The Emperor could no longer contain his fury. He strode forward and kicked Ye Hua aside with a heavy blow, bellowing, "You disgraceful wretch!" His gaze then shifted to the naked Jiang Dan, and he suddenly let out a cold laugh. "Beat this woman who has defiled the imperial harem to death for me!"
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty!" Jiang Dan trembled in terror, regretting how she could have entangled herself with Ye Hua at such a time. Even if they had to seek each other out, they should have found a more secluded place. If not for losing control in the heat of passion today, they could have pretended to be discussing scriptures when the Emperor arrived, avoiding being caught red-handed. How could she have lost control like this?
In a flash of realization, Jiang Dan suddenly recalled the intoxicating sandalwood scent she had smelled upon entering, which had now vanished without a trace. She turned her gaze to Jiang Ruan, who stood beside the Emperor, a faint smile gracing her lips—a smile that appeared polite and gentle, yet Jiang Dan unmistakably detected mockery and disdain within it. Her mind went blank, and she lunged toward Jiang Ruan, crying, "Your Majesty, she framed me! She framed me! Fifth Prince and I are innocent!"
"Consort Jiang," Xiao Shao interjected, his voice as cold as ice, "my wife lacks the ability to frame you in Fifth Prince's bed."
"Xiao Shao, watch your mouth!" Ye Hua snapped in humiliation at Xiao Shao's taunt.
"Silence!" the Emperor roared once more, and Ye Hua immediately fell quiet. Jiang Dan shrank back, her eyes darting to Xiao Shao. The young man stood tall and poised, his features exquisitely handsome. Though Ye Hua was also good-looking, he paled in comparison to Xiao Shao, whose aloof demeanor softened subtly when his gaze rested on Jiang Ruan. The way he shielded her at every turn suddenly pierced Jiang Dan's heart. The scene before her felt unbearably grating—why did Jiang Ruan deserve such tender devotion from her young husband? What made her superior in any way? How could fate treat people so differently? The more envy festered in Jiang Dan's heart, the more vehement her protests became. She threw herself at the Emperor's feet, wailing pitifully, "No, Your Majesty, she framed me! She drugged us! Your servant and Fifth Prince are innocent—we were merely playing chess when we fell victim to her schemes! Your Majesty, you must believe me! My devotion to you is true... It was the incense! That incense was tainted!" She suddenly glared at Huijue, who stood silently with bowed head. "You even bribed the state preceptor! What did you offer him?"
Jiang Ruan nearly laughed aloud. Jiang Dan's reasoning was actually quite sound—she had quickly grasped the crux of the matter. Under normal circumstances, the Emperor might have seriously considered her words, perhaps even harboring a sliver of doubt toward Huijue. Unfortunately, Jiang Dan had chosen this moment to speak, and everyone would only see her as a desperate woman flailing in her death throes. To the Emperor, it would only stoke his fury further, as if she were toying with his authority.
To achieve anything, one must first understand it thoroughly. Jiang Dan believed that becoming the Emperor's favored consort and basking in his affection granted her complete insight into his thoughts—a notion far too simplistic. Serving a ruler was like taming a tiger; the Emperor's mind was inscrutable. Even in her past life, she had only managed to grasp a fraction of it after hearing Ye Li speak of such matters time and again.The Emperor was a man of absolute authority; once he had made up his mind about something, there was no changing it. Even if Jiang Dan were to argue her case now with no evidence, the Emperor would not believe her. Even if, by some remote chance, she were to produce some irrefutable proof, a favored concubine whose body had been defiled, a favored concubine who had been intimate with a prince—even if she were falsely accused—how could she possibly remain in the palace? No matter what, Jiang Dan’s life had been in the hands of the King of Hell from the moment the Emperor caught her and Ye Hua in their compromising position.
But this was not the end. A mere charge of defiling the imperial harem was clearly insufficient. Jiang Dan deserved far more. Jiang Ruan smiled faintly, slowly tucking her fingers into her sleeves, a peculiar glint flashing in her eyes.
"Consort Jiang, you know better than I what the consequences are for making false accusations," Jiang Ruan said with an air of leisurely grace, her face wearing just the right amount of surprise. "As you’ve said, if I were to falsely accuse you, what benefit would that bring me?"
