Chapter 357: Pieces of Evidence

"Wretched maid!" Bai Li's eyes flashed with ferocity: "She is lying; no one is allowed to go!"

Wan Tang regarded it as nothing, coldly instructed: "Xiao Luzi, you shall go together with Zhao Hai's men."

"Yes!" Xiao Luzi had just caught a breath, then immediately jogged to catch up.

Bai Li's complexion completely changed; she knows better than anyone what is happening in the small courtyard at this moment.

She only hopes all actions, which have not yet begun.

Bai Li's mind is tangled like hemp.

Pretending composure, she scoffs at Wan Tang: "Empress, you think that by framing me, the Emperor will believe it?"

"I know Sister Hui Guifei's death dealt you a great blow. But we cannot, just because you feel uneasy, let everyone in the harem be buried with Hui Guifei, can we?"

"Don't you think this truly lacks the dignity of a mother of the nation?!"

Wan Tang rarely looks at her, only watching the people rushing from Jingren Palace and the imperial physician.

Wan Tang's exquisitely beautiful face gave no hint of emotion. The single red spot at her brows, like a deity, held both compassion and cruelty.

"Empress, Zhao Hai, I, the Subject, will receive any summons."

When the imperial physician arrived, bang—bang, kowtowing, without interrogation, he blurted out the truth at once.

The senior official scribbled furiously; after decades in office, he had never been so agitated.

The incense was also brought; after a brief verification, Zhao Hai's complexion changed drastically, and he hurriedly ordered it preserved.

Cold sweat covered Bai Li's face, yet she still forced composure.

Wan Tang had chairs and tables brought, seating the two elders.

Sitting at the head, she lifted her teacup, flicked the foam on top, never drinking, merely repeating the motion.

Above the Grand Hall, only the clatter of porcelain echoed.

"Zhao Hai, something's wrong…"

"Em—Empress, something has happened."

Panicked shouts came from outside the palace.

The Ministry of Justice officials and Xiao Luzi were drenched in sweat; from their appearance, they had clearly been running all the way.

Both knelt, clutching their chests, panting heavily.

Xiao Luzi, frightened pale, trembled and said: "We arrived too late; by the time we got there, everyone in the small courtyard was dead."

Speaking thus, Xiao Luzi looked at Nanzhu with sympathy: "Your father, mother, older brother and younger brother were brutally killed…"

The Ministry of Justice officials also reported: "When we arrived, Bai Zijun was leading people in the massacre; now, they have all been captured."

Wan Tang's expression remained unchanged; she paused, brought the teacup to her lips, and took a sip.

Nanzhu let out a splutter, almost laughing.

Then she curled her mouth, looking utterly grief‑stricken, and let out a dry wail: "Father, mother, brother, younger brother, you died so terribly!"

"The Bai family tramples lives; please, Empress, uphold justice!"

Bai Li's face showed no color.

She muttered curses: "Madwoman, wretched maid, how could this happen?"

"To become a lapdog at the Empress's side, could you even disregard the family you cherish most?"

Bai Li truly couldn't understand.

She had investigated thoroughly.

Nanzhu really cared about this family.

Even when working with Wan Tang, she sent every reward she received back home, leaving none for herself.

How could she not speak of her beloved relatives?

At this moment, Bai Li was shocked not by the crimes being exposed, but by her disbelief that she could not even grasp this basic humanity.

More than the revelation, what she could not accept was the mistake in her own scheme.

She could obtain everything she wanted; how could she willingly lose to a substitute?!

"Why?" Bai Li stared intently at Wan Tang.

Wan Tang finally fixed her gaze on Bai Li; though the two looked extremely similar, the gap between them was as vast as heaven and earth.

One is like ice crystals and snowflakes, born between heaven and earth, pure and immaculate, vanishing at will.

The other is merely drifting willow catkins, falling to mud.

And Bai Li is that inconsequential willow catkin.

Wan Tang smiled.

Lightly she said: "Pear Princess, raised among the masses like a star cradling the moon, how could she know that fathers and mothers in this world also fall into two types."

