Chapter 11: Side Consort Yang Panics

The next morning, in the main hall.

Xiao Che always rose early. Although there was no morning court today, he was currently discussing some matters with Zhong Zihan.

“I also find it suspicious that the Crown Princess suddenly regained her ability to speak,” Zhong Zihan said respectfully and solemnly as he stood before him.

A trace of deep thought flashed in Xiao Che’s eyes.

Ever since that day he returned to the palace and unexpectedly encountered Shu Ruohua attempting to escape, he had sensed that something was off about her.

Shortly after, he heard from Qian Ning that Shu Ruohua had lost her memory.

Because of that, he initially thought her odd behavior was due to her amnesia.

But when he waited for her to wake up and then heard that she could suddenly speak, the calm he had forced upon himself was stirred again.

He asked Qian Ning about Shu Ruohua’s voice, and Qian Ning said that after Shu Ruohua was punished with thirty strikes and woke up in the Cold Palace, she was miraculously able to speak again.

Xiao Che lowered his gaze in thought. As the Crown Prince, he had to be suspicious…

Had Shu Ruohua truly been mute before?

And was her current amnesia real?

If all of this was a facade, what exactly was she planning?

…

“Your Highness!” Zhong Zihan’s voice suddenly rang in his ears.

Seeing Xiao Che lost in thought, he had called him several times.

Only then did Xiao Che snap out of it, frowning slightly as if he had just thought of something. “Any leads on the assassin from that night?”

“Not yet,” Zhong Zihan replied quietly.

None of the assassins had been caught that night, making the investigation quite difficult.

Xiao Che understood that as well. “No matter. Keep digging.”

“Oh, right—has the news from the dungeon been leaked?”

Zhong Zihan cupped his fists and replied, “Yes, Your Highness. It’s already been released!”

…

In the Misty Rain Palace.

Side Consort Yang lay lazily on a soft couch, though she still managed to maintain her graceful composure.

She held a cup of tea in her hand, took a small sip, then handed it to a nearby maid.

Several performers were putting on a play in the hall.

At that moment, Liu Xu came rushing in in a panic.

“Your Ladyship!” Liu Xu hurried over, her face filled with anxiety.

She whispered something in Side Consort Yang’s ear, and the serene expression on Yang’s face immediately vanished.

“What?!” she blurted out instinctively, her complexion going pale.

Sensing the situation, the maid quickly ushered everyone else out of the room.

…

“Your Ladyship, this servant just heard that Xiao Yu has confessed to framing the Crown Princess,” Liu Xu said, throwing herself to the ground and trembling with fear before Side Consort Yang.

Side Consort Yang was so shocked she went limp, her whole body trembling.

If that were true, the Crown Prince would never let her off easily.

She didn’t waste time thinking and mustered all her strength to stand up from the couch, calling out to Liu Xu, “Quick! Accompany me to Fengluan Palace!”

At this point, only the Empress could save her.

…

Fengluan Palace.

The Empress wore a golden phoenix robe. Though she was already forty, not a trace of age could be seen on her fair and delicate face.

“Aunt, His Highness has already caught Xiao Yu. If he…”

Side Consort Yang knelt in the hall. Because she had rushed over, her clothes were soaked with sweat.

Before she could finish speaking, the Empress, sitting upright on the throne, coldly interrupted, “Stand up and speak.”

Any information that had reached Side Consort Yang’s ears had naturally also reached hers long ago. But seeing Yang so panicked and losing all composure made her deeply displeased.

“Aunt~” Yang cooed, sensing the displeasure in the Empress’s tone. She softened her voice and tried to act cute.

She stepped forward slowly, her eyes brimming with tears. “Aunt, you must help Yaoyao. If His Highness finds out that everything was Yaoyao’s doing, he definitely won’t forgive me…”

She pleaded earnestly. Her full name was Yang Chuyao.

The Empress’s face grew darker. “Do you think the Crown Prince doesn’t already know?”

If he had caught Xiao Yu, he could’ve kept the news sealed. But the fact that it spread so easily—and even reached Yang—was no accident. It was clearly intentional.

Side Consort Yang shuddered from the Empress’s scolding.

But that shudder also jolted her awake.

Why had the Crown Prince let the news slip?

Clearly, he knew she would come running to the Empress for help. His true intention was to deliver a warning—to her and to the Empress.

The Empress had already seen through that.

She gave a cold chuckle.

The Crown Prince was angry that his consort had been framed, and that the Empress had abolished her without consulting him, publicly humiliating him.

The Empress’s dark eyes glinted coldly as she looked at Side Consort Yang. “Return to the Eastern Palace and admit your failure to oversee your servants.”

The Crown Prince had not brought this matter directly to her, which showed he still maintained surface-level respect for his mother.

What he wanted now was not her punishment—but a statement, an attitude.

Since that was what he wanted, she would give him one.

Side Consort Yang froze.

Admit her fault to the Crown Prince?

Wasn’t that the same as throwing herself into the fire?

No way!

But…

She carefully reviewed the Empress’s words. She had been told to admit “failure to supervise her servants”—nothing more.

Understanding dawned on her.

She smiled knowingly, bowed to the Empress, and then returned to the Eastern Palace.

…

(End of Chapter)