Damnit!
Everything is ruined!
Sang Yan glanced impatiently at her and followed the little eunuch out.
Qingning Palace
It was ti for the midday al.
On the dining table
Eighty-one dishes were spread far and wide.
As Sang Yan entered, the fragrance of the als wafted through the air, and the delicacies looked so tempting that her stomach growled with hunger.
Fortunately, she was standing at a distance.
She believed the Emperor Dog couldn't hear it.
"I, your humble servant, greet the Emperor—"
There was no response.
She waited for a while, then quietly lifted her head and saw the Emperor Dog enjoying his midday al.
The imperial eunuch He Ying was busy tasting dishes for him, bustling around the table.
Was the Emperor Dog doing this on purpose?
Was this ant to intimidate her?
Thinking this, Sang Yan said nothing and knelt quietly.
After about three minutes
The Emperor Dog deigned to glance at her, "Do you know your cri?"
Sang Yan expected he had co to question her; she had prepared her defense, "I know my cri. Ever since I ca to the palace, I have caused trouble one after another, deserving of death. I hope the Emperor will forgive ."
"You know full well that's not what I am talking about. Sang Yan, I'll give you one more chance, think carefully about what cri you have committed."
He Ying, putting down his chopsticks, looked intently at the person kneeling below: a lock of black hair hung over her tender, pale neck, so fragile that it seed it could break with just a gentle force, yet remained defiantly lifted.
"I am foolish. Please forgive , Your Majesty."
Sang Yan didn't want to say what he wanted to hear—that she thought leaving the palace was a cri, or seeking the Empress Dowager's favor was a cri, or even disliking him was a cri.
"Smack!"
A bowl of soup on the table was swept to the floor by his sleeve.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger."
He Ying and the other eunuchs and palace maids quickly kneeled down.
"How dare you!"
The furious Emperor stood up, pacing back and forth, pointing at her, and barked, "I have treated you well, yet you turn out to be a traitor!"
Sang Yan lowered her head, staying silent, thinking to herself: Look, this is what the Emperor's so-called favor is. To him, you are just a thing.
"Your Majesty, please calm down. You have just recovered from illness; you must not beco agitated."
He Ying tried to soothe the Emperor while also advising Sang Yan, "Miss Sang, the Emperor cares most about you, please say so soothing words."
Sang Yan remained silent, unwilling to get entangled with the Emperor any longer.
It was better if he grew tired of her.
Once tired of her, she would be free.
That's what she thought, but others didn't see it that way.
"Miss Sang, in the Imperial Palace, the most taboo thing is to beco arrogant because of favor."
He Ying felt that Sang Yan was being ungrateful.
Sang Yan thought to herself: So all this ti she had been cautious and walking on thin ice, yet in others' eyes, she was still considered arrogant?
How ridiculous!
"Mr. Pei, watch your words. I am of humble status and cannot bear the word 'favor.'"
She knew these words could offend, but she couldn't care less.
What's the use of being timid and living in fear?
Isn't it just stepping deeper into the mire?
"Your Majesty, please let leave the palace."
She expressed her request directly.
He Ying sneered at the demand, "Do you think this Imperial Palace is so kind of inn? Where you can co and go as you please?"
Sang Yan: "..."
Imperial Power above her always left her in a dilemma.
Between their standoff—
The voice of the Chief Eunuch Yu Huai De ca from outside, "Your Majesty, the Chief of the Prison Departnt requests an audience."
He Ying glanced at Sang Yan and took a seat at the head of the table. "Let him in."
Soon after,
the Chief made his entrance.
He was a lean young man dressed in a black official robe, with a stern face and a cold, heavy voice: "This humble official from the Prison Departnt, Wang Lishuo, greets the Emperor."
He Ying's expression remained cool, and he waved a hand. "Rise."
