The palace maid serving the wine was deathly pale, kneeling to one side and trembling violently, nearly collapsing to the ground.

When Zhang Fengtong heard from this trusted servant about what she had done and said publicly tonight, her head buzzed loudly, her vision darkened, and blood immediately gushed from her nostrils, dripping and splattering onto the palace robe embroidered with a golden phoenix. Yellow and red, the bloodstains spread across the garment, creating a horrifically vivid scene.

She widened her eyes, her eyeballs nearly bulging from their sockets, and swung her hand to deliver a harsh slap—just as she had received earlier—to the palace maid’s face, sending her sprawling to the ground.

This was far from enough to quell the hatred in her heart. She was so enraged she could have devoured human flesh. She pulled a hairpin from her head and viciously, wildly stabbed at the palace maid, emitting disordered and furious guttural sounds.

“You worthless wretch! You can’t even handle such a simple task! You’ve ruined me completely!”

“Thump, thump, thump”—several bloody holes quickly appeared on the maid’s neck and face. The woman curled into a ball, one hand covering her face while shrieking pitifully: “Noble Consort, spare me! How would I dare harm you? I remember clearly, that the wine in your cup was clean—”

“Still making excuses! I’ll beat you to death! Besides you, who else would know? Or did you deliberately intend to harm me?”

Though Zhang Fengtong had not consumed the drugged wine, her face was deathly pale, her eyes bloodshot, her hair disheveled, and her nose and mouth stained with blood—she looked completely deranged. She pounced on the palace maid, continuing to stab wildly and viciously at her arms. The maid let out piercing screams that sounded particularly bone-chilling in the night.

“Wretch! Not content with ruining me, you want to attract Li Yuangui’s people too?”

Xiao Yintang, burning with rage, stepped forward and kicked Zhang Fengtong hard in the shoulder. With a faint cracking sound, Zhang Fengtong was sent flying several feet before crashing to the ground, the bloodstained hairpin slipping from her grasp.

The intense pain from her shoulder seemed to suddenly restore her clarity. After struggling a few times, she rolled over and scrambled to her feet, quickly crawling to Xiao Yintang’s side. She grabbed the hem of his robe with one hand and wept: “Crown Prince, I truly didn’t mean it. How could I know this worthless maid would make a mistake even when pouring wine? I originally only intended—”

She abruptly stopped, her teeth chattering audibly, making distinct clicking sounds.

Xiao Yintang turned and delivered another slap, then crouched down and seized her hair, saying through gritted teeth: “You were planning to have Lady Zhen drink this wine and humiliate herself publicly, weren’t you? You viper! I went there today thinking to give a face to your Zhang family, and you, you vile woman, not only secretly moved against one of my people behind my back, but you’ve created this disaster!”

He rose suddenly, grabbed a sword resting on the table, unsheathed it, and pointed it at Zhang Fengtong, advancing toward her.

Zhang Fengtong turned pale with terror. With the sword tip pointing at her, she inched backward until finally backed against the wall with nowhere to retreat.

“Crown Prince, you cannot kill me like this. If you kill me, wouldn’t that confirm everything I said…” Zhang Fengtong pleaded tearfully.

Xiao Yintang halted his steps. The sword tip no longer advanced but remained suspended in midair.

His once-handsome face now had slightly contorted features as he stared fixedly at Zhang Fengtong against the wall. His gaze flickered uncertainly. After a moment, he slowly lowered the sword and said coldly: “Vile woman! My men are guarding the palace gates, and the Emperor doesn’t know about this yet. I’m going to see the Emperor with that father of yours to beg for forgiveness. If your mind has cleared, when you face the Emperor, you should know what to say without me instructing you, right?”

Zhang Fengtong remained motionless, slumped against the wall.

Xiao Yintang didn’t spare her another glance and turned to leave.

“Crown Prince!”

Just before he could exit, Zhang Fengtong called out. Still leaning against the wall, she slowly stood up, her eyes as round as copper coins, reflecting a ghastly glow in the candlelight.

