That Imperial Concubine is both wicked and cunning! Your Majesty, wake up!

Xiao Yan's gaze fell on Consort Rong, and he said calmly, "I know."

Then he turned to look at the Empress: "Has the person in charge of the Imperial Pharmacy's medicine for Consort Qiao's pregnancy been taken away for questioning?"

The Empress nodded: "Your Majesty, I have already sent the imperial physician and the eunuch who prepared the medicine for Consort Qiao's pregnancy to the Department of Cautious Punishment."

Xiao Yan's expression turned solemn. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Until this matter is thoroughly investigated, all three of you will be confined to the palace."

Consort Rongxian exclaimed in surprise, "Your Majesty!"

This matter has nothing to do with her, so why should she be confined to her quarters? She has been with the Emperor for so many years, doesn't the Emperor know her character?

Moreover, this was the first time she had been confined to her home, and people might gossip about her or make fun of her.

The Song sisters are definitely not innocent!

Xiao Yan looked up at her and said coldly, "Xian Ning, this concerns the imperial heir and justice, so you must not act recklessly."

Consort Rong felt extremely frustrated, but dared not speak out. "Your Majesty, I obey your decree."

Xiao Yan looked at Consort Song and Song Shuangning.

Consort Song slightly curtsied: "Your Majesty, I obey your command."

Song Shuangning followed closely behind, saying, "Your concubine obeys the decree."

Xiao Yan nodded: "I have other matters to attend to before the Emperor, so I will return now. The rest is up to the Empress."

Upon hearing this, the Empress gracefully bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I respectfully see you off."

The way back was quiet.

Consort Song sat in the sedan chair, wondering who it could be, while Song Shuangning's mind was already churning with thoughts of how the Emperor would ultimately deal with Consort Song.

The more she thought about it, the more she couldn't suppress her anticipation.

This whole affair was a scheme she orchestrated in secret. Quanlu and Laifu, the eunuch of the Imperial Pharmacy, were from the same hometown. In his early years, when he was down on his luck, Laifu had helped him. The two maintained a secret relationship without ever daring to make it public, which made them her most reliable mole. She calculated that Laifu needed to raise money for his chronically ill mother's medicine, so she only had Quanlu hand over a one-hundred-tael silver note and instructed him to have Laifu add a tiny amount of sandalwood, about the size of a fingernail, to Consort Qiao's pregnancy-preserving medicine every day.

The amount is small, and no abnormal fetal movement can be detected in the short term; it is only enough to slowly damage the foundation.

Instead of sending Consort Song's jewelry directly to the eunuch who was preparing medicine, she had her confidante disguise herself as a palace purchasing agent and secretly slip the pearl-inlaid hairpin into the eunuch's change of clothes at night.

As for the fifty taels of silver, it wasn't simply left lying around. Instead, it was melted down and cast into several inconspicuous pieces of silver, scattered around the charcoal brazier where the eunuch was on night duty, as if it were stolen money that he hadn't had time to properly collect after embezzling it.

In this way, the evidence was irrefutable, and Consort Song had no way to defend herself.

As for her, she naturally pretended to be completely unaware of the situation; the prescription for her treatment was handled by Consort Song and Imperial Physician Zeng.

She's always been like this—vindictive and wicked.

Previously, her mischievous younger brother had deliberately injured her leg with a slingshot. She showed no resentment on her face, but the next day she quietly added laxatives to her brother's water, causing him to be unable to hold his stool and to be embarrassed in front of everyone.

Her younger sister coldly mocked her, saying she was "just like Aunt Su, not presentable enough to be seen in public." She lowered her eyes and didn't utter a word in defense. That very night, she secretly added some flower powder that would cause rashes to her younger sister's usual perfume. After applying it, her younger sister developed a dense rash of fine red rashes on her face and neck, which were both itchy and painful, and she didn't leave the house for seven or eight days.

This was just a small warning to Consort Qiao.

If there is a next time, she cannot guarantee that it is just an unstable fetal position.

As night deepened, the moon rose above the horizon.

Li Fuquan placed a cup of warm tea on the imperial desk, bowed his head, and said, "Your Majesty, everything has been investigated."

"No matter how the eunuch who was preparing the medicine was interrogated, he always denied it and cried out that he was innocent. However, fifty taels of silver and jewelry were found in his room. Upon verification, the jewelry belonged to... Consort Song."

"The medicine that Consort Song drank was prescribed by Physician Zeng. Physician Zeng also confessed that Consort Song instructed him to prescribe the medicine, which had to be strong, and that Consort Song was indeed unaware of this."

