The matron’s foot came swinging down, every inch on course to strike Feng Jiu’er.

Jiu’er simply knelt quietly where she was, making no move to dodge.

This seemed only to fuel the matron’s force. She threw every ounce of her strength and weight into that one blow.

But at the very last instant, just as the foot was about to land — Jiu’er shifted her body to the side.

“Ahh—” The matron cried out in startled panic, and then — with a resounding crash — she struck the ground hard.

The fall was no small thing. Once she was down, she couldn’t even manage to get back up.

Jiu’er glanced at her with an expression that gave nothing away. The guards standing to the side were fighting an almost impossible battle against laughter — wanting desperately to laugh, not daring to, straining visibly under the effort.

“Your Majesty, this commoner had no part in the poisoning of His Highness the Crown Prince today. Had this commoner harboured even the slightest ill intent toward His Highness, she would not have treated him personally yesterday. This commoner implores Your Majesty to rule with clear and impartial judgment.”

Feng Jiu’er raised her head and met Emperor Qiwen’s gaze — as though the matron’s fall to the ground behind her had simply not occurred.

The woman was still lying not far from her, and yet Feng Jiu’er had already turned to address the Emperor with perfect composure. Whatever anyone might say, the sheer nerve of this girl was remarkable.

Beside him, the Empress was grinding her teeth in barely contained rage, every part of her wishing she could simply drag Feng Jiu’er over and beat her senseless on the spot.

Yet now that Feng Jiu’er had already begun speaking directly to the Emperor, if she were to make an issue of the matron incident, she would appear unbearably petty!

This Feng Jiu’er — truly, deeply calculating! She had the Empress seething with nowhere to direct the anger!

Emperor Qiwen looked at Feng Jiu’er and said nothing. The Empress, unable to contain herself any longer, demanded furiously: “Heng’er was poisoned with only you present at the scene — and furthermore, no fewer than ten people, myself among them, witnessed with their own eyes the blow you struck against Heng’er!”

When Feng Jiu’er had struck Zhan Yuheng, sending him coughing blood — that had been seen by everyone present.

Feng Jiu’er spoke calmly. “At the moment His Highness the Crown Prince was poisoned, this commoner immediately used silver needles to seal His Highness’s major acupoints, in order to prevent the poison from spreading through his body.”

“As for the strike this commoner delivered against His Highness — that was not an attempt to harm him, but rather to force the poisoned blood outward.”

Such things were beyond the understanding of ordinary people. But the imperial physicians who had examined the Crown Prince afterward would have been able to see it clearly.

Qing Yun had also raised precisely this point earlier in the day. The imperial physicians had acknowledged that she had been saving the Crown Prince’s life, not attacking him. If they had not, Qing Yun would never have taken such an unwavering stance on her behalf from the very beginning.

Emperor Qiwen still said nothing. But the Empress gave a cold smile. “Since you claim what you did was to save Heng’er, very well — we shall summon today’s attending imperial physicians for a confrontation.”

Feng Jiu’er did not look at her. She kept her gaze on Emperor Qiwen. “Your Majesty — this commoner would not dare speak ill of the palace — but she only hopes Your Majesty will see clearly: the words of the imperial physicians may not necessarily reflect the truth.”

“What is the meaning of that?” The Empress’s palm came down on the armrest of her chair with a sharp crack. “Feng Jiu’er, you dare suggest that palace imperial physicians can be bought? What crime do you deserve for such a slander!”

Feng Jiu’er still did not look at her. Her meaning had been stated clearly enough. The Emperor should be able to understand.

In truth, what mattered at this moment had nothing to do with whether there was evidence of her guilt or innocence. What mattered was only the Emperor’s decision.

Whether he would yield to the threat the Empress held over him, or uphold what was right — it was no more than a single turn of his will.

What good were more proofs?

She watched the Emperor. The Empress watched her.

The air grew heavy and still, and eventually, all eyes came to rest on Emperor Qiwen, waiting for his decision.

Though the Empress wielded formidable influence, this was still a place where the Emperor had the final word.

A single word of trust from the Emperor would see Feng Jiu’er released without charge. Or perhaps, once the Crown Prince woke, the matter might resolve itself in the light of day.

Anyone could see that the Empress was targeting Feng Jiu’er deliberately — she had not even had the patience to wait for the Crown Prince to wake before rushing in this very night to interrogate her.

If the Emperor spoke up to say the interrogation should wait until the Crown Prince awakened, it would be an open and public blow to the Empress’s face.

Whether the Emperor intended to protect Feng Jiu’er or bow to the Empress’s wishes — it must have placed him in considerable difficulty.

The Empress was also waiting — waiting to see whether this Emperor would let her have her way.

No one knew how much time had passed. At last, Emperor Qiwen fixed his gaze on Feng Jiu’er and asked in a measured tone: “Then — do you have anything further to say in your defence?”

A shadow moved quietly through Jiu’er’s eyes. She had not expected that in the end, this feckless ruler would still choose to yield to the Empress’s tyranny — not even granting her so much as a sliver of an opening.

“This commoner is innocent.” Those were the only words she had left.

Satisfaction flooded instantly into the Empress’s eyes. Every humiliation she had swallowed throughout this long day — it had all been repaid in this moment.

“Your Majesty, since she has nothing further to offer, let the mark be pressed and the crime confirmed.”

“This commoner is innocent!” Feng Jiu’er’s gaze remained fixed on Emperor Qiwen.

But the Emperor, having made up his mind, was not going to reverse course now.

He waved a hand. “Since Feng Jiu’er cannot produce further evidence of her innocence — press the mark!”

Feng Jiu’er said nothing more. She watched as a guard brought forth the written charge, and clenched her fist shut, unwilling to open it.

The guard’s expression hardened. Two of them pinned her down while a third pried at her hand.

“Feng Jiu’er, since you have confessed, press your mark without further resistance. Every moment you refuse will only bring you greater suffering.”

In truth, none of them wanted to make things harder for this gentle beauty. But within the walls of the imperial palace, there was no room for the notion of making things harder or easier — nor any space for sympathy.

To show Feng Jiu’er leniency today would be to invite hardship upon themselves tomorrow.

The guard pressed forcefully against the webbing between her thumb and forefinger. A sharp burst of pain shot through her wrist and her fingers finally gave way, forced open.

That guard took hold of her thumb and pressed it onto the written charge without a word, then dropped her as one would drop a piece of rubbish, took the document, and returned it to the Emperor for review.

“We, in acknowledgment of the Feng Family’s long and loyal service, declare that today’s act of assassination rests with Feng Jiu’er alone. As for the Feng Family — We shall not pursue the matter for now. However, should any connection between the Feng Family and this crime be uncovered in the future, the punishment shall extend to nine generations.”

Feng Jiu’er’s face remained entirely without expression — a composure profoundly at odds with her years.

Emperor Qiwen, unwilling to complicate matters further, spoke: “Tomorrow at the Hour of Chen — public execution, as a warning to all.”

With those words, Emperor Qiwen rose and walked toward the door. Since they were in the imperial prison, there were no formalities or calls to attention — each person simply inclined their body in respectful farewell.

The Empress could not have been more pleased. The Hour of Chen tomorrow — this was plainly to deny certain people any chance of returning in time to mount a rescue.

A’Jiu was so very far away right now. Even if a messenger bird carried word within a few hours, there would be no possibility of arriving back before the Hour of Chen tomorrow.

And yet — if the intention was to kill her, why not drag her out and execute her this very instant? Would that not be a far more certain thing?