“Your Majesty is curious, and I should explain it to you in detail, but it is not appropriate at the moment as we are still investigating this witchcraft case. Once the matter is resolved, Your Majesty will naturally understand.” Zhang Yu answered earnestly to Empress Dowager Feng’s question, without revealing any further details.
Empress Dowager Feng nodded and said, "Then I just need to wait." Empress Dowager Feng did not press further, and no one else had the right to question Zhang Yu.
So, the bewildered group watched as Zhang Yu summoned his chief eunuch, Lü Chuan, and whispered a few instructions to him to go and carry out his duties. After that, Zhang Yu remained silent, and the hall became extremely quiet and still.
·
Lu Chuan was gone for quite a while, but A-Hao wasn't worried. The Emperor's appearance, which took over the conversation, saved her a lot of trouble and saved her from having to say much, not to mention explaining why she had obtained such a rare item—even though such an item didn't actually exist. No wonder the Empress had said from the beginning that there was nothing to worry about.
Although she had sought information from Ling Xiao, her idea was too unrealistic and impossible to implement. After discussing it with the Empress, she simply abandoned the idea. However, saying she abandoned it isn't entirely accurate, because the rejected idea was transformed into a new method.
After getting up this morning, before leaving the house, she specially ordered some unusual, fragrant medicinal herbs from Ling Xiao in her room. Because they were different from ordinary spices, they were highly likely to go unnoticed. The so-called novelty and ingenuity were nothing but fabrications; Zhang Yu spoke so frankly and seriously that if she hadn't known beforehand, she might have believed him too.
Her room was cleaned by palace servants every day, so it wouldn't be difficult to pinpoint a few people. Her target was undoubtedly someone else. Understanding this person would allow one to deduce some of her actions. Even if things weren't so straightforward, she certainly wouldn't entrust such an important matter to someone else, otherwise it would be tantamount to leaving behind a potential source of exposure.
This might not quite amount to giving someone a taste of their own medicine, but it would certainly make Xue Liangyue suffer a severe loss. The Empress Dowager might spare Xue Liangyue's life, and the Empress had also hinted that Ahao didn't mind. She didn't necessarily want anyone dead; she just made her stance clear so that no one would think she was easy to bully.
After all that, it seemed no one cared about or paid attention to the issue of the puppets anymore. Issues such as needlework, embroidery techniques, and fabric were completely ignored. It even seemed that at this point, what mattered to everyone wasn't the witchcraft, but rather His Majesty's concern for the Empress and his undisguised protection of Song Shuhao.
Feng Hui couldn't help but keep checking on Song Shuhao. Even though the matter was far from over, she knew Song Shuhao was safe and sound today. She still couldn't understand what had happened to cause His Majesty to suddenly show such open pity and care for this person…
For as long as Lü Chuan was gone, the people inside the hall waited. Song Shuhao and Xue Liangyue knelt for a while before Empress Dowager Feng told them to get up and step aside, which was already an act of pity.
After an unknown amount of time, Lü Chuan came in to report that all the suspects had been identified. At this moment, even the restless Zhang Xin could no longer sit still, and the others were not much better off.
"Shouldn't we investigate the people inside this hall?"
Zhang Yu's words were like a thunderclap from a clear sky, instantly energizing the impatient crowd who all turned to look at the head of the hall.
·
When Xue Liangyue emerged from the main hall of Changning Palace, she felt somewhat disoriented, and her legs were weak. They almost... found out about her.
Gazing at the misty sky in the distance, Xue Liangyue realized it was noon. Having barely rested from her shift the night before, she felt a wave of dizziness. She took a deep breath, shook her head, and returned to her quarters with a heavy heart.
Once inside the room, she almost couldn't wait to sniff herself, noticing a peculiar fragrance that seemed both pleasant and unpleasant. Even after escaping the smell, she remained uneasy. After a moment's thought, she summoned someone to prepare hot water, saying she wanted to bathe and wash up.
When she placed the rag dolls in Song Shuhao's room, she did smell a strong, unfamiliar scent, but she didn't think much of it. Little did she know, it was waiting for her here. If the Empress Dowager hadn't intervened earlier, dissuading the Emperor from investigating the palace as well, she doesn't know what would have happened...
Xue Liangyue dared not sit down. She stood in the room until the palace servants announced that hot water had been prepared, then went to take a bath. She felt uneasy until she had washed and changed her clothes. Unless there was specific evidence, she thought it was impossible to convict her for this.
After bathing, Xue Liangyue returned to her room with her half-dry hair loosely tied in a bun. Unexpectedly, there was someone else in the room. Xue Liangyue recognized the person's back and asked, "Granny Zhu?"
The old woman, Granny Zhu, who also served Empress Dowager Feng, turned around with a long, taut face. She tossed a cloth bag at Xue Liangyue's feet and asked, "Aunt Xue, what are these?"
The bundle of cloth that had rolled to the ground was slightly scattered, revealing its contents: scraps of fabric, needles, and thread. Xue Liangyue stared speechlessly at the things at her feet, her mind racing: how could something she had clearly disposed of have ended up in someone else's hands…?
Granny Zhu beckoned, and two burly eunuchs with expressionless faces entered. Before Xue Liangyue could react, they seized her and took her away. Xue Liangyue struggled in vain, and sobbed, "Granny Zhu, what are you doing? Why are you treating me like this all of a sudden?"
"If Aunt Xue has anything to say, she should save it for His Majesty and the Empress Dowager. It won't do any good no matter how much you talk to me," said Granny Zhu coldly. With a wave of her hand, the two eunuchs escorted Xue Liangyue out. She followed closely behind and left Xue Liangyue's room, still heading towards Changning Palace.
