After Emperor Jingming fell silent, he belatedly felt a twinge of resentment. How dare the Empress give him a meaningful look! When had she developed such an audacious habit? Did she think he feared her just because she was the Empress?
Following his resentment, he inexplicably felt relieved. The Empress was known for her composure; her intervention at this moment surely meant she had a plan, which resolved his dilemma. Well, he’d let this woman off the hook for now.
Ahem, the dignity of an emperor still had to be maintained. Emperor Jingming unconsciously straightened his back.
The Empress, however, had no time to humor Emperor Jingming. They were an old married couple; what was wrong with her glaring at him? The important matter at hand took precedence.
The Empress looked at the two consorts, her lips curving slightly. “What’s the matter? Don’t you two want to go?”
Consort Ning spoke quickly, “We’ll go. Those with a clear conscience fear no ghosts knocking at night. What reason do I have to be afraid?”
The Empress turned to Consort Xian, her tone neither warm nor cold. “What about you, Sister Xian?”
Consort Xian clenched her fists, smiling bitterly. “The Fourteenth Princess met with misfortune at such a young age. It’s truly pitiful. Even if Your Majesty hadn’t suggested it, I would have wanted to see her.”
Why had the Empress suddenly made this proposal? Did she think Consort Xian would panic and reveal herself upon seeing the Fourteenth Princess’s body? If the Empress thought so, she was being naive. When needed, Consort Xian’s heart could be as cold and hard as stone; a mere corpse couldn’t frighten her. Despite these thoughts, Consort Xian was still unsettled by the Empress’s suggestion, though she didn’t let it show on her face.
The Empress, meanwhile, wanted to applaud the two consorts’ responses. One was filled with righteous indignation, the other with compassionate understanding. Uncovering the real culprit wouldn’t be a simple task. She wondered what method Prince Yan’s wife would use to test them when they saw the Fourteenth Princess.
Their hurried exchange earlier hadn’t allowed for much explanation. The Empress chose to follow the plan out of trust in Jiang Si, though she was still in the dark.
“Since both of you are willing, let’s go now,” the Empress said.
Consorts Xian and Ning both nodded.
Emperor Jingming turned first, instructing the people of Chunhua Palace, “It’s the Empress Dowager’s nap time now. Don’t disturb her.”
With that, he strode out.
Consort Xian couldn’t help but look back, various emotions flashing briefly in her eyes.
“What are you looking at, Sister Xian?” a gentle voice inquired.
Consort Xian was startled, quickly composing herself and smiling at the Empress. “I heard the Empress Dowager was in Chunhua Palace. I’m a bit surprised.”
“Stop the chatter,” Emperor Jingming warned irritably without turning back. With frequent incidents in the palace, disturbing the Empress Dowager would only bring shame to him. This Consort Xian knew how to touch a sore spot.
Consort Xian bit her lip and lowered her gaze, saying nothing.
As the group left, even Eunuch Deng’s body was dragged away, leaving Chunhua Palace suddenly quiet.
In the main hall, the Empress Dowager, who had been pretending to doze, opened her eyes and asked those around her, “Have they all left?”
A palace maid who had been outside gathering information answered crisply, “The Emperor and Empress led the others back to Kunning Palace, saying they would let the two consorts bid farewell to the Fourteenth Princess.”
The Empress Dowager’s eyes flickered. Letting Consorts Xian and Ning see off the Fourteenth Princess—was this to observe which of them might show signs of guilt?
The Empress Dowager shook her head. After years in the palace, it would be extraordinary if either consort lost composure at the sight of a corpse. Such weak-willed consorts usually didn’t survive beyond two years, let alone reach their current positions.
As for the Empress—
Thinking of that woman who had remained low-key and uninvolved for years, the Empress Dowager’s gaze sharpened. The Empress truly couldn’t be underestimated.
