Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 68: Treachery

Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Treachery

Consort Xie remained kneeling on the ground, her back straight. "Your Majesty, the Empress, Fengyu has just entered the palace and is unfamiliar with its ways. As you suggested, she was taken to the Third Prince’s sleeping quarters—who is plotting against her, and why? Forbidden incense is a banned substance in the palace. How could Fengyu obtain it? The Third Prince has a history of reckless behavior, even toying with palace maids. Why are you determined to pin everything on Fengyu? What grudge does the Empress hold against the Feng Family to want their entire household dead?"

"Silence!" The Empress thundered. "The Emperor is present. He will make the final judgment. Your sophistry will not be tolerated. You claim to have met Fengyu by chance at the lakeside—who can corroborate your story?"

Consort Xie pointed at the eunuch. "This servant said he saw a palace maid bring Fengyu to the Third Prince’s sleeping quarters—who can corroborate his statements?"

The Empress and the Noble Consort faced off like drawn swords, neither yielding, while all present at the banquet were too afraid to speak.

Emperor Jianming sat with a dark expression, rotating his thumb ring. Lin Cheng and Chen Mo, familiar with this gesture, knew he was now filled with murderous intent. Though he appeared mild-tempered, he was in fact a decisive ruler who did not shy away from killing.

Lin Cheng stepped forward and knelt, saying, "Your Majesty, both sides hold firm to their accounts, yet there are no witnesses. Might I suggest that Fengyu and the eunuch be escorted to the Ministry of Justice for a thorough investigation?"

Consort Xie’s gaze burned with fury toward Lin Cheng, yet Lin Cheng kept his eyes low. His loyalty was to the Emperor; as the ruler’s servant, he was expected to observe and act on the Emperor’s unspoken intentions.

Xie Xun gripped his wine cup tightly. Fengyu was resolute in nature and, upon entering the Ministry of Justice, would remain silent to protect herself. But her delicate health meant that if she were taken there, she would never make it out alive.

Fengyu knew she could not evade this calamity but was unwilling to implicate her family. She kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty, I have been unjustly accused and am willing to be taken to the Ministry of Justice. I beseech Your Majesty and the Minister of Justice to restore my innocence."

Xie Xun rose to interject, but before he could act, a figure moved faster. Xie Xun turned his head and saw Lin Xiao kneeling. "Your Majesty, this subject left the banquet to sober up near the lake and indeed saw a palace maid leading Miss Feng San. They then encountered Consort Xie, who later left with Miss Feng San while the palace maid went alone to the Third Prince’s sleeping quarters."

"Lin Xiao!" Minister Lin and Madam Lin shouted in unison. Lin Cheng turned back, glaring coldly at his younger brother, wanting to kick him across the hall.

Even a blind man could see that the Emperor intended to target the Feng Family. And if that proved impossible, he would still demand Fengyu’s death to intimidate Marquis Zhenbei’s household. Why was Lin Xiao meddling?

Fengyu looked at Lin Xiao in astonishment, unable to comprehend why he would give false testimony.

Emperor Jianming took a deep breath, his anger turning into ironic laughter. "Lin Xiao, did you see this with your own eyes?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. I personally witnessed it." Lin Xiao answered resolutely, unwavering in the face of Emperor Jianming’s pressure.

The Empress had not anticipated that the second son of Minister Lin’s household would betray them. "You... you’re lying!"

Fang Lingjun stepped forward boldly, kneeling beside Fengyu. "Your Majesty, the Empress, Fengyu and Lin Xiao have always been at odds. They even brawled at the Imperial College. Lin Yu Yan nearly killed Fengyu, ruining her reputation and forcing her to be sent to a manor. The Lin Family harbored extreme hatred for Fengyu, and anyone else may lie to exonerate Fengyu, but not the Lin Family."

Lin Xiao clenched his fists tightly, struggling to conceal his anger. Fang Lingjun’s words cut into Lin Xiao like a knife, leaving him bleeding.

Though the officials remained silent, they understood the underlying dynamics. The feud between Lin Yu Yan and Fengyu had caused an uproar in the capital, and Emperor Jianming and the Empress were both aware of it to some extent. Fang Lingjun’s statement was accurate: anyone might lie, but not the Lin Family, who were desperate for Fengyu’s death at the Ministry of Justice.

Consort Xie’s eyes reddened instantly. "Your Majesty, I have served you faithfully for years and never uttered a single falsehood. Now it seems the truth has finally come to light. Your Majesty, I..."

Tears streamed down her face, and Emperor Jianming, moved, helped her up gently. "Do not cry, my beloved consort. I have always trusted you. It is this vile servant who deceived the Emperor and slandered the Noble Consort. Guards, drag him out and beat him to death with clubs!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Chen Mo waved his hand, and two Jinyi Guards dragged the wailing eunuch away as he begged the Empress for mercy. Emperor Jianming tenderly wiped Consort Xie’s tears, his affection evident, while the Empress’s face darkened in fury, her vision swimming.

