Chapter 36

~In Yude Hall Study~

“Your Highness, the investigation into Concubine Su’s palace attire, conducted by both my people and the Empress’s people, has made progress.”

Anshun bent slightly at the waist, raising his eyes respectfully toward the Crown Prince, who was focused on reviewing memorials.

Jun Zechen remained expressionless as he held a red pen, meticulously going through the documents. His handsome face showed no emotion, yet an invisible pressure emanated from him.

“Palace maid Ruer used to serve in Qiluan Hall before Concubine Su entered the palace. However, she was sent back to the Internal Affairs Office because she did not gain the favor of the Crown Princess.”

Anshun spoke cautiously. After all, everyone in the Eastern Palace knew that the two most important figures were the Crown Princess and Concubine Su, and now their names were tied together in this matter.

Jun Zechen’s deep eyes flickered slightly, but he continued writing.

Anshun continued, “Later, Ruer used some money and connections to get assigned to Xiyan Hall after Concubine Su entered the Eastern Palace.”

He carefully observed the Crown Prince’s reaction as he spoke.

“Ruer went to the Lotus Pond after Concubine Su left for Taihe Hall. There, she was pushed into the water and drowned. The palace coroner confirmed that she had indeed drowned.”

“But when her body was found, it had already been soaking for several hours, making it swollen and hard to identify. However, she was holding a handkerchief belonging to Lady An.”

Anshun paused briefly.

Jun Zechen’s brows furrowed even tighter, and a hint of anger flashed through his eyes. These women would stop at nothing.

“I personally questioned Lady An. One of her maids claimed she had lost the handkerchief several days ago and didn’t know how it ended up with Ruer.”

Anshun sighed inwardly. He had thought this would be a major clue, but Lady An reacted quickly and had a maid take the blame.

“I took the maid in for questioning, but yesterday, she managed to take her own life by slamming her head against the wall.”

At this, Anshun’s expression turned tense and worried.

This was a key witness, and now that she was dead, the trail had gone cold.

A flash of cold ruthlessness passed through Jun Zechen’s eyes. Then, he uttered two words: “Useless.”

Anshun’s heart tightened, and he immediately knelt down, his body trembling slightly. “Please forgive me, Your Highness. This was my oversight.”

“Although the lead regarding Lady An is lost, the Empress has made a new discovery,” Anshun quickly added, trying to redeem himself.

Jun Zechen slightly lifted his gaze at Anshun before lowering his head again, signaling for him to continue.

“This palace maid, Ruer, entered the palace at a young age. Before serving in Qiluan Hall, she worked in Consort Shu’s palace.”

“That was years ago. If not for the Empress personally going through old records, this detail would have been nearly impossible to uncover.”

The palace archives were extensive and not easily accessible. Without the Empress’s permission, searching through them was out of the question.

Jun Zechen understood the effort his mother had put in and felt grateful toward her.

“The Empress believes that if Consort Shu was involved, this matter is not simple.”

“If Consort Shu first placed Ruer in the Crown Princess’s palace and then later arranged for her to serve Concubine Su, the Empress suspects she may have been targeting Your Highness’s heir…”

Anshun’s voice lowered slightly.

At this, Jun Zechen finally set down his pen.

His gaze turned sharp and dangerous, like a blade, sending chills through the air.

He absentmindedly twisted the jade ring on his finger, his expression cold, but his presence exuding an overwhelming sense of authority.

Could it be that Consort Shu still had hopes for the Third Prince?

Ridiculous.

Even if he had no heir, did she really think the Third Prince could shake his position as Crown Prince?

His title was granted by the Emperor himself. With his father’s support, most senior officials in the imperial court stood by him.

Furthermore, his recent reforms in the imperial examination and appointments of officials had gained the favor of many within the court.

Not to mention, ever since he returned victorious from battle, he had held military power in his hands.

Consort Shu, a mere concubine in the harem, was short-sighted if she believed that lacking an heir would hinder his path to the throne.

Or had he been too merciful, giving the Third Prince false hope?

Jun Zechen pondered silently, his expression growing colder.

Xiyan Hall

An Jinyan sat on the couch, frowning deeply, filled with doubt and unease.

She never expected that the incident of Concubine Su being drugged with motherwort would somehow implicate her.

How did her handkerchief end up with Ruer?

If she hadn’t been cautious and had her maid Ting’er take the blame, she would have been framed.

Who was trying to set her up?

The Crown Princess?

An Jinyan didn’t know for sure who was behind it, but she understood that in situations like these, sacrifices were inevitable.

Ting’er had died, but An Jinyan would write to her mother to ensure her family was taken care of.