As for Emperor Jingming, the Empress Dowager didn’t even consider him. Aside from the Emperor’s filial piety towards her, few men paid attention to household affairs. After dealing with matters outside, they either tried to smooth things over at home or remained blissfully ignorant. The imperial palace was no different.
The Empress Dowager grasped a palace maid’s arm for support as she slowly rose. “Let’s go to Kunning Palace.”
She wanted to see what the Empress was up to.
In Kunning Palace, the palace servants deliberately lightened their steps, not daring even to converse. Despite the bright summer day, the vast palace seemed to exude a chilly atmosphere.
The Fourteenth Princess had not yet been placed in a coffin; her body remained in the side hall where she was initially laid. The Empress led everyone there, stopping at the door. “The Fourteenth Princess is inside.”
Consort Ning stepped forward and, without waiting for a palace maid to open the door, pushed it open herself.
As the door swung open, a wave of cool air rushed out. Although Consort Ning wasn’t guilty, the room contained the body of the deceased princess. The chill emanating from it on a scorching summer day was enough to unsettle anyone.
Consort Ning controlled her urge to step back and entered the room.
Consort Xian was even more nervous. The cold air made her scalp tingle, and her palms were damp with sweat.
She disguised her nervousness with a cough and followed Consort Ning inside.
Once inside, the two consorts realized the room was filled with ice buckets, the source of the cold air.
Emperor Jingming usually advocated frugality, and ice was typically only used in the palace after the sixth month. It was still only the pomegranate month, not yet time for ice.
The Empress observed the two consorts’ reactions and explained calmly, “The Fourteenth Princess died under unclear circumstances. Perhaps the funeral won’t be held soon. Using ice can help maintain this poor child’s dignity…”
Both Consorts Xian and Ning were taken aback. Many had died unjustly in the palace, but there was no precedent for delaying a funeral by keeping the body in the palace.
Even Emperor Jingming was surprised and looked at the Empress.
The Empress shot him another glare.
Emperor Jingming sheepishly rubbed his nose. Fine, he would keep quiet and see what the Empress was up to.
After glaring at the Emperor, the Empress’s eyes reddened. She dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief and said, “Look at our poor Fourteenth Princess.”
A palace maid suddenly pulled back the white cloth covering the Fourteenth Princess’s body.
A ghastly pale face came into view. Blue-purple lips, slightly open eyes, and a frozen expression of anguish made it difficult to recognize the once gentle and quiet Fourteenth Princess.
Consort Ning pressed her lips together, finding it hard to look directly at the body.
Consort Xian lowered her gaze, secretly clenching her fists. Years in the palace had tempered her heart a thousand times over. She could be cold when necessary, but facing the victim of her machinations still stirred fear in her heart, despite her best efforts.
Emperor Jingming sighed heavily at the sight of the Fourteenth Princess and said solemnly, “Now that they’ve seen her, let’s not disturb the Fourteenth Princess’s peace—”
Before he could finish, the palace maid closest to the Fourteenth Princess let out a piercing scream.
Consort Xian instinctively looked at the Fourteenth Princess and was horrified to see that her previously half-open eyes were now wide open, staring directly at her.
Consort Xian felt all the blood in her body rush to her head, making her teeth chatter as she trembled.
Consort Ning was no better off. Following the palace maid’s scream, she exclaimed, “Ah! Is the Fourteenth Princess rising from the dead?”
Although the Empress was somewhat prepared, she too was startled. After regaining her composure, she said, “Sister Ning, don’t speak nonsense.”
“But the Fourteenth Princess’s eyes suddenly opened!” Consort Ning, who considered herself brave, now felt her heart pounding like thunder.
The Empress looked at Consort Ning, then at Consort Xian, and sighed. “With His Majesty’s dragon aura present, how could such a thing as rising from the dead occur? Perhaps the Fourteenth Princess is reluctant to part with us. Don’t you agree, Your Majesty?”
The true dragon Emperor Jingming: “…” This was too frightening. Had the Fourteenth Princess come back to life?