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

Shen Minglan was unwilling, but seeing that Xiao Heng did not intend to stop him, he had no choice but to send someone to do so.

He wanted to see what other tricks Wei Rong could pull!

The handkerchief was easy to take. After taking it, Wei Rong ignored Xiao Heng who was still in front of her and sat down next to Shen Mingxiu, slowly wiping the bloodstains from the corner of her mouth.

Anyone else would have been terrified and begged the emperor for mercy.

Wei Rong's reaction was unexpectedly calm and unfathomable.

Nobody knows what she's planning.

After wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth, she still had the leisure to pour herself a cup of tea, but a drop of tea splashed out and landed on the back of Shen Mingxiu's hand.

Xiao Heng placed the other person half-lying on the table, hot tea splashed onto the back of her hand, and Shen Mingxiu, who had 'fainted,' frowned and her fingertips twitched.

Only Wei Rong, who was nearby, could clearly see these subtle movements.

Wei Rong took a sip of tea: "With such a commotion, is the Imperial Concubine still not awake?"

"..."

Xiao Heng's anger flared again: "Xiuxiu has already fainted, and you still think she did it on purpose? Wei Rong, how could anyone be so vicious?"

"When Your Majesty protects your own, shouldn't you first examine the evidence and testimonies? Perhaps you should consider how you would compensate for this slap if I could prove my innocence?"

"Seeing is believing! Even His Majesty said that the silk was personally bestowed upon the Consort. What further arguments does Your Highness have? As a role model for the six palaces, you disregard human life and yet you dare to try to escape punishment?!"

Shen Minglan wished Xiao Heng would immediately convict Wei Rong, so he spoke earnestly, acting as a model brother who stood up for his younger sister.

*Smack!*

Wei Rong suddenly threw the half-empty teacup to the ground, and with a loud crash, the cup shattered into pieces.

"Whether I killed anyone or not, Ruyi knows best," Wei Rong said with a cold and stern face, which was somewhat frightening when she was expressionless. "Who killed her? I will give her the truth, otherwise she will become a vengeful ghost tonight."

When Wei Rong doesn't show her power, she looks like anyone could pinch her.

Having lost his temper, Shen Minglan dared not provoke her any further. He dared not speak his anger but secretly glared at Wei Rong.

Just then, Shen Mingxiu, who had been slumped over the table, seemed to finally be 'awakened' by the noise. She clutched her chest and slowly woke up, her first words being to Xiao Heng: "Your Majesty—"

Xiao Heng's attention was instantly diverted, and she sat down next to her to help her up: "Xiuxiu, how are you feeling?"

"My heart is pounding so fast, I can't breathe." Shen Mingxiu sobbed, "Your Majesty, am I going to die? Ruyi, Ruyi is dead!..."

"What nonsense are you talking about? Of course I won't let anything happen to you, and I will also give your palace maids an explanation."

He had known Shen Mingxiu for a long time. Normally, he wouldn't even dare to step on an ant. He must have been terrified by the sudden death of his palace maid.

On the other hand, Wei Rong showed no fear whatsoever, whether it was Caiyue or Ruyi.

"It's all my fault. I've never been strict with the servants in Chuxiu Palace. If I had sent people to look for her last night when I discovered she was missing, she wouldn't be dead, would she?"

She buried her face in Xiao Heng's chest, tears streaming down her face, and cried, "It's all my fault, sob sob sob."

"How could you have known that someone wanted to harm her? I will seek justice for you. Stop crying, you'll only hurt yourself from crying. You finally recovered."

Wei Rong coldly watched their deep affection, and finally got up and walked to Ruyi's body, lifting the white cloth.

Ruyi died peacefully, as if asleep, her hands tightly bound by the piece of silk. In this way, she did not seem to have been murdered, but rather seemed to have willingly died.

"What does Your Highness wish to do?" Shen Minglan seized the opportunity and spoke in a sarcastic tone, "Perhaps you wish to admire your own masterpiece?"

Wei Rong ignored him completely: "Zhu Yi."

Zhu Er, who had been hiding among a group of palace servants, pretending not to exist, was suddenly called upon and had no choice but to step forward: "What are your orders, Your Majesty the Empress?"

He didn't dare look at the corpse on the ground even once, and he didn't know where Wei Rong got such courage.

"Please access Ruyi's files in the Imperial Household Department for me, thank you."

The personnel files of the Imperial Household Department were originally managed by Wei Rong. Zhu Yi glanced at Xiao Heng, and the emperor probably also wanted to know what the empress was going to do, so he nodded to him.

He then ran off.

When Qiaoyu returned, not only herself, but the Empress Dowager also came along.

The Empress Dowager's carriage stopped at the entrance of Yichun Garden. Everyone knelt down to pay their respects as they entered, but Feng Zuyi's gaze only swept over the group of palace servants.

Feng Wantang was diligently performing his duties as a servant in the crowd.

She sighed, glared at Wei Rong, and regretted getting on that pirate ship that day.

The silk that Wei Rong sent wasn't a token of goodwill; it was clearly a pretext for forming an alliance.

"The harem is in turmoil, with deaths occurring time and again. I'd like to see what kind of monster has come to be!"

Wei Rong sensibly went to help her up, and explained the situation in a few words. Finally, she looked at Qiaoyu, who was holding the piece of silk that she had sent to Cixi Palace.

The crimson fabric exudes nobility at a glance.

"Qiaoyu, present this to His Majesty and see if this piece of silk in your hand is the one he mentioned as a tribute from the Western Regions."

Silk with the exact same pattern!

Xiao Heng's expression changed, and she released Shen Mingxiu.

They have the exact same pattern, but the one that was presented as tribute from the Western Regions bears a unique mark from the Western Regions.

Within the Dajing Dynasty, all official or commercial items in circulation had unique markings, let alone tribute items.

Xiao Heng opened it, and on the very edge of the soft fabric, there was a seal from the Western Regions.

This is an original tribute from the Western Regions—the one on Ruyi's body.

Because the ruyi is soaked in water, the silk absorbs the water, making the color darker and the material harder to distinguish.

"Your Majesty, I have examined it carefully just now. Ruyi's garment is made of linen, while the one in Your Majesty's hand is made of the finest celestial silk. How can they be compared?"

Shen Mingxiu's expression immediately turned panicked.

"The Empress came to see me a few days ago and said that this fabric was a gift from Consort Xian. She thought it was nice and sent it to me."

Feng Zuyi certainly didn't want to speak up for Wei Rong, but Shen Mingxiu was even more disliked.

Moreover, now that Feng Wantang has entered the palace, she and Wei Rong are temporarily on the same side.

Shen Mingxiu recklessly stirred up trouble in the palace, so don't blame her for taking action to clean up the mess.

After all, she was the daughter of a low-ranking official, and she had been flaunting her power in the palace for far too long.

"Your Majesty has recognized this as the tribute from the Western Regions, hasn't he?" Wei Rong's lips stung as she spoke, but she endured it. "What exactly was the Consort's intention in sending this piece of silk to me? Was it to—frame someone for murder?"

"Your Majesty, please investigate! My lady is innocent! This piece of fabric is clearly—"

Shen Mingxiu interrupted sharply, "Take the painting!"