Gu Sorcery had been a major taboo in the Royal Court since ancient times. Any emperor hated it to the bone and wished to eliminate it immediately. Who could have imagined that at such an important moment as the festival, someone would present Gu Sorcery directly before the Emperor’s eyes?
The Chief Eunuch immediately picked up the doll’s head and presented it to Zhao Yi with both hands. Pinned to the doll’s head was a Yellow Talisman, upon which were clearly written Zhao Yi’s Eight Characters of Birth.
Zhao Yi’s face was frighteningly dark as he crushed the doll’s head in one grasp. The palace maid knelt on the ground, trembling uncontrollably, unable to form words: “Your, Your Majesty, This Servant…”
“Wretched slave! To dare use such a filthy thing to defile His Majesty’s eyes! Speak! Who instructed you?” The Head Eunuch stepped forward to interrogate.
Watching this scene unfold, Luo Xu’s heart suddenly clenched. She subconsciously clenched her hands, a feeling that something terrible was about to happen.
Tang Qi silently took her hand, gently kneading it: “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. It’s nothing!”
A few days ago, Tang Qi had once again consulted the Book of the World. It contained many descriptions of Luo Xu after her return to the Capital, but she always appeared as a villain.
After returning to the Capital, she used Hidden Weapons, Poisoning, and various other means to murder one by one those who had harmed her before.
At that time, she had once again become the Crown Princess Consort, and everyone dared to be angry but not speak. It was during her repeated attacks that Zhao Chengfeng grew gradually disappointed in her.
But based on Tang Qi’s understanding of Luo Xu, although Luo Xu hated the Yamen Runner who tortured her and the jailer who broke her leg, she had never thought of killing these people. She sought out only grievances and debts. She would only seek out Nalan Xue and Zhao Chengfeng.
The incident with Nalan Xue confirmed Tang Qi’s conjecture—Luo Xu was being framed.
In the original World Line, what ultimately caused Luo Xu’s death without a burial place was precisely… Gu Sorcery. It was supposed to happen during the autumn hunt the following year, when a cloth doll with the name of the Crown Prince’s Secondary Consort, Luo Ping, was found in her tent.
The Emperor, furious, ordered her execution.
Now, with the same out-of-palace festival occurring, Tang Qi had to be on guard. She just feared worrying Luo Xu, so she hadn’t told her!
Watching the commotion over there, then looking at Tang Qi’s unconcerned expression, Luo Xu felt a sudden realization. She asked in a low voice: “You deliberately left a weak spot?”
Tang Qi nodded slightly. Luo Xu breathed a sigh of relief, but a faint sense of loss welled up in her heart. The smile she put on was a bit forced. Unconsciously twisting the Silk Handkerchief in her hands, Tang Qi quickly noticed something was wrong: “What is it?”
“Nothing…”
Luo Xu’s words were cut off by a shriek. Astonishingly, during the interrogation, the palace maid’s eyes rolled back, foam came from her mouth, and she was literally scared to death.
The surrounding palace maids and eunuchs were terrified. Zhao Yi raged: “Investigate this for Zhen! Which palace does she belong to?”
Tang Qi had overseen all the personnel arrangements for this event; naturally, she couldn’t stay out of it when such a thing happened. She stepped forward with the Register: “Imperial Father, all palace maids and eunuchs serving Your Majesty were carefully screened by your child. We only need to check the Register to find out.”
A round of checking revealed no record of this dead palace maid.
Soon, a palace maid voluntarily confessed, claiming she had suddenly felt a severe stomach ache and asked a countrywoman to cover for her for a while. This countrywoman was the dead maid.
“Which palace are you from? And where does your countrywoman serve?” Tang Qi closed the Register.
“This Servant… This Servant is a palace person from the Temporary Palace. She… she is a Cleaning Maid in Consort Liu’s palace.” The palace maid spoke shakily. The former Noble Consort, now Consort Liu, looked shocked. She immediately stood up, crying and protesting her innocence.
She claimed she would absolutely never have a mere Cleaning Maid do such a thing, she didn’t even know this maid. This was a plot by others to frame her. She tearfully begged the Emperor to clear her name.
The Emperor also thought this matter was somewhat suspicious. Consort Liu cried pitifully. But the palace maid was dead, the clue severed. How could they determine who was behind this?
