“A knife?” Hua Chun frowned, looking as if she genuinely didn’t understand. “It was you who attacked this consort. What proof do you have that Consort Hui was behind it?”
Zhaoyi Lan froze, her spirit deflating a little. “Consort Hui does things without leaving a trace. Aside from a confession, this guilty concubine has nothing else to offer.”
With no token as evidence, and no witness besides herself, bringing down Consort Hui was truly as difficult as reaching the heavens. But things had reached this point — it was fated now that either Consort Hui would fall, or she herself would die.
Hua Chun said quietly, “This consort doesn’t like to stir up trouble. There’s no reason for me to go out of my way to offend Consort Hui. Seeing as you’ve said so much, this consort can plead with the Emperor on your behalf, to have two more guards posted at the Cold Palace. Beyond that, there’s nothing more this consort can do.”
Zhaoyi Lan grew anxious. She had laid everything bare, and yet Concubine Hua was being this weak?
“Your Highness.” She hurried on, “With the favor you currently hold, if you use this guilty concubine’s confession and have someone investigate the old case of Attendant Nie, you could absolutely bring Consort Hui down!”
“Attendant Nie’s case…” Hua Chun said hesitantly. “So much time has passed. Wouldn’t the witnesses and evidence be long gone?”
“No!” Zhaoyi Lan thought it over. “Back then, several of the palace servants who helped bind Attendant Nie were assigned by Consort Hui to this guilty concubine, and were kept in this guilty concubine’s former palace. I don’t know where they’ve been reassigned now. If Your Highness can find them, combined with the Emperor’s trust, this case can absolutely be overturned.”
Qing Niao listened, utterly dumbfounded. At first she’d thought some scheme would be needed to force a confession or something similar — she never expected Zhaoyi Lan to lose her composure so completely, spilling everything on her own, and even urging Hua Chun to go report Consort Hui herself?
She glanced back at her own mistress, who was playing dumb so convincingly, and couldn’t help but sigh. Life truly was like a stage play — it all came down to acting skill.
Hua Chun agonized over it for a long while before reluctantly saying, “Fine. This consort will give it a try, then.”
“Thank you, Your Highness!” Zhaoyi Lan bowed with heartfelt gratitude, then threw on her cloak and followed the palace maid back to Youyang Palace.
Only after stepping out of Yangxin Hall did she come to her senses, muttering with a frown, “Strange… what am I even thanking her for?”
With Zhaoyi Lan’s confession, plus the clue about the purple nightshade flower, Hua Chun felt she could basically close the net now!
For the matter of the servants from Zhaoyi Lan’s palace, Hua Chun entrusted it to Eunuch Qin. By mid-afternoon, the person sent to investigate the nightshade flower had returned with news:
“Among the medicinal herbs delivered to the palace as tribute, there was indeed some of the nightshade flower banned within the palace, smuggled in. However, it never went to the Imperial Pharmacy — it was sent directly to Qinghe Hall, for use in incense-blending.”
“Are you certain it only went to Qinghe Hall?”
“Yes.”
Hua Chun nodded and swiftly organized the evidence and confession, then waited for the hour to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.
Consort Hui still knew nothing of what had happened the previous night. She only noticed that Concubine Hua hadn’t come to pay morning respects, and privately thought the woman was growing more and more arrogant. So she tidied herself up and went to the Empress Dowager’s quarters to stir up some trouble.
The Empress Dowager had not been well lately and reclined on a soft couch, not much in the mood for talk. She listened as Consort Hui spent half the visit dropping veiled remarks about Concubine Hua’s misdeeds, before finally saying, “Other matters are none of this old woman’s concern. But at Yangxin Hall, the Emperor has been reviewing memorials faster than usual lately. Just yesterday an old official came in to tell me that the Emperor hasn’t been indulging in women — if anything, he’s been even more diligent with state affairs than before.”
As a mother, she naturally had no interest in who was vying for favor in the harem or who held the upper hand. Whoever the Emperor kept company with, so long as it didn’t interfere with governance, this old woman would back them.
Consort Hui was startled, and laughed awkwardly. “His Majesty has indeed… been working very hard lately.”
“The imperial examinations are to be held. This old woman thinks that’s a good thing,” the Empress Dowager said. “It’s just that there are still plenty in court holding the Emperor back.”
Among those “plenty,” Grand Secretary Li Zhongtang was foremost.
Her heart sank, and Consort Hui closed her mouth, saying nothing more. She was merely Li Zhongtang’s niece, and not even a close one — how could she expect to say anything good on his behalf to her uncle? Her status might bring him benefits, but his stance in court repeatedly left her embarrassed in the harem.
