“Jiang Zhaoyi, you know better than I what comes of making wild accusations.” Jiang Ruan maintained an elegant posture, her face showing perfectly timed surprise. “As you say, what benefit would there be for me in accusing you?”
Jiang Dan was left speechless, while Xuan Hua finally grasped the current situation. Even now, he began to understand he had fallen into someone else’s trap. Though his behavior was dissolute, today’s loss of control was indeed strangely inexplicable. Suddenly understanding the key point, when he looked at Jiang Ruan again, he was certain she couldn’t be uninvolved. Thinking of earlier events, he said, “No, Father Emperor, this son and Jiang Zhaoyi are indeed completely innocent. It’s Prince Jinying’s consort – it’s her! She conspired with Thirteenth Brother to harm Crown Prince Brother, and now wants to frame this son. They have wolfish ambitions, Father Emperor. You must not be deceived by them!”
Xuan Hua spoke with sincere emotion. He probably knew that succession struggles had always been every emperor’s heartache, so he struck at this weak point without reservation. He thought that although he didn’t know how Xiao Shao and the others had appeared here, the matter of those arrows couldn’t be faked. Even if Xiao Shao used some sweet words to temporarily ease suspicions, once doubt took root deep in the emperor’s heart, what good could Xiao Shao gain? And just mentioning the still barely breathing Crown Prince would naturally illuminate the situation. With one son bedridden and another son framed for colluding with a favored consort, it was indeed understandable that Xuan Pei would do such things using Prince Jinying’s manor – a family with a precedent of rebellion.
Xuan Hua’s calculations weren’t wrong. He thought the Emperor would at least harbor some suspicion toward Xiao Shao and Xuan Pei. Jiang Dan also secretly sighed with relief. Xuan Hua’s words had indeed reduced much pressure. Still hoping to gain some sympathy through the Emperor’s past favor, Jiang Dan wept, saying only, “Even with ten thousand times the courage, this concubine would never dare betray Your Majesty. If not for being schemed against, how could it come to this? Now I have no face to see anyone, only hoping Your Majesty will grant this concubine an intact corpse to preserve this concubine’s dignity. But as for actively conspiring – such accusations are so absurd, this concubine will not accept them!”
She put on an appearance of preferring death to submission. Jiang Dan knew well that the Emperor favored women who carried a kind of unrestrained natural charm, as if they were a breeze from the wilderness – stubborn and full of vitality. Even the former Consort Chen had maintained lasting favor precisely because of this. Now she gained the Emperor’s regard because she strove to appear different from other noble ladies. At this moment, with tears in her eyes and her head proudly raised, she seemed to have genuine backbone in preferring death to submission, like a pure lotus trembling in a storm. Combined with her considerable beauty, she indeed possessed a unique loveliness.
But Jiang Dan didn’t know that the Emperor favored such women because of Crown Prince Hongxi’s former consort, Xiang Xiaoyuan, who came from the wilderness – mysterious and free, carrying a spiritual quality that palace nobles lacked. The Emperor particularly admired such spirit, so the consorts he later favored all possessed such free and natural temperaments to some degree. Though such temperament was indeed captivating, it was built upon Xiang Xiaoyuan herself as a person. When Jiang Dan made such gestures now, it appeared like an ugly woman imitating a beauty – inappropriate and incongruous, making the Emperor even more furious, feeling she was insulting Xiang Xiaoyuan’s purity and pride.
Jiang Dan failed to touch the affection in the Emperor’s eyes, instead seeing only gloom. Her heart immediately sank as if a basin of cold water had been poured from head to foot, leaving her somewhat at a loss, not knowing where things had gone wrong.
Jiang Ruan smiled slightly and spoke, “Fifth Prince, one may eat carelessly but not speak carelessly. Where did you hear that I conspired with the Prince and Thirteenth Prince to harm His Highness the Crown Prince? His Highness the Crown Prince and Thirteenth Prince are both your brothers – how can you say such things?”
