“Whichever eye you saw it with, I’ll gouge that eye out.”

It was a blatant threat, completely disregarding the presence of Lu Zhengchun and Emperor Yongle. He dared to speak such treasonous words. Lu Zhengchun was nearly apoplectic with rage. Xie Jingxing’s meaning was clear—he was openly telling Ye Hongguang to change his statement right in front of everyone! How could there be such an outrageous person in this world?

“Now, tell me again.” Xie Jingxing played with the golden ingot in his hand, speaking nonchalantly, “What did you see?”

How could Ye Hongguang have ever experienced such intimidation? He had probably never imagined that anyone would dare to be so unreasonable in the Emperor’s presence. In his nervousness, he looked to Madam Mei for help, as she was the closest person to him among all those present.

However, to Ye Hongguang’s disappointment, Madam Mei did not help him. Instead, she lowered her head and avoided his gaze. This left Ye Hongguang even more helpless.

Neither Emperor Yongle nor Empress Xiande spoke. Lu Zhengchun’s arrogant demeanor had been infuriating, but Xie Jingxing was not one to suffer losses either. In this confrontation, no matter how you looked at it, Lu Zhengchun was at a disadvantage, so neither of them felt the need to intervene.

Although Lu Zhengchun was also furious with Xie Jingxing, he dared not act rashly. Even Emperor Yongle had to be mindful of his imperial status, and it wasn’t yet time for an open confrontation. But Xie Jingxing was different. When Xie Jingxing had returned to Longye, some court officials had openly expressed their suspicions about him in the imperial hall. He had merely smiled and agreed at the time, but not long after, did any of those officials meet a good end? Xie Jingxing was ruthless and vindictive; unless necessary, one should never openly antagonize him.

Ye Hongguang hesitated, unwilling to speak. By now, Shen Miao had calmed down. She stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Xie Jingxing, and looked at the young man in the wheelchair, saying, “Did you truly see me push Consort Jin down?”

Ye Hongguang looked up at her. Since Shen Miao was a woman, Ye Hongguang didn’t fear her as much. Although his expression was still somewhat unnatural, he had gained more courage. After a moment’s hesitation, he nodded firmly.

She said, “Very well, then tell me, where were you at the time?”

Ye Hongguang was startled.

“Were you at the top of the stairs or the bottom?” Shen Miao gently prodded. She softened her tone, like a kind elder sister, but Ye Hongguang suddenly tensed up and shrank his neck at her question.

Madam Mei, kneeling motionless on the ground with her head bowed, also trembled slightly.

Shen Miao gave him no time to think, pressing forward relentlessly: “Have you remembered? Were you at the top or the bottom?”

“B-bottom,” Ye Hongguang said.

Shen Miao smiled gently.

Lu Zhengchun and Lady Lu glared at her with indignation, seemingly angered that she could smile in such a situation. Empress Xiande’s gaze, however, relaxed slightly. Emperor Yongle stared at Shen Miao, while Xie Jingxing folded his arms and looked at Ye Hongguang with a sardonic smile.

“That’s quite strange,” Shen Miao said. “Those stairs are very long and steep, which is why Consort Jin fell so severely. With such long and steep stairs, how could you, standing at the bottom, clearly see me at the top? You probably couldn’t even see Consort Jin’s shadow.”

Ye Hongguang froze. He was young and rarely left the residence. Today, just meeting Emperor Yongle had made him extremely nervous. Now, confronted by Shen Miao’s questioning, he became flustered.

Madam Mei slowly clenched her fists.

Shen Miao asked, “Young Master Ye, think again. Maybe you misremembered—were you at the top or the bottom?”

Ye Hongguang quickly replied, “The top! I was mistaken. I was at the top!” He emphatically repeated himself.

Madam Mei suddenly slumped her shoulders, as if deflated.

