Consort Liang bit her lower lip tightly, her eyes shutting due to the sudden physical assault by Jiang Xinyue.
Shu Xiang was mortified and promptly wiped Consort Liang's face with a cloth, tightly gripping the hand of her mistress. She was in dread that Consort Liang, in a fit of fury, might assault the unborn child of Concubine Zhen.
"Concubine Zhen, you..."
How nauseating is this?
"Ah!"
Before Consort Liang could finish her speech, a harsh blow struck her waist. She had little clue of what had transpired when she found herself thrown off a distance. Her face and hands were grazed by the rough ground, causing a burning pain.
Compared to the wounds on her face and hands, her waist felt as if it was broken. She lay on the ground, dazed for a long time.
Jiang Xinyue assumed the Emperor must have witnessed the injury on the hand of Xi Que and was avenging her.
The Xuanwu Emperor certainly possesses endearing qualities, she thought, as the situation took everyone by surprise.
Several old maidservants attending Jiang Xinyue were so terrified that they prostrated on the ground, trembling noticeably.
The imperial guards brought by Empress Zhu were also taken aback by the Emperor's furiously driven kick. It was only when Empress Zhu summoned them to pay respects that they kneeled amidst the chaotic scene.
Jiang Xinyue still pinned Xi Que down in a fallen pose. The Emperor gently helped her to stand, his eyes lovingly surveying her from head to toe, "Wang Dequan, summon Imperial Physician Yan."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
It appeared outwardly that there seemed to be nothing amiss, but he still wanted to ensure Concubine Zhen's well-being by having the Imperial Physician examine her.
The moment Wang Dequan left, the Emperor thundered, "Out, all of you!"
"What about Your Majesty? Aren't you interested in knowing why Your Empress plans to search Hexi Palace?"
Emperor Zhu hardened her face. "Someone reported that Concubine Zhen is practicing witchcraft within the palace. She's sent a curse for both Your Majesty and me to meet an untimely end. The effigy, bearing both our dates of birth, is hidden in the Hexi Palace."
The Emperor had full faith that Jiang Xinyue would never indulge in such conducts, scoffing at the groveling Consort Liang, "Whistle-blower? Hah! Isn't it Consort Liang who has always detested Concubine Zhen? She's notorious for stirring up chaos in the harem. Can her words be trusted?"
Even if Empress Zhu indeed found a cursed doll in the Hexi Palace, the Emperor was convinced it was just a guise by Consort Liang to frame Concubine Zhen.
"Believe it or not, I have investigated and found the truth."
Empress Zhu would not let go of this golden opportunity to get rid of Jiang Xinyue, insisting, "I, as the Queen, have the power to manage the inner palace. I am acting according to the laws, I wish Your Majesty do not obstruct."
Her intent was clear. He, as the Emperor, was responsible for the matters of the court. The inner palace was her dominion, not his.
The Xuanwu Emperor, his authority challenged, narrowed his eyes as he stared at Empress Zhu, whose face turned pale under his icy gaze.
After what felt like an eternity, the Emperor snorted coldly, "Fine, continue your search then."
Having said that, he didn't bother to gauge the reaction of Empress Zhu. Instead, he carefully helped Jiang Xinyue into the inner chamber of his sleeping quarters.
"Your Majesty, since I entered the palace, you have showered me with affection. I have no reason to practice witchcraft and bring about my own demise. If anything suspicious is found, it must be someone setting me up. You must believe me!"
The beauty's small hand gripped his sleeve tightly, pleadingly explaining, "And besides, even if I had wild ambitions and wanted to seize the Empress's life, I wouldn't involve you, Your Majesty! Without you, how could Little Tuantuan and I survive safely in the harem? I'm not a fool."
"Yes, my Xinyue is the smartest."
Little Tuantuan is the pet name Jiang Xinyue had chosen for the child in her womb, and she had no intention of only having one child.
The more children the better.
The first child would be called Tuantuan, Little Tuantuan, and the second child could be called Yuanyuan, Little Yuanyuan.
Tuantuan and Yuanyuan, such good and auspicious names!
Only after the Emperor left with Jiang Xinyue in his arms did Consort Liang dare to rise from the ground. Hunching her back, she silently wept, clutching her abraded face.
"Enough!"
Seeing her in such a state, Empress Zhu felt even more vexed. "Stop crying! Are you sure that your spy really saw it?"
One after another, they were all so useless. Consort Liang was, Consort De was, none of them could win the Emperor's heart.
Choked with sobs, Consort Liang firmly nodded her head and ordered a seemingly insignificant palace maid in a green outfit, "Yang'er, come in and answer the Empress's question."
The palace maid quickly dropped her broom and hurried in to answer the Empress's question, "Replying to Your Majesty, I saw it with my own eyes. It seemed that Sister Xi Que and Sister Shuang Jiang had a quarrel over something. I watched secretly from outside the room and saw Sister Xi Que take a box out of her sleeve. Two cloth dolls fell out of the box, they were made to look like the Emperor and the Empress. They were also pierced with many silver needles. Sister Xi Que looked very frantic as she packed away everything. I hid quickly out of fear of being discovered, so I didn't see where they hid the box."
It must still be in the Hexi Palace.
She spoke with such detail; it didn't seem like she was lying.
A determined look appeared in Empress Zhu's eyes. "Search for me. Even if you have to dig three feet down, you must find that object for me."
If they couldn't find it, everyone present today would be in a terrible situation.
"Your Majesty, we've found it, we've found it..."
A guard came running from outside, a brown wooden box held within his hands. He knelt before Empress Zhu who stood in front of him.
Consort Liang jumped up and seized the wooden box, "It's this one, it definitely is. I will take it to the Emperor and let him see, let him see what kind of viper the Concubine Zhen he treasures so dearly is."
Empress Zhu grabbed her arm, issued no words, but Consort Liang lost under the pressure of her gaze and handed the box to her, "Your Majesty, I am just too angry. The Emperor must severely punish Concubine Zhen."
Practicing voodoo would implicate one's royal lineage. Consort Liang didn't wish to exterminate Concubine Zhen's lineage, she only wanted Concubine Zhen to die.
Empress Zhu seized the wooden box, turning to the palace maid, Yang'er, "Follow me, you know what to say before the Emperor, don’t you?"
Yang'er immediately nodded, "This servant understands, it's all something I stumbled upon unintentionally, it has nothing to do with Empress Zhu or Consort Liang."
"Hm!"
Empress Zhu nodded contentedly, "Come in with me!"
The inner chamber of Jiang Xinyue's palace was not very large, so Empress Zhu only brought a few personal attendants. Consort Liang left Shu Xiang outside and entered alone.
The sight that met them was a room full of warm refinement, a variety of rare ornaments that dazzled the eye.
Empress Zhu was both amazed and alarmed.
Before entering, she had thought that the Emperor would certainly not tolerate a Concubine Zhen who had obtained such wicked arts.
But once inside, upon seeing this room full of wealth, her heart again fluttered with anxiety.
The Emperor...would he execute Concubine Zhen?
