Chapter 43 (None)

Upon hearing Wenjuan's report, Jiang Ling sensed something was amiss. Ignoring Fanghe, she took her hairpin, golden toad, and golden cicada, and together with Wenjuan, Aruo, and Fanghe, went to the Wende Hall.

The atmosphere in the hall was somber. Apart from Emperor Yuanming, Consort Lin, Consort Liu, Consort Zhao, and Consort Li were all present. Consort Li stood in the center of the hall, her head bowed, tears still visible on her face.

Jiang Ling subconsciously held her breath, and Wen Juan and the others followed behind her, stepping forward and curtsying in greeting.

Emperor Yuanming looked at Jiang Ling and saw that she was expressionless and appeared to be suppressing her anger. He couldn't help but raise his hand to touch the tip of his nose and said, "Consort Jiang, I put you in charge of the flowers and trees in the Imperial Bedchamber, but you took the opportunity to extort money from Consort Li and line your own pockets. Is this true?"

"Your Majesty, I am innocent." Jiang Ling denied it without hesitation: "Consort Li is slandering and lying!"

Li Jieyu looked up at Jiang Ling, tears welling in her cat-like eyes. She dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief, her voice filled with grievance, "Sister Jiang, I gave you the golden toad, but you were still dissatisfied. The gold-inlaid jade hairpin was a gift from the Emperor, and it has always been my most cherished possession. Since you took a liking to it, I had no choice but to reluctantly part with it, hoping you would spare the Li family. Unfortunately, I was wrong. Sister Jiang is proud; even the golden toad and the hairpin are not enough for you. Sister Jiang, you accuse me of lying. Do you dare have someone search my hairpin? Did you take it?"

Jiang Ling felt a headache coming on. She was already furious about Fang He's matter. She couldn't hold back any longer, so she took out the purse containing the hairpin and threw it in front of Consort Li.

"I never wear hair ornaments because they make me dizzy. I don't like your hair ornaments, and I don't like you either!"

“Sister Jiang, you…” Consort Li picked up the purse, as if she had suffered a great insult. She choked with sobs, looked at Emperor Yuanming pitifully, covered her face with her handkerchief, and began to weep sadly.

"You deliberately avoided mentioning how the hairpin ended up in my hands, so let me tell you." Jiang Ling took out the golden cicada and angrily recounted how Hongye had Fanghe secretly place the hairpin.

Consort Li cried and said, "Your Majesty, I have no idea where Jin Chan came from, nor did I ever instruct Hongye to do these things. I am innocent, please investigate!"

Emperor Yuanming's expression was gloomy. He glanced coldly at Fanghe and said, "Summon Hongye!"

Soon, Hongye was summoned into the palace. Consort Li took out a hairpin and asked, "Hongye, did I give you the golden cicada and have Fanghe place the hairpin with Consort Jiang?"

"Your Majesty, this servant has no idea what a golden cicada is."

Hongye looked at the hairpin in Li Jieyu's hand with a puzzled expression and asked, "Hairpin? This hairpin is Your Majesty's beloved possession. Your Majesty reluctantly gave it to Consort Jiang. Your Majesty was heartbroken at the time and often said that the hairpin was a gift from the Emperor. Your Majesty was sad for a long time."

When Fanghe saw Hongye deny it outright, she was terrified and instinctively tried to save her own life, so she hurriedly said, "Hongye is lying. She gave me the Golden Cicada, saying that I should play with it and that if I liked it, she would give it to me again later! In a beauty's private collection, there are only the small amounts of silver she has saved from her monthly allowance. Even the Fanying Pavilion couldn't afford such an exquisite and precious Golden Cicada!"

Emperor Yuanming shifted his body, looking at Fanghe with disgust, while his peripheral vision couldn't help but glance at Jiang Ling, whose face was tense.

Hongye remained calm and composed. She did not argue with Fanghe, but simply said, "Fanghe often goes to the kitchen to order meals, instructing the cooks to prepare dishes that Consort Jiang likes, and also to prepare a portion for her. All the palace maids who go to the kitchen know that Fanghe has a terrible temper. I am afraid of displeasing her, so I avoid her at all costs and have never had any dealings with Fanghe."

After Jiang Ling gained favor, the kitchen staff fawned over him, and Fang He received a lot of gifts as a result. She, as a palace maid, could freely enjoy the food that even the masters couldn't eat.

Hongye's words had a hidden meaning, implying that Fanghe acted arrogantly in the kitchen, ordering food for Jiangling.

The concubines' meals were all prescribed. Jiang Ling's actions were actually a result of her taking advantage of the emperor's favor and disregarding palace rules.

Like master, like servant; Fanghe's arrogance indirectly confirmed that Jiang Ling had demanded money from Consort Li.

Fanghe opened her mouth, her face ashen, her clothes soaked with cold sweat, unable to utter a word. She lay prostrate on the ground, trembling all over.

