Chapter Twenty-Three: The Unexpected

Yet just as she was caught in her inner turmoil, Lady Wan stepped forward at the most inopportune moment and suddenly spoke, “I’ve heard that Consort Rong was released from her cell to investigate the truth. Perhaps Your Ladyship went to the burial grounds to look into the case?”

Her words struck precisely at the heart of the matter.

Huarong nodded repeatedly, realizing for the first time how clever this woman could be, and followed up, “Lady Wan is right. The assassin’s corpse is our only lead. I thought to start there, but who could have imagined trouble would find me on the way?”

“So that’s how it is. Then the body must have been found!” Lady Wan's lips curled in a cold smile. There was something off about her expression, but it was hard to pinpoint exactly what.

When it came to discussing the body, Huarong was at a loss for words, unsure where to begin. She simply shook her head, “No, I couldn’t find it. It vanished as if it evaporated from the earth. I have no idea where it’s gone.”

Lady Wan let out a chilly laugh, “So that’s how it is. Then Consort Rong truly went for nothing. If you have no evidence to prove your innocence, you might soon return to that cold prison. I can hardly bear it. Would you like me to help?”

“...If you don’t kill me, that’s help enough. Do you really think I’m a fool?” Huarong pursed her lips and shot her a glare, annoyed. Her mind wasn’t the sharpest, but she wasn’t so hopelessly naive as to trust Lady Wan.

Having refused her simply, Huarong took advantage of her slight fatigue to dismiss the others, but Jun Yeli alone remained stubbornly at her bedside.

“Your Majesty, aren’t you leaving?” Huarong scrutinized Jun Yeli. He wore a serious expression, and she couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

“Are you so eager for me to go?”

It was indeed hard to fathom. In the harem, every concubine vied for his presence, yet only Huarong mastered the art of playing hard to get.

She played the game so expertly, it seemed only “letting go” remained—she could hardly wait to push him away down the winding mountain paths.

“It’s not that... I’m just tired and want to rest...” Huarong awkwardly pursed her lips.

“If you stay here, I’ll feel embarrassed. Someone might misunderstand.”

In truth, she had already been misunderstood. The concubines outside had withdrawn, but seeing the Emperor linger so long inside, their hearts were restless.

“Look at this woman—she’s truly cunning, enchanting the Emperor until he’s utterly bewitched. Now he scarcely leaves her side. We are the ones to pity; the Emperor won’t even spare us a glance.”

Lady Liu lowered her gaze with a sigh, instantly stirring sympathy among the others.

Lady Wen, however, maintained her neutrality, “All right, don’t go on. We’re all women of the harem. Consort Rong is new; it’s only natural the Emperor favors her. Perhaps he’ll tire of her soon enough.”

But her words drew sneers, “Just yesterday, the Emperor rushed to Consort Rong’s palace for some hotpot and caught a lovesick spell. She has so many tricks, I doubt he’ll tire of her any time soon!”

At the sudden revelation, Lady Wen’s face changed, “Yesterday the Emperor went to Xuanji Palace for hotpot? I thought he was busy with state affairs?”

Recalling the afternoon, Jun Yeli had left in haste—she had assumed it was for important matters, never imagining it was for hotpot!

“Yes, Lady Wen, you didn’t know? They say Consort Rong got the Emperor drunk and nearly convinced him to stay the night. Isn’t she crafty?”

The group chattered away, their words filled with indignation and resentment. Lady Wen’s face darkened further, “So it was for her... Was I just fooling myself?”

She drew a deep breath, struggling to control her emotions.

Listening to their gossip, she could no longer contain herself and snapped in a low voice, “Enough! Don’t speak of this anymore. We’re all the Emperor’s women—if we quarrel here and are seen, what will people think? Disperse!”

With that, she swept her sleeves and left first.

Her hurried steps betrayed her inner turmoil; she could barely keep herself together.

Inside Xuanji Palace, Huarong and Jun Yeli stared at each other—neither would yield, as if testing whose resolve would last longer.

“Your Majesty, you’ve been watching for so long. Aren’t you tired?”

“Don’t you want to know why I’m staying? Do you think I truly have designs on you?”

Since Huarong was so adept at playing hard to get, he decided to do the opposite.

If he kept his distance, perhaps Huarong would regret it.

Upon hearing this, Huarong relaxed slightly, “It’s better if you don’t.”

But she pressed further, “Then why does Your Majesty linger? Is it to help me solve the case?”

This urgent matter weighed on Huarong like a tumor—if not removed soon, it would surely be her undoing.

Jun Yeli nodded, confirming her guess, “Yes, you’re quite perceptive.”

“What do you mean?” Huarong sat up, her pupils widening in surprise, her delight even more intense than if she’d discovered a treasure.

“Yesterday, the attacker at the burial grounds left this behind. See if you recognize it.”

Huarong glanced down, troubled, and saw a delicate jade pendant—an ornament women would wear.

“This is of superb quality, exquisitely carved. Not something just anyone could possess. Are you sure it dropped from that man?”

Whoever he was, lurking in such a place and so destitute, yet by his build and agility, he was clearly male. Why would he carry such an item?

Then Jun Yeli’s next words shocked her, “No need to guess. This was a gift I bestowed upon Lady Wan years ago.”

“What?” Huarong was stunned.

Lady Wan’s possession, found on the assassin—it was bewildering.

Connecting the dots, Huarong suddenly saw a new answer, “I couldn’t find the assassin’s body at the burial grounds. Lady Wan visited him before me and could have poisoned him. Now this jade pendant has surfaced. If he’s alive, there must be collusion between Lady Wan and him!”