Chapter 96: Reaping the Consequences of One’s Own Actions

Proofreader : Mim

Chu Jinyao directed the maids to place the trunks brought from the imperial palace and arranged for the servants to prepare the clothes for her and Qin Yi for the next day. By the time everything was organized, the afternoon was already half gone.

 

Chu Jinyao sat down, and Linglong quickly came over to serve tea. Just then, Erfeng entered and saw a group of maids surrounding Chu Jinyao, laughing and chatting, clearly trying to prevent the crown princess from feeling tired.

 

Erfeng’s eyes flickered slightly, but she continued smiling as if nothing was out of the ordinary: “Greetings to the Crown Princess. Your Highness, I saw a large field of flowers in the front, perhaps wildflowers, growing thick and lush. It was really beautiful. The place isn’t far from here. Would Your Highness like to take a walk to enjoy the view?”

 

“Flower field?” Chu Jinyao glanced downward, seemingly indifferent, and asked, “Where did you see it?”

 

Erfeng hurriedly named a location. Everyone knew that Chu Jinyao especially loved flowers, whether elegant or flamboyant, cultivated or wild, Chu Jinyao admired them all. And flowers, when blooming in a vast expanse, were naturally more beautiful. Erfeng had stumbled upon a sea of flowers and rushed over to tell Chu Jinyao, clearly wanting to please her.

 

Chu Jinyao appeared to be moved by the suggestion, standing up and preparing to leave. As she reached the door, she suddenly asked, “Where is Erhua? I haven’t seen her around.”

 

Erfeng’s heart skipped a beat, but she maintained her smile: “She might have gone out on an errand. You know how she is—always restless, running out whenever she gets the chance.”

 

Chu Jinyao lightly nodded and slowly said, “Where did she go? Call her back. I have something to ask her.”

 

Erfeng’s face stiffened: “Your Highness…”

 

Linglong, having served Chu Jinyao for so long, immediately sensed that something was wrong and remained silent. However, Erxue, who had no such reservations, always played the role of an arrogant “blade.” She glanced at Erfeng and said, “The Crown Princess is asking you a question. Why are you hesitating? Where exactly did Erhua go, and why aren’t you saying anything?”

 

Faced with Erxue’s blunt words, Erfeng’s expression became increasingly grim. She tried to argue, but Chu Jinyao had already lost patience.

 

“Such audacity, daring to deceive me,” Chu Jinyao glanced at her lightly, and the eunuchs and maids immediately stepped forward to force Erfeng to her knees. “Search her room and Erhua’s room.”

 

Hearing this, Erfeng struggled: “Your Highness, what wrong have I done? Without proof, how can you search my quarters?”

 

“Proof? Your identity alone is proof enough.” Chu Jinyao couldn’t be bothered to engage with Erfeng. Soon, Jiegeng brought a cloth-wrapped wooden box from Erfeng and Erhua’s room. Linglong opened it in front of Chu Jinyao, who sifted through the contents and recognized the jewelry as belonging to Qi Rong.

 

So, it was Qi Rong. Qi Rong was the empress’s niece, and Erfeng was from Kunning Palace, so it wasn’t surprising they were working together. Seeing the jewelry, Erfeng became extremely agitated and tried several times to break free. But the people of the Eastern Palace were not merely decorative. With any slight movement, Erfeng was immediately restrained. Chu Jinyao’s expression turned icy: “Take her away and await punishment. No one is allowed to visit her without my permission.”

 

The palace maids all bowed their heads and complied. After issuing her orders, Chu Jinyao continued walking outside, with Linglong following closely behind. “Your Highness, how did you know that Erfeng was acting suspiciously?”

 

“She said she came from the northern hunting grounds, but her skirt was stained with small white flower petals. Those flowers only grow near Qinghe Palace, so Erfeng must have gone there, but she deliberately gave the wrong direction.” Chu Jinyao’s eyes turned cold, and her beautiful face darkened. “When something is unusual, there’s always a reason. If she wasn’t guilty, why lie? Before I left, I tested her with Erhua’s whereabouts. Since they share a room, they should cover for each other. But she claimed Erhua had gone out idly. Did she really think I couldn’t see through her little tricks?”

