Consort Hui frowned and asked Fang He, “Noble Consort Zhaoyuan, what… what are you causing trouble about this time?”
Consort Rong’s tone was unusually gentle, like coaxing a child.
“No matter how angry you are, isn’t there a proper way to speak? There are so many outer wives present. If this spreads, it won’t sound good!”
Consort Yi stood silently beside her maternal elder, with no intention to intervene.
Fang He ignored them, lazily looking at Xinhua.
“Hurry up and expedite things. I’m tired.”
Xinhua crouched, “Yes, mistress.” Â
The consorts and outer wives forced to stand under the sun grew increasingly angry.
“What hurry? What does Noble Consort Zhaoyuan intend to do?”
As confusion and anxiety grew, the Crown Prince Yinreng, wearing a cold expression, was summoned by Gu Wenxing.
Noble Consort Wenxi and her maternal elder suddenly whimpered, and the consorts instantly grew agitated, crowding around.
“Crown Prince, Noble Consort Zhaoyuan has gone mad, detaining us outer wives in the Imperial Garden. Please make a ruling!”
“Crown Prince, Noble Consort Zhaoyuan is lawless. Even if we rank lower, our families are pillars of the court. Our sons are on the frontlines fighting. How can she treat us like this?”
Yinreng looked at Fang He helplessly.
“Noble Consort Zhaoyuan, what are you planning?”
“Crazy,” Fang He smiled, looking up at him.
Though standing while he sat, making her lower, she somehow managed to look down on him.
“You all think I’m easy to bully and crazy. If I don’t go a little mad, I’d be letting you down.”
Yinreng was too tired to argue with a madwoman.
He frowned at Gu Wenxing and Li Dequan. Â
“This is the inner palace. How can you let a woman run amok? Are you crazy too?”
“Guards! Take Noble Consort Zhaoyuan back to Yanxi Palace and confine her. Wait for the emperor’s return to decide her fate!”
The palace maids and Imperial Guards nearby looked at each other but didn’t move.
Gu Wenxing and Li Dequan stood silently beside Fang He, waiting for orders.
“Didn’t you hear the Crown Prince? Bind the Crown Prince instead and wait for the Grand Empress Dowager’s edict!”
Li Dequan bowed and waved his Dragon Pattern Jade Pendant.
Before the hesitant guards could act, two black-clad figures suddenly appeared from the shadows, swiftly restraining the struggling Crown Prince.
Within moments, he was tied up.
Everyone was stunned.
They weren’t seriously accusing Fang He of rebellion.
It was an exclamation of shock, not a real warning. Â
Shushu Jueluo stopped sobbing, Noble Consort Wenxi ceased struggling, and all eyes turned to Fang He with murderous intent.
The Crown Prince was the heir to the nation.
If something happened to the emperor, he would rule all of Qing. Â
Fang He dared to bind the Crown Prince herself—she must be courting death.
Just as everyone was too shocked to speak, Su’moer appeared with a jade box and a small palace maid carrying a lacquered red tray.
Seeing the pale, panicked faces around the garden, Su’moer was calmer than Gu Wenxing.
She respectfully approached and knelt, “Your servant greets Noble Consort Zhaoyuan.” Â
Yinreng still held onto a semblance of composure but looked at Su’moer with pain and despair.
“Su’moer, will you just stand by and watch Noble Consort Zhaoyuan mistreat me so?”
Su’moer glanced at him coldly and raised the jade box.
“In accordance with the Grand Empress Dowager’s edict, your servant brings the Grand Empress Dowager’s imperial gifts for Noble Consort Zhaoyuan. Matters of the masters, your servant dares not comment.”
Everyone’s gaze shifted to the tray in the little maid’s hands.
What had the Grand Empress Dowager left for Fang He? Â
Su’moer announced loudly:
“The Grand Empress Dowager’s decree grants Noble Consort Zhaoyuan one pot of Dujin Wine, one dagger, and three pieces of White Silk…”
The crowd froze, faces suddenly lighting up.
