Although Hua Yin was afraid, she knew she couldn’t let others falsely accuse her. As she answered Yan Xiu’s questions, she gradually overcame her fear and responded clearly.
"How dare you, servant! What nonsense are you talking about now?"
Upon hearing Hua Yin mention her action against Lady Li, Noble Lady Ying got anxious and stood up from the ground to argue with Hua Yin.
"When did I give you permission to stand?"
Yan Xiu squinted his eyes and coldly questioned back.
Noble Lady Ying’s body trembled, and she knelt down again, stammering, "Emperor, this despicable servant is slandering me. Lady Li and I are like sisters, and even if there were some verbal conflicts, it’s a matter between sisters. How could it be as exaggerated as this despicable servant says?"
"Despicable servant, who are you talking about?" Lady Li asked in a haunting voice after being silent for a long time.
Ahem.
Yan Xiu heard the hidden undertone in Lady Li’s words and almost lost composure, trying hard to hold back laughter.
"Stand up." This sentence was directed at Hua Yin, but as everyone was kneeling, Yan Xiu added, "All stand up."
Only then did everyone dare to rise.
Yan Xiu looked at Noble Lady Ying, who was too intimidated to speak, and coldly questioned, "Noble Lady Ying, Lady Li is a Concubine, and you are a Noble—how dare you have conflicts with a Concubine? Have you forgotten the palace rules?"
Noble Lady Ying: ???
"Princess Consort De, how should Noble Lady Ying be punished?" Yan Xiu indifferently glanced at Princess Consort De.
Princess Consort De: ...
She punished a servant and was said to have exceeded her authority and was told to step down. How could she be asked about punishing Noble Lady Ying?
Noble Lady Ying was her person—if she punished her too harshly, Noble Lady Ying would surely become disenchanted. If the punishment were too light, where would her authority stand in handling the harem’s affairs in the future?
"Emperor, since Noble Lady Ying has violated the palace rules, how about having her confined in Yunmo Pavilion and copying the palace rules a hundred times? She can be released when she completes it."
Princess Consort De suggested tentatively.
"Alright," Yan Xiu replied indifferently.
Noble Lady Ying, seething with anger, twisted the handkerchief in her hand and spoke defiantly, "Emperor, as Your Majesty’s Noble Lady, I have violated the palace rules and received punishment. How can the matter of Hua Yin pushing Beauty Zhou into the water be easily dismissed?"
"When did I say I wouldn’t strictly punish the matter?" Yan Xiu looked down at her.
"Then why doesn’t the Emperor punish her?" Noble Lady Ying bravely argued back.
Yan Xiu slowly squinted his phoenix eyes, "Does Noble Lady Ying have a hearing problem? Hua Yin said she didn’t push Beauty Zhou into the water."
"What?"
Noble Lady Ying stared wide-eyed in disbelief, her lovely face expressing utter shock.
Princess Consort De and the others also looked at Yan Xiu in astonishment.
"Emperor, she’s just a servant!" Princess Consort De uncontrollably questioned.
Yan Xiu impassively countered, "So what? Is a servant not a person?"
Li Yuyu’s hand, hanging by her side, suddenly clenched. Didn’t she say this? How did Yan Xiu know? Had she said it to Yan Xiu?
That’s not right. When did she say that?
Li Yuyu confusedly raised her hand to press her forehead. Perhaps she hadn’t adjusted after suddenly coming into the book, which led to a memory discrepancy.
"Yes, but Emperor, can you trust a servant’s word so easily?" Princess Consort De refused to give up.
"Hua Yin is from my palace, and I naturally trust her."
Li Yuyu walked towards Yan Xiu, respectfully performing a Fuli and said, "Emperor, I believe Hua Yin did not push Beauty Zhou, and before you arrived, I confirmed that when Han Cairen went to the Lotus Reflection Pavilion, she wore a blue-green palace dress."
"If we base it solely on the unclear color of the garments to determine who pushed Beauty Zhou into the water, then Han Cairen is also a possibility."