"Hmph." The Empress sneered, "Eunuchs are all rootless scoundrels; how can you believe what they say?"
The Empress's words silenced everyone in the room for quite a while before they came to their senses.
Xiao Shunzi, who was kneeling on the ground, and the other eunuchs in the room all turned extremely pale because of the Empress's words.
"Your Majesty, that's not what I meant." The Empress smiled awkwardly. "I just meant that this jade ruyi is almost equivalent to a eunuch's lifetime salary. Who knows, someone might make a mistake."
"Actually, it's quite simple whether Xiao Shunzi stole it or not." Consort Shu said sullenly, "Since it's something from the palace, the Imperial Household Department should have all the records of where this jade ruyi came from, where it went, and whose palace it ended up in. It's easy to find out with a simple check."
"Your Majesty, please investigate thoroughly and clear my name!" Xiao Shunzi said loudly, kowtowing again.
"Investigate!" Emperor Yuanwu crumpled up the piece of paper that Mu Qianqian was playing with and threw it on the ground. "Wu Jixiang, go investigate now. I'll wait here!"
A hint of panic flashed in the Empress's eyes.
She felt her heart beating incredibly fast, as if it were about to jump out of her body at any moment.
She just didn't dare show it.
Every now and then, she could hear Emperor Yuanwu's giggling laughter as he amused Mu Qianqian.
She felt that the voice seemed to be getting farther and farther away.
Everything went black.
The person then lost consciousness.
When the Empress opened her eyes again...
She was already lying in her bedchamber in Yikun Palace.
The Empress Dowager was sitting next to her.
"Empress, this time I am truly angry." The Empress Dowager's face was unusually grim.
"Mother." The Empress struggled to sit up.
"I know you dislike Consort Shu and always feel that she has the Emperor's favor and is superior to you in this harem. But even if you want to suppress her, you can't use such a stupid method," the Empress Dowager said helplessly.
"Mother, my heart is breaking!" the Empress said, tears streaming down her face.
"The Imperial Household Department has already investigated and found that one of the items in the box of gold and silver jewelry that Xiao Shunzi handed over came from your palace. How could you do something so careless?" The Empress Dowager said, giving her a disapproving look.
The Empress's eyes trembled, and she cried even more bitterly: "Mother, you will help your son, won't you? It's all my fault, I know I was wrong."
"His Majesty is furious and has already considered deposing the Empress. I will suppress this matter for you for now." The Empress Dowager breathed a long sigh of relief: "You should stay quietly in Yikun Palace for the time being and not go anywhere. Do not provoke Consort Shu again."
"Yes." The Empress sniffed. "Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your kindness."
The Empress Dowager sighed helplessly: "I have already told the Emperor that your illness will continue to be treated by Physician Li. Do not bring all the physicians from the Imperial Hospital to Yikun Palace."
"Yes." The Empress lowered her head in shame.
"I used to think you were quite composed, so what's wrong with you now?" the Empress Dowager said helplessly.
"Mother, my heart is breaking," the Empress sobbed. "Ever since Consort Shu gave birth to the Seventh Princess, it's as if she's defied the heavens. Not only does the Emperor adore her, but everything goes her way. It seems the entire harem is hers now. Plus, she has three outstanding sons... Mother..."
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