Xuan Hua boldly glanced at the Emperor. The coldness in the Emperor’s eyes alarmed him, but facing death if he didn’t speak now, Xuan Hua stiffened his neck and said, “Everyone in the palace knows now that the arrow that injured Crown Prince Brother came from your Prince Jinying’s manor. If this isn’t your doing, what is it? Hmph, I’ve long heard that Prince Jinying’s consort and Thirteenth Brother are quite close. Thirteenth Brother is still young and doesn’t understand matters, naturally unaware of the dangers. I fear Thirteenth Brother listened to someone with ulterior motives and committed a grave error without knowing it. Prince Jinying’s consort, you wanted to use Thirteenth Brother’s hands to achieve your wolfish ambitions, even involving Prince Jinying’s manor. Am I wrong? What do you have to say in your defense!”
Jiang Ruan smiled again, “Fifth Prince’s words are indeed wonderful. I find them quite convincing too. But Fifth Prince,” she slowly drew out her voice, her gaze passing over Xiao Shao to fall on Xuan Li, who was watching from the sidelines, “you’ve made one mistake. You see, if as you say, this matter doesn’t just implicate me and Thirteenth Prince, but also Eighth Prince.”
Xuan Li? Xuan Hua’s expression changed, looking at Xuan Li with some confusion. The Emperor’s face was livid, his gaze toward Xuan Hua now filled with complete disappointment. Xuan Hua’s heart went cold – he wasn’t unfamiliar with such looks. They meant the Emperor was about to completely abandon this son… But he still didn’t know what had happened, looking at Jiang Ruan with some wariness, “What do you mean?”
Jiang Ruan squeezed Xiao Shao’s hand before looking at Xuan Hua with a smile, “Fifth Prince doesn’t know – the arrow that injured His Highness the Crown Prince does indeed resemble those from our Prince’s manor. However, there’s something Fifth Prince doesn’t know: among the arrows that ambushed His Highness the Crown Prince’s personal guards, there are arrows bearing Eighth Prince’s manor’s markings.”
Xuan Hua was stunned, looking at Xuan Li in disbelief. Xuan Li’s face remained smiling as he sighed softly, seemingly infinitely puzzled, “Fifth Brother, I’m also unclear about this matter. Today the Minister of Justice summoned me to confront this before Father Emperor. Indeed, they were from my manor.”
“Then… then you’re all conspiring against me!” Xuan Hua shouted loudly, “Eighth Brother, you actually joined with Thirteenth Brother, influenced by this woman’s instigation, together harming Crown Prince Brother and framing me, wanting to put me to death. You’re truly ruthless, where do you place brotherly affection? Father Emperor, Father Emperor, I’m innocent! Father Emperor!”
“You dare say I’ve wronged you?” The Emperor laughed without anger, the mockery on his face growing thicker. Xuan Hua couldn’t help but shiver. Then Jiang Ruan’s gentle voice continued, “Fifth Prince is quite strange – why are you now implicating Eighth Prince too? How can you say Eighth Prince joined us in harming His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“What’s there to discuss?” Xuan Hua shouted, “Your arrows were all there, evidence is solid – aren’t they the murder weapons!”
Jiang Dan thought this was bad, instinctively wanting to cover Xuan Hua’s mouth. She knew Jiang Ruan was best at digging verbal traps that people fell into unknowingly. Unfortunately, Xuan Hua was foolishly stubborn, eagerly jumping into others’ schemes. At this moment, Jiang Ruan smiled as she calmly guided Xuan Hua’s words. Though Jiang Dan didn’t know exactly what she planned to do, she knew that continuing to follow her lead would eventually expose Xuan Hua. But it was too late – once Xuan Hua spoke, Jiang Dan froze.
“Then Fifth Prince is being rather hasty,” Jiang Ruan said lightly. “You should know that besides Eighth Prince’s arrows, there were also Imperial Guard arrows. By Fifth Prince’s logic, could it be that His Majesty wanted to harm His Highness the Crown Prince? That would truly be laughable.”
