“Noble Consort Xian?” Emperor Jingming’s mind instantly conjured an image of an emaciated woman resembling a female ghost.
He never imagined the second incident would be related to Noble Consort Xian, given her deteriorating health. She hardly seemed capable of causing trouble anymore.
“What connection does this have to Noble Consort Xian?”
Pan Hai lowered his gaze and replied, “Ten years ago, Little Deng was just a minor eunuch working in the Imperial Tea Room. One day, he accidentally broke a crystal cup and was so frightened he wanted to drown himself in the lake. Noble Consort Xian happened to witness this and helped him through the crisis.”
Emperor Jingming frowned as he listened, “Were there any witnesses to this incident at the time?”
Generally, palace servants who received favors from a consort would become undesirable to other consorts if word spread. Yet ten years later, Eunuch Deng had become the manager of the tea room in Spring Blossom Palace.
Consort Ning, occupying the main position in Spring Blossom Palace and long since promoted to consort, would have easily dismissed Eunuch Deng with a word if she had known about this.
“I knew nothing of this!” Consort Ning said, suppressing her anger.
To think there was still someone loyal to Noble Consort Xian in her palace!
The thought of someone who had received Noble Consort Xian’s favor managing her palace’s tea and fruit daily made Consort Ning feel sick.
Emperor Jingming glanced at Consort Ning, his brow furrowing in displeasure.
While he could usually tolerate the consorts’ unreasonable behavior, it didn’t mean he was willing to do so now.
In essence, his usual tolerance wasn’t out of fear, but rather pity for the women in the harem who had even less freedom than he did as emperor.
However, this tolerance had its limits when it came to serious matters.
Consort Ning bit her lip and fell silent.
Pan Hai responded, “Apart from Noble Consort Xian’s side, there should only be one other person who knows – a eunuch named Little Zhuo, who accompanied Little Deng to deliver Lingnan fruits to Jade Brilliance Palace at the time.”
Lingnan fruits?
Emperor Jingming raised an eyebrow, looking puzzled.
Pan Hai thoughtfully explained, “That year, Lingnan presented some lychees as tribute. You had ordered the Imperial Tea Room to send these precious fruits to all the consorts…”
Was there such an incident?
Emperor Jingming blinked.
He hadn’t realized he was so generous ten years ago. If it were now, he’d probably have eaten them all himself…
The Empress and Consort Ning, however, remembered.
Lychees were only produced in places like Lingnan, thousands of miles from the capital, and were difficult to preserve. As the Emperor wasn’t one for extravagance, even they, with their high status, didn’t get to eat lychees every year.
Due to their rarity, the memory was vivid.
Pan Hai continued, “Little Deng and Little Zhuo were delivering lychees to Jade Spring Palace together. Somehow, they became curious about the taste of lychees and secretly took out a cup to smell. Unexpectedly, Little Deng accidentally dropped the cup, and some lychees rolled into the lake. Little Deng was so distraught he wanted to drown himself.”
“How did Noble Consort Xian come to know of this?” Emperor Jingming momentarily forgot about Little Zhuo and turned to ask about Noble Consort Xian.
“It was a coincidence. Noble Consort Xian happened to be out for a walk and witnessed the scene. Not only did she forgive Little Deng, but she also covered for him, pretending she had received the lychees. This is the connection between Noble Consort Xian and Little Deng…” Pan Hai’s mouth was dry from talking, but he had finally explained everything clearly.
After listening, Emperor Jingming asked, “Was this information obtained from Little Zhuo?”
A strange expression flickered across Pan Hai’s face as he replied, “Little Zhuo died of illness nine years ago.”
Emperor Jingming raised an eyebrow, “If only Little Deng and Little Zhuo knew about this apart from Noble Consort Xian’s side, from whom did you learn this?”
Pan Hai signaled to someone, who quickly stepped forward before Emperor Jingming.
Emperor Jingming looked closely and saw it was Pan Hai’s disciple, Xiao Lezi.
Despite being quite clever, Xiao Lezi couldn’t help feeling nervous in such a situation. He lowered his head and said, “Your Majesty, it was I who told my master.”
“How did you come to know this?”
