Were you the one who poisoned me?

Consort Shu curved her lips smugly, admiring her nails stained with balsam dye.

Having received Jun Chenyu's orders, Eunuch Lu led his men swiftly toward Peony Pavilion, where Wen Yunmian lived.

Seeing Consort Shu's delight, Noble Lady Yu restrained the look in her eyes slightly. She only hoped they could successfully get rid of Wen Yunmian this time, so her own days would be easier.

Everyone in the palace watched Wen Yunmian with different thoughts. They had all risen to their feet, while Wen Yunmian remained kneeling on the floor.

The Empress had wanted to speak, but the Emperor's expression revealed nothing, and she could not discern what he was thinking, so she held her tongue for the moment.

Still, she had seen all too many schemes and intrigues in the inner palace, and she truly feared Noble Lady Yan would fall into a trap this time.

Imperial Physician Rong was still taking the Emperor's pulse. The hall was silent.

Wen Yunmian's knees had gone numb from kneeling. She could feel countless gazes upon her-some pitying, some gloating, and others triumphant.

The most intense gaze of all belonged to Wen Leyan.

She quietly taunted Wen Yunmian beside her ear. "Sister, it seems quite a few people in the palace can't stand you."

Just then, Eunuch Lu hurried inside, his expression grave. As he passed Wen Yunmian, he quietly glanced at her before presenting what he had found to Jun Chenyu.

"Your Majesty, these were discovered among the green chrysanthemums displayed in Noble Lady Yan's quarters. Quite a few pills like these were hidden among the petals."

Jun Chenyu lowered his icy gaze, and Eunuch Lu hurriedly handed them to Imperial Physician Rong.

Understanding what was expected, Imperial Physician Rong took the pills and carefully sniffed them.

Triumph filled Consort Shu's beautiful eyes. Her red lips curved as she gave Noble Lady Yu an approving glance.

If Noble Lady Yu had not cleverly suggested hiding these pills among the petals of the blooming pink chrysanthemums, they might never have made it to this day.

Wen Yunmian stared at the pills in panic. "Y-you really found them?"

Her words delighted the triumphant consorts even more.

Eunuch Lu looked at her pityingly. He felt he had misjudged her. He had thought Noble Lady Yan would someday stir up storms in the inner palace, but she had turned out to be so easily defeated.

What a pity, with a face like that. She even bore quite a resemblance to the person the Emperor had once hidden in his heart.

She had held a magnificent hand of cards, yet she had still lost.

While Imperial Physician Rong examined the pills, Jun Chenyu's gaze was chilling.

He pushed himself up from the bed and approached Wen Yunmian, his tall frame radiating an oppressive presence. "So you admit you drugged me?"

The consorts all shrank back a step in fear. No one dared stand close to Wen Yunmian, afraid the fire would spread to innocent fish in the pond.

Wen Yunmian looked up at Jun Chenyu with reddened eyes. She bit her lip, not daring to speak.

"Your Majesty, I..."

"Your Majesty, this is Peach Blossom Song." Imperial Physician Rong's voice cut off what Wen Yunmian was about to say.

Jun Chenyu's gaze instantly turned cold. His long, vein-corded fingers gripped Wen Yunmian's chin, and his voice was so utterly indifferent that no one could distinguish anger from pleasure.

"At this point, what more do you have to say?"

Such was a sovereign: with a few quiet words, he could decide a person's life or death.

"Your Majesty, I have been wronged." Wen Yunmian's voice choked as she clutched Jun Chenyu's robes. "I truly have been wronged. This isn't Peach Blossom Song. It isn't!"

Jun Chenyu coldly flung her away. "You have disappointed me deeply."

Consort Shu parted her red lips. "Sister Yan, how foolish of you. Even if you wanted to win His Majesty's favor as a newcomer to the palace, you should never have used such a drug on him. It won't merely cost you your own head. I fear even the household of the Marquis of Bravery and Resolve will suffer along with you."

"I truly did not drug Your Majesty. I truly have been wronged." Wen Yunmian knelt at Jun Chenyu's feet. "Your Majesty, please believe me just this once."

Jun Chenyu looked down at her. His stern face was pale from his recent illness, the corners of his eyes bloodshot and cold.