 

Linglong finally understood Erfeng’s mistake but became more puzzled. “Your Highness, Erfeng took Qi Rong’s things and tried to lead you out—what are they plotting?”

 

“To find out, we can ask the Zhenbei Marquis household.” Chu Jinyao stopped and signaled to Eunuch Qian, who had been a trusted servant of hers since Qin Yi assigned him to her in Taiyuan. Chu Jinyao quietly gave him a few instructions, and he quickly responded before retreating. Once he left, Chu Jinyao paused briefly and then called over a passing maid. “Where is the marquis’s heir’s wife?”

 

Madam Qi was the wife of the Zhenbei Marquis’s heir and the niece-in-law of the empress. Her husband was highly favored by Empress Xiao Qi, having already been established as the heir. With such a prominent backing from her aunt in the palace, Madam Qi had considerable status when she moved in public, with people respectfully addressing her as “Madam Heir.”

 

However, today Madam Qi felt uneasy. She had been calculating the time, expecting that something should have happened by now. She had just taken a few steps when she heard a voice behind her: “Madam Heir, where are you going?”

 

Madam Qi turned around to see a palace beauty standing quietly behind a peony bush on the opposite veranda. The woman had jet-black hair and fair skin, with thick, deep eyes that seemed born to wear ornate and luxurious hairstyles. Behind her, several palace maids stood quietly, heads bowed. Standing amidst the large, brilliant peonies, the woman wasn’t overshadowed by their beauty but rather appeared even more refined, like a poised sea of morning flowers.

 

Madam Qi felt a jolt of apprehension in her heart, and her maid discreetly reminded her of the woman’s status. Only then did Madam Qi realize she had yet to bow. “This subject greets the Crown Princess. Wishing Your Highness peace and good health. I didn’t realize Your Highness was present and have been discourteous. May I ask why Your Highness has called upon me?”

 

“Madam, you are too polite. I was merely strolling around,” Chu Jinyao smiled as she slowly approached. The emperor had moved to the summer palace to escape the heat, and the distinctions between the inner and outer courts were not as strict. Many of the officials’ wives could easily visit the palace, and the Qi family women were frequent guests. Now in the summer palace, they could move freely, making it easy to wander around the palace grounds. Chu Jinyao walked up to Madam Qi, glanced at her attire, and smiled. “It seems you’ve just come from the empress’s palace. Since that’s the case, you must not be in a hurry to leave the palace. I’m visiting here for the first time, so why don’t you accompany me for a walk?”

 

Madam Qi couldn’t refuse such an offer from the Crown Princess, so she smiled and agreed. Accompanying Chu Jinyao for a tour wasn’t a problem, as Madam Qi had nothing urgent to attend to. However, today, she had a task.

 

With this in mind, Madam Qi’s thoughts shifted. The task her sister-in-law had entrusted her with might actually benefit from the presence of the Crown Princess. If Chu Jinyao witnessed the incident herself, she would have no choice but to provide a proper explanation, preventing her from shirking responsibility with mere words.

 

Madam Qi was aware of the four beautiful palace maids the empress had gifted to the Crown Prince. If not for her sister-in-law’s mention, she wouldn’t have imagined that the Crown Princess would dare delay their formal inclusion. Even in ordinary noble households, no daughter-in-law would dare to do such a thing if her mother-in-law had sent concubines to her husband.

 

Madam Qi thought Chu Jinyao was overly jealous. After six months of marriage, even the strictest aristocratic households would have long allowed for concubines, let alone the wealthy and noble families. Yet, here was the Crown Prince, still with only Chu Jinyao at his side. This was beyond Madam Qi’s comprehension.

 

Reflecting on her own household full of concubines, Madam Qi couldn’t help but feel a sense of dissatisfaction. With this in mind, Madam Qi subtly guided Chu Jinyao toward Qinghe Palace.

