At the end of the artificial hill was a long flight of steps. At the bottom of these steps now lay a woman, her body surrounded by large pools of blood. Shen Miao and her two maids were startled and hurried forward to check, only to be shocked to discover that the woman was none other than Consort Jing.
Consort Jing was clutching her abdomen, her face drenched in sweat and as pale as paper. She was curled up in pain, moaning weakly. Shen Miao looked up and saw marks on the long steps where someone had clearly tumbled down. It was evident that Lu Jing had just rolled down from the top of the steps.
When Lu Jing saw Shen Miao, she struggled to reach out a hand and managed only two words: "Save me," before fainting.
Bajiao asked, "Madam, what should we—"
"Call for help," Shen Miao said with a frown. "After all, she is carrying the imperial offspring. Moreover, if word gets out that we stood by and did nothing, it would only bring disgrace upon Prince Rui's Estate." Though she had no desire to involve herself in such messy affairs, she also didn’t want Prince Rui’s Estate to bear the brunt of a bad reputation.
Bajiao nodded and hurried off. Huixiang looked around and shook her head. "There’s no one else here."
"They’ve long since fled," Shen Miao murmured. "Whoever dared to harm someone so brazenly in the palace must have nerves of steel." She sighed as she looked at the barely conscious Consort Jing on the ground. Shen Miao had witnessed miscarriages in the palace before, and from Consort Jing’s condition, it was clear the child inside her was unlikely to survive. Shen Miao felt no sympathy for Lu Jing, but she grieved for the unborn child. Had it not been conceived in Lu Jing’s womb, it might not have faced such a cruel fate before even taking its first breath. The thought of children suddenly reminded Shen Miao of the young man’s face she had seen earlier in the woods. Her heart clenched. If that really was Fu Ming, why had he refused to see her? And if it wasn’t Fu Ming… how could he look so much like him?
Shen Miao thought to herself that there were only so many people coming and going in the palace. Once the matter with Lu Jing was resolved, she would request Empress Xiande or Xie Jingxing to help locate that young man. She refused to believe it was just her imagination—she was perfectly lucid.
The people Bajiao summoned arrived quickly and were shocked at the sight of Consort Jing. Though the Yongle Emperor had seemed indifferent to her pregnancy, Consort Jing was still carrying his first child. And now, to anyone with eyes, it was clear the child would not survive.
Without delay, they carried Consort Jing to Jinghua Palace, summoned the imperial physicians, and sent word to the Yongle Emperor and Empress Xiande. As the first to discover Consort Jing, Shen Miao couldn’t leave, regardless of whether she was involved or not—she was now entangled in the matter.
Huixiang grew uneasy. Royal affairs were always the most complicated, especially when they involved imperial offspring. The worst part was that Shen Miao had been dragged into it, and Huixiang couldn’t help suspecting this might be a deliberate scheme.
The Yongle Emperor and Empress Xiande arrived swiftly. Shen Miao noticed Xie Jingxing was absent and wondered where he had gone. She had wanted to discuss Fu Ming with him, but now that would have to wait.
Upon arrival, the Yongle Emperor questioned those nearby. It turned out Consort Jing had been without even a single palace maid at the time—otherwise, she wouldn’t have fallen down the steps with no one to help her, leaving her to plead with Shen Miao. Empress Xiande frowned and asked, "Wasn’t Consort Jing speaking with the young lady of the Ye family in Jinghua Palace? Why did she go to the imperial gardens? And where is the Ye family’s young lady now?"Yet, there wasn't the slightest suspicion directed towards Shen Miao.
Shen Miao was somewhat surprised. Before she could speak, a short, startled scream suddenly came from inside the room. Immediately after, several maidservants of Consort Jing rushed out from the bedchamber of Jinghua Palace, kneeling before Xiande Huanghou and the Yongle Emperor, kowtowing incessantly.
The imperial physician emerged, wiping sweat from his brow, and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, this old servant is incompetent. Consort Jing... has passed away."
Silence fell over the room.
"Passed away?" It was Xiande Huanghou who spoke. "How could Consort Jing have passed away?"
