Inside the Cining Palace, the flickering candlelight illuminated the stern face of the Empress Dowager.

She sat upright on the phoenix chair, her eyes like knives sweeping over the Imperial Household Department's Chief Steward Liu and the female official from the Decoration Bureau who were kneeling on the ground.

Xuan Ling frowned, with a hint of doubt in his eyes, while Sheng Xiyan gently stroked his bulging belly with his fingers.

The palace maid presented a stack of secret letters. The Empress Dowager spoke in a cold voice, "Your Majesty, please take a look at this. The gold thread silk used by the Xuankun Palace was registered as 'damaged by moisture' by the Decoration Bureau last month. I checked the records of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and found that the genuine gold thread silk had long been replaced with inferior goods."

Xuan Ling took the secret letter, read it carefully, and his face gradually became gloomy.

"Is this true, Chief Steward Liu?"

Chief Steward Liu knelt and nodded, his face trembling with fear. "Your Majesty, I deserve to die. I didn't realize this was fake silk thread."

The Queen Mother sneered, her eyes as cold as ice: "The Emperor doesn't believe me? Well, come, bring me up!"

Several palace servants carried a heavy wooden box and opened the lid, revealing dozens of golden silk threads gleaming with gold.

The Empress Dowager said, "These are the treasures presented as tribute this year. The ones used by the Xuankun Palace are just imitations from Jiangnan. The Decoration Bureau can't even distinguish tribute, so what use are you?"

The female official from the Decoration Department trembled all over and kowtowed repeatedly: "Her Majesty, spare me! We were careless for a moment and failed to distinguish the authenticity. Please have mercy!"

The Queen Mother glanced at them coldly, her tone carrying unquestionable majesty: "Negligence? I think you did it on purpose! Come, take them away and interrogate them strictly!"

The palace maids hurried forward and dragged several female officials out.

The hall was silent for a moment, with only the faint sound of burning candles.

Xuan Ling and Sheng Xiyan looked at each other. The evidence seemed to be watertight.

A palace maid covered in blood was brought up.

She was dressed in rags and her face was covered with scars, obviously having been tortured.

The palace attendant beside her held a packet of powder in her hand. The Queen Mother said coldly, "This 'Thousand Ants Gnawing Heart Powder' will cause your entire body to fester and die... If you reveal the mastermind behind this, I will kill you."

The maid raised her head tremblingly, her eyes filled with fear. "Your Majesty, I plead guilty! I stole the counterfeit silk thread to make the figurine. This is revenge for the fact that Concubine Jia punished me with twenty slaps on the face!"

The Queen Mother suddenly coughed a few times, her face pale, and she said in a trembling voice, "I don't have much time left. I only ask the Emperor to give Luan'er a chance to live."

Xuan Ling was shocked when he saw this and asked with concern, "Mother, are you okay?"

The Queen Mother waved her hands and spoke weakly, "It's nothing, just a relapse of an old illness. Your Majesty, Luan'er is my niece, and I cannot bear to see her suffer injustice. Now that the truth has been uncovered, why not release her first and then slowly investigate the mastermind behind this?"

After saying that, he looked at Sheng Xiyan.

Seeing this, Sheng Xiyan knew that if she didn't plead for mercy, the Queen Mother would definitely hold a grudge against her. She said softly, "Your Majesty, since the truth has been uncovered, why not release Concubine Jia first to prevent her from suffering further?"

Xuan Ling pondered for a moment, and finally nodded: "Take care of yourself, mother. I will order the release of Concubine Jia immediately."

The empress dowager felt relieved and looked at Sheng Xiyan meaningfully, "Little girl, you are sensible."

In Jingren Palace, Empress Duan leaned on the phoenix couch, holding a string of coral Buddhist beads in her hand.

Ruyi stood aside and reported in a low voice: "Your Majesty, Concubine Jia has been released."

Empress Duan chuckled lightly and said sarcastically, "I didn't expect the Queen Mother to be able to turn the tables on Concubine Jia. I underestimated her."

Ruyi whispered, "Your Majesty, although it's a pity that I didn't use my witchcraft to get rid of Concubine Chen and the dragon fetus, it would also be beneficial for us if this incident caused the Queen Mother and Concubine Chen to become enemies."

Empress Duan nodded, a sinister glint in her eyes. "That's right, the strife between the Sheng and Su families isn't over yet! Sheng Jingheng refuses to marry Su Yunfu, and the Su family will never let it go. All we have to do is sit back and watch the fight unfold, and wait for the right opportunity."

Ruyi smiled and said, "Your Majesty is wise. The Imperial Concubine is about to give birth, so we still have plenty of opportunities."

Empress Duan sneered, with a hint of pride: "Yes, there is still a long way to go."

In the Kun Palace, Concubine Jia was released and returned to the palace. Her face was pale and her eyes were full of fatigue.

She sat in front of the dressing table, looking at herself in the mirror, her heart filled with resentment.

The maid combed her hair carefully and whispered, "Your Highness, don't be too sad. The Queen Mother has cleared your name."

Concubine Jia sneered, her tone tinged with sarcasm: "Clear the grievances? If it weren't for the Queen Mother's intervention, I would have died in the Shenxing Division long ago!"

She clenched her fists, a fierce look flashing in her eyes: "Who on earth is responsible for harming me? If I know, I will never let her go!"

In the Yangxin Palace, Xuan Ling hugged Sheng Xiyan and comforted her softly: "Yanyan, don't worry, I will protect you and the child."

Sheng Xiyan leaned in his arms, with some worry in her eyes: "Xuanlang, I always feel that this matter is not that simple, could it be..."

Without evidence, she couldn't say that it was Queen Duan who did it.

Xuan Ling nodded. "I know who you suspect. I also suspect the Queen. She has the strongest motive. Don't worry, I've already sent people to keep a close eye on Jingren Palace. If the Queen dares to act rashly, I will show no mercy."

Sheng Xiyan sighed softly: "I just hope that the children can be born safely and our family can live a peaceful and stable life."

Xuan Ling gently stroked her pregnant belly and said softly, "Yes."

His eyes were gloomy, and he had to make a decision - he would give Sheng Xi the throne.

He kissed her forehead and said, "Yanyan, believe in your husband. He will give you the most honorable position in the world."

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