Consort Shu, who understood the emperor far better than Duan Mingxi, was struck with sudden clarity after hearing that.
She immediately turned to Hu Momo and said, “Go quietly to Yuchen Palace and tell Consort Gui: do not bring up this matter again, no matter what. She must hold back.”
“Yes, I’ll go at once,” Hu Momo bowed and withdrew.
Duan Mingxi watched Consort Shu’s shifting expression and said nothing more. As long as Consort Gui didn’t act rashly or drag others into this, and as long as the emperor saw that the other princes weren’t colluding, the situation could still be salvaged.
It was only a matter of time.
At Yuchen Palace, after meeting with Hu Momo, Consort Gui’s rage was doused like a bucket of cold water. She sat motionless on the couch.
Song Momo, worried, stepped forward and said gently, “Niang Niang, you must hold on.”
Consort Gui choked with emotion, tears falling one by one. Clutching her handkerchief to her face, she sobbed, “I’ve served His Majesty for so many years. Even if I haven’t achieved great merit, I’ve worked hard. And now, just for the crown prince, he’s willing to make me a stepping stone?!”
“Niang Niang, surely not,” Song Momo quickly consoled. “His Majesty must have been too angry today and not thinking clearly.”
Consort Gui gave a bitter laugh. “Momo, you and I have been master and servant for years. Why lie to me? In the end, it’s Consort Shu who’s the most admirable. Even at a time like this, she dares to send me a warning. I suppose there is still some true sentiment there.”
“Consort Shu has always had a good reputation in the palace. It’s not wrong that Your Grace has been close to her,” Song Momo said softly.
In their youth, Consort Gui and Consort Shu had competed for the emperor’s favor, but with the empress looming over them like a mountain, their relationship had always been a mix of rivalry and reluctant camaraderie.
Ever since the Empress and the Crown Prince had been pressing harder and harder, Consort Shu had taken the initiative to show goodwill to Consort Gui, and their relationship had grown increasingly close. But even so, Consort Gui hadn’t expected that at such a critical moment, she would still be thinking of her.
The Emperor’s rebuke wasn’t a secret—everyone would find out eventually—but only Consort Shu had sent word.
Consort Gui let out a long sigh and couldn’t help but say to Song Momo, “When I was young, I looked down on Consort Shu, thinking she was just a hypocrite. Looking back now, it seems I judged her too harshly.”
“Niang Niang, how can you say that?” Song Momo gently comforted her. “The years pass one by one, and people change. Back when Consort Shu was younger, did she really resign herself to always being beneath others? This old servant doubts it. She merely kept her sharpness hidden. Now that you’ve grown close to her, it might not be such a bad thing.”
Consort Gui understood the implication behind her words—that this “might not be a bad thing” was referring to more than just friendship. Her eyelids twitched, but she said nothing.
Until the very last moment, who wouldn’t hope their son could sit on that throne?
It was still too early. She would accept Consort Shu’s goodwill, and find another way to repay it. As for everything else—she wasn’t ready to give up just yet.
Consort Gui sighed lightly and was just about to tell Song Momo to visit Consort Xian, when Pan Jinzhong burst in and dropped to his knees with a loud thud.
“Niang Niang, Jin Wangfei has hanged herself!”
“W-what?” Consort Gui leapt to her feet so fast she staggered, overwhelmed with rage.
Song Momo rushed forward to catch her. “Niang Niang, are you alright?”
Consort Gui’s face had gone pale, her hands were trembling. She gritted her teeth and said, “Wonderful. I went to beg His Majesty to permit a divorce, and the very next moment she hangs herself. Once word spreads, won’t people say I drove her to death? Truly brilliant of her!”
Even in death, she remained loyal to the Empress, dealing a final, vicious blow.
“Niang Niang, please calm down. We must investigate the matter thoroughly first. It might not even be suicide—it could be murder.”
“You’re right! You’re absolutely right!” Consort Gui came to her senses. Just because someone said it was suicide, didn’t make it so. “Let’s go see for ourselves.”
Supported by Song Momo, she rushed out, Pan Jinzhong hurrying after her.
Meanwhile, the other three consorts had also received the news.
Qi Wangfei nearly fainted. This was supposed to be a joyful time—she had just gotten married—but bad news kept coming, and now someone had died. What a terrible omen!
She felt utterly wronged. Other brides got to marry with happiness and celebration, but for her, everything had gone sideways.
If Jin Wangfei wanted to die, why not wait a few days? Did she have to pick today?
While Qi Wangfei seethed in her heart, Consort De was too shocked to care about what her daughter-in-law was feeling.
She reacted almost instantly, grabbing Zhuo Momo and rushing out of Mingxi Palace.
Jin Wangfei’s death wasn’t the main issue—it was how she died that mattered.
By the time Duan Mingxi arrived at the side hall where Jin Wangfei had been held, accompanied by Consort Shu, the Wangfei’s body had already been taken down. Her face, twisted by the hanging, was now covered with a white cloth.
The Empress sat high on her seat, furious. A group of palace servants knelt before her. The two gatekeepers had already been dragged out and beaten with rods.
If they hadn’t been derelict in their duty, how could she have died?
Consort Gui insisted on having an imperial physician examine the body.
The Empress scolded, “Consort Gui, I know you disliked Jin Wangfei as a daughter-in-law. Must you rob her of dignity even in death?”
“Your Majesty, I insist precisely because I feel pity for her. If she truly took her own life, then she deserves a proper burial. But if she was murdered, and we bury her without a proper investigation, that would be the real injustice.”
“Despite her faults, we were once mother- and daughter-in-law. I only wish to see her buried peacefully. Should she leave this world carrying false accusations, would that not be even worse?”
Given the circumstances, the Crown Princess and Yu Wangfei, both being pregnant, naturally couldn’t appear. But everyone else had gathered.
So much had happened in just one day that even the Empress could no longer maintain her usual composed demeanor.
Consort Shu stood quietly to one side. It was one thing to send messages to Consort Gui in private, but in public, they still needed to maintain some distance—for both their sakes.
But unexpectedly, Consort Xian stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, I believe Consort Gui is right. Whether or not Jin Wangfei truly took her own life, the Imperial Medical Bureau must investigate. A human life is at stake—we can’t draw conclusions hastily.”
Duan Mingxi gave Consort Xian a subtle glance. She wasn’t speaking out for Jin Wangfei’s sake. It seemed she shared Consort Gui’s suspicions.
If Jin Wangfei’s death was labeled suicide, then what about her attempt to harm Yu Wangfei? That case remained unresolved. Would it be dismissed along with her death?
If it remained unsettled, then the accusations against the Empress would simply vanish.
Thinking of how Jin Wangfei had tried to eliminate her daughter-in-law and unborn grandson, Consort Xian trembled with fury, her hands and feet turning cold.
It had to be investigated—no matter what!
This rare display of strength from Consort Xian prompted Consort Shu to speak up as well. Standing beside her, she turned to the Empress and said with sincere regret, “Your Majesty, I also believe Consort Gui and Consort Xian have a point. It’s only a matter of summoning a physician. Please, allow it.”