The elderly physician bowed and replied, "Ever since Consort Jing became pregnant, she had been nourishing herself daily. This was already excessive for the child, causing her body to be both weak and overly stimulated. Today's fall was too severe—the child could not be saved, and Consort Jing was overwhelmed with terror, losing too much blood. Thus..."
Shen Miao couldn't quite describe the feeling in her heart. Lu Jing was undoubtedly foolish, but to die today while carrying the belief that the imperial offspring in her womb was the future crown prince—perhaps that was the greatest blow to her. This might have been the fatal cause of her being "overwhelmed with terror."
The Yongle Emperor's expression revealed neither joy nor sorrow; he was neither pleased nor grieved by this. In contrast, Xiande Huanghou said solemnly, "How could Consort Jing, who was perfectly fine, suddenly fall? Where were her maidservants?"
The palace maids of Jinghua Palace hurriedly knelt and said, "Earlier, Her Highness was speaking with Miss Ye in the palace when she suddenly mentioned wanting to take a walk in the imperial garden. Her Highness disliked having us follow her, and we dared not disobey her orders. But later, Miss Lu did not return, and neither did Her Highness. When we next saw Her Highness, it was when the Royal Consort brought her back."
These maidservants of Consort Jing were as sharp-tongued as their mistress, effortlessly shifting all blame away from themselves. However, since Consort Jing had met with misfortune, her attendants could not escape punishment regardless.
Xiande Huanghou showed no suspicion toward Shen Miao and immediately asked, "Where is Miss Ye? Someone, bring Miss Ye here at once!"
This matter concerned imperial descendants and was undoubtedly significant, especially since it had occurred within the inner palace. As the mistress of the six palaces, Xiande Huanghou naturally had to investigate thoroughly. The Yongle Emperor remained silent, allowing Xiande Huanghou to issue commands. From the moment the incident occurred until now, he had shown little emotion, making it impossible to guess his thoughts.
Shen Miao, on one hand, wondered where Xie Jingxing had gone at such a critical moment, and on the other, pondered the possible scenarios of what had happened. If Ye Mei had killed Lu Jing—what reason could she possibly have? Even if Ye Mei wanted to enter the palace and probe for information from Lu Jing, she wouldn't need to kill her. Moreover, Ye Mei was not the type to act personally. Though she was ruthless, most of the time, she had others do her dirty work, emerging unscathed in the end. Even if Ye Mei truly wanted to kill Lu Jing, she wouldn't use such a foolish method. Everyone knew she had gone out with Consort Jing—if anything happened to Consort Jing, wouldn't she be the first suspect?
This left Shen Miao somewhat perplexed.
As everyone in Jinghua Palace was lost in their own thoughts, it wasn't long before the sound of a woman's panicked voice came from behind: "Consort Jing!"Shen Miao turned around to see Ye Mei being escorted in by several guards. Her expression was flustered, filled more with bewilderment and disbelief. She took a couple of steps forward but was stopped by Xiande Huanghou's guards. The Empress looked at her coldly and said, "Where did Miss Ye go? Why did it take you so long to arrive? Consort Jing was with you when she went to the imperial garden earlier. How is it that when something happened to her, you were nowhere to be found?" Each word was sharp and accusatory, carrying the weight of an interrogation. Though Xiande Huanghou usually appeared composed and gentle, her stern demeanor now fully embodied the authority of an Empress, causing Ye Mei to shrink back slightly.
Shen Miao watched her coldly.
Ye Mei lowered her head in disbelief, as if trying to recall. She said, "Earlier, this humble one was speaking with Consort Jing in Jinghua Palace. Her Highness mentioned that the weather outside was cool and wished to get some fresh air. Her maids wanted to accompany her, but Consort Jing felt it would be inconvenient with too many people. Besides, it was just a stroll in the imperial garden—there shouldn’t be any danger. With this humble one by her side, there was no need for others."
Hearing this, the expressions in the room shifted.
