Wei Dongling didn't say a word, but the barely concealed mockery on her face was obvious. It was clear that she was sneering at Murong Yunxi for her poor management of her subordinates.
Murong Yunxi's face instantly darkened with anger. "You're slandering the deceased. How dare you laugh at me?"
Shuyun wept uncontrollably, snot and tears streaming down her face as she recounted the amorous affairs between Qiao Yue and the guard Li Wenbin.
It all started on a rainy day when the maid Qiao Yue lost one of her shoes. Guard Li held up an oil-paper umbrella and walked her part of the way. Shuyun rambled on about how Guard Li would often climb over walls and sneak through holes just to catch a glimpse of Qiao Yue. Eventually, he won her heart, and the two would hold hands and pour out their love for each other in the quiet woods.
Knowing full well that it was a taboo for guards and maids to fall in love in the palace, the two couldn't help themselves and their relationship spiraled out of control.
Shuyun had tried to dissuade Qiao Yue on many occasions, but to no avail.
Wei Dongling and Murong Yunxi, one standing and the other sitting, listened to the story with great interest.
Although Murong Yunxi was reluctant to admit it, she had to admit that although Wei Dongling's methods were a bit underhanded, they were effective. In no time, she had found out all about the secret affair between Guard Li and Qiao Yue, including the details of their hand-holding and kissing.
After seeing Shuyun off, Murong Yunxi said coldly, "I'm going to find that guard now!"
Wei Dongling rolled her eyes. "Won't that tip off our hand?"
Murong Yunxi's face stiffened. "Then what should we do? Tell Father directly?"
Wei Dongling glanced at her and waved her hand. "You must keep this to yourself and tell no one. Two days from now, I'll clear your name."
Although Murong Yunxi wasn't happy, she nodded.
Wei Dongling got up, opened the door, and left. She waved at Murong Yunxi. "You have a hurt butt, so don't see me off. Just rest well!"
Murong Yunxi had followed her a few steps, but when she heard this and saw the shocked maids and eunuchs outside looking at them strangely, her face darkened. She rolled her eyes and said coquettishly, "Who wants to see you off!"
Wei Dongling swaggered out with Cheng Hao and the others.
Murong Yunxi watched Wei Dongling's departing back, a strange light flashing in her eyes.
This elder sister of hers was really an interesting person!
Not long after, Wei Dongling strolled around the imperial garden with her entourage. She sent Min Fang to invite Commander Fang, who was in charge of the emperor's guards, for an interview.
When Commander Fang arrived, Wei Dongling was leaning against a stone railing admiring the flowers. The large, double-petaled chrysanthemums were in full bloom, their fragrance wafting through the air.
Commander Fang stepped forward cheerfully and greeted her. "This humble general pays his respects to Princess Five."
Wei Dongling quickly reached out to help him up. "There's no need for such formalities with me. I need Commander Fang to do me a favor."
"Please tell me, Princess."
Wei Dongling quietly dismissed the maids around her and whispered something to Commander Fang. Soon, Commander Fang bowed and retreated.
After nightfall, Wei Dongling went for a stroll in the imperial garden to digest her food. Not long after, Commander Fang rushed over to report.
The imperial bodyguard Li Wenbin was the cousin of Concubine Xue's brother-in-law.
Wei Dongling rewarded Commander Fang with some silver and quietly returned to her quarters with a few maids.
Early the next morning, while Wei Dongling was still sound asleep, she heard the maid outside knocking on the door and coming in to report that the people from the Inner Court Department had arrived.
The eunuch in charge of the Inner Court Department brought a group of people and claimed that they were following the emperor's order to conduct a thorough search of every corner of the palace to prevent any more harmful prohibited drugs from being hidden.
Wei Dongling had no choice but to get up, wash up, and lead everyone to wait in the courtyard. She planned to go to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager after breakfast.
Just as she was lost in thought, she heard the people searching in her bedroom let out a loud exclamation. Then, the eunuch in charge of the Inner Court Department was invited in.
Wei Dongling and Cheng Hao exchanged a look and rushed over.
They saw a young eunuch holding the secret drawer from Wei Dongling's bedside. Among the silver coins and a dazzling array of hairpins and rings in the drawer, there was a small package wrapped in kraft paper.
Wei Dongling couldn't help but look sideways. What was this? She hadn't seen it at all when she counted the silver last night.
The eunuch in charge of the Inner Court Department carefully opened the kraft paper package and took out a silver needle to test it. The silver needle quickly turned dark brown.
The eunuch's forehead was covered in cold sweat. He quickly looked up at Wei Dongling and asked, "Princess Five! Is this privately hidden item highly poisonous arsenic?"
The fact that Princess Five had privately hidden arsenic in the secret drawer by her bedside? The faces of all the servants turned pale.
A voice came from outside the door. "What's going on here?" Judging from the voice, the person was actually the Empress Dowager.
Why had Her Majesty come to Yaoguang Pavilion early in the morning instead of waiting in her palace for people to pay their respects?
Wei Dongling's face darkened. Obviously, she had been framed! The person behind this had timed it just right to bring the Empress Dowager here to witness this scene with her own eyes.
It seemed that one plan had failed and another had been hatched. They really wanted to kill her!
The Empress Dowager walked in slowly, surrounded by a crowd. The person supporting her was none other than Concubine Xue, who hated Wei Dongling to the core!
Wei Dongling quickly stepped forward, knelt down, and saluted. "Grandson pays respects to Grandmother. May Grandmother enjoy good health! Grandson pays respects to Concubine Xue. May Concubine Xue be well."
All the maids and eunuchs quickly knelt down and saluted when they saw the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager had been pestered by Concubine Xue to take a walk by the Bi Shui Lake early in the morning. From afar, she saw people coming to conduct a search at Yaoguang Pavilion. Suddenly, she heard a commotion inside and decided to come over and take a look.
The Empress Dowager nodded. "Get up, Princess Five! You're in poor health. The ground is cold." Then she looked at the eunuch from the Inner Court Department and the kraft paper package in his hand and asked, "What's this?"
Out of the corner of her eye, Wei Dongling saw a faint smile on Concubine Xue's lips beside the Empress Dowager. Cold sweat broke out on her forehead.
The eunuch in charge of the Inner Court Department knelt on the ground, sweating profusely. He replied tremblingly, "Reporting to the Empress Dowager! It's highly poisonous arsenic."
The Empress Dowager's face darkened. A piece of arsenic the size of a fingernail could knock out an adult man. The arsenic in this kraft paper, which was the size of a palm, was enough to poison everyone in the entire palace!
The Empress Dowager caught her breath. She glanced at Wei Dongling and asked tremblingly, "Was this found in Princess Five's bedroom?"
The eunuch in charge replied with difficulty, "Yes."
The Empress Dowager stared fixedly at Wei Dongling and asked breathlessly, "Little Five, why is there such highly poisonous arsenic in your bedroom?"
Her eyes were filled with extreme disappointment, which made Wei Dongling's heart skip a beat.
Wei Dongling said with difficulty, "Please, Grandmother, see the truth clearly! This arsenic is definitely not mine. I don't know how it got into my bedroom."
This was bad. I'm afraid Grandmother will really think that it was me who put the arsenic in the steamed perch! Maybe she'll even think that I used the self-inflicted injury trick to deliberately deceive her into giving me that pill!
Wei Dongling couldn't help but feel flustered.