"Summon An Erlang for an audience." The Youning Emperor strode into the room with heavy steps.
The emperor's expression was somber, carrying the unsettling calm before a storm. Everyone present bowed in unison, and the Youning Emperor casually waved his hand in acknowledgment.
As he passed by Shen Xihe, the emperor's deep gaze lingered on her for a few moments. Shen Xihe kept her eyes lowered and humbly stepped aside.
An Erlang was promptly brought forward. Unaware of what had transpired, when questioned and confronted with the Pingyao Marquis's heir, An Erlang openly admitted: "I did request Young Master Yu to hunt a deer for me, promising a ginseng root as reward."
Ginseng from the northeast, particularly from the Changbai Snow Mountains, was tribute of exceptional quality. What An Erlang had promised was clearly no ordinary specimen, which explained why the Pingyao Marquis's heir had been so determined to bag a sika deer.
"Why did you need to hunt a deer today?Liu Sanzhi asked at the emperor's gesture.
An Erlang sensed something was amiss but couldn't pinpoint what. He cast a pleading look toward his father, who dared not speak but subtly signaled with his eyes. Understanding he should tell the truth, An Erlang replied: "My younger sister craved venison. Having been injured while suppressing bandits before coming to the capital, I'm still unable to ride or shoot. Given my acquaintance with Young Master Yu, I asked him for this favor."
When such a prize as a sika deer was obtained, it was customary to inquire if the emperor wished to drink the antler blood—failure to do so would be disrespectful. Whether His Majesty would partake depended on fate, the only unpredictable element Shen Xihe had left in her scheme.
In truth, Shen Xihe was quite confident. Firstly, antler blood was a superior tonic regularly consumed by imperial family members for nourishment. The Youning Emperor placed great importance on health preservation. Sika deer weren't commonly encountered, and the emperor wouldn't order their hunt merely for culinary pleasure, lest local officials and wealthy families engage in excessive hunting. Each consumption occurred only when one was accidentally caught during hunts.
It had been quite some time since the last occasion. Secondly, recent events in Dengzhou had greatly troubled the Youning Emperor, who had summoned imperial physicians multiple times. Antler blood was known to strengthen the body and refresh the spirit—benefits the emperor wouldn't pass up.
As for whether the emperor might learn beforehand that Jade Mat Incense could stimulate the antler blood's aphrodisiac effects, Shen Xihe had already taken precautions.
Many incenses, including Jade Mat Incense, were sourced from Shen Xihe's Living-Alone Pavilion. However, the former Noble Consort Rong, now Rong Zhaoyi, held animosity toward Shen Xihe. She either stored these purchases away or distributed them to unpopular imperial consorts among the imperial clan, wanting nothing of Shen Xihe's to gain prominence. Thus, before Shen Xihe assumed palace authority, these items remained largely unknown.
It was only after Shen Xihe took charge of palace authority and reinspected the items brought to the temporary palace that these goods gradually saw daylight. Jade Mat Incense had been placed in the library and near An Zhengyi under Shen Xihe's direction.
Shen Xihe had full confidence in her incense. She knew that once the Youning Emperor tried it, he would appreciate its calming and refreshing properties, leading him to burn it frequently in the library. Repeated use would eliminate suspicion. The eunuch guarding the library was loyal to Shen Xihe; today, he had fallen victim to the An family's scheme, suffering from a sudden stomach ailment. The Youning Emperor, known for his benevolent rule, naturally wouldn't punish him for this.The reason An Zhengyi suddenly craved venison was actually because the maid who sent the message to An Erlang was impersonated by Shen Xihe—it was never An Zhengyi’s own intention. Moreover, the hunting trip organized that day was also instigated by Bu Shulin at Shen Xihe’s behest, with Ding Jue coincidentally scheduling it for that specific date.
Visiting the imperial retreat, autumn hunting was a common practice after the season turned, almost an unavoidable tradition. Had it not been for the Dengzhou incident this year, the emperor would likely have personally organized the autumn hunt. For young nobles like Ding Jue to go hunting raised no suspicions at all.
Every detail was orchestrated for An Zhengyi’s attempt to climb the Dragon bed. Knowing full well that antler blood and Jade Mat Incense were incompatible, she first learned about the planned hunt and, leveraging her brother’s affection, begged Ding Jue and the others to hunt a sika deer.
With the deer and its antler blood obtained, it was inevitable to offer such a prized item to the esteemed Your Majesty. How could the emperor refuse to consume such a delicacy upon hearing of it? An Zhengyi anticipated the emperor would drink it and knew he frequently visited the library, where Jade Mat Incense had recently been lit.
This formed a perfectly logical explanation, yet only the Youning Emperor and An Jingnan were aware that An Zhengyi absolutely had no intention of climbing the Dragon bed!