Lu Jing had always been spoiled, and her pregnancy had only exacerbated her temperament. Perhaps she had taken a dislike to Ye Mei’s beauty, or perhaps for other reasons, but in any case, she had insisted on Ye Mei accompanying her. Lu Jing likely intended to treat Ye Mei as a servant, which was why she hadn’t brought her own maids—simply to make things difficult for Ye Mei. That was indeed in line with Consort Jing’s character.
"Later, this humble one and Consort Jing were walking in the garden when Her Highness suddenly said she felt cold and asked me to fetch her a silk cloak. The cloak wasn’t in Jinghua Palace but in a small residence belonging to a certain Talented Lady. This humble one is not very familiar with the palace paths, so searching for that residence took some time. By the time I retrieved the cloak, I was met by Her Majesty’s guards, who informed me that something had happened to Consort Jing." Ye Mei knelt down and said, "When I left, Consort Jing was perfectly fine. Whatever happened afterward, this humble one truly does not know." Suddenly, as if remembering something, she added, "If Your Majesty does not believe me, you may send someone to question that Talented Lady in the small residence. She can testify that I was indeed there to retrieve the cloak. If I was fetching the cloak, how could I have possibly harmed Consort Jing?"
Xiande Huanghou frowned.
Everyone was well aware of Consort Jing’s temperament. Making Ye Mei fetch a cloak from a distant location while out on a stroll was entirely consistent with her usual behavior.
Xiande Huanghou said, "Tao Gugu, take some people to that Talented Lady’s residence and verify the truth. If there is any deceit, punish them severely without leniency."
Ye Mei quickly added, "That Talented Lady’s surname is Cao."
Tao Gugu accepted the order and left.
The room fell into an uneasy silence once more. Ye Mei knelt on the ground, her delicate frame trembling, her face full of grievance. When she smiled, she was as alluring as a cat, capable of ensnaring hearts effortlessly. Now, with silent tears rolling down her cheeks, she looked pitiful and frightened, her eyes misty, her shoulders Drawing slightly with each sob—still like a cat, evoking sympathy and the urge to embrace her. The way she knelt placed her in a subtle position where, if the Yongle Emperor lowered his gaze, he would see her delicate profile and fragile form.Empress Xiande observed everything with an amused smile curling her lips. Shen Miao watched in silent admiration, finally understanding why she had lost to Ye Mei in her past life. Even in such a dire situation, Ye Mei still wielded her beauty to its fullest extent to captivate hearts. Shen Miao's love for Fu Xiuyi had been expressed through quiet devotion, clumsily offering her most precious things to him. In contrast, Ye Mei's way of loving—or rather, desiring—someone was to display her most alluring side, enticing others to sacrifice their treasures for her. However... Shen Miao glanced at the Yongle Emperor. Ye Mei's scheme was likely doomed to fail, as the emperor hadn't even spared her a glance.
The Xie brothers were like iron walls—mere beauty alone wouldn't be enough to sway them. Moreover, the Yongle Emperor seemed even less concerned with a woman's looks than Xie Jingxing.
But before Tao Gugu could arrive, the Lu family made their appearance.
Both Madam Lu and Lu Zhengchun had come. With Consort Jing gone and her unborn child lost, aside from the deceased consort herself, the Lu family was undoubtedly the most furious. Lu Zhengchun stormed into Jinghua Palace with Madam Lu in tow, the palace servants unable—or unwilling—to stop them. The Yongle Emperor didn’t bother to intervene. The moment Madam Lu entered, she collapsed to the floor in tears, wailing about her ill-fated daughter.
Shen Miao watched the performance with disdain, as if observing a pitiful clown. If Madam Lu truly cared for her daughter, wouldn’t her first act upon entering the palace have been to see Lu Jing’s body one last time? Instead, she chose to put on a dramatic display before the Emperor and Empress. Her grief was likely not for her daughter but for the lost imperial offspring that Lu Jing had painstakingly carried.
Lu Zhengchun, already fearsome in appearance, now wore a thunderous expression that made him resemble a demon from hell. One might even think that, were the circumstances different, he wouldn’t hesitate to commit regicide.
