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

Xiao Yan took a step back.

Upon seeing the Emperor's action, Consort Qiao seemed to freeze, her eyes brimming with tears: "Your Majesty..."

The other concubines, seeing this scene, covered their mouths and chuckled discreetly.

Consort Qiao's gaze slowly shifted to Song Shuangning. Behind her was Consort Song, it must be Consort Song!

Song Shuangning looked back calmly, thinking: They've finally arrived.

Consort Ye's gaze shifted between Consort Qiao and Song Shuangning, feigning curiosity as she asked, "Why is Consort Qiao staring at Consort Song? Could it be related to Consort Qiao?"

Consort Qiao's eyes were bloodshot: "Your Majesty, I remember now, someone pushed me. This was no accident; someone must have deliberately harmed me and the child in my womb. I beg Your Majesty to investigate the truth, find the culprit, and give my child and me justice."

She stroked her lower abdomen, tears welling in her eyes: "He's only four months old."

Consort Ye said, "I remember that it was Consort Song standing behind Consort Qiao at that time..."

Consort Lin immediately replied, "I saw it too."

Consort Qiao suddenly stood up and rushed towards Song Shuangning, shouting, "You poisonous woman! It must be you!"

Tingyu shielded Song Shuangning behind her and said loudly, "Consort Qiao, the young lady fell into the lake to save you. You can't be so ungrateful!"

"Consort Qiao." Xiao Yan clicked his tongue, as if issuing a warning or a reminder.

"Your Majesty, are you still going to protect Consort Song? What has the innocent child done wrong?" Consort Qiao said, her words filled with anguish.

Qiu Baolin was anxious and was about to rush out to defend herself. She had been by Sister Song's side the whole time, and she knew Sister Song's innocence better than anyone else.

Song Shuangning grabbed her wrist. Qiu Baolin turned to look at her, her eyes full of confusion. Song Shuangning simply shook her head slightly, her eyes holding a deep meaning, and a faint smile curving her lips.

Now is not the time. Let the situation become more chaotic and the storm rage on.

This time, Consort Shu was smarter. She silently observed the situation on the field and wouldn't say a word until the situation became clear.

Consort Rong said, "Many people saw that it was Consort Song standing behind Consort Qiao, and Consort Qiao also felt a pair of hands pushing her. Your Majesty, please investigate thoroughly. If this matter has nothing to do with Consort Song, then Consort Song's innocence can be restored."

The Empress looked at the silent and indifferent Emperor. Even after many years of marriage, she still couldn't fathom what the Emperor was thinking at this moment.

She said, "The fence is broken; I have already sent people to investigate."

Song Shuangning walked to the center, curtsied, and said, "Your Majesty, since you all say that you are concubines, then I have three questions to ask the ladies present."

Xiao Yan raised his chin, gesturing for her to ask.

Song Shuangning looked at Ye Jieyu, her usually gentle eyes now showing a hint of sharpness.

"There were more than just me standing next to Consort Qiao at the time, so why are you only referring to me?"

Ye Jieyu choked, her words caught in her throat.

Song Shuangning didn't give Ye Jieyu a chance to explain at all, and turned to look at Consort Lin, "At the time, Qiu Baolin and I were staying in the corner, and we didn't want to watch. It was Consort Lin who brought us there. Consort Lin, did you plan what happened today?"

Such a direct question, such a merciless guess, left the usually timid Consort Lin speechless with fright.

Having spent many years in the workplace in her previous life, she came up with a method: if someone falsely accuses you, you should directly accuse them back, instilling in the public the idea that the other party might have problems, and then push them into a self-proof trap.

Song Shuangning walked unhurriedly to Consort Qiao's side and, without saying a word, lifted Consort Qiao's sleeve. Everyone's eyes turned to look, and there was a red mark on Consort Qiao's wrist, indicating that she had been gripped tightly.

"Consort Qiao, when I saw the fence break, I pulled you back, preventing you from falling into the water, while I fell into the lake. Why are you turning around and accusing me?"

