"Please, Empress Dowager, investigate thoroughly!" Lan Ye finished speaking, then knelt and bowed his head to the ground, forehead touching the floor, not daring to rise.
Noble Lady Jing lowered her head and walked out from behind Beauty Qing, kneeling in the position to the front and side of Lan Ye: "This concubine greets the Empress Dowager, greets the Emperor."
"Rise," the Empress Dowager said in a deep voice.
Noble Lady Jing straightened her body: "Responding to Empress Dowager, this concubine heard someone in the garden today discussing Lady Li, the words spoken were really..."
After pausing for a while, Noble Lady Jing continued, "This concubine is somewhat worried, so I asked Lan Ye to inquire."
"Although this concubine has not interacted much with Lady Li, I know well that Lady Li would definitely not do such a thing, so I instructed Lan Ye not to spread the matter. Afterward, this concubine and Lan Ye stayed inside the pavilion without coming out until we heard that Princess Consort De and Noble Lady Ying brought people to Luaxin Pavilion, disturbing the Empress Dowager."
Upon hearing Noble Lady Jing’s words, Noble Lady Ying said anxiously, "Noble Lady Jing, what do you mean by that?"
"Are you saying that I sent someone to eavesdrop on your conversation with Lan Ye?"
Noble Lady Jing replied calmly, "Noble Lady Ying, this concubine did not say so. This concubine is merely answering the question posed by the Empress Dowager. I believe with the Empress Dowager and the Emperor present, the truth of the matter will surely be uncovered."
"Empress Dowager, do not listen to Noble Lady Jing’s one-sided words. Noble Lady Jing knows this concubine likes straightforwardness, and knowing about Lady Li’s matter, I would certainly inform Princess Consort De about it. She’s deliberately setting a trap for this concubine!"
After speaking, Noble Lady Ying thought herself extremely clever to have come up with such a retort.
She recalled Li Yuyu’s grievance just now and forced out two streams of tears: "Empress Dowager, Emperor, please discern, this concubine is so foolish and naturally believes whatever others say."
Noble Lady Jing was speechless.
To say such words, the label of foolishness was removed from Noble Lady Ying’s back.
Yan Xiu stood with his hands behind him, silent.
The Empress Dowager sneered, "Noble Lady Ying, with such eloquence, how could the mourning family possibly believe you are foolish? You are not one to believe whatever others say."
Noble Lady Ying looked up in shock.
Was the Empress Dowager implying that she should take responsibility for everything?
Why!
Noble Lady Ying gritted her teeth: "Empress Dowager, Emperor, this concubine is at fault, but this concubine is merely a Noble. Everything I have done was under the orders of Princess Consort De."
Princess Consort De looked at Noble Lady Ying, who was struggling to clear herself, aiming to place all blame on her, in shock.
Suddenly, she curled her lips into a smile.
"Interesting, truly interesting." Princess Consort De laughed uncontrollably and stood up directly from the ground.
The Empress Dowager frowned and gently reminded, "Princess Consort De, mind your conduct!"
"Conduct?" Princess Consort De laughed in response, "Who cares about my conduct? Since entering the palace, I’ve been mindful of my conduct because I wanted to be a good Princess Consort De, to help the Emperor manage the harem, to make the Emperor notice me, but what was the result?"
"Princess Consort De!" The Empress Dowager admonished with increased intensity.
She looked at Yan Xiu, and upon seeing no reaction from him to Princess Consort De’s words, she felt relieved. She was very afraid Yan Xiu would be furious because of this, and then she wouldn’t be able to protect Princess Consort De.
"It’s due to my arrogance and lack of judgment that I find myself in such a predicament, which is my own doing."
After speaking, Princess Consort De looked at Noble Lady Ying, chuckled, "Noble Lady Ying, this palace has already admitted fault, but you, merely a Noble, slander higher-ranking concubines and incite palace matters, how will you be accounted for?"