In the Chenyi Palace, after hearing the exaggerated report from Eunuch Xi, Consort Zhen became so enraged that she swept the plate of pastries and teacups off the table, crashing them to the floor. Her face twisted with fury as she snarled, “I told you the Imperial Court of Judicial Review wouldn’t take this case seriously! That Zhao Family’s scoundrel, they killed my nephew and still dared to act so arrogantly! This is unbearable, absolutely unbearable!”

After venting her anger, she called Eunuch Xi over and whispered something to him. He immediately nodded with a relaxed expression and left to carry out her instructions.

At this moment, her head maid, Ruihe, entered with a tray of five-colored rice dumplings from the kitchen. After placing the tray on the table, she softly reported to Consort Zhen, “Just now, we received news from Huaiyue Pavilion. Since yesterday, the normally indifferent Liu Meiren has suddenly changed her attitude toward His Majesty the Emperor and started to fawn on him. This morning, after His Majesty finished his court duties, he went to see her. Our people, who were hiding outside the window, overheard Liu Meiren asking His Majesty the Emperor for something, and His Majesty agreed.”

“Did you hear what she asked for?” Consort Zhen inquired.

Ruihe shook her head. “It seems she suddenly lowered her voice, and our people couldn’t make out what she said.”

Consort Zhen sneered and said, “This vile woman, who knows where she crawled out from. She’s relying on the Zhao Family’s power to gain fame in the capital. Now, she’s surely pleading on behalf of that scoundrel from the Zhao Family.” She glanced at the five-colored rice dumplings on the table and instructed Ruihe, “Take these rice dumplings. Let’s go pay a visit to this Liu Meiren.”

They left Chenyi Palace and made their way through the flower-filled paths, arriving outside Huaiyue Pavilion. Before they could get close, they heard the sound of a pipa and a bamboo flute being played together inside.

Consort Zhen felt a lump in her throat. The Emperor could play the bamboo flute, but only when he was in a particularly good mood. In the years since she entered the Palace, she had heard the Emperor play the bamboo flute less than ten times. Could it be that, with this bitch Liu Meiren, he was using the bamboo flute to flatter her every day?

She had initially thought the Emperor’s interest in this woman was just a passing fancy, something that would wear off in a few days. But if the Emperor truly valued her this much, then thus woman, Liu Fuyi, would no longer be allowed to stay.

A cold, ruthless glint flashed in Consort Zhen’s eyes, and she held back until the music stopped before sending someone in to announce her arrival.

The Emperor, who had just finished playing a piece with Liu Fuyi, was in a good mood. Upon hearing that Consort Zhen had arrived, he hesitated for a moment and looked toward Liu Fuyi.

Liu Fuyi handed the pipa to the attendant Yongqing beside her, lowering her long eyelashes and not looking at the Emperor. While reaching for the teacup on the table, she casually said, “Why is Your Majesty staring at me? She is a consort, and I am just a Meiren. She has humbled herself to visit my Huaiyue Pavilion, and am I not supposed to let her in?”

She just casually using 我 (wǒ) that means I/Me instead of using ‘Chenqie’ like other women in harem did.

The Emperor awkwardly responded, “Consort Zhen has a gentle and kind nature. If she wishes to visit, it’s good for you to talk with her and make some friends. At least it won’t be so lonely.”

Liu Fuyi chuckled softly but didn’t reply.

Consort Zhen entered and bowed to the Emperor.

Liu Fuyi stood up and gave a polite bow to Consort Zhen.

Consort Zhen watched Liu Fuyi’s perfunctory gesture, and a surge of anger rose in her heart.

“You’ve come at this hour for some reason?” the Emperor asked Consort Zhen.

Consort Zhen looked at the five-colored rice dumplings on the table and smiled gently. “Isn’t today the Dragon Boat Festival? Chenqie thought, since Liu Meiren has just entered the Palace, she might be neglected by the servants. So, Chenqie specially brought her some five-colored rice dumplings. Chenqie didn’t expect she already had some, and it seems One has done something unnecessary.”

The Emperor replied, “You had good intentions, how could you say it was unnecessary? Come, sit.”

