Chapter 271: Chapter 269: ChargesThe palace maids also knew that they had only one chance.

    If they didn’t seek benefits for themselves, they deserved to be mistreated by others later.

    Thus, one of them took the lead, and they gradually began to disclose the crimes of the nanny in charge of managing affairs: deducting monthly salaries without cause, arbitrarily punishing palace maids, accepting bribes from eunuchs, allowing eunuchs into the Clothing Bureau at night, and even a case where a palace maid was tormented to death by eunuchs. The next day, it was declared she died a sudden natural death, and her body was carried out of the palace wrapped in a ragged mat.

    Sang Yan grew more and more horrified as she listened: The Clothing Bureau was indeed such a dark place.

    The managing nanny could no longer dare to utter a word.

    She was finished.

    She was finished.

    Now, not only could she not save her job, but her life was likely in danger as well.

    "I can’t believe you, a managing nanny, would have the audacity to do such things!"

    Sang Yan angrily slammed the table, "Do you think the Imperial Palace is empty?"

    It certainly wasn’t empty.

    The Emperor had been away from the palace for several months, and neither the Empress Dowager nor the Empress were present to supervise, had that not thrown the rules into chaos?

    "Empress, have mercy! Have mercy!"

    The managing nanny was scared out of her wits.

    Sang Yan, utterly disgusted by her, didn’t look at her again and turned to call outside, "Come, drag her away, investigate her crimes thoroughly! She must be punished severely!"

    Hearing her command, the guards rushed in and quickly dragged the woman away.

    The palace maids all praised the Empress’s wisdom in unison.

    At that moment, Xiangxiu had also changed her clothes and came out.

    Separated by a door, she heard everything Sang Yan said—fight for her own fate!

    Therefore, she knelt down immediately, crying, "Empress, please discern the truth, I did not steal Princess Consort Sang’s jade hairpin. Please, Empress, discern the truth."

    Sang Yan was waiting for these words, and now that she had heard them, she didn’t linger. She rose to her feet and said, "I know. Wait here; I will settle the matter."

    She needed to return to Qingning Palace to discuss these matters with He Ying.

    The harem was in chaos, it was time for a rectification.

    Xiangxiu watched in shock as Sang Yan hurriedly left with her entourage.

    She thought she had coincidentally encountered the Empress.

    But now, it seemed like the Empress had come to the Clothing Bureau specifically for her?

    That figure had already stepped out of the Clothing Bureau door,

    Her bright red palace dress trailing on the ground.

    The autumn rain began to fall again.

    Qiuzhi handed an umbrella to Sang Yan while half-crouching to pick up her dress hem.

    Seeing this, Sang Yan tilted the umbrella towards Qiuzhi with a smile.

    The mighty Empress actually cared whether a palace maid would get rained on or not!

    Watching this scene, Xiangxiu couldn’t help but sigh: They were all servants, so why was Qiuzhi so fortunate?

    Other palace maids felt the same.

    "The Empress doesn’t put on any airs; she’s like a fairy from the heavens."

    "Even a fairy wouldn’t be as beautiful as the Empress."

    "No wonder the Emperor personally sought to bring her back to the palace."

    "But why would the Empress suddenly come to the Clothing Bureau?"

    "Hey, what do you think will happen to Mr. Zhang? Will he be beheaded?"

    "Why worry about him? He has Princess Consort Sang to back him up. Even if the Empress is angry, wouldn’t she still consider their sisterly relationship?"

    ...

    As the Empress left,

    The quiet Clothing Bureau again bustled with activity.

    Their chattering voices also reached Xiangxiu’s ear: Yes. Mr. Zhang was Sang Ruoshui’s man. Today she was lucky to have encountered the Empress; Mr. Zhang took a loss. But even without Mr. Zhang, there would be Eunuch Li, Eunuch Liu... Basically, Sang Ruoshui would not make it easy for her.

    Thinking about this, Xiangxiu shivered all over, her teeth chattering.

    She could no longer endure it.

    Sang Ruoshui, since she did not want her to live, neither would she let her have an easy life!

