Chapter 288 I Will Not Let You Down

When the narcissus phoenix carriage arrived at Yonglu Palace, the atmosphere was already tense.

Consort Chen was holding a mutton-fat jade pendant and was sternly rebuking Wen Jingfeng, who had an incredulous expression on his face.

"Consort Jing, now that we have both witnesses and physical evidence, what else do you have to say?"

"As a palace concubine, to have your heart set on another man and to secretly possess such ambiguous tokens is a grave crime of defiling the palace and deceiving the emperor! Do you deserve the emperor's favor and the honor of your Wen family?"

Wen Jingfeng never expected that Consort Chen, whom she had known since childhood, would produce a fake jade pendant belonging to Lu Yuanhang to slander her!

"I...I didn't!"

"No?"

Consort Chen scoffed and brandished the jade pendant in her hand. "Then where did this jade pendant engraved with the words 'Voyage' come from? And how can the former servant who served in the Wen family and witnessed you accept this item testify?"

Behind her stood an old servant who had once served the Wen family.

Consort Chen went all out with her act, preparing both physical evidence and witness testimony!

"Consort Chen!"

A clear, cold shout rang out from the palace gate.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Empress Shuixian, dressed in a bright yellow palace gown with phoenix patterns, slowly entering surrounded by palace servants.

Her beautiful face was serene, but her eyes were sharp and calm.

She didn't even glance at the jade pendant; her gaze was fixed directly on Consort Chen, seizing the initiative.

"Without my permission, you have trespassed into the palace of a concubine and interrogated a high-ranking concubine. Consort Chen, do you still have any regard for palace rules? Do you still have any sense of hierarchy?"

Consort Chen was surprised that the Empress would arrive so quickly. She was initially uneasy, but remembering that she was "well prepared," she quickly composed herself and took the initiative to file a complaint.

"Your Majesty, please understand! It's not that I'm ignorant of the rules, but Consort Jing's conduct has been improper. I feared she would tarnish the royal reputation, so I had no choice but to come and investigate! Consort Jing and a man outside the palace..."

"Shut up!"

Shui Xian interrupted coldly, her gaze icy as she swept over Consort Chen's face, which was flushed with excitement, and then over the so-called "witness" behind her with a flickering gaze.

Narcissus: "With just a jade pendant of dubious origin and questionable authenticity, and the baseless accusations of an old servant, you dare to openly frame a palace lady? Consort Chen, you are far too hasty and disregard palace rules and regulations!"

She gave Consort Chen no further chance to argue and gave the order directly.

"Guards! Take Consort Chen, her entourage of palace maids, and this so-called 'witness' under strict guard and interrogate them carefully!"

"Your Majesty! I am innocent! I was acting in accordance with the imperial family's rules!" Consort Chen cried out in panic as two maids came forward to hold her up.

Seeing that Narcissus was ignoring her, Consort Chen's expression suddenly turned cold.

"Empress! You are openly favoring Consort Jing, what is your intention?!"

She knew that the Empress and Consort Jing were on good terms, but she never expected that the Empress would openly favor Consort Jing even with all the "witnesses and evidence" to be presented!

Consort Chen tried to shout loudly, hoping to make her voice heard into the Qianqing Palace so that Emperor Zhaoheng could see what kind of person his personally chosen empress really was!

Shui Xian narrowed her eyes slightly, looking at the unwilling Consort Chen, "Oh?"

Her gaze was cold and aloof. "Consort Chen, you've been making unwanted advances in the palace all this time. You don't really think no one has noticed, do you?"

Shui Xian now controls the six palaces, and her eyes and ears are everywhere. She obtained evidence as early as when Consort Chen forged the jade pendant and even found an old servant from outside the palace who had served in the Wen family but was later dismissed for dishonest means.

What we've been waiting for is this moment when Consort Chen frames Consort Jing!

Looking into Shui Xian's calm eyes, which seemed to see through everything, Consort Chen's face finally turned pale.

