The midsummer weather was unpredictable.

Just a moment ago, the sky was clear, vast, and cloudless. Now, it had suddenly darkened.

Layers of dark clouds gathered, and the wind rustled through the forest leaves.

The cold wind lifted the corner of Wen Yuesheng’s robe, making it swirl chaotically in the air.

The sharp voice of a palace servant brought Yu Shun back to her senses.

“By His Majesty’s decree, summon Princess Si Ning, Prince Yong’an, and the second daughter of the Zhou family to Taihe Palace for questioning.”

In just a short moment, the events of the palace banquet had seemingly grown legs and spread throughout the palace.

When Yu Shun raised her gaze again, that slender figure had already been led away by palace attendants.

As she passed by, a cold fragrance lingered in the air.

Elsewhere, Wen Yuruo was unwell. Before Xiao Jin left, he specifically found a quiet palace for her to rest and stationed two attendants outside the door to prevent any disturbances.

When the news arrived, Madam Chen was peeling grapes.

Upon hearing that Wen Yuesheng had forced a cup of poisoned wine on the legitimate daughter of a court official in front of everyone, Madam Chen’s face tensed, and her nails pierced into the grape’s flesh.

The juice stained her hands, but she didn’t have the presence of mind to care.

She waved off the attendant who came to wipe her hands and asked with a tight expression, “Did she really do such a thing?”

The servant who came to report quickly nodded repeatedly.

Not only Madam Chen, but even the servants around her were shocked.

Mama Wang, who had held a grudge against Wen Yuesheng ever since she ordered her servant Fushun to be beaten half to death and expelled from the manor, felt a mix of joy and anger at the news.

“The princess has gone too far this time. It’s one thing to scold and punish servants at home, but this is the imperial palace! How can such wild behavior be tolerated?” Mamma Wang glanced at Madam Chen’s expression. “Madam, should we inform the master about this?”

“The master is also in the palace today. With such a big incident, do you think he wouldn’t know?” Madam Chen frowned and looked at the palace attendant standing nearby.

“With such a commotion at the palace banquet, are the other noblewomen in the palace aware?”

The palace attendant understood and replied softly, “Madam Zhou has already entered the palace and is currently with Her Majesty the Empress.”

Madam Chen felt slightly relieved.

After the palace attendant left, she remarked, “She has always acted recklessly. It’s no surprise she caused such a disaster.”

“But with such outrageous behavior, it’s hard to say if she can keep her title as princess.”

After thinking for a moment, Madam Chen stood up and said, “Let’s go to Taihe Palace.”

“Yuruo is asleep. If anyone asks, say she is still unwell and hasn’t woken yet.”

After all, Wen Yuruo was the only true victim in today’s events.

By the time Madam Chen arrived at Taihe Palace, nearly everyone had gathered.

Outside the grand and solemn hall of Taihe Palace, many people were kneeling.

Among them were the palace attendants who had served Wen Yuruo wine, the treacherous Yu Qing, and Zhou Manniang. Additionally, several others from the Zhou household were kneeling as well.

Madam Chen cast a glance in that direction and felt a heaviness in her heart.

Among them was a familiar steward, one who had been involved with Zhou Yujie’s maid Yun Cui from the princess’s residence.

Aside from these individuals, all the evidence was neatly presented.

A lady standing to the side was already in tears, barely holding herself upright with the support of her maid.

Madam Chen, familiar with the social circles of the capital, instantly recognized the woman as Sun Shi, the mother of Zhou Yujie.

Standing beside her were Zhou Yujie and Zhou Manniang’s father, Zhou Yuandu, currently serving as Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

Other individuals present were witnesses to the entire incident at the palace banquet.

The crowd, whether standing or kneeling, was numerous.

Apart from the intermittent sobbing of Madam Zhou, the scene was eerily quiet.

Dark clouds gathered overhead, threatening heavy rain.

The imperial physician, present in the hall at the time of the incident, rushed in, sweat dripping from his forehead.

“How is she?” The Emperor’s voice carried out from the hall.

“Your Majesty, Zhou Yujie is out of danger,” the physician replied.

“However…” The physician hesitated, his expression troubled. “The poison afflicting Zhou Yujie is an unusual one.”

“This poison is extremely potent. Although I promptly administered an antidote pill, the poison has still corroded her face.”

“I am powerless.”

“What did you say?” Sun Shi almost fainted upon hearing this. “My Yujie is disfigured?”

The imperial physician looked distressed and glanced at Zhou Manniang, bewildered as to how this timid and unassuming second daughter could possess such a sinister poison.

The poison not only scarred Zhou Yujie’s face but also left residual toxins in her body that would flare up periodically, each episode causing excruciating pain.

“Yujie! My poor child!” Sun Shi’s eyes turned red as her body trembled.

She gritted her teeth, glaring at Zhou Manniang with a murderous gaze, barely restraining herself from tearing her apart.

Still, she suppressed her rage and coldly demanded, “Where is the antidote?”

Zhou Manniang lowered her head, remaining silent.

Seeing her demeanor, Sun Shi’s anger flared, and she nearly clawed Zhou Manniang’s face in retaliation.

“Your Majesty, Princess Si Ning has arrived,” the palace servant announced, snapping Sun Shi back to her senses. She lifted her head abruptly, searching for Wen Yuesheng’s figure.

Wen Yuesheng had arrived earlier but felt her hands were unclean.

After washing them thrice, she finally came to Taihe Palace.

She approached slowly and stopped outside the hall, unfazed by the severity of her actions, maintaining a composed demeanor.

