"This servant greets Your Majesty, Your Highnesses, and Concubines." Fangxiang's heart was pounding. She didn't understand why she had been discovered despite her excellent disguise.

"Fragrance, is that you? Did you put the note on my bed? What happened to my brother? What did you do to my brother?"

The young palace maid was surprised to see her best friend. She reached out and grabbed her shoulder, shaking her gently. Suddenly, remembering the scene before her, she burst into tears.

“Bold palace maid, this is plotting to harm the imperial heir! You’d better confess the truth.” Consort Zhao looked at the silent Kangxi Emperor and knew that he meant for her to speak up.

"I didn't," Fangxiang said nervously, startled.

“This is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one’s family. If you confess truthfully, you may be treated leniently.” Consort Tong was not to be outdone; she also wanted to impress her cousin, the Emperor.

"I confess, I confess! It was Consort Wuya who told me to do this, but I was scared, so I wrote the note." Fangxiang trembled even more violently. Upon hearing that it meant the extermination of nine generations of her family, she dared not hide anything anymore. The little eunuch beside her stiffened when he heard Fangxiang confess that it was Consort Wuya.

"How dare you, Fragrant Concubine, falsely accuse me! Who instructed you to do this?" Concubine Wuya, who had been watching the drama unfold, was now seeing the blame fall on her.

“This servant did not falsely accuse Consort Wuya. Look, this is what she gave me, and this is also for my sister. If I don’t help her, she will kill my sister.” Fangxiang took out a hairpin.

"This hairpin looks familiar!" Consort Li saw that Consort Wuya was stunned when she saw the hairpin, and she knew without a doubt that it was hers.

"Your Majesty, someone must be trying to frame me. I've already lost that hairpin." Consort Wuya came to her senses and knelt down in front of Emperor Kangxi. The force with which she knelt made Wanyi's knees ache just watching.

"The palace maid just took this out, and you're already saying yours is missing? Who would believe that?" Consort Tong looked at Consort Wuya speechlessly. Do we look like fools to you?

"Oh, I even reported it to the Imperial Household Department when I went missing. This was a gift from the Emperor, how could I dare to take it and use it, especially something like this?" Isn't this just walking into a trap?

“Your Majesty, the Imperial Household Department’s records do indeed show that it was lost during Consort Wuya’s confinement period. It must have been stolen.” Liang Jiugong quickly checked the Imperial Household Department’s records and found that the incident occurred half a year ago.

“If it’s not Consort Wuya, then one of them is lying.” Consort Zhao immediately realized the key point.

"Since they won't tell the truth, take them away and have them beaten to death." After such a long interrogation, Kangxi's patience had been exhausted.

"Your Majesty, spare us! Your Majesty, spare us!" The three maids and eunuchs kept kowtowing and begging for mercy.

"This servant will tell you the truth, this servant will tell you the truth. It was Consort Zhang who asked this servant to put abortifacient in Consort Ma Jia's food supplements." The eunuch was about to pull Xiao Linzi away, but unexpectedly he was pushed aside and quickly stepped forward to reveal the truth.

"You're making false accusations! You just said it was Consort Wuya, and now you're trying to pin it on me! Your Majesty, I've been weak ever since my miscarriage, and I've only just managed to get out of bed. How could I possibly have the energy to cause such a scene? Besides, I have no grudge against Consort Majia, why would I want to harm her?" Consort Zhang, who was already feeling unwell, was shocked to find herself implicated in this mess. Her eyes rolled back, and she fainted.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, what's wrong?" Yu Ling anxiously helped Consort Zhang sit up.

"Alright." Kangxi slammed the teacup down, silencing the noise.

"Take Consort Zhang back and nurse her back to health. Take these three servants away and beat them to death. That's the end of this matter. Everyone, disperse!"

Emperor Kangxi rubbed his temples wearily. He still felt guilty towards Consort Zhang, so he decided not to pursue the matter, considering it compensation to her.

"Your Majesty, I/Your servant will take my leave now!" Wanyi left Zhongcui Palace with the crowd.

"The intrigues and schemes in the harem are truly impossible to guard against. Poor Consort Ma Jia." Consort Borjigit couldn't help but mutter as soon as she left Zhongcui Palace.

"Don't talk nonsense, are you out of your mind?" Wanyi tugged at the shoulder of Consort Borjigit. Although she rarely spoke, others had sharp ears!

“Sister Wanyi…” Consort Borjigit wanted to say something more, but was interrupted by Wanyi.

"Go back quickly! It's almost lunchtime." Wanyi pushed the Borjigit concubine in the opposite direction. She wasn't hungry, but Wanyi was!

"Your Highness is absolutely right, Consort Wuya is really lucky." As soon as she returned to Yongshou Palace, Hongxiu told Granny Kong about it.

"Who would have thought that Xiao Linzi was actually Consort Wuya's man?" Wanyi had only just realized this herself. Consort Wuya was disfigured, and they thought it was Consort Zhang who did it, so Xiao Linzi thought of implicating Consort Zhang.

"Yes! Our undercover agent accidentally discovered that Xiao Linzi was short of money, so we had Fang Xiang set up a trap. We just didn't expect him to end up accusing Consort Zhang." It's a pity that they lost a spy.

"Alright, Consort Wuya is extremely cunning and lucky, so we still need to be extra careful around her. There's no need to serve her here anymore, you can all go and have your meal!" Wanyi looked at the food and, seeing that time was running out, told them to hurry up and eat.

After lunch, Wanyi took a nap because she was exhausted. Since this incident, the harem had been unusually peaceful for a month.

Sochorun Mansion

"I was unaware of Eunuch Wei's presence and have failed to greet you properly!" Suo Zhuolun Akur knew that this was a commendation from Emperor Kangxi. The day before yesterday, Physician Lu had brought the experimental results back to the palace, and he thought that the imperial edict would arrive at his residence soon. He did not expect it to be on his day of rest.

"Lord Suo Zhuolun, you're too kind. I'm just conveying the Emperor's decree!" Eunuch Wei was very respectful to Suo Zhuolun Akur, after all, these were his master's parents! He dared not be presumptuous.

"Please allow me to make the preparations. Eunuch Wei, please come in and have some hot tea." Sozhuolun Akur did not become arrogant because of Wei Zhu's respect; instead, he remained even more low-key and polite.

"Of course, of course." Wei Zhu calmly followed the butler to have tea.

Sozhuolun Akur quickly made preparations, setting up an incense table, bathing and changing into court robes, and summoning people to the front hall before having Wei Zhu invited over. Only two cups of tea had passed by then.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Suo Zhuolun Akuerke has diligently performed his duties, and Heaven rewards his diligence. He is virtuous and capable, and has made great contributions. He is meticulous in his thinking and has a good reputation. Therefore, he is hereby granted the title of First-Class Duke and Third-Rank Light Cavalry Captain. Furthermore, his entire clan is hereby granted the title of Manchu Plain Yellow Banner. This is the imperial decree."

"Lord Sozhuolun, congratulations." Wei Zhu looked at the stunned Sozhuolun Akul with amusement.

"Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your grace." Sozhuolun Akur had expected to be promoted to a higher rank, but he never expected it to actually be true, and he couldn't help but feel excited.

"Congratulations, congratulations." When Sozhuolun Akur realized he had received the imperial edict, Wei Zhu stuffed something into his hand, which he had to quietly put away.

"Eunuch Wei, this is just a small token, take it and have a drink." Sozhuolun Akur stuffed a prepared purse into Wei Zhu's hand.