Consort Liu wailed loudly, but her words were decisive: “This Concubine begs His Majesty—search the palaces! If dirty items are found in This Concubine’s palace, This Concubine is willing to dash her head against a pillar and die here!”
Zhao Yi was silent. Many ministers also stepped forward, agreeing with Consort Liu’s suggestion. Under the pressure, Zhao Yi could only agree to the search, ordering the Imperial Guards to check every bedchamber.
The corners of Tang Qi’s mouth curved up slightly. Consort Liu persisted relentlessly: “Your Majesty, This Concubine fears someone might use the chaos to escape. This Concubine requests Your Majesty order everyone to follow the Imperial Guards and search palace by palace.”
Consort Liu’s residence was searched first. A thorough check revealed no suspicious items. Next were the other Imperial Consorts; although some private items were found, nothing related to the investigation was discovered.
Then came Zhao Chengfeng. Again, nothing was found. Finally, they arrived at Tang Qi’s palace.
Luo Xu’s palms were sweating. Tang Qi, however, was still calm and composed, following behind Zhao Yi. Zhao Yi instructed the Imperial Guards: “Don’t damage the Princess’s belongings. Check them and come out quickly.”
Hearing this, a venomous look flashed in Consort Liu’s eyes. She couldn’t understand why a dead Empress was so valued and remembered by Zhao Yi, even extending her favor to her children.
After a round of searching, the Imperial Guards came out in twos and threes, with no discoveries. Consort Liu felt panic rising in her heart. This time, to frame Tang Qi, she had practically risked her life. If there were no results…
Just then, an Imperial Guard suddenly shouted: “Found something.”
Tang Qi raised an eyebrow. Meeting Zhao Yi’s probing gaze, she cupped her hands and said: “Imperial Father, it wasn’t your child.”
The Imperial Guards quickly brought out the item: an Agarwood Box. The box was exquisitely made, inlaid with Eight Treasures, carved with images of mountains, turtles, birds, and beasts.
A Copper Lock hung on the box, concealing its contents.
Seeing the box, Consort Liu’s hovering heart instantly settled. Secretly, she shot a look at Zhao Chengfeng. Immediately after, as if going mad, she lunged at Tang Qi: “So it was you who framed me! I only offended Luo Xu once, why must you hound me relentlessly?”
Zhao Chengfeng, “quick-eyed and quick-handed,” grabbed Consort Liu: “Your Highness, please calm down. The matter hasn’t been decided yet. Imperial Elder Sister must have her reasons.”
“I think she just holds a grudge against me and wants to harm me. And the Prince of Leisure is still defending her? Have you forgotten how she framed you with the Blood Test for Kinship?”
The two of them sang the same tune, practically condemning Tang Qi on the spot.
“Your Majesty, arrest her quickly! This is a major crime of sowing chaos in the Royal Court!” Consort Liu wailed. Even a female family member spoke up: “This wife has seen this box before. On the road here, Eldest Miss Luo was carrying it the whole time.”
As soon as she spoke, many others chimed in, confirming they had seen Luo Xu holding this box.
Luo Xu composed herself, not panicked: “Before today, this daughter had never seen such an expensive box.”
Zhao Chengfeng even cast her a look of helplessness and heartache: “Xu’er, I know you resent that day of exile, but the one who harmed you was Nalan Xue. How can you direct your resentment toward… even goading Imperial Elder Sister…” He looked at the Emperor, bit his lip, and stopped talking.
Clearly, Zhao Chengfeng was insinuating that Luo Xu harbored resentment against the Emperor and had even convinced Tang Qi to engage in this harmful trick.
The System raged: “Oh, damn it. This bastard is actually playing the Green Tea two-faced game. I really want to bite him to death.”
Countless Empresses and Crown Princes had fallen because of Gu Sorcery, let alone a princess like Tang Qi who had just returned to the palace with a precarious foundation. Zhao Yi handed the box to Tang Qi: “Open it!”
Tang Qi coughed: “Imperial Father, this is your child’s private item. It’s not convenient to open. But your child can guarantee that what’s inside is absolutely not what you are looking for.”
“Your Majesty, if Hele refuses to open it, she has a guilty conscience!” Consort Liu shouted.
Zhao Chengfeng faked persuasion while actually fanning the flames: “Imperial Father, perhaps we should dismiss the ministers first.”
