Chapter 718: Slap in the Face!

Left with no choice, the Empress Dowager could only say, "Fine. Since you insist on following palace protocol, then don’t ask for mercy later!"

Xia Ruqing’s smile was radiant. "Empress Dowager, rest assured, if evidence is truly found, I won’t beg Your Majesty even if it means I die on the spot!"

The Empress Dowager snorted coldly.

Nearby, Noble Concubine Shih was already growing impatient. "Consort Xian, have you finished talking yet?!"

Xia Ruqing narrowed her eyes and stepped aside from the doorway.

Unable to wait any longer, Noble Concubine Shih led a group of palace attendants, who RUSHED inside.

The Empress Dowager followed closely behind.

In the blink of an eye, only Xia Ruqing and a few of her servants remained at the door.

"Mistress!" Zi Su’s face was livid with anger. "So many people! They clearly came prepared. We can’t just sit here and wait for our doom!"

Xia Ruqing sighed deeply, an ironic smile playing on her lips as she lowered her head.

It’s good that Chenchen went to the Study Room and doesn’t have to see this filth.

After speaking, she gently caressed her belly. A gleam of unwavering determination flashed in her eyes.

"Don’t worry," she said. "We conduct ourselves with integrity; there’s nothing to fear from their search!"

Zi Su was about to say more, but Zi Yue held her back.

At that moment, Sister Huang, Sister Jiang, and others from inside were escorted out by a few matrons.

The matrons spoke haughtily, "We’ve searched all of these people; nothing unusual. To prevent them from causing trouble inside, they’d better wait out here!"

They didn’t even bow. With noses in the air, they turned, flicked their hips, and walked away.

Zi Su was furious enough to lose her mind, cursing and wanting to rush forward to fight.

She was firmly held back by Zi Yue and the others. "Zi Su, calm down!"

Zi Su glared viciously at the matrons, her chest heaving with rage. "These despicable bullies, throwing their masters’ weight around!"

"Since when is it their turn to touch our mistress’s belongings!"

"Mistress..." Zi Su knelt before Xia Ruqing.

Xia Ruqing looked at her, took a deep breath, and said calmly, "Get up. Stay calm."

"If you continue like this, I won’t be able to protect you. It will only grieve our loved ones and delight our enemies—a loss that far outweighs any gain."

"Zi Yue, help her up."

Zi Yue quickly pulled Zi Su to her feet.

Zi Su glanced back with another glare, angrily wiped her tears with her sleeve, then lowered her head and said, "Yes! Your servant will obey the Mistress!"

Xia Ruqing nodded and glanced at the servants behind her. "In times like these, it’s even more crucial for us to be united. Otherwise..."

She didn’t finish, but the others behind her all lowered their heads.

「...」

Time passed quickly; in the blink of an eye, half a Shi Chen had gone by.

The CLANGING AND BANGING of chests and cupboards being overturned inside had diminished significantly.

But those people seemed relentless. They actually came out of the house and began digging around in the courtyard.

Xia Ruqing was so exasperated she almost laughed.

She entered the courtyard, called Xiao Xizi to bring her a stool, and sat down under the grape arbor.

Tea and refreshments were on the stone table. Xia Ruqing rested her feet, leisurely sipping her tea, looking completely at ease.

In contrast, Noble Concubine Shih, who had been standing directly under the sun, now had a somewhat flushed face from the heat.

"Noble Consort, I am at fault," Xia Ruqing said.

"I should have accompanied Your Highness in the search, but... I am with child and truly exhausted. So, I must trouble Your Highness to continue!"

She was carrying two precious little ones in her belly. Noble Concubine Shih and the Empress Dowager, no matter how reckless, wouldn’t dare to harm her!

As expected, Noble Concubine Shih was seething with anger.

Her gaze fell on Xia Ruqing’s belly as she said sarcastically, "Consort Xian, since you’re with child, I naturally cannot do anything to you!"

"However... don’t celebrate too soon. There’ll be a time for you to cry later!"

Xia Ruqing merely smiled. "Whether I cry or not is my business. There’s no need for the Noble Consort to trouble herself over it."

With that, she said no more and put down her teacup.