But what did their knowledge matter? The evidence was irrefutable.
How could they possibly reverse the situation for An Zhengyi? “Go, bring the An woman here,” the Youning Emperor pressed his temples.
Since ascending the throne, he had trod on thin ice, surrounded by enemies on all sides. Over the years, he had faced countless schemes and plots, always emerging victorious. By now, his authority had grown heavy with time, and he hadn’t felt so powerless and furious in ages.
He clearly knew who the true culprit was, understood he was being manipulated—even the entire process of the scheme had been laid bare before him—yet he found himself unable to punish the offender. Not only could he not punish the real culprit, but he also had to become a puppet in her hands, moving step by step according to her design!
The Youning Emperor had encountered all sorts of adversaries, but Shen Xihe was the first to be so audacious and unrestrained. Even during the era of eunuch dominance, those who bullied their masters never dared to be this insolent!
Had this happened over a decade ago, given his temperament, he would have been so enraged he’d spit blood!
An Zhengyi appeared weak and feeble. Even after being tidied up and dressed neatly, she still exuded a seductive charm, clearly not yet recovered from recent intimacy. Her state displeased seasoned officials like Cui Zheng and Tao Zhuanxian, who frowned at the sight.
“Why were you in Shu Fei’s palace?” the Youning Emperor asked.
“Your Majesty… this humble woman… this humble woman does not know…” An Zhengyi truly had no idea. She had merely taken a midday nap and fallen into a deep sleep. How could she wake up in Shu Fei’s palace, feeling limp and exhausted, and then…?
Tears rolled down her cheeks one by one. Though An Zhengyi had experienced her share of covert and overt struggles, priding herself on being strong-willed, this incident left her mind blank. She finally realized that her petty cleverness was like an ant trying to shake a tree—utterly insignificant in the face of certain individuals!
“Did you send someone to inform your brother of your desire to eat venison?” the Youning Emperor pressed.
“Your Majesty, I did not, I did not!” An Zhengyi shook her head tearfully, denying it.
Finally, the Youning Emperor asked, “Did you know that antler blood clashes with Jade Mat Incense?”An Zhengyi bit her lip, nodding only after a long pause. She knew this well—unlike the eunuch in the library, the Palace Service Department had informed her maid, who naturally passed the message to An Zhengyi. The appearance of Jade Mat Incense in her possession was deliberately arranged by Shen Xihe.
"Go, summon An's maid!" the Youning Emperor commanded again.
The eunuch who had withdrawn quickly returned in haste, trembling as he reported that An's maid had taken her own life.
A faint smile curled at Shen Xihe's lips.
"Your Majesty, the matter is clear. An's daughter, in her ambition to climb to wealth, plotted against Your Majesty, harming the imperial health. As one betrothed to the Eastern Palace by Your Majesty's decree, her actions further sow discord between Your Majesty and the Crown Prince, undermining Imperial Authority. I implore Your Majesty to punish her severely as a warning to others," Tao Zhuanxian declared with unwavering conviction.
"Your Majesty, my daughter's heart belongs solely to the Crown Prince. How could she dare entertain such delusions toward Your Majesty? I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly," An Jingnan persisted in a desperate struggle.
"Commandant An, all matters require evidence. The proof is irrefutable here. An Niangzi has acted with audacious recklessness, and you, Commandant An, share responsibility for failing in proper guidance. Were she an ordinary maiden, it might be different—but she holds the designated status of a consort in the Eastern Palace. Now, scheming against Your Majesty, she places You in an untenable position. How will Your Majesty face the Crown Prince hereafter? This must be met with strict punishment without leniency," Cui Zheng stated coldly.
"Your Majesty—" Ignoring them, An Jingnan knew he could not win against these silver-tongued civil officials and could only appeal to the Youning Emperor.
This was no longer solely about An Zhengyi. If the matter were concluded as such, An Zhengyi—as the Crown Prince's designated Liangdi—would inevitably be sentenced to death for plotting against the Emperor, to appease the Crown Prince. Her execution, as Cui Zheng noted, would reflect his own failure in upbringing, bringing disgrace upon the entire An family and implicating him as her father.
The Youning Emperor naturally sided with the father and daughter: "There remain unresolved doubts in this case. Order the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs and the Capital Prefect to collaborate in a detailed investigation. Within three days, they must ascertain..."
"Crown Princess..." Before the Emperor could finish, Tianyuan rushed in urgently. After paying respects to the Youning Emperor and the Empress Dowager, he urgently addressed Shen Xihe, "The Crown Prince, overwhelmed by fury, has vomited blood and collapsed!"
Youning Emperor: ...
Shen Xihe: ...
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