Days passed by one after another, and the emperors favorite was still Consort Shu. He often bestowed lavish gifts upon her, sending them to Ronghua Palace in a steady stream.

  Ling Mei Ren, An Gui Ren, and Su Jing Cong.

  "Master, Du Chang is being punished by Chang Xiao Yi and forced to kneel at the Lotus Lake," Dai Man said as she walked in.

  Su Jing raised her head slightly upon hearing this, "But does she know what its about?"

  "I heard it was because of a palace maid," paused, "it seemed that this palace maid bumped into Chang Xiao Yi, but Chang Xiao Yi thought it was Du Chang."

  Su Jing sneered coldly, she and the two of them had just bullied her a few days ago, didnt expect to be at odds with each other so soon.

  "Go take a look, after all its next to Guan Yu Temple."

  As I walked over, I saw from a distance that many people were gathered here, with Du Changjin kneeling on the ground and two palace maids.

  One of them was beaten with a swollen nose and bruised face.

  "Sister Su has also arrived," Chang Xiao Yi said with a fake smile as she saw her approaching.

  Su Jingxi pretended not to see and said, "The maidservant greets Chang Xiaoyi."

  "Hurry up, or youll be uncomfortable again somewhere else," Chang Xiao Yi said coldly, turning her head away and no longer looking at her.

  "Sister Su, I heard that this palace maid used to serve you," said Ruan Mei, who came over from the side.

  Su Jingxu was somewhat puzzled and furrowed her brow as she looked at the palace maid kneeling on the ground several times before realizing it was Banlan, who had served her during the selection of imperial concubines.

  Before Su Jing could speak, a eunuch loudly shouted, "The Empress Dowager has arrived."

  Everyone knelt down and paid their respects, "Get up, all of you."

  "Ah, blood, theres blood..." Kui Guiren said, pointing at Du Changtaos skirt hem.

  Everyone rushed over to watch, in a flash of lightning, Ruan Mei fell to the ground, "Ah, my belly, belly..."

  "Hurry and call Imperial Physician Tao," the Empress hastily said, "and have everyone carried to Chuxiu Palace."

  Su Jing furrowed her brow and glanced at Dai Xia behind her, seeing that she looked normal, but feeling a faint sense of unease in her heart.

  Everything just happened too fast, she didnt even have time to see clearly. Ruan Mei stood beside her, in theory, as long as she wasnt the one who fell herself, it was either Dai Xia, her own palace maid, or Shang Guan Mei and her palace maid, one of whom pushed her.

  Everyone stayed in the side hall of Chuxiu Palace and saw someone coming in, "See the emperor."

  Zong Zhengjin felt annoyed in his heart, waved his hand and sat down at the top position, "How is it?"

  The empress was also somewhat shaken, collecting her words, "In reply to Your Majesty, I only knew that Du sister was being punished with kneeling, and when I rushed over, she had already seen red, while Ruan sister...".

  At this point, he raised his head and glanced at Su Jingxian, "She suddenly fell down, I didnt see clearly, but at that time, it was Sus younger sister standing beside her..."

  Su Jing secretly thought it was bad, she knew she had gotten into trouble.

  Its unclear whether this is a coincidence or intentional design, but one thing leads to another. Regardless of whether Du knew about her pregnancy, Ruan Mei definitely did, and she carefully planned the timing, pinning the child on her instead.

  Perhaps, because of Hanlan, Du Changs child would also be counted as hers.

  Before Su Jing could speak, the imperial physician came out and said, "Your Majesty, Du Changs fetus is stable, but its not very secure. Its still early days, so she needs to rest well from now on. However, as for Ruan Mei... Im incompetent, please forgive me, Your Majesty."

  No matter what each of them was thinking in their heart, they all just put on a sorrowful expression upon hearing the words.

  The queen first heard that Du Changs fetus was preserved, and she couldnt help but feel some regret. Later, when she heard that Ruan Meirens fetus was gone, she couldnt suppress her excitement.

  After adjusting her emotions and wiping away tears with a handkerchief, "Your Majesty, Ruans sister...".

  Knowing how to do is best, its not just the queen alone. When the wall falls, everyone pushes it. There are no eternal enemies, only common interests.

  "Sister Su perhaps didnt mean to..." Consort Shu said weakly, seemingly unable to bear it.

  Xiang Jieyu also chimed in, "Yes, Su sister is still young, shes probably just eager to see the excitement, didnt think..."

  "Did you all see it with your own eyes?" Zong Zhengjin said coldly before she could finish speaking.

  The queen saw that he was expressionless, with dark pupils, and couldnt guess what he was thinking. She didnt dare to speak too directly either. "Previously, the palace maid who had collided with Chang Xiao Yi had served Su Gui Ren during the selection of concubines."

  "Your Majesty, I think its not necessarily Sus sisters fault. There were many people around and it was chaotic. Even if Ruan Mei fell down, it doesnt mean it was Sus sisters mistake. Maybe it was someone else. After all, there were others standing there besides Sus sister," said An Guiren, getting up and speaking in a gentle tone.

  For a moment, no one spoke, probably because no one expected her to speak up for Su Jingyun.

  After a long while, Zong Zhengjin also didnt know what he was thinking about. He raised his head and asked Su Jingxian, "Do you have anything to say?"

