A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 488: Chapter 488 Lady Wang’s Suicide

”They claim it’s ’ironclad evidence,’ firmly insisting that I had an affair with someone!”

”But, Empress, I truly have no idea where those things came from. To prove my innocence, I...” Lady Wang trailed off, then stammered, ”I just...”

The Empress’s eyebrows rose slightly.

”So, you attempted suicide?”

Lady Wang’s face showed fear as she lowered her head.

”This servant deserves death!”

The Empress sneered coldly. ”No matter what, attempting suicide was your wrongdoing! According to palace rules, any woman who attempts suicide, regardless of her status, will be thrown into the Mass Burial Mound. Furthermore, her family will not be allowed to have any woman enter the Harem for three generations!”

In other words, if one woman committed suicide, her entire family would suffer!

Lady Wang was indeed frightened. In the urgency of the moment, she had no idea about such consequences. These infrequently used rules of the Harem were not something they remembered well. Besides, who would think so much before hanging themselves?

Now she knew.

She immediately knelt down.

”Empress, this servant deserves death!”

The Empress sighed.

”Enough. Fortunately, you did not succeed in dying. For the time being, I will not pursue this matter further! However...”

The Empress’s gaze suddenly sharpened.

”A man’s clothing... this matter is of great importance, and I cannot make decisions on my own!”

With that, she looked towards Yu Lan.

”Go to Xifu Palace and bring back that so-called evidence. I intend to investigate this thoroughly!”

The continuity of the Royal Family’s bloodline was at stake. As the Empress, she could not simply stand by!

Yu Lan assented and left.

The Empress then turned to Yu Fu.

”Go to Zhaochen Palace and invite the Emperor over!”

Yu Fu assented and also left.

The Empress then ordered several Managing Eunuchs, along with some others, to guard the area where Lady Wang lived, preventing anyone from entering or leaving at will.

The Empress said, ”Lady Wang, I am doing this for your own good!”

Lady Wang hurriedly kowtowed.

”An upright person does not fear a crooked shadow. I beg the Empress to clear my name of this injustice!”

The Empress smiled slightly but said nothing.

After a while, Yu Fu returned and reported, ”The Emperor is currently discussing state affairs with several ministers and cannot be disturbed! Eunuch Li’s suggestion is for Your Highness to handle the situation for now. Reporting to the Emperor later will also suffice!”

After hearing this, the Empress was stunned for a moment before waving her hand dismissively.

”Take Lady Wang away for now. I am somewhat weary and wish to rest for a while!”

After saying this, she added to Lady Wang, ”Don’t be afraid. If you are innocent, I will definitely not wrong you!”

Lady Wang, teary with gratitude, kowtowed repeatedly.

The Empress waved her hand, departing with Yu Lan and the others.

Outside, Lady Wang was also taken away.

...

In the inner chamber, Sister Ji brought a bowl of tea to the Empress.

The Empress took it, sipped, and then pondered aloud, ”What exactly is Noble Concubine Shih aiming for by staging this drama? Lady Wang belongs to Xifu Palace. If something happens to her, how would any of this benefit Noble Concubine Shih? A year ago, Noble Concubine Shih had Lady Zhou killed, but that was to take the fall herself out of necessity. Now, does she intend to have Lady Wang killed as well? The newly favored ladies living in Xifu Palace—are both of them to die?”

Sister Ji also looked puzzled. ”This... even this servant finds it difficult to see clearly! If it can be proven that such affairs occurred in Xifu Palace, Noble Concubine Shih will gain no advantage either!”

The Empress clenched her fists anxiously. Tightened, then loosened. Loosened, then tightened.

”The Emperor clearly does not wish to deal with this matter!”

Sister Ji then said, ”The Emperor manages countless affairs daily. How could he possibly concern himself with such trifles of the Harem? Since he suggested Your Highness make a decision, why don’t we just make it?”

The Empress remained deeply suspicious. ”But we still do not know Noble Concubine Shih’s true purpose. I fear we might fall into her trap!”

Sister Ji, also unsure, could only say, ”Let’s start the investigation. Perhaps slowly, the truth will come to light, and then we will know!”

The Empress could only nod her head.

That was the only option!

...

Yu Lan brought over the so-called man’s clothes.

The Empress examined them carefully, an epiphany striking her.

”Isn’t this a guard’s uniform!”

Sister Ji took a close look as well and said, ”Your Majesty, this is indeed the uniform of an ordinary guard!”

The Empress then asked, ”If it really was found in Lady Wang’s quarters, then this matter is truly serious!”

Initially, I thought it was just a piece of ordinary men’s clothing, used to frame someone haphazardly. But now it’s... a guard’s uniform. Guards *are* allowed to walk about the Harem! However, they only patrol inside the palace for a few rounds after the gates of each hall are locked for the night. During the day, and most of the time, there are basically no guards in the palace. Of course, that’s not absolute; occasionally there are some. So... this time, Lady Wang really has no way to defend herself. With so many women in the palace, why is it that nothing happens to others, but a man’s clothing appeared in *your* quarters?!

The more the Empress thought about it, the more alarmed she became. She said, ”This matter is too serious for me to decide on my own. We should wait until the Emperor has some free time to discuss it!”

Given that the reputation of the Royal Family is at stake, I truly dare not make such a decision rashly!

「By evening.」

Without waiting for the Empress to summon him, Zhao Junyao went to Jiaofang Hall.

The Empress greeted him with a smile. ”Your Majesty, your timing is perfect!”

Zhao Junyao entered the inner chamber, sat down, and wiped the sweat from his forehead. ”What happened today?”

The Empress didn’t rush to reply. Instead, she called for someone to bring a fan, then stood beside the Emperor, gently fanning him.

Then, choosing her words carefully, she recounted the sequence of events.

Finally, with great difficulty, the Empress revealed the truth, ”Your servant had someone look into it. It’s... a guard’s uniform!”

Zhao Junyao squinted, a look of enjoyment on his face, holding a bowl of tea in one hand and lightly tapping the table with the other.

After a good while, he slowly asked, ”Was it... Noble Concubine Shih who found it?”

The Empress quickly nodded. ”Yes!”

Actually, to be precise, a palace maid discovered it. But I have no intention of explaining such details; implicating Noble Concubine Shih suits my purposes perfectly.

Zhao Junyao kept his eyes closed, his expression unchanged.

Only after a long time did he say, ”Let the Empress handle this investigation. What I want is a result. It would be best to get to the bottom of this!”

The Empress quickly assented.

...

Zhao Junyao had dinner and then left, without staying the night.

The Empress couldn’t help feeling a bit disappointed, but ultimately, she couldn’t say anything. She just had to go to sleep by herself.

「Early the next morning,」 while everyone came to pay their respects, she ordered Lady Wang to be brought up for public interrogation.

Lady Wang, who had been kept in the woodshed overnight, was pale. She knelt on the ground, crying so hoarsely her voice was almost gone.

There was not much she could say, except to persistently claim her innocence.

Noble Concubine Shih looked at her and sneered coldly. ”Lady Wang, you might as well confess now. Confession brings leniency. Tell us, which guard was it?”

Lady Wang continued to weep, not looking at Noble Concubine Shih, only kowtowing to the Empress. ”Empress, your servant has been wronged!”

The Empress gave a cold smile. ”You say you have been wronged? Do you have any evidence?”