Ever since she knew she would enter the palace, An Jinyan had abandoned her kindness. In the treacherous imperial harem, she had to be extremely careful.

A single misstep could lead to her downfall. She couldn’t afford to make any mistakes.

“Master, Ting’er is dead. Your connection to Concubine Su’s case has been completely severed.”

“The Crown Prince and the Empress won’t punish you, but if His Highness starts doubting you, how will you maintain his favor?”

Bai Zhi said worriedly.

An Jinyan’s expression darkened. That was indeed a concern.

She had won in her struggle against Tang Fengyi’s pregnancy.

Though Tang Fengyi was still carrying the Crown Prince’s heir, her body had suffered. She might not be able to give birth safely.

Even if she did, she would be on the brink of death.

Meanwhile, the Crown Princess had been stripped of her golden imperial decree by the Empress, reducing her to a mere figurehead.

If the Crown Prince ascended the throne while the Crown Princess was still without her golden decree, she wouldn’t even qualify to be Empress.

However…

She could not afford to lose the Crown Prince’s favor!

“The Crown Prince and the Empress are investigating Concubine Su’s case. I did nothing wrong, so I have nothing to fear.”

“His Highness is wise and just. He won’t blame me unfairly.”

An Jinyan tried to reassure herself.

“Besides, Concubine Su is kind-hearted. If I appeal to her emotionally, she won’t suspect me. If she doesn’t doubt me, His Highness won’t either.”

The Eastern Palace had been shrouded in tension lately.

Yet, in Xiyan Hall, the atmosphere was relaxed.

“Master, several days have passed, and they still haven’t traced the case back to Lady An,” Miao Yun said, puzzled.

Su Jingyao narrowed her eyes in thought.

If that was true, then maybe Ruer wasn’t working for Lady An after all.

An Jinyan entered the Eastern Palace after her. She had no loyal servants yet—unless they were secretly planted by her family.

But using such resources before the Crown Prince ascended would be reckless.

Moreover, if the Empress investigated thoroughly, she could trace them back.

“It doesn’t matter, as long as I achieve my goal.”

Su Jingyao gently stroked her belly and spoke calmly.

Her face showed no emotion, but the slight upward curve of her lips revealed a hint of satisfaction.

“But, Mistress, didn’t you want to kill two birds with one stone? Now that the Crown Princess has been stripped of her title, An Liangdi is feeling quite pleased with herself,” Miaoyun said indignantly, her brows furrowed in dissatisfaction.

“Miaoyun, you can’t just look at the surface of things.”

Su Jingyao smiled meaningfully, a mix of cunning and calculation in her expression.

“My goal has always been clear—to make the Empress despise the Crown Princess and stop her from becoming the Empress in the future, and to make the Crown Prince hate An Liangdi so that she loses his favor. Haven’t I already achieved that?”

It was never her goal to have them both killed.

Ling Yue must not die now. If she did, she would become an eternal wound in Jun Zechen’s heart.

As for An Jinyan, if she didn’t harm her child, then Su Jingyao would let her go—for now.

An Jinyan came from a good family, and her father was a marquis with some power. Without solid evidence, she couldn’t be punished easily.

For generations, the rulers of the imperial family had tried to separate the imperial court from the harem, but was that ever truly possible?

With a strong family background, even if An Jinyan wasn’t favored by the Crown Prince, she wouldn’t have too miserable a life.

Unless the Crown Prince’s hatred for her grew strong enough—just like how the original host of this body had suffered in the original story—then perhaps An Jinyan would truly be doomed.

Miaoyun thought about her mistress’s words for a while and realized that she made sense.

Then, Su Jingyao continued, “Right now, there aren’t many women in the Eastern Palace. Since the Crown Princess lost her title, if An Liangdi were also punished, I would be the one to benefit the most. Smart people judge based on results, and this situation will bring more attention to me.”

Su Jingyao had no intention of revealing her ambitions too soon, nor did she want to ruin the innocent and virtuous image she had worked so hard to build.

“If An Liangdi remains safe for now, everyone will just see this as a struggle between her and the Crown Princess, while I will always be seen as the innocent one caught in the middle.”

“Mistress is wise. I have learned from you,” Miaoyun said respectfully.

Su Jingyao was very satisfied with how things were going. She just needed to push Ling Yue a little further.

If the Empress completely lost hope in the Crown Princess, then when Jun Zechen ascended the throne, it would be nearly impossible for him to make Ling Yue his Empress.

Absentmindedly rubbing the red lacquer on her nails, Su Jingyao’s lips curled into a subtle smile.

She couldn’t wait to see Ling Yue demoted from wife to concubine. She wanted to push Ling Yue into complete darkness.

As for An Jinyan, she would let her continue being the perfect scapegoat for now.