No one knew that the Emperor wanted the Empress to die, so no one would believe that the dignified mother of the nation would sacrifice her own life just to help Senior Concubine Xian eliminate Consort Rong.
"Take the Empress away for treatment."
In reality, everyone understood that the Empress was beyond saving. She had not only inhaled an excessive amount of thick smoke but had also been crushed by burning roof beams. The burns on her face were the least of her injuries; the truly fatal wounds covered her entire body.
There wasn't a single patch of undamaged skin on her back, and in some places, the burns were so severe that bones were exposed. If it weren't for the curtain that the guards who carried her out had used to cover her, the gruesome sight of her injuries would have terrified these delicate ladies.
Fen Yun followed closely behind the stretcher. Before leaving, she cast a deep glance at Jiang Xinyue.
She was just a lowly maid who had been serving by the Empress's side since she was still just the daughter of the Grand Commandant of Chang'an.
Her feelings for the Empress ran deep, but she was only a small maid.
She didn't know whether she should hate Senior Concubine Xian for the Empress's current state, or if she should hate the Emperor for breaking her mistress's heart.
Her hatred was insignificant and couldn't harm anyone.
She had to follow the Empress's orders: to survive, to stay in the palace, to remain by Senior Concubine Xian's side, to watch over her on behalf of the Empress, and to take care of the Fifth Prince for her.
"No!"
Consort Rong shook her head frantically. "Your Majesty, it wasn't me, truly it wasn't!"
With both witness testimony and physical evidence present, and having been caught at the scene - the hairpin that stabbed Fen Yun and the fire starter that caused the blaze had both fallen from her hands - how could it not have been her?
Was it possible that the Empress had set the fire to burn herself to death? Had Fen Yun carved a bone-deep gash on her own face?
Women value their appearance above all else, yet both the Empress and Fen Yun had their faces ruined, and even Senior Concubine Xian had nearly died inside.
If not her, then who?
The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes and moved to Jiang Xinyue's side. "Senior Concubine Xian is usually so quick-witted and talkative. Why are you so quiet today? Did you also see Consort Rong start the fire?"
The fire had almost been extinguished, with only a few stubborn flames still flickering here and there.
In the silence, the occasional crackle of burning wood sounded particularly jarring.
Jiang Xinyue took a long moment to raise her head and look at the Empress Dowager. With a frail and weak demeanor, she glanced briefly in the Empress Dowager's direction before lowering her eyes to the ground again. Her voice was feeble as she spoke, "What does the Empress Dowager wish to hear from this concubine? I was summoned by the Empress for a conversation today. We had barely exchanged a few words when the fire trapped us both inside. I was with the Empress the entire time. Surely the Empress Dowager isn't suggesting that I started the fire?"
"I never said such a thing," the Empress Dowager snorted coldly. "So you're saying you didn't see Consort Rong start the fire. How can the Emperor believe the Empress's one-sided account? That maid of hers is on her side too, so how can she accuse Consort Rong? Only if Senior Concubine Xian also claims to have witnessed it could it possibly be true."
The Empress had nearly been burned to death; how could this be called a one-sided account?
Jiang Xinyue sighed, appearing helpless and bullied by the Empress Dowager.
She had just escaped from a raging fire, and her entire being was weak and greatly shocked. Her once flawless, jade-like hands were now covered in blisters from the flames, which must have been incredibly painful.
The Empress Dowager was being too overbearing.
The Xuanwu Emperor stepped in front of the Empress Dowager. "We'll discuss this further once Senior Concubine Xian has recovered. Guards, take Consort Rong to the Investigative Bureau for now."
"Emperor!" The Empress Dowager shielded Consort Rong behind her. "Don't forget that Consort Rong once saved your life. Now you're ready to punish her based solely on the Empress's word. Aren't you afraid this will dishearten those ministers who have devoted themselves to you?"
If this is how he treats someone who saved his life, how could he possibly cherish his court officials?
How could such an ungrateful ruler expect long-term loyalty?
What the Xuanwu Emperor hated most was how the Empress Dowager always brought up the court officials and used gratitude to pressure him.
Without Consort Rong, he would have been perfectly fine. Did they really think his personal guards were useless?
Consort Rong's actions had been unnecessary. He had already promoted her from Noble Consort to Consort Rong. What more gratitude did they expect?
"Your Majesty..." Jiang Xinyue grasped his hand, careful not to apply pressure due to her bandaged palms. From her wide waistband, she produced a jade button from clothing. "This concubine found this by the window."
Her gaze shifted towards Consort Rong, who was slumped on the ground.
Everyone followed Jiang Xinyue's line of sight to the jade ornament on Consort Rong's chest. At the top of her neckline, it was clear that something was missing, and the style, color, and material of the jade button in Jiang Xinyue's hand matched perfectly with those on Consort Rong's garment.
At this point, even the Empress Dowager was left speechless and could only watch as the officials from the Investigative Bureau took Consort Rong away.
Pei Wu, supporting the Empress Dowager's hand, shook her head slightly, signaling her not to act rashly. "Empress Dowager, this humble servant will plead for leniency on Consort Rong's behalf."
Of course! The Emperor treated Pei Wu differently.
Since their last intimate encounter, Pei Wu had frequently visited the Chengqian Palace to keep the Emperor company. Although the Emperor was currently mindful of Senior Concubine Xian and hadn't given Pei Wu an official title, this was only temporary.
Pei Wu could be the key to driving a wedge between the Emperor and Senior Concubine Xian.
The Empress Dowager suppressed her impulses, shot a vicious glare at Senior Concubine Xian, and stormed off.
Meanwhile, the Xuanwu Emperor carried Jiang Xinyue to the imperial carriage and hurriedly returned to Hexi Palace.
He summoned Yan the Imperial Physician for a thorough examination. Only after confirming that her injuries were superficial and not life-threatening did the Emperor's anxiety subside.
"Your Majesty is injured too, here..." Jiang Xinyue, now dressed in a light white undergarment with her long black hair loose, sat up in bed and pointed at the bleeding scratch on his cheek. "Xi Que, ask Yan the Imperial Physician to treat the Emperor's wound as well."
Yan the Imperial Physician was behind the screen writing a prescription. He had intended to apply some medicine to the Emperor's wound before leaving, but the Xuanwu Emperor said, "I'm fine. There's no need for the physician. Xinyue can apply some medicine for me."
Yan thought to himself: We can't let Senior Concubine Xian miss this opportunity to be close to the Emperor.
He quickly put away his brush and handed the prescription to Xi Que. "Brew two packets of medicine in one bowl of water for the concubine to drink. The Imperial Hospital is very busy, so I must take my leave now."
He hurried off with his medical kit.
Xi Que assumed that Yan the Imperial Physician meant that the Empress's condition was critical, and that's why all the physicians at the Imperial Hospital were busy treating her. She didn't think anything else of it.
Jiang Xinyue held up her hands, wrapped like dumplings, and waved them in front of the Xuanwu Emperor's eyes. "How can this concubine apply medicine for Your Majesty in this state?"
She blinked her large, innocent eyes, looking as soft and adorable as a fluffy, docile animal.
He had forgotten about the injuries to her hands.
In the end, it was Wang Dequan who, with trembling fingers and trepidation, applied the medicine as if walking on thin ice.
Every time Wang Dequan touched the wound, the Emperor would hiss in pain, nearly stopping Wang Dequan's fragile heart.