Jiang Dan was left speechless, while Ye Hua, standing beside her, finally grasped the situation. Even now, he began to realize he had fallen into someone else’s trap. Though he was known for his reckless behavior, today’s inexplicable loss of self-control had been utterly bizarre. Suddenly, he understood the crux of the matter, and when he looked at Jiang Ruan again, he was certain she was involved. Recalling past events, he declared, "No, Father! Your son and Consort Jiang are truly innocent! It’s the Princess of Brocade Glory—it’s her! She conspired with the Thirteenth Prince to harm Eldest Brother, the Crown Prince, and now she seeks to frame me! They are nothing but wolves with treacherous hearts, Father! You must not be deceived by them!"
Ye Hua spoke with heartfelt sincerity, knowing full well that the struggle for succession had always been a sore spot for every emperor. He spared no effort in pressing this nerve. Though he didn’t know why Xiao Shao and the others had appeared here now, the matter of the arrows was undeniable. Even if Xiao Shao had used sweet words to temporarily deflect suspicion, the seeds of doubt had already taken root in the Emperor’s heart. What good could come of it for Xiao Shao? And by bringing up the still-ailing Crown Prince, he could hint at the truth. One son bedridden, another framed for colluding with a favored concubine—Ye Pei, backed by the Brocade Hero King Manor, a family with a history of rebellion, had every reason to commit such acts.
Ye Hua’s reasoning was not unfounded. He believed that at the very least, the Emperor would harbor suspicions toward Xiao Shao and Ye Pei. Jiang Dan also secretly sighed in relief. Ye Hua’s words had indeed alleviated much of the pressure. Hoping to leverage the Emperor’s past affection for her, Jiang Dan wept pitifully and said, "This concubine wouldn’t dare betray Your Majesty even with ten thousand lives! If not for being framed, how could I have ended up like this? Now, I have no face left to show anyone. I only beg Your Majesty to grant me a dignified death to preserve what little dignity I have left. But as for actively colluding—this charge is utterly absurd, and I refuse to accept it!"She put on an air of unyielding defiance. Jiang Dan knew well that the women the Emperor favored always carried a sense of untamed freedom, unbound by the constraints of noble households—like a wild breeze from the mountains, stubborn yet full of life. Noble Consort Chen had once enjoyed undying favor precisely because of this. Now, Jiang Dan had gained the Emperor’s attention by striving to appear different from other noble ladies. At this moment, her eyes brimmed with tears as she lifted her chin proudly, as if she truly possessed the unbreakable spirit of one who would rather die than yield. Like a delicate lotus trembling in the midst of a storm, her striking beauty lent her a unique charm.
But what Jiang Dan didn’t know was that the Emperor’s preference for such women stemmed from Hongxi Crown Prince’s consort, Xiang Xiaoyuan, who hailed from the wilderness—mysterious and free, exuding an ethereal aura absent in the palace’s noblewomen. The Emperor particularly admired this quality, which was why the concubines he later favored all bore traces of such untamed liveliness. While such a temperament was dazzling, it was rooted in Xiang Xiaoyuan’s very being. Jiang Dan’s current act, however, came off as a clumsy imitation, awkward and unconvincing. It only deepened the Emperor’s resentment, making him feel she was sullying Xiang Xiaoyuan’s purity and pride.
Instead of seeing affection in the Emperor’s eyes, Jiang Dan was met with a chilling gloom. Her heart sank as if doused in icy water, leaving her bewildered and unsure where she had gone wrong.
Jiang Ruan smiled faintly and spoke, "Fifth Prince, one may eat carelessly, but words must not be spoken recklessly. Where did you hear that I, along with His Highness and the Thirteenth Prince, conspired to harm the Crown Prince? Both the Crown Prince and the Thirteenth Prince are your brothers—how could such accusations even arise?"
Ye Hua mustered his courage to glance at the Emperor, but the coldness in the sovereign’s eyes sent a shiver down his spine. Yet, staying silent now meant certain death, so he stiffened his neck and declared, "The entire palace knows by now—the arrows that injured Eldest Brother the Crown Prince came from your Brocade Hero King Manor. If it wasn’t your doing, then whose was it? Hmph, I’ve also heard that the Princess of Brocade Glory has grown rather close to the Thirteenth Prince. He’s still young and naive, unaware of the gravity of such matters. The real fear is that he might be manipulated by schemers into committing an unforgivable crime without even realizing it. Princess of Brocade Glory, you sought to use the Thirteenth Prince to further your own ambitions, even at the expense of the Brocade Hero King Manor—am I wrong? What else do you have to say for yourself?"