Wang Lishuo stood up and presented the case files. "Emperor, regarding the assassination attempt, this humble official has concluded the investigation. The dancer's na is Du Lianyu, the daughter of the criminal Du Fengchuan. Sixteen years ago, Du Fengchuan beca an accomplice to the treacherous Pei Zhen, and because he brought chaos to the world, he was executed by Your Majesty. She and her sister Du Xiyu, being young at the ti, were punished by being sent to the Imperial Music Bureau. A year ago, Du Xiyu attempted to seduce the Emperor unsuccessfully and even caused Your Majesty to fall ill; hence, she was beaten to death. Du Lianyu has been seeking revenge ever since and recently found an opportunity to carry out an assassination."
"Is that all?"
He Ying frowned, his expression impatient.
He had already guessed the dancer's identity and motive for the assassination. He had ordered the investigation to find out who was complicit.
Wang Lishuo also knew what the Emperor ant and hurriedly said, "Furthermore, this humble official discovered that the palace maid Mingtao, a confidante of Lan, had interactions with Du Lianyu."
Two dead people.
No witnesses to testify.
Such a sloppy attempt at slander.
He Ying found it amusing, glanced at him, and smiled as he inquired, "Are you implying that Lan wished to kill ?"
Wang Lishuo quickly kowtowed. "This humble official dares not."
"You dare not, yet you say it!"
Having heard enough nonsense and running out of patience, He Ying grabbed a teacup from his side and hurled it.
Wang Lishuo was hit squarely.
Blood stread from a gash on his forehead.
He didn't dare to wipe it and tremblingly said, "Although Lan has no motive for murder, she harbors jealousy and intent to trap Miss Sang. Initially, the rumors against Miss Sang originated from Youlan Pavilion. Lan intended to use the assassination to make Miss Sang bear the bla of being a husband's curse. There are palace maids from Youlan Pavilion who can testify. Emperor, please discern the truth."
He Ying felt like he was being treated like a fool.
He wanted to kill him but seeing his pitiful, foolish state held back, waving his hand. "Get out!"
Wang Lishuo: "..."
He left as quickly as he could.
The hall fell silent.
He Ying, massaging his temples, glanced at Sang Yan—she was still kneeling, her head down, her side profile calm, appearing gentle and compliant.
Fake.
All of it was fake.
Everyone in this Imperial Palace, so fake it was nauseating.
"What do you think?"
Suppressing his anger, he looked down at her and asked, "This matter concerns you. Do you also believe Lan is framing you for the assassination out of jealousy for your favor?"
Sang Yan shook her head, her voice steady. "It wasn't Lan."
"Why do you say that?"
"Lan has already lost Your Majesty's favor and lies in a coma, uncertain if she will ever awaken. Thus, she has been chosen by the real orchestrator behind the scenes to be the scapegoat."
She felt pity for Lan—kicked while down, and even as she lay dying, she was being splashed with a pail of filth.
Is this the fate of won in the harem?
She would rather die than enter the harem.
He Ying agreed with Sang Yan's words but also said, "She truly is jealous of you, having people monitor you, digging into your affairs. She dared to serve aphrodisiac because she listened to the plans of you and your sister."
At this point, his interest piqued, he returned to the dining table. "Stand up. Serve ."
Sang Yan: "..."
The topic changed too quickly.
She was confused for a mont before, with Pei Muyang's reminder, she stood up.
Pei Muyang considerately inquired, "Emperor, the food has gone cold. Would you like the Imperial Kitchen to prepare sothing fresh?"
He Ying waved his hand. "No need. All of you, go out."
"Yes."
Pei Muyang responded, and he imdiately led the eunuchs and palace maids out of the palace.
Only two were left in the hall.
The silence was unsettling.
Sang Yan blankly stared at the Emperor, an ominous premonition erging within her.
"You didn't want to lose control after drinking, did you?"
Her premonition proved to be incredibly accurate.
"I'll give you that opportunity."
He Ying, with a smirk on his lips, beckoned to her, "Co here. Pour the wine."
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