Chapter 56: Imperial Heir

She didn't wait for anyone's reaction and spoke like a rapid volley:

"Just now I, the humble concubine, saw with my own eyes that Consort Wan secretly added something to Lady Qi's icy dumplings!"

"If it wasn't her, who else could it be?"

Xiao Mingshu's brows twitched slightly, her scrutinizing gaze drifting between the two.

Chu Yunzheng's eyes darkened abruptly, and his knuckles drummed a muffled sound on the Dragon Throne's armrest.

Xu Qinghuan lowered his head, yet the corners of his mouth rose quietly.

Wang Jingyi added timely, "No wonder Consort Wan just now swapped bowls with Lady Qi…"

【They must be crazy? How dare they court‑death like this?】

【If they knew Xu Qinghuan was the one who poisoned, would they still dare to step forward?】

【Poor Wan Tang, she is about to be framed.】

【It concerns the Imperial Heir; Wan Tang cannot prove herself, and her fate will be grim.】

If it's confirmed that Xu Qinghuan poisoned, that's enough.

Wan Tang's fingertips trembled as she lifted her hem and hurried forward, landing with a "thud" on the cold bricks.

When she lifted her face, her eyes were already brimming with terrified tears, and even her voice trembled just right: "Your Majesty, please discern! I, the humble concubine, bear no grudge against Lady Qi; how could I harm her?"

She took two steps on her knees, the brocade hem dragging a messy trace on the bricks: "Since Lady Qi moved into the Lotus Breeze Palace, I have treated her like a sister; you know that!"

"I, the humble concubine, how could I…"

A single tear fell at just the right moment, solidifying on her cheek like a crystal pearl.

Xiao Mingshu's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze sweeping back and forth between Wan Tang and Xu Luoyan.

Her fingertips unconsciously stroked the prayer beads on her wrist; if Wan Tang fell, Xu Qinghuan would monopolize the sacred favor.

Now, as for Lady Qi, it's still unknown—whether she can keep the child.

When that time comes, who will be able to check the Xu Family?

"I, the humble concubine, thought," the Empress suddenly said, "Consort Wan has always been gentle; she could never commit such a vicious deed."

Xu Luoyan sneered, her vermilion phoenix eyes laced with poison: "Empress, don't be fooled by some people's pretended tears."

She flicked her sleeve and stepped forward: "If you weren't a guilty thief, why add so many things into the dumplings?"

Wang Jingyi added timely, "I heard Consort Wan has lately been frequenting the Imperial Medical Institute to inquire about pharmacology…"

The air in the hall seemed to solidify.

Wan Tang clenched her sleeves; she clearly saw the swirling dark tide in Chu Yunzheng's eyes, the dangerous glint of an emperor scrutinizing his prey.

"If Lady Qi doesn't swap," Chu Yunzheng suddenly said, his voice terrifyingly deep, "the one poisoned right now should be Wan Tang."

"I, however, must ask: who would gamble with their own life?"

Xu Luoyan's pupils contracted sharply, she stared at the Emperor in disbelief, her red lips trembling: "Your Majesty… you actually believe her, not the facts?"

Her voice suddenly rose, tinged with a hint of madness, her fingertips digging deep into her palm: "That wretched woman clearly…"

"Enough!" Chu Yunzheng cut in coldly, a frosty glint in his eyes, "With insufficient evidence, how dare you speculate?"

"You have disappointed me far too much."

"Was the previous punishment, for you, simply not enough?"

Chu Yunzheng's gaze, terrifyingly restrained, said word for word: "I was foolish to think you might truly have a repentant heart; it seems I was wrong."

Xu Luoyan staggered back half a step, the color draining from her face.

She opened her mouth, still wanting to argue, but saw the Emperor already turn and walk toward Wan Tang, his gaze no longer sweeping her way.

At that moment, a rapid footfall echoed from outside the hall, accompanied by a eunuch's sharp report: "Empress Dowager has arrived!"