He declared, "Your Majesty, Jing’er and the imperial heir in her womb were both poisoned—this is no trivial matter. I raised Jing’er to adulthood, and I implore Your Majesty to consider a father’s love for his daughter and give me an answer."
Shen Miao nearly laughed aloud. Listening to Lu Zhengchun, one would think he was here to demand accountability from the Yongle Emperor. Such audacity—was it merely because he was a trusted confidant of the late Emperor Xiaowu that he dared act so boldly? More likely, he had never held the Yongle Emperor in any regard to begin with. A disloyal subject would inevitably reveal his disrespect in both words and deeds.
The Yongle Emperor replied coolly, "The matter of imperial heirs is of great importance. General Lu’s reminder is unnecessary."
Lu Zhengchun stiffened. In the past, the Yongle Emperor had always treated him with some courtesy, but now, not an ounce of face was spared. He was well aware that the imperial family had begun covertly targeting the Lu family. He had thought Consort Jing’s pregnancy would strengthen their position, but now everything had gone up in smoke. His fury was understandable, but he could no longer openly defy the Yongle Emperor as he once had. The once-young ruler had grown into an emperor far more formidable than he had anticipated, and the Lu family’s influence had waned.
There was a certain kind of person in this world—one who bullied the weak but cowered before the strong. The fiercer you were, the more they backed down. Lu Jing had been like that, and so was Lu Zhengchun.
Just as Madam Lu finished her weeping, she turned to Shen Miao and demanded, "You were there when Jing’er died—did you see the killer?"
Shen Miao shook her head.Lu Zhengchun said sternly, "When you were present, Jing'er could still speak, clearly indicating the assailant had just struck. How could you not have seen anything?"
Before Shen Miao could respond, the Yongle Emperor spoke first. "The Royal Consort merely passed by. Not witnessing the culprit is no crime. General Lu, instead of pursuing the true perpetrator, you blame the wrong person. Your concern has clouded your judgment."
Shen Miao hadn’t expected the Yongle Emperor to speak in her defense, given how he usually looked down on her.
Lu Zhengchun sneered, "Your Majesty, in this world, it’s not uncommon for the thief to cry 'stop thief.'"
Empress Xiande frowned. "The Royal Consort would never do such a thing. I am willing to vouch for her with my title as Empress."
With both the Yongle Emperor and Empress Xiande speaking up for Shen Miao, Lu Zhengchun could say little more. He smiled, though the expression was fierce.
Shen Miao said, "Though I saw Consort Jing’s accident, Miss Ye had been accompanying Her Highness before it happened. General Lu might as well question her." Redirecting blame was hardly difficult. Since this mess was Ye Mei’s doing, Shen Miao had no intention of taking the fall for her.
Lu Zhengchun glanced at Ye Mei, who knelt on the ground, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes, but he remained silent.
Shen Miao understood now. Though Lu Zhengchun appeared to be a mere warrior, he had his own cunning. With the Lu family besieged by the imperial family and tensions escalating daily, he naturally sought allies. The Ye family was the perfect choice. Yet Ye Maocai was even shrewder—the Ye family still hadn’t decided which side to take. Lu Zhengchun undoubtedly hoped to align with them. After all, his daughter and grandson were already dead. The future mattered more, and he was unwilling to sacrifice potential allies for the sake of the deceased.
Those entrenched in the heart of power could even sacrifice their own children without hesitation. Sons might still warrant consideration, but daughters? Hardly worth the thought—they were destined to belong to others anyway.
As Shen Miao pondered this, a guard approached and bowed before the Yongle Emperor. "Your Majesty, someone claims to have witnessed the culprit who pushed Consort Jing down the steps."
The announcement startled everyone. Before the Yongle Emperor or Empress Xiande could speak, Lu Zhengchun demanded, "Who? Did they name the culprit?"
Madam Lu clasped her hands together, her face twisted in grief. "Heaven has eyes! At last, we may find the one who murdered my Jing'er. Once we uncover them, they shall pay in blood!"
The Lu family’s theatrics were excessive. The Yongle Emperor said coldly, "Bring them in."
Shen Miao instinctively looked at Ye Mei on the ground.