"Drag her out and beat her to death!" Emperor Yuanming pointed at Fanghe and shouted sternly.

Fanghe fainted immediately. Seeing this, Jiang Ling hurriedly said, "Your Majesty! I have something to say!"

Emperor Yuanming frowned and said, "Such a wicked servant, do you perhaps intend to plead for her?"

Jin Chan had already made his presence known to Emperor Yuanming, Fang He was unaware of this, and Consort Li was probably also unaware.

Fanghe was a servant of Jiang Ling. Although neither she nor A'ruo could be considered clever or loyal, Jiang Ling herself was not a particularly intelligent person, and she certainly wouldn't demand that they be servile or sworn to be loyal to her to the death.

Because she herself cannot do to others what she would not have them do to her.

Fanghe made a mistake, and it would be too cruel to beat her to death.

The punishment from Gong Zhengsi was merely a caning followed by being sent to Willow Lane to recuperate; she still had a chance to survive.

"Your Majesty, it was indeed my concubine who went to the kitchen to request food; it was not Fanghe who acted on her own initiative."

All imported food had to pass through the kitchen. Jiang Ling never mentioned that the kitchen had taken the initiative to offer him food, nor did he admit to wanting to eat it.

Jiang Ling respectfully curtsied and said, "Your Majesty, I would like to ask Hongye and Consort Jieyu a few questions."

Emperor Yuanming nodded in agreement. Jiang Ling looked at Hongye and asked, "Hongye, did you ask the kitchen for food? Don't rush, think it over before you answer."

Hongye was stunned for a moment. She didn't dare to meet Jiang Ling's gaze, so she quickly lowered her head to avoid it and said with a stiff upper lip, "This servant follows the rules and dares not ask for food without permission."

“There are too many people and too many eyes in the kitchen; you can find out with just a few questions. Hongye, you are lying. Not only you and Fanghe, but Consort Jieyu also asked for food in the kitchen,” Jiang Ling said with certainty.

She enjoyed all the benefits of the imperial kitchen; Consort Li had been quite favored over the years, so how could the kitchen not take the initiative to show her respect? Hongye was the same, enjoying the good life alongside Consort Li.

Hongye felt guilty and dared not make a sound. Li Jieyu asked for her favorite dishes in the kitchen, and she did eat quite a lot of them.

As Jiang Ling said, there are always people coming and going in the kitchen, so someone must have seen it, and it's easy to find out with a simple check.

Jiang Ling ignored Hongye and looked at Consort Li, asking, "Consort Li, the garden was initially short of flowers and trees, so why were more sent in later?"

Consort Li's eyes flickered, and she said, "My elder brother is in charge of the imperial gardens and has always been conscientious in his duties. He dares not fail the Emperor's grace. The Winter Solstice, the New Year, and the Lantern Festival are all important festivals. How can we let the Emperor lose face? My elder brother spent all his family's wealth to buy flowers and trees to make up for the shortage."

Jiang Ling said "Oh," and then said, "Doctor Li is really dedicated, buying the best flowers and trees to send to the palace. I just find it strange that the garden craftsmen are all skilled, far more so than the flower farmers in the countryside. The flower farmers in the countryside can grow them, but the garden craftsmen can't."

Li Jieyu's expression changed slightly. She stared intently at Jiang Ling and remained silent for a moment.

Jiang Ling smiled and continued, "Transporting flowers and trees is difficult, so Physician Li can only buy them from flower farmers in the capital and its suburbs. The palace is busy with festivals, consuming a great deal of flowers and trees. If a large quantity is supplied to the palace, the capital will be short of flowers and trees, and their prices should skyrocket, at least several times higher than before. Consort Li, what are the prices of flowers and trees in the capital?"

"I am a concubine in the harem, how would I know the prices of flowers and trees in the capital?" Consort Li said coldly.

Jiang Ling asked in surprise, "Your Highness, you said that Physician Li spent all his wealth on buying flowers and trees, but you don't know the price of the flowers and trees? Your Highness, how much silver did Physician Li spend?"

"Even if he borrows money, my elder brother will do his job well. He never told me how much money was spent, not wanting me to worry, so I have no way of knowing."

Although Li Jieyu was nervous, she reacted quickly and retorted, "Is Consort Jiang holding onto the silver because she's worried that the Li family will run out of money and she won't be able to extort it anymore? Consort Jiang is thinking about the garden, so don't worry. After this ordeal, my elder brother is planning to resign from his post at the garden."

"Your Highness, please don't change the subject. Just answer my question."

Jiang Ling remained unmoved and asked, "Your Highness, why can't the craftsmen in the garden grow flowers and trees?"

Consort Li's heart sank, and she said, "How would I know anything about the craftsmen of the previous dynasty? If Consort Jiang wants to know, she should question the craftsmen in the garden."

"Your Highness, do you acknowledge that the prices of flowers and trees in the capital have skyrocketed?" Jiang Ling pressed.

