The empress is both charming and seductive, rising through the ranks of palace intrigue.

Upon hearing this, Physician Zhang's face suddenly turned pale with fear, and he was so frightened that his soul almost left his body. He hurriedly kowtowed and said, "Actually, the imperial child in Consort Tang's womb was already in bad shape two days ago, and the child was lost yesterday. However, Consort Tang asked me to keep it a secret and not to tell Your Majesty. I was just momentarily blinded by greed, and I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."

Tang Meiren, standing to the side, was utterly desperate. She slumped to her knees on the ground, overwhelmed by endless panic and fear.

Upon hearing this, a chilling aura surged between the Empress's brows. She rebuked, "Fine! This concerns the imperial heir, yet you, as the imperial physician, concealed it! If Consort Ning is truly wronged, even beheading you wouldn't be enough."

Physician Zhang must have been filled with regret at this moment, blaming himself for being greedy for money. But he had no idea that things would develop to this point, and he kept kowtowing.

Ning Shuyan frowned and asked, "Why did Consort Tang miscarry?"

Physician Zhang paused for a moment, squinted his eyes, and said, "Consort Tang said she took a folk remedy that would allow her to conceive a son. However, the remedy was not suitable for Consort Tang's constitution, so it harmed the fetus."

"You're talking nonsense!" Tang Meiren retorted with a hint of panic and anger.

Physician Zhang quickly looked at Xiao Yu and said sincerely, "Your Majesty, I know I have committed a serious offense at this point, and I dare not tell a single lie."

Consort Zhuang shook her head in disbelief, looking at Consort Tang and saying, "Such good fortune, and you've ruined it all. What a pity for the imperial heir." She sighed softly, a sigh that contained a mixture of sorrow and regret, a mixture of joy and something else only she knew.

A dark fire flickered in Xiao Yu's deep eyes, and his face was covered with a terrifying layer of frost. He simply waved his hand, dismissing Physician Zhang.

Consort Tang knew she could no longer hide the truth. She crawled to the emperor's side, clutched his robe, and wept, "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. I was afraid Your Majesty would blame me. I had no other choice, Your Majesty!"

Xiao Yu kicked her away, a cold, emotionless smile playing on his lips: "So, you mean it's my fault?"

Tang Meiren was kicked to the ground, her inner panic outweighing the physical pain. She shook her head and cried, "Your Majesty, I dared not! I was only confused for a moment! Please forgive me!"

Consort Rong rebuked, "A moment of confusion? How dare you ask the Emperor for forgiveness after doing such a thing!"

The Empress then spoke gently to Ning Shuyan, saying, "Consort Ning is also a victim; you have been wronged today." After speaking, she said to Ziying, "Hurry up and help your mistress up."

Xiao Yu glanced at Ning Shuyan, who was kneeling upright, and seemed to have a resilient nature.

Ziying got up and quickly helped Ning Shuyan up. The floor tiles were hard, and kneeling for a long time inevitably caused some pain in the knees. Moreover, her legs had already gone numb from maintaining one position for so long.

After thanking her, Ning Shuyan slowly stood up, feeling somewhat uncomfortable, and stood to the side.

Xiao Yu's eyes were half-open as he coldly said, "Consort Tang harmed the imperial heir and framed the concubines. She is demoted to a commoner and banished to the Cold Palace." He paused, then added, "Imperial Physician Zhang is demoted from his position and is never to set foot in the palace again."

Tang Meiren stared blankly at Xiao Yu as if she had lost her soul.

The Empress said sternly, "Take Tang Shi away immediately!"

Lady Tang cried out, "Your Majesty, I truly did carry your child! You cannot be so heartless. Everything I did was for the sake of the imperial heir!"

Xiao Yu frowned slightly, his tone indifferent and devoid of any warmth: "If my child has a mother like you in the future, I would rather he never have been born."

Tang's heart felt as if it had plunged into a lake in the twelfth lunar month; her hands trembled uncontrollably as if chilled to the bone. She hadn't expected the Emperor to utter such words. Before she could react, she was dragged away by the palace servants. She didn't cry out again, perhaps knowing that even begging for mercy would be useless.

The Empress glanced at Xiao Yu, nodded, and said softly, "It is my fault for failing in managing the six palaces, and I have troubled Your Majesty."

Looking at the riotous flowers and willows in the palace, Xiao Yu couldn't help but feel annoyed. He rubbed his temples and said lazily, "I can't blame you. The harem is in turmoil. You've had a hard time, Empress."

A slight ripple spread across the Empress's face, and a hint of moisture flashed in her eyes: "This is my duty. I only hope to manage the affairs of the inner palace well and reduce the Emperor's worries."

Xiao Yu stood up and said in a low voice, "It is indeed a bit annoying." After saying that, he walked out expressionlessly.

Ning Shuyan bowed and saw him off with the others. When she looked up, she could only see the calm yet cold and stern lines of his profile.

Unable to fathom the Emperor's thoughts, the Empress looked at Ning Shuyan, who was feigning fear and unease, and said gently, "You must have been frightened by today's events. Go back and rest well."

Ning Shuyan smiled and said softly, "Yes, thank you, Your Majesty."

Once outside the Jade Lotus Palace, Ning Shuyan's timidity gradually turned into a cold demeanor.

Ziying's hands were covered in cold sweat, and she still felt a chill run down her spine when she thought about it. She whispered, "That Tang beauty is too audacious! She actually tried to frame you, Miss. It serves her right that her scheme was exposed."

Ning Shuyan raised her head and looked at the overlapping palaces and flying eaves like mountains. She knew when she entered the palace that there were open and hidden attacks in the palace that were impossible to guard against, but she never expected it to happen so quickly.

She had originally intended to keep a low profile and play the fool among the palace concubines, but now that her life was in danger, she had no choice but to do everything she could to clear her name.

She looked at the limited view of the sky in one corner and said in a deep voice, "She thought that I was out of favor and rarely spoke, so she wanted to frame me. She never expected to get caught up in it herself."

Ziying trembled and said, "Miss, this palace is too terrifying."

Ning Shuyan's eyes gradually became unfocused, and she murmured, "Power! Favor..."

With these, she could survive better, and then she would no longer be just a tiny ant on the ground.

Today was the first time she met Xiao Yu. As expected of the emperor, he was efficient and shrewd.

While outside the palace, I only heard that the current emperor lost his mother at a young age and that the late emperor had valued him greatly. No wonder the late emperor passed the throne to Xiao Yu; since he became emperor, the country has been peaceful and prosperous, and he has appointed people based solely on their abilities. And often, excellent emperors are cold-hearted and do not show their emotions.

But Ning Shuyan was curious as to why Xiao Yu trusted her so much and said it wasn't her. Could it be that he had suspected Tang Meiren from the very beginning?

Ning Shuyan didn't want to think about it anymore, so she rubbed her temples and went back to the palace.