Jiang Ruan smiled again. "Your words are indeed eloquent, Fifth Prince, and they almost sound convincing. However—" She deliberately drew out her words, her gaze sweeping past Xiao Shao to land on Ye Li, who had been observing from the sidelines. "There’s one thing you’ve overlooked. If what you say is true, then this matter doesn’t just involve me and the Thirteenth Prince—it also implicates the Eighth Prince."
Ye Li? Ye Hua’s expression faltered, and he turned to Ye Li in confusion. The Emperor’s face darkened with fury, his gaze at Ye Hua now filled with utter disappointment. A chill ran through Ye Hua’s heart—that look was all too familiar. It meant the Emperor was on the verge of completely abandoning him as a son... Yet he still didn’t understand what had gone wrong. Warily, he asked Jiang Ruan, "What do you mean by that?"Jiang Ruan grasped Xiao Shao's hand before turning to Ye Hua with a faint smile. "Fifth Prince, what you don't know is that while the arrow that injured the Crown Prince indeed bears the insignia of our manor, there's another detail you're unaware of. The arrows used to ambush the Crown Prince's personal guards carried the markings of the Eighth Prince's residence."
Ye Hua froze, looking at Ye Li in disbelief. Ye Li maintained his gentle smile, sighing softly as if deeply perplexed. "Fifth Brother, I too am unclear about this matter. Today, the Minister of Justice summoned me before His Majesty for confrontation, and indeed, the arrows were confirmed to be from my manor."
"Then... then you two conspired against me!" Ye Hua shouted. "Eighth Brother, you joined forces with the thirteenth prince, incited by this woman, to harm the Crown Prince and frame me! You seek my death—how ruthless! Have you no regard for brotherhood? Father! Father, I'm innocent! Father!"
"You dare say I've wronged you?" The Emperor laughed coldly, his mocking expression deepening, causing Ye Hua to shudder. Jiang Ruan's calm voice continued, "How strange, Fifth Prince. Why drag the Eighth Prince into this? How can you claim he and I conspired against the Crown Prince?"
"What's there to explain?" Ye Hua bellowed. "Your arrows were found at the scene—irrefutable evidence! They are clearly the murder weapons!"
Jiang Dan sensed danger and instinctively moved to cover Ye Hua's mouth. She knew Jiang Ruan excelled at leading others into verbal traps, and Ye Hua, foolish as he was, was leaping right into her snare. Though Jiang Ruan's intentions remained unclear, Jiang Dan knew that if Ye Hua kept following her lead, he would inevitably expose himself. But it was too late—the moment Ye Hua spoke, Jiang Dan stiffened.
"Fifth Prince, that's quite a hasty conclusion," Jiang Ruan said airily. "Besides the Eighth Prince's arrows, there were also arrows from the Imperial Guards. By your logic, does that mean His Majesty plotted against the Crown Prince? What an absurd notion."
Ye Hua paled. "The Imperial Guards? Impossible! I gave orders—" He abruptly cut himself off, realizing his blunder. Silence fell instantly. Wang Lian'er covered her mouth in shock. Jiang Ruan smiled radiantly, Xiao Shao's expression turned icy, and Ye Li remained as composed as ever. Huijue and his disciples bowed their heads in silent meditation, seemingly detached from the worldly affairs.
But what stood out most vividly was the Emperor's blazing eyes. Ye Hua had no doubt that if they were alone, his father would personally end his life right then.He couldn't understand how things had come to this—how the arrows of the Imperial Guards had also appeared there. The presence of Ye Li's arrows had already struck him as odd; he had thought it might be Jiang Dan's own arrangement. If he could take down Ye Li along with the others in one fell swoop, it would naturally be a good thing—Ye Hua wouldn't refuse such a chance to kill multiple birds with one stone. But the arrows of the Imperial Guards being among them couldn't possibly be Jiang Dan's doing. In his panic, he had blurted out the truth in his heart. None present were fools; how could they not understand? Instantly, the whole sequence of events became clear, and they all fixed him with wary, hostile stares.
Jiang Dan trembled uncontrollably. If Ye Hua were exposed, she would inevitably be dragged into it as well. She glanced at Jiang Ruan, who seemed to sense her gaze and slowly turned to look at her. From her lofty position, Jiang Ruan smiled down at her with a gaze that seemed to regard her as nothing more than a pitiful, insignificant insect. A chill ran down Jiang Dan's spine. Suddenly, she felt that everything she had done had long been firmly within Jiang Ruan's grasp. It was only because Jiang Ruan had gone along with the flow that things had reached this point.
