Chapter 490: Dismiss Her Authority?

The Empress was a bit dazed, but she still had a smile on her face as she called for someone to bring tea.

Zhao Junyao took the teacup, sipped it, and then said with a smile, "Today, as Zhen has nothing better to do, Zhen has some good news! Come August, Zhen intends to go on a hunting expedition. Empress, please arrange for some people to come along—the more, the merrier!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was filled with anticipation.

The more, the merrier? Does that mean... we might have a chance too?

As expected, the Empress joked with a smile, "Last time the Emperor went, he didn’t take us sisters along, and everyone was so looking forward to it! Now, it seems we can finally go!"

Zhao Junyao cast a seemingly casual glance at Xia Ruqing.

He then said indifferently, "In that case, let’s arrange for even more to join!"

Last time, it was all men who went. After the hunt, they just returned; there was no sightseeing or leisure, just a group of men—utterly dull. This time, taking the women along and having those officials bring their families could make for ten days to half a month of good fun. It would be nice to return after the Mid-Autumn Festival!

After hearing this, the Empress’s eyes sparkled.

She had been married into the palace for so many years; could it be that now, finally, she could go out?

The other women of the Harem were also excited. The Emperor had said it twice now: bring more people.

So... will I be among them?

They had been in the palace for so long and had never been out!

As everyone was lost in their own thoughts, Honored Lady Wang, kneeling on the ground, was completely ignored.

The Empress inquired about other matters. After a lively discussion with everyone for some time, the topic was gradually set aside.

Zhao Junyao then noticed Honored Lady Wang on the ground and immediately frowned.

The Empress hurriedly explained, "It’s still about yesterday’s incident!"

Zhao Junyao’s brow furrowed deeply at once. "Yesterday’s incident, still not investigated thoroughly?"

Upon hearing this, the Empress quickly rose from her seat and curtsied. "It is this servant who was foolish!"

Zhao Junyao gave the Empress a cool glance, then stood up and slowly walked over to Honored Lady Wang.

Honored Lady Wang was terrified!

Before her stood the Emperor! If the accusations were proven true, not only her life but her entire family’s lives would be forfeit!

The more she thought about it, the more her body trembled.

Unable to watch any longer, the Noble Consort stood up and said, "Emperor, this servant has been lax in managing her subordinates, allowing this wretched woman and her lover to find an opportunity. This servant begs for Your Majesty’s forgiveness!"

After speaking, the Noble Consort indeed knelt before Zhao Junyao.

Xia Ruqing, at the side, was stunned.

What does it mean to be unscrupulous to achieve one’s goal? This must be it!

Truly, how shameless!

Fortunately, Zhao Junyao was not muddled.

Hearing what the Noble Consort said, his expression immediately darkened.

Squinting, he gazed sharply at the Noble Consort kneeling before him and said slowly, "Noble Consort, are you suggesting that the one who committed adultery with Honored Lady Wang is from Zhen’s Imperial Forest Army? The guards in the palace—are they not the Imperial Forest Army? By claiming lax management of your subordinates, are you not implying that Zhen is also at fault?"

Noble Consort Shih was stunned.

This was a disaster! She had been so focused on slandering Lady Xia’s brother that she had completely overlooked this crucial point! Lady Xia’s brother was a member of the Emperor’s Imperial Forest Army!

Leaving aside the fact that she had fabricated this accusation out of thin air, even if an Imperial Forest Army guard had truly slept with a woman of the Harem, the Emperor would only have the adulterous pair secretly killed. He would never make such a scandal public. This was a matter of the Royal Family’s honor!

Besides, the Imperial Forest Army was governed with extreme strictness; such a thing was virtually impossible.

Unfortunately, the Noble Consort understood none of this, only knowing how to fabricate tales. This time, she had truly prodded the tiger’s backside.

Xia Ruqing, sitting to the side, sipped her tea. She used her handkerchief to delicately wipe her lips, concealing the sarcastic smile that touched their corners.

