The Xuanwu Emperor held Jiang Xinyue in his arms, comforting her for a while, before he had to leave, for he then had to go to Jingren Palace to capture the real traitor.
He could only order the eunuchs in the Hexi Palace to take good care of Jiang Xinyue and clean the blood stains from her clothes.
Moreover, he ordered the physicians on duty at the Imperial Hospital to check Jiang Xinyue's pulse to ensure her safety.
The concubines and Empress Zhu in the harem were only informed by Wang Dequan after the Emperor left the Hexi palace.
Therefore, they only knew that Consort Shu had ordered Jin Wuyong to violate Concubine Zhen's innocence, but as soon as they infiltrated, they were caught by the Emperor who had preemptively stationed there.
As to why the Emperor had received the information so early and even had the guards stationed at the crime scene in advance, it was of course because Consort Jin, prioritize justice over family ties, had reported the sinister plot of these two to him.
At least half of the concubines present regretted, why didn't Consort Jin wait for her brother to completely ruin Concubine Zhen before alerting the Emperor?
Wouldn't that eliminate a strong rival?
Facing the mockery from these women, Consort Jin was so aggrieved that she couldn't utter a word.
She dare not disobey Concubine Zhen's command!
How was she expected to know that her brother would dare to cuckold the Emperor?
It was Concubine Zhen who told her everything.
Including the fact that her brother and Consort Shu plotted to harm Concubine Zhen, had she not been told, she would have been blissfully deciding on what dress to wear the next day in hopes of receiving the Emperor's favor.
Concubine Zhen knew all these matters earlier and had already devised a countermeasure. If it wasn't for her still being useful, Consort Jin even doubted if she could survive the next few days.
The Emperor would inevitably vent his anger on the Jin family, and as a result, she would also fall out of his favor. It was only a matter of time before she would be removed.
Consort Shu, in her desperation, reached out to pull at the Xuanwu Emperor's robe, but the Emperor swiftly recoiled, causing her to dive into thin air.
"Servants, send Consort Shu...no...send commoner Lady Wu to the execution chamber and offer her poisoned wine. The Investigative Bureau should execute Jin Wuyong immediately, the Jin household need not hold any official post anymore. All, irrespective of their age and gender, should be imprisoned."
They'll be held there for years.
These actions were a result of them raising such a reckless son, who dared to cuckold the Emperor.
Consort Jin was trembling uncontrollably, barely standing, but she dared not plead for her family, fearing that the Emperor might execute her out of fury too.
The Xuanwu Emperor's gaze fleetingly passed over Consort Jin, showing only a slight sense of displeasure. After all, it was in light of her reporting that he spared her punishment, and thus, he didn't hold her accountable.
After all, Consort Jin married the Emperor, strictly speaking, she is no longer part of the Jin family but is part of the imperial family.
"The Empress Dowager objects!"
Upon hearing this voice, Wang Dequan closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and forced himself to maintain a smile.
"There must be someone setting them up, where is Concubine Zhen? I heard that General Jin was found in her palace, she must be having an illicit affair and then blaming it on Consort Shu."
Jin Wuyong attempted to sully Jiang Xinyue using the Empress Dowager's words, but Noble Consort Rong stepped forward and slapped him down: "You disgusting, lowly creature! In past times, your Jin clan framed our Wu clan. Now, you have lured my sister into committing this grave mistake. You are less than human."
This slap firmly established the guilt of Consort Shu.
Empress Dowager Wu was trembling all over with fury, pointing at Noble Consort Rong, rendered speechless.
With a forceful shut of her eyes, she turned and left.
“Auntie! Auntie, save me!”
Consort Shu screamed, chasing after the Empress Dowager. She was seized and dragged back by the officers of the Investigative Bureau.
With immense anger, the Xuanwu Emperor kicked Jin Wuyong in the chest and strode away.
Empress Zhu sighed and shook her head. "It's self-inflicted. The Emperor has been kind enough to you, Lady Wu... just let the officers from the Investigative Bureau take you away to spare yourself from further suffering."
Concubine Li snorted with laughter. “Consort Shu claims herself to be a lady of high birth, but seems a common mistress. It's indeed enlightening to see such a sight. It clearly shows the Emperor’s poor judgment.”
Her words insulted not only Consort Shu but also implied that Jiang Xinyue, currently favored by the Emperor, was no better.
Ever since the downfall of the Song Family, Concubine Li appeared to have let herself go, becoming sharp and biting. Her tirades against everything and everyone had become commonplace, and everyone had grown accustomed to it.
Even the Emperor showed no dissatisfaction at her actions. Who were they to complain?
After the Song Family’s downfall, although the Emperor seemed indifferent to Concubine Li, Empress Zhu felt that he was treating Concubine Li much better than before.
Despite not having visited Concubine Li, every time the palace received some novel item, both the Hexi Palace and Xihuo Palace would get one.
The gift for Xihuo Palace was always for Concubine Li. As a result, Jiang Yuan was more cautious about blatantly bullying Concubine Li.
It was clear that the Emperor, out of respect for his past relationship with Concubine Li, was trying to extend an olive branch.
Hexi Palace—
When the Emperor arrived, Concubine Zhen had just stopped crying. She was terrified.
Anyone would be scared out of her wits if a strange man suddenly sprung on her while she was sleeping soundly.
Moreover, Concubine Zhen was pregnant.
Her first reaction was to protect her unborn child; she ended up killing Jin Wuyong before she even had time to be scared.
But then the fear set in, leaving her shaking and too scared to say a word.
Out of guilt, the Xuanwu Emperor sat up with her all night. The next day, he had Wang Dequan bring over many gifts to Hexi Palace to soothe Jiang Xinyue’s nerves.
Xi Que was dazzled by the boxes upon boxes of jewelry and luxurious fabrics. "Wow! My lady, our storeroom is almost full."
In the palace, favor bestowed immeasurable conveniences. Whatever Jiang Xinyue fancied, people vied to fulfill her wishes.
She was wealthy, but never got to spend her money because whatever she desired was promptly brought before her.
Feeling languid, she raised her hand: “Get Xiao Xuanzi and Jiang Chuan, let them distribute some rewards to the people below.”
Xi Que beamed at the command, thinking that if even the servants got something, wouldn't the higher-ranking maidservants like them get more?
She was saving more money for when their second mistress entered the palace so she could send it to her parents outside with the help of their jade-weaving sister.
She had a younger brother who was turning fifteen soon, a marriageable age. They needed to offer some betrothal gifts to his future bride's family.
The imperial gifts, though they couldn’t be sold, could be granted to the subordinates.
If a family prospecting a marriage alliance with her younger brother saw that their family possessed imperial gifts, they would definitely hold them in high regard.
How could Jiang Xinyue not understand Xi Que's intentions?
So, after Jiang Chuan and the others granted the gifts, and when they came back, she let them pick items according to their own liking.
Jiang Xinyue did have a regular monthly income; the consorts of her rank received as much as two hundred taels per year. Jiang Xinyue had been in the palace for a year and a half, and she had collected quite a sum.
She also had her own personal silver given by her foster father and birth mother, and the emperor's frequent rewards included not only silver but also gold leaves and so on.
She took a part of these and displayed them, deliberately letting Xi Que choose.