Ye Li looked at Jiang Ruan with a faint, enigmatic smile, an odd feeling rising in his heart toward this woman. Originally, this matter had been a struggle between the Brocade Hero King Manor and Ye Hua, with Ye Pei also dragged into it. No matter how it played out, he, sitting on the sidelines, stood to gain without any loss. Yet Jiang Ruan had struck so ruthlessly, pulling him into the fray as well.
Xiao Shao acted decisively and rarely employed such subtle yet venomous tactics. Though Ye Pei was experienced, he wasn't capable of such meticulous planning. This scheme was almost certainly Jiang Ruan's handiwork. In truth, even without the arrows of the Imperial Guards, Ye Hua had already lost this round. Among the princes, only Ye Li, Ye Pei, and the Brocade Hero King couple were implicated in the plot to frame the Crown Prince, leaving Ye Hua unscathed—an anomaly in itself. Jiang Ruan's brilliance lay in the fact that she had merely added a single piece to the board, abruptly reversing the entire game's momentum and flipping victory into defeat.
Ye Li sighed inwardly. Such a clever and remarkable woman—if she stood by his side, she would be a worthy match. Had she chosen him, she could have even handled the position of Empress. Yet she had thrown her lot in with Xiao Shao. His eyes darkened with resolve—he would have to be more vigilant against the Brocade Hero King Manor from now on.
"Father..." Ye Hua's voice trembled. "Your son and Lady Jiang are truly innocent. I've done nothing wrong, Father—they framed me!" Fear had clouded his judgment, leaving him unable to distinguish priorities. At this point, his affair with Jiang Dan was no longer the issue. What concerned the Emperor more was his ambition to conspire against his own brothers and usurp the throne! The Emperor had returned from the Ministry of Justice and gone straight to the prayer hall. With no one in the palace able to relay the events under his watchful eye, and with De Fei absent to salvage the situation, Ye Hua was left a useless wreck, capable of nothing but pleading for mercy.Jiang Dan was also dumbfounded. She hadn’t expected that not only would she fail to clear herself of the accusations, but Ye Hua would also admit to the grave crime of plotting against the Crown Prince. If she were implicated, her chances of survival would be slim. At this moment, the only way out was to insist that both she and Ye Hua had been framed—perhaps then she might find a sliver of hope. Thinking this, Jiang Dan also began kowtowing frantically on the ground, crying out in grievance, "This concubine truly did not betray Your Majesty! Your Majesty sees all with clarity—please vindicate this concubine, I beg of you! This concubine is wronged!" She kowtowed until blood seeped from her forehead, staining the ground crimson.
The Emperor was no ordinary man—as the supreme ruler, his word was law, and once his mind was made up, it would not change. Moreover, the truth of Ye Hua’s plot against the Crown Prince was now almost undeniable. With this preconception, the Emperor saw the two before him as nothing more than adulterous traitors. He had no desire to waste words on them. However, everyone had overlooked Wang Lian’er, who stood quietly to the side. Wang Lian’er usually appeared gentle, cultured, and considerate, but in truth, she had been locked in a fierce rivalry with Jiang Dan, both openly and covertly. Now that Jiang Dan had fallen, how could she resist taking this opportunity to stomp her down? Casually, she remarked, "Perhaps Lady Jiang truly was framed. With so many opportunities in the palace, it’s inevitable... Your Majesty, didn’t this concubine hear that the miracle healer Xia Qing had just entered the palace to examine the Empress Dowager’s pulse? Why not summon him to investigate—perhaps it’s related to that... oh yes, the incense."
These words were not spoken to give Jiang Dan a chance. Everyone knew Xia Qing was on good terms with Xiao Shao and would naturally side with him. Since Jiang Dan and Ye Hua had schemed against Brocade Hero King Manor, now that the victor was decided, it was Jiang Dan’s turn to face the consequences. Wang Lian’er came from a scholarly family but was shrewd enough to recognize that the Jinying Wang and his wife were not ones to suffer losses. Jiang Dan was far too naive in comparison. Summoning Xia Qing would not grant Jiang Dan a lifeline—it would seal her fate, leaving her no chance of recovery.
Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. This Wang Lian’er was clever indeed—it hadn’t been in vain for her to "coincidentally" encounter her on the way and bring her along. It was also Jiang Dan’s own fault for climbing too high too fast in her ruthless scheming. Now that she had fallen, others were eager to trample her. Jiang Ruan exchanged a glance with Xiao Shao, who paused briefly before addressing the Emperor calmly, "This humble official requests Your Majesty summon the miracle healer Xia Qing to examine the matter and clear my wife’s name."
