"There is more than one person in this palace who uses false personas to hide their true nature."
Jiang Xinyue replied to her, "Concubine Su is the daughter of the Director of the Gate Office from the Ministry of Punishment, a place infamous for devouring people without leaving a bone behind. Do you think someone born into such a household would be such a timid soul?"
More importantly, Jiang Xinyue had visited an experimental center in the 21st century, where the researchers dissected small animals cleanly and precisely, with neat and orderly incisions that showed the skilled hands of veterans.
On that day when the Xuanwu Emperor stopped her from seeing Little Ai Jiang's body, she insisted on seeing it, and it was her insistence that made her instantly identify the culprit – Concubine Su, from a family of interrogators at the Ministry of Punishment.
She studied psychology and had encountered all kinds of people with mental issues.
Generally, when people reach the peak of fear, they would feel dizzy, nauseous, have chest tightness and difficulty breathing, or even feel like vomiting. In more extreme cases, they might experience suffocation.
If the anxious emotions were not relieved, it could also trigger certain physical actions and behaviors, such as trembling voice, restlessness, inability to calm down, and overall anxiety.
However, Concubine Su exhibited none of these signs.
Her fear was only superficial, with no trace of fear in her eyes. When she looked at Little Ai Jiang's body, her trembling didn't seem like fear, but rather... excitement.
Jiang Xinyue was almost certain that she was a deviant who enjoyed torturing small animals.
Xi Que looked at her master with some concern, "But if Concubine Su is so terrifying, why did you let her know that you were the one who framed her?"
The room fell silent, with only the conversation between master and servant, and the howling winds outside. After a long silence, during which Xi Que thought Jiang Xinyue had fallen asleep, a voice like a dream murmur said, "Because I want to avenge Little Ai Jiang."
Everyone thought she had turned the page, but only she knew... No, she hadn't.
She couldn't be considered a dog lover, but she couldn't accept her pet being so cruelly killed while in her care.
The person who killed Little Ai Jiang must pay the price.
No!
To put it more broadly, she wanted revenge for all the small animals that died at Concubine Su's hands.
In Yanqing Palace—
Concubine Su lay in the Xuanwu Emperor's embrace, "Your Majesty, do you believe your concubine now?"
Outside, Fang Rumeng, a ninth-rank female official from the Weaving Bureau, knelt shivering in the cold on the long corridor.
Jiang Xinyue was right – nothing ventured, nothing gained. She had been suppressed in the Weaving Bureau, unable to fully showcase her exquisite skills. It would be better to change jobs to the Bureau of Palace Affairs.
The bargaining chip Concubine Su used to persuade her to testify was that she had connections in the Bureau of Palace Affairs, which could secure Fang Rumeng a position as a female historian in the Garment Department.
There were four female historians in the Garment Department, and if she found the right patron, she could be promoted to Chief Wardrobe Manager in no time, allowing her to fully display her talents.
Moreover, she could hide her relationship with Jiang Xinyue, and no one would ever suspect that the woman who betrayed Consort Zhen tonight was one of Consort Zhen's own people.
"Your concubine truly does not know what she has done to offend Sister Zhen. Your concubine... would like to apologize to Sister Zhen in person tomorrow. But your concubine is afraid. Could Your Majesty accompany your concubine?"
The Xuanwu Emperor was somewhat skeptical. Consort Zhen was kind and innocent, treating the princes and princesses like friends. How could such a sincere person send clothes to frame Concubine Su without any reason? Was it just because of some minor grievance between the two?
No!
Consort Zhen was not a vengeful, malicious person.
But what if it were true?
Would the woman he adored eventually become unrecognizable?
If so, he would be deeply disappointed.
The next morning, after attending the court session, the Xuanwu Emperor went to Yanqing Palace, where Consort De was teaching the Third Prince in the front courtyard.
Concubine Su had been dressed and ready for a long time, but Wang Dequan informed her that the Emperor wanted to accompany Consort De and the Third Prince for their noon meal before going to Hexi Palace.
She couldn't help but cry another round of tears.
Shu Hua had already become numb to her tears and no longer went to comfort her, as Concubine Su would act as if nothing had happened after each bout of crying, eating and drinking as usual.
In Hexi Palace, after Fang Rumeng finished taking Jiang Xinyue's measurements and conveying the message, she left.
Upon learning that the Xuanwu Emperor would bring Concubine Su to "seek justice," Jiang Xinyue whispered to Xi Que, "Go to the Internal Affairs Department and find a small dog that looks similar to Little Ai Jiang. Say that I miss Little Ai Jiang too much and want to raise another one."
Xi Que understood the importance of the matter and immediately called Xiao Xuanzi to go with her. Xiao Xuanzi was very resourceful, and with two of them, they would have a contingency plan in case of any unexpected circumstances.
"Your Highness, Your Highness..."
In Concubine Li's palace, Xia He could barely contain her excitement, "Concubine Su has led a group to Hexi Palace."
Concubine Li swallowed a bowl of bitter medicine and quickly put a candied fruit in her mouth to keep from vomiting. Upon hearing this, she merely raised her eyes slightly, displeased with Xia He's reckless reaction, "So what?"
Concubine Su was a hopeless case, how could she do anything to Consort Zhen?
Yesterday, her mother came to the palace and scolded her for lowering herself to confront Consort Zhen, needlessly angering the Emperor and elevating Hexi Palace's status.
She felt her mother was right. Her top priority now was to have a son and a daughter for the Emperor, otherwise any favor from him would be meaningless talk.
It was strange, though – she had been in the palace since she was sixteen, and now at twenty-five, almost ten years had passed, yet she had never been pregnant.
At first, her family thought the Emperor didn't want her to conceive, but yesterday her mother brought a woman disguised as a maid to examine her, saying that her body had difficulty conceiving, and prescribed her many medicines.
From now on, she would have to change the medicines every seven days. She could only try to persuade the Emperor to let that female doctor stay when her mother entered the palace next time.
Xia He leaned closer and whispered something in Concubine Li's ear. Concubine Li's bright, cat-like eyes lit up, "Really?"
Xia He nodded, "Absolutely true. That female official from the Weaving Bureau was Consort Zhen's friend before she entered the palace. This time, that woman betrayed Consort Zhen for the sake of promotion. I wonder how she feels in her heart?"
Concubine Li sneered, "Concubine Su is too naive. It's just a piece of clothing, and she didn't do anything major. The Emperor won't do anything to Consort Zhen."
But...
The divide between men and women often arises from the smallest things, as mutual distrust grows, and the divide becomes wider and wider, eventually leading to estrangement.
"Woof, woof, woof..."
In the Hexi Palace, a series of barks from dogs echoed.
The Xuanwu Emperor waved off the reporting eunuch and entered with a group of people.
"Ah!"
A snow-white puppy leaped from Jiang Xinyue's embrace and landed securely in Concubine Su's lap.
"Aahh..."
After getting a clear look at the puppy's features, Concubine Su screamed and flung the puppy away, flinging herself into the Xuanwu Emperor's arms. "Your Majesty... Your Majesty! It's that dog, it's that dog!"
Xi Que was prepared to catch the puppy, ensuring it didn't hit the ground.
