The harem is too complicated; the empress, a lazy bum, wins by doing nothing.

Chapter 285 Slander
"Since that's the case, then after we go back..." Emperor Yuanwu's gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on Lvsong. "You are Consort Wen's dowry maid. Tell me, what did Consort Wen eat and use after she went back?"

Green Pine knelt on the ground and kowtowed, her back still straight. Although she was wearing the uniform of the palace maids, she still exuded a unique temperament of the Northern Desert. "Your Majesty, my lady went to the Imperial Concubine's palace today because she ate some cured meat sent from the Northern Desert."

It turns out she ate food from her hometown, so it has nothing to do with the harem!

Those standing in the hall felt their tense mood instantly ease upon hearing Green Pine's words.

Only Shen Qingwan looked at Lvsong kneeling on the ground with an ambiguous gaze, and raised her eyebrows slightly.

Emperor Yuanwu made a gesture, and Wu Jixiang led his men to bring the leftover cured meat from the small kitchen. After the imperial physician tested it with silver needles, it was confirmed that the cured meat was indeed problematic.

Consort Xian stared at that
"Since there's something wrong with the cured meat, then tell your mistress to throw it away and not eat it."

Emperor Yuanwu let out a long sigh of relief. Just as he was about to get up, Green Pine spoke up, saying, "Your Majesty, the Empress went to Consort Xian's palace this afternoon to give her this piece of cured meat."

Was it given to Consort Xian?

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yuanwu sat back down, his brow furrowed deeply. "Since it was given to Consort Xian, how did this piece of meat end up on your lady's plate?"

Consort Xian panicked. "You dog of a servant, don't try to frame me just because your mistress has been poisoned!"

Emperor Yuanwu's face showed barely concealed irritation. The previous days had been troublesome enough, and even the evenings hadn't brought any peace. His face was tinged with anger. "Is this true?"

Consort Xian was taken aback by the question, and stammered, "It is indeed so, but Your Majesty..."

Before she could finish speaking, Emperor Yuanwu turned his gaze away from Consort Xian and said, "Continue."

"Perhaps the Imperial Concubine was considerate of our Lady, who had traveled a long way to marry into the family and missed her hometown, so she couldn't bear to eat it and sent it back." After saying this, Green Pine looked up at Imperial Concubine Xian. "Who would have thought that the cured meat sent back by the Imperial Concubine was actually poisoned?"

"How dare you!" Consort Xian's lips trembled with anger. "How dare you slander me! Guards, slap her!"

Green Pine showed no fear. The moment Consort Xian's voice fell, she straightened her back even more. "Green Pine was just reporting the truth to the Emperor. If Your Majesty was not guilty, why didn't you wait for me to finish speaking before you hit me?"

Emperor Yuanwu glanced at Consort Xian.

Consort Xian hurriedly went to Emperor Yuanwu's side and knelt down, tears streaming down her face. "Your Majesty, why would I hold a grudge against Consort Wen? We've lived in the same palace for so long, and we've never had a single conflict. This servant has the audacity to accuse me of poisoning Consort Wen. Isn't he deliberately trying to sow discord between us? Your Majesty must stand up for me! Who knows what this servant is really up to? That piece of cured meat was sent all the way from the northern deserts, passing through so many hands. Who can guarantee that everyone involved was clean? Maybe the cured meat was poisoned from the very beginning..."

Consort Xian gasped and covered her mouth, "If I were to cook this cured meat and put it on the plate tonight, wouldn't the Emperor also..."

Although Consort Xian did not finish her sentence, everyone understood her perfectly.

If the piece of cured meat that Consort Wen gave to Consort Xian was indeed poisonous.

If she knew beforehand that Emperor Yuanwu was going to have dinner at Consort Xian's palace, then her true purpose was to use Consort Xian to kill the emperor!
This matter suddenly became more than just a simple case of a concubine accidentally eating something; it was...

Emperor Yuanwu turned his gaze, his expression changing slightly. "Continue." "The cured meat that our noble lady sent to Consort Xian was cut from a different piece. Since the imperial physician is here, Your Majesty, may Your Majesty grant him permission to examine the other piece of cured meat to see if it is poisoned?"

Faced with Consort Xian's harsh words, she showed no fear whatsoever, seemingly prepared to die in order to reveal the truth to Consort Wen. It was this resolute look in her eyes that made Emperor Yuanwu wave to the imperial physician.

The imperial physician took his silver needles and walked to the piece of cured meat. After examining it carefully, he went to Emperor Yuanwu and Shen Qingwan.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, there is no poison on this piece of cured meat."

No?

How can this be?

Consort Xian swayed and felt her vision go black. Su Tianhe hurriedly supported her.

"Your Majesty," Consort Xian cried out in genuine fear, "Your Majesty, please believe me, this matter really has nothing to do with me."

Emperor Yuanwu remained silent, rubbing his temples in frustration, instantly freezing the atmosphere in the palace.

There was never a day of peace in the imperial harem.

Shen Qingwan glanced at Emperor Yuanwu and said, "Your Majesty, may I ask them a few questions?"

Emperor Yuanwu was already annoyed. Over the years, he had witnessed the various accusations and power struggles among the concubines in the harem. Today's scene was not particularly exciting. Seeing that the Empress had taken over the matter, he was finally able to have some peace and quiet. Emperor Yuanwu nodded.

Shen Qingwan sat up straight. "There's something I didn't quite understand. If it was Consort Wen who sent the cured meat to Consort Xian, how did it end up on Consort Wen's plate tonight? Did Consort Xian not accept it when Consort Wen sent it?"

"Received."

"Received."

Consort Xian and Green Pine blurted out their answers almost simultaneously, but this coincidence made Consort Xian feel very uncomfortable.

Even if Green Pine was someone Consort Wen brought from the northern desert, she was just her personal maid, a servant. Why should she interrupt her?

However, the Empress's question did not name names, and Green Pine answered truthfully, seemingly without fault, which made Consort Xian feel even more aggrieved.

Consort Xian glanced at Green Pine, her eyes carrying a strong warning. If she dared to say anything out of line in front of the Empress, she would not let her off.

If it were anyone else, Consort Xian's warning would have sent chills down their spines.

Putting aside the fact that Consort Xian is the head of Jingyang Palace, she naturally has the right to punish the servants in Jingyang Palace. Furthermore, besides the Empress, the only other person in the harem is the Consort, whose rank is equivalent to that of the Vice Empress. If she wanted to punish a palace maid, it would be easy for her to find a fault. However, Green Pine refused to listen and turned her face away, which made Consort Xian's face turn pale with anger, and she suddenly tightened her grip on her skirt with her hand at her side.

Green Pine knelt on the ground and kowtowed, "Your Majesty the Empress..."