Concubine Li entered slowly, standing beside Rongyue, and paid her respects to Xiao Jingheng, saying:
"Long live Your Majesty."
Xiao Jingheng raised his hand and said, "No need for ceremony. Consort Yun said you had something to tell me. What is it?"
Concubine Li cast a sidelong glance at Rongyue, then said solemnly:
"Does Your Majesty still remember the day when I and the Empress witnessed Prince An and Consort Shun seemingly in an altercation? Later, the Empress said it was because Consort Shun had picked up Prince An's jade whistle and gave it to the Crown Prince, which led to their quarrel. So Your Majesty did not pursue the matter further.
But I found it rather strange. At that time, I saw it clearly – when Prince An and Consort Shun were struggling, Consort Shun seemed to have tears in her eyes. If Prince An had merely lost something and asked her about it, why would she be on the verge of tears? However, since Your Majesty did not investigate further, I dared not speculate..."
"Are you implying, Concubine Li, that I deliberately helped Prince An and Consort Shun carry on an illicit affair?"
From outside the door came Empress Zhao Hua's resounding question, cutting off Concubine Li's fabrication.
Concubine Li was startled to hear Zhao Hua's voice, stumbling in fright and almost falling to the ground.
Everyone turned towards the palace entrance. Rongyue, Consort Yun, and Concubine Li all paid their respects to Zhao Hua, saying:
"Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress."
But Zhao Hua did not even glance at them. She walked directly to Xiao Jingheng's side, took out some pastries from a food box, and presented them to him.
"The autumn air is dry, so I made some pear jelly. I intended to have Yun Shan deliver it to you, but she said there was a commotion in the palace and dared not disturb you. So I had to bring it myself. I didn't expect..."
She narrowed her phoenix-like eyes, sweeping her gaze across the three who were still bowing, and said coldly:
"To catch such a grand performance."
Her eyes then settled on Consort Yun as she sternly asked:
"Consort Yun, do you not see me as the Empress anymore?"
Consort Yun hurriedly replied, "I would never dare!"
Zhao Hua said, "You wouldn't dare? You went over my head and brought these petty harem affairs to trouble His Majesty. Are you trying to overstep your bounds?"
Ever since Zhao Hua had severely punished Consort Yun last time, Consort Yun had harbored a thousand grievances against her.
Now, she no longer bothered to pretend, and her words were laced with barbs:
"Your Majesty need not be so suspicious. I only felt that Consort Shun's crime was no longer just a petty harem affair. The rights and wrongs need to be determined by His Majesty himself."
Zhao Hua let out a cold laugh at her, leaving her to continue bowing, and turned to offer a pear jelly to Xiao Jingheng.
Xiao Jingheng had no appetite and swallowed it indifferently before saying:
"I believe what happened that day. Zhao'er would never, and had no reason to, deceive me. But as for Consort Shun..."
Zhao Hua said meaningfully, "Many voices may sound like solid gold, but they could also just be a layer of gold lacquer applied to a stubborn stone, gradually deceiving one's eyes. In my opinion, Your Majesty should not only refrain from punishing Consort Shun, but reward her instead."
"Reward?" Consort Yun seemed to have heard something unthinkable, staring in astonishment. "I didn't hear that wrong, did I? Consort Shun..."
"When I'm speaking to His Majesty, you have no right to interrupt," Xiao Jingheng coldly rebuked Consort Yun, leaving her embarrassed as she bowed deeply and said:
"I was wrong..."
Only then did Xiao Jingheng's expression soften as he turned to Zhao Hua and asked:
"Zhao'er, what do you mean by that?"
Zhao Hua did not respond immediately. Instead, she glanced at Rongyue and shook her head helplessly.
"Consort Shun, you're too honest. When His Majesty asks you something, you should just answer. For the sake of a cherished person, must you endure such mudslinging without explaining the truth?"
Zhao Hua's words seemed incoherent, leaving not only the others bewildered, but Rongyue as well.
But Rongyue knew Zhao Hua was trying to help her, so she responded accordingly:
"Your Majesty knows about it? I..."
Before she could finish, Zhao Hua cut her off:
"Your Highness, some things are best explained by the cherished person herself."
As she spoke, Ru Ge entered the hall gracefully.
Only when she came closer did everyone realize that in her hand was a heart-shaped pendant – an exact replica of the one Rongyue had been clutching that was burned.
Everyone was shocked, especially Rongyue...
By then, Ru Ge had paid her respects to Xiao Jingheng.
She respectfully presented the heart-shaped pendant to Xiao Jingheng and said:
"Your Majesty, this heart-shaped pendant belongs to me, as does the one that Consort Shun had that was burned. I originally intended to give one to Your Majesty and keep one for myself when I attended you. However, after moving into the Xiuxia Palace, Consort Shun saw the one with Your Majesty's name embroidered on it first."
She knelt down, full of remorse. "I had just entered the palace and was unfamiliar with many of the rules, unaware that these heart-shaped pendants could only be exchanged between husband and wife. My actions were presumptuous. Consort Shun, understanding my youthful ignorance, took the pendant and had it burned, saying she would keep this secret for me. However..."
As she spoke, Xiao Jingheng was carefully examining the pendant she had presented to him.
In terms of craftsmanship, stitching, and discoloration from age, it was nearly identical to the one that had been burned.
The only difference was that the character embroidered in the center of this pendant was 'Rong.'
Xiao Jingheng asked, puzzled, "You said this pendant was meant for me, but why is your courtesy name not embroidered on it?"
Ru Ge replied, "My pet name is 'Rong Rong,' which is similar to Consort Shun's name, leading to this whole misunderstanding."
Seeing Xiao Jingheng's skepticism remain, she added:
"My pet name is known to my family and relatives. Even officials visiting our home have heard my father address me as such. If Your Majesty does not believe me, you can inquire with them."
Since 'Rong' and 'Rong' (her name) were pronounced the same, and pet names were never formally written, Ru Ge's explanation made sense.
However, Consort Yun did not believe it at all.
"You claim this belongs to you? The discoloration of the silk thread indicates it's at least five or six years old."
She let out a derisive laugh. "If my calculations are correct, you were only ten years old then. You must have blossomed at a remarkably young age."
