Was It You Who Did This?!

The Imperial Guards moved swiftly, searching every corner of Lucky Cloud Palace, inside and out, but found nothing suspicious.

Eunuch Lu returned to Jun Chenyu, drenched in sweat. "Your Majesty, we have found nothing suspicious so far."

Instead, Tanxiang, the maid attending Noble Lady Shu, promptly dropped to her knees. "Your Majesty, this servant has something to report."

Jun Chenyu frowned. "Speak!"

Tanxiang hurried to explain. "Your Majesty, there was nothing unusual when my mistress became pregnant. The Imperial Physician also said the child in her womb was healthy."

"But over the past two days, my mistress had clothes made from the Cloudglow Brocade. After putting them on, she felt a slight chill in her abdomen and suffered persistent pain. When she put this garment on again this morning, she fainted outright. By the time the Imperial Physician arrived, she was already bleeding."

Jun Chenyu's expression darkened. "Where is that garment?"

Not daring to delay, Tanxiang hurried to fetch it.

Noble Lady Shu propped up her pale, weakened body and carefully thought back. Indeed, her discomfort had only begun after she put on that garment.

She hastily caught Jun Chenyu's hand and sobbed. "Your Majesty, it must be this garment. There must be something wrong with it! Please give me justice, Your Majesty."

Jun Chenyu's Phoenix Eyes held nothing but cold indifference. Looking at the weeping Noble Lady Shu, he had only one thought: she was no longer of any use.

Wen Yunmian stood quietly nearby. Seeing the disappointment flash through the emperor's eyes, she could not help feeling a bleak chill-as when the lips were lost and the teeth lay exposed to the cold.

From the outset, Jun Chenyu had intended to use Noble Lady Shu as a pawn to counterbalance the Duke of State Protection's Residence. But she had failed even to protect her child, making her useless in his eyes. That was why he was disappointed.

Yet Noble Lady Shu still regarded Jun Chenyu as her sole support, clinging pitifully to his side and waiting for him to give her justice.

Consort Shu raised her handkerchief to her lips, concealing her triumphant smile.

The Empress also sat down beside the bed. She had hoped her niece would bear the emperor a child, securing her position in the palace for the future.

Then her father and elder brother would be able to rest easy.

But she had never expected someone to strike at the child when the pregnancy was barely half a month along.

"Imperial Physician Zhang, examine this garment."

Imperial Physician Zhang hurriedly took it.

After inspecting it carefully, he promptly knelt. "Your Majesty, someone fumigated this garment with white Luo incense. The method was extremely discreet. Had I not been familiar with this substance, I fear I would not have detected it."

A vicious edge entered Jun Chenyu's eyes. "Was this garment sent by the Imperial Household Department?"

Eunuch Lu hurried forward to answer. "Yes, Your Majesty. It was sent by the Imperial Household Department."

"Summon the Head of the Imperial Household Department!"

A terrifying menace filled Lucky Cloud Palace. Jun Chenyu radiated the grim fury of an emperor, and such wrath struck fear into everyone present.

No one dared breathe loudly as they waited in silence for the Head of the Imperial Household Department.

When the Head of the Imperial Household Department arrived, his legs gave way, and he dropped straight to his knees before Jun Chenyu.

On his way there, he had known nothing of what had happened.

Faced with such a scene, he assumed he had taken a wrong step somewhere and caused trouble. His face went deathly pale as he looked up at Jun Chenyu. "This servant pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Jun Chenyu raised his hand and threw the garment onto the floor. "Tell me, why does this silk smell of white Luo? Is this how your Imperial Household Department performs its duties?!"

The fleshy face of the Head of the Imperial Household Department trembled. Having spent so many years navigating palace life, he understood at once: this garment had likely caused Noble Lady Shu's miscarriage.

Recognizing the garment, he hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, please judge this matter fairly. There were ten bolts of this silk in total. After they entered the Imperial Household Department, this servant followed Her Majesty the Empress's instructions and sent the silk to the Palace of Prolonged Happiness, Lucky Cloud Palace, and Peony Pavilion."

"But the servants below me made a mistake and sent all three bolts to Peony Pavilion. As soon as this servant discovered it, I immediately sent someone to retrieve them."

"The silk Noble Lady Shu wore was retrieved from Peony Pavilion. Could Noble Lady Yan have..."