Shen Miao continued smiling, but her gaze turned sharp. She said, “Oh? Young Master Ye has difficulty walking. Those long stairs would be impossible for you to climb on your own. Someone must have carried you up, or carried your wheelchair up. You should have had your servant with you. How is it that only you saw me push someone, but your servant didn’t?”

The room suddenly fell silent.

Large beads of sweat appeared on Ye Hongguang’s forehead. His face flushed red, and he was momentarily speechless, like someone whose lie had been exposed.

Emperor Yongle spoke coldly, “Do you know the punishment for deceiving the Emperor?”

The crime of deceiving the Emperor was punishable by beheading. Ye Hongguang simply couldn’t withstand such intimidation. If he had been quick-witted, he could have found other excuses for Shen Miao’s questions. For instance, he could have claimed his servant had gone to fetch something, temporarily leaving him alone, or offered some other explanation. Generally, people wouldn’t simply admit guilt; they would argue their case. But Ye Hongguang so easily acknowledged his lie, clearly showing he wasn’t accustomed to lying. If it had been an experienced liar like Madam Mei, telling lies would have been much easier.

Xie Jingxing’s lips curled upward: “Royal Brother, a relative of an official knowingly committed a crime—that’s an aggravating factor. Just hand him over to the Ministry of Justice. Perhaps a public parade of shame?” He lazily added, “Otherwise, if just anyone can bully people from Prince Rui’s household, how am I supposed to live?”

Xie Jingxing was seeking personal revenge, but then again, he had never been a benevolent person. He had always disliked the Ye family, so he spoke without any hesitation. His words made Madam Mei pale and caused Lu Zhengchun’s expression to darken significantly.

Killing a chicken to scare the monkeys—who was the chicken and who were the monkeys was abundantly clear.

Empress Xiande said, “Ye Hongguang, you dare to lie in the palace and attempt to slander the Prince’s wife.”

Her tone was severe, and Ye Hongguang was almost frightened to tears. But Madam Mei ignored him, and he had no other familiar person in the palace, leaving him utterly helpless.

“The Ye family’s young master is still young. Misidentifying someone in the moment is understandable. Perhaps when he saw Consort Jin’s accident, he was anxious to catch the culprit and misunderstood something.” Shen Miao interceded on Ye Hongguang’s behalf.

Everyone was surprised by her actions. Ye Hongguang had slandered Shen Miao, and while she couldn’t be called ruthless, she had never shown mercy to those who harmed her. Looking at how she had dealt with the Second and Third Branches of the Shen family, and even the Ming Qi royal family—when had she ever shown leniency? Therefore, her current clemency toward Ye Hongguang puzzled them.

Xie Jingxing also frowned.

Shen Miao bent slightly, bringing her eye level with Ye Hongguang’s. She spoke gently, “Or perhaps you heard something from someone else that led to a misunderstanding? Did someone instruct you to say these things?”

Ye Hongguang’s body suddenly trembled. Shen Miao was close enough to see the fleeting panic in his eyes.

Ye Hongguang was truly terrible at lying. Although he tried to maintain his composure, almost anyone could tell he was lying. Xie Jingxing’s expression turned severe, but Ye Hongguang looked up again and firmly said to Shen Miao, “No one instructed me.”

No one had instructed him, yet he was no longer insisting that Shen Miao was the culprit.

Shen Miao said, “I understand.”

Empress Xiande frowned, thought for a moment, and then said, “The matter of Consort Jin will be handed over to the Ministry of Justice for investigation. Ye Hongguang, since you’ve told a lie, your word cannot be trusted. The most urgent matter now is to thoroughly search the palace for any intruder and to prepare Consort Jin’s body.” Finally, she looked at the Lu couple and asked, “Does General Lu have anything else to say?” By the end, her tone carried a hint of mockery.