She picked up a book that was close at hand. She had asked Zi Yue to fetch it for her. The cover bore two large characters: "Palace Rules."

Truth be told, Xia Ruqing hadn’t studied the palace rules much. She had only picked up bits and pieces here and there.

Now that it seemed she would need them imminently, she had to cram at the last minute.

She looked down at the book, a sly smile, like that of a cunning little fox, playing on her lips.

Hmph! Trying to frame me? Not a chance! I may not have eaten pork, but I’ve seen pigs run. I know a thing or two about the intricate schemes of this harem! Heh.

While Xia Ruqing read her book, Noble Concubine Shih and the Empress Dowager continued their relentless search.

However, more than a Shi Chen passed, and though they had nearly turned Qingya Residence upside down, they still found nothing.

Xia Ruqing closed the book, stretched lazily, stood up, and walked forward.

"Empress Dowager, Noble Consort, it’s getting rather late. May I ask... have you found anything?"

Though her words were respectful, her tone was tinged with a hint of mockery.

Noble Concubine Shih, having sweltered in the heat for the better part of the day without finding anything, was already burning with rage.

Xia Ruqing’s gentle prod was all it took for her to explode. "Lady Xia!"

Xia Ruqing smiled calmly. "Noble Consort, I am here."

"You..." Noble Concubine Shih was fuming, smoke practically billowing from her ears, as she pointed a finger at Xia Ruqing. "You’re insolent!"

Xia Ruqing suddenly laughed. "Noble Consort, I’m afraid I don’t understand what Your Highness means."

"Your Highness groundlessly accused me of having an affair and brought so many people to ransack my Qingya Residence!"

"This commotion has been going on for the better part of the day. Noble Consort, what have you found?"

Then, without waiting for Noble Concubine Shih to respond, Xia Ruqing, emphasizing her pregnant belly, knelt before the Empress Dowager.

"Empress Dowager! I truly don’t recognize those little eunuchs, and the so-called affair is nothing but a malicious accusation by others!"

"As for the supposed physical evidence, it’s pure fabrication!"

"As one of the Emperor’s concubines in the harem, I am forced to endure such a grievous injustice. I no longer have the face to meet His Majesty. It would be better for me to die!"

With that, Xia Ruqing launched into her ’one: cry, two: make a scene, three: threaten to hang herself’ routine.

So you’re shameless, are you? You’re audacious and reckless, aren’t you? Feeling pretty pleased with yourselves, huh? Come on then, hit me if you dare! Hit me!

she thought with sly satisfaction.

As Xia Ruqing rose, apparently intending to dash her head against the wall, the Empress Dowager’s face paled in alarm. "Stop her! Quickly!"

Zi Yue and Zi Su understood the cue instantly and rushed to "restrain" her.

The three of them—mistress and servants—put on a show: one pretending to desperately seek death, the other two pretending they couldn’t hold her back. They jostled and shoved.

The Empress Dowager was so frightened her face nearly turned green.

"Stop! Stop! Sister Qing, quickly go and restrain Consort Xian!"

One woman might not be worth much, but there were two lives in her belly! And the Emperor had always favored that woman. If anything happened to her...

The Empress Dowager dared not even imagine the Emperor’s reaction.

Sister Qing hurried forward to take hold of Consort Xian. "Your Highness, please don’t be distressed. The Empress Dowager will surely see justice done for you!"

Upon hearing this, Xia Ruqing immediately stopped her commotion. "Is what Sister Qing says truly true?!"

Sister Qing glanced helplessly at the Empress Dowager, then nodded. "Yes!"

Xia Ruqing was very satisfied. She quickly rose and went before the Empress Dowager to offer her respects. "Indeed, the Empress Dowager understands true righteousness!"

"The palace rules state that falsely accusing a harem concubine is a major taboo. Once verified, regardless of who is responsible, they shall be sent to the Punishment Department to receive thirty strokes of the rod and be confined for one hundred days!" Xia Ruqing, her belly prominent, enunciated each word deliberately.

The Empress Dowager’s expression gradually turned quite ugly.

"What’s this? With everyone watching, does the Empress Dowager intend to show favoritism? Or perhaps... to go back on her word?!"

After all, she had previously agreed that everything would be handled according to palace rules!