Wang Feifei didn’t quite understand how the Empress knew, but she didn’t dwell on it. She believed Her Majesty’s wisdom far surpassed her own, and she had likely deduced the man’s identity from some subtle detail.
As a subject, one should not excessively speculate on a ruler’s thoughts.
Wang Feifei immediately left the bedchamber to carry out the order.
“Zhao De, wait over there.”
Di Lingwei swept her phoenix eyes over Zhao De and spoke.
Zhao De obediently stood to the side. Di Lingwei continued to casually browse the dossiers she held, merely to pass the time.
Time flowed by. The bedchamber was so silent one could hear a pin drop, save for the sound of Di Lingwei flipping through the papers.
Since they didn’t know Wang Ming’s exact address, only that he was in the Phoenix Capital, finding him wasn’t easy. By the time Di Lingwei finished reading the dossier, Wang Feifei still hadn’t returned.
Seeing this, Di Lingwei called out, “Zhao De.”
“This servant is here,” Zhao De responded with complete deference.
“How have you been managing at the General’s Mansion lately?”
“Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern. This servant has been doing well enough at the General’s Mansion. The Peerless General has not made things difficult for me.”
“That’s good to hear. Who do you think is better, the Peerless General or the Eighth Prince?”
The Eighth Prince had been Zhao De’s original master, but the man was long dead by now.
“This… This servant thinks the Peerless General is better,” Zhao De said, wiping sweat from his forehead.
Regardless, the Eighth Prince was dead, and the Peerless General was alive and well. Naturally, he would speak in the General’s favor. Besides, the Peerless General was Her Majesty’s person, while the Eighth Prince had been her opponent. He knew exactly what to say.
“If Zhen asked you to leave the Peerless General’s service and join Our service, what would you choose?” Di Lingwei asked, her beautiful eyes calmly fixed on him.
“This servant would certainly choose to follow Your Majesty. To serve Your Majesty would be a blessing cultivated over ten thousand lifetimes,” Zhao De replied without a moment’s hesitation, putting on a loyal and devoted front.
Hearing this, Xing Ruolan felt a pang of distress.
She wondered if Di Lingwei truly no longer needed her, which was why she was speaking these words to Zhao De.
Truthfully, after spending so long in the palace, she had grown accustomed to everything within its walls. She would feel a bit out of sorts if she were truly made to leave.
But such a decision was not hers to make.
“Is that so? Eunuch Zhao, you are certainly loyal.”
Di Lingwei withdrew her gaze and didn’t look at Zhao De again.
A while later, Wang Feifei finally returned, accompanied by another person.
The man looked to be in his mid-thirties, with ordinary features and very plain attire. He walked with his head constantly lowered, his eyes not daring to look around, as if afraid of inadvertently offending someone.
After all, this was the Imperial Palace! And he had actually entered the Heavenly Mandate Empress’s bedchamber!
“Commoner Wang Ming greets Your Majesty.”
Wang Ming fell to his knees.
When he saw Wang Ming, Zhao De couldn’t help but widen his eyes. He had never expected Wang Ming to appear before him again. Wasn’t he supposed to have left the Phoenix Capital long ago?
Inexplicably, he had a bad feeling about this.
Xing Ruolan also scrutinized Wang Ming, her gaze filled with inquiry. According to Zhao De, this was the man who had an illicit affair with her aunt. Though she didn’t believe Zhao De’s words, she knew Wang Ming was now a key figure.
Di Lingwei looked at Wang Ming and spoke unhurriedly, “Wang Ming, do you still remember a palace maid named Xing Lan?”
Hearing the name, Wang Ming shuddered slightly. His voice carried a hint of sorrow. “This commoner remembers.”
“Zhen has received information that you had an illicit affair with Xing Lan. Is this true?” Di Lingwei asked bluntly.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, that is absolutely a false accusation! This commoner knew very little about Xing Lan. We merely saw each other a few times within the Imperial Palace. There was never any closer relationship!”
As he spoke, Wang Ming’s expression grew agitated, as if feeling deeply wronged.
“Is that so? Then tell Zhen, what exactly happened at that time?” Di Lingwei settled in, taking on the posture of a listener.
Wang Ming had never imagined that ten years later, he would have the chance to speak of this matter—and before the current ruler, no less. Could his long-held grievance finally be washed clean?
At the thought, he felt his blood surge. This was excitement taken to its extreme. How could a wrongly accused man not yearn to clear his name?
Keeping his head lowered, he respectfully recounted the events of ten years ago.
“That day, this commoner was following his patrol duties as usual. But nature called, so I briefly separated from my unit. When I was looking for my patrol squad again, I unexpectedly saw the Chief Palace Steward, Eunuch Zhao, peeping at Xing Lan as she bathed!”
“Utter nonsense!”
Wang Ming had only gotten halfway through when he heard a shout of rebuke.
He instinctively looked up and only then realized that Zhao De was also present in the palace chamber, currently glaring at him with fury.
“Eunuch Zhao?” Wang Ming was greatly startled, then erupted in anger. “It was you! You were peeping at Xing Lan bathing and were discovered. So you framed Xing Lan and me, claiming we had an illicit affair! You are shameless!”
“Ridiculous! How could I possibly have done such a thing? It was clearly you two who were in an illicit affair. After discovering your misdeeds, you tried to shift the blame onto me! Utterly disgraceful!” Zhao De pointed at Wang Ming and shouted back.
“Please, Your Majesty, judge wisely!” Wang Ming kowtowed heavily three times to Di Lingwei. “What this commoner says is the truth! Back then, Eunuch Zhao, as the Chief Palace Steward, held a high and powerful position. Even when he framed me and Xing Lan, we were helpless against him! Because of Eunuch Zhao, this commoner has suffered wrongful accusations for ten years!”
“Your Majesty, you absolutely must not heed this petty man’s slander! This servant has toiled diligently and conscientiously within the Imperial Palace and has never done anything improper.” Zhao De quickly turned to address Di Lingwei as well.
“Your Majesty, Eunuch Zhao is lying to you!”
“Your Majesty, Wang Ming’s wild ravings are a crime of deceiving the sovereign!”
“Your Majesty, Eunuch Zhao is…”
“Your Majesty…”
As the two men’s argument continued, Di Lingwei frowned. She slammed her palm heavily onto the table. “Silence!”
Hearing Di Lingwei’s command, both Zhao De and Wang Ming immediately cowered and dared not say another word. Even standing for a moment next to this Heavenly Mandate Empress whose fierce reputation was known far and wide made them feel suffocated.
Di Lingwei looked from Wang Ming to Zhao De.
Whose words should she believe?
While she remained silent, the entire palace chamber felt unbearably oppressive. Still, Wang Ming and Zhao De occasionally glared at each other. The tension was thick, especially from Wang Ming, whose chest heaved unsteadily as if he were utterly furious.