Xuan Hua was startled, saying urgently, “Imperial Guards – that’s impossible! I instructed…” The words slipped out before he suddenly realized something was wrong and abruptly stopped speaking. But around him was only momentary silence. Wang Lian’er covered her mouth, looking at him in shock. Jiang Ruan smiled brilliantly, Xiao Shao’s face was frosty, Xuan Li remained as gentle as ever, while Hui Jue and several disciples kept their heads lowered in meditation, as if isolated from the mortal world.
Most clearly before his eyes were the Emperor’s almost fire-breathing pupils. Xuan Hua believed without hesitation that if not for the presence of others, his father emperor would probably finish him off personally right now.
He didn’t understand how things had become like this – why Imperial Guard arrows would also appear there. Xuan Li’s arrows appearing was already strange enough; he thought it was Jiang Dan’s independent arrangement. If they could bring down Xuan Li together, that would naturally be good – Xuan Hua wouldn’t refuse such multi-target efficiency. But with Imperial Guard arrows also involved, it certainly wasn’t Jiang Dan’s arrangement. In his urgency, he had actually revealed his inner thoughts. Everyone present could read between the lines – where was there any confusion? They immediately understood the whole story, staring at him as if facing a great enemy.
Jiang Dan couldn’t stop trembling. Once Xuan Hua was exposed, she would inevitably be implicated too. She looked at Jiang Ruan, who seemed to sense her gaze and slowly looked over, smiling down at her condescendingly as if viewing a pitiful, insignificant insect. Jiang Dan began feeling cold from her scalp down. She suddenly felt that everything she had done was already firmly grasped in Jiang Ruan’s palm – it was all just Jiang Ruan going with the flow to reach this point.
Xuan Li looked at Jiang Ruan with an ambiguous expression, a strange feeling arising in his heart toward this woman. Originally, this matter was a struggle between Prince Jinying’s manor and Xuan Hua, with Xuan Pei also involved. No matter what happened, he who sat watching the show wouldn’t suffer – he would always benefit. Who knew Jiang Ruan would strike so ruthlessly, simply dragging him in as well.
Xiao Shao acted decisively and efficiently, rarely using such indirect yet venomous methods. Though Xuan Pei was mature, he hadn’t reached such sophistication. This matter was most likely Jiang Ruan’s handiwork. In fact, even without placing Imperial Guard arrows, Xuan Hua would have lost this round. With Xuan Li and Xuan Pei, plus Prince Jinying’s couple conspiring to frame the Crown Prince, among the princes, only Xuan Hua could escape unscathed – this was inherently abnormal. Jiang Ruan’s brilliance lay in merely adding one chess piece, causing the entire game’s momentum to suddenly reverse, changing winners and losers.
Xuan Li sighed inwardly. Such an intelligent and exceptional woman – if she stood by his side, they would be perfectly matched. If she had followed him, she could even have managed the Empress position. But she had chosen Xiao Shao instead. His gaze gradually deepened – he would need to be more wary of Prince Jinying’s manor.
“Father Emperor…” Xuan Hua said tremblingly, “This son and Jiang Zhaoyi are indeed innocent. This son did nothing wrong. Father Emperor, they really framed me…”
At this point, he was already panicked beyond reason, unable to distinguish priorities. By now, the affair with Jiang Dan was no longer important – what concerned the Emperor more was his plotting to assassinate his own brother with ambitions of usurping the throne! The Emperor had come to the Buddhist hall directly from the Court of Justice, and no one in the palace had spread word of what happened here under his nose. With Noble Consort De not coming to the rescue, Xuan Hua was like a useless waste, unable to think of anything but begging for mercy.
Jiang Dan was also dumbfounded. She hadn’t expected that not only had she failed to clear her name, but Xuan Hua had also confessed to the grave crime of harming the Crown Prince. If she were implicated, her fate would be equally grim. At this moment, only by insisting she and Xuan Hua had been framed might she find a thread of hope. Thinking this, Jiang Dan also knelt on the ground, continuously kowtowing and crying injustice, weeping, “This concubine truly never betrayed Your Majesty. Your Majesty sees all clearly – please restore this concubine’s innocence. Please, Your Majesty, this concubine is wronged!” She kowtowed until blood seeped from her forehead, staining the ground red.
