."

Zhao Xi smiled faintly, "I don’t understand the rules of the harem, but I did once hear my mother reprimand a palace maid, saying that without concrete evidence, whether palace attendants or concubines, are prohibited from tarnishing others’ reputations based on hearsay. However, Lady Zhaoyi is Father’s concubine, she is, in a sense, considered my stepmother, so I must leave some face for Father."

Zhao Xi was about to turn the matter around and say he would not argue with Deng Zhaoyi, when suddenly Emperor Guangxi’s heavy cold snort came from the side, "How could I let my son suffer an unjust accusation because of a woman? Guards, convey my decree, Deng Zhaoyi harbors ill intent, deliberately slanders the Eldest Prince, from today on, demoted to Talented Lady, sent into the Cold Palace, without my permission, no one is allowed to visit!"