“Your Majesty, this is what Grand Commander Luo discovered in Xuande Tower.” Zhou Shan presented an object.

Because it involved the imperial consorts, Grand Commander Luo had only sent in what was found after searching Xuande Tower.

Emperor Yong’an looked closely and saw that on the tray Zhou Shan held was a slender bamboo tube, sealed at one end and open at the other.

Emperor Yong’an immediately glanced at the patterned snake held by the guard.

Perhaps because not much time had passed since returning from Xuande Tower to the palace, and the palace was warm as spring, this snake was still quite lively, its dangling tail constantly coiling.

Emperor Yong’an spoke, “Put it inside.”

The guard obeyed the command.

Under Emperor Yong’an’s gaze, the patterned snake slowly slithered into the bamboo tube.

The guard used his thumb ring to block the entrance, preventing the patterned snake from escaping.

Emperor Yong’an ordered the guard to withdraw and looked toward the several consorts.

There were a total of four consorts fortunate enough to accompany him to view the lanterns. The highest-ranking were Consort An and Consort Li.

Consort An had an illustrious family background as part of the Empress’s clan. Consort Li, on the other hand, lived up to her title—her face was like a full moon, her skin like congealed fat. Not only was she born with flower-like beauty, she also had the appearance of being good for childbearing. Her promotion speed after entering the palace had been astonishing.

The other two beauties were also among the more favored noble ladies from this batch who had entered the palace.

As for those old ones, Emperor Yong’an hadn’t brought a single one.

Aged and faded, unable to bear children—in the heart of this Emperor who was currently obsessed with producing sons, they weren’t worth even a shred of attention. He was already too busy with the forty-nine new arrivals in the prime of their youth.

“Speak then, who harmed the Noble Consort.” Emperor Yong’an rubbed his brow, breaking the suffocating silence.

At these words, the four consorts immediately knelt and wept, crying out in unison, “Your Majesty, this concubine is wronged! Even if you beat this concubine to death, she wouldn’t dare harm the Noble Consort—”

The four cried together, immediately sounding like countless sparrows chirping chaotically.

Emperor Yong’an shouted, “Enough!”

The crying stopped. The four raised their heads, gazing at Emperor Yong’an with tear-filled eyes.

However, Emperor Yong’an had not the slightest tender feelings, saying coldly, “That snake couldn’t have appeared out of thin air, could it?”

In such cold weather, snakes had long since burrowed into their nests to sleep. It would be difficult to even find one. Yet it had been brought into Xuande Tower and climbed onto Noble Consort Xiao’s cloak.

The more Emperor Yong’an thought about it, the angrier he became. His gaze toward the four became icy as he slowly asked, “Who was closest to the Noble Consort at that time?”

Consort Li’s expression stiffened.

“Speak!”

At Emperor Yong’an’s shout, Consort Li pressed her forehead to the ground, saying tremulously, “It was this concubine.”

Emperor Yong’an looked down at Consort Li from his superior position, asking coldly, “What were you doing at that time?”

“This concubine was concentrating on watching the fireworks. It was this concubine’s first time ascending Xuande Tower to watch fireworks…”

In the past, she had been just an ordinary daughter of a meritorious noble family. Every Lantern Festival, she would go to the lantern fair with her sisters, and had gazed from afar at the figures atop Xuande Tower with longing in her heart.

But it turned out that high places are unbearably cold.

Consort Li slowly raised her head, teardrops sliding down her delicate cheeks. “Please Your Majesty investigate clearly—not only does this concubine have no reason to harm the Noble Consort, but even if she truly had some ill intentions, where would she have obtained the ability to procure that patterned snake?”

The other three seemed reminded and all cried out their grievances.

“Please Your Majesty investigate clearly. This concubine was so frightened by the snake she nearly died—how would she dare use it to harm the Noble Consort?”

“Yes, snakes are so terrifying, we wouldn’t even dare touch one…”

“Wuu wuu wuu, even if this concubine specifically searched for snakes, she couldn’t find any. The Imperial Garden is completely bare—even people are too cold to come out, let alone snakes?”