Xiao Yan tapped his fingertips on the table and said calmly, "As a royal physician, he acted on behalf of a concubine. He has been executed. Furthermore, by imperial decree, Consort Song is deemed morally deficient and is demoted to the rank of Attendant-in-Waiting, and placed under house arrest for three months."

When the imperial decree was delivered, Consort Song stood there stunned, full of doubt. "Chief Eunuch Li, this...this matter has nothing to do with me."

"Your Majesty, the evidence has been found." After saying this, Li Fuquan took his leave.

"Evidence? I know nothing about this, so where would I get evidence?"

"No, I must see the Emperor."

Tinglan stopped her: "Your Majesty, you cannot go out during your confinement period."

Consort Song sat weakly on the couch: "Tinglan, have I been framed? Consort Rong? Song Shuangning?"

Tinglan said, "Just now, Consort Song asked me through the door to tell you that she will try her best to find out the truth and clear your name."

Consort Song smiled disdainfully: "Her? A beauty, even if she finds the truth, what can she do? Find a chance to tell her to behave herself and not lose her life. Tell her that I will find the truth after I get out."

Tinglan replied, "Yes."

Now that the truth has come to light, Consort Rong and Song Shuangning's confinement has been lifted.

That very night, Xiao Yan chose Song Shuangning as his concubine.

Song Shuangning carefully dressed up. The emperor was already suspicious, and although he had already made the decision to execute her, she hadn't done things perfectly, and the emperor might still suspect her.

She has to be careful.

While she was still drawing her eyebrows, an announcement was made outside the palace.

Song Shuangning quickly sketched a couple of lines and then hurried out to greet them.

She smiled broadly and said, "This concubine greets Your Majesty."

"Get up." Xiao Yan took her hand and helped her up.

Xiao Yan couldn't resist gently rubbing her smiling face: "Are you scared today?"

Song Shuangning shook her head: "This concubine is not afraid. Since this concubine has not done it, naturally she is not afraid."

Xiao Yan's tone was casual, yet tinged with suspicion: "I heard that you and Consort Qiao had an argument in the Imperial Garden a few days ago?"

Song Shuangning thought to herself that the Emperor had become suspicious.

"The Emperor suspects his concubines again."

The word "again" made Xiao Yan raise an eyebrow; no one had ever dared to speak to him like that before.

He did not deny it, and carefully scraped away the foam with the tea lid.

Song Shuangning continued, "Yes, that day in the Imperial Garden, Consort Qiao said that I was like my aunt, a performer who showed her face in public. I merely retorted that my aunt earned her reputation and respect through her own abilities. Does Your Majesty think that I was the one who caused the argument with her?"

Xiao Yan finally looked up and saw her staring at him through teary eyes, tears rolling down her cheeks and wetting her clothes.

Why didn't she tell him if she was wronged?

"From childhood to adulthood, how many people have looked down on me, and on my concubines? Does that mean I have to harm people?"

After saying this, Song Shuangning raised her hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes, her words carrying a hint of defiance.

Xiao Yan put down his teacup: "I was just asking casually."

Song Shuangning squatted down beside Xiao Yan, tears streaming down her chin. She sobbed, "You can't do this. Anyone can doubt me, but you can't."

She then grabbed Xiao Yan's hand, buried her face in his palm, and said in a sorrowful tone, "You are my only support in the palace, and the person I care about most. I was so happy to see you here, but as soon as you arrived, you questioned and doubted me. My heart is breaking."

You are my only support in the palace, and the person I care about most.

Is he really that important to her?

Tears slid down his palm, burning hot. He had been suspicious, but Li Fuquan had told him that Song Shuangning and Consort Qiao had a quarrel in the Imperial Garden some time ago, and that her prescription contained the ingredient sandalwood.

However, she was unaware that the prescription was written by Imperial Physician Zeng at the behest of Consort Song, and that the sandalwood incense might have been added by the physician at Consort Song's request.

Looking at Song Shuangning's tearful face, he felt a pang of regret. She was so kind and gentle; he shouldn't have doubted her.

Xiao Yan pulled her into his arms and gently wiped away her tears with his fingertips. "Alright, don't cry anymore. I misspoke."

Song Shuangning stopped sobbing, but her voice was still choked with emotion: "I believe it wasn't my sister who did it. There must be some misunderstanding..."

As she was talking, she suddenly felt a heat on the tip of her nose, and a bead of bright red blood flowed down.

Xiao Yan swiftly and steadily supported her chin, making her tilt her head back.

"Li Fuquan, quickly go and fetch the imperial physician."

Song Shuangning grabbed Xiao Yan's collar, tears streaming down her face again: "Your Majesty, am I going to die?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

---

[Aside]

I'd like to ask everyone, do you think Shuang Ning is evil and vicious? I'd like to gather your opinions.