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

Consort Zhuang collapsed softly to the ground, the golden hairpin by her temple casting a cold and desolate shimmer. She stared blankly ahead and said, "Your Majesty, do you not trust me?"

Xiao Yu lowered his eyes and said in a deep voice, "If it wasn't you, then I must still clear your name."

Consort Zhuang had never expected that Xiao Yu would actually doubt her. She looked at him in disbelief, eyes shimmering with unshed tears, and took a deep breath. "Then Your Majesty, please investigate as you see fit. This matter has nothing to do with me, and I'm not afraid of being investigated."

She gritted her teeth, her tone filled with conviction.

Ning Shuyan absentmindedly played with the tassel on her round fan. If Consort Zhuang had truly orchestrated this, then she must have covered all her tracks flawlessly.

The Nangong family had long had far-reaching influence, and if Consort Zhuang wanted to bribe someone or inform her father, it would be an easy task.

Meanwhile, the Empress sat with her brows furrowed, quietly holding her teacup as she observed. Looking between Consort Zhuang and Consort Mi, she, too, could no longer tell truth from falsehood.

The atmosphere in the hall was heavy and silent, like congealed jelly. The large piles of ice melted slowly, the soft dripping of water echoing in the silence—drip... drip...

After a while, Consort Zhuang suddenly cried out and tilted sideways. Yulan quickly supported her, anxiously calling, "My Lady!"

Consort Zhuang weakly knelt back up, her voice soft and frail: "Forgive my misconduct."

Xiao Yu glanced at her and said mildly, "The matter hasn't been concluded yet. You may rise for now."

A faint smile appeared on Consort Zhuang's face. "Yes, thank you, Your Majesty."

Yulan helped her up. Consort Zhuang gently rubbed her knees and looked at Xiao Yu with grievance in her eyes.

Unfortunately, Xiao Yu was irritated at the moment and didn't even lift his eyelids.

Before long, five palace maids from the Morning Radiance Hall were brought in.

Zhou Cheng examined the five carefully and said, "Your Majesty, these maids don't resemble the person I saw. It's still her." He pointed at Liuying and added with certainty, "It's her."

Liuying trembled with fear and kowtowed hard, crying out, "Your Majesty, please see clearly—it wasn't me!"

At that moment, Shen Changzhi arrived with the guard who had been on duty that day and requested an audience.

Xiao Yu immediately had them brought in.

The guard, clearly having been flogged, walked with difficulty and knelt while enduring great pain.

Shen Changzhi's face was stern and cold. He cast a sharp glance at the guard and barked, "You're in front of His Majesty. Speak the truth—now!"

The guard didn't dare look at Xiao Yu directly. He knocked his head against the floor and confessed, "Your servant is guilty. I should not have been tempted by money to carry out errands for Consort Mi."

The words caused Consort Mi, who was kneeling on the floor, to snap her eyes open in fury. "Nonsense! I don't even know you! How could I have ordered you? Speak—was it Consort Zhuang who told you to frame me?"

Consort Zhuang's brow furrowed, anger flickering in her gaze. "Even now, you still dare to slander me?"

Consort Mi crawled to Xiao Yu, clutched his robes, and sobbed, "Your Majesty, I swear it wasn't me..."