Chapter 128: The Fox’s Tail

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The conversation between Qiushuang and Momo Hong, where she asked her to take the poison powder back to Ciqing Palace and find an opportunity to place it near Chu Jinyao, was a lie. Noble Consort Shu would never give Momo Hong the chance to betray or retaliate. As soon as Momo Hong stepped out of Kunning Palace, the people lurking in the shadows would rush forward, discover the Empress’s death, and capture Momo Hong as the “true culprit.”

 

Momo Hong belonged to the Eastern Palace. Even though she wasn’t vital to Chu Jinyao, it didn’t matter much. The fact that a Momo from the Crown Princess’s side appeared at Kunning Palace in the dead of night, right when the Empress was found dead, and was carrying poison that had harmed the Empress would be enough. Conveniently, the incident occurred on the eve of the Emperor’s return to the capital—something even a child outside the palace could piece together.

 

Everything was going according to Noble Consort Shu’s plan, save for the final step: catching the culprit red-handed. However, somewhere along the way, Momo Hong must have sensed a flaw. Perhaps it was the overly elaborate process of being brought to Kunning Palace, or the eerily quiet atmosphere of the palace, or maybe it was Qiushuang’s absolute certainty when promising that Momo Hong would be reunited with her niece. Momo Hong must have realized that her last living relative had likely already passed and that she herself would not live to see another day, let alone be sent to the countryside to live out her remaining years in peace.

 

Momo Hong even came to understand that she wouldn’t make it out of Kunning Palace alive. If she took one step outside, she would not only be putting her life at risk but also bringing calamity upon the Crown Princess. This wasn’t merely about palace power struggles; this was cold-blooded murder, an attempt to destroy reputations and use the dirtiest tricks of the imperial harem. Momo Hong had seen much of life, but she couldn’t let the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, the very people who had saved her, suffer such an unjust fate.

 

So, Momo Hong mustered the greatest strength of her life and chose to die by slamming her head against the pillar.

 

No one expected a seemingly insignificant old servant to possess such keen insight and a heart full of resolve. Her death disrupted Noble Consort Shu’s plan, but it wasn’t a fatal blow because the Empress was already dead.

 

With the Empress dead, did the rest really matter? Who in the entire palace had the most to gain from her death, and who feared seeing the disgraced Empress meet the Emperor again? The answer was clear.

 

Not long after, Qiushuang, the palace maid on duty at Kunning Palace, let out a piercing scream that echoed across half the palace. Noble Consort Shu, who appeared to have been awakened by the commotion, quickly arrived at Kunning Palace, feigning shock and disbelief. “The Empress is dead? How could this be?!”

 

Chu Jinyao had just changed into her nightgown, intending to read while waiting for Qin Yi. But suddenly, she heard hurried footsteps outside. By the time she reached Kunning Palace, a crowd had already gathered inside and outside the hall.

 

Chu Jinyao’s expression was grave. The Empress had supposedly poisoned herself? She didn’t believe it for a second. The Empress was not the type to commit suicide, especially not at a time like this. The Emperor was due to return soon. From any angle, it made no sense for the Empress to take her own life now.

 

“Your Highness,” the servants hesitated, trying to block her path. But Chu Jinyao waved them away and resolutely walked inside.

 

She had walked this same path to Kunning Palace many times to pay her respects to the Empress. Memories of those days, filled with both subtle hostility and confrontation, came flooding back. But Chu Jinyao had never imagined that one day she would be walking this path to witness such a scene.

 

The Empress had died in her inner chambers, allegedly from poison. And Momo Hong, whom Chu Jinyao had just spoken to earlier, had died a gruesome death. One glance at the scene was enough to make Chu Jinyao avert her gaze.

 

Noble Consort Shu, who had evidently been standing there for some time, greeted Chu Jinyao with a barely noticeable smirk on her lips, “Crown Princess, you’ve arrived.”