“Our only option now, which might still give us room to maneuver before the Emperor, is for me to seek help from the Empress.” She proposed her solution, her voice trembling continuously.

“The matter with Lady Zhen can be put aside, but you killed Lady Cao. If this is confirmed, even if the Cao family doesn’t dare seek justice, the court officials certainly won’t refrain from impeachment. At that time, even if the Emperor wishes to overlook this matter, he would still need a plausible explanation…”

Xiao Yintang narrowed his eyes: “Are you threatening me?”

Zhang Fengtong, suppressing the pain in her shoulder, knelt: “Crown Prince, this incident truly began with me. What happens to me is inconsequential—even if the Emperor sentences me to death, it would be deserved. But you and I are now grasshoppers on the same string. Clearing my name means clearing yours as well. This logic should be even clearer to you than to me.”

Xiao Yintang swept his gaze of loathing over her ghostly pale face and said coldly: “Then hurry up!”

Zhang Fengtong responded with a “yes.” Xiao Yintang took a step forward, then stopped and turned around: “Vile woman, if we manage to escape this predicament, remember this—if you ever dare to move against Lady Zhen again, even if she loses just a single hair, I will not spare you!”

Zhang Fengtong’s face fluctuated between ashen and pale as she collapsed to the ground. Xiao Yintang had already strode away. Her trusted palace maid finally approached timidly, glancing at the ghost-like, drenched Zhang Fengtong, then casting a fearful look at the maid still writhing and moaning on the floor.

“Are you all dead? Help me up!” Zhang Fengtong barked harshly, but as she tried to rise, she felt excruciating pain in her shoulder and realized her bone must have been broken by his kick. Forcibly enduring the pain, her face contorted, she was slowly helped up and ordered her hair to be combed and clothes changed. Passing by the maid on the floor, she signaled to a eunuch with her eyes.

The eunuch understood, went over to cover the maid’s mouth, and dragged her away like a dead dog into a dark corner. At first, there were intermittent struggles and stifled sounds, but soon these faded away, finally sinking into silence.

…

Since his ascension, Emperor Xiao Li had been diligent, handling all matters personally. Yesterday, due to urgent reports of drought-stricken areas needing disaster relief funds, he had summoned Ministry of Revenue officials for a late-night meeting and hadn’t slept. Today, after another full day of court, he reviewed several important memorials with Pei You’an and Ministry of Personnel officials He Gongpu and Zhang Shiyong in the evening. Feeling exhausted, he had fallen asleep in the side palace.

Barely into his dreams, he was awakened by Li Yuangui, who informed him that the Crown Prince’s consort had become drunk at tonight’s birthday celebration for her mother, behaving wildly and disgracing herself in public. The Emperor was startled, then frowned: “How could this happen? Very well, just forbid her from drinking alcohol in the future!”

Li Yuangui said: “Your Majesty if it were just that, I wouldn’t dare disturb you. The trouble is that the Crown Prince’s consort said certain things that could cause a tremendous uproar. The Crown Prince and Lord Zhang, fearing Your Majesty’s punishment, are now kneeling outside the hall, begging for your forgiveness.”

“What did she say?”

Li Yuangui carefully repeated everything.

Emperor Xiao Li froze, then violently threw down the belt that Cui Yinshui had just handed him, shouting: “Preposterous! How could such a thing happen!” It wasn’t clear whether he was angry at the Crown Prince’s consort’s reckless words or at the matters she had revealed.

Li Yuangui hurriedly picked up the belt, noticing that an embedded jewel had shattered. He signaled Cui Yinshui to bring another, while bowing deeply: “Yes, yes, it must be just the Crown Prince’s consort speaking nonsense while drunk. But too many people were present—it cannot be covered up, which is why the Crown Prince and Lord Zhang have come to beg forgiveness.”

Emperor Xiao Li said angrily: “What’s said is said. What use is there in begging me for forgiveness now?”

Li Yuangui hesitated: “Then shall this servant relay your message and have them withdraw?”