After the palace servants took away the struggling Consort Chen and her accomplices, the hall fell silent instantly.

Narcissus then picked up the jade pendant that was placed on the table. The jade pendant was of decent quality and the antiquing technique was quite skillful, but the two characters "Voyage" engraved on it seemed deliberate and crude to her.

After dismissing everyone except Tinglu who stood guard at the door, Shuixian placed the jade pendant on the tea table in front of Wen Jingfeng, her tone softening.

"Consort Jing, there are no outsiders here now. Tell me what exactly happened. If you trust me and tell me the truth, I will do everything in my power to protect you, find out the truth, and clear your name."

Wen Jingfeng's tears, which she had been holding back, finally rolled down her cheeks.

She slowly knelt down, choking back tears, and said, "Your Majesty, please see the truth! When I was young, I did have a few encounters with Lu Yuanhang, the young master of the Chang'an Escort Agency. At that time, I was naive and perhaps... perhaps I had some feelings for him, but my feelings were only respectful and I never crossed any lines!"

“From the day I was chosen to enter the palace, I knew my identity was set and my past was severed. My only thought was to abide by the palace rules and live a peaceful life. This jade pendant is definitely not mine, and I don’t know why that bribed old servant would frame me like this…”

She raised her tear-filled eyes, which were filled with the pain of being betrayed by someone she trusted and a deep sense of confusion.

“Consort Chen… she and I were once inseparable, sharing everything. I don’t know, I don’t know why she has become like this, resorting to such vicious means to frame me…”

"Does she really think that our past friendship is worthless?"

After being forced into the palace by her family, Consort Jing never wanted to cause trouble with others in the harem. She regarded Consort Chen, with whom she had grown up since childhood, as a rare confidante in the palace.

Unexpectedly... Consort Jing's eyes flickered, unsure of where she had gone wrong.

Narcissus sighed inwardly, bent down to help her up, and took her own handkerchief to wipe away her tears.

"I understand... Get up quickly, the ground is cold."

Consort Chen's mentality is not uncommon in this deep palace, but her methods are far more ruthless than those of ordinary people.

Once the charges she framed against Wen Jingfeng are proven true, Wen Jingfeng will have no choice but to die.

"Rest assured, now that I have intervened in this matter, I will investigate it thoroughly and ensure that you are not wronged."

After calming the agitated Wen Jingfeng and ordering the palace servants of Yonglu Palace to take good care of her, Shui Xian, carrying the jade pendant and the former servants of the Wen family who were under guard, went straight to Qianqing Palace to see Emperor Zhaoheng.

She knew that matters concerning the reputation of concubines and extramarital affairs were extremely sensitive, and she had to proactively report to the emperor to gain the upper hand.

We must not wait until the rumors spread or are exposed to the emperor by someone with ulterior motives, because then we will be at a disadvantage.

Inside the Qianqing Palace.

Shui Xian recounted the entire incident to Emperor Zhaoheng.

She told Emperor Zhaoheng everything, from how Consort Chen led her men into Yonglu Palace to her discovery of suspicious points when she carefully examined the counterfeit jade pendant, to Wen Jingfeng's firm denial.

She spoke calmly throughout, neither exaggerating Consort Chen's misdeeds nor making excessive excuses for Wen Jingfeng.

Finally, she offered her advice:

“Your Majesty, Consort Jing is aloof and proud, and not good at arguing with others. This matter is full of loopholes and must be thoroughly investigated before a final conviction can be made.”

Emperor Zhaoheng sat upright on the dragon throne, listening calmly.

He picked up the jade pendant and examined it carefully. Then he glanced at the pale-faced former servant of the Wen family kneeling below, a sharp glint flashing in his deep eyes.

Emperor Zhaoheng did not immediately retaliate, but instead waved his hand, signaling Feng Shunxiang to take the old servant away and keep him under strict guard.