This was to follow Wang Lian’er’s suggestion and call Xia Qing to prove their innocence. The Emperor had always granted Xiao Shao’s requests, and today’s events were beyond absurd. Besides, this matter could not be leaked—Xia Qing was Xiao Shao’s man, bound by medical ethics, so there was no fear of rumors spreading. Had it been another imperial physician, they wouldn’t have left alive today. The Emperor sneered coldly. "Very well, I’ll let you die without regrets. Guards, bring Xia Qing before me at once!"
Jiang Dan lay motionless on the ground, her eyes hollow as she stared at the Emperor. The tender affection she had once enjoyed had now turned into the icy finality of a death sentence. She understood with painful clarity that she was finished—trapped in a meticulously woven net, struggling only tightened its grip, leaving her no escape.Xia Qing was indeed in the palace attending to Empress Dowager Yide when the Emperor summoned him. Without much ado, the Empress Dowager allowed him to leave. Xia Qing hurried over, fearing something serious had happened. Upon seeing Xiao Shao and Jiang Ruan present, along with the Emperor's livid expression, he realized the gravity of the situation and immediately composed himself, asking solemnly, "What does Your Majesty command of this humble physician?"
The Emperor coldly pointed at the two figures on the ground and said, "Examine these two for any physical abnormalities—especially signs of drug use!" He emphasized the word "drugs," causing Ye Hua and Jiang Dan to tremble involuntarily. The wrath of an emperor could leave corpses in its wake; today, they had dared to provoke the dragon's fury. That they still drew breath was sheer luck.
Xia Qing glanced at the pair, his handsome face flushing slightly. Only then did Jiang Dan notice her disheveled state—in her panic earlier, she hadn't realized half her body was exposed. She hastily gathered her garments, but her unease deepened. Now that another man had seen her thus, would the Emperor still tolerate her existence? It felt as though... since they were doomed anyway, nothing mattered anymore.
Xia Qing stood far from Jiang Dan and slowly knelt down. Although he was a physician, this was his first time taking the pulse of a woman in disheveled clothing, and he couldn't help but feel somewhat embarrassed. Both Jiang Dan and Ye Hua held their breaths, watching his every move. Jiang Dan still clung to a sliver of hope. She knew that despite Xia Qing's close friendship with Xiao Shao, he was renowned as the Golden Mausoleum Master Hand, a man of medical ethics who wouldn't fabricate a diagnosis. He was an honest man, unlikely to lie. Moreover, the recent events had been sudden—it was that wretched Wang Lian'er who had abruptly summoned him. Jiang Ruan hadn't had the chance to coordinate with him beforehand, so perhaps he might truly reveal that they had been drugged into acting this way.
Her hopeful expression didn't escape the notice of those present. Wang Lian'er curled her lips in a silent smirk, her eyes brimming with scorn and excitement. Jiang Ruan slowly lowered her gaze, her fingers intertwined with Xiao Shao's in a firm, silent clasp beneath her sleeves, exuding calm composure.
Jiang Dan was destined for disappointment.
Xia Qing shook out his sleeves and slowly rose to his feet, hesitating as he glanced at Jiang Dan. She seized upon him like a lifeline, immediately asking, "Miracle Healer Xia, what is it? Was I drugged to act this way?"
Ye Hua also stared fixedly at Xia Qing, who shook his head before turning to the Emperor and solemnly replying, "Your Majesty, Her Ladyship is in good health. There is no trace of any harmful substances in her system. However..." He hesitated before continuing, "When I took Her Ladyship's pulse just now, I detected a slippery pulse—the sensation of beads rolling beneath my fingers. Her Ladyship is with child."
Jiang Dan froze, then turned back in shock. The Emperor's face twisted into an indescribable smile as he slowly repeated, "With child?"
Jiang Dan had never expected Xia Qing to diagnose a pregnancy. Her only recourse now was to prevent the Emperor from misunderstanding. In truth, her encounters with Ye Hua had only been recent—this couldn't possibly be his child. The child in her belly was undoubtedly the Emperor's own. She abruptly stood and cried, "No, Your Majesty! Someone must have plotted against me today! The child in my belly is yours! It might be a little prince—do you no longer want him, Your Majesty?"
(End of Chapter)
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