What kind of person was the Emperor? The supreme ruler who said one thing and did another, never changing his mind once decided. Moreover, Xuan Hua’s plot against the Crown Prince was now virtually exposed. With preconceived notions, looking at the two before him, he only saw an adulterous couple. He didn’t want to say another word, but everyone had overlooked Wang Lian’er on the side. Wang Lian’er usually appeared gentle and scholarly, most considerate and caring, but she had been fiercely competing with Jiang Dan openly and secretly. Now with Jiang Dan’s defeat, how could she not take this opportunity to ruthlessly trample her? She immediately said seemingly casually, “Perhaps Jiang Zhaoyi really was framed. There are so many opportunities in this palace, inevitably… Your Majesty, didn’t I hear that Imperial Physician Xia just came to the palace to examine the Empress Dowager’s pulse? Why not have him come see if it’s that… oh yes, the incense problem?”
These words weren’t seeking opportunities for Jiang Dan. Everyone knew Xia Qing had a good relationship with Xiao Shao and would naturally help Xiao Shao’s side. Since Jiang Dan and Xuan Hua had tried to scheme against Prince Jinying’s manor, now as victors and vanquished, it was Jiang Dan’s turn to face the consequences. Wang Lian’er came from a scholarly family but was quite shrewd, clearly seeing that Prince Jinying’s couple weren’t ones to suffer losses – Jiang Dan was too naive before these two. Having Xia Qing come wasn’t giving Jiang Dan a chance to survive, but truly putting her to death with no chance of recovery.
Jiang Ruan smiled slightly – this Wang Lian’er was quite clever, not wasting her effort in “happening to see” her on the road and bringing her along. She could only blame Jiang Dan for fighting too fiercely in daily life and climbing too fast and high. Once she lost power, people couldn’t wait to step on her. She gave Xiao Shao a meaningful look. Xiao Shao paused, then looking at the Emperor, said blandly, “This minister requests Your Majesty summon Imperial Physician Xia to examine and restore my wife’s innocence.”
This was following Wang Lian’er’s suggestion to have Xia Qing come clear their names. The Emperor had always granted Xiao Shao’s every request, and today’s events were truly outrageous. After all, this matter couldn’t be known by outsiders. Xia Qing was Xiao Shao’s person and had always maintained medical ethics – no need to worry about word spreading. If it were other imperial physicians, they wouldn’t leave alive today. The Emperor sneered coldly, “I’ll let you die clearly. Someone bring Xia Qing here!”
Jiang Dan lay prostrate on the ground in a daze, staring vacantly at the Emperor. The tender love of the past was now just a cold word – “die.” She deeply understood she was finished, like falling into a pre-woven net where no matter how she struggled, it only grew tighter with no escape.
Xia Qing was indeed in the palace examining Empress Dowager Yide’s pulse. Hearing the Emperor’s summons, the Empress Dowager said nothing and released him directly. Xia Qing hurried over, thinking something had happened. Seeing Xiao Shao and Jiang Ruan also present, then the Emperor’s livid expression, he understood this was no ordinary matter and solemnly composed himself, “What are Your Majesty’s instructions for summoning this commoner?”
The Emperor coldly pointed at the two on the ground, “Examine these two for me. Are there any problems with their bodies? Any special drugs!” When saying “drugs,” the Emperor emphasized his tone, making both Xuan Hua and Jiang Dan on the ground tremble involuntarily. Imperial rage could kill millions. Today they had truly touched the dragon’s reverse scale – that they were still alive here was quite fortunate.
Xia Qing looked at the two, his handsome face slightly reddening. Only then did Jiang Dan notice her disheveled state. Earlier she had only worried about panicking, not noticing her clothing – nearly half her body was exposed. She hurriedly picked up her clothes to dress, but her heart grew more uneasy. With her body seen by other men, could the Emperor still tolerate her? This seemed like… since she was going to die anyway, nothing mattered anymore.
