On the night she returned to the palace, news spread from Changtian Tower that Concubine Qian had summoned the imperial physician, who told her that her clothes had been stained with powder, causing her entire body to itch and attract locusts. For a moment, the concubines who had been waiting to see Concubine Qian's excitement became cautious, fearing that the same thing would happen to them.

Zhuang Luoyan was sitting in the pavilion, watching the koi swimming in the emerald green lake with a comfortable look on her face, but she heard the idle chatter of the two palace maids.

"Who do you think would harm Miss Qian?"

"Who knows? Ever since she entered the palace, Concubine Qian has been favored by the Emperor. Although she is not as favored as Concubine Shu Gui and Concubine Zhao Xianrong, she is almost as favored as Concubine Rou."

"I think this might have been done by Xu Zhaorong. Now that Qian Guiren is living with her, she has lost her favor. I wonder how much hatred she must be feeling."

"Which two courageous palace maids dared to speak ill of their master?" Just when Zhuang Luoyan was getting excited, the voice of Concubine Rou was heard not far away. She had no choice but to put away her laziness, walked out of the pavilion, and saw two palace maids kneeling in front of Concubine Rou with pale faces.

"Hello, Concubine Rou," Zhuang Yuyan bowed to Concubine Rou, her eyes swept over the kneeling palace maids with a slight smile on her face.

"This is not Zhao Xianrong," although Concubine Rou said that she disliked Zhuang Luoyan, but now that Zhuang Luoyan was in great favor, her face was much gentler than before, "We just went to the outskirts of the city yesterday, how come you have the energy to go out for a walk today?"

"It's just going to the outskirts of the city, it's not something that requires much effort," Zhuang Luoyan smiled gently, "Today I saw the pleasant scenery, so I thought of going out for a walk, but I didn't expect to hear some nonsense."

"It's not just nonsense," Concubine Rou looked at the two palace maids coldly. It was not something worth being happy about for any concubine to be compared to a noble by a palace maid. Moreover, she was not a soft-hearted person. Since someone dared to say that, they would naturally have to bear her anger. "In my opinion, some people can't control their mouths, so they don't need to open their mouths."

Zhuang Yuyan lowered her eyes and head, with the corners of her mouth slightly curved and she said nothing.

Seeing that Zhuang Yuyan had no intention of intervening in the matter, Concubine Rou said coldly, "Come here, send these two palace maids to the Palace Department. Such behavior of making irresponsible remarks about the master must be severely punished."

Seeing the two palace maids being dragged away begging for mercy, Zhuang Yuyan's smile faded a little, "Where did Concubine Rou come from?"

"Lady Qian is not feeling well. As sisters serving the Emperor, I will naturally go to see her." Concubine Rou smiled, "Has Zhao Xianrong gone to see her? If not, then go with me to see her."

At this point, Zhuang Yuyan naturally no longer refused. She followed Concubine Rou's steps and went to Changtian Tower.

After passing through the lush bamboo forest, they arrived at Changtian Tower. Zhuang Yuyan saw Gao Dezhong standing outside and knew that the emperor was also in Changtian Tower. She paused and smiled and nodded to Gao Dezhong: "Eunuch Gao."

"Hello, Concubine Rou and Concubine Zhaoxianrong," Gao Dezhong greeted Zhuang Yuyan with a smile after paying his respects. "Are you here to see Concubine Qian? The Emperor, the Empress, and Concubine Shugui are all here. Please come in."

"Thank you, eunuch," Zhuang Yuyan nodded slightly. Seeing that Concubine Rou had already taken a few steps forward, she had no choice but to turn around and follow her.

Gao Dezhong looked at the backs of the two ladies and bent over again. When he looked up again, the smile on his face gradually faded.

"Your Majesty, Concubine Rou Zhaoxianrong requests to see you!"

Feng Jin, with an expressionless face, heard the eunuch's report and nodded, "Let them in." There was also a hint of warmth on his face, which made the empress sitting next to him twitch her eyebrows.

"Your Majesty, Concubine Qian's skin is almost torn by scratching. Xu Zhaorong is too vicious," the Queen said solemnly, "Poor Concubine Qian's snow-white skin, it makes me feel heartbroken just looking at it."

Zhuang Yuyan walked into the room and heard the Queen's words. She felt a little emotional. Telling lies so sincerely is a must-have skill for women in the harem. She walked three steps away from the Emperor and bowed, "I have seen the Emperor."

"My two beloved concubines, there is no need to be so polite," the emperor said in a calm voice, "Please grant me a seat."

Zhuang Yuyan sat down below Concubine Rou and carefully glanced at Concubine Qian who was sitting on the bed. She gasped in shock. How could such a beautiful face become like this? The horribly red rash turned a face that was as charming as a country into a demon.

"How could Lady Qian be injured so badly?" Concubine Rou was surprised and frowned with a hint of dissatisfaction. "Lady Qian is so beautiful, who would be so cruel?"

This is really a wicked thing to say. The Empress and Concubine Rou still mentioned her beautiful face when she was clearly disfigured. Did they want the Emperor to remember the ferocious state of Concubine Qian? And was Xu Zhaorong, who was kneeling on the ground, invisible? Why did Concubine Rou have to say this?

Lady Qian couldn't seem to accept herself in this state. As soon as Concubine Rou finished speaking, she pulled the quilt to cover most of her face, not even wanting to look at anyone.

Feng Jin raised his eyelids and ignored Concubine Rou's words. He turned to the Queen and said, "Noble Qian is in such a state now. You should take more care of her and let her recover soon."

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty. Not only do you feel sorry for Concubine Qian, but I feel sorry for her as well." The Queen responded gently, and then looked at Xu Zhaorong, "Xu Zhaorong, you have made mistakes again and again. Your crimes are truly unforgivable."

Xu Zhaorong raised her head and smiled sadly, "Since the Emperor and the Empress have already condemned me, my crime is naturally unforgivable."

Such words did not change the queen's expression at all. She lowered her eyelids and said, "Earlier, you were jealous of Zhao Xianrong, but the emperor did not punish you severely because you had served him for many years. Now you are poisoning Qian Guiren. You really have evil intentions."

Xu Zhaorong listened to the empress's words with an indifferent expression, then turned to look at the emperor, "Your Majesty..."

Zhuang Yuyan saw that there was still hope in Xu Zhaorong's eyes. Perhaps she knew in her heart that all the women in the room were eager to put the blame on her. The only one who could prove her innocence was the emperor.

"What else do you have to say?" The emperor looked at Xu Zhaorong without much emotion in his eyes, as if he was looking at a stranger. "Perhaps I have been too tolerant of you."

The emperor's casual words completely wiped out the hope in Xu Zhaorong's eyes. She knelt straight and kowtowed to the emperor, speaking each word clearly, "I have nothing to say."