Lu Zhengchun glanced at Empress Xiande, suppressing his frustration. When Emperor Yongle had first favored Consort Jin, they had hoped she would replace Empress Xiande. But Empress Xiande had always conducted herself impeccably, giving them no opportunity to find fault with her over the years. Despite Lu Jin whispering numerous suggestions in Emperor Yongle’s ear, she had never managed to inspire thoughts of deposing the Empress. Finally, when Lu Jin conceived an imperial child, at such a critical moment, they thought they might turn the situation around. But the unexpected had happened, and all their hopes had come to nothing.

Lu Zhengchun himself knew that Lu Jin was already dead, and nothing said now would make a difference. Yet he couldn’t resign himself to this fact, hoping Emperor Yongle might compensate him in some way. Today’s unreasonable behavior stemmed from his anger, but not from grief over his daughter’s tragic death—he was merely lamenting the loss of his imperial grandson. With Xie Jingxing’s sudden appearance, Lu Zhengchun had to curb his arrogance. When it came to ruthlessness, Prince Rui exceeded him, being even more vicious.

Knowing that today would yield no further results, Lu Zhengchun reluctantly said, “Your subject obeys the imperial command.”

Emperor Yongle’s eyes flashed with murderous intent.

The Lu couple left, and from their entrance to their departure, they had not once looked at the deceased Consort Jin, as if she were not their daughter at all.

After they left, Emperor Yongle said, “You may all return as well.”

Empress Xiande looked at Emperor Yongle with some surprise. This Madam Mei and Ye Hongguang—one had been with Consort Jin at the time, and although the talented lady in the small residence could testify for her, it didn’t completely clear all suspicions. The other had blatantly slandered Shen Miao. Even if these two weren’t the culprits, they certainly couldn’t be let off so easily. Yet Emperor Yongle seemed unwilling to pursue the matter. Empress Xiande was confused, but then she noticed Emperor Yongle’s body sway almost imperceptibly. Alarmed, she immediately said, “Indeed, you should all leave now.”

Xie Jingxing frowned but said nothing, only coldly watching as Madam Mei thanked the Emperor and slowly stood up with the servant pushing Ye Hongguang, hastily retreating. He said, “Since there’s nothing more to discuss, this subject brother will also take his leave.” Xie Jingxing had never hidden his emotions in front of Emperor Yongle; clearly, he was displeased with the Emperor’s handling of the situation.

Shen Miao and Xie Jingxing left Jinghua Palace together. As they were walking toward the palace exit, they happened to encounter Madam Mei and her brother. Shen Miao paused slightly, and Ye Hongguang suddenly ordered the servant pushing him to stop. He turned to look at Shen Miao, as if he had something to say.

Xie Jingxing’s expression immediately darkened. He now classified all members of the Ye family as dangerous individuals, and dangerous individuals approaching Shen Miao could lead to trouble. Therefore, he followed closely, discreetly drawing the dagger from his sleeve.

Shen Miao watched as the young man stopped before her. Not far away, Madam Mei was looking in their direction, her expression somewhat tense. It seemed she wanted to come over to stop Ye Hongguang, but Tie Yi and Cong Yang blocked her path, and she dared not move.

Ye Hongguang raised his head to look at Shen Miao, his face reddened with what appeared to be deep shame. He opened his mouth and said, “I’m sorry.” He seemed to want to say more but hesitated and ultimately said nothing else. He gave Shen Miao one more look before pushing his wheelchair away.

Xie Jingxing raised an eyebrow, seemingly unclear about Ye Hongguang’s intentions. Shen Miao watched his retreating figure, her expression growing complex.

In the carriage on the way back, Xie Jingxing noticed that Shen Miao remained quiet and said, “I’ll have the Mo Yu Army take that boy to the Tower Prison for a day or two. Once he’s more cooperative, he can reveal who was behind this.”

He was referring to Ye Hongguang. Based on Ye Hongguang’s performance in Jinghua Palace today, even a fool wouldn’t believe there wasn’t someone behind him instructing him to slander Shen Miao.

Shen Miao gave Xie Jingxing a sidelong glance: “What’s there to reveal? Who else could it be but Madam Mei?”