"There are some who steal children from other families, raise them until about two years old, then send them into the palace to exchange for silver."

"Binding the child's life with the gratitude of upbringing, like a leech, squeezing the last ounce of value."

Bai Li vaguely guessed the answer.

Wan Tang said: "Nanzhu is ill‑fated, never to see her parents in life, forced to regard a thief as father."

Nanzhu even lifted her head, her face streaked with tears, truly overjoyed to the point of weeping.

She said: "Thank you, Empress Bai Li."

The last trace of Bai Li's arrogance shattered at this moment.

Her self‑perceived brilliance and meticulous scheming were nothing more than a mouse obediently stepping into another's trap.

"No… impossible…"

"Even Yan Wang was never my opponent."

"Even the Emperor would bow to me…"

Wan Tang watches her collapsed state, looking at her like a pitiful insect.

Whether it's Yan Wang or Chu Yunzheng, do they truly not see through her little tricks?

It's merely a matter of timing, geography, and people, acting in accordance with the situation.

The Imperial Palace's conflicts are not convenient for the Ministry of Justice to join.

Zhao Hai and the Shenxing Si chief converse in low voices, then both kneel.

Zhao Hai's voice booms: "Empress, Bai Zijun committed murder, killing four members of the Nan family; his conduct is vile. He should be locked in the dungeon and beheaded after the autumn harvest!"

"No!" Bai Li snaps out of her daze, voice sharp: "Who dares to harm my brother?"

"Empress." The Shenxing Si man ignores Bai Li, speaking loudly: "Pear Princess, even as a favored consort, her behavior is extremely vile."

"Please, Your Majesty, imprison the Pear Princess in the Cold Palace."

"Who dares?"

Bai Li does not panic.

Instead, she looks over the crowd with arrogant disdain.

She even provocatively fixes her gaze on Wan Tang, sneering repeatedly: "If you wish to convict me, shouldn't you also ask the Emperor?"

Bai Li's mouth lifts, eyeing the Phoenix Robe on Wan Tang.

"Recall the past, some people, to please the Emperor, came to Jingxin An to request my entry into the palace."

"I ask you, in this world, who else remains? The Emperor would go to such lengths to obtain her."

"In the Imperial harem, it's never the case that whoever has a higher rank automatically has the right to speak."

"Rather, whoever enjoys the Emperor's favor becomes the victor of life."

She speaks with passionate fervor.

Yet throughout Kunning Palace, only faint snickers echo.

Even the Shenxing Si men show no reaction.

Only Wan Tang, suddenly enlightened, lets out an "Oh."

She smiles and nods: "If the Pear Princess hadn't reminded me, I would have almost forgotten."

"Lord Zhao, there are two more people here in this palace; I suppose Lord Zhao wishes to see them." Wan Tang's tone is gentle, with a smile.

Zhao Hai watches in a daze.

He quickly bows: "Empress, please speak."

Wan Tang looks at the young attendant: "Go check, has Xiao Shunzi returned?"

"Your Majesty." A sound comes from the doorway.

Two heavily bound men are carried up and thrown onto the ground.

Xiao Shunzi bows to Zhao Hai: "Lord Zhao, Nubi will accompany the Empress to Baoguo Temple to pray."

"Encountered assassins; amid the melee, only these two survivors remain."

"Please, Lord Zhao, investigate this case thoroughly."

The two are left on the ground.

The face masks are removed, Zhao Hai exclaims: "These two…"

They once belonged to the Mo Family, renowned for their fame, but after the Mo Family fell, these two vanished without a trace.

The elder whispers nearby: "Lord Zhao, aren't these the Mo Family mansion commanders?"

Zhao Hai, puzzled, turns to look at the Empress.

Bai Li, so nervous she almost forgets to breathe, bursts into uncontrollable laughter at once.

"Hahaha!"

"Wan Tang, you fool."

"You tried to frame me for killing you, but you went after the Mo Family elder, hahaha, didn't expect they'd recognize you, right?"

"I told you, you think you can frame me just like that?!"