How unfair, truly.
“Empress Dowager.” Yuejian said, “Concubine Hua has come to pay her respects.”
“Let her in.”
“Yes.”
Consort Hui frowned and rose to sit in a chair off to the side, looking toward the door in confusion. Concubine Hua often stayed shut in her own palace and hadn’t even attended court audience this morning — so why was she coming to pay respects to the Empress Dowager now?
Hua Chun entered with a smile, bowing obediently. “This concubine pays respects to the Empress Dowager.”
The Empress Dowager smiled faintly and waved her over to sit, saying with some languor, “It’s rare for you to come pay your respects.”
“Is the Empress Dowager blaming this concubine for not visiting often?” Hua Chun pouted, sounding wronged. “But it was His Majesty who said the Empress Dowager had just returned to the palace and was in quiet recuperation, and shouldn’t be disturbed.”
“How could this old woman blame you?” the Empress Dowager said, glancing at Rui’er behind her. “What have you brought?”
Hua Chun smiled, rose, and lifted the cover off the tray in Rui’er’s hands, saying, “This is a jade ruyi that His Majesty had this concubine bring you. He said it was newly made by your favorite craftsman, meant to bring good fortune.”
“The Emperor is thoughtful.” Glancing at the ruyi, the Empress Dowager sighed. “Still remembering this old woman’s tastes.”
Consort Hui, feeling increasingly uncomfortable nearby, forced a smile. “This concubine still has some matters to attend to in her palace, so she’ll take her leave first.”
The Empress Dowager turned her head, about to wave her off, when she heard Concubine Hua call out, “Please stay, Your Highness!”
Consort Hui paused and looked at her.
Hua Chun rose and knelt before the Empress Dowager. “This concubine came today because there is also an important matter to report.”
Her heart stirred faintly, and Consort Hui had a bad feeling, but she still slowly sat back down, staring fixedly at her.
“What matter?” the Empress Dowager asked, eyes half-lidded. “Does it concern Consort Hui?”
“Yes.” Hua Chun nodded. “This matter can only be decided by the Empress Dowager. Since there’s no one else present now, this concubine wishes to speak plainly in front of Sister Consort Hui.”
Consort Hui pressed her lips together and laughed lightly. “Sounds quite serious. Could it be that Concubine Hua intends to speak ill of this consort?”
“Not ill words — merely the truth.” She lifted her head and looked at the Empress Dowager. “The other day, this concubine was lured to the lotus pond in His Majesty’s name and nearly lost her life. After the incident, Zhaoyi Lan was caught, and she admitted to drugging this concubine, intending to kill her. But today, something happened that this concubine did not expect.”
The Empress Dowager frowned. She had never involved herself in harem disputes, nor had any interest in hearing such things to mediate them, and was about to wave her off — but then she suddenly caught the look in her eyes.
There was no scheming or resentment in Concubine Hua’s gaze — only clear, unmistakable resolve, directed squarely at Consort Hui.
As it happened, the Empress Dowager had also grown rather displeased with Li Zhongtang lately, and this pointed accusation aligned perfectly with her own sentiments. For that reason, the Empress Dowager withdrew her hand and decided to let her finish.
“Zhaoyi Lan confessed to this concubine that all of this was ordered by Consort Hui,” Hua Chun said, her expression turning suddenly grave as she glanced at Consort Hui. “This concubine didn’t believe it, and so wished to confront Consort Hui about it today.”
Consort Hui was stunned, frowning at her. “What are you saying? Zhaoyi Lan confessed?”
“Yes,” Hua Chun said. “The written confession is here. The Empress Dowager may also summon Zhaoyi Lan to appear.”
Consort Hui reached out and snatched the testimony from her hands, scanning it with a dark expression before tearing it to pieces. “This is simply the greatest joke in the world. How could this consort possibly order someone to harm a fellow consort in the harem?”
The Empress Dowager glanced at her, frowning. “This old woman hasn’t even reviewed it yet. How dare you tear it up outright?”
“This concubine deserves death!” Consort Hui hurriedly knelt. “This concubine’s conduct has always been aboveboard. I never expected to be so falsely accused today, and in a moment of fury acted rashly. I beg the Empress Dowager’s forgiveness!”
“It’s fine.” Hua Chun reached into her sleeve and pulled out another copy of the confession. “This concubine had several copies made. Consort Hui may tear up a few more and there will still be plenty left. Please, Empress Dowager, take a look.”
Consort Hui: “…”
The Empress Dowager nodded, glanced at Hua Chun, took the document she handed over, and read it carefully.
After a long while, she said, “What does Consort Hui have to say?”