Everyone's expression changed abruptly, and they all knelt down at once.

Chu Yunzheng also hurried forward, bowing: "Mother, why have you come in person?"

"It was my negligence that disturbed you, Mother."

The Empress Dowager, hand clasped with the matron's, entered slowly, her head full of silver threads tied into a high bun.

A golden Step Shake adorned with nine phoenix‑beaded motifs remained perfectly still, its phoenix eyes exuding calm authority without anger.

Her gaze, like a blade, swept slowly over everyone, finally landing on Wan Tang.

"If I were not to come again, I fear the Imperial Heir would be harmed!" the Empress Dowager said coldly, her incense‑scented wooden prayer beads striking heavily, "Emperor, I do not understand your recent actions."

Chu Yunzheng's brows furrowed slightly, yet he remained respectful: "Mother, calm your anger; I am thoroughly investigating this matter."

"Investigate?" the Empress Dowager sneered, "I think you've been bewitched!"

She thrust her hand upward, pointing at Wan Tang: "This low‑born maid dares to plot against the Imperial Heir; her heart deserves execution!"

The hall's air suddenly solidified.

Wan Tang knelt prostrate, her back rigidly straight, fingertips pressed hard against the blue bricks, yet she dared not lift her head.

The Empress Dowager's gaze was icy, each word deliberate: "By my imperial decree, all involved shall be rigorously examined! I shall see who dares to harm my grandson!"

Chu Yunzheng bowed his head slightly, his tone steady and unquestionable: "Mother, calm your anger; I will see this matter through to the truth, never wrongfully accusing the innocent."

Xu Luoyan's eyes flashed with a hint of malice as she stepped forward, her voice sweet yet each word laced with thorns: "Empress Dowager, your timing is perfect; the Emperor doesn't even believe the murderer is Consort Wan."

She glanced pointedly at Wan Tang: "After all, Consort Wan knows best how to please the Emperor; a mere whisper by the pillow can sweep away any crime."

"Consort Wan?" the Empress Dowager's eyes darkened sharply, her prayer beads clicking abruptly.

She turned slowly, her fierce gaze cutting across Wan Tang like a blade.

"She is merely a lowly maid, childless and unfavored—how can she merit the rank of Ninth Consort?"

Xu Luoyan, seeing this, immediately added fuel: "Your Majesty, this wretched woman not only plotted against the Imperial Heir, but now also confounds the sacred hearing."

"I, the humble concubine, have admonished the Emperor countless times, yet he…" she pretended to be at a loss, glanced at Chu Yunzheng, then looked tearfully at the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager's prayer beads struck the desk hard, rattling the tea cups: "Guards! Bring the executioner; I will personally interrogate!"

Xu Luoyan was only thinking about the thrill, and didn't notice Chu Yunzheng's murderous gaze.

Wan Tang was suspended by iron chains at both arms, her plain white inner garment already torn to pieces by the Whip, exposing streaks of blood.

"Say, was it you who poisoned it!" the old matron shouted harshly, the salt‑soaked vine striking down fiercely again.

Wan Tang's bitten lip seeped blood, yet she kept her back straight: "Concubine… wronged…"

Chu Yunzheng stood beside with arms crossed, his knuckles turning white.

When another muffled groan was heard, he finally couldn't hold back and intervened: "Stop!"

Empress Dowager swept a cold gaze: "Is the Emperor seeking favoritism?"

Wan Tang raised her head with difficulty, her eyes shining astonishingly through the tangled hair: "Empress Dowager, Emperor… please discern…"

Fresh blood slid down her mouth corner; though her voice was weak, each word was clear: "Concubine… would never commit a deed that harms the Prince."

"If I, the Concubine, were truly this selfish, how could I watch, eyes wide open, my dearest one go…"

She need not continue; the Emperor understood.

Those nights, how Wan Tang stayed awake all night, watching them plot and scheme.

All for the Emperor, for the Imperial Heir!

