Chapter 39: Revocation of Title

The Queen nodded and said, "In that case, Qiu Wen, you personally lead people to Jinxiu Palace and Baiyu Pavilion to retrieve the medicinal residue and bring it back to Jiyue Tower for the imperial physician to examine."

As the Queen's personal maid, Qiu Wen would not favor either side, lest she miss anything.

The Queen looked at Concubine Wan and said, "The matter has not yet come to a conclusion. Concubine Wan, please sit down first."

Concubine Wan had nothing to hide, so she wasn't nervous. The Queen asked her to sit down, so she did.

"Jin Fangyi, please sit down too."

Jin Fangyi's manners were much better than Concubine Wan's. After thanking the Queen, she sat down.

Since Wen Wanyu had not recovered from her illness, the queen sympathized with her and told her not to make a special trip.

Without Wen Wanyu by her side, Cheng Shuyi seemed particularly lonely. She had been silently observing the expressions of Concubine Wan and Jin Fangyi.

Since they were the only two who had taken purslane in the past two weeks, it could only have been them. Yet, Concubine Wan and Jin Fangyi showed no trace of nervousness, their bodies relaxed, the gestures of someone with a clear conscience.

Cheng Shuyi wondered, could there be someone else?

Half an hour passed

Concubine Wan yawned lazily. Not only Concubine Wan, but all the other concubines in the palace were a little tired.

Jinxiu Palace and Baiyu Pavilion are on the east side and the west side respectively, so it does take some time to go back and forth.

At this time, the imperial physician came in and said, "Your Majesty, I have discovered..."

"I discovered..." The imperial physician looked embarrassed and seemed afraid to speak.

The Queen gave the doctor an affirmative look and said, "You can speak freely."

The imperial physician glanced at Concubine Wan cautiously, and Concubine Wan immediately got angry and asked, "Why are you looking at me?"

Concubine Wan's delicate features were tinged with anger. She slammed the table beside her and couldn't help but raise her voice, "There's something filthy in my Jinxiu Palace!"

Her face flushed red with anger, but she felt vaguely uneasy in her heart.

Concubine Wan was favored, the biological mother of the second princess, and had the Yang family behind her. The imperial physician did not dare to offend Concubine Wan, and after being scolded by Concubine Wan, he lowered his head even lower.

The Queen had no choice but to speak out to stop him: "Concubine Wan, please be patient and wait for the Imperial Physician to continue."

De Fei glanced at Wan Fei dimly and said, "Yes, Wan Fei. The imperial physician just glanced at you and didn't say anything yet."

Concubine Wan suppressed her anger and sat back in her chair.

The imperial physician then spoke up, "The dregs of the medicine used by Concubine Wan were missing a herb called purslane."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Wan's eyes flashed with disbelief. How could this be?

Concubine Wan couldn't believe it, her brows furrowed tightly, and she said coldly, "Nonsense!"

"How could there be a missing ingredient of purslane in my medicine residue? I have always been taking this prescription. Please be careful, don't let this be a misunderstanding."

Her last words were questioning the Queen.

Qiu Wen, who was beside the Queen, said in a deep voice, "Empress Wan, I have taken my servants to the Jinxiu Palace and the Baiyu Palace to search for the medicine residue. I have been watching them the whole time, how could there be any misunderstanding?"

Facing Qiu Wen's counterattack, Concubine Wan's anger surged, and she pressed on, "Then tell me, why is there a missing ingredient of purslane in my medicinal residue?"

It was clearly Concubine Wan's medicine residue that was missing purslane, but she wanted to blame the Queen. Concubine Hui couldn't stand it any longer: "Concubine Wan, why is there no purslane in the medicine residue? You should know best that Qiuwen was just doing her job. Why are you making things difficult for her?"

"I……"

How could Concubine De miss this opportunity? She would use the evidence to point to Concubine Wan and embarrass her.

So he followed up by saying, "Wan Fei, we're not targeting you intentionally. It's just that only you and Jin Fangyi took purslane, and only yours lacked purslane. And it was only purslane."

For the first time, Concubine Wan felt the pain of being unable to defend herself.

She really didn't know why purslane was missing from the medicinal residue, and why it was her medicinal residue.

Concubine Wan leaned forward and said, "Your Majesty, I am wronged! I was truly unaware of the situation."

The Queen said, "You should get up first."

"Qiulan, take someone to Jinxiu Palace again. Bring over all the servants in the small kitchen who have been involved in boiling medicine."

"yes."

Qiulan took people downstairs, and Xie Junyao brought people in.

When Concubine Wan knew that the emperor had arrived, a light lit up in her eyes.

"Your Majesty." Concubine Wan knelt on the ground instantly, moved to his front on her knees, and grabbed his clothes: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I am wronged, Your Majesty, you must give me justice."

Tears welled up in Concubine Wan's eyes, and she silently shed them. Her voice was delicate and pitiful.

Before the emperor arrived, she was unwilling to give in and defended herself; when the emperor arrived, she knelt on the ground, pretending to be wronged. Even her voice changed.

Concubine Wan used her usual tricks, but she ignored Xie Junyao's patience.

Xie Junyao took two steps back and said in a cold and hard voice, "You haven't been convicted yet, why are you crying like that?"

Concubine Wan was stunned, tears hanging in the corners of her eyes, and let the painted fan help her up.

Xie Junyao's eyes were gloomy: "There is not a single day of peace in my harem."

What Xie Junyao likes is people like Wen Wanyu who can prove their innocence, rather than crying and trying to get away with it.

As soon as the emperor arrived, the palace became quiet.

Until Qiulan came back and said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this palace maid was sneaky and was hiding something. I searched and found purslane."

After that, all the people and things were brought up.

The palace maid was so scared that she dared not look at anyone.

After seeing Xie Junyao, she knelt down and begged for mercy: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I confess everything. I confess everything!"

Concubine Wan couldn't wait to ask, "Who instructed you to do this?"

The palace maid looked up at Concubine Wan, then lowered her head in fear. The loud sound of her kowtow made people tremble.

Along with this, the palace maid confessed: "My Lady, I have done as you said. Please save me, Lady."

Everyone sighed, it really was Concubine Wan.

Concubine Wan paused, speechless, her palms were cold, trembling constantly, and she was surrounded by fear.

"What nonsense are you talking about? When did I ever tell you to do this?"

The queen looked at Xie Junyao, her eyes asking what to do, and she was very embarrassed.

Xie Junyao closed his eyes and thought.

Concubine Wan knelt down and said in a sad voice: "I didn't do it. I really didn't do it. Your Majesty."

Xie Junyao opened his eyes and looked at her without any warmth. Then he sighed, "You disappoint me."

Concubine Wan's eyes were empty.

"Concubine Wan, strip her of her title. Confine her to Jinxiu Palace. Move the Second Princess out of Jinxiu Palace and move her in first... to Concubine Hui's place."

The title was stripped away and Yue'er was moved out of Jinxiu Palace, the latter of which was even more difficult for Concubine Wan to accept.

"Your Majesty, Yue'er can't live without me." Concubine Wan cried bitterly and said sadly.

Xie Junyao looked at her and said, "Let Yue'er leave you for a while, then you will understand the pain of separation between mother and child."

"I will continue to investigate this matter." Xie Junyao said in a suggestive tone.

His eyes drifted towards the others.