Those subtle, small gestures of Madam Mei might fool others, but not her.

“Then why aren’t you happy?” Xie Jingxing pinched her cheek. “You seemed odd when you saw that boy today. Is there something I don’t know?” He narrowed his eyes.

Shen Miao pushed his hand away: “Do you remember when I told you about the dream I had, where we had a son and a daughter?”

Xie Jingxing’s playful expression froze as he looked at her.

“When I first saw Ye Hongguang, I felt he looked too much like the boy in my dream—my child. I thought he was the child from my dream. But he stood with Madam Mei, helping her slander me. To be honest, I was heartbroken. But later, when I looked at him more carefully, I realized they weren’t the same; they just looked similar. Thinking about it now, they only share about seventy or eighty percent resemblance; there are many differences.”

After the initial shock and heartbreak, Shen Miao had been closely observing the handsome young man. At first glance, he did appear almost identical to Fu Ming, but their personalities were entirely different. Fu Ming, not having earned Fu Xiuyi’s favor and influenced by her adversarial relationship with Madam Mei, had matured early. Fu Ming was generous, straightforward, righteous, and kind—possessing all the qualities a worthy crown prince should have. But the child before her was just an ordinary official’s son, somewhat self-conscious, perhaps due to his disability. Fu Ming wouldn’t lie, wouldn’t stand beside Madam Mei, and certainly wouldn’t help Madam Mei against her. Most importantly, standing before that child, Shen Miao’s heart remained unmoved. There is a connection between mother and son; if it had been Fu Ming, she would have felt it. Her heart would not have remained so calm.

Ye Hongguang was not Fu Ming; he just bore a strong resemblance to him. She had almost been confused, but quickly realized the truth. No one knows a child better than his mother, and Ye Hongguang showed no trace of Fu Ming. This disappointed Shen Miao but also relieved her. If Fu Ming had truly become a member of the Ye family in this life, and if the Ye family had used him against her, that would have been the last thing Shen Miao wanted to see.

“Similar?” Xie Jingxing asked with confusion. “Is that why you were especially lenient with him?”

“That’s part of it,” Shen Miao said. “Looking at that face, I just couldn’t bring myself to be harsh. Besides, you know very well that the true culprit is someone else. Ye Hongguang was merely being used, and he’s probably not accustomed to lying—lying so poorly was almost tragicomic. But I wonder,” Shen Miao continued, “if this truly involved Madam Mei, why would she push Consort Jin down? It doesn’t fit her usual style; it seems too hasty.”

Xie Jingxing smiled. “Or perhaps it was simply an accident?”

“An accident?”

Meanwhile, Madam Mei and Ye Hongguang were in their carriage returning to the residence.

Ye Hongguang remained uneasy. The servant had lifted him into the carriage, placing him beside Madam Mei. Usually so gentle and soft-spoken, Madam Mei hadn’t said a word to him since boarding the carriage, causing Ye Hongguang to show signs of discomfort. Just as he was about to speak, Madam Mei suddenly asked, “Third Brother, what did you say to the Prince’s wife earlier?”

Madam Mei was smiling, a smile that appeared no different from her usual one. Yet for some reason, Ye Hongguang felt afraid. He hesitated and softly replied, “I told her I was sorry.”

Madam Mei’s expression changed slightly.

“The Prince’s wife seems like a good person,” Ye Hongguang said quietly, looking down. “Even after I slandered her like that, she didn’t get angry and was still kind to me. She’s a good person and didn’t look down on me for being crippled… Elder Sister, I told a lie and wronged a good person. I feel very uneasy about it.”

“Didn’t I already explain?” Madam Mei frowned. “If you hadn’t said that, the Emperor and Empress would certainly have suspected me. Even if it were just me, it would implicate the entire Ye family. Do you want to see Father and Mother affected too? The imperial family doesn’t care about right and wrong. Father and Mother are aging; being troubled like this might damage their reputation, but what if it also harmed their health?”