Chu Yunzheng's pupils contracted sharply; beneath his bright yellow dragon robe, his body trembled imperceptibly.

Wan Tang's peripheral glance caught the fleeting pity in the Emperor's eyes; her tensed shoulders finally relaxed almost imperceptibly.

She coughed weakly twice, the blood at her lip still wet, yet forced herself to kneel upright; her voice light and clear: "Empress Dowager, may I report, those hawthorn candied treats are the same for everyone."

"The Concubine only changed the way of eating, did not expect Lady of Grace Qi to like it."

She lifted her pale face, tears glistening yet resolute: "If I had known it was poisonous, the Concubine would have taken it herself. Better than a baseless wish…"

Empress Dowager frowned, the rotation of the prayer beads in her hand gradually slowed.

"Investigate." Empress Dowager ordered coldly, "Anyone who recently handled the ice dumplings, none may be omitted."

Today's banquet was Shun Pin's main stage.

Seeing this, Shun Pin was also quite frightened.

Now caught in the vortex are Wan Tang and others. As long as she honestly keeps quiet, she won't provoke trouble.

But she looked at her daughter, then at Wan Tang.

Finally softening, she knelt forward: "Report to Empress Dowager, these things were prepared by the Concubine."

"The ice dumplings were also prepared by the Concubine according to the sisters' preferences; actually they had been ready long ago, with the palace maids waiting outside."

"Honestly don't know which link caused the problem."

【Indeed, it's the palace maid.】

【These idiots are too aggressive, can't we investigate the palace maid?】

【Xu Qinghuan went out, deliberately causing trouble. What exactly happened, let someone investigate!】

Wan Tang was in great pain, and followed Shun Pin's words: "Empress Dowager, Emperor, Empress, the Concubine is indeed innocent."

"Even if we must convict, bring the one who delivered the ice dumplings to ask, okay?"

The chief of the courtyard also stepped forward now: "Report to Empress Dowager, Emperor, Empress."

"Your servant has already inspected all hawthorn and candied treats; indeed they are non‑poisonous."

Empress Dowager's gaze hardened, she dispatched people to investigate.

A moment later.

A small, skinny palace maid was roughly dragged into the hall, slammed heavily onto the blue‑stone slab.

She trembled all over, sweat beads already seeping from her forehead.

"I (serving woman) really only delivered the ice dumplings, I truly have no idea whatsoever," she said, voice as thin as a mosquito, eyes wandering.

"Not telling the truth?" the execution matron sneered, the bamboo board in her hand "slap" struck her palm, "I'll give you one more chance!"

The maid shivered in pain, yet bit her lip and shook her head: "I (serving woman), I (serving woman) know nothing."

"It seems you won't shed tears without seeing a coffin," Empress Dowager said coldly, "drag her down, give twenty lashes, then we'll talk."

Two strong eunuchs immediately stepped forward and lifted the maid.

When she was pinned on the spring bench, she finally broke down crying: "I (serving woman) speak! I (serving woman) will say everything!"

The bamboo board was already stained with blood, but it never fell again.

The maid collapsed weakly on the ground, sobbing: "Originally I (serving woman) was waiting outside for the summons from inside."

"…and it had always been peaceful."

"Yes, someone blocked me, saying a gilded hairpin was lost, insisting I help find it."

"They said that hairpin was a gift from the Emperor, and I (serving woman) saw that she was also favored by the Emperor…"

"Moreover she said, after finding it, she would give me a golden melon seed."

Her voice grew lower and lower, finally almost inaudible.

"That person is Shei?" Empress Dowager slammed the table, the tea cup jumped.

The maid trembled as she lifted her head, her gaze freezing when it brushed past Xu Luoyan's back.

Then she slowly looked behind, where Xu Qinghuan stared at her intently, eyes full of warning.

"Yes…" the maid flinched, but upon seeing the bamboo board in the execution matron's hand, she finally broke down shouting: "It's her!"

The maid raised her hand, pointing at Xu Qinghuan.