TFSRITA Chapter 21

Inside the hall, only two people remained unmoved.

One was Empress Dowager Jiang, who, as the empress dowager, did not need to bow to her nominal son. The other was Yan Qing, who stood there with a cold expression. Her large, round eyes briefly glanced at him and then looked away.

She was still holding a grudge.

And also pursuing her plan.

“Your Majesty,” Empress Dowager Jiang’s smile deepened, and her gaze softened significantly as she looked at Yan Qing, who stood stiffly. A hint of disdain flashed in her eyes as she spoke gently, “Why don’t you let His Majesty take a seat?”

Consort Xian stood up immediately, her smile charming and gentle. “Your Majesty, please have a seat.”

Ji Yecheng, with one hand behind his back and the other playing with the ring on his thumb, did not look at Consort Xian but merely asked, “What’s going on?”

Consorts Xian and De exchanged a glance, about to speak, but Empress Dowager Jiang stepped in first, explaining softly, “Your Majesty, it’s like this…”

Empress Dowager Jiang’s voice was unexpectedly sweet. Yan Qing, who had been daydreaming, suddenly recalled many novels she had read about empress dowagers and emperors. She instinctively looked at Empress Dowager Jiang and observed her closely.

Empress Dowager Jiang did not notice Yan Qing’s gaze and focused entirely on Ji Yecheng.

Even though Yan Qing was single, in an era with widespread internet, she had seen countless edited videos or screenshots of a woman’s expression toward someone she loved. The look of love seemed quite similar across the board; you could understand the meaning at a glance without any text.

At this moment, Empress Dowager Jiang’s look at Ji Yecheng was just like that.

Yan Qing’s heart skipped a beat.

As the conversation wrapped up, Ji Yecheng nodded in understanding. He glanced at the woman standing beside him and, unexpectedly, pulled her into his embrace. Tilting his chin slightly, his voice was oddly soft and deep. “Oh? Is that so?”

“Mmm—” Yan Qing, caught off guard, was pulled into Ji Yecheng’s embrace. The somewhat familiar, cool embrace made her instinctively try to elbow him in the chest.

Before she could make contact, her elbow was seized, and she felt a sharp pain from his firm grip.

Yan Qing’s face turned pale for a moment, and she quickly relaxed her effort.

After going back and forth several times, she had never managed to succeed.

Yan Qing pouted and said softly, “Let go!”

Ji Yecheng’s other arm tightened around her waist, pulling her closer. He chuckled softly in her ear, “No, I won’t!”

Yan Qing gritted her teeth, glaring at him. She didn’t dare to make a scene in the grand hall, but she was unwilling to give in willingly!

The emperor, who was being glared at, instead raised an eyebrow and smiled wickedly, his affection evident, which made the courtesans around them blush and envy.

…

The scene before her, with the handsome man and beautiful woman exchanging flirtatious glances, seemed very glaring to Empress Dowager Jiang. The couple’s attire also matched unexpectedly well.

Empress Dowager Jiang’s hand clenched tightly into a fist, and the newly formed armor broke with a dull crack, but it didn’t draw her attention. A flash of murderous intent crossed her eyes but quickly settled. She scolded coquettishly, “What are you doing? In public like this, Your Majesty, this is a noble consort, not a singer.”

The hall fell silent once more, with many people taking pleasure in the situation.

Only Empress Dowager Jiang would dare to compare a noble consort to a singer.

Yan Qing’s already cold expression grew colder. Unable to win through skill, she frowned, lifted her foot, and stepped firmly on the man’s boot behind her, saying sharply, “Let go! Didn’t you hear the empress dowager say I’m not a singer?”

The pain in her toes was quite strong.

Ji Yecheng’s eyelid twitched. He forced himself to suppress his cruel thoughts and said in a deep voice, “Who dares to say that?”

After speaking, his dark gaze fixed intensely on Empress Dowager Jiang.

Empress Dowager Jiang’s face twitched, and her frustration grew. However, she could only manage a dry laugh and say, “I was just joking. I invited the noble consort here today to ask her a few questions.”

Ji Yecheng responded, “There’s no need to ask. I’ve already found out.”

“What—what?” The unexpected statement left Empress Dowager Jiang stammering in shock.

The young man, smiling as he looked at the woman beside him, said, “I won’t let you suffer any injustice.”

Then, Jiang Wende entered with two palace maids. The two maids were Yuxi and Xie Xi’s personal attendants, but now they were bound, their hair disheveled, and their clothes dirty, looking very disheveled.

Yan Qing looked on in surprise, having forgotten that she was still being held by Ji Yecheng.

Jiang Wende saluted and explained in a somewhat sharp but not unpleasant voice, “Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, Noble Consort, and all the other ladies, these two have confessed.”

“Continue,” Ji Yecheng said without lifting his eyelids.

Jiang Wende nodded and, with a formal tone, recounted the details of the interrogation: “… So, in the end, they poisoned Consort Yu and Consort Xie. As a result, they fell ill and, due to their already weak constitutions and the fact that the imperial physician was also bribed, they passed away.”

Consort Xian twisted her handkerchief, trembling all over.

Consort De also broke into a cold sweat.

There was nothing to find; it must be untraceable, especially with the empress dowager here.

But before they could comfort themselves, Jiang Wende waved his hand, and a few more palace servants were brought in, also bound. Jiang Wende said, “These are the people we found based on the confession of the previous two. Coincidentally, all of them are from the noble consort’s palace.”

Among them was Hong Tao, who had come with Yan Qing. But before entering the grand hall, she had been waiting outside. Now, seeing her bound, Yan Qing, aside from Hong Tao, did not recognize any of them, though she felt they were familiar. She widened her eyes and asked, “Why are you here too?”