"Your Majesty is right. After seeing the purse, everyone will know my innocence!" Shen Lixue chuckled as she took off the purse and handed it to Tian Meiren. Her fair hand, seemingly unintentionally, gently brushed across Tian Meiren's high, firm chest.
How foolish! The faster she compromises, the more miserable her death will be!
Tian Meiren smiled and accepted it, a strange smile flashing in her eyes. She quickly opened it, and found nothing inside except for a few small beads. Her joy instantly froze: How could this be?
Tian Meiren turned the perfectly good purse inside and out, almost tearing it apart, but still found nothing. Her excited heart sank instantly: Where is Ziyu? Where is Ziyu? How could she not be here?
Disappointed at not finding the purple jade, Shen Yingxue glared at Shen Lixue resentfully: "Your Majesty, the little white cat was meowing so loudly just now, the purple jade must be on Shen Lixue. She must have hidden a purse or a sachet..."
Tian Meiren's eyes lit up, and she said coldly, "Chen Lixue, stop playing coy. Take out the purse and sachet you're carrying. Confess now, and Consort Li and I will beg the Emperor to spare your life. If you continue to be stubborn, the consequences will be far beyond what you can bear..."
"Meow!" The little white cat suddenly sprang up and pounced on Tian Meiren. Tian Meiren panicked and covered her face. The little white cat's sharp claws slashed five long, bloody marks from her neck to her chest. It tore her clothes and half-dangled them from her chest, howling!
"Sister Lifei, quickly take the kitten away!" Tian Meiren cried out in terror, frantically hitting the little white cat. Damn little beast.
"Meow meow meow!" The little white cat was not to be outdone. Its eyes were wide open, and its four sharp claws scratched bloody marks all over Tian Meiren's body. Her clothes were torn in several places, revealing large areas of her body. The scene was quite erotic.
The princes glanced to the side, pretending not to see anything. Dongfang Heng's deep gaze remained fixed on the horizon, completely oblivious to the erotic scene. Nangong Xiao, meanwhile, lightly waved his folding fan and scoffed, "A middle-aged woman, still trying to be seductive..."
"Kitty, stop fooling around!" Consort Li hurried forward, picked up the flailing white cat, and Tian Meiren quickly straightened her clothes.
"Look, what's that?" someone exclaimed. Everyone looked down and saw a crystal-clear purple jade pendant lying at Tian Meiren's feet, its brilliance dazzling the eyes.
"It's Ziyu!" All the mocking and disdainful gazes of the crowd were focused on Tian Meiren. It turned out that she was the thief.
"What's going on?" Consort Tian cried out in alarm, clutching her clothes in a disheveled state. She had clearly instructed the palace maid to switch Shen Lixue's purse; the purple jade should have been on her...
"Shen Lixue, you're the one who ruined me!" Tian Meiren exclaimed, lunging at Shen Lixue fiercely.
"Your Majesty, in full view of everyone, that purple jade fell from your body!" Shen Lixue said calmly, turning slightly to the side, and Tian Meiren missed her target.
The Empress slammed her hand on the chair, stood up, and shouted angrily, "Guards, arrest Consort Tian!"
Two palace maids stepped forward and brought Consort Tian over: "Consort Tian, you stole the purple jade. We have witnesses and physical evidence. What else do you have to say?"
Consort Tian's arms were tightly twisted behind her back, rendering her unable to move. She cried out urgently, "Sister, I am innocent..."
"No need for further words!" The Empress waved her hand, interrupting Consort Tian. "Whether you are wronged or not, I will make my own judgment!"
"Empress..." Consort Li looked at Consort Tian with eager eyes, but hesitated to speak.
The Empress smiled faintly, her gaze carrying a deeper meaning: "Does Consort Li wish to plead for Consort Tian?"
"We are sisters in the harem, so let's not make things too difficult for each other." Consort Li smiled gently, showing her understanding and sensibility: "Leave some room for maneuver in human relationships, so that we can meet again in the future!"
"Consort Li and Lady Tian are like sisters, and I couldn't bear to see her suffer. But Lady Tian doesn't treat Consort Li like a sister; otherwise, why would she steal your purple jade!" The Empress looked at Consort Li with a half-smile.
"The palace is a vital place for Qingyan, and the actions of the concubines in the harem represent the entire Qingyan. If the theft were to become public, Qingyan would lose all face. If the emperor were to punish us, who could bear the consequences?"
Consort Li's smile froze. The words she had used to shut the Empress up had actually been turned on her instead.
