"What on earth is going on?" Empress Zhu's face darkened as she looked at Xi Que. "You tell me, Consort Zhen was fine when she left Changxin Palace, so how did she suddenly fall into the water and end up like this?"
Some time had passed since Jiang Xinyue had fallen into the water, and the concubines in the palace who needed to know had already been informed. They gradually gathered in the main chamber of Hexi Palace, paying their respects to the Emperor and Empress.
Consort Shu had arrived early and had already heard Xi Que report the details of the incident to the Emperor.
As the Empress began to inquire, before Xi Que could answer, Consort Shu stepped forward and said, "Xi Que and Shuang Jiang insist that it was a maid from my palace who pushed Consort Zhen into the water. However, today is the day the Empress Dowager worships Buddha. I went to Kunning Palace early, and all my attendants accompanied me to the small Buddha hall in Kunning Palace. All the maids and eunuchs in Kunning Palace can testify to this."
Consort Jin, who particularly disliked Consort Shu's perpetually cold demeanor, spoke in a low voice, "The Empress Dowager is Consort Shu's aunt. Naturally, she would side with Consort Shu. The testimony of the people in Kunning Palace may not be sufficient evidence."
"Is Consort Jin suggesting that the Empress Dowager cannot distinguish right from wrong and would shield wrongdoers?" Consort Shu retorted.
"I didn't mean that. I'm just making a reasonable guess," Consort Jin replied. It wasn't a secret that the current Empress Dowager and the Emperor were at odds. What did it matter if she disrespected the Empress Dowager? After all, she wasn't present.
The Xuanwu Emperor gazed intently at Consort Shu, clearly harboring suspicions about her.
Last night, he had first turned over Consort Shu's tablet, but midway through, he had gone to Hexi Palace. Anyone with ulterior motives would know, upon investigation, that it was Consort Zhen's wishing lamp that had drawn him there.
The Empress Dowager had been wholeheartedly trying to help Consort Shu regain the Emperor's favor and restore the Wu Family to its former glory, making numerous efforts and arrangements to this end.
Just when Consort Shu had finally agreed to reconcile with the Emperor and mend their relationship, a Consort Zhen had appeared out of nowhere, constantly interfering between the Emperor and Consort Shu. Naturally, the Empress Dowager had grown weary of Consort Zhen as well.
Last night, Consort Zhen had once again disrupted Consort Shu's plans. Even if Consort Shu didn't mind, what about the Empress Dowager?
The Xuanwu Emperor's thoughts aligned with those of the others present.
Every time...
Every time he had something or someone he cherished, as soon as his mother discovered it, she either made him give it to others or forcibly took it from him.
He understood that as an emperor, he shouldn't let others guess his preferences, nor should he have beloved individuals who might cause him to lose his necessary rationality and judgment.
But...
He was no longer a child. He had the ability to protect the things or people he loved, and he wouldn't be led by the nose. He knew how to distinguish between true feelings and false pretenses.
Why?
Why did they always have to control his life?
He was the Emperor, the Son of Heaven. Even the Empress Dowager must act according to his wishes.
Gritting his back teeth, the Xuanwu Emperor said sternly, "Convey my imperial decree: I will elevate Consort Zhen to the rank of Noble Consort Zhen."
Didn't the Empress Dowager want to kill Consort Zhen?
He would deliberately take her under his wing, bestow upon her the highest honor, making everyone envious and jealous, yet unable to harm her.
Not to mention how the Empress Dowager would react when the news of Consort Zhen's elevation reached Kunning Palace, Consort Shu collapsed to the ground, weeping in disarray: "Your Majesty, is this action meant to anger me?"
"How dare you!" The Xuanwu Emperor glared at her. "Are you questioning me?"
Consort Shu stood up, her back straight. "It wouldn't be the first time I've been presumptuous. Your Majesty used to indulge me, saying my frank nature was rare and precious. Now, let me be frank once more, and ask on behalf of the Yan Lang and Rong'er of the past: do you... no longer trust me?"