Xia Qing stood at a distance from Jiang Dan, slowly kneeling down. Though a physician, this was his first time taking pulse from a disheveled woman, somewhat embarrassed. Both Jiang Dan and Xuan Hua held their breath watching his movements. Jiang Dan still harbored a thread of hope – she knew that though Xia Qing had good personal relations with Xiao Shao, he was the famous Golden Mountain sage with his own medical ethics who wouldn’t falsely diagnose patients. He was an honest man who probably wouldn’t lie. Moreover, with today’s sudden events and Wang Lian’er suddenly calling him over, Jiang Ruan hadn’t warned him beforehand – perhaps he really could say they had been drugged into such behavior.
Her hopeful expression naturally fell completely under everyone’s gaze. Wang Lian’er silently smiled with contempt and excitement. Jiang Ruan slowly lowered her eyes, her hand intertwined with Xiao Shao’s in her sleeve, their fingers interlocked in complete tranquility.
Jiang Dan was destined for disappointment.
Xia Qing shook his sleeve and slowly stood up, looking at Jiang Dan with some hesitation. Jiang Dan grasped at this like a lifeline, immediately looking at him, “Imperial Physician Xia, how is it? Was I drugged to behave this way?”
Xuan Hua also stared unblinkingly at Xia Qing. Xia Qing shook his head, then looked seriously at the Emperor, “Reporting to Your Majesty, Her Ladyship is in good health with no harm from any drugs. Only…” He hesitated before saying, “This minister just took Her Ladyship’s pulse and found it to be a slippery pulse, smooth as rolling pearls. Her Ladyship is with child.”
Jiang Dan paused, then turned back. The Emperor’s face showed an indescribable smile as he slowly repeated, “With child?”
Jiang Dan never expected Xia Qing to discover pregnancy. Her only recourse now was not to be misunderstood by the Emperor. In fact, she and Xuan Hua had only been together a few times recently – it definitely wasn’t Xuan Hua’s child. What she carried was genuinely royal blood. Jiang Dan immediately stood up, “No, Your Majesty, today someone clearly schemed against this concubine. What this concubine carries is your child – perhaps a little prince. Don’t you want him anymore, Your Majesty?”
“You say this bastard is my son?” the Emperor slowly asked.
Jiang Dan was stunned, then frantically grabbed Xia Qing’s robe corner, madly questioning, “Imperial Physician Xia, look again! Look at the sandalwood in this room – the smell is clearly wrong! Look at the timing and tell His Majesty – the child in my belly is His Majesty’s, right?” She desperately shook Xia Qing’s robe. Xia Qing, who most feared women going mad, quickly frowned and jumped away, pulling his robe from Jiang Dan’s grasp, saying sternly, “Your Ladyship, this commoner said there are no drugs in this room. Your Ladyship’s body is perfectly healthy with no problems as described. As for the child…” Xia Qing seemed troubled, “This commoner truly cannot judge. If Your Ladyship doesn’t believe it, you may find other imperial physicians to examine – no need to doubt this commoner’s medical skills.” By the end, he showed some pride. Those with special talents were naturally most intolerant of others doubting their abilities. As a divine physician, Xia Qing naturally had some temperament – being questioned about his medical skills so publicly left him with no good expression.
But Jiang Dan’s words were probably wasted. Xia Qing was currently the most skilled physician in the Great Jin Dynasty – if even he couldn’t detect drugs, what use were imperial physicians? Moreover, how could such scandals be widely publicized? It was too late to hide and cover up – how could they invite others to watch this spectacle? Xia Qing’s words were virtually the final verdict with no possibility of reversal.
Jiang Dan’s body slowly collapsed to the ground. Probably reaching her wit’s end, she suddenly screamed madly, “No! It’s you – you quack doctor conspiring with them to frame me! This room clearly has something wrong, and that so-called Imperial Preceptor is just a fraud deceiving the world. Don’t think I don’t know about your dealings with Jiang Ruan – you’ve deceived your way into the palace and now want to pin this blame on me!”
She cursed wildly, terrified to the extreme, not even caring about the Emperor’s presence, losing all her usual charming demeanor. In everyone’s eyes, this only seemed more ironic.