Could the Ancestress have foreseen this madwoman’s actions, leaving a death order to prepare for such a day?
But just as Yinreng smiled and was about to speak, Su’moer continued:
“Also authorizing Noble Consort Zhaoyuan to exercise the Grand Empress Dowager’s authority in punishing the rebellious and purging the harem to uphold palace order.”
The crowd:Â Â “……”
Impossible.
No one would dare dream of such outrageous authority! Â
Yinreng wanted to slap himself, feeling like he had hallucinated.
Raising his hand, he felt the sting of the restraints and immediately sobered, his face paling.
But he was clearer-headed than anyone and saw farther than the palace women.
He knew how loyal Su’moer was to the Grand Empress Dowager; she wouldn’t aid the wicked.
This had to be an authentic edict left by the Grand Empress Dowager.Â
Su’moer cared deeply for the younger generation, especially him and the Eldest Prince Yinzhi.
In her heart, they ranked just below the emperor. Â
For Su’moer to side with Fang He, even disregarding the Crown Prince’s dignity, meant only one thing.
Su’moer believed today’s events were closely tied to him and that Fang He’s actions… if exposed, would implicate him.
He opened his mouth but couldn’t say a word as his heart pounded wildly, like a child caught in a lie.
Consort Hui was the opposite, sharply questioning:
“Su’moer, who’s to say this edict isn’t forged?  If such an edict existed, why wasn’t it presented earlier?” Â
Su’moer didn’t even glance at her, turning to leave quietly.
“My task is complete. Please remind your mistress to consider His Majesty more often.”
Fang He smiled.
“Don’t worry. For the sake of the child I carry, I won’t kill unless necessary. Su’moer, go back to Cining Palace in peace.”
Some timid consorts, hearing Fang He’s words and seeing the three items on the Luohan Couch, nearly lost their legs.
“So… she can kill openly now?”  Consort Rong retracted all her thoughts. Â
She wasn’t as clever as Consort Hui or as sensible as Consort Yi, but her intuition was sharp.
The palace was changing.
She would no longer oppose Fang He. Â
Consort Hui tried to say something, but Fang He pinched her forehead and ordered Gu Wenxing:
“Consort Hui has crossed the line and is too noisy. Ten strokes with the cane. Every extra word is another stroke.”
Consort Hui’s eyes widened, words of “insolent” on her lips, but Fang He’s lethargic expression and aura of impatience silenced her inexplicably.
She knew Fang He wouldn’t kill her, nor confront all the consorts and outer wives.
But with the Grand Empress Dowager’s edict, this madwoman dared to make an example of her.
Consort Hui didn’t want to be that chicken. Â
Seeing Consort Hui dragged away with a dark face, Yinreng’s complexion also dimmed.
He struggled to suppress his anger and unease, coldly asking,  “Noble Consort Zhaoyuan, what exactly do you intend?” Â
Facing the Crown Prince, Fang He’s temper was moderate, looking up at him she said, “Someone tried to cause my miscarriage today. If no one confesses, everyone will be questioned until I get answers.” Â
Yinreng’s eyes darkened further.
“The affairs of the harem are of no concern to me. Why summon me?”
“Consort Ping nearly drowned me. Consort Xi nearly dropped onto Nine Princess. Both are from your Hesheri clan. Should I not ask the Crown Prince?”
Yinreng sneered, “Even if the Hesheri wanted to move against you, they wouldn’t be so brazen or so willing to sow discord and frame others. Doesn’t Noble Consort Zhaoyuan see through it?”
Fang He stood, slowly approaching Yinreng, laughing scornfully.
“I’m not satisfied with that answer.”
Li Dequan quickly brought the consorts and outer wives to the interrogation benches prepared by the Office of Punishment and Investigation.
With no outsiders present, Yinreng’s disdain and gloom surfaced without disguise.
One by one, they were interrogated.
“So what if you’re not satisfied? You dare kill Consort Hui, and even me?”