  Su Jing stepped out, knelt on the ground, and bowed her head. "Your Majesty, although I was standing beside Ruan Mei at that time, I didnt see clearly what happened, but..."

  She looked up at him and their eyes met, "I absolutely did not push her."

  "Nonsense! It was you who pushed him, it was you who killed my child..." Suddenly, Ruan Mei ran out of the inner room, pointing at Su Jing.

  "Your Majesty, Your Majesty must do justice for me, your concubines child is innocent... Your Majesty..."

  "Take her away, shes making a scene," Zong Zhengjin said impatiently, waving his hand.

  The empress walked over and nodded at the palace maid eunuchs, "Let Ruans sister rest well, the emperor will surely take charge of her child."

  There is no conclusive evidence, even if there are witnesses, what they say may not necessarily be true. The palace is most lacking in false accusations.

  "Your Majesty, look at this..." The Empress seemed embarrassed. "Or should we summon those few palace maids to ask them?"

  Zong Zhengjin nodded, and Su Shunxian hastily ordered someone to bring those few palace maids over.

  "Tell me, what was the situation at that time? Why did you rush into Chang Xiaos room?" The Empress asked under Zong Zhengjins indication. Since one thing couldnt be explained clearly, she directly asked about another matter.

  Banlan had already been used to punishment, and upon hearing this, she shrank back, "This servant was ordered by the young mistress to deliver this months allowance to Du Changjin. On the way to Lotus Lake, I didnt see Du Changjin, but accidentally bumped into her. I didnt expect that Chang Xiaoyi was behind Du Changjin, and then Chang Xiaoyi said it was Du Changjin who bumped into her. This servant..."

  "Your Majesty, I dont know who bumped into whom, but at the time it was Duguo who bumped into me, so she was punished to kneel. I really didnt know that I was already pregnant... please forgive me..." Chang Xiao Yi sobbed.

  "Do you know that Du Chang has already been pregnant, but someone is behind the scenes?" The empress slapped the table and asked loudly, ignoring Chang Xiao Yi.

  "Your Majesty, I really dont know, I didnt know that Du Chang was there..."

  "Nonsense, you clearly knew I was there, thats why you rushed out and got me punished by Chang Xiao Yi, almost causing me to miscarry," Du Chang said tearfully as she walked out with the support of a palace maid.

  A beauty with tears is a beautiful scene, but Zong Zhengjin didnt even give her a glance.

  "Since you wont speak, then its clear that you insulted Du Changjin, which is a capital offense. Guards, take him away..." The empress waved her hand.

  Kneeling down, "Speak, speak, Ill say it all," she raised her head and looked at Su Jingzhen, "Master, please spare my family on account of my loyalty in protecting you."

  He crashed into a stone pillar on one side and immediately died with a broken head and bleeding.

  The queen and others covered their mouths with handkerchiefs, waved their hands, and someone dragged the corpse away. In an instant, the ground was also swept clean.

  If it werent for the faint smell of blood in the air, no one would have known that a life had been lost here just a few minutes ago.

  The person is dead and can no longer defend themselves, let alone prove their innocence.

  "Su Gui Ren, what else do you have to say?"

  Su Jing still only looked at the emperor, hearing this revealed a faint smile, "I have nothing to say, if its also necessary for me to die to prove my innocence, I am willing to die."

  Zong Zhengjin furrowed his brow upon hearing this, "Hand everyone over to Shen Xing Si, use severe torture to extract a confession, and confine Su Guiren to Zuiyun Pavilion."

  …………

  "Master, are you alright?" Ling Yao hastily asked as soon as she saw her return.

  Su Jing shook her head, both physically and mentally extremely exhausted, "Im fine."

  "Is it really Dai Xia?" Dai Man was a bit nervous, they had all heard about what happened.

  Su Jingxi thought for a long time, she felt that this person should not be Dai Xia, although she might have another master, but today when she saw her expression, she really didnt find anything unusual, as if it was also unexpected.

  "I dont know, I think Ill rest now, dont disturb me if theres nothing important," he turned and entered the inner room.

  Who benefits the most?

  Empress? Shu Gui Fei? It seems like everyone benefited, except for Ruan Mei Ren who lost her child. But even Ruan Mei Ren may not have lost out entirely - one child can be exchanged for many rewards, a higher position, and the Emperors sympathy.

  It seems that she was still too careless, but she really wanted to know if what he said about protecting her that day was true, or how far he could go for her.

  Zichen Hall

  Zong Zhengjin leaned back in his dragon chair, closed his eyes and said, "Go and investigate thoroughly for me."

  The empty and deserted grand hall echoed with a response, "Yes, subordinate obeys."

  Su Shunxian entered hastily as if nothing had happened and stood by upon hearing a voice inside the palace.

  "Whats your take on todays events?"

  Su Shun leisurely waved his hand to brush off dust, "Doesnt Your Majesty already have an answer in mind?"

  Zong Zhengjin didnt get angry, instead he chuckled and said, "When did you also dare to use these words to deceive me?"

  "I dare not, what I think in my heart the Emperor has already seen through, so I didnt speak to disturb the Emperors ears and eyes, may the Emperor be enlightened."

  "Hmph," Zong Zhengjin coldly snorted, "Send someone to deliver some rewards to Du Chang, and Ruan Mei will be promoted to Xiao Yi, while Chang Xiao Yi will be demoted to Mei Ren."