He stared at her darkly. "Then tell me, what exactly are these pills?"

Wen Yunmian trembled with fear. Even after spending two lifetimes with him, she still did not dare meet Jun Chenyu's gaze. "I... I cannot say..."

"Cannot say?"

Jun Chenyu sneered. "Then there is no need to argue this matter any further."

He callously tossed the pills onto the floor.

"Guards, strip Noble Lady Yan of her rank. From this moment onward, confine her to the cold palace."

Consort Shu raised her brows in delight and let out a long, contented breath. "Your Majesty is wise."

Just as Eunuch Lu was about to order his men to take Wen Yunmian away, she suddenly cried out, panicked and tearful, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty, I am willing to speak!"

She picked up the pills scattered across the floor. "These pills truly aren't Peach Blossom Song. They are tonics meant to restore Your Majesty's health."

Consort Shu immediately interrupted her. "What nonsense are you spouting? Eunuch Lu, what are you standing there for? Hurry and drag this wretch who bewitched His Majesty away to the cold palace!"

Eunuch Lu took his cues from the Emperor. Without Jun Chenyu's command, who dared move?

Consort Shu was furious. Just as she was about to speak, Wen Yunmian turned toward her. "Your Highness, His Majesty has not yet spoken. Why are you so eager to send me to the cold palace? You will not even give me a chance to explain."

Wen Yunmian's words stopped Consort Shu's mouth. Her expression grew somewhat strained.

Wen Yunmian turned back to Jun Chenyu respectfully. "Your Majesty, I studied medicine at home from childhood. After entering the palace, I saw that Your Majesty worked late into the night reviewing memorials every time. I could not bear to see your imperial health suffer, so I wanted to help restore it."

"But Your Majesty has dedicated imperial physicians at your side, and it is not my place to interfere. That is why I used these pills, which gather vital energy, sharpen the mind, and nourish the body, so that whenever Your Majesty visited Peony Pavilion, their medicinal fragrance could gradually improve your health."

Wen Yunmian's tears fell like pearls from her slightly reddened eyes, rolling down her fair face and making her look all the more pitiable. "I meant well. I never imagined anyone would mistake it for me drugging Your Majesty."

Consort Shu was so enraged that the tassels on her jeweled crown swayed with her movements. "How laughable. Noble Lady Yan truly has a glib tongue. Imperial Physician Rong has already determined that these fallen pills are Peach Blossom Song, yet you still stand here, spinning clever words about them being tonics for His Majesty? Do you take everyone in the palace for fools?"

Wen Yunmian held the pills in her hands, her slender back straight. "I would also like to ask Imperial Physician Rong: if his medical skills are so outstanding, why did he identify these ordinary tonics as Peach Blossom Song? What exactly are his intentions? How dare he plot against and frame one of His Majesty's consorts?"

The look in Imperial Physician Rong's clouded eyes changed abruptly. He was a deputy director of the Imperial Medical Bureau; once he had examined something, it would not pass into another imperial physician's hands.

He had assumed Consort Shu had arranged for these pills to be planted. Although his examination just now had revealed that they were not Peach Blossom Song, he had steeled himself and said otherwise for the sake of her plan. He had never imagined this Noble Lady Yan would...

Imperial Physician Rong realized something was wrong and looked at Wen Yunmian in shock. Only belatedly did he understand that Wen Yunmian had switched the pills.

He and Consort Shu had fallen into her trap...

Yet Imperial Physician Rong did not panic. Forcing himself to remain composed, he said, "Since Noble Lady Yan questions my medical skills, why not invite Imperial Physician Xu and Imperial Physician Zhang from outside to examine them together?"

The Emperor gave Eunuch Lu a look. Taking the cue, Eunuch Lu called, "Summon the two imperial physicians into the hall!"

Imperial Physician Xu and Imperial Physician Zhang hurried inside to examine the pills. Imperial Physician Rong said calmly, "Please take a look, gentlemen. Are these pills Peach Blossom Song?"

Both acknowledged him. After examining the pills, they looked at one another in unison. Imperial Physician Xu stepped forward to report, "Your Majesty, these pills are indeed Peach Blossom Song."

Consort Shu smiled in triumph. "Noble Lady Yan, what more do you have to say?"