The Empress had just arrived when her face darkened. She cast a glance at one of the old nannies beside her.

The nanny stepped forward toward Xiao Jin and said, “Your Highness, Her Majesty requests your presence to respond.”

As soon as Xiao Jin approached, he heard the Empress speak coldly, “What is the meaning of this? You were present—why didn’t you stop her?”

Xiao Jin remained silent.

When Wen Yuesheng poured the wine, and even when she added something to it, no one had imagined she would act this way.

“Enough,” the Empress said, her gaze deep and sharp. “She’s grown increasingly arrogant over the years, acting recklessly and maliciously.”

“Hui Yi has been gone for many years. This marriage should have been annulled long ago,” the Empress murmured softly.

Xiao Jin’s expression darkened.

Before he could respond, the Emperor stepped out of the hall.

Compared to the morning, the Emperor looked much more displeased.

His gaze was heavy as he scanned the surroundings, and even the sky seemed to grow darker under his scrutiny.

Zhou Manniang knelt on the ground, her small face pale as a sheet.

She had ultimately implicated Wen Yuesheng.

Just as panic began to take root in her heart, she heard a voice beside her: “The first step of this path—I’ve taken it for you.”

The voice belonged to Wen Yuesheng.

Under the Emperor’s oppressive gaze, she was speaking softly to Zhou Manniang.

“What comes next will depend on your own choices.”

Zhou Manniang froze, quietly turning her head to look.

In that instant, the oppressive gray sky seemed to tear apart near Wen Yuesheng. Golden sunlight pierced through the clouds, falling on her lashes.

It was as though she stood in radiant light.

The next moment, Zhou Man Niang heard the Emperor’s voice, heavy with fury: “Zhou Yuandu!”

The name called out was her father’s—not Wen Yuesheng’s!

Zhou Man Niang was not the only one shocked—many others shared her astonishment.

Zhou Yuan Du’s expression was complicated, though it seemed he had expected this. He immediately knelt, his robes sweeping the ground. “Your servant is here.”

The Emperor’s anger did not abate in the slightest as he sneered, “Let me ask you—what day is today?”

“Your Majesty, today is the state banquet between our two nations.”

“Good!” The Emperor laughed bitterly, pointing at him. “So you do know it’s the state banquet!”

“And yet, you dared to allow your daughter to cause trouble at the banquet! Not only did she tamper with the wine, but she also swapped tokens from other mansions to frame and incriminate others!”

“Here I am, in this imperial palace, at this state banquet, and yet your daughter dares to act so brazenly! Such ambition and audacity are truly remarkable!”

Most present had assumed the Emperor’s fury was directed at Wen Yue Sheng.

No one had expected the first to face judgment would be Zhou Yuan Du.

The hall fell deathly silent. The Zhou family, including the recently enraged Lady Sun, immediately knelt before the Emperor.

“Da Hui and Hao Zhou have been at war for years. Today’s banquet is of utmost importance! As an official of the court, you failed to relieve my burdens. And your daughter, as a citizen of Da Hui, does not know the weight of her actions!”

“Extending your reach so far—Zhou Yuan Du, I must ask, when did this palace become yours and your daughter’s domain?”

With these words, not only the Zhou family but all the officials present knelt in unison.

Zhou Yuan Du closed his eyes, his face ashen. He spoke in a low voice, “I am guilty of crimes deserving death.”

“Indeed, you deserve it!” the Emperor declared sternly. “Hear my decree: Zhou Yuan Du, Assistant Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, failed to discipline his household and indulged his daughter’s misdeeds. Effective immediately, he is demoted to Magistrate of Fuzhou.”

“His daughter, Zhou Yu Jie, malicious and unfit as a wife or mother, is to be assigned three governesses to oversee her conduct. She is forbidden to leave the inner residence for the rest of her life!”

The Emperor’s words struck like thunder. Lady Sun Shi collapsed to the ground, unable to bear the weight of the blow.

She had never imagined the Emperor would punish their family instead of Wen Yuesheng!

Wen Yuesheng had been the one to poison someone with wine—how could she escape unscathed?

Why should their family suffer such a fate instead?

Yet on the other side, the Emperor had already turned his gaze to Wen Yuesheng.

His face was cold as he said, “Your actions were reckless and without discipline, repeatedly defying orders!”

Under countless watchful eyes, the Emperor pronounced each word deliberately: “Effective immediately, you are to enter the Royal Monastery for confinement. Without express permission, you are not to leave.”

Silence.

The entire hall and the courtyard beyond fell into a deafening stillness.

Compared to the punishment of the Zhou family, Wen Yuesheng’s reprimand was hardly consequential.

Even the Empress was taken aback by the leniency, wondering if the Emperor was deliberately favoring her.

Xiao Jin’s expression darkened further as he glanced at Wen Yue Sheng.

The Emperor had never been protecting Wen Yuesheng—he was protecting imperial authority.

No matter her faults, Wen Yuesheng carried the blood of the royal family.

Zhou Yu Jie’s actions were a transgression against that authority.

As a member of the imperial family, Wen Yue Sheng’s retaliation was justified and aligned with the rules.

The Emperor might detest her, but he would never undermine what she represented: the royal family.

Still, Xiao Jin was curious—had she understood all of this before she acted?

The wind began to rise.

The Emperor turned and reentered the hall.

Gu Yu draped a cloak over Wen Yuesheng’s shoulders.

As Wen Yuesheng walked past the Zhou family, her steps were unhurried.

Zhou Yujie, who always prided herself on status and rank, now had to witness what true power under imperial rule looked like.