This was almost discourteous. Madam Mei had always been polite and affectionate toward Ye Hongguang, and Ye Hongguang liked this sister who looked like a celestial being. Being rebuked by Madam Mei for the first time, with a hint of blame, made Ye Hongguang feel quite upset. He dared not say more, but then heard Madam Mei continue, “Besides, how do you know she was wrongly accused?”

“The Prince’s wife herself said it wasn’t her. The Emperor and Empress also trust her,” Ye Hongguang said softly. “Sister, why must we lie? Why not let them suspect you, instead of necessarily accusing the Prince’s wife?”

Madam Mei finally showed anger on her face. She looked at Ye Hongguang almost ominously: “Would you rather believe her than your own sister?”

Ye Hongguang shook his head: “I just feel the Prince’s wife isn’t that kind of person.”

Repeatedly expressing trust in Shen Miao, Madam Mei was furious beyond words. The Emperor, too, Empress Xiande as well, Prince Rui also, and now even Ye Hongguang—what sorcery did Shen Miao possess to always gain others’ trust? Even she couldn’t get the better of Shen Miao.

Thinking of what had happened earlier, Madam Mei couldn’t help but tremble.

She hadn’t expected Lu Jin to be so arrogantly foolish. Madam Mei had merely followed Ye Mao’s instructions to probe Lu Jin for information, but Lu Jin’s jealousy was evident. Her deliberate mistreatment was something Madam Mei could normally endure with patience.

However, it was Lu Jin who first lost her temper, actually intending to destroy Madam Mei’s beauty.

Madam Mei was not one to suffer losses, and in the struggle, she accidentally pushed Lu Jin down. She fled in panic, planning to escape in the chaos. Ye Mao would certainly not risk offending others for her sake; Madam Mei could only rely on herself. It was then she realized that in all her time in Longye, she had not secured any escape routes for herself. Even the Ye family, her supposed support, was in an ambiguous position between friend and foe.

But her luck had never been too bad; even in desperate situations, she always found a way out. Lu Jin had died. With no witness to testify, everything was concluded, and she no longer needed to flee.

After Madam Mei calmed down, she found a way to bribe the unappreciated talented lady. She knew she couldn’t completely clear all suspicions, so she decided to make the waters even muddier. She had Ye Hongguang testify as well, intimidating him by saying if he didn’t lie, the entire Ye residence would be implicated. Timid and having grown up entirely within the Ye residence, knowing nothing of outside affairs or worldly wisdom, Ye Hongguang agreed in his fear.

But Madam Mei hadn’t expected Ye Hongguang to be so inept, getting caught in errors and systematically pressed by Shen Miao. This attempt at framing had ultimately proven useless, and the Lu family’s evident fear of Xie Yuan finally made Madam Mei understand how terrifying it was to offend Prince Rui’s household.

Having previously suggested assassinating Shen Miao to Ye Mao, and now instructing Ye Hongguang to slander her, Madam Mei felt that once Xie Yuan investigated and discovered her involvement, he would certainly not spare her.

And today, although Empress Xiande and Emperor Yongle had unexpectedly let her go, and Shen Miao hadn’t pursued the matter deeply, Madam Mei felt increasingly uneasy, suspecting they had deeper schemes. Even if this matter somehow passed, Ye Mao would eventually learn of it. She had accidentally killed Consort Jin, creating trouble. How Ye Mao, such a shrewd person, would deal with her, Madam Mei truly didn’t know.

Madam Mei felt angry, fearful, and dejected. Longye seemed to clash with her fortunes. Previously in Qinzhou, she had everything she wanted, but in Longye, she repeatedly faced obstacles. She had thought that connecting with the Ye family would ensure her future prosperity, but not only was the Ye family’s situation uncertain, she had also offended those who shouldn’t be offended.

She couldn’t stay in Longye any longer; she needed to leave the Ye family. This thought suddenly sprang into Madam Mei’s mind.