After thanking the Emperor, Consort Zhen sat down in the room. She watched Liu Fuyi idly inspecting her nails and then spoke up, “Liu Meiren, today the Imperial Court of Judicial Review is questioning Zhao Huanxi. I sent Eunuch Xi from my Palace to attend. Zhao Huanxi claims he didn’t kill anyone, so you needn’t worry too much.”

Liu Fuyi paused in her action of examining her nails, casting a sideways glance with her beautiful eyes, and said, “What does Zhen Fei Niangniang by that? Whether he killed someone or not, what does it have to do with me?”

Consort Zhen smiled faintly and said, “Liu Meiren’s mind is as clear as a mirror, so why pretend to ask when one already knows? Over the past two years, aside from Zhao Huanxi, even Ling Gelao sent people to invite you to his birthday, but you never showed up. If you say you have no connection to Zhao Huanxi, who would believe…”

Before she could finish speaking, Liu Fuyi suddenly stood up, grabbed the teacup on the table, and smashed it to the ground.

No one had expected someone to dare smash a teacup in front of the Emperor. Everyone in the room, including the Emperor, was startled by her actions.

The Emperor frowned slightly in displeasure, but Liu Fuyi pointed at Consort Zhen and turned to him, saying, “Your Majesty, she has falsely accused me of having improper relations with another. One implores Your Majesty to order someone to slap her!”

When this Meiren of his was furious, her crystal-clear eyes ablaze and her brows sharply raised. The Emperor, seeing Liu Fuyi’s piercing glare, was instantly captivated, as if bewitched, his heart inexplicably stirred.

“How insolent! You are merely a Meiren, how dare you disrespect Zhen Fei Niangniang!” Ruihe stepped forward to defend her mistress.

Liu Fuyi ignored her and kept her gaze fixed on the Emperor, demanding, “Your Majesty, will you make decisions for me?”

She really just used (你) the informal you to the Emperor, what a DIVA.

The Emperor snapped out of his daze and stood up to console her, saying, “Don’t be upset. Zhen Fei was merely speaking casually. Zhen, of course, trust you and won’t take it seriously.”

Liu Fuyi looked at him and let out a cold laugh. “Since Your Majesty already has a beloved in your heart, why insist on bringing me into the Palace? ‘Speaking casually’? What she said implies that I’m having an affair with someone else, indirectly saying that Your Majesty is a Wangba! Even if you can tolerate this insult, I cannot. If you can’t bring yourself to slap her, fine, I’ll do it myself. Afterward, you can execute me if you wish!” With that, she moved to charge at Consort Zhen.

Consort Zhen was so frightened that she stood up. She had never expected Liu Fuyi to explode at the slightest provocation, acting like a madwoman without any restraint even in front of the Emperor.

Ruihe stepped in front of Consort Zhen, shielding her while shouting, “Quick, protect Zhen Fei Niangniang!”

The Emperor, in his forty-two years of life, had never been called a Wangba to his face before. He felt both humiliated and angry, yet he couldn’t bear to lose Liu Fuyi. Panicked, he rushed to embrace her, saying, “Don’t, don’t! How could Zhen ever bear to let you die?”

Liu Fuyi struggled with all her might and cursed, “You keep saying you love me, but in truth, you imprison me in the Palace and let others humiliate me. I’d rather be dead than live like this. If that’s the case, I might as well end it all and die cleanly!”

The Emperor felt utterly exasperated, his head pounding as he realised how the pleasant atmosphere had been ruined by Consort Zhen’s reckless remarks. Furious, he turned and said, “Zhen Fei’s baseless slander has tarnished others’ innocence. This is unacceptable. Punish her with four slaps as a warning, and from now on, she is forbidden to approach Huaiyue Pavilion without my decree. Hongfeng.”

The head eunuch, Hongfeng, stepped forward toward Consort Zhen.

It was only at that moment that Consort Zhen fully processed what the Emperor had just said. In disbelief, she called out, “Your Majesty—”

The Emperor refused to look at her, his expression cold as he commanded, “Carry out the punishment.”

“My apologies, Zhen Fei Niangniang,” Hongfeng said with a bow. Then, raising his hand, he delivered a slap across her perfectly maintained and beautiful face.

Liu Fuyi pushed the Emperor away and said, “If one can’t bear it, then don’t do it. After all, he’s someone by Your Majesty side. Are the servants not even fed properly?”

