Favored concubine deposed empress? I'll seize your throne and marry you to a powerful minister.

Her face was even paler than when she had her "heart attack" earlier, her hands were clenched tightly, and fear and cold sweat covered her entire body.

The fabric on Ruyi's body was clearly stolen from the storeroom of Fengluan Palace!

When she gave Wei Rong this piece of silk, her plan was to frame Wei Rong for "murder and revenge," since Xiao Heng would definitely believe it anyway.

Wei Rong would certainly not be able to explain it even if she had ten mouths.

What she wanted was for Wei Rong to make repeated mistakes in her position as Empress, until one day she could no longer hold onto that position!

But she actually gave that piece of silk to the Empress Dowager!

Then why is there an item with the exact same pattern in her storeroom?

Did she already know she would pull this move and have a backup plan?

The servants she sent to steal the fabric certainly wouldn't have thought much of it, considering that there was also a 'fake' item that wasn't a tribute waiting for them.

They've fallen for Wei Rong's trick!

But at this point, Zhihua certainly couldn't say that the item was stolen!

Wouldn't that be like the thief crying "stop thief!"?

"What does the Imperial Concubine want to say? What kind of fabric is this?" Wei Rong approached, looking down into her eyes. "Did you think there wouldn't be another piece with this pattern, so you could easily steal it and use it to frame me?"

"Nonsense!" Shen Mingxiu knelt down, tears streaming down her face as she addressed Xiao Heng, "Your Majesty, the Empress clearly orchestrated this to pin the blame on me. How could I possibly have the audacity to kill a maid in my own palace!"

"Your Majesty, the Empress may not have done it on purpose," Shen Minglan also knelt down, "She sent the item to the Empress Dowager and then made an identical one, attempting to drag the Empress Dowager down with her."

"You audacious scoundrel!" Feng Zuyi roared, "Does she think I can't tell right from wrong?!"

She then looked at Shen Mingxiu: "Consort Xian, you'd better confess now, lest I find out and you and your Shen family lose your lives."

"I didn't do anything!" Shen Mingxiu was about to faint from crying, but she could only utter grievances and couldn't refute anything else.

Xiao Heng's face grew increasingly pale.

But he refused to believe it. Shen Mingxiu couldn't possibly have done such a thing. She was gentle and kind, and timid. Where would she get the courage to kill someone?

But I also had some hesitation.

What about Caiyue's death?

He didn't deliberately pursue the matter, but Shen Minglan was in the guard team, and if Shen Mingxiu really wanted to do it, she would have a much better chance than Wei Rong.

Could it really be her?

Was it all just to frame Wei Rong?

When did she come to hate Wei Rong to this extent? She often spoke well of Wei Rong in front of him, saying that the Empress was her role model and that she should be more humble and respectful.

Wei Rong watched coldly from the sidelines.

In fact, the fabric worn by Ruyi was indeed from her palace.

On the day Shen Mingxiu delivered the silk, she asked Qiaoyu to put it in the storeroom. When Qiaoyu returned, she told her that it was strange, there was a piece of silk with the exact same pattern in the storeroom.

She naturally didn't intend to use this piece of material; giving it to Feng Zuyi was also a genuine attempt to seek reconciliation.

Unexpectedly, just two days later, a palace servant came to report that the piece of fabric in the storeroom had disappeared.

Wei Rong then began to suspect and pay attention.

Little did she know that Shen Mingxiu was incredibly audacious, daring to kill a second person to frame her.

It seems they really wish she were dead.

"Let's see what Ruyi has to say," Wei Rong suddenly said. "Whether she's been wronged or her crimes have been proven, justice will prevail."

How can a dead person talk?

Feng Zuyi gave her a look that said, "Are you crazy?"

Just then, Zhu Er returned from the Imperial Household Department and handed Ruyi's file to Xiao Heng. Although he did not understand Wei Rong's intention, he still told the truth: "Ruyi's original surname was Tian. The Tian family was poor. Both of her parents suffered from tuberculosis, and she had a younger brother who was addicted to gambling and owed a lot of debt. Ruyi was also sold into the palace by her brother."