She unconsciously glanced at Ye Hongguang. He was quietly picking at the tufts on his knee blanket, not noticing her gaze.

Madam Mei’s gaze suddenly turned cold.

Escaping the Ye family and fleeing Longye was not an easy task for her now. It was easier to board a ship than to disembark, and there was still Ye Mao’s vigilant watch.

But if she continued to stay here, Madam Mei had a feeling she would die without even knowing how.

She needed to consult with Ye Ke carefully.

…

Because of the incident with Consort Jin in the palace today, quite some time had been lost. By the time Shen Miao and Xie Jingxing returned to Prince Rui’s residence, it was already late. After bathing and dining, Shen Miao was sorting through some letters on the table while saying to Xie Jingxing, “I didn’t expect it to be such a matter.”

Xie Jingxing’s men had come to report, apparently having clarified the events in the palace today. The general conclusion was that Madam Mei had accidentally killed Lu Jin. Shen Miao shook her head and said, “The Lu family probably knows Madam Mei was responsible and harbors secret resentment, though they won’t show it.”

Xie Jingxing reclined on the couch, watching her organize, and replied with a simple “Mm.”

Shen Miao asked, “If the Emperor discovers the truth, will he punish Madam Mei?”

“Whether he discovers it or not, what difference does it make?” Xie Jingxing said dismissively. “Without Madam Mei’s accidental killing, the Ye family would still not remain in favor. With Madam Mei’s accidental killing, the Ye family sacrifices a daughter brought in from outside—Ye Mao won’t be heartbroken. Consort Jin and her unborn child—who cares?”

Shen Miao sighed deeply. Emperor Yongle deeply despised the Ye family and had no expectations for the child Lu Jin had strived so hard to conceive. Naturally, he wouldn’t care; perhaps Consort Jin’s death even brought him some relief. He didn’t love Consort Jin, but the child was still his flesh and blood. After the Ye family’s fall, how would he face his son? Of course, a child born with such disadvantages would only suffer in this world.

Heaven had chosen for him; perhaps everything was predetermined.

“Speaking of which, when we entered the palace today and Consort Jin’s incident occurred, the Emperor came, but you weren’t there. What were you doing?” Shen Miao asked. Her question was natural; Xie Jingxing was a very frank person. On these imperial secret matters, he would almost always answer if Shen Miao asked.

But today, he looked at Shen Miao without speaking.

Shen Miao had been waiting for his answer, but seeing his continued silence, she paused her movements and noticed Xie Jingxing smiling at her. His gaze was gentle, as if regarding something precious.

Shen Miao was puzzled. Xie Jingxing’s lips curled upward. “Come here.”

She hesitated, seeing Xie Jingxing’s insistent expression, and stood up, walking to the couch. She had just asked, “What is it?” when Xie Jingxing grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his embrace.

Shen Miao unexpectedly fell against his chest and struggled to prop herself up, but Xie Jingxing wouldn’t let her move. He rested his chin on her head and said softly, “I once asked you a question—do you still want to be Empress? Do you remember?”

“Yes, I remember,” Shen Miao answered after a pause.

“Then I’ll ask you again now,” he said.

“I don’t want to,” Shen Miao said. “My wish is simple: to protect those I love and to live well. Being Empress is fine, but I don’t like it.”

“What should I do?” He seemed troubled. “I don’t like it either, but now I must do it.”

“The Head of the Gao family said that Royal Brother won’t live past half a year. Today, he wrote the succession edict.”

“I don’t believe in fate, but there’s no time left.” He sighed softly, placing Shen Miao’s hand in his palm.

“I know you don’t like it, but can you tolerate it for my sake? At least I can promise you that I will never make you a deposed empress.”

“You will become the only woman of the Great Liang Emperor, and the price you must pay is,” he leaned close to Shen Miao’s ear and said fiercely, “in this life, there is no turning back.”