The Emperor, slightly annoyed, directed his anger at the eunuch and barked, “Hongfeng!”

This time, Hongfeng didn’t dare hold back. He delivered three heavy slaps to Consort Zhen, leaving her cheeks red and swollen, her hair dishevelled, and even one of the hair ornaments in her bun falling to the ground.

Since entering the Palace, Consort Zhen had never experienced such humiliation. Seeing the cold and contemptuous look in Liu Fuyi’s eyes, she felt such a deep shame and hatred that she wished she could die on the spot.

“Your Majesty…” she sobbed pitifully.

“Go back to your palace,” the Emperor said, his face turned away. He instinctively wanted to add that she should have the imperial physician check on her, but when he glanced at Liu Fuyi, the words changed to, “Reflect on yourself properly after you return!”

Consort Zhen left in tears.

The Emperor turned back with a fawning expression, trying to appease Liu Fuyi. “Zhen has already punished her. Are you still upset?”

Liu Fuyi sat down and said, “You wanted me to enter the Palace and accompany you, and I’ve done so. But if you ever make me suffer grievances, I am not the kind of person to endure it silently.”

The Emperor quickly replied, “Zhen won’t let you suffer grievances. You are the one in my heart. Who would dare make you feel wronged?”

Liu Fuyi glanced at him and said no more, only asking, “I composed a new piece last night. Would Your Majesty like to hear it?”

“Of course,” the Emperor replied, sitting beside her in high spirits.

Liu Fuyi gestured for Yongqing to hand her the pipa, which she cradled in her arms and began to pluck gently.

In the Shuntian Prefecture prison, Fu Yunjin carried two food boxes and, after handing a few taels of silver to the prison warden, was allowed in.

The prisoners here were a mixed bunch, and their deaths were often of little concern, so visitors bringing food for inmates were not restricted.

The man from Lintao was named Wu Kui. Since he had been convicted of robbery and assault, the crime did not warrant execution, nor did it qualify him for a private cell, so he was detained in a shared cell with five or six other prisoners.

The jailer opened the cell door. Fu Yunjin, holding back against the stench, stepped in. His gaze swept across the room and quickly locked onto the burly man who had scratched him outside the Mo Yu’er gate.

He handed one of the food boxes to the people beside Wu Kui and said, “Would you all mind giving us some space? I’d like to have a private word with Wu Kui.”

The prisoners were initially curious when they saw a young man dressed in fine clothes and jade headcrown came in. Now that they saw there were food and wine, how could they not be happy? Several of them grabbed the food boxes and went to the other corner of the cell.

Wu Kui was sitting in a corner, leaning against the wall, looking at Fu Yunjin with confusion and suspicion. He asked, “How do you know my name?”

Fu Yunjin, disregarding the filth, sat down opposite him on the straw. He took the food and wine out of the boxes one by one, filling Wu Kui’s cup before finally raising his head to look at him and ask, “Do you know who the person you killed was?”

Wu Kui furrowed his brow, his expression unreadable. He only asked, “Did the jade craftsman die?”

“I’m talking about the one you strangled in that abandoned house north of the city.” Fu Yunjin lowered his gaze, briefly glancing at Wu Kui’s hands.

Wu Kui’s hands subtly twitched before stopping. He had his hands clenched into loose fists resting on his lap, so Fu Yunjin couldn’t see his palms.

But that slight, unconscious movement was enough to reveal a lot.

“Half a year ago, I also lost my loved one. During the most painful time, I even thought that if I could, it would be better if I took her place in death. That way, at least I wouldn’t have to endure this kind of pain.” As Fu Yunjin spoke, his eyes reddened again as his voice trembled.

Wu Kui stared at him with a blank expression.

His display of emotion wasn’t feigned, Wu Kui could tell. Thinking of the person he cared about, Wu Kui couldn’t help but feel a slight shift in his eyes.

Fu Yunjin struggled to keep his emotions in check, then continued, “If you’re willing to risk your life, it must be for someone who is important to you. But you’ve been deceived. The person you killed was the heir to Cheng Guogong, and the one you framed was the legitimate eldest grandson of Jing Guogong. You’ve been caught up in such a huge case. No matter what they promised you, they can’t fulfill it. Because once my Biao Di is in danger, we will definitely settle the score. Not just us, but Cheng Guogong Residence won’t spare you either. Now that we know your name and origin, everything about you can be uncovered. It’s just a matter of time.”

