Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong both knew that the Youning Emperor had never relaxed his suspicions of Xiao Huayong – the burning of the ancestral tablet during the sacrifice ceremony was the best evidence of this. Using her to probe into the uncertain whereabouts of Shen Yueshan, using her to test whether Xiao Huayong was still concealing his strength.

As expected, by the afternoon, rumors had spread to the Eastern Palace. However, they were all malicious rumors targeting Shen Xihe – such as the Crown Princess being disrespectful to the Crown Prince, the Crown Princess being shameless, the Crown Princess being unfilial and disloyal…

These were the elegant phrasings; the cruder terms were too vulgar to repeat. Xiao Huayong listened from the side, his face turning ashen.

Shen Xihe remained completely unfazed. She turned to glance at Xiao Huayong: “His Majesty is deliberately allowing such rumors to spread, just to make you lose your composure.”

Xiao Huayong abruptly stood up and strode toward the exit.

Seeing this, Zhenzhu turned back to look at the unmoved Shen Xihe and hesitantly asked, “Crown Princess…”

“It’s fine. He is the Crown Prince – if he truly turned a deaf ear to everything, that would arouse more suspicion,” Shen Xihe trusted that Xiao Huayong knew his limits.

Xiao Huayong didn’t need to expose any of his connections. He could pick a few typical cases, and without even citing the defamation of the Crown Princess as cause, deal with such servants. Unlike Wang Zheng who needed to set up traps, a simple charge of negligent service was enough to have them dragged away and beaten to death.

Everyone understood that “negligent service” was merely a fabricated crime. The real reason for their deaths was that they couldn’t control their mouths. Naturally, this wouldn’t affect Xiao Huayong’s reputation. Such handling was indeed his most appropriate course of action.

After Xiao Huayong had done what needed to be done, Shen Xihe rose and headed toward Noble Consort Rong’s Furong Palace.

Noble Consort Rong had just risen from her afternoon rest when she heard that the Crown Princess had arrived. She lazily instructed, “Shaoyao, invite the Crown Princess to the side hall. Haitang, help me apply my makeup. Don’t slight the Crown Princess.”

While her words spoke of not slighting the Crown Princess, she took her time with her grooming, even repeatedly comparing different hairpins and rouge colors.

Shen Xihe waited for Noble Consort Rong in the side hall for nearly half an hour. She knew Noble Consort Rong had just risen – the Consort’s afternoon rest was at a fixed time, and she had arrived precisely then. Half an hour was just enough time for the Consort to unhurriedly complete her makeup if she had any sense of courtesy toward guests.

After half an hour passed, Shen Xihe set down her empty teacup. Shaoyao, who was attending to Shen Xihe, quickly stepped forward to refill it.

Shen Xihe raised her eyes to look at her: “How many years has Lady Du served in the palace?”

Shaoyao immediately bowed, responding respectfully, “Reporting to the Crown Princess, this servant entered the palace at age six, it has been sixteen years now.”

“In three more years, you can leave the palace,” Shen Xihe nodded slightly.

In this dynasty, palace maids could apply to leave the palace at age 25, but not everyone could qualify to leave as soon as they turned 25. There were also special cases who received imperial favor and could marry early.

“This servant has long since made a vow to serve Noble Consort for life, to repay her grace,” Shaoyao replied nervously. Having served in the palace for over a decade and becoming Noble Consort Rong’s right hand, she had a keen intuition.

Shen Xihe’s questioning after such a long wait was not without reason.

“If that is so, why do you not perform your duties properly?” Shen Xihe’s gaze was faint. “Having served in the palace for sixteen years as Noble Consort’s right hand and a Furong Palace lady official, you should know the rules. I needn’t tell you the punishment for spreading rumors and defaming palace masters.”

Shaoyao’s face turned pale, and she fell to her knees with a thud: “Crown Princess, please investigate clearly. This servant has always been like a jar with its mouth sewn shut, clumsy with words. It’s only through Noble Consort’s grace that I’m kept by her side to serve. How would I dare spread rumors? Someone must be framing me. I beg the Crown Princess to summon whoever is accusing me – this servant is willing to confront them!”

Shen Xihe gave a light laugh: “Zhenzhu, escort her to the Department of Internal Service for confrontation.”