 

Chu Jinyao quickly noticed the maneuver. Though her sense of direction wasn’t great, Qin Yi had insisted that she wouldn’t get lost, even taking her on a tour of the summer palace the second day they arrived and making her memorize landmarks. At night, he even quizzed her, and if she got it wrong, he would make odd demands. Thanks to Qin Yi’s efforts, Chu Jinyao might not be able to navigate with her eyes closed, but she could certainly recognize the key palaces.

 

As such, it didn’t take long for her to realize that Madam Qi was leading her toward Qinghe Palace. Chu Jinyao understood but didn’t show it.

 

That’s perfect. Even if Madam Qi hadn’t, Chu Jinyao intended to visit Qinghe Palace herself.

 

Gradually, they neared the lotus pond, and Madam Qi spotted the small pavilion by the water. Her eyes lit up, and she said, “Your Highness, it’s quite hot today. Why don’t we rest in the pavilion?”

 

Chu Jinyao smiled and nodded. “Alright. Please, lead the way.”

 

Madam Qi guided the unsuspecting Crown Princess toward the pavilion. Despite the heat, the bamboo curtains around the pavilion were drawn tightly, obscuring the view inside. As a woman herself, Madam Qi wasn’t sure whether to feel sorry for the Crown Princess or to be happy for her sister-in-law.

 

A few days ago, Qi Rong had confided in her that she wanted to marry the Crown Prince, even if only as a concubine. Madam Qi had no interest in meddling in such matters, as her sister-in-law’s marriage ambitions didn’t concern her. However, Qi Rong had shared her detailed plan, asking Madam Qi to be the one to “accidentally” catch them.

 

Though calling it catching adultery might be too harsh, given that it involved her own family member. Since Qi Rong was still unmarried, she couldn’t bring this matter to her mother, so she sought her sister-in-law’s help to “accidentally” witness the scene and stir up a commotion, forcing the matter to reach Empress Xiao Qi.

 

As the legitimate daughter of the Zhenbei Marquis household, once she and the Crown Prince had engaged in an intimate relationship, Empress Xiao Qi would undoubtedly be furious and force the Crown Prince to take responsibility. With Qi Rong’s status and Empress Xiao Qi’s pressure, becoming a secondary consort would be guaranteed.

 

The Eastern Palace was currently at its peak, with the Crown Prince wielding significant influence both in court and among the people. The emperor’s health was visibly declining, and it was only a matter of time before the Crown Prince ascended the throne.

 

At that time, while becoming empress might be uncertain, securing a high-ranking position like one of the four consorts or even a noble consort was certainly possible. Madam Qi, imagining her family producing a consort, was elated. With the Qi family’s backing and her sister-in-law’s charm and wit, combined with Empress Xiao Qi’s support, she thought that Chu Jinyao might not even succeed in becoming empress.

 

Madam Qi was so intoxicated by the thought of her family producing a third empress that she overlooked all concerns about reputation and family rules, agreeing to the scheme behind her mother-in-law’s back. She and Qi Rong had carefully planned it—Qi Rong would lure the Crown Prince under the guise of Chu Jinyao’s name, and Qi Rong would use affection and determination to win Qin Yi’s heart, aided by specially made aphrodisiac incense. Once Qi Rong and the Crown Prince were intimate, Madam Qi would “accidentally” walk in and create a scene that would escalate to the empress for justice.

 

In such situations, the man was always at a disadvantage. Even if the Crown Prince argued that it was a setup, who would believe him? Morally and logically, he would have to take Qi Rong in. And even if the Crown Prince resented being manipulated, it wouldn’t matter. Once Qi Rong was in the palace, she could use her charms to soothe him, and men, after all, would likely forget about the trickery once they had a devoted woman by their side.

 

However, Qi Rong had deeper plans. Though she wanted to marry Qin Yi, she didn’t want to bear the reputation of seducing him. Empress Xiao Qi, despite her lofty position as empress, still suffered from public gossip over past events, with Qin Yi openly disrespecting her, and she couldn’t do a thing about it. Qi Rong didn’t want to repeat her aunt’s mistake. Moreover, starting as a secondary consort, her position was already lower than Empress Xiao Qi’s, and if her reputation were tarnished, it would be even harder to oust Chu Jinyao when Qin Yi ascended to the throne.