Wu Kui clenched his fists tightly, his jaw tightening, as if shocked by what Fu Yunjin had said. But he forcibly suppressed it, staring at Fu Yunjin without speaking.

Fu Yunjin raised his wine cup and said to him, “You’ve killed someone, and you will have to pay with your life. But if you’re willing to confess the truth now, and help us rescue my Biao Di from prison as soon as possible, I’ll fulfill the promise you made with them.”

Wu Kui looked at him coldly and said, “How do I know you’re not lying to me?”

“If you’re willing to kill, then what’s the harm in taking this gamble? If you don’t trust me, then who will you trust? Tell me, and I can bring them to see you, provided you tell me the truth. You know, even if you don’t speak, we can figure it out with a bit of time.” Fu Yunjin replied.

Wu Kui lowered his eyelids, a hint of conflict crossing his rugged face. It was obvious that he’s in a very fierce inner struggle.

Fu Yunjin didn’t rush him, his pale fingers steadily holding the wine cup as he patiently and quietly waited.

After about a quarter of an hour, Wu Kui finally lifted his gaze, looked at Fu Yunjin and asked, “If I confess, will my family truly be safe from this?”

Fu Yunjin nodded, “It was never intended to bring harm to your family. The only ones who can protect your family from the enmity of Cheng Guogong Residence are us, Jing Guogong Residence. Those who tricked you into committing murder won’t be able to do that.”

Wu Kui clenched his jaw, then raised his wine cup and clinked it against Fu Yunjin’s. He tilted his head back and gulped it down in one go.

At the Jing Guogong Residence, in Jiaxiang House.

Er Taitai, Ning Shi, came to find Yin Furen and asked with a smile, “Da Sao, what happened today? Why is the side gate not allowing anyone to come in or go out?”

Upon seeing her, Yin Furen felt a chill run down her spine as if seeing a poisonous snake. She briefly glanced at her before quickly shifting her gaze, putting down her teacup and saying, “Huanxi’s matter, haven’t you of Second Branhs heard about it? The Cheng Guogong Residence is going mad, trying to get revenge on us. For the safety of the people in the residence, Guogong Yé ordered me to keep watch over the gate and not let anyone enter or leave.”

Ning Shi’s smile faded a little as she asked, “Was it Guogong Yé who ordered to guard the gate?”

“Exactly. Otherwise, how would I have the courage to make such a decision?” Yin Furen replied calmly, with neither a flushed face nor a racing heart.

Ning Shi’s mind started to wander. With Fifth Branch’s master and servants either dead or severely injured, who was Guogong Yé guarding the gate against now?

At this moment, Qianhe reported, “Taitai, Fu Gongzi has returned from Shuntian Prefecture.”

Yin Furen quickly said, “Let him in.”

Fu Yunjin entered the main hall, greeted Yin Furen with a bow, and then saluted Er Taitai.

Er Taitai smiled and asked, “What made you go to the Shuntian Prefecture all of a sudden? Was there something important?”

Fu Yunjin replied, “Yesterday, I was scratched on the arm in front of a jade shop. Today, I went to the Shuntian Prefecture for a routine inquiry from the authorities.”

Er Taitai said, “I see. Since you have matters to discuss, I’ll take my leave first.”

Yin Furen remained seated, nodding, “Take care.”

After Er Taitai left, Yin Furen quickly asked Fu Yunjin, “Did you manage to get it done?”

Fu Yunjin nodded and took out a confession with a seal from his chest, and handed it to Yin Furen.

Yin Furen took the confession, and upon reading it, she was both angry and pleased. She said to Fu Yunjin, “You’ve worked hard. Now, go back and rest.”

After sending Fu Yunjin off, she hurriedly instructed a maid to fetch Xu Nian’an and Zhao Jiazhen. “Yunjin did not disappoint us. He brought back Wu Kui’s confession.”

Xu Nian’an and Zhao Jiazhen, leaning closely together, read the contents of the confession, let out a sigh of relief, and said to Yin Furen, “Mom, have someone go to fetch Zufu. This matter can finally be settled.”