    Xiangxiu thought of the Emperor, clenched her teeth, and resolutely left the Clothing Bureau.

    Imperial Study

    The courtiers had finished discussing affairs and gradually left.

    Only He Ying remained seated in his chair.

    Before him, on the desk, petitions were stacked in two tall piles.

    He swiftly read through them, picked up a brush, dipped it in red ink, and wrote comments.

    He looked through each petition one by one.

    Soon, the red ink was almost dry.

    His eyes also began to hurt.

    Today was too busy.

    Pei Muyang was attending by his side and noticed this, busily offering a cup of tea heated to seventy percent hot: "Emperor, have a sip of tea and rest a bit."

    He Ying took the tea, drank a sip, and softly sighed.

    Pei Muyang glanced at the content of the petitions and considerately said, "Is the Emperor troubled by matters concerning Beiqi? It hasn’t reached a crucial point yet, Your Majesty should take care of your health. Otherwise, the Empress would be distressed if she knew."

    He knew his own words were ineffective, so he borrowed the name of the Empress.

    Indeed, when the Empress was mentioned, the Emperor reacted.

    He Ying massaged his temples, put aside the petitions, took another sip of tea, and asked in a low voice, "What did the Empress do today?"

    He very much wanted to go back and accompany Sang Yan.

    Alas, he had just returned to the palace and, overwhelmed by numerous affairs, he could hardly find the time.

    He suddenly felt that being an Emperor was not such a great job.

    Wanting to spend more time with the woman he loved, yet having no leisure to do so.

    "Empress spent the afternoon resting briefly, then left Qingning Palace and went towards the Clothing Bureau..."

    Pei Muyang said this, his expression changed slightly, a trace of unease flashed in his eyes, and he bent even lower: "Emperor, your servant has something to tell you, but it’s quite disgraceful and may offend your ears."

    He Ying blew on the foam in his tea, glanced at Pei Muyang, and spoke with natural authority, "Today, you seem unusually perceptive?"

    Pei Muyang: "..."

    He was inwardly shocked and secretly admired the Emperor’s keen senses. Sear?h the N?velFire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He knew that he could hide nothing from his master.

    "Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

    He quickly knelt down, displaying a very anxious expression.

    Seeing this, He Ying felt the warning was sufficient, then said, "Speak, what is it?"

    Pei Muyang then spoke, "Today, the Empress went to the Clothing Bureau. Mr. Zhang Tong, who oversees the daily affairs there... took a liking to Miss Xiangxiu who just came out of Yuesang Palace... That shameless servant attempted to take liberties with Miss Xiangxiu in broad daylight... Luckily, the Empress saw it. The Empress had Zhang Tong arrested and brought here, just when Your Majesty was discussing affairs with the ministers, your servant did not dare speak... and also feared offending your ears..."

    As he said this, his voice became softer and softer.

    A mess indeed.

    This was a serious violation of palace decorum!

    Such acts were beyond even what Zhang Tong, that rogue, dared to commit!

    "Your servant does not dare ask for mercy."

    Pei Muyang acted extremely anxious and fearful, knocking his forehead on the ground twice: "This is your servant’s fault for not managing the servants properly, offending the Empress’s eyes. I only ask, Your Majesty, considering your servant has followed you for so long, without merits but with hardships, to grant me a dignified death, leaving my body intact—"

    He deliberately exaggerated his own wrongdoing and appeared very pitiable.

    He Ying could see that he was acting.

    However, his performance did indeed lessen his anger.

    "Your Majesty hasn’t even spoken yet, and you’ve already sentenced yourself to death."

    He Ying looked at his undeserving appearance and it gave him a headache. He waved his hand for him to stand up and spoke soothingly, "Get up. You accompany me out of the palace, how could you manage everything inside it?"

    He grew up in this palace and had seen all kinds of shady tricks.

    This matter could be made a big deal or a small one, it all depended on whether the higher-ups wanted to handle it or not.

    In the past, he wouldn’t have wanted to handle it.

    But now he had Sang Yan; the matter had escalated in her presence, and whether he intended to manage it or not, he had to.