[1]The Consort is Both Charming and Scheming, Rising Through Palace Intrigue

Xiao Yu fell silent for a moment, his gaze cold and piercing as it landed on Consort Rong's beautiful face. Her body stiffened, and she quickly knelt.
"Your Majesty, this matter has nothing to do with this consort!"

Hearing that, Xiao Yu chuckled coldly. After all these years, he knew Consort Rong too well.

He had once warned her to behave herself, and that if she crossed the line again, there would be no mercy. Yet, she had clearly ignored his warning.

With a faint, icy smile at the corner of his lips, Xiao Yu said calmly,
"If it wasn't you, why is your forehead covered in cold sweat? What are you so guilty about?"

Even Consort Rong hadn't noticed she was sweating. Her voice cracked,
"This consort... fears... fears that Your Majesty no longer trusts me."

Consort Zhuang watched with interest, flicking her nails.
"Only the guilty are afraid. If you didn't do it, what's there to be scared of?"

Rong shot her a fierce glare for kicking her while she was down.

Ning Shuyan followed up,
"No wonder Consort Rong was staring at me strangely when I arrived. You must've been shocked that I was standing there unharmed, right? Since entering the palace, I've never offended you, Consort Rong. Why do you keep trying to harm me?"

Her voice was sorrowful and filled with grievance, her gaze locked onto Consort Rong. But Consort Rong snapped back angrily,
"I've never harmed you! You're slandering me!"

Xiao Yu sat turning his jade thumb ring slowly, his voice low and chilling:
"If this palace maid refuses to confess, then cut off her fingers one by one. When we get to the one that administered the poison, she'll confess."

All the concubines winced—just hearing it made their fingers hurt.

Juchun, the maid, was so terrified she nearly fainted. She turned to Consort Rong,
"Your Highness, please save me!"

Cheng Yin sneered,
"Consort Rong can't even save herself. I suggest you confess now and suffer less."

But Juchun stubbornly protested,
"I truly didn't do it. Your Majesty, please see clearly!"

Xiao Yu frowned, clearly out of patience.

Eunuch Xi pulled out a small, gleaming knife and gently ran his fingers along the blade. Its cold gleam alone was enough to make Juchun break out in a cold sweat.

The palace maids held her down. Eunuch Xi smiled coldly,
"This blade is sharp. Once it cuts, that finger is gone forever."

As he brought the knife to her thumb, Juchun trembled uncontrollably.
"I'll confess! I confess!"

Consort Rong glared at her fiercely,
"Confess what? I never ordered you to do anything!"

"Consort Rong, I didn't give you permission to speak." Xiao Yu cut in coldly.

The maids released Juchun as she kowtowed repeatedly.
"I acted on Consort Rong's orders. I'm just a maid—I had no choice but to obey! Please spare me, Your Majesty!"

Rong's fury flared.
"Lies! You wretched girl, how dare you falsely accuse me!"

But Juchun insisted,
"I'm not lying. Consort Rong holds my family's lives in her hands. If I didn't obey, they'd be in danger! She even sent silver to my family just a few days ago—you can investigate."

"No need," Xiao Yu said coldly, cutting her off.

Hearing that, Consort Rong thought he was defending her and felt a glimmer of hope.

She looked at him with longing.
"Your Majesty, this consort has served you for so many years. You do trust me, don't you?"

But Xiao Yu's dark eyes were icy, filled with disgust. He said slowly,
"Consort Rong, I gave you a chance."

His gaze was like a blade piercing her to the bone. She collapsed to the floor, weak and stunned.
"You gave me... a chance?" she murmured.

Then suddenly, she laughed bitterly.
"Ha! When did you ever give me a chance? For two women you've known barely a year, you cast me aside. You never trusted me! What chance did I ever have?"

"You've tried to harm Noble Lady Zhao more than once. I warned you last time, but you didn't change. Now you've gone so far as to try to make her infertile. You're a mother too—how can you be so vicious?!"

Xiao Yu's voice grew thunderous as he questioned her.

Consort Rong laughed desolately.
"It's because I'm a mother. I had to protect You'er. I couldn't let anyone threaten his position."

Xiao Yu's gaze was like a blade. His voice was ice:
"Wicked woman."

The Empress looked at Consort Rong, pained and furious.
"I never imagined your heart could be this cruel! I'm ashamed that someone like you is Prince You's mother!"

"Prince You has no such mother!"

Those words struck Consort Rong like a thousand blades. She stared at Xiao Yu—this man she'd spent years with, bore a son for—now so cold and unfamiliar.

She screamed,
"No! I gave birth to You'er for you. You can't send me to the Cold Palace! Your Majesty...!"

Everyone knew Xiao Yu had truly made up his mind this time. Those sent to the Cold Palace rarely came out alive.

His face remained cold. He didn't even glance at her.

The Empress ordered,
"Drag the criminal Jiang Shi (Consort Rong) away!"

Eunuch Xi pulled her out as she pleaded, but Xiao Yu never looked her way. Soon, her cries faded away.

Just then, Consort Mi awoke and began to sob upon hearing she could never bear children again.

"Your Majesty! I want to see His Majesty!"

Xiao Yu looked at Juchun kneeling on the ground and said lightly,
"Cut off one of her fingers. Let it serve as a warning to the rest of the harem. The rest is for the Empress to handle."

He turned and walked into the inner palace, expressionless. Consort Zhuang followed, and soon the other concubines swarmed after them.

Inside the hall, Consort Mi was practically choking on her own rage. Her pale face was drenched in tears. Seeing Xiao Yu approach, she tried to get out of bed, only to collapse.

She sobbed,
"Your Majesty, please seek justice for your consort!"

Xiao Yu glanced at her, his tone gentle:
"Consort Rong has already been punished."

Consort Rong! Only Consort Mi knew it was she who had pushed Rong into poisoning the medicine! That punishment wasn't enough—she wanted more.

She searched the crowd and spotted Ning Shuyan's beautiful face. Just then, their eyes met. Ning Shuyan smiled, smug and victorious.

Consort Mi was enraged, a storm brewing between her brows. She pointed at Ning Shuyan.
"It's all her fault! She gave me that medicine on purpose!"

Xiao Yu's expression turned dark.
"Today's events were a coincidence. Consort Mi, mind your words. I'll pretend you're just distraught."

But Consort Mi grew hysterical.
"If not for her, I wouldn't have lost my chance to be a mother! It was her plan—I know it!"

Her voice cracked as she screamed.

Ning Shuyan stepped forward, filled with sorrow and guilt.
"Your Majesty, I truly didn't know the medicine had been tampered with... or that the imperial physicians would give it to Consort Mi. If I had known..."

Xiao Yu interrupted her gently,
"You don't need to say more. I believe you."

His deep gaze shimmered with trust. Ning Shuyan lowered her head, warmth in her eyes.