The Beloved Concubine of the Eastern Palace (book 2)

Chapter 201 - Trapped

Translator Xiaobai: Book 1 is on my page.

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The room fell silent.

Everyone's gaze fixed on the shattered porcelain pieces on the floor, each person displaying a different reaction.

Song Qiuhe, unable to maintain her composure, turned pale, her face a mix of fear and surprise as things deviated from her expectations.

Yang Cefei remained the calmest, clutching her handkerchief and feigning surprise, as if the matter had nothing to do with her.

Yunrou and Yun Qian, trained by Yang Cefei, looked grim but managed to hide their true feelings.

Observing the expressions of these conspirators, Fang Yun internally scoffed, biting her lip and straightening her back, playing the role of a wronged yet resilient woman as she addressed Pei Yao.

"Your Highness, as you can see, these porcelain dolls are innocent. There are no cursed cloth dolls inside. This should prove my innocence."

Pei Yao glanced at her before speaking in a low voice.

Pei Yao considered, his face impassive. "Now that the matter has been clarified, I won't wrong you. Please, sit down."

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Fang Yun respectfully bowed and took a seat opposite Yang Cefei, below the Crown Princess.

Then Pei Yao coldly addressed Song Qiuhe, "You claimed to have seen cursed cloth dolls inside these Da A Fu figures. How do you explain this?"

Fang Yun glanced at Song Qiuhe, whose body trembled uncontrollably.

Kneeling, Song Qiuhe hurriedly kowtowed, "Forgive me, Your Highness. I don't know why the cloth dolls are missing, but I truly saw them!"

"Seeing them and knowing they were harmful, why didn't you speak up then? What are you trying to achieve by saying it now?" the Crown Princess sternly rebuked, making Song Qiuhe pale.

Song Qiuhe, on the verge of looking towards Yang Cefei, was interrupted by Yun Qian.

"Maybe Song Momo was mistaken. Hearing about the curse, she linked the two incidents, leading to this accusation. It might be a misunderstanding, but her intentions were good."

"How convenient!" Fang Yun retorted angrily. "Someone saw me hiding cursed objects in these dolls, and the Third Young Master fell ill right after the banquet. It's miraculous that Yunrou met a Daoist who said exactly that!"

Yun Qian, stammering, turned pale.

None present were fools. They could see through the contrived scenario.

Pei Yao, who despised manipulations involving his children, especially the frail Third Young Master, grew visibly colder.

"Interesting. Outside of stories, I've never seen so many coincidences. One may be blind, but is the other deaf?" He swept his tea cup to the floor, shattering it.

"Tell me again, what exactly did the Daoist say? Is there such a person?"

Pei Yao's chilling demeanor and sharp gaze unnerved Yunrou, who fell to her knees, trembling.

Yun Qian, sitting, fared slightly better but was still visibly shaken.

"Your Highness, I did meet the Daoist. He said the courtyard had a new pair of gold and jade dolls that brought bad luck, linked to the curse," Yunrou stammered.

"Describe him. I'll have him found immediately for questioning," Pei Yao commanded, his gaze piercing.

Yunrou, pale and anxious, dug her fingers into the ground, showing her fear.

Yang Cefei intervened, "Your Highness, the Daoist is a wanderer. How can he be found? I believe Yunrou was deceived by a charlatan."

"An amazing charlatan, who coincidentally knew such specific details," the Crown Princess laughed, clearly skeptical.

Yang Cefei, about to speak, was interrupted by Fang Yun.

"Your Highness, whether the Daoist is wandering or not, Yunrou left this morning. It's only half a day. Even if he left quickly, he can be caught. If he walked, he's even easier to find. This concerns the Third Young Master's health and my honor. Please investigate thoroughly."

"Indeed." Pei Yao agreed.

The Crown Princess nodded, glancing at the two kneeling figures.

"Your Highness, I shouldn't be overly suspicious, but this matter concerns the Third Young Master. The statements of this maid and Yunrou align too conveniently, yet miss the mark. I'm afraid someone with ill intentions is plotting behind the scenes and has failed."

Her words nearly pierced the veil of pretense.

If Pei Yao sent someone to find the Daoist, it would all be over.

Realizing she had outsmarted herself and fallen into Fang Yun's trap, Yang Cefei, usually composed, felt unsettled. Clutching her handkerchief, she urgently addressed Yunrou.

"You foolish girl, are you trying to drive me mad? What is the truth? Speak up! Does Song Momo's statement have anything to do with you?"

Yunrou's body trembled as she gritted her teeth. "Your Highness, I was wrong. There was no wandering Daoist. I believed Song Momo's words, thinking Fang Liangdi cursed the Third Young Master. His prolonged illness seemed to confirm it, so I used the Daoist story to expose it. But it was a misunderstanding."

She turned and kowtowed to Fang Yun. "Fang Liangdi, forgive me. I was wrong to believe slander. Song Momo told me these things, and I gave her money and jewelry for her sick son."

In an instant, the blame shifted to Song Qiuhe.

Unprepared for this turn of events, Song Qiuhe panicked under Yunrou's accusation.

Crawling to Fang Yun, she clutched her skirt, eyes wide with fear.

"Yun'er, don't believe her! I didn't mean to harm you. I was momentarily foolish, following her instructions. She wanted me to find your flaws and make you lose favor. I might have been mistaken that day and told her, leading to this plot against you!"

Song Qiuhe, her face pale and tear-streaked, pleaded desperately.

"Yun'er, Aunt was wrong. I did it all for your cousin. His illness can't wait any longer. I beg you, for your mother's sake, forgive Aunt this once!"