Emperor Yong’an listened to all this, gaining some thoughtfulness in his eyes.

Although these four consorts were the most suspicious, obtaining a snake in the dead of winter was absolutely no easy feat.

One must know this was the Imperial Palace. Forget about this time of year—even in the lush summer months, snakes were almost never seen. There were specialized palace servants responsible for dealing with rodents, ants, snakes, and insects to prevent these things from startling the nobles.

As for bringing things in from outside, it would be even more difficult for these low-ranking consorts who had only recently entered the palace.

As Emperor Yong’an pondered this, a face suddenly flashed through his mind.

Princess Changle.

For Changle, obtaining a snake and bringing it to Xuande Tower would be much easier.

When he first thought of Princess Changle, an ordinary father who had always treasured his daughter like a precious pearl would immediately deny it, but Emperor Yong’an was not such a man.

He was not just a father, but also an Emperor—moreover, an Emperor with a naturally cold temperament and deep scheming. After calming down, he only used reason to analyze.

Changle not only had this convenient condition, but perhaps also had this motive—thinking to this point, Emperor Yong’an’s eyes became even more profound, so deep they seemed like the night itself.

But Changle had never gotten close to Noble Consort Xiao. If she truly harbored intentions to harm Noble Consort Xiao, how could she ensure success?

Emperor Yong’an’s mind swirled with doubt as his attention fell once more on the four kneeling consorts.

Where there were things he couldn’t figure out, it meant there was another mystery at play.

At that time, the four consorts had been around Noble Consort Xiao, but they had almost no means of obtaining a snake. Changle had the means to obtain a snake, but hadn’t gotten close to Noble Consort Xiao—

Emperor Yong’an’s eyes flashed as a theory arose: what if Changle had cooperated with one of the four consorts?

Once this thought emerged, his gaze toward the four consorts became even colder.

Emperor Yong’an didn’t speak for a long while. The four consorts didn’t dare cry anymore either, all kneeling obediently.

The four were in the flower of their youth. With tears in their eyes, even their kneeling posture was pitiable.

Emperor Yong’an stared at the four and finally spoke, “Very well. Since none of you will confess, then you shall all be granted death.”

At these words, the four looked up in disbelief. “Your Majesty!”

Emperor Yong’an remained unmoved, saying lightly, “Zhou Shan, bring the poisoned wine—”

Zhou Shan’s heart had long been shocked by Emperor Yong’an’s actions, but his face dared not show the slightest surprise. Expressionless, he responded with acknowledgment.

Shortly after, Zhou Shan led four palace servants in, each carrying a tray with a cup of wine.

The four consorts looked at the white porcelain wine cups glinting coldly, frightened out of their wits.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty spare our lives—”

Even at this point, the four still couldn’t believe the Emperor would grant them all death.

How could he be so cruel, so heartless?

Facing the four’s tearful pleas, Emperor Yong’an’s expression showed not a trace of emotion. He said icily, “Send these four on their way.”

The four palace servants stepped forward, saying softly, “My ladies, please depart.”

“No, no!” Consort Li retreated, her face pale.

Consort An was even less able to accept it. “Your Majesty, you said this concubine greatly resembled Empress Yuan, and you also said—”

“Shut your mouth.” Emperor Yong’an coldly interrupted Consort An’s words.

Consort An stared blankly at the mountain-like Emperor, as if seeing this man for the first time.

The two beauties were surnamed Wang and Zhang respectively. Beauty Zhang seemed frightened senseless, showing no reaction to the palace servant offering her poisoned wine. Beauty Wang resisted fiercely.

Emperor Yong’an’s voice came with several parts impatience, “If you can’t manage it, call a few more palace servants. Can’t you even handle this small matter?”

Hearing these words, the last shred of hope in Beauty Wang’s heart completely shattered. She cried hoarsely, “This concubine will speak, this concubine will speak—”