The Enchanting Imperial Concubine (Book 1)

Chapter 152 - The Price

As usual, they were in the main hall of Jiuchen Palace, but the Empress was absent.

Present were Shu Fei, Wen De Fei, and Ye Yun

Yao Xiang had lived through two lifetimes and was fully aware of the methods used by the Dark Pavilion. From the start, she knew there was no escaping this.

Sure enough, as soon as she entered, Yuan Jiu laid out everything Qiwen had done.

"Your Majesty, I absolutely did not instruct Qiwen to commit such a heinous crime. However, I failed to discipline my servant, and that is my fault. I humbly ask for punishment, and I will accept it without complaint!"

With that, she knelt without hesitation. After kowtowing once, she remained on the ground, not rising again.

No one had expected her to admit guilt so straightforwardly, making it difficult for anyone to speak further.

After all, Yao Xiang had the merit of saving the Emperor, so no one dared to speak rashly in case the Emperor, out of gratitude, chose to protect her.

Moreover, it was said that even under torture, Qiwen had not confessed that it was Fang Xiuyi who had given the orders.

She merely claimed she couldn't bear to see Ming Jieyu and Yi Jieyu both favored, while her own mistress, who had once risked her life to save the Emperor, was neglected. Thus, she acted on her own, attempting to harm both at once.

In the end, even when Liuzhi changed her testimony before her death, it was to further muddy the waters and make the situation harder to unravel.

"A mere maidservant could accomplish all this right under Fang Xiuyi's nose. Whether Xiuyi truly didn't know or deliberately turned a blind eye is yet to be seen," Ye Yun said coolly.

The idea of a servant acting independently, without her mistress's knowledge, was possible, but Ye Yun didn't fully believe it.

But she also knew that Yao Xiang wouldn't be easily dealt with—her merit for saving the Emperor was enough to keep her alive.

Moreover, there was still no concrete evidence proving that Yao Xiang had given any orders.

Either she was extremely meticulous, leaving no trace, or she truly had no knowledge of it.

Perhaps emboldened by Ye Yun's words, Shu Fei also spoke up.

"Fang Xiuyi is young and has held a high position for some time now. It's inevitable that her ambition has grown. Look at Sun Xiurong—she's a perfect example of what could go wrong."

Sun Xiurong had once been a favored Xiuyi last year, but she lost favor this year, was demoted, and disfigured during the plague.

Now she was gravely ill, reportedly suffering from joint pain, and could no longer show off her once-renowned dancing skills. She could only sit or lie down most days.

"Your Majesty, when I entered the palace, I dedicated my heart to you alone. I even gave you my life. How could I ever harm the royal bloodline in Yi Jieyu's womb?"

"Besides, I already hold a position among the Nine Consorts. Even if Yi Jieyu gave birth, it wouldn't necessarily surpass my rank, and Ming Jieyu even less so. My own health is strong, and I am capable of bearing children myself. Why would I need to do something so unnecessary?"

Yao Xiang looked up. From the forceful kowtow earlier, a red mark stood out on her pale forehead, stark against her white skin. Her beautiful eyes filled with tears as she gazed at the man seated at the head of the room, her heart full of love.

Whether she was acting or not, the deep emotion in her eyes was real.

And her words served to further justify her innocence.