Such a background was considered tragic even among servants.

Xiao Heng flipped through the two pages, and her expression darkened even more after reading them.

Feng Zuyi understood and gave Wei Rong an approving look: "Since they are poor, they must be short of money. Issue my order to investigate whether the Tian family has recently received any windfall. If so, we should be able to find out where the money came from, right?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Shen Mingxiu suddenly collapsed to the ground.

"What's wrong, Consort Xian?" Feng Zuyi looked down at her as if she were a dog: "Or do you have something to say?"

Shen Mingxiu grabbed Xiao Heng's leg, insisting, "Your Majesty! I am innocent."

"Your Majesty, a woman has repeatedly disturbed the peace of the harem. You know how to deal with her, don't you? Don't let innocent people be disheartened."

Xiao Heng looked at Shen Mingxiu's pitiful face.

The surface was streaked with tears, looking quite disheveled.

He cherished this face countless times, always feeling that she was fragile and arousing his protective instincts, thus believing that she would not do anything wrong.

But now—he is wavering.

After he slapped Wei Rong hard across the face.

"Tell me," Xiao Heng gently brushed her fingertips across the corner of her eye, taking away a tear, "what do you want to say?"

There are clues to follow; an investigation will yield results.

He didn't want to investigate Shen Mingxiu.

"Your Majesty," Shen Mingxiu said, tears streaming down her face, as she touched his hand. "I care about you so much."

Her gentle, harmless gaze seemed to convey genuine affection.

Wei Rong thought, so feelings can also deceive people. It was as if the person who stood in the dark corridor that night, looking at Ling Xian like a butterfly and lost in thought, was not her, but someone who loved Xiao Heng wholeheartedly.

"Your Majesty! Do you still believe her seductive tricks? Competing for favor is not scary, but if she uses indulgence as a weapon to kill, wouldn't this harem be in danger?"

"The matter is still under investigation, Your Majesty, please watch your words," Xiao Heng said, still reluctant to part with her. "Consort Xian should return to Chuxiu Palace and remain in confinement until the matter is clarified before making any further plans."

Wei Rong almost laughed out of anger.

Having said that, she stepped forward and, facing Shen Mingxiu's face—"Slap!"

A loud bang, no less powerful than Xiao Heng's slap just now.

After she finished hitting him, she felt a tingling numbness in her palm: "Then before that, I'll settle my score!"

Two lives lost; this slap was far too lenient.

But if Xiao Heng protects her, Shen Mingxiu will surely be able to escape unscathed in the end.

No one expected the Empress to suddenly have an attack. Shocked, they watched as Shen Mingxiu fell to the ground, where five finger marks were also clearly visible.

"Wei Rong! You!"

Wei Rong wasn't afraid at all. She clapped her hands, turned around and left with Qiaoyu, saying, "Your Majesty, we await your message. We shall take our leave now."

This farce has dragged on until now.

Everyone could see that the emperor wanted to handle things leniently.

Ultimately, it's those who are favored who have the most power and influence.

It's just a pity that Ruyi looks no more than fifteen years old.

Upon returning to the Phoenix Palace, Wei Rong locked herself in the central hall.

Qiaoyu was extremely worried. The wound on her face hadn't been treated, and it would become even more swollen tomorrow.

She paced back and forth outside the palace, almost bursting into tears: "Your Majesty, don't ruin your health with anger, it's not worth it, it's not worth it."

"At least the injuries on her face need to be treated. Physician Qian has been waiting for half a day; Your Majesty doesn't want him to have made a wasted trip, right?"

"Your Majesty! I beg you!"

There was no sound coming from inside the hall.

As the moon hung high in the sky, a crow flew by and cried out mournfully twice, making the palace, where people had died that day, seem even more desolate and eerie.

Doctor Qian and Qiaoyu exchanged glances frequently, unable to make up their minds.

He was in charge of taking care of Wei Rong's health, but he knew that this Empress was stubborn and wondered if something might happen to her inside.

Until the end of the Xu hour (7-9 PM), Wei Rong suddenly opened the door.

She handed a letter to Qiaoyu.