 

Chu Jinyao’s gaze slowly shifted from the palace hall to Noble Consort Shu. Her face was expressionless, her eyes cold. “Noble Consort Shu, you certainly arrived quickly. The palace gates are locked, yet you managed to get here so fast. It’s as if you didn’t need anyone to inform you; you just sensed it, didn’t you?”

 

Noble Consort Shu chuckled softly. “The Crown Princess has so much to manage, perhaps too much, to the point where your mind seems muddled. But look around, the person who lies here dead is from your own palace.”

 

Chu Jinyao thought of Momo Hong and sighed inwardly. Ever since the Empress had lost power, Chu Jinyao had stationed people to keep an eye on her. However, after dusk, all palace gates were locked, turning Kunning Palace into a sealed-off inner court. Noble Consort Shu’s people had taken advantage of this window to strike. Even the Empress herself hadn’t expected that Qiushuang, a trusted servant, would turn on her so ruthlessly.

 

“So what if she’s from my palace?” Chu Jinyao stared directly into Noble Consort Shu’s eyes, showing no sign of backing down. “Do you know something that makes you so eager to be here?”

 

Noble Consort Shu feigned disappointment, shaking her head and sighing. “Crown Princess, you hold such high authority now, ruling the inner palace and your husband overseeing the court. I am merely a consort; how could I dare say anything to you? But Crown Princess, why go so far? Leaving a little leeway for others is good for everyone. Even with the Emperor returning soon, the Empress was already in such a pitiful state, unable to hinder you any longer. Why was it necessary to have her killed?”

 

Chu Jinyao raised an eyebrow slightly. “Oh? So, without any evidence, you’ve already convicted me? Aren’t you afraid of angering the Empress’s spirit by making such accusations in her palace?”

 

Noble Consort Shu simply smiled. Now that she was on the brink of success, even her patience was wearing thin. With barely concealed satisfaction, she softly laughed at Chu Jinyao, “The death of the Empress is something none of us can control. As for guilt, that will be for the Emperor to decide.”

 

After saying this, Noble Consort Shu turned and left with her attendants. Chu Jinyao stood in the cold wind, her hood’s fur trim fluttering in the breeze. She remained standing in place for some time.

 

From the start, this had all been part of a massive conspiracy. First, they dragged the Empress into the situation, persuading the Emperor to lead the army in person. Then, with the six ministries in chaos and the Crown Prince left to oversee the government, came the almost absurd military defeat.

 

The disaster at Xuanfu had not been a coincidence—it was a carefully orchestrated plot by these people.

 

Now, they had come to the endgame. Chu Jinyao and Qin Yi had no choice but to act, while Prince Su returned to court, presenting himself as the Emperor’s savior. Noble Consort Shu, on the eve of the Emperor’s return, had also eliminated the Empress. After all, besides their own people, who else could know the exact date of the Emperor’s return? Since entering the pass, Qin Yi had struggled to keep track of the Emperor’s movements, but now, Chu Jinyao was certain the Emperor would return tomorrow.

 

Staring up at the cold, clear night sky, Chu Jinyao exhaled a long breath, watching it condense into white mist that slowly dissipated among the ornate yet lifeless carvings of Kunning Palace.

 

Elsewhere, Qin Yi was also reading the latest report from his secret agents.

 

Six months ago, a frail scholar had been spotted entering Prince Su’s residence. Later, the scholar had disappeared. When he resurfaced, he was the military strategist of the Wara camp.

 

Qin Yi silently clenched his fist, the letter in his hand crumbling to dust.

 

—

 

As expected, early the next morning, word arrived that the Emperor, eager to return to the palace, was pushing forward at full speed and was expected to arrive today.

 

The pomp and ceremony of the Emperor’s return paled in comparison to his grand departure. Three months ago, 300,000 elite soldiers and over sixty high-ranking officials had accompanied him down this very road. But today, only the Emperor returned.

 

Where had the souls of the brave gone?

 

Upon his arrival at the palace, before he even had time to catch his breath, the Emperor heard the news that the Empress had passed. His eyes widened in shock, and he stared blankly at the messenger before him. “What did you say?”