Heh, some people are so foolish they end up harming themselves!

The Noble Consort’s face turned from red to white, then from white to purple, and from purple to a ghastly green. Finally, she quickly kowtowed. "Emperor, this servant... this servant..."

Zhao Junyao snorted lightly, ignoring her. He walked directly to his seat and sat down, then glanced at Li Shengan. "Bring forth the evidence!"

Li Shengan quickly and efficiently dispatched someone to fetch it.

A short while later, he personally returned carrying a tray. On it was a guard’s uniform, consisting only of a tunic and trousers; the rest—such as the tight arrow sleeves, knee pads, and wrist guards—were missing.

Zhao Junyao casually prodded the clothes with his fan and whispered a few words into Li Shengan’s ear.

Li Shengan hurried off again.

After a moment, he returned, once more carrying a tray.

Zhao Junyao said, "Go, place it before the Noble Consort."

Li Shengan dared not delay. He quickly bent down and respectfully placed it before the kneeling Noble Consort Shih. "Noble Consort, please look!"

Zhao Junyao said coolly, "Noble Consort, take a good look. *This* is a genuine guard’s uniform!"

Noble Consort Shih felt a sharp pang in her heart. Biting her lip, she forced herself to look at the clothes.

But... I don’t see any difference. The color, the style—it’s all the same!

Seeing her bewildered expression, Zhao Junyao added, "Pick it up. Let the others take a look as well!"

So, Li Shengan picked up the garments again and made a circuit among the assembled Concubines.

None of them dared to touch the items; only the Empress examined them a little more closely.

Zhao Junyao then asked, "Empress, have you discerned anything amiss?"

The Empress shook her head. "This servant is dull-witted."

Zhao Junyao sneered inwardly.

You are indeed dull-witted! Turning such baseless accusations into such a huge commotion! Do you think the Harem isn’t chaotic enough as it is? However, now is not the time to address that.

Seeing that no one could spot any clues, Zhao Junyao smiled faintly. "The Imperial Forest Army practices martial arts daily, so the cuffs, knees, ankles, and elbows of their uniforms are extremely prone to wear and tear. Therefore, when the embroideresses of the Ministry of Internal Affairs make these garments, they line these specific areas on the inside with a layer of deerskin. It’s soft, durable, and invisible from the outside, but it can be felt."

After a pause, Zhao Junyao added, "The so-called evidence presented earlier lacks this deerskin lining in those areas. This means... it’s merely an unfinished piece!

"Therefore..." Zhao Junyao fixed the Noble Consort with a sharp gaze and said coldly, "someone stole unfinished garments from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to frame a member of the Harem, intending to harm one of the Palace Consorts!"

His words were logical and backed by clear evidence.

They brought a flood of tears to Honored Lady Wang’s eyes, while the complexions of both the Empress and the Noble Consort changed dramatically.

The Empress finally snapped back to her senses, immediately left her seat, and knelt. "Emperor, forgive this servant!"

What on earth was she doing? Treating the Emperor’s reputation as a joke? Foolish! Utterly foolish!

Noble Consort Shih also went weak, and had Ying Yue not been supporting her from behind, she would have collapsed.

"Emperor!"

"Emperor, forgive this servant!"

Denial was no longer an option for Noble Consort Shih.

Her involvement had been so obvious from the beginning; with everyone watching, she had to admit it! Besides, her cousin, the Emperor, detested shameless denials the most!

With the Empress and Noble Consort kneeling, the other women quickly followed suit.

The main hall of Jiaofang Hall was soon crowded with kneeling figures.

Zhao Junyao swept his piercing gaze around the room and sneered. "Empress, if you are unwell and find managing the Harem too taxing, perhaps... you should rest for a while."

The Empress immediately panicked.

Rest for a while? Was he stripping her of her authority? He said ’a while,’ but would it be for a few days, or for a lifetime?