“It doesn’t matter. If he wants to deal with me, let him come—if he has the ability,” Fu Yun Xi’s expression was cold as ice. Every action has its price. Unfortunately for them, the Princess Consort of Xuan Qing Manor was not someone they could touch.

“The Empress Dowager won’t remain a mere spectator,” Cheng Lei looked at him. “Yun Xi, you’d better be prepared.”

Fu Yun Xi said nothing. Sunlight filtered through the carved bed rails, filling the entire room. Despite the warm weather, the room was filled with a bone-chilling coldness.

The Empress Dowager?

In Cai Feng Palace.

The Empress Dowager looked at the Emperor sitting beside her and smiled: “Still troubled?”

The Emperor shook his head, but thinking of Imperial Consort Chen, his eyes reddened with unresolved anger: “I never imagined she would show such disrespect for me, and be so licentious! Selecting her for the palace was a mistake! She has brought shame to the royal family!”

The Empress Dowager smiled and patted his hand: “Life has many disappointments. People—you can know their faces but not their hearts. I was always close to Imperial Consort Chen, yet I didn’t know she was such a person. It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t favored her, Your Majesty wouldn’t have been deceived by her.”

The Emperor quickly replied: “Mother, don’t say such things. This matter has nothing to do with you. That worthless woman has corrupt morals, while Mother’s benevolence is renowned throughout the land—how can they be compared? I’m just angry, please don’t blame yourself.”

The Empress Dowager sighed: “I know Your Majesty is most filial, but this matter truly cannot be separated from me. Your Majesty needn’t speak up for me. I must get to the bottom of this matter. But has Your Majesty considered why Imperial Consort Chen would be so bold as to conduct such improper affairs in broad daylight, and specifically when Your Majesty was due to arrive? Knowing Your Majesty would be coming yet doing such things—isn’t it as if she deliberately wanted to be caught? When things are this abnormal, there must be something amiss. Your Majesty should think carefully.”

Since ordering Imperial Consort Chen’s imprisonment yesterday and returning to his chambers to calm down, the Emperor had considered these points, but he didn’t want to investigate deeply. Imperial dignity was beyond question, and regardless of circumstances, Imperial Consort Chen’s behavior was unforgivable in his eyes. Now hearing the Empress Dowager bring it up, he hesitated: “Mother’s meaning…”

The Empress Dowager had been close to the Emperor since his childhood, and he always took her words to heart. The Empress Dowager looked at him: “When I heard about the incident yesterday, I was extremely surprised and immediately sent people to inquire. They discovered something strange…” She met the Emperor’s surprised expression: “Imperial Consort Chen claims she was framed, that the Princess Consort of Xuan Qing wanted to harm her.”

The Emperor was stunned, then flew into a rage: “Nonsense! What does this have to do with the Princess Consort of Xuan Qing? This worthless woman is trying to sling mud—does she not realize who she’s accusing!”

The Empress Dowager took a sip of tea and spoke slowly: “Your Majesty, don’t be hasty. Let me finish. When I heard this, I was also very puzzled and sent someone to ask Imperial Consort Chen why she said this. She claimed that on her birthday the day before, in the Imperial Garden, she happened to encounter the Princess Consort of Xuan Qing with a man… in an improper situation. In her panic, Imperial Consort Chen couldn’t see clearly who the man was. But the Princess Consort of Xuan Qing discovered her presence. Now her affair was because the Princess Consort had given her a spring poison, causing her to lose her senses and commit such acts.”

The Emperor grew increasingly alarmed as he listened: “Every word from that worthless woman is a lie. The Princess Consort of Xuan Qing is Yun Xi’s wife—how could she have a secret liaison…” Though the Emperor privately believed Han Yan wasn’t worthy of Fu Yun Xi, he still believed she wasn’t an unchaste woman. Yet Imperial Consort Chen’s behavior that day was indeed inexplicable—who would conduct such affairs in broad daylight? Moreover, after being discovered by him, she showed no panic but completely ignored his presence, even attempting to continue. At the time, the royal family had assumed it was just her wanton nature, but now it seemed more like the behavior of someone who had lost their reason.

“Your Majesty, nothing should be assumed. You are the ruler of the realm and must examine everything meticulously.” The Empress Dowager spoke unhurriedly. The Emperor looked at her, still hesitant.

“Mother, but now we only have Imperial Consort Chen’s word. I cannot judge whether her words are true or false.” The Emperor spoke. Indeed, Imperial Consort Chen’s words proved nothing—she could be slinging mud at others to clear herself.

“I have a way,” the Empress Dowager smiled benevolently. “This method can determine who is lying—the Princess Consort of Xuan Qing or Imperial Consort Chen.”

Imperial Consort Chen had been in the imperial prison for a day and night.

After the drug’s effects wore off, she gradually regained consciousness, with no memory of what she had done. The jailers called her an unchaste woman, saying the Emperor had caught her in an affair, and even if she didn’t die, she was destined to spend the rest of her life in the Cold Palace. She naturally refused to accept this, screaming desperately that she had been framed, but none of them paid her any attention.

However, someone from the Empress Dowager’s side came.

The Empress Dowager had always been on her side. Though she didn’t quite understand what problem existed between the Empress Dowager and the Empress, the Empress Dowager treated her, a mere consort, far better than the Empress. But Imperial Consort Chen knew the Empress Dowager’s treatment wasn’t out of genuine affection—it was merely mutual exploitation. What she could offer was nothing more than her Chen family backing. Imperial Consort Chen never worried about this; she was the jewel of the Chen family, the Emperor’s most beloved woman, and the Chen family had risen step by step because of her. Now with her downfall, the entire Chen family would be implicated. A woman in the palace never represents just herself. So when the Empress Dowager’s people told her what to do, Imperial Consort Chen agreed without hesitation.

Feeling her mouth dry, she called to the prison guard: “I’m thirsty. Quickly bring me tea.”

The guard, a fat middle-aged man, sneered upon hearing this: “Well, well, the little miss still thinks she can order me around. No tea here, but if you want, I could piss you a pot full.”

Imperial Consort Chen had never suffered such insults. Furious, she said haughtily: “How dare you! I am His Majesty’s most beloved woman. Treating me this way—aren’t you afraid His Majesty will have your head?”

The guard seemed to find this amusing, stepping closer and laughing loudly: “This prison has held many noble people. Little miss, don’t tell me you still think you’re a noble consort. In all my years working here, I’ve never seen anyone imprisoned here make a comeback!”

This was true—anyone who entered the imperial prison had one foot in the execution ground. How many royal relatives had entered here never to emerge again? Imperial Consort Chen felt her heart quake at these words, but still stubbornly insisted: “I was framed. His Majesty will take me back.”