A quarter of an hour later, the Empress emerged from the bedchamber without bringing Feng Jiu’er along.

The bedchamber door opened, and Lady Xin, who had been sitting nearby sipping tea, stood up and came forward to greet her.

She warmly took hold of the Empress’s hand, all the while craning her neck to peer inside.

“Sister Empress, I hear you’re quite fond of that rouge seller. Aren’t you worried she might be a spy Noble Consort Ya planted at your side?”

“You worry too much, little sister.” the Empress replied flatly. “Let’s go. These past days have been far too stifling — it’s time to get out and walk a while.”

“Yes.” Lady Xin supported the Empress and they walked out together.

At the same time, Feng Jiu’er, disguised as a palace maid, followed an old matron from the Empress’s side out through the back door of the palace hall.

The old matron led Feng Jiu’er to a secluded corner. Feng Jiu’er took her hand, and with a single leap, they went over a tall wall.

The two of them found themselves amid a sea of flowers.

The old matron looked at a small building not far off and said in a low voice, “Miss Feng, that is where a few of the maids who work in the garden live.”

“Good.” Feng Jiu’er nodded and led the old matron closer to the small building.

She settled the old matron beside the building, near a flowerbed by a window, and then circled around by herself.

Soon, Feng Jiu’er came running back from outside.

The maids who had been busy at their tasks saw an outsider approaching and all stopped what they were doing.

“Sisters.” Feng Jiu’er came before them, panting heavily.

“Lady Xin sent me to tell you she’s on her way here with the Empress. Hurry and get ready to receive them.”

“Especially…” Feng Jiu’er looked as if she were addressing one person, but in fact she swept her gaze over all four of them in turn.

She coughed lightly and continued panting.

“Everyone, go and prepare. It must be done properly. Lady Xin said that if there’s another mistake like last time, none of you will need to stay on.”

“Hurry!” Feng Jiu’er waved her hand and turned around.

She walked a few steps outward, repeatedly craning to look outside, appearing very anxious.

The four maids scattered in different directions, one of them heading toward the small building.

Feng Jiu’er glanced back, then began pacing back and forth again, still looking anxious.

After waiting a while, she heard faint footsteps and turned back.

“Sister, what are you doing?”

The maid hid the packet of medicinal powder she was holding behind her back.

The old matron suddenly rushed out and snatched the item from the maid’s hand.

Seeing that it was the Empress’s trusted attendant, the maid’s legs went weak with fright and she fell to her knees.

“Empress, spare me! This lowly one had no choice — it was Lady Xin who forced me to do this. Empress, please spare me!”

Just as the maid finished kowtowing on the ground, two pairs of feet appeared in her line of sight.

She jerked her head up and let out a startled cry, collapsing to the ground.

“Empress…” The maid propped herself up with her hands and knelt up again, raising her eyes once more.

“Empress, this truly has nothing to do with me. It was Lady Xin who forced me to sprinkle poison powder on the Empress’s favorite flowers.”

“It was Lady Xin’s idea. Empress, please investigate clearly!”

With that, the maid kowtowed toward the ground.

Lady Xin, however, strode over and kicked her down.

“You worthless creature! What are you saying? How could I possibly harm Sister Empress?”

“Worthless creature!” She kicked the fallen maid again. “All of you are worthless creatures!”

“Speak! Who exactly put you up to this? Tell me now, or I’ll beat you to death!”

Lady Xin, with nowhere to vent her fury, turned and looked toward the people approaching.

“Drag her away and behead her!”

Feng Jiu’er had thought the Empress would say something, but instead found the Empress simply watching her.

Realizing she had received her cue, she coughed loudly.

“Lady Xin, the evidence is right here caught red-handed, yet you go straight to killing without even an interrogation. Are you feeling guilty?”

“And who do you think you are, to speak to me this way?” Lady Xin glared furiously at Feng Jiu’er.

“This lowly one is under the Empress’s orders to thoroughly investigate what happened seven days ago.” Feng Jiu’er said.

The old matron glanced at Lady Xin and presented the item in her hands to the Empress.

“Lady Xin, how domineering of you! The Empress is right here, and before she’s even said a word, you’re already set on beating and killing.”

“Are you saying you don’t even hold the Empress in your regard?”

In front of the old matron, Lady Xin lost the arrogance she had shown just moments before.

“That is not what I meant.”

She glanced up at the Empress and stepped forward.

“Sister Empress, say something. Surely you don’t believe this is something your little sister would do?”

Lady Xin took hold of the Empress’s hand and turned to look at the person kneeling on the ground.

“This is clearly them trying to frame your little sister. Sister Empress and I are as close as sisters — plenty of people have long been jealous of that. Could it be…”

Lady Xin raised an eyebrow, turned, and looked at the Empress.

“Could it be Noble Consort Ya? Noble Consort Ya has long had it in for your little sister. It must be her.”

The Empress did not touch the packet of medicinal powder, but instead looked toward Feng Jiu’er.

“Little Feng, come take a look.”

“Yes.” Feng Jiu’er bowed, went over, and took the powder packet from the old matron’s hand.

She opened it, sniffed it, and then wrapped it back up.

“Empress, this is indeed that kind of powder.”

This was the powder that Lady Xin had obtained from her own people — Feng Jiu’er just hadn’t expected that this Lady Xin would actually turn her hand against the Empress.

The Empress had seemed to treat Lady Xin quite well. This woman, it seemed, didn’t know how to be grateful.

The Empress swung her hand forcefully, and Lady Xin was shoved, falling to the ground.

“Sister Empress, I…”

“Don’t you dare call me sister anymore!” the Empress said coldly. “Guards, drag Lady Xin out and give her thirty strikes of the rod!”

“Yes.” The guards standing not far off strode forward.

The matron serving Lady Xin stood up, went over, and knelt down again.

“Empress, please don’t. Thirty strikes could take Lady Xin’s life. Besides, the Emperor might come tonight.”

“Empress, please reconsider. This servant begs the Empress to withdraw the order!”

“Sister Empress, you can’t do this to me!” Lady Xin was pinned to the ground.

“Take her away! This palace will personally watch it carried out!” The Empress swept her phoenix robe and walked outward.

“Yes.” The guards nodded and marched Lady Xin forward.

“Empress, you have no right to treat me this way. I belong to the Emperor.” Lady Xin roared furiously.

The Empress said nothing and strode forward.

“Empress, let go of me! Whoever dares to strike me, I’ll make sure you all die badly!” Lady Xin continued shouting.

She glared at the person beside her. “Go find the Emperor, quickly! Hurry!”

“No one is to leave this hall until the punishment is carried out.” the Empress ordered.

“Yes.” The other guards cupped their hands and acknowledged the order.

The maids and matrons of Lady Xin’s hall now wanted to leave but could not.

Soon, from the outer hall came a series of miserable screams, along with Lady Xin’s furious cursing.

A crowd of onlooking maids and matrons gathered before the hall doors, but not one of them dared step forward to speak.

Feng Jiu’er stood beside the Empress, looking at that lonely, solitary figure, feeling something unsettled in her heart.

After thirty years in the palace, what had this woman ever truly gained?