“A remedy?”

The Empress immediately latched onto the key information.

“Consort Wan, did you just say that Imperial Physician Liu gave you and Consort Shen some sort of remedy?”

Jinxi exchanged a subtle glance with the tearful Zhen Huan before stepping forward to bow and explain:

“Replying to Her Majesty, my mistress and Consort Shen noticed some pimples on their faces a few days ago, perhaps caused by something they ate.

“That day, my mistress saw that Consort Shen’s pimples had completely cleared up and asked her how she managed it. Consort Shen then shared a remedy with my mistress.”

As Jinxi spoke, she retrieved a small folded prescription from her sleeve.

“This remedy is indeed remarkable. After drinking just a few doses, my mistress’s pimples vanished entirely.”

The Emperor’s expression darkened, his head bowed as if suppressing a growing fury.

The Empress examined the prescription before passing it to an imperial physician.

“Imperial Physician Zhang, take a look at this prescription. Is there anything wrong with it?”

Physician Zhang took the prescription and studied it intently. After a brief pause, he knelt hurriedly.

“Your Majesty, Your Highness, this prescription does indeed contain ingredients effective for treating facial pimples. However…”

He hesitated, glancing at the Emperor, unable to continue.

“Imperial Physician Zhang,” the Empress’s voice was sharp, “what is it? Speak plainly in the presence of His Majesty and myself.”

“It… It is a formula used to delay a woman’s menstrual cycle…”

“What?” The Empress shot to her feet. “Liu Ben, how dare you! You’ve conspired to harm Consort Wan and Consort Shen!”

Noble Lady Xin, ever the blunt one, interjected furiously. Having lost a child herself, she understood the anguish of dashed hopes:

“A woman’s greatest treasure is her child. How could you stoop so low as to toy with such a thing? Despicable!”

“Indeed! Truly despicable!” echoed others.

Consort Qi, on the other hand, felt a weight lift from her heart upon hearing that Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang had no children.

“Liu Ben, confess everything at once! Or do you wish for His Majesty to sentence your entire family to death?”

“Your Majesty, I confess, I confess…” Liu Ben trembled as he prepared to speak, only for Hua Fei to enter the room with Princess Wenyi and Yu Ying’er in tow.

Seeing the group kneeling before her, Hua Fei feigned ignorance.

“Your Majesty, what’s happened here?”

“Wasn’t it announced that Consort Wan and Consort Shen were with child? Why is Consort Wan so heartbroken?”

The Emperor pointed at Liu Ben in rage. “Ask him!”

Consort Qi stepped up to Hua Fei.

“Liu Ben gave a remedy that delays menstruation to Consort Shen and Consort Wan, then deceived them into thinking they were pregnant! Consort Shen was so devastated she fainted. His Majesty is currently investigating the matter.”

“No wonder Consort Wan is weeping so bitterly,” Hua Fei remarked, her voice laced with feigned sympathy.

“Although I’ve never borne a child myself, I’ve been pregnant before and understand how much a child means to a woman.”

As she spoke, she theatrically dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief.

“Exactly,” Consort Qi chimed in. “When they first heard the news, Consort Shen and Consort Wan were overjoyed. To have that hope suddenly snatched away… anyone would collapse under such grief.”

“Yes,” Hua Fei continued, now subtly gesturing toward Cao Qinmo with her eyes. “No one loves a child more than their own mother. Consort Wan and Consort Shen should take care not to harm their own health from such sorrow.”

Though clumsy with words, Consort Qi was adept at keeping conversations going.

The Empress, however, had no patience for their chatter.

“That’s enough. Hua Fei, now that you know what’s happened, sit down and listen to Liu Ben’s confession.”

Hua Fei obediently complied, without a trace of defiance.

She signaled Princess Wenyi’s wet nurse with a glance before moving to an empty seat.

Suddenly, the wet nurse stumbled, nearly dropping the princess to the ground.

Cao Qinmo’s heart clenched, and she dashed forward, snatching the child from the nurse’s arms.

Cradling the wailing Wenyi, tears brimmed in her eyes as she cooed:

“Don’t cry, Wenyi. Mother is here…”

In that moment, all of Cao Qinmo’s attention was on her daughter. She was so shaken that she even forgot to scold the wet nurse.

Watching this scene, Zhen Huan couldn’t help but feel a pang of emotion.

Cao Qinmo’s schemes were always calculated, but everything she did was ultimately for her daughter.

Compassion stirred in Zhen Huan’s heart, but she quickly steeled herself. Cao Qinmo was a threat that had to be eliminated.

The wet nurse knelt trembling on the floor, begging for forgiveness.

“You incompetent fool!” Hua Fei’s voice cut through the air. “How could you handle the princess so carelessly? Had anything happened, I would never forgive you!”

“Drag her out. Eighty lashes and banish her from the palace!”

The Emperor, already at the end of his patience, issued commands without looking up.

“Cao Qinmo, the floor is cold. Stand up and hold the princess properly. His Majesty still needs to hear Liu Ben’s testimony.” Hua Fei helped Cao Qinmo to her feet, her gaze issuing an unspoken warning.

Cao Qinmo, clutching Wenyi tightly, rose with trembling hands, as though Hua Fei might seize the princess from her at any moment.

Hua Fei then turned to Liu Ben.

“Liu Ben, why did you frame Consort Wan and Consort Shen? Speak!”

Terrified, Liu Ben glanced at Hua Fei. “It… it was…”

“It was me.”

Cao Qinmo reluctantly handed Wenyi to Song Zhi and stepped forward.

“Cao Guiren, what did you say? Do you understand the gravity of your words?”

The Empress slammed her hand on the armrest, the sound reverberating through the hall.

The force of it was louder than any previous outburst from the Emperor.

Cao Qinmo paused, her gaze lingering on Wenyi before she seemed to summon great courage.

“It was I. I couldn’t bear to see Consort Wan and Consort Shen, who had only recently entered the palace, so favored by His Majesty.”

“I have served His Majesty for many years and even borne him a princess, yet I have never received a shred of affection from him. I was bitter.

“So I bribed Liu Ben to give Consort Shen a remedy to delay her menstruation. I never anticipated that Consort Wan would also take the remedy, and so…”

“So you decided to go all out and ensnare Consort Wan as well?” Noble Lady Xin, enraged, exclaimed:

“No wonder you were so eager to invite Consort Qi and me today, claiming it was to apologize for your earlier inappropriate jest at Consort Wan’s expense!”

“Cao Guiren, how could you be so vicious? You used us as pawns!” Consort Qi charged forward.

“Yes, I used you. Otherwise, how else could I ensure that Consort Wan and Consort Shen wouldn’t refuse?” Cao Qinmo’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “It’s a pity I failed, just by a hair…”