"Insolence!" Jun Chenyu's voice rang with anger. He was clearly displeased that the Head of the Imperial Household Department had implicated Wen Yunmian.

Consort Shu's gaze shifted slightly, and her carefully tended nails dug into her palm.

The Empress, however, froze. She glanced sideways at Suo Chun, who shook her head in alarm.

The Empress had issued no such instruction, but that was not the pressing concern now. What mattered was that the silk Noble Lady Shu had worn came from Peony Pavilion.

"Your Majesty, since the silk passed through Peony Pavilion, why not send someone to search it so we can uncover the truth?"

Consort Shu's words still carried some weight with Jun Chenyu. After all, Noble Lady Shu came from Duke Ling's household, and he owed that household an explanation.

Now that the child was gone, his own plans were naturally affected.

Wen Yunmian hurried forward and knelt before Jun Chenyu.

Her slender, fragile figure stirred pity.

She knew it was difficult for Jun Chenyu to give the order, so she offered him a way down herself. "Your Majesty, I did not try to harm Sister Shu. But to prove my innocence, I ask that Your Majesty send men to search Peony Pavilion!"

Mi Yuheng spoke quietly to Imperial Physician Zhang. "Imperial Physician Zhang, why don't I accompany the Imperial Guards?"

An Imperial Physician naturally had to accompany them if they were to search for white Luo.

Once Jun Chenyu gave his permission, Mi Yuheng immediately followed them out.

Consort Chun stared coldly at Wen Yunmian, cursing inwardly. You wretch. Just wait-you'll get what's coming to you!

If not for Wen Yunmian, she would never have been confined to her quarters!

Suo Chun said softly, "Your Majesty once thought highly of Noble Lady Yan. But if she truly attacked Noble Lady Shu, then all your kindness toward her was wasted."

The Empress said evenly, "I do not think she would do this. Many things in the palace cannot be judged by appearances. Sometimes, the more the evidence points to someone, the more innocent that person truly is. Let us watch for now."

The Empress's calm gaze settled on Consort Shu, who was dressed like a flower in full bloom, with heavy makeup and lavish finery. A shadow passed through her eyes, saying everything without a word.

After nearly an hour of searching, the Imperial Guards and Mi Yuheng hurried back.

"What did you find?" Jun Chenyu asked in a low voice, glancing at Wen Yunmian as she knelt on the floor.

At that moment, his heart leaned toward Wen Yunmian. He only hoped this matter had nothing to do with Noble Lady Yan.

But that was merely a thought.

If Wen Yunmian truly had harmed Noble Lady Shu and ruined his grand plans, he would show her no mercy.

Mi Yuheng immediately knelt before Jun Chenyu to report. "Your Majesty, I did indeed find white Luo in Peony Pavilion!"

At those words, the hall instantly fell silent.

Everyone in Consort Shu's faction raised their brows triumphantly, staring at Wen Yunmian as though watching an entertaining spectacle.

Only the Empress looked somewhat worried.

Noble Lady Shu glared at Wen Yunmian with hatred. "Why? There was no grievance or enmity between us. Why did you harm me? Was it because we entered the palace together, but I conceived before you?"

Consort Shu rebuked her with a cold sneer. "I never imagined Noble Lady Yan could be so vicious and ruthless, plotting against another imperial consort. Your Majesty, according to palace rules, she should be thrown into the Cold Palace immediately!"

Wen Yunmian lifted her eyes to Jun Chenyu.

She saw suspicion and disappointment flash through his eyes. Though Jun Chenyu had indeed defended her at the beginning, an emperor's fickleness and suspicion would never disappear.

That was why Wen Yunmian never hoped that Jun Chenyu would fall in love with her.

Only a fool would hope for an emperor's true love.

She needed only to make use of Jun Chenyu, hook his heart from time to time, and obtain everything she wanted. That was enough.

"Was it you?" Jun Chenyu stared at Wen Yunmian as though trying to see straight through her.

Tears filled Wen Yunmian's eyes. "It was not me. I do not know how this happened. Please investigate this matter thoroughly, Your Majesty."

Mi Yuheng hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, white Luo was indeed found in Peony Pavilion, but Noble Lady Yan is also a victim!"

Some of the viciousness between Jun Chenyu's brows receded. "What do you mean?"