Accompanied by Yu Lan’s scream, blood instantly surged from her forehead. The Empress froze for a long while, her gaze turning sharp as she angrily glared at Noble Concubine Shih.
"Presumptuous!"
Noble Concubine Shih completely sobered up. She glanced at her son sleeping by her side and, ensuring he had not been awoken, only then did she sneer.
"My Imperial Son was born prematurely and is weak. What if he gets jostled with so many people around? Empress, can you bear that responsibility?"
"As for the Third-Day Bathing Ritual, there’s no need for Your Majesty the Empress to worry!"
"I am emotionally unstable and accidentally harmed Lady Yu Lan. I ask for Your Majesty the Empress’s forgiveness!"
The Empress continued to glare furiously.
"Noble Concubine, you fear your son being jostled, yet you dare to jostle me?!"
"What kind of rule is this?"
Noble Concubine Shih sneered.
"If this servant doesn’t know the rules, then so be it. The Third-Day Bathing Ritual will not be held. If Your Majesty the Empress wishes to blame me, this servant is at your disposal!"
"After all... technically, I am still under confinement!"
Noble Concubine Shih was like an enraged mother wolf protecting her cub, bristling with aggression, untouchable by all.
Helpless, the Empress mocked, "You truly are... ungrateful!"
Having said that, she could only flick her sleeve and depart.
「...」
At this moment, little needed to be said about Noble Concubine Shih’s mood.
The Empress was also furious. However, after fuming for a while, deep down, she was pleased.
As for Zhao Junyao... his mood was genuinely terrible.
The Prince is disabled?At first, he did not believe it.
So he summoned all the Imperial Physicians to examine the child independently, making collusion impossible. In the end, they all reached the same conclusion: there were no signs of poisoning; it was congenital.
Congenital!
However capable the Empress might be, she could not bribe the entire Imperial Medical Bureau! Therefore, it must have been Noble Concubine Shih’s own poor care during her pregnancy.
Noble Concubine Shih had turned a perfectly healthy child into this state; he was... utterly infuriated!
"Li Shengan!"
"This servant is here!"
Sensing the tense atmosphere, Li Shengan dared not even let his footsteps make a sound.
"Emperor, what are your instructions?"
Zhao Junyao thought for a moment, then ordered, "Go to the Punishment Department and release all the palace maids and eunuchs. This case requires no further investigation!"
Whether there was a fall or not, who was to blame—none of it mattered anymore.
"Yes!"
Li Shengan turned to leave. Just then, Little Zhuzi peeped in from the doorway.
Li Shengan’s face darkened as he hurriedly stepped out. "You little rascal, do you not value your head?"
However, Little Zhuzi said urgently, "Master! A palace maid in the Punishment Department couldn’t endure the torture and bit her tongue, committing suicide..."
"Before she died, she kept shouting... ’Empress, save me!’"
"What?!"
A human life was at stake; Li Shengan was instantly shocked.
’Empress, save me?’ Was this... concrete proof?
Li Shengan glanced inside, then grabbed Little Zhuzi by the collar and hauled him out.
"Go! Hurry..."
Little Zhuzi looked incredulous. "Master? What are you doing?"
Li Shengan said, "The Emperor has just issued an oral decree to release everyone. This case is no longer being investigated!"
"Ah?!"
"Hurry!"
"But... but this case is almost..."
Li Shengan, with a bewildered Little Zhuzi in tow, headed to the Punishment Department.
Their words from outside were fully overheard.
Zhao Junyao’s lips curled into a cold smirk. The Empress, is it?
「...」
The next day, the Little Prince’s Third-Day Bathing Ritual was not held.
The Imperial Medical Bureau still took turns going to Xifu Palace to treat the Little Prince, though it seemed futile. But they certainly couldn’t just ignore him.
As for the Empress Dowager, she had been ill ever since hearing the news. She even refused attendants. The grand doors of Ningshou Palace remained shut tightly; only the Emperor was admitted.
As for the Empress, she heaved a great sigh of relief upon hearing that the Emperor had released everyone from the Punishment Department and would not continue the investigation.
Of course, she was not the only one in the palace in high spirits. Alas, everyone could only rejoice in secret.
「Qingya Residence」
Xia Ruqing reclined on the couch, reading a book and remarking teasingly, "Actually, for Noble Concubine Shih to have made enemies all over the world within just a few years of entering the palace is quite something!"
Zi Yue was utterly speechless. "My lady, the palace walls have ears. You mustn’t say such things!"
Xia Ruqing replied, "Rest assured, your mistress isn’t that foolish!"
August passed, day by day.
The Emperor never visited Noble Concubine Shih again, nor did he visit the Empress. He stayed with Consort Ning for two nights and visited Consort Hui Pin more frequently, going there three or four times consecutively.
On the night of the first of September, he should have gone to Jiaofang Hall.
But Zhao Junyao did not go; not only did he not go, but he also summoned Honored Lady Xi to attend to him!
Eunuch Feng from the Respectful Affairs Office went to Yaoyue Palace to announce the decree.
Honored Lady Xi’s face turned ashen with fright. Forcing a smile, she saw Feng Anfu off, then returned to her room, her eyes welling with tears.
I’m... competing with the Empress for favor!
Dong Cha was helpless. "But the imperial decree has been issued, my lady. You cannot refuse to go!"
Trembling with fear, Honored Lady Xi could only ask Dong Cha to heat some water. "Prepare my clothes and jewelry!"