 

The green-robed eunuch was drenched in cold sweat, his head bowed low. “Your Majesty, the Empress… she has passed.”

 

The Emperor stood frozen for a long time. “When?”

 

“Last night.”

 

The Emperor closed his eyes, his chest heaving. Last night… She had always been in good health. How could she have died so suddenly? Who would be so bold as to deny them even a final farewell?

 

When the Emperor had left for war, he had been angry with the Empress. But she had been his cherished consort for over ten years. Even if he had resented her or distanced himself from her, he had never imagined that she would die before him.

 

After a long pause, the Emperor finally asked, “Where is she?”

 

The Emperor stood in Kunning Palace, staring at the lifeless form of the Empress. Behind him, Noble Consort Shu observed the Emperor’s expression, subtly wiping the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. In a low voice, she said, “Your Majesty, you have just returned. You must take care of yourself and not grieve too much. The Empress, if she is watching from the heavens, would surely not want to see you harm yourself over this.”

 

As she spoke, Noble Consort Shu sighed softly. “The Empress was much younger than I. I never imagined she would be the first to leave us.”

 

Something about that statement struck a nerve with the Emperor, and he erupted in fury. “She died of poison—someone poisoned her! How could this have happened? Who would dare?!”

 

The Emperor clearly didn’t believe the Empress had taken her own life. All the evidence pointed to murder.

 

Noble Consort Shu wore an expression of reluctance but still shook her head, saying nothing. The Emperor’s face darkened. “Speak! Who did it?!”

 

Noble Consort Shu sighed once more, and the maid behind her timidly said, “By the time Noble Consort Shu arrived, the Empress had already passed. There were no outsiders in Kunning Palace at the time, but…”

 

The maid cast a glance at Chu Jinyao before continuing in a low voice, “But the Crown Princess’s Momo was found there, having committed suicide out of guilt.”

 

Chu Jinyao stood tall, her gaze unwavering. Linglong stepped forward, her face stern, and scolded, “How dare you! There is no proof of such a claim. How dare you speak ill of the dead and accuse Momo Hong of committing suicide out of guilt?”

 

The maid shrank back in fear, no longer daring to speak. Noble Consort Shu glanced at the Emperor’s expression and allowed a fleeting smile to cross her face before switching back to a look of sorrow and indignation. “It’s outrageous for a mere servant to speak like that in front of His Majesty. Who allowed it?”

 

“Noble Consort Shu, you are being rather biased,” Chu Jinyao interjected. “Your maid spoke out of turn, making wild accusations, and you didn’t reprimand her. Yet when Linglong corrected her, you choose to rebuke Linglong instead?”

 

“Wild accusations?” Noble Consort Shu sneered. “Then tell me, Crown Princess, where exactly did my maid get it wrong? Why was your Momo at Kunning Palace in the middle of the night? The Empress was poisoned yesterday, and that old servant just so happened to be there. From where I stand, it seems likely that she poisoned the Empress and then, fearing punishment, took her own life.”

 

“If she had committed suicide out of guilt, why didn’t she just take poison? Why go through the trouble of bashing her head against a pillar?” Chu Jinyao stared intently at Noble Consort Shu. “It seems you haven’t read many historical records, Noble Consort Shu. Dying by slamming into a pillar is a sign of martyrdom, of one who is left with no other choice and chooses to die with dignity. Perhaps you should review some legal records or court cases and see how true criminals choose to end their lives.”

 

Noble Consort Shu faltered, thrown off by Chu Jinyao’s pointed argument. Indeed, those who were truly guilty of crimes would not choose such a difficult method to end their lives. Smashing one’s head against a pillar was a drastic, symbolic act. But Noble Consort Shu quickly recovered. “Suicides are unpredictable, and fear can lead to erratic decisions. The method of death doesn’t matter as much as the fact that she was there, and that’s undeniable evidence.”