Xiao Lezi glanced at Pan Hai, steadied himself, and explained, “I had finished my duties and was feeling tired, so I dozed off leaning against a rockery. Unexpectedly, I heard cries of alarm…”
The palace had many intricate rockeries, and it was easy to find a secluded spot to rest unnoticed by passersby.
Recalling his laziness at the time, Xiao Lezi felt somewhat embarrassed, “When I saw Noble Consort Xian appear, I dared not show myself. I never mentioned this incident to anyone else and gradually forgot about it. Today, when my master was investigating everyone connected to Eunuch Deng, I suddenly remembered and told him.”
As he spoke, he secretly glanced at Yu Jin, wondering if this was what the Prince of Yan meant by “heaven’s net casts wide, and though its meshes are coarse, nothing slips through,” if Noble Consort Xian was indeed behind Eunuch Deng’s actions.
Yu Jin had maintained an expressionless face since hearing about Eunuch Deng’s connection to Noble Consort Xian, revealing nothing.
Emperor Jingming swept his gaze over everyone and said coldly, “Summon Noble Consort Xian to Spring Blossom Palace immediately.”
After waiting for over a quarter of an hour, Noble Consort Xian appeared at the entrance of Spring Blossom Palace. She paused briefly to catch her breath before being supported by palace maids to approach Emperor Jingming.
“Greetings to Your Majesty and the Empress,” Noble Consort Xian curtsied, panting heavily.
The Empress Dowager had already been persuaded by Emperor Jingming to rest in the main hall of Spring Blossom Palace, so she wasn’t present with Emperor Jingming and the others, sparing Noble Consort Xian from another curtsy.
Looking at Noble Consort Xian’s extremely poor complexion, as if she might faint at any moment, Emperor Jingming inwardly sighed.
In this state, could Noble Consort Xian be stirring up trouble?
It didn’t seem right; Noble Consort Xian’s image was quite different from that of a scheming consort.
He decided to stop speculating and just ask directly.
Emperor Jingming asked with a stern face, “Do you know why I’ve summoned you?”
Noble Consort Xian shook her head, “This consort does not know.”
“First, identify someone for me. Pan Hai—”
Pan Hai extended his hand, “Noble Consort Xian, this way please.”
Pan Hai led Noble Consort Xian to Eunuch Deng’s body and pointed, “Noble Consort Xian, please look and see if you recognize this person.”
Noble Consort Xian glanced at the body, and her face instantly turned pale. She clutched her chest, swaying as if about to collapse.
“Your Highness—” The palace maid supporting Noble Consort Xian cried out in alarm.
Emperor Jingming: “…”
Noble Consort Xian returned to face Emperor Jingming, her face so pale it almost intimidated him. After a moment’s hesitation, he asked, “Noble Consort Xian, do you recognize that person?”
Without hesitation, Noble Consort Xian replied, “This consort does not recognize him.”
Emperor Jingming’s face instantly froze, “You don’t recognize him? Noble Consort Xian, do you know the punishment for deceiving the emperor?”
Noble Consort Xian looked at Emperor Jingming in surprise, her expression bewildered, “Your Majesty, why do you say this? This consort truly does not recognize that person. Doesn’t he appear to be just an ordinary eunuch?”
“An ordinary eunuch?” Emperor Jingming sneered, “Isn’t he someone you once showed favor to?”
“Showed favor?” Noble Consort Xian grew even more confused, the sweat beading on her temples and forehead making her appear extremely weak.
Emperor Jingming glanced at Pan Hai.
Understanding the emperor’s intention, Pan Hai recounted the connection between Noble Consort Xian and Eunuch Deng.
“Noble Consort Xian, what else do you have to say?”
Noble Consort Xian suddenly smiled, a smile tinged with sadness, “Your Majesty, based solely on this, you’ve determined that I am the mastermind? Consort Ning is the mistress of Spring Blossom Palace and has been Little Deng’s superior for many years. Is my suspicion greater than Consort Ning’s? Your Majesty, you are being unfair to me!”
Emperor Jingming said coldly, “You are both suspicious, but you just lied.”
Noble Consort Xian wiped away her sweat with a handkerchief and calmly replied, “This consort has not lied.”