Ye Mei knelt, her back slightly hunched, the picture of pitiful helplessness. Yet Shen Miao noticed her hands—her long sleeves concealed her palms but revealed her fingertips. Her slender fingers were as delicate as tender scallions, yet her left thumb and forefinger formed a circle, rubbing lightly against each other.
Having dealt with Mei Furen for a lifetime, Shen Miao knew the meaning behind every gesture. This one was unmistakable—when Ye Mei plotted against someone, on the verge of success, she would unconsciously make this motion.Shen Miao's heart skipped a beat. Was the witness who came forward a part of Ye Mei's scheme? Was she about to achieve her goal? Or was Lu Jing's death truly connected to Ye Mei? Why?
Just then, a "creak-creak" sound came from outside the house, resembling the noise of wheels rolling over the ground. Shen Miao narrowed her eyes slightly and looked toward the door.
A maid was pushing someone inside.
The person sat in a wheeled chair, a blanket draped over their knees, hands neatly folded on top. It seemed they couldn't walk, and the wheeled chair allowed the maid to push them forward effortlessly.
As they drew closer, it became clear that the person was a boy of about eleven or twelve, delicate and handsome in appearance. He wore an ivory-colored robe and appeared somewhat shy and timid, yet his gaze carried a faint trace of unease.
Shen Miao stood rooted to the spot, as if turned to stone. Her eyes instantly welled up with hot tears, nearly spilling over.
Fu Ming.
Time seemed to reverse in an instant. She almost saw, through this beautiful boy in the wheelchair, a young boy in bright yellow robes within the palace halls, holding a large bouquet of red plum blossoms, smiling at her with warmth and affection as he said, "Mother Empress, I saw the plum blossoms blooming in the courtyard, so I climbed the tree and cut a big bunch. Seeing these red blossoms every day will lift your spirits, and you'll recover from your illness soon."
He had said, "Even though elder sister is gone, I will always stay by your side, Mother Empress."
He had said, "Don't worry, Mother Empress. I will study diligently with the Grand Tutor. When I grow stronger in the future, no one will dare to bully you."
Now, that beautiful, delicate boy was being pushed toward Ye Mei, softly calling out, "Elder Sister."
Shen Miao's eyes widened.
He was... the Ye family's Young Master Ye Hongguang, the illegitimate son recorded under Madam Ye's name, who couldn't walk.
A member of the Ye family?
The servant pushed Ye Hongguang forward. Ye Hongguang faced the Yongle Emperor, visibly nervous, as if unsure what to do with his hands and feet in the presence of Great Coolness's ruler. He said, "Hongguang greets Your Majesty. Please forgive my inability to bow due to my legs."
The Yongle Emperor waved dismissively.
Ye Hongguang seemed overwhelmed by the crowd, his fear evident as he instinctively maneuvered the wheelchair's mechanism to move closer to Ye Mei.
At the sight, Shen Miao's gaze froze abruptly.
How could Fu Ming act so intimately with Ye Mei? A sudden impulse surged from the depths of her heart—she wanted to pull Fu Ming away from Ye Mei. But she couldn't... to him now, she was a stranger.
Perhaps her gaze was too intense, because even Ye Hongguang noticed. He glanced in her direction, curiosity flickering in his eyes. When he saw Shen Miao staring unblinkingly at him, he lowered his head as if startled, nervously rubbing the edge of the blanket on his knees.
"Young Master Ye?" Lu Zhengchun frowned and asked, "Did you see the person who killed Jing'er?"
Ye Hongguang froze for a moment, startled by Lu Zhengchun's fierce expression, and looked at Ye Mei for help. Every time he turned to Ye Mei with that dependent gaze, Shen Miao felt as if her heart were being sliced by a knife.
Xiande Huanghou spoke kindly, "Hongguang, you said you saw the person who pushed Consort Jing. Is that true?"Empress Xiande seemed to have a favorable impression of Ye Hongguang and spoke to him more gently. Ye Hongguang looked at Empress Xiande and appeared less afraid. He nodded in response.
"Then, who was that person?" Empress Xiande asked.