 

“Just because someone was in Kunning Palace doesn’t mean they’re guilty. What about the Empress’s personal maids and eunuchs? They served her day and night and had far more access to her meals and routines than Momo Hong ever did. If anyone were to poison the Empress, it would have been easier for them.”

 

“The Empress ruled with virtue. How could her own servants betray her?” Noble Consort Shu countered. “Crown Princess, in your desperation to defend your own, do not besmirch the Empress’s reputation and honor.”

 

That Noble Consort Shu could say such things with a straight face! The Empress ruled with virtue? Chu Jinyao couldn’t help but feel disdain. Yet, unfortunately, the Emperor wanted to believe it. Once someone dies, all their faults seem to disappear, and their virtues become magnified.

 

Outside the hall, Qiushuang had been listening intently. Hearing this, she forced herself to tear up, then rushed into the hall, falling to her knees and crying out, “Crown Princess, you can say whatever you want, but don’t deny my loyalty to the Empress! Lanyu also died trying to protect the Empress. I regret not having three heads and six arms to stop the murderer and save my mistress! Your Majesty, the Empress longed for your return. Even on her deathbed, she instructed me to prepare her hair for you. She was looking forward to your return, Your Majesty! You must avenge her!”

 

The Emperor’s voice was hoarse as he asked, “Did you see it? Did you see this old servant kill her?”

 

“I didn’t witness the exact moment, but when I returned with water, I saw Momo Hong leaving the hall.”

 

The Emperor’s face darkened in anger. Linglong and the others panicked, looking to Chu Jinyao for help, hoping she could turn the situation around. But Chu Jinyao didn’t look at the Emperor. Instead, she turned her attention to Qiushuang. “Tell me exactly what happened when you encountered Momo Hong.”

 

Qiushuang’s expression became wary, carefully choosing her words. “The Empress had asked me to prepare her hair, so I went to fetch water. When I returned, I saw Momo Hong, who was rushing out of the hall with her head down. I grew suspicious, so I hurried in to check on the Empress. That’s when I saw… I was so shocked and angry that I immediately ran out to confront Momo Hong. When she saw me, she was startled and tried to deceive me. She wanted me to come closer so she could poison me too. But I didn’t fall for it. I called for help, and when Momo Hong realized she had been caught, she panicked and slammed her head against the pillar. Before she died, she said that now that she was dead, there would be no way to prove anything.”

 

No way to prove anything—indeed, no way to prove anything. The Empress, Lanyu, and Momo Hong had all died in vain.

 

Chu Jinyao felt a surge of anger, but her mind remained clear. Noble Consort Shu’s eyes gleamed with triumph and defiance. Chu Jinyao noted it, but her own resolve only grew stronger. Calmly, she said, “You’re lying.”

 

These words, spoken with such authority, shocked everyone. Chu Jinyao ordered someone to bring over something, while she continued, “If your story were true and Momo Hong never got close to you, then why was one of your buttons found on her?”

 

Noble Consort Shu’s face instantly changed, and Qiushuang suddenly remembered how Momo Hong had pushed her during their altercation, yanking a button off in the process.

 

Qiushuang’s eyes darted nervously. “I must have been mistaken. Momo Hong did rush at me, and we struggled for a while. That’s when she pulled the button off. I was so panicked yesterday that I forgot…”

 

Chu Jinyao scoffed, then turned to the Emperor. “Your Majesty, this servant’s story is full of contradictions. How could she forget such an important detail? This proves that she’s lying. Her testimony cannot be trusted.”

 

Noble Consort Shu immediately shot back, “Is her testimony unreliable just because it implicates someone from the Crown Princess’s household?”

 

“Noble Consort Shu, you speak with such certainty. It’s almost as if you know something that gives you the confidence to make such accusations.”

 

“Enough!” The Emperor shouted, his voice booming through the hall. “She is gone, and yet you still won’t let her rest. Everyone, leave. I will decide what to do.”

 

—

 

Author’s Note:

The Empress exits.

When the Empress first appeared, it was mentioned that she was the “mini-boss” of the palace drama. And the true “big boss” is Noble Consort Shu.