When only the Emperor and Empress remained in the hall, Emperor Zhaoheng's gaze returned to Shui Xian with a look of inquiry. He suddenly spoke and asked an unexpected question.

"Xian'er, why are you going to such lengths to investigate and verify things for Consort Jing today?"

Narcissus met his deep gaze, and felt a slight chill in her heart.

She didn't know why Emperor Zhaoheng had suddenly asked this question, but after a moment's thought, she answered sincerely:

"Your Majesty, as a public servant, since I hold the Phoenix Seal and manage the six palaces, I have the responsibility to cleanse the palace and not allow treacherous people to cause trouble, wrong the innocent, or cause unrest in the harem."

"Personally, Consort Jing is a person who does not contend with the world. Although I have not known her well, I know her character and cannot bear to see her slandered and suffer such an injustice."

She paused slightly, then looked up and stared directly at Emperor Zhaoheng.

Her answer clearly demonstrated her duties and stance as Empress, while also revealing her sympathy for Wen Jingfeng personally.

Emperor Zhaoheng stared at her without speaking for a long time, his usually dignified eyes churning with complex and unfathomable emotions.

The hall was so quiet that you could hear the faint crackling of the candle flames popping.

Finally, he slowly spoke: "I understand."

Emperor Zhaoheng did not issue any orders because the relevant personnel had not been clearly investigated. Shui Xian's words today were also to defend Wen Jingfeng in advance and prevent rumors from interfering with the true outcome.

After finishing his business, Emperor Zhaoheng seemed somewhat tired and waved his hand, signaling that Shui Xian could leave.

Shui Xian bowed and took her leave, understanding that Emperor Zhaoheng had not said anything after hearing about the old stories outside Wen Jingfeng's palace.

For Wen Jingfeng, this result is the best possible outcome under the current circumstances.

That night, after finishing his official duties, Emperor Zhaoheng arrived at Lihe Palace.

His brows furrowed with a lingering weariness.

After dismissing the palace servants, he walked to Narcissus, who was standing by the window gazing at the night sky, and gently embraced her.

The evening breeze, carrying the fragrance of flowers, drifted into the room, while the starry sky shone silently.

Emperor Zhaoheng rested his chin on the nape of Narcissus's neck, remained silent for a long time, and then suddenly whispered, his voice sounding exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

"Xian'er, the matter between Consort Chen and Consort Jing today has given me much to think about."

Narcissus nestled in his warm embrace, silent, simply listening.

He paused, tightened his arms around Narcissus, and said, “Only now do I truly understand that once your heart is completely filled with one person, you will only see others as a burden.”

His words carried an unprecedented sense of reflection.

This is no longer the emperor who took the concubines in the harem for granted, but a man who begins to examine himself and understand the suffering of others.

Narcissus leaned against his chest, listening to his steady and powerful heartbeat, feeling the weight in his words. A certain icy place in her heart seemed to be quietly touched, rippling outwards.

She didn't say anything, but simply squeezed his hand that was wrapped around her waist.

Emperor Zhaoheng clearly felt her subtle response, and the pent-up frustration he felt due to the day's events seemed to dissipate almost instantly.

He lowered his head and placed a gentle and precious kiss on her ear, which exuded a faint fragrance.

In the quiet night, the starlight fell silently, enveloping the two people embracing in a hazy halo.

There were some things that Emperor Zhaoheng did not elaborate on.

Today, as he reviewed memorials alone, the incident involving Wen Jingfeng during the day resurfaced in his mind.

He found that when he thought of that face that bore a resemblance to the late Emperor's Consort Wen, his heart was no longer stirred. Even the last obsession he had with the resemblance had vanished.

His thoughts became incredibly clear and resolute at that moment...

He wanted to give his Xian'er a truly pure future, one where only they existed.

Emperor Zhaoheng said nothing; he simply held Narcissus tightly, savoring this tranquil and heartwarming moment.

Xian'er... I will not let you down...