“Zhaoyi Lan is spouting slander!” Consort Hui said coldly. “This concubine never did what she falsely accuses me of. Whatever she did out of jealousy to harm Concubine Hua has nothing to do with this concubine!”
“So Your Highness had no knowledge whatsoever of what Zhaoyi Lan intended to do, and gave her no help at all?” Hua Chun asked.
Consort Hui shook her head. “None!”
“Then that’s strange,” Hua Chun said. “Empress Dowager, the drug Zhaoyi Lan used contained purple nightshade flower. This concubine has already had someone investigate — all the nightshade flower in the palace is at Qinghe Hall. If Consort Hui is truly so aboveboard, why would she distribute a banned drug to Zhaoyi Lan without asking what it was for?”
Purple nightshade flower.
The moment those words registered, the Empress Dowager’s face darkened, her gaze falling on Consort Hui like a blade. “Why would there still be such a thing in the palace?”
Cold sweat broke out down her back. Consort Hui hastily kowtowed. “Please calm your anger, Empress Dowager. This concubine has been unable to sleep at night, and the physician’s prescription included nightshade flower, saying it worked best. This concubine tried it — none of the other incense-blending herbs worked, only the nightshade flower let this concubine sleep well, so…”
“This old woman issued an edict at the time forbidding that item from ever entering the palace again,” the Empress Dowager said. “It seems you don’t hold this old woman in your eyes at all.”
Was the nightshade flower really the main point here? This was clearly a matter of a life lost! Hua Chun was speechless, watching the Empress Dowager’s temper flare over something that seemed, to her, rather beside the point.
Consort Hui was truly panicking now, kowtowing repeatedly. The Empress Dowager closed her eyes, tossed the confession to the floor, and said, “As a consort in charge of harem affairs, you abused your authority, defied an imperial edict, and repeatedly persecuted consorts within the palace. Consort Hui, of the Li clan, is stripped of her rank as Consort, demoted to Zhaoyi, and confined to Youyang Palace, to await the Emperor’s judgment!”
“Empress Dowager!” Lady Li was stunned. She hadn’t expected the punishment to come so swiftly, and to be demoted directly from Consort to Zhaoyi — this was truly an unprecedented, severe penalty!
Her forehead struck the floor with dull thuds as Lady Li wept and pleaded, “Empress Dowager, please let this concubine explain! There has been a misunderstanding — this concubine never harmed Attendant Nie, nor did she ever move against Concubine Hua, Empress Dowager…”
Eunuchs came in from outside and dragged her straight out, with an efficiency that even surprised Hua Chun.
The Empress Dowager’s expression was terrible. She tossed the confession off the couch and said to Hua Chun, “You may go back as well.”
“…Yes.”
After leaving Huiming Hall, Hua Chun pulled Rui’er aside and asked, “What’s the Empress Dowager’s connection to the nightshade flower?”
Rui’er pressed her lips together and said quietly, “There was once a Consort Ling in the palace who was carrying the Emperor’s child, but she accidentally ate purple nightshade flower — it killed both her and the child. The entire Imperial Medical Institute couldn’t save her.”
Hua Chun was shaken.
The Emperor’s own child?
“The Empress Dowager has always placed great importance on lineage. That was His Majesty’s first child, and to lose it just like that naturally sent her into a great fury — she had many people executed, and after that the nightshade flower became a banned substance within the palace,” Rui’er said quietly. “This servant thinks the Empress Dowager didn’t really look closely at the confession — it was simply that Consort Hui violated the taboo, which is why she grew so furious.”
She felt the same way! Hua Chun nodded, shrugging. “Whatever the case, this consort’s task is done. I can go back and rest well for a few days.”
Rui’er nodded and, sharing in her mistress’s good mood, trotted along back to Yangxin Hall.
News that Consort Hui had been demoted by the Empress Dowager and confined to the cold palace spread through the harem in an instant. Even the Emperor took time to visit Huiming Hall to learn the details.
“In this harem, the most unforgivable thing is a woman with a poisonous heart who schemes to harm others.” Coughing twice, the Empress Dowager said sternly, “Your Majesty should hand the authority over the harem to someone else.”
The assembled consorts all lowered their heads, not daring to speak. Those who usually curried favor with Consort Hui were understandably thrown into turmoil, while consorts from other camps were only too pleased to watch the spectacle.
The only question was — into whose hands would harem authority now fall? Given the Emperor’s current preferences, it seemed likely… would Concubine Hua be elevated yet another rank?
Quite a few were displeased at heart. Hua Chun had only just entered the palace not long ago and had already risen in rank once — surely she wasn’t going to rise again now?