After some investigation, Granny De summoned the sewing room, the laundry room, and several palace maids from the Imperial Household Department to Yonghe Palace.

"You all need to think this through carefully. Do you want to say it now, or wait until you're punished?" Granny De said to the palace maids who had been summoned.

The palace maids, who rarely had the opportunity to come to Yonghe Palace, were immediately overwhelmed by the palace's majesty and Consort De's cold and austere demeanor upon entering. They all lowered their heads, anxiously pondering their next move.

"Your Highness, I only heard rumors from others; no one asked me to spread such words," Danju from the needlework room said, bowing her head.

The hall was quiet, with only the ticking of a quartz clock hanging on a long sandalwood table in the center.

"Dehui, as Zhaoxun, you can now reprimand these gossipy servants." Consort De sat upright on the main seat in the shop, which was carved with the patterns of the gods of fortune, prosperity, and longevity.

"Guards, take these three outside and give each of them twenty strokes of the cane. Gag them while you beat them, so as not to disturb Her Highness's peace," said Granny De to the several middle-aged palace maids standing in the darkness.

The palace maids were Danju from the needlework room, Zixuan from the laundry room, and Hongjiao from the Imperial Household Department; all of them had served in the palace for several years.

"Your Highness, have mercy! Your Highness, have mercy!" Bi Cao, being timid, immediately knelt down and cried out to heaven and earth.

Consort De waved her hand, signaling a halt to the execution. Holding a booklet in her hand, she said quietly, "Danju, you've been in the needlework room for three years now, haven't you? I heard you're very good at embroidery and have done embroidery for many concubines, right?"

Danju, dressed in a peach-colored palace maid's uniform, knelt on the cold blue bricks, bowing her head and saying, "Reporting to Your Highness, it is indeed this servant."

Granny De coldly retorted, "Why did I hear that you were saying such outrageous things to some new maids in the sewing room? Do you think you've been holding your head up for too long? A mere maid in the sewing room dares to discuss politics? You really have a death wish."

Danju felt her heart was about to leap out of her chest, and she cried tremblingly, "Your Highness, please forgive me. I heard it from somewhere else and couldn't control my mouth. I talked nonsense with a few girls. I deserve to die, I deserve to die. Please, Your Highness, spare me." After saying that, Danju started slapping herself repeatedly.

Zixuan, kneeling to one side, was pale-faced. Her hands were clenched into fists on the ground, and tears were about to fall. She truly regretted it. She had only overheard others talking and then casually mentioned it while washing clothes, only to be dragged here.

Hongjiao, kneeling beside her, remained silent, her expression serene.

Consort De coldly swept her gaze over the three kneeling people. Seeing that Danju's face was already flushed red, she said lightly, "You all know my style. As long as you honestly tell me what you know, I will not pursue the matter further. If you still don't speak, I don't mind playing the villain. You should know that even if you are punished for your crimes, no one will dare to say anything."

After a few words were spoken, the three palace maids kneeling on the ground couldn't help but shiver. Even though the autumn heat was still intense outside, there were still ice basins placed inside Yonghe Palace, making it very cool.

"Since Her Majesty has spoken, those who need to vomit should vomit it up as soon as possible, lest they suffer later when they are taken out. If they are beaten to the point of being half-dead, and there is no one to treat them, they will lose their lives. That would not be a wise thing to do." Seeing that the maids were starting to hesitate, Granny De added these words.

"This servant says, this servant is truly innocent. This servant only heard gossip from elsewhere and had no intention of spreading it. I only mentioned it to a few of my girlfriends in the laundry room," Zixuan said hurriedly, kowtowing. Her shoulders were shaking as if she were extremely shocked.

"You said you heard it from someone else, but who is that 'someone else'?" Consort De asked authoritatively.

"Your Highness, I overheard the story from a young eunuch who was doing odd jobs at Jingyang Palace when I was delivering clothes there." Zixuan was filled with regret. Why did she have to listen to such gossip? She even grumbled a few words when she got back.

Consort De frowned slightly, exchanged a glance with Granny De, and said, "It really was something we heard when we smashed Jingyang Palace. What was that servant eunuch's name? If he tells even half a lie, I won't say a word against a palace maid from the laundry room."

"Yes, yes, this servant wouldn't dare to deceive Your Highness. This servant hasn't been to Jingren Palace much, I only know that the servant eunuch has been replaced by Xiao Zhengzi." Zixuan didn't dare to lie anymore, at this moment she only hoped that she could be let go after being beaten.

"Granny De, write down this person's name. I'm going to investigate them one by one to see who dares to cause trouble," Consort De said.

"And you two, Danju, did you hear this from somewhere else too?" Granny De asked.

"I only heard it from Hongjiao. I really don't know anything else." Danju glanced at Hongjiao, regretting listening to her gossip.

Consort De turned her gaze to Hongjiao, who was kneeling to the side, remaining calm and silent, and asked, "Hongjiao? I remember you. You are the Hongjiao who came from Yikun Palace, aren't you?"

When Hongjiao heard Consort De reveal her background, her heart trembled, and she replied, "Your Highness, it is indeed me. I previously served Consort Yi."

When Consort De saw that the palace maid had brought up Consort Yi as soon as she spoke, it seemed as if she was implying that Consort De should not do anything to her.

"I know. I ask you, why did you spread such rumors to Danju? Who told you to?" Consort De said angrily. She couldn't control herself at the mere mention of Consort Yi. The two were seven or eight years apart in age, and Consort Yi, always relying on her youth and family background, acted arrogantly in front of Consort De.

"Your Highness, I don't remember either. I only overheard it from others outside. But I can't recall who said it," Hongjiao said. Her words were extremely tactful, and at first glance, they seemed true. In the palace, with so many people and so much gossip, it was quite normal not to remember who said what you overheard.

Granny De and Consort De exchanged a glance, and Granny De said, "Danju and Zixuan, go out and each take twenty strokes of the cane. After you're done, go back on your own. If you dare to talk nonsense again, next time it won't be just twenty strokes."

Danju and Zixuan were surprised that Consort De had spared them so easily. They immediately kowtowed and bowed, expressing their heartfelt gratitude. Then, a palace maid led them out to receive their punishment. They were relieved; it was only twenty strokes of the cane, and they could bear it.