Chapter 100 Seduction

"Do you believe what the Imperial Observatory says?"

Narcissus knelt at the foot of the steps, her eyes already red, yet she stubbornly held back her grievances, tears welling in her eyes but not falling, gazing at him pitifully.

Emperor Zhaoheng's heart was gripped tightly by her grievances!

He didn't want to doubt her; he had already misunderstood her too many times.

But now, under the watchful eyes of everyone and amidst the controversy, he needs an explanation, an explanation that allows him to rightfully defend her!

Emperor Zhaoheng suppressed his turbulent emotions, his voice deep and slow, carrying the imposing authority of an emperor.

"Consort Jin, the witchcraft items were indeed found in your Yongle Palace. What...do you have to say about that?"

Narcissus didn't rush to protest her innocence. Instead, she spoke in a tone that was both extremely aggrieved and trying hard to remain rational:

"Your Majesty, I...I do not know why these vile creatures have appeared in my palace."

She looked at Emperor Zhaoheng with great sincerity, saying, "Ever since I gave birth to Yongning, my health has been weak."

"Her Majesty the Empress is so considerate that she has ordered the Imperial Household Department to add many more palace servants to serve me... With so many people, it would not be difficult for someone to secretly place this framed item in my bedchamber if they intended to frame me."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Zhaoheng's expression indeed changed.

He recalled her tragic state after childbirth, when she was on the verge of death from postpartum hemorrhage, and a deep pity welled up in his eyes as he looked at her.

Narcissus caught the pity deep in his eyes, and her tears rolled down like broken beads as she said aggrievedly:

"Your Majesty! My ability to conceive a royal heir is not due to any witchcraft or sorcery, but rather... it is due to my unique constitution."

"Your Majesty, you are aware of this matter!"

Shui Xian didn't say it explicitly, but it wouldn't be honorable to mention in public that Emperor Zhaoheng took her into the palace because of her fertility.

She met the gaze of Emperor Zhaoheng on the throne, who clearly understood her meaning.

When Yi Guichun presented her with narcissus, he mentioned that her constitution was secretly cultivated by the Yi family.

This was the main reason why Emperor Zhaoheng initially agreed to let Shui Xian take his place as the emperor's concubine, but these matters could not be discussed in court.

Emperor Zhaoheng's voice was deep and seemingly gentle, "I believe you."

Just then, the Empress, who had been silently observing, spoke up.

With a look of sympathy for Narcissus, she said, "Your Majesty, what Consort Jin said... does make some sense."

"My sister is weak after childbirth, and it was my idea to add more people to the palace. If this allows villains to take advantage of the situation, I will also be held responsible."

At this point, the Empress sighed softly, a perfectly measured look of worry on her face.

"However... this witchcraft is, after all, an ominous practice... If this matter is not thoroughly investigated, it may be difficult to convince the public and will cause panic in the harem."

"For the sake of my sister's innocence and Yongning's reputation, in my opinion, we still need to investigate this thoroughly."

Her words sounded entirely like she was thinking of the country and the emperor.

But Shui Xian noticed that when the Empress said "investigate thoroughly," she glanced at Wu Xuan, who was kneeling next to Shui Xian, out of the corner of her eye!

Emperor Zhaoheng frowned upon hearing the Empress's words, clearly feeling the need to investigate further.

But.

Looking at Narcissus's pale face, he felt a strong urge to protect her.

At that moment, Wu Xuan, the Imperial Astronomical Observatory official who was kneeling on the spot, seemed to sense the emperor's wavering. He suddenly stood up and shouted in a hoarse voice.

"A wicked concubine has brought ruin to the country! She has confused the bloodline! The evidence is irrefutable!"

"Your Majesty, you are still misled by him! I...I am incompetent! I have failed the late Emperor! I have failed the nation! I have no choice but to die! To prove that the celestial signs are true! To awaken Your Majesty's ears!!"

Before he finished speaking, to everyone's astonishment, he suddenly mustered a burst of strength from nowhere and slammed his head against the golden dragon pillar in the hall!

"Bang!!!"

With a muffled thud, blood spurted from Wu Xuan's forehead, staining the golden dragon pattern on the pillar red!

His body slid softly to the ground, twitched twice, and then stopped moving, his forehead a bloody mess!

"ah!"

The palace was immediately filled with terrified screams from the concubines and noblewomen!

Emperor Zhaoheng's expression turned completely grim on the jade steps. For any emperor, an official's willingness to die for his cause was an extremely serious matter.

He coldly observed the chaos within the hall, and the varied behaviors of the high-ranking officials, imperial relatives, and concubines.

"Imperial Physician!"

The emperor's voice was icy, and the imperial physicians waiting in the side hall rushed out to examine him.

A moment later, the imperial physician reported back tremblingly.

"Your Majesty... Lord Wu suffered a severe external injury to his forehead and lost a lot of blood, but... he is still breathing, though unconscious. He needs to be taken away immediately for proper treatment..."

Even though Wu Xuan did not die on the spot, his tragic and resolute collision had completely ignited the emotions of the noble families and court officials in the palace!

"emperor!"

Led by Ruan Chen and Liu Hongru, the prominent officials of the aristocratic families knelt down once again, their voices filled with grief and indignation.

"Envoy Wu has shown his loyalty with his death! His blood stained the imperial palace! Such loyalty is worthy of heaven and earth's witness! If His Majesty is again deceived by the bewitching concubine, wouldn't that chill the hearts of all the loyal ministers in the land?!"

"Your Majesty, please issue an edict immediately to severely punish the wicked concubine, so as to appease the loyal soul and uphold the law!"

"Your Majesty, I beg you to severely punish this wicked concubine! To uphold the law of the land!"