The Empress glanced at Consort Tian and softened her voice: "Moreover, Consort Tian stole a piece of purple jade, a serious crime. If she is given a lenient sentence, wouldn't that be an insult to the sacred object bestowed by His Majesty?"
Consort Li lowered her eyelids slightly. Consort Tian had committed a serious crime and could no longer remain in the harem. Should she make a decisive decision and sacrifice a pawn to save the king?
052 Discussing the patient's condition in the car
The Empress glanced at Consort Li and Lady Tian, her smile enigmatic: "Put Lady Tian in jail. We will discuss the matter with the Emperor before making a final judgment!"
Consort Tian's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, eased slightly. Since the Empress hadn't executed her immediately, she still had a chance to escape punishment. She looked at Consort Li with a wronged expression: "Sister Li, in the harem, you and I are the closest of sisters. We have no secrets from each other. You know best about Ziyu's matter. You must explain things to the Emperor and Empress for me..."
"Of course!" Consort Li said, her smile radiant, but her heart sank. She was about to be thrown into prison, losing all favor, and yet Consort Tian still had the nerve to threaten her with that secret. She would definitely plead for her 'well'.
"Thank you, sister. You really care about me!" Tian Meiren gently wiped her eyes with a silk handkerchief. As she was being escorted out of the palace, her gaze quickly swept over a certain spot.
Shen Lixue followed her gaze and frowned. Ten meters away, Nangong Xiao was talking intensely, tapping the Fifth Prince's head with his folding fan from time to time. The Fifth Prince listened to the reprimand with his head down, without saying a word. Dongfang Heng had already disappeared. The Crown Prince stood tall and elegant, giving instructions to the eunuchs in a low voice, while the Third Prince looked up at the sky with boredom.
Shen Lixue narrowed her eyes slightly: Consort Tian was only eighteen years old, as beautiful as a flower. She had just entered the palace last year and had no children yet. The way she looked at the princes before she left was very... intriguing...
With Ziyu found and the matter resolved, the Empress, Consort Li, the Crown Prince, and the Third Prince left the palace one after another.
The noble ladies and young women, who had come to the palace to offer birthday greetings, were disheartened by this unexpected turn of events. They lost all interest in resting and began to leave the palace in twos and threes, preparing to return home.
Shen Yingxue quickened her pace to walk alongside Shen Lixue, her sharp tone filled with sarcasm: "Sister, you really have a clever way of doing things, actually pinning the crime of stealing the purple jade on Consort Tian..."
Shen Lixue coldly looked at Shen Yingxue: "Did you see me framing and slandering Tian Meiren?"
The chill in her words sent a jolt through Shen Yingxue, a sudden panic gripping her. Her gaze darted away, her voice weak and feeble: "No." If she had seen it, how could she still be standing here so carefree?
Shen Lixue said coldly, "Everything should be based on evidence. Don't make baseless accusations without seeing it with your own eyes. We are sisters, and I won't hold it against you. But if you offend someone important one day, the entire Prime Minister's residence will suffer..."
'I...I...!' Shen Yingxue choked, her face turning red and white in turns. It took her a long time to find her voice. She quickly walked a few steps out of the palace gate and blocked the Prime Minister's carriage. She said proudly, 'I'm sorry, Sister Lixue, the carriage is not very spacious and cannot accommodate too many people. Please find another way to get back to the mansion!'
Ordinary families wouldn't dare come here in their carriages. Even if Shen Lixue had the money, she couldn't hire a carriage and had to walk back. Haha, how embarrassing and shameful!
The noble ladies and young ladies boarded their carriages and left one after another. No one offered Shen Lixue a ride. Shen Lixue was not annoyed. She looked around and slowly walked to a luxurious carriage: "Prince An, the carriages in the Prime Minister's residence are full. Can you give me a ride?"
Prince An stood tall and elegant, gazing at Shen Lixue. She smiled gently, graceful and composed, and her eyes seemed to hold a bright flame, making it impossible for anyone to refuse her request.
Dongfang Heng's obsidian-like eyes narrowed slightly. Amidst the gloating gazes of the other young ladies, he spoke calmly, "Get in the car!"
"Thank you!" Shen Lixue smiled slightly and got into the carriage.
Shen Yingxue's face instantly darkened, her gloating turning into raging fury. She was so angry she almost exploded, her gaze like sharp blades, wishing she could tear Shen Lixue to pieces. "She seizes every opportunity to seduce Prince An, what a despicable woman!"
As the prince's carriage set off, the young ladies, recovering from their shock, exchanged disbelief: Wasn't Prince An's carriage never for outsiders? How could he have let Shen Lixue board so easily? Was it because she was his fiancée?