On the way to Chaoyang Palace,
Song Zhao and Concubine Li Changzai walked ahead, while Xiao Fuzi and Yun Shan tightly held onto Rongyue, following behind.
During the journey, Song Zhao whispered to Concubine Li Changzai,
"When we meet the Emperor, don't say anything. Just claim that it was I who discovered this matter first, and you merely happened to stumble upon it."
"I understand," replied Concubine Li Changzai softly.
Although he agreed outwardly, deep down he felt that Song Zhao was trying to take all the credit for herself.
It was clear that she had discovered the matter first. If she remained silent and let Song Zhao take all the glory in front of Xiao Jingheng, wouldn't she be handing her marriage dress to someone else?
Meanwhile, as Concubine Li Changzai pondered over these thoughts,
Xiao Fuzi, walking behind, deliberately glanced down and caught sight of the white jade embedded on Prince An's official boots. She subtly raised her eyebrows and exchanged a meaningful glance with Prince An.
When the group reached the corner of the street outside Chaoyang Palace, Song Zhao instructed Xiao Fuzi to release Rongyue,
They finally arrived at the entrance of Chaoyang Palace, where Song Zhao spoke to Xiao Yinzi, who was guarding the door:
"Kindly inform the Imperial Eunuch to relay a message to the Emperor on my behalf. Let him know that I have an urgent matter to discuss with him."
Xiao Yinzi replied, "The Emperor is currently enjoying drinks and conversation with several princes inside. How about I inform him, and he can summon Her Majesty to join the gathering?"
Song Zhao said, "Whisper to the Emperor discreetly, informing him that the situation is urgent. Please request His Majesty to move to the side hall."
Xiao Yinzi rarely witnessed Song Zhao being so serious,
Seeing Concubine Li Changzai and Tong Changzai by her side, he refrained from saying more and hurriedly entered to report the matter to Xiao Jingheng.
After waiting for about fifteen minutes in the side hall, Xiao Jingheng arrived.
Upon his arrival, he was momentarily unclear about the situation.
He noticed Song Zhao and Concubine Li Changzai seated in the main seats, while Rongyue knelt on the floor below, with a drunken Xiao Jingyan standing beside her.
Everyone bowed and paid their respects, but before Xiao Jingheng could gesture for them to rise, Concubine Li Changzai stepped forward, impatiently saying to him,
"It's good that Your Majesty has come. We are at a loss due to this situation and need Your Majesty's guidance."
Xiao Jingheng glanced at her indifferently and asked, "What is it?"
Concubine Li Changzai pointed at Rongyue and said, "Concubine Tong has violated her duties as a wife. She shamelessly engaged in intimate behavior with Prince An within the palace, displaying wanton behavior!"
Rongyue anxiously defended herself, "I didn't!"
*Smack*
A crisp sound of a slap resounded from the left cheek of Concubine Li Changzai.
Without hesitation, Xiao Jingheng slapped her across the face, his expression filled with anger.
"Nonsense!"
Concubine Li Changzai was stunned and overwhelmed with grievances. Choking back her tears, she said,
"Your Majesty! I personally witnessed it! If you don't believe me, ask Concubine Yipin. She saw it too!"
Xiao Jingheng's gaze turned dark. After glancing at Rongyue and Prince An,
he finally fixed his eyes on Song Zhao and asked, "What did you see?"
Song Zhao respectfully bowed and said, "Your Majesty, tonight you were enjoying drinks and conversation with the princes. I prepared a sobering soup, intending to send it to you and the princes."
Concubine Li coincidentally encountered a flustered Li Changzai halfway. I asked her what she was doing and learned that she had witnessed a dispute between Tong Changzai and Prince An, and was anxious to find a guard to apprehend Tong Changzai.
