050 Designed and framed again
Mu Zhengnan was taken away, and the crowd dispersed in twos and threes to take a nap. Shen Lixue glanced at Qinghua and the indifferent Dongfang Heng. There were too many people here, so it was inconvenient. She would thank him after leaving the palace.
The palace where the midday rest was located was situated by a tranquil lake, in a beautiful setting. Consort Li, Consort Tian, and several other concubines were playing chess in the pavilion. Shen Lixue, along with the noble ladies and young ladies, paid their respects and were about to go to their guest rooms to rest when an old man and several eunuchs approached.
"Consort Li has assisted the Empress in organizing the birthday banquet, working tirelessly and making invaluable contributions. His Majesty has specially bestowed upon her a piece of purple jade from the South China Sea!" As he spoke, the old man lifted the exquisite box in the little eunuch's hand, revealing a piece of crystal-clear purple jade to everyone, its brilliance dazzling the eye.
"This purple jade is so beautiful!"
"It's priceless!"
The noble ladies and young ladies stared intently at Ziyu, whispering their admiration.
Shen Lixue raised her eyebrows slightly. It was said that the purple jade was a tribute from the South China Sea, and there was only one of its kind in the world. The Emperor bestowed it upon Consort Li, which showed how much he favored her...
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!" Consort Li smiled as she accepted the purple jade, caressing it repeatedly with obvious delight. Her well-maintained and beautiful face radiated a dazzling smile. "Today is the Empress Dowager's birthday, and I have also prepared gifts for everyone!"
"Thank you, Your Highness!" The noble ladies and young ladies smiled and curtsied in thanks. As members of high-ranking noble families, they did not lack such gifts, but what Consort Li gave was a token of her affection, and they would not refuse it.
Shen Lixue smiled slightly. Consort Li was overjoyed to receive the purple jade and, in the name of the Empress Dowager, generously rewarded everyone. She was very good at dealing with people and also knew how to please them.
The gifts from Consort Li were varied and exquisite. Shen Lixue received a scarlet purse embroidered with purple magnolia flowers and containing two large, shimmering pearls.
Sitting on the small bed in the palace, Shen Lixue looked at the purse and pearls, and the corners of her mouth slightly raised. The gift was simple on the outside, but it contained a lot of substance. The weight was just right, so it would not cause any controversy. Even when giving gifts, Consort Li was so tactful. She was really not simple.
The curtain opened, and a young woman walked in gracefully. Her bright face and gentle smile revealed her to be Su Yuting: "Sister Lixue, what a coincidence! We're staying in the same room!"
“It’s quite a coincidence!” Shen Lixue slowly put away her purse, looked up at Su Yuting, her dark eyes unfathomable: “Miss Su, why did you help me make false evidence by the rockery just now?” Su Yuting was quite scheming, and she always had her own purpose in doing everything. Helping her make false evidence was no exception.
"Sister Lixue, Yuting never lies. I just testified for you because I really saw you outside Yongning Palace!" Su Yuting said firmly, her dark eyes meeting Shen Lixue's cold gaze, clear and bright, without the slightest fear.
Shen Lixue smiled faintly, "I'm tired, let's rest!" Su Yuting was unwilling to tell the truth, and there was no use in forcing her, so she held back for the time being and waited to see what tricks she would play.
Shen Lixue lay on her side on the bed with her eyes closed, resting. She opened her eyes slightly and quietly watched Su Yuting's every move.
Su Yuting lay gracefully on her side on the small bed, gently closed her eyes, and her breathing gradually became even.
After some time, voices could be heard from next door, and a flurry of footsteps could be heard outside the door, indicating that the guests had rested enough and were preparing to return home.
Shen Lixue slowly got out of bed, tidied her clothes, and stepped out of the room. Just as she stepped out of the door, Su Yuting, who was fast asleep, suddenly opened her eyes, a strange smile flashing in her eyes.
Shen Lixue had been cooped up in the Prime Minister's residence and didn't know many people. After leaving her room, she didn't linger and walked straight out of the palace, enjoying the warm breeze.
Suddenly, a palace maid bumped into her arm, causing her crimson purse to fall to the ground: "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry!"
The young palace maid apologized repeatedly, quickly picked up the scarlet purse, dusted it off, and handed it to Shen Lixue: "I'm sorry, Miss, I didn't mean to!"
"It's nothing!" Shen Lixue didn't mind, smiled and took the purse, and continued walking. Just as she was about to leave the palace, dozens of palace maids and eunuchs suddenly appeared and blocked the palace door. Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, Consort Tian and Consort Li walked in slowly.
"What happened?" The ladies exchanged glances, looking at each other in bewilderment.
Shen Lixue lowered her eyelids slightly. Consort Tian and Consort Li were both very aggressive and seemed to have ill intentions. What exactly did they want to do?