A potential bloodbath was extinguished without incident. When Fengyu rose, her clothes were soaked through. As she glanced sideways at Lin Xiao, a confusion mingled with astonishment filled her gaze. Lin Xiao’s expression was inscrutable as he looked at her briefly before leaving with bowed head. Fengyu’s injured right leg throbbed with pain, barely allowing her to stand. Observing this anomaly, Fang Lingjun discreetly supported her back to the Feng Family’s table, where Feng Changlin and Lady Feng hurriedly came forward to check on her. Excessive blood loss had left Fengyu’s face ghastly pale. Lady Feng assumed she’d been frightened. "It’s all right, it’s all over. That vile servant’s claims were nonsense. Fortunately, you met Consort Xie; otherwise, how could you have cleared your name?"

Due to the severe blood loss, Fengyu felt faint and disoriented. She dared not collapse during the banquet, as the Imperial physician would discover her injuries and deduce the truth. Clinging to her endurance, Fengyu bore her silent agony.

Suddenly, the hospital judge rushed in, announcing the Crown Princess Consort was in labor.

The news swept away the tension lingering in the hall, and Emperor Jianming’s face lit with delight. The Crown Prince hurried back to the Eastern Palace while Emperor Jianming and the Empress sent attendants to await news there as well.

This newborn—whether male or female—was Emperor Jianming’s only grandchild, bearing great significance.

The banquet, rife with twists and threats, concluded amidst the joyous anticipation of the Crown Princess Consort’s labor. Fengyu, now weakened to the point of collapse, was helped onto a carriage, leaning heavily against Feng Wan. Feng Wan touched her forehead and realized she was feverish. Despite prior quarrels, Lady Feng fretted over Fengyu’s condition—family ties could not be severed so easily. "She must’ve been frightened at the banquet."

Qiuxiang summoned Zhang Da. "Fetch Doctor Zhou. No one else."

"Understood."

Zhang Da rode ahead to the Feng Mansion to call the physician.

Meanwhile, the Marchioness and Madam Lin stayed in the Eastern Palace to accompany the Crown Princess Consort through labor and later remained there due to her delivery. Xie Xun waited outside the Eastern Palace with Feiying, Nuanyang, and others.

The autumn wind whistled, rustling the locust trees before the palace gates, casting eerie shadows on the ground.

Xie Xun stood silently with his hands behind his back, exuding a cold and steely aura. The labor progressed slowly as it was the Crown Princess Consort’s first pregnancy and came unexpectedly early, catching everyone off guard despite extensive preparations in the Eastern Palace for this moment. Imperial physicians, midwives, and the birthing room were all on standby.

Xie Xun waited outside the Eastern Palace through the night. As dawn broke, the Marchioness emerged from the palace, aided by attendants. Xie Xun stepped forward to help her into the carriage.

"Is Cousin well?"

The Marchioness, clearly exhausted, replied indifferently, "Mother and son are safe."

Having long guessed the baby’s gender from Zhang Lingzheng’s earlier prediction, Xie Xun was unsurprised. Lin Ge, deeply fond of his eldest daughter, cherished his first grandchild immensely. Lin Yushu was known for her gentle disposition. As a boy, Xie Xun had resided in the Lin Residence for two years, during which Lin Yushu had shown him great care. He was more concerned about her health than her child.

Lin Yushu’s delivery was a matter of great consequence. For Emperor Jianming, the Lin Family, and Marquis Zhenbei, the birth of a legitimate grandson carried immense political weight. It fortified marital alliances and constrained rival factions, allowing the Emperor to breathe easier.

Regardless, this was unequivocally good news.

When Fengyu regained consciousness, it was already the following day. During the night, she had suffered a high fever, and Qiuxiang and Chunlu had painstakingly forced her to drink medicine. Though her head still spun, her condition had markedly improved.

Feng Wan visited her twice, but the elderly matriarch, due to her age, was kept unaware of the frightful events at the banquet. Feng Changlin and Lady Feng also refrained from divulging the incident. Fengyu remained frail, and Chunlu coaxed her into eating some warm porridge to regain a bit of strength. Fengyu then said, "Call Zhang Da for me."

Qiuxiang stepped out to summon Zhang Da, while Chunlu wrapped Fengyu in a cloak and helped her into the study. The maids brought over a brazier, quickly warming the room. Struggling with her injured leg, Fengyu was assisted by Chunlu to sit on the daybed, where Chunlu placed a pillow behind her back for comfort. When Zhang Da entered, he kept his gaze respectfully downcast and performed his greetings. Fengyu nodded and said, "Spread the word that Imperial Uncle Lv borrowed ten thousand taels from Baofeng Bank."

"Understood!" Zhang Da replied firmly, his heart pounding.

Ever since discovering that the Crown Prince had sent assassins after her, Fengyu had been discreetly monitoring the Empress’s household.

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