Ye Hongguang lowered his head, seemingly timid, and hesitated for a long time before raising it again. When he lifted his head, his gaze turned toward Shen Miao, settling upon her. Then, slowly, Ye Hongguang extended his hand, pointing at Shen Miao, and said softly, "It was her."
Shen Miao felt as if struck by lightning.
Empress Xiande's expression darkened as she sharply demanded, "Hongguang, do you realize that lying constitutes the crime of deceiving the sovereign, punishable by death?"
The Yongle Emperor also said coldly, "Are you certain of what you saw?"
The Emperor and Empress's attitudes made it clear they did not believe Ye Hongguang's testimony. Though Ye Hongguang appeared timid, under their oppressive gazes, he instead grew more resolute. He looked at Shen Miao and affirmed, "It was this lady."
Shen Miao staggered back a step, scarcely able to believe her ears. "This lady"—Fu Ming would actually refer to her as "this lady." Her own son was now standing beside her enemy, helping that enemy accuse her.
How absurd.
Her reaction, however, seemed to others like an admission of guilt.
Lu Zhengchun narrowed his eyes and, without hesitation, reached out to grab Shen Miao, attempting to drag her past the surrounding crowd. Bajiao and Huixiang immediately moved to shield Shen Miao. No one had expected Lu Zhengchun to act so abruptly. The guards hurried to protect Empress Xiande and the Yongle Emperor, who shouted, "Lu Zhengchun, daring to act violently in Jinghua Palace—are you rebelling?"
Lu Zhengchun, locked in combat with Bajiao and Huixiang, raised his voice, "Your Majesty, my Lu family has lost Jing'er. Now that the murderer stands before us, allow this old man to avenge his daughter first before you punish me. Even if this were brought before the people, they would surely say I acted rightly!"
This Lu Zhengchun was truly unreasonable. The Yongle Emperor's face darkened with fury.
Bajiao and Huixiang had to consider their status and Shen Miao's safety, while Lu Zhengchun fought with ruthless, lethal moves. The two women were quickly overpowered. Meanwhile, Shen Miao stared blankly at Ye Hongguang beside Ye Mei. Ye Hongguang seemed to avoid her gaze, unwilling to meet her eyes, instead whispering something to Ye Mei.
Just then, Lu Zhengchun's legs suddenly gave way, and he collapsed to his knees. No one saw what had happened, only hearing a "clink" as two gold ingots fell to the ground.
Lu Zhengchun clutched his knees, writhing in pain.
A calm voice sounded from outside.
"While I'm away, any stray dog thinks it can bully my woman?"
Even more arrogant and domineering than Lu Zhengchun, the voice carried unmistakable fury beneath its calm.
Xie Jingxing appeared at the entrance, a gold ingot still pinched between his fingers—evidently, he had used it to strike Lu Zhengchun's knees.
He strode to Shen Miao's side. Seeing her pale expression, he assumed she had been frightened, fueling his anger further. Turning to Lu Zhengchun, who was being helped up by his subordinates, Xie Jingxing spoke indifferently, "Master Lu, do you have some grievance against me?"
His handsome features and composed tone sent chills down everyone's spine.
Lu Zhengchun refused to back down. Though furious at Xie Jingxing for humiliating him, he clung to his justification. "Jing'er was murdered, and Young Master Ye witnessed it—Shen Miao is the culprit. An old man avenging his daughter is only natural!"
"Young Master Ye?" Xie Jingxing's gaze swept the room before settling on Ye Hongguang in his wheelchair.
He slowly approached Ye Hongguang, looking down at him from above.
Xie Jingxing was an intimidating presence by nature. Under his scrutiny, Ye Hongguang grew uneasy, avoiding eye contact.
Xie Jingxing regarded him with a faint, mocking smile. "Which eye saw her kill anyone?"Before Ye Hongguang could answer, Xie Jingxing said indifferently, "Whichever eye you saw it with, I'll gouge that eye out."
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
Feels like it's been forever since we had a xx death scene ˊ>ˋ
Brother Jingxing vs Ye Hongguang, tell me loudly which side you're on
...
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