The Emperor was silent at first, then suddenly said: “Summon the Crown Prince, and send Lord Zhang home.”

Li Yuangui acknowledged and hurried out to relay the orders. Shortly after, Xiao Yintang entered quickly, looking alarmed. He knelt, repeatedly kowtowing: “Imperial Father, the Crown Prince’s consort disgraced herself while drunk, spouting complete nonsense. I am caught in the aftermath and, amid my indignation and shame, feel I have failed Your Majesty’s constant teachings. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!”

Emperor Xiao Li stared at him: “Your wife says you strangled Lady Cao to death. Is that true?”

“Those are just drunken ravings—how could they be true? Lady Cao was with me for many years, our feelings were deep, and she had done nothing wrong. Why would I kill her? Even with a blackened conscience, I would never take her life! Wang, the Imperial Physician, was present and personally diagnosed her illness. If Your Majesty doubts this, you can summon him for questioning!”

Emperor Xiao Li snorted coldly: “It’s easy for me to believe you, but can you make the court officials and censors believe you?”

“Father! Even if those outside don’t believe me, if even you doubt me, I am truly wronged to death!”

“Silence!” Emperor Xiao Li exploded in rage, seizing a memorial from the table and hurling it at him.

“If you were truly innocent, how could she fabricate such accusations against you, even when completely drunk?”

“Father! I am indeed guilty. Since things have come to this, I dare not hide anything. I was once saved by Lady Zhen and did have feelings for her—this I admit. But later, when Your Majesty arranged for her to marry You’an, whom I have always regarded as an elder brother, I abandoned those thoughts and never again harbored any inappropriate desires. However, this Zhang woman, though appearing magnanimous, is petty and jealous. She was already dissatisfied with my neglect, and seeing my harmony with Lady Cao, knowing I once had feelings for Lady Zhen, she was consumed with jealousy. Normally she wouldn’t show it, but tonight, drunk, she lost control of her inner demons. In her heart, she probably wishes for my downfall, hence the nonsensical outburst. I beg Your Majesty to see the truth! You can summon her for questioning if needed!”

Xiao Yintang finished speaking, continuously kowtowing.

Emperor Xiao Li regarded him coldly.

At that moment, Li Yuangui’s voice came from outside: “The Empress has arrived! The Crown Prince’s consort has arrived!”

Emperor Xiao Li looked up to see Empress Zhou entering hurriedly, followed by the haggard-looking Zhang Fengtong. They entered, and Zhang Fengtong knelt beside Xiao Yintang, while Empress Zhou, visibly agitated, said: “Your Majesty! This is terrible! The inner palace is in complete disarray! There is something I must reveal! Before the Crown Prince’s wedding, I received a secret report that Lady Cao, out of jealousy toward the Crown Prince’s consort, had consulted a sorcerer outside the palace to employ witchcraft against her—a spell that could drive someone mad, causing them to act irrationally. It was entirely my oversight—I didn’t believe it at the time, thinking Lady Cao seemed so honest and unassuming, that she must have offended someone who had slandered her to me. I had that informant beaten and driven away. Who would have thought that tonight the Crown Prince’s consort would suffer such an episode? I suddenly realized what had happened and immediately sent people to search her chambers. Sure enough, they found evil talismans beneath her bed! It’s truly horrifying!”

She called outside, and Lady Lin entered, kneeling at the entrance with a tray held high in both hands. Li Yuangui went over to retrieve the tray, which contained a small white effigy with the Crown Prince’s consort’s birth date and time written on its face, and silver needles piercing its chest and back.

Empress Zhou also knelt, weeping: “Your Majesty, it was entirely my fault! I was too soft-hearted and kind. If I had been vigilant when I first received the news, and had seized and thoroughly investigated Lady Cao, today’s disaster would never have occurred! The Crown Prince’s consort was cursed by evil magic, which caused her public disgrace tonight and her nonsensical ravings. How could those words be taken seriously? It must be Lady Cao’s evil spirit at work! I beg Your Majesty to see the truth!”