The sound waves swept through the hall once more, even more violently than before!

Emperor Zhaoheng's face was ashen as he stared at the blood-stained golden palace and the faces of the powerful ministers kneeling on the ground...

His anger was boundless!

He was almost certain that this was a carefully orchestrated trap set against Narcissus!

These powerful families will stop at nothing!

However... Wu Xuan's deathbed remonstrance was the greatest pressure he could exert on the emperor!

If he continues to forcefully defend Narcissus, he will not only solidify his reputation as a "tyrant bewitched by a seductive concubine," but may also incite even greater turmoil in the court!

"quiet!"

"Wu Xuan, the Imperial Astronomical Bureau Chief, has acted improperly before the Emperor, recklessly threatening suicide to remonstrate, thus disturbing His Majesty's presence. His intentions... though seemingly pitiable, are utterly wrong! The Imperial Physicians are ordered to do everything in their power to treat him! He will be dealt with after he recovers!"

Then, he looked at the narcissus with a complicated expression.

"Consort Jin, Narcissus, is suspected of witchcraft! Although the evidence is questionable, given the current situation, in order to thoroughly investigate the truth, she is hereby confined to Yongle Palace effective immediately!"

"Without my decree, no one may visit! Without my personal order, no one may interrogate! I will make a decision after I have ascertained the truth!"

Narcissus met his complicated gaze and understood the helplessness in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, I obey."

Her obedience, and the trust in him deep in her eyes, instantly brought Emperor Zhaoheng's guilt to its peak!

The Empress, standing to the side, clearly saw the overwhelming guilt in Emperor Zhaoheng's eyes, and a cold glint flashed in the deepest part of her gaze.

But she quickly put on a tolerant smile and gently echoed, "Your Majesty is wise. This is the most appropriate way to handle it."

The Empress spoke to Narcissus with a soothing tone.

"I believe the truth will soon come out, and the Imperial Concubine will surely be exonerated."

Narcissus bowed deeply to her.

"Your Majesty, I thank you!"

——

In the dead of night, the charcoal fire in the Qianqing Palace burned extremely brightly, yet it could not dispel the cold and oppressive atmosphere that permeated the air.

Emperor Zhaoheng had just seen off the last group of chattering aristocratic officials who surrounded him. He leaned back wearily on the dragon throne, closed his eyes, and rubbed his aching temples.

Suddenly, a series of slightly chaotic footsteps came from outside the hall, accompanied by a palace attendant's panicked announcement: "The Empress Dowager has arrived! His Highness Prince Duan has arrived—!"

Emperor Zhaoheng slowly sat up straight, his face regaining its usual unreadable imperial majesty.

Surrounded by a group of palace servants, the Empress Dowager strode in with an imposing air, her well-maintained face covered in frost.

Beside her followed Prince Duan, who had not yet changed into his morning auspicious attire.

"Your subject greets Your Majesty."

Emperor Zhaoheng stood up, his tone revealing no emotion, "I heard that the Empress Dowager was unwell today, suffering from a severe headache, and was unable to attend Yongning's 100-day celebration... Why have you come so late at night?"

His words sounded like concern, but upon closer examination, they subtly revealed a hint of barely perceptible sarcasm.

He claimed to be sick and didn't attend his granddaughter's 100-day celebration during the day, but he was full of energy at night.

The Empress Dowager seemed oblivious to the barb in his words, or perhaps she simply didn't care.

"Your Majesty! At this point, how long are you going to let that bewitching concubine continue to deceive you?!"

Emperor Zhaoheng slowly frowned: "Why do you say that, Mother? I will make my own decision regarding the matter of Narcissus."

"A decision? Your decision is just a simple sentence like 'placement'?!"

The Empress Dowager suddenly raised her voice, filled with exasperation, "Emperor! Open your eyes and see clearly! What is that narcissus?!"

She said with great distress:

"A lowly servant girl born into the household dares to practice witchcraft and curse the Empress! She even wants to use some unknown bastard child to confuse the royal bloodline! Her heart is despicable! Her crime deserves the extermination of her entire family!"

She became more and more agitated as she spoke, and her finger pointing at Emperor Zhaoheng was trembling.

"You must never forget how the late emperor was bewitched by that lowly concubine who came from a palace maid background!"

"Even you, the Crown Prince... you almost handed over your position to that bastard born of that lowly servant!"

Upon hearing the Empress Dowager compare Narcissus to the late Emperor's Consort, Emperor Zhaoheng's face instantly turned ashen.

He abruptly interrupted the Empress Dowager, his voice cold and hard: "Mother! How can Narcissus be confused with the late Imperial Noble Consort! Narcissus, she..."

"What's different?!"

The Empress Dowager's voice was icy, filled with hatred:

"They are all calamities that bring ruin to the country and its people! Emperor, are you going to follow in the footsteps of the late emperor?! Are you going to chill the hearts of the loyal ministers and shake the foundations of the nation for the sake of a lowly maid?!"

"Your Majesty, please be careful with your words!" Emperor Zhaoheng's voice was filled with obvious anger. "I know what I'm doing! I will not kill innocent people before the truth is clear!"

Seeing that he was unmoved by reason, the Empress Dowager suddenly pulled something out of her sleeve and slammed it hard on the imperial desk in front of Emperor Zhaoheng!

It was a high-quality, exquisitely embroidered bib with mandarin ducks playing in the water!

The undergarment landed lightly on the memorial, its ambiguous color and style incongruous with the solemn and dignified Qianqing Palace.

"Your Majesty, take a look!"

The Empress Dowager snorted coldly, "It was your good concubine who used it to seduce Prince Duan!"