Instead of trapping others, Xue Liangyue found herself trapped in the trap, and her heart grew colder and colder.
Chapter 53 Plea
Back at Changning Palace, everyone who had been in the main hall had dispersed. Xue Liangyue was forced to kneel by a powerful eunuch. Looking up, she saw Zhang Yu, Empress Dowager Feng, and Feng Hui. In a daze, Xue Liangyue stared at the three of them, her eyes devoid of their former brilliance.
After paying their respects, Granny Yao said, "After Aunt Xue returned home, she had hot water prepared for her to take a bath, and these things were found in Aunt Xue's room." The things that were originally meant for Xue Liangyue were now being displayed in front of Zhang Yu, Empress Dowager Feng, and Feng Hui.
Feng Hui cursed Xue Liangyue inwardly for not dealing with this incriminating evidence sooner. If Xue Liangyue knew what Feng Hui was thinking, she would surely defend herself and cry out her innocence a few more times.
In fact, Xue Liangyue had indeed disposed of these things. Initially, she planned to burn them, but had to abandon the idea due to the smell. Later, when no one was around, she secretly buried them, thinking that would be the end of it, but they were unexpectedly dug up. Granny Yao's claim that they were found during a search of the house was not true.
Zhang Yu didn't look at Granny Yao or Xue Liangyue, but faced Empress Dowager Feng and asked, "What does Mother think?" While it sounded like he was asking for Empress Dowager Feng's opinion, he was actually just asking her to acknowledge Xue Liangyue's guilt and wrongdoing. He didn't care about Consort Shu's opinion at all; having Consort Shu brought back was a warning on another level.
Previously, Zhang Yu had proposed investigating everyone in the palace, but Empress Dowager Feng had refused. Later, Zhang Yu dismissed everyone, saying he would leave them for further investigation. After all the concubines in Changning Palace had returned, and the eldest and youngest princesses had also left, Zhang Yu remained.
Although the suggestion to Empress Dowager Feng was to pay attention to the movements of others, the real purpose was simply to get Empress Dowager Feng to send someone to bring Xue Liangyue back, which led to the subsequent events. Throughout, Empress Dowager Feng remained indifferent and genuinely showed little interest. Consort Shu, fearing involvement, refrained from speaking out of turn and remained docile throughout.
"If the evidence is conclusive, then we should do what needs to be done." Empress Dowager Feng said without blinking, sounding perfectly fair and just.
Empress Dowager Feng, who had been looking at Zhang Yu, looked away and turned to Xue Liangyue. After a moment's hesitation, she changed her tone and said, "However, I am reluctant to let go of the person I have raised by my side for so many years."
He had gained a good reputation by adopting her, and now it would be difficult to save face if he didn't plead for her life... Zhang Yu himself didn't care about such empty reputations, but Empress Dowager Feng certainly did. He was aware of this and had planned to spare Xue Liangyue's life from the beginning, but he wasn't prepared to readily agree to Empress Dowager Feng's request.
"Let the Censorate detain the man first. We can deal with him after we have thoroughly investigated the matter."
Zhang Yu's words made Feng Hui's face stiffen instantly, and her hands, hidden in her sleeves, clenched tightly. Empress Dowager Feng noticed the change in her expression out of the corner of her eye and felt displeased, but she couldn't say anything at the moment. She simply nodded, agreeing with Zhang Yu's point, "Your Majesty is right, it's best to wait and see."
Xue Liangyue, who was taken to Changning Palace, was not questioned and never had a chance to speak. She knelt in the hall, staring down at the ground, as if her whole being was frozen in place.
·
Zhang Yu left Changning Palace and did not return to Xuanzhi Hall, but went to Fengyang Palace instead. Empress Dowager Feng was in a bad mood and did not keep Feng Hui to speak, telling her to go back first. Feng Hui had no choice but to return to Yuquan Palace first, leaving a step behind Zhang Yu.
He rode in the imperial carriage all the way to Fengyang Palace. Empress Shen was bedridden, and only palace servants knelt to greet Zhang Yu. He didn't look to either side, went straight into the palace, found Empress Shen's room, and went to speak with her. Empress Shen was clearly waiting for him, even though someone had already delivered a message to Changning Palace.
"Your Majesty has worked hard."
Without forcing herself to get up, Shen Wanru lay on the bed, her face pale, weakly and softly saying these words to Zhang Yu. The palace servants who were serving in the room had all left when Zhang Yu entered, and Hongling and Luyi stood guard outside, so they didn't need to hold back when they spoke.
Zhang Yu didn't have much to say and didn't plan to stay long. He simply stood by the bed and said, "It's alright, you don't need to worry. Just take good care of yourself. Let the Shenxing Division detain Xue Liangyue for now. We can continue the interrogation later. This matter hasn't caused any trouble."
Shen Wanru nodded slowly, having no objection to Zhang Yu's words. After a pause, she spoke again, saying to Zhang Yu, "Aunt Song has also worked hard this time."
Zhang Yu thought to himself that the person he thought had worked hard hadn't even moved his lips much. Then he thought of Song Shuhao kneeling in the hall for a long time and how he had once punished her by making her knees bruise... He decided to just take a look at her and find an important reason to see Song Shuhao.
Mentioning Song Shuhao yielded no response. Zhang Yu's noncommittal attitude took on a different meaning in Shen Wanru's eyes. She lowered her eyes unconsciously, remaining silent. The brief silence was followed by Zhang Yu's further instructions to take good care of his health and his preparations for leaving.