Zhang Fengtong bowed deeply, sobbing quietly.

The atmosphere in the hall was oppressively heavy, with no one else speaking.

“Your Majesty! Lord Zhang, upon learning that Your Majesty wouldn’t see him, just struck his head against a pillar, saying he would die to atone for his crime! He’s now unconscious, with a bloodied head…” Li Yuangui hurried in again to report.

Zhang Fengtong’s weeping suddenly grew louder, then she forcibly restrained herself.

A deathly silence filled the hall, eventually leaving only Zhang Fengtong’s soft sobbing echoing in the dark corners untouched by candlelight.

Emperor Xiao Li’s expression was extremely grim. His gaze swept over the three people kneeling before him, and suddenly he gave a cold laugh, muttering as if to himself: “Very well, now everyone’s here.”

He stood up, walked to the window, opened it, and stood facing the night sky for a moment before saying coldly: “The Empress and Crown Prince’s consort may withdraw. The Crown Prince will remain.”

Empress Zhou and Zhang Fengtong rose and left, leaving only father and son in the vast hall.

In the flickering candlelight, Emperor Xiao Li’s expression gradually became calm. After pondering for a moment, he said: “Yintang, here and now, we are not sovereign and subject, but father and son. If a child is not properly taught, the father bears some responsibility. Tell me the truth—was Lady Cao killed by you? And why would the Crown Prince’s consort, usually so composed, suddenly act so crazed tonight?”

Xiao Yintang lowered his head: “Father, Lady Cao did indeed die suddenly of illness, and I was deeply grieved, but powerless to save her. As for why the Crown Prince’s consort suddenly behaved this way, I dare not speculate. Since Mother has found witchcraft talismans under her bed, perhaps that is the reason. Father has always been wise—you can send someone to investigate.”

After speaking, he kowtowed again.

Emperor Xiao Li gazed at the prostrate figure, his eyes gradually revealing disappointment and desolation.

“Very well, you may go,” he said after a moment.

Xiao Yintang expressed his gratitude, rose, and respectfully backed away. Just as he was about to exit, Emperor Xiao Li suddenly called him back.

“Kneel!”

Xiao Yintang’s heart raced; he quickly knelt again.

“Listen carefully. I could make you Crown Prince, and I can also depose you! This time will be an exception. If there is another such disgraceful incident, I won’t need officials to impeach you—I will not spare you!”

The Emperor’s voice wasn’t loud, but each word was like a cold, sharp sword piercing the heart.

…

By the next day, the news had spread.

The reason for the Crown Prince’s consort’s public madness last night had been discovered—it was that Lady Cao had died suddenly of illness. Out of jealousy toward the Crown Prince’s consort, she had, before her death, placed a curse on her, leading to last night’s episode. With both witness testimony and physical evidence, the matter was thoroughly investigated.

Since the Crown Prince’s consort had been cursed by witchcraft, her nonsensical ravings last night were naturally the delusions of a disturbed mind. Anyone who privately continued to spread these rumors would be punished for causing confusion and disturbance.

The Emperor sent people to Duke Zhu’s mansion to comfort the old lady who had nearly been choked to death last night. The entire Cao family trod carefully, all of them extremely fearful. Lady Cao’s father knelt outside the imperial palace hall, weeping bitterly, knocking his head until it bled, and eventually fainting. The Emperor had imperial physicians attend to him and declared that considering the Cao family’s distinguished service in the Wuding era and their ignorance of this matter, only Lady Cao’s posthumous titles would be stripped, her coffin removed from the imperial cemetery, and the Cao family instructed to arrange her burial elsewhere, with no further penalties. The Cao family expressed profound gratitude and carried out the imperial decree.

Subsequently, the Crown Prince’s consort did not appear in public. It was said that due to the witchcraft curse, she had fallen seriously ill and was currently recuperating. Once recovered, she would resume her duties as Crown Prince’s consort.

At home, Jia Fu heard these pieces of news one after another, all of which had been accurately predicted by Pei You’an.