I believed that the matter had not yet been resolved and it would not be wise to alarm the guards. So, I stopped her and accompanied her to investigate the situation. To my surprise, at an abandoned stage, I indeed saw Prince An pulling on Tong Changzai's arm, seemingly arguing with her. Unable to make a decision, I brought Tong Changzai back first and let the Emperor question her personally."
Song Zhao's account was detailed and devoid of falsehoods.
Concubine Li immediately chimed in, "That's right! Your Majesty, I did not falsely accuse Tong Changzai!"
Xiao Jingheng ignored her and instead cast a skeptical gaze at Prince An and Rongyue.
However,
Before he could inquire, Prince An, reeking of alcohol, stumbled his way in front of him and abruptly asked,
"Brother, I want to ask, have you mistreated Tong Changzai?"
Xiao Jingheng glared at him angrily, "What kind of question is that?"
Prince An belched and incoherently said,
"If you haven't mistreated Tong Changzai, why would she steal something from me, her own younger brother?"
"I did not!" Rongyue vehemently retorted, "Why would the Prince accuse me falsely?"
"No?" Prince An sneered and swayed towards her, raising two fingers and drunkenly saying, "Two months ago, on your birthday, I went to the Queen Mother's palace to retrieve your birthday gift. Perhaps due to excessive drinking, I was somewhat disoriented along the way, and only realized after getting the item that the jade pendant I always wore was nowhere to be found."
As he said this, he looked back at Xiao Jingheng, patted his empty waist, and exclaimed, "Do you remember, Brother? It was the jade pendant that Father gave me."
Xiao Jingheng's expression turned serious, and he remained silent, quietly observing Prince An's drunken antics.
Prince An continued, "I thought that when I vomited near the artificial mountain on the way to the Queen Mother's palace, I accidentally dropped the jade pendant. So, I turned back to search for it.
But what I saw was Tong Changzai picking it up. I initially wanted to confront her, but at that time, Consort Yi went into premature labor, and male outsiders were not allowed to remain in the palace. So, I left the palace first..."
Prince An appeared heavily intoxicated,
Speaking while swaying and stumbling, almost tripping several times,
He leaned against the armrest of a nearby huangli wood chair, squinted his eyes, and fixed his gaze on Rongyue,
"Today, my brother summoned me to the palace after not seeing each other for a long time. Overjoyed, I drank a few more cups. When Brother saw me lose control, he asked me to go out and get some fresh air. Little did I know that I would coincidentally encounter Tong Changzai again.
That jade pendant was the only keepsake left by Father. Naturally, I wanted to ask her to return it to me. But unexpectedly... she shamelessly claimed she had never seen it before. I became furious, so I held onto her and wouldn't let her leave, arguing with her."
Prince An was the youngest brother whom Xiao Jingheng cherished the most.
Xiao Jingheng was well aware that Prince An had a tendency to get drunk and behave inappropriately.
Furthermore, the jade flute, which Prince An always carried with him, was nowhere to be found when Xiao Jingheng glanced at his waist.
Upon careful consideration, he realized that he hadn't seen it for quite some time.
So he asked Rongyue, "On the day of my birthday, you did leave the table early. Did you happen to pick up anything belonging to Prince An?"
"Well... Your Majesty...," Rongyue stuttered, looking extremely flustered and unable to give a clear answer.
On the other hand, Song Zhao furrowed her brows as if she suddenly remembered something.
"The jade flute? Your Majesty, do you remember when Concubine Tong once gave me a gift wrapped in ebony wood during Prince Chengyu's full moon celebration?"
After a brief moment of contemplation, Xiao Jingheng nodded and said, "It seems like there was such an incident."
"Inside the brocade box was a jade flute. However, I am not familiar with music, so after accepting it, I never touched it again. It has been kept in the treasury all this time. Could it be..."
Song Zhao suddenly looked at Rongyue, wearing a surprised expression, and said, "The gift you gave during Prince Chengyu's celebration, did you steal it from Prince An?" [Refer to Chapter 117 for details]
