If it were anyone else, they would undoubtedly be crying and wailing at this moment, begging him for justice, dragging down this person and that, essentially trying to trample on every favored concubine in the harem.
Even if they didn't resort to such tactics, they would at least display their vulnerability, subtly guiding him to suspect certain concubines.
But Concubine Zhen was different from anyone else.
Concubine Li held a grudge against her, yet she didn't even mention it.
The Empress had also schemed against her, and whether or not the Xuanwu Emperor knew, she still spoke in the Empress's favor. This foolish girl, helping count the money for those who had sold her out.
Thinking back carefully, it seemed that Consort Jin and Consort Zhang had also given her a hard time, but she appeared to have forgotten it instantly, not taking their bullying to heart.
There were only two exceptions: once when Shuang Jiang was beaten, she rolled up her sleeves the next day and thrashed Concubine Li's maid.
The second time was when Concubine Su killed Little Ai Jiang; she plotted against Concubine Su and was reprimanded by him. Each time, she only retaliated for the sake of those close to her or her pets.
It was his excessive doting on her, coupled with his failure to protect her, that made everyone in the harem think Concubine Zhen was good-natured and thus easier to bully.
If the harem concubines knew the Emperor thought this way, they would probably all be kneeling at the gates of Chengqian Palace, crying out in injustice.
If we turn back time to when Concubine Chu was still in Changchun Palace, she had instigated Concubine Zhen's sister, Jiang Baolin, to hang herself in Xihuo Palace and even pretended to be a ghost to frighten Concubine Zhen.
Where is Concubine Chu now?
Oh!
She has been demoted to the lowest rank of consort and sent to the Criminal Servants' Prison as a slave.
Let's look at Concubine Su from Consort De's Palace...
She killed Concubine Zhen's little dog and falsely accused Concubine Zhen of hanging the dog's corpse on her door to intimidate her.
When she tried the same trick again, she was caught red-handed by the Emperor. Not only were her leg tendons cut, but she was also sent home. To avoid disaster, the Su family moved out of the capital entirely.
There's no need to inquire about Concubine Su's fate; she's surely dead.
Then there's Jiang Yuan, formerly known as Consort Jiang, now a Cold Palace Criminal Slave. Though not at the height of favor, she had quite a bit of face with the Emperor before Concubine Zhen entered the palace.
Because she poisoned Concubine Zhen, she fell out of the Emperor's favor and has no hope for this life anymore.
There's also Consort Wan, who was demoted to Consort Zhang by the Emperor on the pretext of interfering in politics, just for saying a few unkind words about Concubine Zhen in the Cold Palace.
With so many cautionary tales, none of the harem concubines dared to easily move against Jiang Xinyue.
If the harem concubines knew that the Emperor still felt he hadn't protected her despite such fierce protection, they would truly be angered to the point of spitting blood.
"You should focus on recuperating. I will seek justice for you," the Emperor said.
Jiang Xinyue fell limply into the Xuanwu Emperor's arms. "Your Majesty, I too wish to find out who harmed me, but I'm well aware that in your position, it's lonely at the top, and there are many things that cannot be said. If this culprit cannot be touched, I won't ask for revenge. As long as Your Majesty is good to me, I don't care about anything else. Even if it costs me my life, I'd be willing. So, Your Majesty, promise me you won't make things too difficult for yourself, alright?"
Giving up her life was impossible, but this didn't stop her from sweet-talking and moving the Xuanwu Emperor.
How could she become so soft? How could she be so willing to compromise for the sake of her loved one?
The Xuanwu Emperor held her tightly, as if embracing a treasured possession that had been lost and found again. "Yue'er, don't say such inauspicious things. It was my fault before for not taking care of your safety. From now on, with me here, no one will be able to harm you."
The next day dawned bright and clear, with warm sunshine and a gentle breeze. The Xuanwu Emperor decreed that a grand martial arts competition would be held in Wude Hall within the palace, ordering all palace guards to participate.
The champion would be selected and appointed as the Emperor's personal armed guard, so no one was allowed to be absent. Every palace guard had to participate.
However, with the vast number of palace guards, gathering them all couldn't be accomplished in a single day.
Those who could quickly assemble on the first day were already ruled out as suspects by the Xuanwu Emperor.
The rest – those who called in sick, went home to visit family, were injured on duty, and others who didn't gather promptly – became the Emperor's focus of attention.
All were young talents, each tall and imposing. The harem concubines had been dressing up beautifully these days, going to the training grounds of Wude Hall to watch the guards compete.
Although they were all the Emperor's women, aside from the Empress, Consort De, Consort Shu, Consort Liang, Concubine Rong, Concubine Li, and a few other "veterans," the rest were all young men and women in the bloom of youth. The surge of hormones was unstoppable.
"My Lady, won't you go and watch?" Shuang Jiang had just finished feeding meat bones to Guo, washed her hands, and returned to the study of Hexi Palace. Standing beside Jiang Xinyue, she said, "I heard that both the Empress and Consort De have brothers serving as palace guards. This martial arts competition is grand, and almost all the ladies of the harem have gone to watch!"
The only exceptions were Concubine Li, who was confined by the Emperor, Ye Baolin, whose face was injured, and of course, her own mistress, Concubine Zhen.
"What's there to see?" Jiang Xinyue tossed a newly written piece of calligraphy paper into the fire basin. The delicate handwriting was instantly devoured by the flames, turning to black ash.
Shuang Jiang was confused. "My Lady, why did you burn such beautiful writing?"
Jiang Xinyue smiled. "It's not that good. You just think it's nice because you're biased towards me."
Not understanding what her mistress meant, Shuang Jiang still stood by her side, helping her grind ink while watching her write.
It truly was beautiful writing.
The character "Zhen" leapt off the paper, the final stroke not yet added when they heard Xi Que's voice from outside: "Ye Baolin, Ye Baolin, you can't go in! Our Lady..."
"Get out of my way!"
With a loud bang, the study door was kicked open. Ye Baolin rushed straight to Jiang Xinyue, her eyes blazing with anger.
The red marks on her face had not yet faded as she immediately questioned, "Jiang Xinyue, you did this on purpose, didn't you?"
The wolf-hair brush was heavily placed on the brush rest. Jiang Xinyue looked at her with emotionless eyes. "Didn't the matrons in Chuxiu Palace teach you manners?"
Ye Baolin placed both hands on the table, narrowing her eyes and speaking in an unfriendly tone, "I slapped Concubine Li, and the Emperor didn't do anything to me. Who do you think you are to lecture me about manners? Do you think you're something special just because you've been favored for a few days? Do you believe that I..."
"Slap!"
Jiang Xinyue was not about to indulge her bad behavior. With a slap, she struck her head to the side. "I am Concubine Zhen. You are merely Ye Baolin. Who do you think you are to dare shout at me? Xi Que, slap her mouth."
After all, this was Hexi Palace, Jiang Xinyue's territory. How could she allow Ye Baolin to be so impudent?
In no time at all, she was held down by several eunuchs while Xi Que struck left and right, adding fresh wounds to her face.
In the end, Ye Baolin had to be taught that within the palace, one's status and nobility were not determined by family background, but by the rank and position of a concubine.
Those who offended their superiors deserved to be beaten.