 

Therefore, Qi Rong had prepared a scapegoat—Erhua. With the curtains tightly drawn around the pavilion, it would be up to Qi Rong’s words to determine who had been with the Crown Prince. Once Qi Rong achieved her goal, she could blame the whole thing on Erhua, claiming it was Erhua who used the aphrodisiac to seduce the Crown Prince. With Erhua’s flamboyant appearance, it wouldn’t be hard to convince others. As for what would happen to Erhua afterward, that was of no concern to Qi Rong.

 

Qi Rong’s plan was meticulous, and Madam Qi thought her sister-in-law was incredibly smart, covering all angles. Madam Qi was fully aware of what she would see upon lifting the curtain. Because of this, she now looked at Chu Jinyao with a tinge of pity.

See, this is what happens when a woman is overly jealous. If Chu Jinyao had simply prepared concubines for the Crown Prince from the start, letting Qi Rong marry him smoothly, she wouldn’t have to face today’s humiliation.

 

Madam Qi’s gaze was so overt that Chu Jinyao smiled as she met her eyes and asked, “What’s the matter, Madam? Why are you looking at me like that?”

 

“Nothing. I was just reminded of the sage’s teachings. Women must be virtuous. Jealousy may bring short-term gains, but it won’t last.”

 

“Oh?” Chu Jinyao smiled slightly. “Then it seems Madam Heir must be a paragon of virtue, generously helping the heir take concubines, without a shred of jealousy? You must be diligent in arranging women for the heir, always considering his needs—truly a model of virtue.”

 

“Of course. Raised under my mother’s strict teachings, I naturally would never commit the sin of jealousy,” Madam Qi replied, taking the bait.

 

“How wonderful.”

 

By this time, they had reached the pavilion. Chu Jinyao stood outside the bamboo curtain and gestured, “Please, Madam Heir.”

 

According to protocol, Madam Qi shouldn’t have entered ahead of the Crown Princess, but since Chu Jinyao insisted, and given Madam Qi’s pity for what Chu Jinyao was about to witness, she didn’t refuse. She instructed her maid to lift the curtain and entered first.

 

The moment the curtain was lifted, Chu Jinyao didn’t move an inch, standing still with her hands clasped before her.

 

As expected, within moments, a high-pitched scream erupted from inside: “Who are you? What is the meaning of this?”

 

Madam Qi had entered with confidence, her mind filled with satisfaction. She casually glanced at the sleeping mat in the pavilion’s center, but as she slowly took in the face of the person lying there, her mind went blank. She turned her gaze, still in disbelief, and saw another figure lying on the mat—a voluptuous woman with seductive eyes, dressed in palace maid attire.

 

Madam Qi let out a shrill scream. Erhua’s cheeks were flushed, her body burning from an indescribable heat, relieved only by the presence of the person beside her. She had been in a daze, but the piercing scream startled her awake, only for her to be violently yanked off the mat. Madam Qi, her eyes bloodshot, glared at Erhua with such fury it seemed she would devour her. “Who are you? How dare you sleep next to my husband? I’ll kill you, you vile seductress…”

 

Zhenbei Marquis’s heir, Qi Dashao, had also been roused by the commotion. He had barely gathered his bearings before he saw his wife dragging a woman by the hair, shouting furiously, and somehow even he was caught up in the chaos. The pavilion was a scene of utter confusion when suddenly, a sharp voice rang out from outside: “Enough!”

 

The voice was unmistakably that of a eunuch. Madam Qi and the heir turned in shock, only to see the elegant and beautiful Crown Princess standing outside the bamboo curtain. Through the swaying curtain, they could make out her smiling slightly before she spoke slowly: “You are incredibly bold.”

 

Madam Qi’s fury began to subside as she realized something. This woman wasn’t just any random seductress; she was a palace maid. A palace maid, no matter how lowly, was still one of the emperor’s women.