Hearing Prince Yan's slightly puzzled tone, the Princess Consort felt a heavy weight lift from her heart.
She had thought Shen Wei would seize the opportunity to complain to Prince Yan. However, judging by the prince's expression, Shen Wei had not told him about the day's events.
The Princess Consort sneered inwardly, thinking that Shen Wei was truly timid and destined to never achieve anything significant.
She informed the prince of the identities of the two individuals: "Your Highness, this woman is Zhang Yue from the Rose Garden, and the man beside her is Sanlang, a groom from the mansion."
Prince Yan stared at Zhang Yue's unfamiliar face, feeling a vague sense of recognition.
After a long moment, he remembered—she was the concubine who was pregnant.
Prince Yan had a very poor impression of Zhang Yue. She was greedy, vain, cunning, and malicious. Even if she had managed to become pregnant, he would never pay her any attention.
Zhang Yue sat slumped on the floor, her heart sinking to the depths of despair. She had thought that by exposing Shen Wei's alleged affair, she could regain the prince's favor. But within half a day, she and Sanlang had been captured by the Princess Consort.
The way Prince Yan looked at her—strange and full of disdain—sent a chill through her heart. He didn't even remember her face. Even if Shen Wei were to fall, could Zhang Yue truly win his favor?
"Bring in the maid, Fang Er," the Princess Consort ordered, sitting in the empty seat beside Prince Yan.
Granny Liu led Fang Er into the room.
The Princess Consort spoke calmly, "Fang Er, repeat to His Highness what you told me earlier."
Fang Er knelt with a thud and kowtowed deeply. "Your Highness, I accuse Zhang Yue of adultery, defiling the Prince's Mansion. Her crimes are unforgivable!"
The room fell silent.
After another kowtow, Fang Er continued, "Zhang Yue was jealous of Shen Wei's favor. Today, she even falsely accused Shen Wei. Fortunately, the Princess Consort saw through her lies and cleared Shen Wei's name."
Prince Yan frowned and turned to Shen Wei.
Shen Wei gave a weak smile. "Your Highness, there's no need to worry. The Princess Consort has already proven my innocence."
Prince Yan thought of the red marks on Shen Wei's wrist. Could they have been inflicted by the Princess Consort's people? He wanted to inquire further, but Zhang Yue had already begun to cry and defend herself. "Your Highness, please believe me! The child in my womb is truly yours!"
Her shrill voice gave Prince Yan a headache.
Fang Er quickly kowtowed again. "Your Highness! I served in the Rose Garden for many days and repeatedly saw Sanlang entering Zhang Yue's room. The two of them were secretly involved!"
Zhang Yue was terrified, tears streaming down her face. "Your Highness, I am innocent. For the sake of the child in my womb, I beg you to investigate thoroughly!"
Zhang Yue babbled on, pleading for mercy, while Fang Er countered with oaths. Sanlang, meanwhile, was trembling in fear.
Prince Yan, annoyed by the noise, slammed his teacup down. "Whether it's true or false, take them to the Tiger Guards' interrogation chamber. The truth will come out there."
The interrogation chamber was where the Tiger Guards questioned criminals. Most people entered unharmed but left with their skin peeled off.
The Tiger Guards were different from the ordinary guards of the mansion. They were Prince Yan's private army, tasked with carrying out his orders and ensuring his safety.
The guards outside the room obeyed the order and dragged Zhang Yue and Sanlang out of the main hall. The two cried and begged for mercy, but the guards dislocated their jaws to silence them.
They were dragged out of the Glazed Pavilion like trash.
Shen Wei watched in silent shock. She had thought the argument between Fang Er and Zhang Yue would drag on. But in reality, after just a few words of defense from Zhang Yue, Prince Yan had already lost interest.
Those in power never deign to involve themselves in the squabbles of ants.
"Your Highness is wise," the Princess Consort said, rising and bowing gracefully to Prince Yan. "It's getting late, and Cheng Ke and Cheng Zhen will be returning from their studies soon. I shall take my leave."
With Zhang Yue and Sanlang taken away, they would not survive the night.
With those two gone, Shen Wei would not dare to complain to Prince Yan, and the Princess Consort would have no further worries.
Feeling reassured, the Princess Consort prepared to leave with Granny Liu and her maids.
But after taking just two steps, Prince Yan's cold voice rang out. "The Empress Dowager has been unwell this year. You should copy three volumes of Buddhist scriptures and deliver them to her tomorrow."
The Princess Consort's body stiffened.
She turned around in surprise, looking at Prince Yan seated on the throne. His face was as cold and flawless as jade, the black-gold crown on his head reflecting a chilling light. He stood like a statue, emotionless and stern.
Distant and unfamiliar.
The Princess Consort's heart clenched. Prince Yan must have guessed her and Zhang Yue's schemes, as well as her attempts to shift the blame...
Copying three volumes of Buddhist scriptures was his punishment for her—a punishment for her mistreatment of the concubines and her failure to discern right from wrong as the mistress of the mansion.
"I... I understand," the Princess Consort said, her knees weakening.
Granny Liu supported her as they slowly left the Glazed Pavilion.
The sunlight was harsh, and Granny Liu, seeing the Princess Consort's pale face, asked worriedly, "Your Highness, the prince is giving you a warning. Could it be that Shen Wei secretly encouraged him to do so?"
The Princess Consort shook her head. "Shen Wei is short-sighted and lacks the capability... The prince simply despises me now."
The hearts of husband and wife had grown distant, and they could no longer stand the sight of each other.
When Prince Yan no longer loved someone, even her breathing was wrong.
"This time, I was careless," the Princess Consort said wearily, rubbing her temples. "From now on, let's not interfere with matters in the Glazed Pavilion. Shen Wei comes from a humble background. Even if she bears a child, she will never threaten my position."
Upon closer reflection, she had two sons and a daughter, with the support of the Tantai family behind her. Shen Wei, a mere peasant girl, posed no real threat.
But still...
The image of Prince Yan and Shen Wei holding hands flashed in the Princess Consort's mind, and a pang of bitterness stirred in her heart. She still cared, still resented the prince's affection for other women.
Once upon a time, she too had been young and beautiful, newly married to the prince, and they had shared a time of love and happiness. She had naively believed that their affection would last forever.
But time was cruel. As she aged and her beauty faded, Prince Yan's heart was drawn to the fresh, flower-like newcomers. She had tried to win him back, but to no avail.
In the end, she had given up on Prince Yan entirely, pouring all her love and energy into her children.