If he had been deeply in love, he would certainly have trusted her.
But when a man no longer loves, asking such questions only invites humiliation.
A flicker of tenderness passed through the Xuanwu Emperor's brow, but upon glancing at the unconscious Jiang Xinyue, it cooled again. "Trust you about what? Trust that you're not deliberately flattering me for the sake of the Wu Family? Trust that you've never had feelings for me? Trust that, like the Empress Dowager, you only care about the Wu Family?"
Consort Shu was nothing more than another Empress Dowager.
His series of questions made Consort Shu's confidence bleed.
Perhaps she hadn't loved him at first, but how could she not have developed feelings after ten years of gentleness and doting?
After all, she was just a fragile woman.
The Empress Dowager had entrusted her with the burden of reviving the Wu Family, while the vengeance for her father's death tormented her. She was already exhausted in body and mind.
"Ah!" A concubine screamed.
With a death wish in her eyes, Consort Shu pulled a golden hairpin from her hair and plunged it directly into the side of her neck. The sharp pin pierced her flesh without hesitation, blood spraying out. The Xuanwu Emperor rushed over, snatching the pin and throwing it to the ground. "Have you gone mad?"
Consort Shu smiled bitterly. "I am willing... willing to prove my innocence with my death. I have never... never harmed Consort Zhen..."
"Quickly, summon the imperial physician!" Empress Zhu's face was full of concern. "Your Majesty, please take Consort Shu back to Jingren Palace! I will take care of Consort Zhen here, she will be fine."
The Emperor had just announced Consort Zhen's promotion to Noble Consort, yet both Consort Shu and the Empress still addressed her as Consort Zhen. Neither wanted to acknowledge the Emperor's decree and allow Consort Zhen to be promoted!
Apart from Consort Shu's younger sister, Consort Rong, no one in the Great Yan's harem had ever been elevated to the rank of Noble Consort without bearing children.
Consort Rong had relied on the then-powerful Wu Family and the Empress Dowager, but Consort Zhen depended solely on herself.
All the concubines in the harem hoped that the Emperor was merely acting out of anger and didn't truly intend to promote Jiang Xinyue.
The Xuanwu Emperor looked at the bleeding Consort Shu, then at the pale Jiang Xinyue. He reluctantly released Consort Shu's hand and pushed her towards Empress Zhu. "No need. Empress, take Consort Shu back to Jingren Palace for treatment. I will stay here with Consort Zhen. She's timid, and if she wakes up without seeing me, she'll be frightened."
Empress Zhu opened her mouth but couldn't utter a word.
Not daring to delay any further, Empress Zhu immediately ordered Fengyun to summon the imperial physician to Jingren Palace. She supported Consort Shu onto her own sedan chair and hurriedly set off for Jingren Palace.
In truth, if the Emperor truly cared, he shouldn't have moved Consort Shu, who was severely injured.
There were three imperial physicians treating Consort Zhen in Hexi Palace. Sparing one for Consort Shu and treating her in a side hall would have better ensured her safety.
Why go to such lengths?
It was nothing more than finding Consort Shu's self-harm in front of Consort Zhen's bed inauspicious and being annoyed by Consort Shu's behavior.
Their emperor, when she loved, she granted life; when she hated, she desired death.
"Drip! Drip! Drip!"
A few raindrops fell into the pond housing seven or eight ornamental koi. Soon after, the sky darkened, and a heavy downpour began, shrouding the entire imperial palace in a cold, damp atmosphere.
"What a pity, she always has such good fortune."
Inside the grand hall sat a concubine dressed in opulent robes. With her back to the entrance, she spoke without a hint of disappointment or excitement in her voice: "Has everything been taken care of?"
The palace servant kneeling on the ground replied, "It's all been handled, Your Highness. There's no way it can be traced back to you."
The concubine selected a golden hairpin and placed it in her hair. "She won't... always be this lucky."
