Zhao De was no longer young, appearing to be around fifty years old. His skin was still quite fair, though it was the kind of pallor that looked rather sickly.
He wore a light-blue steward’s uniform. Upon seeing Di Lingwei, he knelt down with utmost deference. “This servant Zhao De, greets Your Majesty.”
In the Phoenix Dynasty, eunuchs typically referred to themselves as ‘this servant’. Di Lingwei had read about this in books and didn’t find it strange.
“Rise. Zhen has some matters to ask you,” Di Lingwei said expressionlessly.
Zhao De stood up.
He didn’t know why Di Lingwei had summoned him, but he was deeply terrified of the notoriously fierce Heavenly Mandate Empress. He only hoped to finish this matter quickly and leave.
“Zhao De, Zhen asks you, do you still recall a palace maid named Xing Lan?”
“Xing Lan? This… This servant has seen countless palace maids and cannot remember if there was one named Xing Lan.”
“Is that so? Take a look at this dossier.”
Di Lingwei gestured. Mu Fuwan, who was standing nearby, took Xing Lan’s dossier and walked to Zhao De, handing it to him.
Zhao De took the dossier and looked it over. Based on the information inside, he quickly recalled the palace maid named Xing Lan, and his expression changed slightly.
“Zhao De, tell Zhen. Why is the reason for Xing Lan’s departure from the Imperial Palace not recorded in her dossier? As the Chief Palace Steward at the time, you failed to properly record this. That is dereliction of duty.” Di Lingwei’s gaze was sharp upon him.
Under Di Lingwei’s stare, Zhao De’s entire body tensed involuntarily, visibly nervous.
“That matter is far too old. It was over ten years ago. This servant can no longer remember clearly,” Zhao De replied fearfully.
“Do you think you can just brush it off by saying you can’t remember? If you truly cannot remember, Zhen will simply have to press charges.” Di Lingwei let out a cold snort.
Zhao De felt cold sweat trickle down his forehead.
He didn’t know why Di Lingwei was asking about this. It was a matter from ten years ago. Why was it being brought up now?
This matter was neither too big nor too small. If it were explained clearly, it might cause considerable trouble. For a moment, he didn’t know what to do.
“What is it? Do you intend to hide something from Zhen?” Di Lingwei’s tone took on a note of displeasure.
The moment she showed her displeasure, an invisible aura emanated from her, immediately making Zhao De’s legs go weak.
He remembered that day at the end of the Shenyuan Era—Di Lingwei, a single spear in hand, leading the Heroine Battalion in a charge into the Imperial Palace. Blood had flowed everywhere, and heads had rolled.
Her ferocity felt as if it were yesterday, impossible to forget.
“Th-th-this servant… remembers now,” Zhao De’s voice trembled.
He was never a strong-willed person to begin with, or he wouldn’t have survived by groveling before Wu Jitian back then. Under Di Lingwei’s oppressive aura, he naturally dared not hide anything further.
“Speak.”
Di Lingwei’s voice was cold as a winter pool.
Zhao De carefully licked his dry lips and said, “This servant has thought it over, and remembers that Xing Lan was expelled from the Imperial Palace for… indiscreet conduct.”
Indiscreet conduct?
Normally, palace maids were forbidden from any romantic entanglements while in the Imperial Palace. It was the palace’s rule.
If it truly was indiscreet conduct, then being expelled was mandatory.
But Xing Ruolan didn’t believe it at all. The moment Zhao De finished speaking, she cast a dissatisfied glance his way. If she weren’t constrained by Di Lingwei’s presence, she would likely have immediately refuted him.
She firmly believed her aunt had been framed.
Di Lingwei stared at Zhao De, her voice low. “Indiscreet conduct? If that were the case, why was it not recorded in the dossier? Should Zhen interpret this as an intentional cover-up?”
“Injustice, Your Majesty!” Zhao De hurriedly said, “This servant truly had no intention of hiding anything. If it isn’t in the dossier, it must be because this servant carelessly forgot to record it. This servant is willing to admit this as a dereliction of duty.”
“Is that truly the case?”
“Your Majesty, it is the truth.”
“Should Zhen believe you?”
“Every word this servant speaks is true.”
“Fine. Then explain to Zhen, how was Xing Lan indiscreet in her conduct? What did she do?”
“This, this servant still remembers.” Zhao De thought for a moment, then began, “At the time, Xing Lan was involved illicitly with an Imperial Guard…”
He recounted the situation as he remembered it, explaining how he had discovered the illicit pair and how he had expelled them.
As Di Lingwei listened, she frowned with impatience. “So much pointless talk. Get to the point. Who was that Imperial Guard?”
Currently, the Imperial Guard was the Women’s Army, but the old Imperial Guard had consisted of men. It didn’t seem entirely impossible that something might have happened with a palace maid.
Seeing Di Lingwei frown, Zhao De instinctively cowered. “That Imperial Guard… this servant also cannot remember his name. But at the time, he was expelled from the Imperial Palace together with Xing Lan.”
It had all been ten years ago; it was natural he couldn’t remember clearly.
Upon hearing this, Di Lingwei glanced at Mu Fuwan. “Go to the Imperial Guard headquarters and find the relevant dossier.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Mu Fuwan immediately left to carry out the order.
Now, the Imperial Guard was managed by Wang Feifei and Mu Fuwan. Retrieving a dossier from there was much easier than going to the Ministry of Personnel. Soon, Mu Fuwan returned with the dossier.
“Your Majesty, the dossier is here.” Mu Fuwan presented it.
Di Lingwei took the dossier and examined it, quickly finding the relevant information from ten years prior. Coincidentally, there was only one Imperial Guard who had left service during that period, a man named Wang Ming.
Wang Ming?
Di Lingwei inexplicably felt the name was familiar.
“Wang Ming?” Di Lingwei murmured.
“Wang Ming? Yes, that’s the name!” Zhao De also immediately recalled hearing the name and hurriedly said, “That is definitely the man. However, when he left back then, he seemed resentful that the matter was exposed and declared he would never return to the Phoenix Capital. Finding him now would be difficult, like searching for a needle in the sea.”
Di Lingwei ignored Zhao De’s words and instead glanced at Wang Feifei.
She had remembered. When she and Wang Feifei had gone out earlier, they had met someone on the road who had recognized her. Wasn’t that person Wang Ming?
“Feifei, come here.”
Di Lingwei beckoned Wang Feifei over. When Wang Feifei drew near, she whispered into her ear, “The last time you went out with Zhen, there was a man who recognized Zhen. That man was Wang Ming. Go and bring him here.”
Although Zhao De said Wang Ming probably wasn’t in the Phoenix Capital, it had been ten years. It wouldn’t be strange if Wang Ming had reappeared in the capital.
Wang Feifei, however, was very surprised by Di Lingwei’s words. The last time, Wang Ming hadn’t given his name. How could Her Majesty know the man was Wang Ming?
