Chapter Seventeen: The Emperor Is Unwell

Jiang Daiyin narrowed her eyes. She and Consort Xin had just left when a great fire suddenly broke out at Feng Yu’s residence. Could something have gone wrong?

“Xia Mo, pack some of these pastries and milk tea to send back with the Sixth Princess.”

“Chun Yu, let’s head to Huayin Hall.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Feng Lingyao happily followed Xia Mo back to Yikun Palace.

[Feng Lingyao’s Favorability +10]

The system’s sudden notification startled Jiang Daiyin. Favorability ratings for other princes and princesses were available too? Could she cast a wider net then?

Ahem, but the most important thing now was to go to Huayin Hall.

She reined in her thoughts.

By the time Jiang Daiyin arrived at Huayin Hall, almost everyone else was already there.

“I pay my respects to His Majesty,” Jiang Daiyin bowed, yet no voice came from Feng Yu telling her to rise.

“Your Majesty, you may search my chambers thoroughly; I have a clear conscience!” Consort Xin knelt and wept bitterly, her sobs full of heartache, as though she had suffered a grievous injustice.

“Consort Xin, are you implying that Her Majesty the Empress has framed you?” Consort Shu frowned, glancing at Jiang Daiyin, who was also crouching slightly. A trace of schadenfreude gleamed in her eyes.

“What’s going on here?” Jiang Daiyin’s heart sank with an ominous premonition.

“The Empress, the imperial physician diagnosed that the drink Your Majesty consumed had been drugged. That Eight Treasures Tea was formerly exclusively for the Empress,” said Noble Lady Fang, who was usually close to Consort Shu.

Jiang Daiyin caught the meaning; no wonder the emperor seemed off today. She lifted her gaze to Feng Yu unflinchingly.

“Your Majesty, you may have the milk tea I sent tested by the imperial physician.”

Feng Yu narrowed his eyes, his aura darkening. He lazily lifted an eyelid, his voice hoarse and low.

“It wasn’t milk tea.”

“Consort Xin claims the Eight Treasures Tea was deliberately given to her by the Empress. Empress, what do you have to say?”

Jiang Daiyin: What do I have to say? I stand here and speak the truth.

“Your Majesty, I have a mind; please do not insult me.”

“Whoever suspects must provide evidence. Without proof, empty accusations are slander.”

Feng Yu cast an appreciative glance at Jiang Daiyin, almost certain she was innocent. Jiang Daiyin only cared for him, never like those women who lusted for his body. Her character would never lead her to such deeds.

“Consort Xin, do you have any evidence?”

“Your Majesty, you may send people to search my chambers and the Empress’s courtyard. Whether something was done cannot be cleared with mere words,” Consort Xin said through gritted teeth.

Jiang Daiyin, drawing on years of watching dramas, realized they had been waiting here for her all along! Likely, the evidence was already hidden in her Fengyi Palace.

She widened her eyes, glaring at Consort Xin, who returned a defiant, provocative look.

Now, let’s see how the Empress breaks this deadlock!

With a wave of his hand, Feng Yu said, “Then search the palace!”

All the consorts watched eagerly, as if enjoying a show.

“Your Majesty, something has been found in Fengyi Palace!”

Soon, the searchers returned with an item wrapped in oiled paper—a white powdery substance.

“Heavens, it really was the Empress!”

“The evidence is undeniable. The Empress has no defense now, right?”

Even Feng Yu’s face darkened. Could it be that everything the Empress had done before was a deception?

“Empress! What do you have to say for yourself?”

Consort Xin wiped away tears, pleading, “Your Majesty, please stand up for me!”

“If I had done this, I wouldn’t have pushed Your Majesty away in the Yangxin Hall,” Jiang Daiyin retorted recklessly, speaking without restraint.

She had left Yangxin Hall with a darkened face, and the palace ladies were already gossiping whether the Empress had once again fallen out of favor with the emperor.

After all, the Empress had often behaved like this before.

But now, the Empress claimed she had pushed the emperor away to escape him—how could that be true?

The Empress’s love for the emperor was deep to her bones. It was not surprising she would resort to poisoning.

What was truly strange was pushing the emperor aside!

Feng Yu did not expect Jiang Daiyin to utter such fierce words. He cleared his throat twice.

“Enough, no more talk!”

Consort Xin snorted coldly, “The evidence is clear. Does the Empress still deny it?”

“Your Majesty, the Empress said she wanted evidence, now that it’s before you, she denies it!”

“You are framing me!” Jiang Daiyin stood with her hands on her hips, now placing all her hopes in the emperor’s trust.

“All these accusations come from the Empress, trying to find fault with me,” Consort Xin wiped the corners of her eyes.

“You!”

Such audacity was beyond belief!

Jiang Daiyin ground her teeth in fury.

Just as Consort Xin finished speaking, someone hurried in carrying another package.

“Your Majesty, the servants also found a package in Huayin Hall!”

Two bundles of powder wrapped in oiled paper were presented. Feng Yu narrowed his eyes.

“Summon Imperial Physician Zhang!”

Consort Xin’s heart was already in turmoil.

Had she not ordered the items disposed of?

How could they still be found in her palace?

Jiang Daiyin raised an eyebrow, thinking Consort Xin was rather careless.

Imperial Physician Zhang quickly examined the contents and exclaimed while pointing to one package.

“Your Majesty, this is Wushisan!”

Wushisan—a substance used by men to enhance virility.

The faces of the consorts changed upon hearing this.

“Which palace was this found in?” Feng Yu’s face grew even darker.

Who dared insult his manhood with such a thing?

He was the emperor of a nation; where was his dignity?

This was utterly intolerable!

“Reporting to Your Majesty, this was found in Consort Xin’s Huayin Hall,” a young eunuch answered respectfully.

“Impossible! You must be mistaken!” Consort Xin cried out in disbelief.

She had clearly ordered this hidden in the Empress’s palace.

“Consort Xin, the servants cannot be mistaken. This was found in your chambers.”

“Rubbish!” Feng Yu slammed the table in anger.

“It’s the Empress who has framed me! Your Majesty, I am innocent!” Consort Xin knelt down desperately, kowtowing.

“Consort Xin, are you accusing someone close to Your Majesty?” Jiang Daiyin’s voice was icy, her gaze hostile.

“I do not mean that. Imperial Physician Zhang, what about the other package?” Consort Xin ground her teeth, seething with rage.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, the other package contains ordinary flour,” Zhang said.

“Impossible! Imperial Physician Zhang, you must be bribed by the Empress!” Consort Xin instinctively protested.

“Consort Xin! You are insulting my professional integrity!” Zhang retorted indignantly.

“Your Majesty, it’s one thing for Consort Xin to wrongfully accuse me, but for her to use such means against you—it’s an open insult to Your Majesty’s virility!” Jiang Daiyin suddenly softened her tone, feigning weakness.

This mirrored how Consort Xin had just acted.

Now it truly demonstrated the principle of karma: Heaven’s justice is impartial, sparing no one.