Emperor Jingming’s eyes flashed with anger as he asked sternly, “Can you deny ever showing kindness to Xiao Dengzi?”
Consort Xian’s expression grew increasingly calm as she looked directly at Emperor Jingming and said, “I never showed kindness to Xiao Dengzi. I merely happened to see him about to throw himself into the lake back then, and I couldn’t bear to let such a young eunuch lose his life over a cup of lychee.”
As she spoke, she clasped her hands. Her bare nails couldn’t bring pain, only an unfamiliar itch.
Her heart was beating so fast it nearly stopped, but perhaps having reached the point of no return, her face appeared remarkably composed. It was the composure of one who had staked everything on a single throw.
In Consort Xian’s view, showing fear and panic now would be a death sentence. Only by arguing her case vigorously did she have any chance of survival.
Xiao Dengzi had failed.
Attempting to harm a princess in broad daylight seemed audacious and reckless, but in reality, such a simple and brutal approach was often more effective than intricate schemes.
But now the Fourteenth Princess was dead, while Princess Fuqing was unharmed. It could only be said that luck was not on her side.
What was even more unexpected was that when she had shown kindness to Xiao Dengzi years ago, only Xiao Zuozi, who was with Xiao Dengzi, knew about it. She had later sealed Xiao Zuozi’s lips, so how could Pan Hai’s disciple, Xiao Lezi, have happened to witness it?
Was it truly that heaven’s net casts wide, and though the meshes are coarse, nothing slips through?
At this moment, Consort Xian felt a flicker of doubt and fear, but she quickly suppressed these emotions and said calmly, “If Your Majesty considers my compassion as showing kindness, then I have nothing more to say.”
She couldn’t accept the reputation of constantly showing favor to others.
Emperor Jingming found it difficult to fault Consort Xian’s words, but his anger only grew. He said coldly, “Such compassion indeed! Since you admit that you once saved Xiao Dengzi out of compassion, why did you say you didn’t recognize him when Pan Hai took you to identify the body earlier?”
Raising his voice, Emperor Jingming continued, “You lied to Our face. Is this not because you have a guilty conscience?”
Xiao Dengzi was from Chunhua Palace, and initially, Consort Ning seemed more suspicious than Consort Xian. But Consort Xian’s immediate lie had forced him to focus on her.
This woman lied and then refused to admit it. She truly wouldn’t confess until she saw her coffin!
Consort Xian’s voice also rose, “I did not lie!”
She glanced at the Empress, then at Consort Ning, before finally resting her gaze on Emperor Jingming. She said frankly, “I have always been kind to others and pitied the palace servants, never treating them harshly. I’ve done things like this for Xiao Dengzi countless times since entering the palace. If Your Majesty had Pan Hai take me to identify the body of a minor eunuch I briefly encountered ten years ago, wouldn’t it be strange if I could recognize him?”
Emperor Jingming was momentarily stunned, unable to respond.
But Consort Xian had more to say. Looking directly at Emperor Jingming, she asked, “Is it wrong for me to be kind to others? If I had treated these palace servants as insignificant beings, paying no attention to their lives or deaths, wouldn’t I have avoided this pointless trouble and ridicule from others today?”
At this point, Consort Xian became emotional. She covered her mouth with a handkerchief and coughed heart-rendingly.
When she finished coughing, she looked steadily at the handkerchief before quickly folding it and tucking it into her sleeve.
But in that instant, Emperor Jingming caught a glimpse of a bright red stain on the snow-white handkerchief.
His heart skipped a beat: Had Consort Xian’s health deteriorated so badly?
Seeing the surprise and pity in Emperor Jingming’s eyes, Consort Xian laughed coldly to herself.
Xiao Dengzi was dead and could not testify. Who could prove she had orchestrated this?
The final verdict would depend on whether the Emperor believed her or Consort Ning.
Glancing at the indignant Consort Ning from the corner of her eye, Consort Xian’s lips curled slightly.
One was seething with anger, while the other seemed frail and sickly. She knew all too well how to soften the Emperor’s heart.
Emperor Jingming was at a loss.
The person was already dead, and now two consorts were implicated. Which one was truly responsible? Without solid evidence, how could he conclude?
Emperor Jingming’s gaze shifted between Consort Xian and Consort Ning.
Could he follow the principle of “better to wrongly kill than to wrongly spare” and deal with both of them?
The Empress pressed her lips tightly, ready to explode.
The Emperor couldn’t smooth this over. Whether it was Consort Xian or Consort Ning, she was determined to make the mastermind pay the price.
The Fourteenth Princess had died saving Fuqing. If she couldn’t seek justice for the Fourteenth and eliminate future threats to Fuqing, she would not only fail as a mother but also as an Empress.
If the Emperor dared to be soft-hearted today, she would fight him to the bitter end.
The tense Empress suddenly felt someone lightly touch her sleeve. She turned to see that Jiang Si had somehow appeared behind her.
Jiang Si gave the Empress a meaningful look.
The Empress understood and quietly stepped back before turning to leave.
Jiang Si followed her out.
At this moment, everyone’s attention was focused on Consort Xian and Consort Ning, so they paid no attention to the Empress’s departure.
Once they reached a private spot, the Empress asked softly, “What is it?”
“Does Mother Empress believe the one who instructed Xiao Dengzi is one of the two consorts?”
The Empress laughed coldly, “There’s no smoke without fire. Since the investigation has led to these two, who else could it be if not one of them?”
“Then who do you think is more likely?”
The Empress furrowed her brow, “It’s hard to say. Consort Xian showed kindness to Xiao Dengzi, so it’s possible he acted on her instructions out of gratitude. As for Consort Ning, she was Xiao Dengzi’s mistress. While she’s now acting as if Xiao Dengzi was just an ordinary eunuch, who knows if there was a deeper relationship between them? Consort Ning had the most convenient opportunity to groom Xiao Dengzi as her confidant without anyone knowing.”
As she said this, the Empress grew curious, “Why are you asking these questions?”
Jiang Si spoke frankly, “With one incident after another in the palace and innocent people dying one after another, I feel the troublemaker is too despicable to be allowed to continue harming others with impunity.”
“You’re right. We can’t let this matter go just like that!”
“I have a method we could try.”
The Empress was taken aback, “What method?”
“First, ask the two consorts to pay their respects to the Fourteenth Princess. I’ll explain the details to you later…”
Meanwhile, Consort Ning had grown irritated, “I did not instruct Xiao Dengzi to kill the princess. If Your Majesty doesn’t believe me, you might as well give me a length of white silk!”
Consort Xian smiled bitterly, “I can’t even bear to step on an ant in my daily life. How could I kill someone, let alone a princess? What benefit would that bring me? If Your Majesty is convinced it was my doing, I have nothing more to say. I can only submit to your judgment.”
“You two—” Emperor Jingming’s face darkened.
Both were consorts who had been with him for decades. Of course, the guilty party should be executed, but how could he bear to harm an innocent person?
The Empress approached, “By speaking this way, aren’t you two sisters putting His Majesty in a difficult position?”
Both consorts turned to look at the Empress.
The Empress sighed lightly, “I don’t want to suspect either of you. If you both have clear consciences, why don’t you go and pay your last respects to the Fourteenth Princess? That child lost her birth mother, and now she too is gone. It’s truly pitiful.”
The Empress’s suggestion startled everyone.
Emperor Jingming couldn’t help but say, “Empress—”
The Empress shot him a sharp glance, and Emperor Jingming immediately fell silent.