Chapter 95
Interrogation

Lin Jiayue’s erratic behavior made it clear that she was not faking her madness. The Empress, observing her coldly, ordered Jiang Xingjian to be summoned.

Jiang Man was furious, nearly grinding her teeth in anger. She had previously thought Lin Jiayue had some extraordinary talent, capable of producing ice in summer and possessing firearms. She believed Lin Jiayue was a master from a hidden family, but now, she realized she was just a fool.

From the daughter of a marquis to a consort in the palace, Jiang Man had met countless people. Yet, she had never seen someone of low birth dare to speak nonsense and make empty promises to a royal concubine.

Boasting about having firearms and deceiving the heir of the Marquis into making her a concubine, using toxic lead powder, and promising to earn a fortune…

How dare she!

How dare she!

Jiang Man clenched her hands tightly on her lap.

Soon, Jiang Xingjian was brought in. As soon as Lin Jiayue saw him, she cried out, “Brother Xingjian,” causing Consort Yun to cover her mouth and laugh mockingly.

Jiang Xingjian frowned slightly but quickly regained his composure.

“Brother Xingjian, I’m sorry. I’ve caused trouble for you.”

She looked pitiful, her face pale and eyes bloodshot from crying.

“Brother Xingjian, you were willing to neglect your wife and treat me with true affection, but I always cause trouble for you. I’ve let you down. I deserve to die.”

“Your Majesty, it’s all my fault. I did everything. Please don’t blame Brother Xingjian.”

“He’s innocent. His only fault is loving me too much.”

Song Wan stood aside, her face turning red. She felt embarrassed for Lin Jiayue and ashamed for herself.

A proper young lady saying such things in public was truly inappropriate. But after the initial discomfort, she glanced at Lin Jiayue with a deep look.

Lin Jiayue was smart. At this moment, the only way to avoid being abandoned was to firmly bind herself to Jiang Xingjian.

Her passionate declaration made Jiang Xingjian’s scalp tingle.

Seeing Lin Jiayue’s bloodshot eyes, Jiang Xingjian suppressed his anger and protected her.

Today, she acted as if they were deeply in love and inseparable. How could he abandon her now and push her out to appease the Empress’s anger? What would people think of him?

Jiang Xingjian’s temples throbbed as he shielded Lin Jiayue, doing his best to appear protective.

“Your Majesty, may I ask why you summoned me?”

The Empress waved her hand, and a palace official recounted the lead powder scandal involving Huan Yan Zhai.

Jiang Xingjian’s face darkened. “Your Majesty, Lin Jiayue is a woman of the inner chambers and cannot leave the inner courtyard. How could she know the lead powder was toxic? Although she helped manage a few shops, the shop affairs were handled by the manager and had nothing to do with her.”

“My negligence in supervision allowed someone to exploit the situation.” Jiang Man spoke softly. She didn’t care what happened to Lin Jiayue, but Jiang Xingjian couldn’t be implicated. She and the Marquis’s residence couldn’t bear the charge of poisoning the concubines.

“Consort Jiang, do you think you can shirk the blame for harming the concubines with a mere excuse of negligence?”

“Noble Consort Rong, you misunderstand. The cosmetics from Huan Yan Zhai were not intended for the palace. It was Consort Yun who insisted on involving the Marquis’s residence. Did Consort Yun know there was a problem with the cosmetics and deliberately had me send them to the other concubines?”

Song Yunning sneered. “Consort Jiang, your words are truly amusing. Your shop sold toxic products, and you blame the buyers?”

“If it weren’t for your greed, repackaging items meant for courtesans and selling them at exorbitant prices, I wouldn’t have noticed this small cosmetics shop.”

“Speaking of which…”

Song Yunning blinked. “Consort Jiang’s shop must have made quite a profit. I wonder what a consort needs so much money for?”

The Empress glanced coldly at Jiang Man, whose expression turned frosty. “Why the sarcastic tone, Consort Yun? The Empress is here. Whether the Marquis’s residence was framed or someone schemed against me, I will decide.”

“Consort Jiang is too clever to be framed. The Fifth Prince takes after his mother. If Consort Jiang were as modest as she claims, how could he be so diligent and intelligent?”

A few days ago, the Fifth Prince was punished by the Emperor for neglecting his studies, and today Song Yunning brought it up to provoke her.

Jiang Man’s face darkened, but before she could retaliate, a eunuch announced the Emperor’s arrival.

As Emperor Wen Hui entered, everyone stood to greet him. After a command to rise, the room fell silent.

“What is going on? Why such a commotion?”

Song Wan lowered her gaze, not looking directly at the Emperor, while Lin Jiayue’s eyes darted around curiously.

A palace official explained the situation, and Emperor Wen Hui asked, “Was the lead powder sent to the palace?”

“Because …”

The Empress began, but the Emperor interrupted, “So it wasn’t? Then why make such a fuss?”

The Empress’s face darkened, while Song Wan noticed a hint of mockery in Jiang Man’s eyes. Her aunt remained indifferent, and the other concubines seemed unsurprised.

No wonder Jiang Man acted so boldly; she enjoyed the Emperor’s exclusive favor.

“The Marquis of Chengyang is right. Concubine Lin is just a woman of the inner chambers. How could she have such abilities? It must have been the shop manager’s doing.”

“Such deceitful scoundrels should be punished.”

“Someone, give the shop manager eighty lashes, confiscate the goods and money, and return them to the people. His descendants are banned from trade for three generations.”

With just a few words, Emperor Wen Hui settled the matter.

Song Wan stood aside, feeling uneasy. Her and her aunt’s efforts, along with the Empress’s, were easily dismissed.

“Making such a big deal out of a small matter is ridiculous.” The Emperor rose to leave, and the Empress, her face pale, said, “The toxic cosmetics may not be related to the Marquis’s residence, but the Marquis favoring his concubine over his wife is a fact.”

“If it’s a fact, then punish him. Can’t you handle such a small matter?”

“Everyone, disperse.” The Emperor left, and the Empress, looking furious, also departed.

Since the scandal involving the Crown Prince’s misconduct, she had been unable to stand tall before the Emperor. After scolding Jiang Xingjian, she left in anger.

As everyone left, Lin Jiayue knelt, tearfully asking, “Brother Xingjian, are we safe now?”

Some lower-ranking concubines, still in the room, sneered and looked down on her.

Lin Jiayue pretended not to notice, timidly hiding behind Jiang Xingjian, clinging to him.

Song Wan stood calmly, neither hurried nor impatient.

Although she couldn’t bring down Jiang Man, after today, everyone would know that Jiang Xingjian deeply cared for his concubine, risking the palace for her.

With the Marquis’s residence already in turmoil and Jiang Xingjian favoring his concubine over his wife, anyone with eyes could see that the residence was full of fools.

Looking at the increasingly delicate and clingy Lin Jiayue, Song Wan thought that today’s efforts were not in vain.