Consort Tian gently patted the little white cat in her arms and said coldly, "The purple jade that the Emperor bestowed upon Consort Li is missing. Changchun Palace has already been searched, and this cat followed the scent here."
She glanced around at everyone and then said, slowly and deliberately, "The Purple Jade must be with one of you!"
The noblewomen's expressions changed instantly, and they said coldly, "Does Lady Tian mean that we are thieves?" They were from high-ranking noble families and were of upright character; how could they do such a thing as stealing?
Shen Lixue's eyelids twitched for no reason, and an ominous premonition rose in her heart. She glanced at the little white cat, one blue eye and one yellow eye, which were darting around warily, glancing at the people around them.
"That purple jade was a gift from His Majesty, and it was lost in just three quarters of an hour. I am ashamed of failing His Majesty's grace, which is why I brought people here to search for it. Sister Tian was also anxious in a moment of panic. I hope you will all forgive me!" Consort Li spoke pitifully, touching the hearts of many people. The anger of the crowd instantly subsided by half. Losing or stealing a sacred object is a serious crime, so it is no wonder that Consort Li was anxious.
Lady Wen sighed and said gently, "I wonder if Your Highness has any way to find Ziyu? The young ladies are all still unmarried, so I hope Your Highness will not search them."
"No need to search them!" Consort Li smiled and took the little white cat from Consort Tian's hands, her gaze sweeping over everyone indifferently: "This little cat was raised by me personally, and it is most familiar with my scent. I took the purple jade, and it has my scent on it. It can find the purple jade by its scent!"
Consort Li loosened her grip, and the little white cat fell to the ground. Its delicate nose sniffed around each of the female guests, then suddenly barked fiercely at Shen Yingxue. Shen Yingxue exclaimed in surprise and hurriedly explained, "My gift was given to me personally by Consort Li. Perhaps it has her scent on it!"
As she spoke, she quickly took out a sachet and placed it in front of the kitten. The kitten closed its eyes, stepped away, and went to sniff other people. Shen Yingxue secretly breathed a sigh of relief, glad that she had passed the test. However, everyone laughed and said that she was really timid and was frightened by a cat.
Suddenly, the little white cat stopped in front of Shen Lixue, glaring at her fiercely and meowing incessantly...
Episode 051: Battle Against Tian Meiren
Consort Li gave a cold laugh, while Consort Tian was secretly delighted. Shen Yingxue was taken aback at first, but the gloom from before vanished instantly, and she was overjoyed inside. However, she pretended not to know and exclaimed in surprise, "What's going on? Could it be that Ziyu is on Sister Lixue?"
Instantly, everyone's eyes fell on Shen Lixue, filled with suspicion, mockery, contempt, and disdain, sending chills down the spines of those who saw it.
The Fifth Prince could no longer stand it and shouted, "How could someone as noble and elegant as Miss Shen be a petty thief? Find the evidence before you draw any conclusions!"
Nangong Xiao raised an eyebrow and flicked the Fifth Prince's forehead. This simple-minded fellow had meant well but ended up making things worse.
The little white kitten bristled and bared its teeth at Shen Lixue. Su Yuting pretended not to know anything and said indifferently, "Sister Shen, did you accept Consort Li's sachet like Yingxue? Take it out and let the kitten sniff it, and it will leave."
Shen Yingxue glanced at Shen Lixue triumphantly, her eyes full of disdain: "The Empress's sachets are for true noble ladies, how could they be given to a country girl?"
“A palace maid bumped into my arm just now. Perhaps she carries Consort Li’s scent, which has tainted me…” Shen Lixue said calmly, her gaze slightly darkening. When the palace maid apologized to her, she kept her head down, and Shen Lixue didn’t get a clear look at the maid’s face…
“Sister Lifei rarely had any physical contact with the palace maids. Even if the palace maids were tainted with Sister Lifei’s scent, it was very faint. That kitten couldn’t possibly have meowed so fiercely at Miss Chen.” Consort Tian walked over with a smile, a mysterious light flickering in her eyes.
Shen Lixue smiled slightly: "Does Your Majesty suspect that I stole the Purple Jade?"
Tian Meiren smiled slightly, neither admitting nor denying: "If Miss Shen has nothing to hide, then take out the item and let the kitten sniff it, and everyone will be at ease."
A suspicious gaze swept back and forth across Shen Lixue's waist, as if to say, "That scarlet purse is just the right size to hold the purple jade!"
Shen Lixue smiled, her gaze slightly deepening. This whole affair was a setup from the very beginning, a scheme devised by others to frame her. Stealing the purple jade was a serious crime. Once verified, even if she wasn't executed, she would be disgraced and expelled from the Prime Minister's residence.