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

Consort Shu finally spoke: "Oh, so it's you, Consort Lin."

The Empress's eyes narrowed slightly, a faint, almost imperceptible curve forming at the corners. As Empress, she was expected to be impartial, so she said, "You'd better think this through. Produce evidence for everything. If you continue to make baseless accusations, the consequences won't be as simple as death."

Xiao Xizi was terrified, his legs trembling. He said, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, a few days ago, Haitang, who served Consort Lin, suddenly approached me and asked me to secretly saw through the railing of the pleasure boat. She promised to give me another fifty taels of silver after it was done."

Haitang's body went limp, and she knelt on the ground with a thud, banging her forehead against the ground as she cried, "I confess, I confess everything! Everything was ordered by you, Mistress. I was just following orders."

Consort Lin looked down at Haitang, her eyes flashing with disbelief and disappointment, before finally managing a sarcastic smile.

Even Haitang, who was with them day and night, was one of their people.

Back when she was still a young beauty, Consort Ye took the initiative to curry favor with her, persuading her to join Consort Rong, saying that following Consort Rong would surely bring her good days and ensure her smooth sailing. She believed her, and even though she could never truly integrate, she did her best to cater to and flatter her.

In the end, it was all part of their elaborate scheme. And she was just a scapegoat they kept in reserve.

Song Shuangning saw the despair and disappointment in Consort Lin's eyes, and she sighed silently.

Consort Shu's gaze fell on Consort Rongxian almost imperceptibly. "Consort Lin, did someone instigate you? If you are willing to confess and receive leniency, the Emperor will surely consider that you were not the mastermind and will punish you lightly."

Everyone knows that Consort Lin is Consort Rongxian's person.

Consort Lin timidly looked up at Consort Rong, who remained expressionless. Behind her, Xia Yun silently uttered three words: Imperial Academy.

Her elder brother was appointed as a clerk in the Imperial Academy.

Consort Rong threatened her with her brother's life!

In utter despair, she knelt on the ground, "No one ordered me to do this..."

The Empress shook her head in disappointment: "Consort Lin, you have disappointed me greatly."

Xiao Yan coldly said, "You plotted against the imperial heir and framed the concubines. You are demoted to the Imperial Guard and confined for one year. You are to return to the palace immediately. I do not wish to see you again."

Lin Baolin kowtowed: "This concubine obeys the imperial decree."

A hint of panic and unease flashed in Consort Rong's eyes. Her hand, hidden in her sleeve, tightened. Could it be that the Emperor knew something that spared Consort Lin's life?

Song Shuangning's eyes met Ye Jieyu's. A faint, misty smile appeared in her eyes. Ye Jieyu's eyes darted away. Was she going to cause trouble again?

Song Shuangning quietly took Tingyu's hand and wrote the character "Ye" in Tingyu's palm.

"Your Majesty, I have another matter to ask you to decide for me."

"It was not an accident that I fell into the water! Someone pushed me in! The push was so hard and sudden that I didn't have time to react at all."

Ye Jieyu's heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to remain calm, though her palms were already damp with cold sweat.

Tingyu said, "Your Majesty, when the young lady suddenly lunged forward, I vaguely saw a dark green sleeve flash by."

Qiu Baolin added, "I think I saw it too; it was a dark green sleeve."

Ye Jieyu was the only one present wearing a dark green dress with dark green sleeves.

All eyes fell on Consort Ye, who shook her head in alarm: "I am not a concubine."

Song Shuangning disregarded all other considerations and was convinced that it was Ye Jieyu.

Her almond-shaped eyes were filled with tears: "Consort Ye, why did you do this? Have I offended you in any way?"

Ye Jieyu gritted her teeth: "Song Meiren, it wasn't me!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Xiao Yan's voice rang out.

"Consort Ye is demoted to the rank of Imperial Concubine. She and Consort Lin should pack up and go back to their quarters under house arrest."

Consort Ye trembled slightly. The Emperor had made up his mind about her without even investigating?

"Your Majesty, I am innocent!"

Xiao Yan frowned impatiently and looked up to rub his throbbing temples.

Li Fuquan understood immediately and had someone "invite" Consort Ye away.

Consort Shu raised an eyebrow comfortably at Consort Rong, whose face was ashen.

Today is a really good day.

The hall fell silent abruptly, and Consort Qiao's sobbing was particularly clear and jarring.

"Consort Qiao has been demoted to a Beauty; she may return as well."

Qiao Meiren stopped sobbing, her heart filled with sorrow: How cruel the Emperor is! She had just lost her child, and the Emperor demoted her and sent her back to the palace. What did she do wrong?

The Empress couldn't bear it: "Consort Qiao is still in her postpartum period. Traveling back and forth might cause her to develop health problems later. Why not let her complete her postpartum confinement before returning home?"

Xiao Yan didn't say anything, but he agreed.

"Consort Song has also been wronged; she is hereby promoted to the rank of Consort." After saying this, Xiao Yan left without further hesitation.

Qiao Meiren stared at Consort Rong and Song Shuangning with resentment. It must be Consort Rong who plotted to make her lose her child, and the Emperor demoted her because of Consort Song!

Consort Rongxian, Consort Song, I will never let you get away with this!

Consort Shu covered her mouth and chuckled softly. She rose gracefully, the pearl hairpin at her temple swaying slightly with her movements. As she passed Consort Rongxian, she uttered a remark: "Consort Rongxian is quite cunning."

Song Shuangning and Qiu Baolin went back together.

Just now, Qiu Baolin said in the hall that she also saw the dark green sleeves. She asked Tingyu to say this as a guess. She vaguely remembered that there was a person in dark green clothes standing behind her, but she could not be sure that it was her.

But Qiu Baolin's "instant response to the group order" really surprised her.

Song Shuangning nodded slightly: "Thank you for helping me today."

Qiu Baolin waved her hand: "Sister Song, you're too kind."

She lowered her head shyly: "You helped me last time too, and I really like you. You're so beautiful, and your eyes look just like my sister's. Every time I see them, I'm reminded of my sister."

Song Shuangning asked, "You have an older sister?"

"Yes, I have an older sister and an older brother. They both treat me very well."

No wonder she's so naive; it turns out she has an older sister and brother at home who protect her and shield her from the storms of life.

"You stood up for me in public today, which will surely incur the wrath of others. Be more careful in your actions in the future. If you encounter any troublesome matters, come to me anytime."

"Thank you, Sister Song." Qiu Baolin happily took her hand.

Seeing her carefree demeanor, Song Shuangning let out a faint sigh of relief.

She wouldn't confide in anyone, much less open her heart without any defenses; she just couldn't help but give Qiu Baolin more advice because of his innocent appearance.

She had been in the palace for less than four months when she became the target of everyone's criticism. The emperor's favor was always a double-edged sword; with the emperor's favor came trouble, which was unavoidable.

She needed to win the emperor's heart as soon as possible.