“Crown Princess, this servant didn’t…”

“Who does the Crown Princess intend to send to the Department of Internal Service?” Noble Consort Rong finally arrived in large strides, accompanied by her palace maids.

Shen Xihe raised her eyes to look at her, expression is indifferent: “Noble Consort, a lady official from Furong Palace has been spreading rumors and slandering me. I’m sending her to the Department of Internal Service for questioning. Surely this isn’t excessive?”

Noble Consort Rong’s eyebrows and eyes were adorned with delicately painted patterns, their edges subtly traced with powder ground from gold, appearing especially elegant and refined. Her slender eyes glanced at the kneeling Shaoyao who was pleading her innocence: “If someone has truly defamed the Crown Princess, it is indeed an unforgivable crime. As Shaoyao is an official from my palace, I also bear responsibility for failing to discipline her properly. However, such crimes require evidence to convince people.”

“Noble Consort wants evidence.” Shen Xihe glanced at Zhenzhu.

[*Continuing the translation to maintain all details and narrative flow*]

Zhenzhu produced a golden hairpin, holding it up with both hands before Noble Consort Rong: “This item was given by Shaoyao to others, instructing them to spread rumors.”

Noble Consort Rong’s eyes swept over the golden hairpin, her gaze tightening. This belonged to her, and Shaoyao was in charge of her accessories. Though the item was old, she remembered never giving it to anyone else. How had it fallen into Shen Xihe’s hands?

“A young eunuch from Furong Palace personally said this item was given by Lady Du, telling him to spread the word that the Crown Princess and Crown Prince were engaging in wanton behavior…” Zhenzhu delivered her prepared statement without blinking.

With both witness testimony and physical evidence present, Shaoyao knew she hadn’t done such things, and kowtowed to Noble Consort Rong: “Noble Consort, it was this servant’s failure that allowed someone to steal valuables and frame me. This servant did not bribe anyone to do such things.”

“Noble Consort, with both physical evidence and witness testimony complete, sending her to the Department of Internal Service isn’t unjust, is it?” Shen Xihe raised her eyebrows in question.

A layer of frost spread across Noble Consort Rong’s face. This was her possession – Shen Xihe’s ability to obtain it was telling her that Shen Xihe had far-reaching influence. Whatever Shen Xihe declared as the truth would become the truth, and if she tried to argue further, Shen Xihe likely had other evidence that could be disadvantageous to her.

Just as Noble Consort Rong was about to speak, another lady official tugged at her sleeve.

Having Shen Xihe take away her confidant before her eyes was a loss of face Noble Consort Rong didn’t want to suffer. She wanted to see exactly how capable Shen Xihe was and had almost forcefully confronted her. But now, with this reminder from another confidant, Noble Consort Rong hesitated.

She weighed whether it was worth risking an exploration of Shen Xihe’s true capabilities.

Shen Xihe glanced at her, gave a junior’s bow, and left with her people.

As Shaoyao was being led away pleading, Noble Consort Rong took two steps to follow but was stopped by Haitang: “Your Grace, the Crown Princess could obtain your golden hairpin without any trace and dares to openly take people away – who knows what else she might have in her possession. Shaoyao failed in her duty and deserves to suffer some consequences. Right now, Your Grace should consider whether Furong Palace has left any other weaknesses in the Crown Princess’s hands.”

They couldn’t lose sight of the bigger picture, and they had their people in the Department of Internal Service – they could still make arrangements for Shaoyao after she was taken there.

Noble Consort Rong was ultimately persuaded, but Shen Xihe didn’t give them any chance to make further arrangements, because as soon as Shaoyao entered the Department of Internal Service, she committed suicide.

She wanted to let the Youning Emperor, Noble Consort Rong, and everyone in the palace know that the one who had truly planted countless hidden forces in the palace wasn’t Xiao Huayong, but her, Shen Xihe. All palace struggles should be directed at her.

“Having my wife’s protection – how wonderful and fortunate,” Xiao Huayong greeted his wife at the palace gate after her first victory.

Her desire to share his burdens and protect him from behind had been demonstrated through actual action. Since Xiao Huayong couldn’t dissuade her, he simply accepted her goodwill without further argument.

“When you gave me the register that day, you already said you wanted my protection,” Shen Xihe used his own words to silence him.

Of course, he had only used that as an excuse to prevent her from refusing, and now found himself struck by his stone.