Was there a scandal in the imperial harem?
Zou Yun'er's expression shifted. She suddenly remembered her troublesome younger brother. Had he entered the palace today?
Damn it, could it be him!
She clenched her fist and beckoned to the ladies and daughters from various households, leading them towards another archway. "Come, let's go this way."
The Marquis of Jinyang's wife, who had always been at odds with Zou Yun'er, immediately responded and pulled everyone out.
The ladies from various households exchanged glances. They simply held their children's hands tighter, trying to keep them away from the rockery. Seeing that the Noble Consort did not seem inclined to reveal everything, they didn't say much. No one wanted to offend the Noble Consort unnecessarily, except—
Nan Shiying walked unhurriedly towards the rockery. By the time Zou Yun'er noticed, it was too late.
"Oh~"
Seeing the entwined bodies within the rockery, Nan Shiying covered her mouth with her hand and took a few steps back, turning her head away.
Zou Yun'er shot Nan Shiying a fierce glare, but she could no longer ignore it. With a frown, she ordered a servant, "Go and bring the people inside out."
From the rockery, Zou Yunming emerged, his face pale and wrapped in clothes. However, the other two inside were still intertwined, unable to separate.
The moment Zou Yun'er saw Zou Yunming, she wished she could beat him to death. But hearing the ongoing commotion from the rockery, her face turned as dark as if it had been stained with ink. She suddenly raised her hand and slapped Zou Yunming across the face, scolding him with bitter disappointment, "You disgrace! I will definitely tell Father to discipline you properly!"
Zou Yunming lowered his head and remained silent. After venting her anger, Zou Yun'er frowned and roared at the servants, "What are you waiting for? Tie them up and bring them out!"
It took the servants all their strength to tie up the other two people from the rockery.
"Ah, this..."
The unmarried young ladies immediately blushed, hiding aside and not daring to look. However, the ladies from various households couldn't help but glance. Upon seeing a familiar face, the Marquis of Jinyang's wife swayed and nearly collapsed.
"Ah, isn't this—"
A lady recognized Qin Xiaorong, and her face changed drastically. She turned towards the Marquis of Jinyang's wife with a shocked expression.
"Madam Qin, this—"
The ladies from various households truly didn't know what to say. Not only was Qin Xiaorong fooling around with Zou Yunming, but she was also... with another man. It was truly indecent and shameless.
The Marquis of Jinyang's wife quickly shook her head and denied it, "No, no, my Rong'er went to the Empress Dowager's Jingren Palace. This is just a resemblance; it can't be my Rong'er."
Seeing that the person her brother had ruined was Qin Xiaorong from the Marquis of Jinyang's household, Zou Yun'er's already unpleasant expression grew even more gloomy.
Qin Xiaorong, who had been in a state of excitement, suddenly sobered up. She looked at everyone in front of her and, recalling what had just happened, began to scream wildly.
"I'll kill you, I'll kill you!"
She struggled, only to find herself completely unclothed, letting out another scream of despair.
The Marquis of Jinyang's wife disregarded her reputation and the reputation of her household. She lunged at Qin Xiaorong, shielding her with her own body.
She raised her head, looking at everyone present, and finally fixed her gaze on Zou Yun'er. Her eyes were filled with a bloody crimson, as if she wished to flay Zou Yunming, who was hiding behind Zou Yun'er, alive.
"This subject wishes to see the Empress Dowager, this subject wishes to see the Empress Dowager..."
Her cries were heart-wrenching.
...
In Jingren Palace, a嬷嬷 (eunuch) hurried in and whispered something to the Empress Dowager.
"What did you say?" The Empress Dowager's eyes snapped open, a sudden cold glint appearing, sharp as a knife or a sword.
"How could it be Rong'er, how..."
She suddenly stopped speaking, then stood up abruptly. "Prepare the carriage for Lilan Palace!"
...
In Lilan Palace, the atmosphere was somewhat somber.
The ladies and young ladies from various households sat to the side, not daring to breathe too loudly.
So many things had happened at today's banquet. First, Nan Yuan'er was forced to kneel and kowtow, then Qin Yushan was whipped by the Princess, and finally, there was the scandalous affair between the Noble Consort's brother and the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Jinyang's household.
One incident after another. Regardless of anything else, by tomorrow morning, news would spread throughout the capital, becoming the new topic of gossip for everyone.
It was just... looking at Zou Yunming, who was kneeling on the ground, everyone subtly glanced at Noble Consort Zou.
Just then, a eunuch's announcement was heard from outside the palace: "The Empress Dowager has arrived."
The Empress Dowager had indeed arrived.
Everyone quickly rose to greet her. Nan Shiying stood in a corner, watching the Empress Dowager who was rushing over. Their gazes met in mid-air, and Nan Shiying flashed her a brilliant smile.
Damn it!
The Empress Dowager's anger surged and churned, but in the next moment, it subsided into calmness. She walked to Zou Yunming's side, raised her hand, and slapped him heavily.
"Wretched thing!"
Zou Yunming dared not argue, but he defiantly straightened his back.
"You're still unconvinced?" The Empress Dowager turned abruptly, and a rolling pressure swept over. Zou Yunming gritted his teeth tightly and said with difficulty, "Rong'er and I are in love."
"Nonsense!"
The Empress Dowager reprimanded, "Guards, go and summon the imperial physician. This empress wants to see if you and my Rong'er are truly in love or something else—"
The imperial physician arrived quickly. After examining the room, he emerged with a troubled expression.
"Imperial Physician Zhang, what is the result?" The Empress Dowager squinted, already prepared to order Zou Yunming's leg to be broken after the imperial physician announced the diagnosis. However, she heard the imperial physician say, "Miss Qin... nothing has been detected in Miss Qin's system."
"What did you say?"
The Empress Dowager's eyes widened.
Let alone the Empress Dowager, even Zou Yunming's pupils dilated in shock.
No drugs? The potent medicine was undetectable?
The imperial physician, stiff and rigid, bowed and said fearfully, "Perhaps my medical skills are insufficient and I failed to diagnose it. Shall we summon a few more imperial physicians to examine Miss Qin?"
The Empress Dowager's expression was terrifyingly gloomy. The hand holding her prayer beads had its knuckles turned white.
"No need!" she squeezed out a few words.
She lowered her head, looking at the guard lying on the ground like a puddle of mud, whether dead or alive. She closed her eyes slightly.
This time, she had lost.
Lost completely!