Chapter 628: Nothing Found

Fifth Master and Sixth Master were both taken away, and the Palace Attendants hurried in to clean up.

They all held their breath, daring not to make the slightest sound!

Zhao Junyao sat beside the imperial desk. He had no inclination to review the memorials; instead, he picked up a leisure book and pondered for a quarter of an hour.

Finally, he managed to sort out the matter.

He knew of Little Sixth’s outrageous behavior.

But... he’s only twelve years old, an age when wild behavior is common. Such matters between men and women shouldn’t be crossing his mind yet. Even if that Palace Maid was indeed violated by him, it’s hard to say whether this was maliciously guided by someone with an agenda or if it was Little Sixth’s own idea. Otherwise, how could a twelve-year-old possibly understand such matters!

Thinking of this, Zhao Junyao narrowed his eyes and ordered, "Li Shengan, go! Take the Wetnurse Nanny, Sister, Palace Maids, and eunuchs who serve Little Sixth, and send them all to the Punishment Department! Don’t beat them yet; question them thoroughly first!"

"Yes! Emperor, your servant will go at once!"

"Hold on!" Zhao Junyao called out to him again. "Also keep an eye on Little Fifth’s side. It might be..."

Although he was reluctant to believe it, the look in Little Fifth’s eyes earlier made it impossible not to suspect.

Compared to Little Sixth’s outrageousness, Little Fifth was much more satisfactory: good in his studies, good in martial arts, praised repeatedly by his tutors, sensible, courteous, diligent, and ambitious.

The contrast between the two brothers was too stark.

Something isn’t quite right. It’s better to investigate!

Li Shengan was startled. He quickly bowed his head in agreement and then backed out of the room.

Orders given by the Emperor were always carried out with high efficiency.

Sure enough, by evening, word came from the Punishment Department.

Li Shengan stood before the Emperor and repeated the message, "Emperor, the people over there said that the attendants around Fifth Master and Sixth Master were all selected by Consort Zhen Taipin! They are all honest people; even the Palace Maids are of plain appearance! We really couldn’t find any suspicious points!"

Zhao Junyao’s brows furrowed immediately. "Can’t find anything?!"

Although he found it hard to believe, if even the Punishment Department couldn’t find anything, it essentially meant there was nothing to find. Otherwise, if the Punishment Department lacked even this capability, he would have replaced them long ago.

It’s not Little Fifth?

Although he harbored suspicions, it was still merely his own speculation. Without evidence, not even the slightest trace, he couldn’t just conjecture wildly.

So, Zhao Junyao thought it over and gave another order, "Since there are no problems, release them all! Also, continue to keep an eye on them!"

Li Shengan nodded. "Yes!"

Zhao Junyao watched Li Shengan’s cautious departure, a complex glint in his eyes.

Little Fifth, is it truly nothing, or is he hiding something very deep? You can hide for a day or two, but not for a lifetime! If it really were to be found out...

Zhao Junyao dared not think further and let out a sigh. "I would actually prefer you to be like Little Sixth. Although unruly, at least your faults are out in the open!"

One like Little Fifth, who hides things in his heart, is the most terrifying!

...

So, the matter was put aside for the time being.

Nothing was found regarding Little Fifth or Little Sixth.

In that case, this matter could only be blamed on Little Sixth.

The Sixth Prince received fifty heavy blows by order of the Emperor and was confined to the palace for one year. Consort Zhen Taipin was also fined a year’s salary. Additionally, Consort Zhen Taipin was ordered to serve the Empress Dowager in Ningshou Palace until the Empress Dowager recovered.

As for the Palace Maid who hanged herself, the Empress Dowager personally decreed a reward of several hundred taels of silver for her family, allowing them to take the body back. It was publicly announced that she died from a sudden illness. This way, both the young woman’s honor and the Royal Family’s dignity were preserved.

Although the young woman’s family had lost their daughter, they ultimately gained a measure of respectability and received silver. They dared not cause further trouble—in fact, they wouldn’t have dared from the start. After all, this was the Royal Family!

The Empress Dowager’s illness quickly improved under the Imperial Physician’s meticulous care. Consort Zhen Taipin also played a part in this. Seeing the Empress Dowager recovering day by day, she was very pleased.

"Empress Dowager, your fortune is indeed boundless!"

The Empress Dowager gave a faint smile. "These past few days have been hard on you. You may leave now. I am well; there’s no need for you to come in the future!"

In truth, her illness was merely brought on by anger. Once the anger in her heart was assuaged, the illness naturally dissipated.

Consort Zhen Taipin respectfully acknowledged and departed.

Thus, the farce came to an end.

The men Zhao Junyao dispatched to watch Fifth Master and Sixth Master for over half a month found no trace of anything unusual. Aside from Fifth Master occasionally displaying schadenfreude towards his younger brother, who had received several dozen heavy blows, nothing else was discovered.

Zhao Junyao thus withdrew his men. He simply instructed them, "Be vigilant in all matters. Do not let any grave mistakes occur! They are blood brothers. I do not wish for any sordid affairs to occur within the palace!"

Li Shengan hurriedly complied. "Yes! Your servant obeys the command!"

Zhao Junyao nodded, took a deep breath, and only then began to review the memorials.

「In the blink of an eye, it was June, the hottest time of the year.」

Inside the Harem, the Honored Ladies also began to use ice.

Honored Lady Cheng, now eight or nine months pregnant, was particularly sensitive to the heat. Therefore, under the Imperial Physician’s guidance, she was permitted to use ice earlier than others.

Others, like Honored Lady Jiang and Honored Lady Du, felt somewhat resentful. They didn’t dare to openly pick a fight, but they would make pointed remarks, overtly or covertly, whenever they met.

Huan Cui, Honored Lady Cheng’s maid, felt very indignant upon seeing this. "My Lady, you are too good-natured! They are bullying us so openly, why don’t you..."

"And what if I don’t?" Honored Lady Cheng stroked her belly and smiled faintly. She paid no mind to her maid’s words and had no intention of retaliating. Right now, all her thoughts were on becoming a mother!

"Huan Cui, do you think it will be a boy or a girl?"

Huan Cui declared with an air of triumph, "My Lady, you must be jesting! I believe it will surely be a boy!"

Honored Lady Cheng then laughed. "Actually, I’m rather hoping it’s a girl!"

If it were a girl, her life would be much smoother. One never hears of a married Princess getting caught up in succession struggles. Unless that princess herself insisted on getting involved. In that case, no one else could be blamed. Otherwise, no matter how fierce the Princes’ battle for succession, no matter how intense the competition, it would never implicate a Princess. With her status as a Princess, finding a good husband would be incredibly easy!

After some thought, Honored Lady Cheng smiled. "From now on... let’s pay our respects to the Empress more often! It’s time to choose a side!"

Huan Cui also laughed. "Indeed, My Lady! If the child has the Empress’s protection..."

The child’s future would surely be much smoother,

Honored Lady Cheng thought.

「The following day, the weather was nice.」

Early in the morning, it wasn’t too hot yet.

Honored Lady Cheng had her attendants help her wash and dress, then she headed to Jiaofang Hall.