Several ministers wouldn’t have it. Some had close ties to the Liu Family, while others were dissatisfied with Tang Qi’s rapid rise to power. They all knelt, begging Zhao Yi to punish Tang Qi severely.
Zhao Yi was silent. His gaze fell on Tang Qi’s face, as if trying to discern something, or perhaps just numb. A rare trace of guilt appeared in Tang Qi. Not wanting to keep up the suspense any longer, she reached out and grabbed the Copper Lock.
The thick Copper Lock was actually lightly pinched open by her. But after removing the Copper Lock, she didn’t open the box. She just said: “Consort Liu, This Palace wants to ask you, this wooden box hasn’t even been opened yet. How do you know what’s inside?”
“In the entire palace, only your residence had strange items. Who else could it be? His Majesty treats you so well, yet you treat His Majesty this way because of Luo Xu.” Consort Liu had long prepared her rhetoric.
“And if it’s not what you’re looking for?” Tang Qi laughed, winking at Luo Xu. Luo Xu shook her head slightly, indicating she was fine.
Tang Qi spoke: “It is true this is This Palace’s private collection. It is also true that This Palace didn’t want it shown to others. Now, if it is to be brought out for everyone to see, how will Consort Liu compensate This Palace for the loss?”
Consort Liu thought she was merely stalling for time and didn’t hesitate: “What do you want?”
“This Palace wants you, Your Highness, to remove your hairpins, admit your fault, kowtow three times to This Palace and to Luo Xu, and then request to leave the palace to cultivate yourself.” Tang Qi spoke clearly, completely ignoring the uproar her words caused.
Consort Liu froze. Did she dare? She didn’t!
But seeing the wooden box in Tang Qi’s hand, remembering the humiliation she had suffered before, the fire in her heart simply could not be extinguished. She and Zhao Chengfeng had meticulously planned this for two months. There was no mistake. Tang Qi was just putting on a show of strength.
“Fine! This Palace agrees!” Consort Liu gritted her teeth, constantly psyching herself up. Zhao Chengfeng, however, sensed something was wrong and had already retreated behind the crowd.
“Then watch carefully!” Tang Qi opened the box. Everyone stretched their necks, their hearts suspended in the air.
The smile on Consort Liu’s face had barely spread before it froze.
“How could this be? How could this be? I clearly…” Consort Liu’s words escaped her mouth involuntarily, lost and desperate. The female family members and officials who had spoken up for Consort Liu turned even paler, swaying on the verge of collapse.
They had expected to see a terrifying Voodoo Doll. Who would have known that inside was… a Phoenix Hairpin?
The hairpin was made of pure gold, with a nine-tailed phoenix at the back. Each of the nine tails was adorned with different jeweled tassels, shimmering with overflowing color and extraordinary magnificence.
The bottom of the box was lined with fine gauze. It was obvious the hairpin was greatly treasured.
“This hairpin was commissioned by This Palace from a skilled craftsman. In a few days, it will be Luoluo’s birthday. This is This Palace’s gift.” She took the hairpin and placed it on Luo Xu’s head.
Luo Xu didn’t have the rank to wear a Phoenix Hairpin, but since Tang Qi was a Superior First-Rank Princess, anything she gave was considered an imperial reward. Luo Xu was already beautiful. The exquisitely crafted, magnificent hairpin didn’t overpower her beauty; instead, it made her look incomparably stunning and charmingly delicate.
Zhao Chengfeng gritted his teeth. How could this be?
Luo Xu’s eyes accurately located Zhao Chengfeng in the crowd. She gave him a mocking smile and mouthed the words: “Shameless. Despicable.”
A pang shot through Zhao Chengfeng’s heart. He staggered back a few steps. No, no. He hadn’t wanted to frame Luo Xu. It was Consort Liu who insisted on venting her anger. He just had no choice.
He had already planned that as soon as Tang Qi was arrested, he would immediately save Luo Xu.
Zhao Yi, however, breathed a sigh of relief. As long as it wasn’t Tang Qi, it was fine. But who exactly was the mastermind?
Tang Qi suddenly spoke: “Imperial Father, your child knows where the item you are looking for is!” She paused, her gaze sweeping over everyone present, then spoke startling words: “It is within your child’s own Bedchamber.”