Consort Li cautiously replied, "Consort Jiang, what exactly do you mean? I have already answered you before. I am a concubine in the harem and know nothing about matters outside the palace!"

Jiang Ling stopped questioning her and said to Emperor Yuanming, "Your Majesty, I have finished asking. I believe that Consort Jieyu's words are contradictory. She claims to not know the price of flowers and trees in the capital, yet she insists that Physician Li has squandered his entire fortune and even borrowed money to buy flowers and trees. There are not many flower growers in the capital. I implore Your Majesty to investigate whether Physician Li actually bought any flowers and trees, how many he bought, and at what price."

In fact, Jiang Ling's question was already quite clear in its implications.

If Physician Li were to purchase flowers and trees, the required quantity would be large, necessitating a substantial sum of money.

Flowers and trees are expensive during the New Year season. If Doctor Li doesn't spend much money, it means he's forcing the flower farmers to lower the price, which is tantamount to coercing them into buying and selling, and bullying the market.

If Doctor Li were to purchase it at market price, the Li family would be far too wealthy.

Jiang Ling mentioned the craftsmen in the gardens twice, saying that they could not grow flowers and trees unless there was insufficient fertilizer, or the seeds or plants were of inferior quality.

Previously, Consort Zhao was in charge of the Imperial Bedchamber Bureau. She had taken bribes from the Li family, so she turned a blind eye to the shortage of flowers and trees sent to the imperial gardens. The concubines who were not favored could only display some worthless wildflowers and weeds.

No matter what, Dr. Li is inextricably linked to this!

Jiang Ling took out the golden toad, examining it closely in her hand, and said, "This golden toad was forced upon me by Consort Jieyu. When I saw it, I was shocked, thinking how wealthy the Li family is! They can casually produce gold nuggets, and this ruby ​​is even more valuable. Your Majesty, I think it's worth investigating whether the Li family has squandered their wealth. Consort Li's father, Vice Minister Li, and elder brother, Physician Li, have served as officials for many years and received considerable salaries; the Ministry of Revenue has accounts to verify these. We can also roughly estimate how much silver the Li family has earned from their businesses and land. I believe we should also thoroughly investigate how much silver is in the Li family's mansion and treasury, and how much they spend on food, clothing, carriages, servants, and other necessities."

Consort Lin, Consort Zhao, and Consort Liu had been sitting quietly, watching Jiang Ling and Consort Li's back-and-forth exchange without saying a word. But as soon as Jiang Ling finished speaking, their expressions finally changed.

Several people looked towards Jiang Ling. Consort Liu's gaze was inquisitive, while Consort Zhao was deep in thought. Consort Lin raised her eyebrows, her expression meaningful.

Li Jieyu's face turned deathly pale, and her heart pounded. She bit her lip and glared at Jiang Ling with hatred: "Jiang Meiren, what do you mean by this? Do you intend to destroy my Li family's property?"

Jiang Ling said, "Consort Jieyu, you previously accused me of coveting the imperial garden and extorting the Li family's wealth. Even if I'm wronged, I should know just how wronged I am. Just how rich is the imperial garden, and how powerful is the Li family, that I would be so foolish as to steal your palace insignia, the hairpin bestowed upon you by the Emperor, to extort your Li family and seize the imperial garden!"

She used to be a corporate slave, but later quit to collect rent. She still remembered basic economic principles and knowledge of supply and demand.

Nowadays, officials can't transfer their personal wealth out of the country. Their purchases of houses, shops, and land are all documented. Their gold and silver treasures can only be stored in the treasury of their mansions.

Unexplained family property is difficult to explain.

From Li Jieyu's words, Jiang Ling guessed that Doctor Li was having a difficult time.

After all, the Great Yin Dynasty has many festivals, and the Flower Festival is just around the corner. During the Flower Festival, people enjoy flowers and chase butterflies, so the palace cannot do without flowers and trees.

If Jiang Ling does not cooperate and does not withhold the flowers and trees belonging to the unfavored concubines in the harem, the entire garden must be sent in.

Li Jieyu must take over the Shangqin Bureau in order to have a chance to act and give the Li family a breather.

Although she is not as smart as them, and is not good at speaking, and is socially awkward in front of others, she has gone through several trials.

Li Jieyu went too far; she was forced into a corner and had to fight back.

She did indeed intend to take over the Li family's assets and cut off Li Jieyu's support!

The final decision rested with Emperor Yuanming.

Jiang Ling mimicked Li Jieyu's earlier actions, raising her hand to cover her face and secretly rubbing her eyes hard until they were teary from the pain.

She took a few steps forward and leaned against the Emperor Yuanming, who was standing there with a blank face and cold eyes. With tears streaming down her face, she said, "Your Majesty, I am innocent! Please, Your Majesty, do justice for me!"

Emperor Yuanming: "..."

He watched her silently, noticing every little thing she did.

She was just faking her tears to deceive him!