He scoffed, “Believe me, once I leave the Imperial Garden today, your arrogance, bullying the heir, and bribing the Grand Empress Dowager’s servants, your treasonous plots will be sealed!”
Fang He let out a long “Oh” and laughed.
“Of course I don’t believe that. Even if you forget your age, I remember.”
“Are you trying to scare a child?”
She pointed to Consort Duan trembling in the corner and Noble Consort Wenxi’s ashen face, then chuckled at the Crown Prince.
“Before you step out of the Imperial Garden, the charges of corruption, bribery, factionalism, even framing your own brothers and plotting to seize the throne—will all be delivered to the emperor’s desk at lightning speed.”
She stepped closer to Yinreng, her voice softening.
“Also, your collusion with Duke Niu’s mansion, private dealings in the harem, disloyalty and disrespect toward family—evidence will be sent to Eldest Prince Yinzhi and Lord Mingzhu without delay.”
“You abuse your power, letting Ling Pu extort, and even tolerate the Hesheri clan’s meddling in Jiangnan’s salt tax—evidence will spread across Jiangnan as well.”
Fang He chuckled twice, then stepped back to her original seat, smiling brighter than the afternoon sun.
“The Crown Prince is right. I dare not kill you, but if I’m not satisfied today, even if it’s fish or net, I’ll see you fail as heir.”
“Crown Prince, do you want to gamble the heirship with me, or give me a satisfactory answer?”
Yinreng’s face was dark beyond expression.
The emperor was in his prime but had no heir, and brothers watched hungrily.
If the Hesheri’s deeds were exposed and his misconduct made public…Â Â
Even if he later killed Fang He, this Crown Princeship would be his end.
Fang He was fearless, so why should he gamble?
“You…” Yinreng clenched his teeth, struggling to suppress his anger, bowing his head.
“What must I do to satisfy you?”
Fang He’s smile faded as she sat back down lazily.
“Naturally, confess your crimes and face deserved punishment.”
“I want everyone to know: if you have the guts, come at me. Just be ready to bear the consequences!”
Yinreng’s chest heaved violently as he closed his eyes to think.
Concubine Jing, watching the show, suddenly smiled.
Today’s spectacle was satisfying.
She might as well do some work to justify the ticket price. Â
She suddenly grabbed Consort Duan’s clothes and dragged her toward the interrogation benches, shouting at Li Dequan playing the role of interrogator:
“Consort Duan is suspicious. Her hands have red flower powder—she and the Dong family did this. That’s a crime punishable by extermination of nine generations!”
Consort Duan was already terrified and disoriented; being dragged out only made her worse.
As the palace maids came to restrain her, she screamed:
“It’s not me! It’s not me! It’s the Hesheri—”
“Silence!” Yinreng’s face darkened as he shouted, though trembling slightly beneath his fury.
He struggled to remain composed, his expression stiff, looking calmly at Fang He.
“His Majesty ordered me as regent to protect the late emperor’s harem. It was my failure to let Noble Consort Zhaoyuan be frightened. I take full responsibility and accept any punishment from the consort.”
“Oh? Will that make people think I’m arrogant, bullying the heir, bribing the Grand Empress Dowager’s servants, deceiving and plotting rebellion?” Fang He raised an eyebrow.
Yinreng: “…”
He ground his teeth and forced out, “No. I failed to protect my siblings. That is my fault. Noble Consort’s maternal kindness, what fault is there?” Â
Fang He understood and nodded, signaling for the handkerchief from Noble Consort Wenxi’s mouth.
“Noble Consort Wenxi just said this child did something wrong. What was it again?”
Noble Consort Wenxi had overheard Fang He’s threats against the Crown Prince, especially the collusion with Duke Niu’s mansion.
All her resentment and anger vanished before the Grand Empress Dowager’s imperial gift.
She raised her hollow, desolate eyes and spoke in a hoarse voice like a dull knife scraping.
“I said, they need a good lesson with the cane.”
Yinreng: “…”
Why did he make a mistake by opposing Noble Consort Zhaoyuan?!
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