Qiao Pin was speechless, her mind a complete mess. She felt someone push her, and she also clearly remembered that someone grabbed her tightly in the critical moment, preventing her from falling into the lake.

The pain of losing her child clouded her mind, leading her to subconsciously believe that it was Song Meiren who had harmed her.

Crowds are like sheep; their intelligence decreases when they gather together. The more you question, the stronger they become.

Song Shuangning knelt in front of Xiao Yan, clutching his robe, her eyes slightly red.

"Your Majesty, I really didn't, I really didn't push Consort Qiao."

Xiao Yan gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and helped Song Shuangning up: "I know."

The concubines, upon witnessing this scene, either looked on with envy or whispered to themselves: Does the Emperor believe that Consort Song is innocent?

Consort Rong gripped the handkerchief tightly in her hand, her nails almost digging into her palm, her gaze piercing Song Shuangning like a blade.

Useless! You can't even handle this small matter.

Qiu Baolin stepped forward: "Your Majesty, I have been with Consort Song the whole time. I can testify that Consort Song did not push Consort Qiao."

At that moment, a eunuch was brought in.

Li Fuquan stepped forward and reported: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the broken part of this fence has clean edges, clearly showing signs of being sawed. It would break if it were hit hard. The eunuch is called Xiao Xizi, who cleans Qinghe Lake, and someone saw him sneaking onto the pleasure boat last night."

Consort Qiao's mind was buzzing, filled with confusion and lingering fear.

Clearly, she had long been someone's target, and the conspiracy behind it was far more complex than she had imagined!

Who is it? The Empress? Consort Rongxian or Consort Shu?

The eunuch trembled with fear, and a layer of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

Xiao Yan: "Who ordered you to do this?"

Xiao Xizi stammered, "It's...it's Lady Song."

Ye Jieyu finally felt emboldened. "Beautiful Song, what else do you have to say?!"

Song Shuangning scoffed coldly, "You want to convict me based solely on this eunuch's one-sided testimony? Did Consort Ye see me ordering this eunuch to cut down the fence? Or did she see me supervising him as he cut it down?"

"you……"

Xiao Yan chuckled softly. He usually seemed gentle and weak, but at this moment he was clear-headed, organized, and not at a disadvantage at all.

Consort Rongxian said calmly, "Consort Song is too sharp-tongued."

Song Shuangning's voice was slightly choked as she secretly hooked her arm around the man beside her.

"Does Consort Rongxian want me to admit to things I didn't do?"

"I am terrified. My palms are sweating. This concerns the imperial heir. I must clear my name."

Xiao Yan looked up at her and took her cold hand in his own.

The Empress seemed to rebuke her helplessly: "Consort Rongxian, Consort Song has always been timid, so please don't cause any more trouble."

Then he looked at Xiao Xizi: "You said it was Consort Song who instructed you, but do you have any evidence? What benefits did Consort Song give you?"

Xiao Xizi said tremblingly, "Consort Song gave me fifty taels of silver, and those fifty taels of silver are in my room."

"Song Meiren, are you still going to argue!" Ye Jieyu didn't scold her as loudly as before, but only muttered a low voice, clearly afraid.

"Could it be that the words 'Sister Song' are written on the silver?" Qiu Baolin also learned Song Shuangning's rhetorical question.

Xiao Yan said casually, "Drag him away and beat him with a cane. He'll stop when he tells the truth."

Consort Rong glared at Consort Ye.

Xiao Xizi was so terrified that he could only kowtow and beg for mercy: "Your Majesty, spare my life! Your Majesty, spare my life!"

He scrambled and grabbed Consort Lin's robes, pleading, "Your Highness, please save me! Please save me!"

The color drained completely from Consort Lin's face.

She clearly knew nothing about it! Ye Jieyu did all of this!

Meeting Ye Jieyu's threatening gaze, Consort Lin realized:

She was abandoned; she was nothing more than a scapegoat to be pushed aside at any time.