Chapter 86: The False Pregnancy Drug

Consort Rou’s maternal family, the Zeng family of the Ministry of Works, had encountered trouble. In the entire palace, only Consort Rou still held a slim chance to plead with Your Majesty for mercy.

However, Consort Li was determined to strip her of even that sliver of hope.

Lan Wu heard that Consort Rou had been summoned to the Imperial Presence and found it strange. Shortly after, she learned that Your Majesty had also summoned Rong Shuyi.

Her heart trembled, and she began to understand the reason behind it.

“Your Ladyship, the Imperial Presence is in chaos right now. All three Consorts have gone, and Rong Shuyi is also inside.”

It seemed this matter was finally coming to a conclusion.

But she hadn’t expected Consort Li to be the one to report it first.

Previously, she had heard from Lian Qiao that Xiuyi Bai was dissatisfied with how Consort Li handled palace affairs. Now, in a twist, Consort Li had exposed such a major incident. She wondered if Consort Rou still had any means to cope.

Though curious, she couldn’t go and listen. Instead, she sat in her own hall, embroidering a pouch stitch by stitch.

Even though she couldn’t be there, news traveled fast in the rear palace. Soon, she heard that a young palace maid from Consort Rou’s palace had been summoned to present evidence.

Consort Rou usually appeared amiable, but upon closer thought, she had offended quite a few people. With the Zeng family on the verge of collapse, past grievances were now surfacing openly.

In the side hall of the Imperial Study, the incense from the burner gradually dispersed. A crowd knelt in the hall, each harboring their own thoughts, yet each presenting conflicting accounts.

Chu Mingheng sat in the main seat. When informed that the person had arrived, he spoke calmly, “Bring her in.”

A slender young palace maid entered through the doorway, her head bowed low. She knelt forward and respectfully paid her respects: “This humble maid greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings.”

Consort Rou suddenly recognized the voice and sharply turned her head to see Pan Xi standing behind her.

She glared furiously, wishing she could have Pan Xi killed on the spot.

Pan Xi kept her head lowered. Though her voice trembled with fear, she spoke with clarity and reason: “Your Majesty, this humble maid is Pan Xi, a palace maid newly assigned to Zhaoyun Hall a few days ago. Consort Rou noticed that I was diligent and assigned me to serve in the Inner Palace.”

“One day, while tidying the Consort’s clothes behind the screen in the Inner Palace, I overheard Consort Rou and Sister Wan Xia speaking.”

“They spoke softly. I was about to withdraw, but then I heard them mention something about medicine and miscarriage…”

“I was shocked and dared not listen further, fearing that if the Consort discovered me, she would silence me. I had no choice but to slip out through the small door at the rear hall.”

“I tried to pretend I hadn’t heard anything, but the words lingered. From then on, I paid close attention to any unusual behavior in the Consort’s words and actions.”

“Later, I noticed that the Consort was particularly fixated on a Peony Painting in the hall, which she had painted herself. It depicted three peonies, one of which she had added just a few days prior…”

At this point, Pan Xi clenched her fingers and revealed an even more shocking truth.

“I also discovered that whenever an imperial concubine in the palace miscarried, Consort Rou would paint an additional peony on the Peony Painting. There are now three peonies in total.”

As soon as these words were spoken, all the imperial concubines present were stunned into silence.

Since His Majesty ascended the throne, several imperial concubines had become pregnant, but none had given birth. Counting Rong Shuyi, exactly three concubines had miscarried.

According to Pan Xi’s account, could it be that all three concubines had been fed the False Pregnancy Drug, leading to…

For a moment, the gazes directed at Consort Rou grew even more disdainful.

Consort Shu softly brought up another matter: “Speaking of which, the late Concubine Yang in the palace was once extremely close with Consort Rou. Concubine Yang miscarried after falling down the steps, yet it was Consort Rou who happened to be there to catch her.”

Though she was caught, the fright was enough—after that incident, the child in Concubine Yang’s womb was lost.

At the time, Consort Rou was merely Consort Rou, and because she injured her leg while trying to catch Concubine Yang, His Majesty even promoted her in rank.

Now, her ill intentions were clear.

Listening to Pan Xi’s words, Consort Rou’s face turned frighteningly pale. She struggled to maintain her composure, but it was far from easy.

This little palace maid had been in her Zhaoyun Hall for less than a month, yet she had uncovered all her secrets.

Consort Rou had originally kept her for her pretty face, thinking she might be useful later. Little did she know, she was merely a pawn planted by someone else.

Even now, Consort Rou refused to simply admit guilt.

“…Your Majesty, they are slandering your concubine with empty words! When have I ever done such things?”

“If Your Majesty does not believe me, you may send someone to search my palace. I know nothing of any False Pregnancy Drug—”

Consort Li scoffed from the side, cutting off Consort Rou without hesitation: “Sister Rou, who would openly hide evidence in their own palace?”

“However, anything done leaves traces. Even if there are none, it couldn’t have been accomplished by Sister Rou alone.”

Consort Li turned and urged urgently: “Your Majesty, if you have all the palace maids around Consort Rou taken away for interrogation, the truth of this matter will surely come to light!”

“Someone, go investigate,” Chu Mingheng said calmly, ordering his men to proceed.

Silence fell over the hall.

Chu Mingheng looked down at the gathered crowd, his heart growing increasingly troubled. Before he could show it, Rong Shuyi spoke up.

“Your Majesty, if… if this concubine was framed into a false pregnancy, I beg Your Majesty to compensate Zhen Shuyi. She is truly innocent.”

As she spoke, she kept her head bowed, her demeanor utterly respectful. Perhaps after enduring such a major ordeal, her temperament had grown even more subdued. Now, speaking softly, her words were not for herself but for Zhen Shuyi.

Consort Li stared wide-eyed beside her, looking at Rong Shuyi as if she were a fool.

Consort Shu did not glance at her but merely lifted her eyes slightly to observe His Majesty.

What she saw chilled her heart.

Even if Zhen Shuyi had been dragged into this matter and unjustly tarnished, what was she, really? His Majesty had already granted her the rank of Shuyi and bestowed upon her unparalleled favor—was that not enough?

But now, she saw the expression in His Majesty’s eyes, and its meaning was clear: it was not enough, far from enough.

This insignificant yet immensely favored little Shuyi was undoubtedly the greatest enemy of all the imperial concubines in the palace.

Chu Mingheng lowered his gaze to Rong Shuyi, as if acknowledging her awareness and discretion.

“Rise. Your health is not well,” he said leisurely, then called to Consort Shu beside him, “You may rise as well. After all, the rear palace is vast, and oversights are common.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Rong Shuyi was helped to her feet but was not granted a seat. Instead, she stood quietly to the side.

Consort Shu hesitated upon hearing his words, unsure of his meaning, but said nothing and also rose to her feet, stepping forward slightly.