Willow raised an eyebrow, so these palace maids were fond of clandestine meetings with eunuchs.
Even though eunuchs had undergone castration, some still had psychological needs and would find willing palace maids to secretly consort with, engaging in such acts in the shadows.
For the past two nights, Xiao Ju had been with that young eunuch. Fearing punishment if she spoke, she had initially intended to remain silent. However, when she realized her silence could implicate Xiao Yun’s death, she dared not conceal anything further and confessed everything honestly.
“I heard you’ve been quite close with Xiao Yun recently. I want to know why you two were close.”
Xiao Ju was filled with shame and, lowering her head, spoke softly, “Reporting to Your Ladyship, it is because Xiao Yun also fancied Xiao De Zi. This servant feared she might try to seduce him, so I kept a close watch on her.”
Willow raised an eyebrow. She hadn't expected this palace maid to be jealous of a eunuch. While investigating a case, it had led to scandals within the palace.
If Xiao Ju could have illicit affairs with eunuchs, then there were likely many such instances within the harem. However, Willow's only concern this time was to find out who had killed Qiao'er.
As for these scandals, she believed Jiang Cheng would handle them. Her expression softened slightly, and she let Xiao Ju go, turning her gaze to another palace maid on the side, Suo'er. She heard this girl was Jin Jiali’s personal maid since childhood, so their bond must be very strong.
Suo’er, around sixteen or seventeen, was dignified and beautiful. She knelt on the ground, her fear palpable, yet she remained composed. Willow couldn’t help but admire the girl.
Perhaps because she was a respectable maid from a general's household, accustomed to grand occasions, she was relatively calm when faced with trouble. Willow’s lips curved into a smile, and her voice was cold.
“I heard your name is Suo’er, is that correct?” Suo’er replied without subservience, “Yes, this servant is named Suo’er and is the personal maid of Consort De of Guangyang Palace.”
Suo’er’s words carried a hint of confidence, even mentioning her master. She probably assumed that her master’s status would earn her some deference. Willow sneered, her expression chilling.
“Tell me, where were you the night before last and last night?” Suo’er blinked. Although she was a servant, she was her mistress’s personal maid, treated almost as a mistress herself since childhood, and received preferential treatment.
She hadn't expected this woman to show her master no respect at all. She scoffed inwardly but dared not show it, speaking only with reverence,
“This servant has been staying within Guangyang Palace. I have never left Guangyang Palace at night. Your Ladyship can verify this.”
Suo’er believed her statement was flawless. She then raised her head to look at the Empress. Although she appeared extremely respectful on the surface, a fleeting disdain flashed in her eyes.
It was a mere flicker, but Willow caught it. A trace of sarcasm crossed her clear eyes, “Oh, how did you come to know Xiao Yun from the Imperial Kitchen?”
“Reporting to Your Ladyship, this servant often procured different flavors for our mistress. I went to the Imperial Kitchen several times, and that Xiao Yun pestered me, wanting to work in Guangyang Palace. So, we became acquainted. As for anything else, this servant knows nothing.”
Willow raised her eyebrows, looking at Suo’er’s composed face, and felt a surge of anger. She was almost certain that Jin Suo had orchestrated Qiao’er’s death, and behind her was likely the will of her mistress.
However, without evidence, she could not convict her. Seeing Suo’er’s self-assurance, it was clear she was confident the matter would not be exposed.
As Willow was thinking irritably, her gaze fell upon Xiao Ju, and an idea flashed through her mind. Jiang Cheng had only left for a short while yesterday before Xiao Yun died. It was highly possible that a eunuch under Jiang Cheng’s command was involved.
Could this eunuch have been swayed by Jin Suo?
As Willow thought of this, she let out a knowing cold smile. She beckoned Jiang Cheng over and whispered her instructions: to immediately investigate if any of the eunuchs who had questioned Xiao Yun yesterday had any connection with Jin Suo. Once found, they were to be interrogated immediately and made to reveal who had ordered them to kill Xiao Yun. Jiang Cheng immediately accepted the order and walked away.
Jin Suo, still kneeling, felt a prickle of unease as she saw Chief Steward Jiang walk away and the Empress staring at her ominously.
Although still outwardly calm, she began to feel flustered, her palms sweating. She was extremely nervous.
Just then, a eunuch rushed in to report, “Empress, Consort Shu requests an audience.” Upon hearing the eunuch’s words, Jin Suo finally breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that her mistress had come.
Willow sat regally on the phoenix couch, radiating a cool aura, looking down upon the hall. She cast a sidelong glance at the girl who had visibly relaxed. A hint of coldness touched her lips. It seemed this girl thought her mistress's arrival meant she was in the clear. Willow’s eyes deepened, and she spoke in a low voice, “Let her in.”
“Yes, Your Ladyship.” The eunuch retreated. The person who hurried forward was the opulent and noble Consort Shu, Jin Jiali, her face meticulously made up, eyebrows like crescent moons, eyes like apricots, a straight nose and cherry lips, dressed in a lake-blue gossamer silk robe, exuding an air of overwhelming nobility.
“This concubine pays her respects to the Empress.”
Jin Jiali bowed gracefully to Willow, her tone filled with unconcealed reluctance. A flicker of disdain crossed her eyes. This ugly woman, she couldn’t believe she couldn’t defeat her. Wasn’t it just because the Empress Dowager was her aunt?
How dare she arrest people from Guangyang Palace, and her personal maid at that! One should show some respect, even if not for the monk, then for the Buddha. She hadn’t expected her to wield such absolute power, disregarding everyone else.
“You may rise. May I ask why Consort Shu has come so early? Didn’t I mention before that morning greetings were not required?” Willow asked lightly.
Jin Jiali’s expression darkened slightly. This woman was truly good at putting on an act. She could only force a smile and say, “This concubine came to see what Jin Suo, this maid, had done to displease Your Ladyship, so that I may take her back and punish her severely.”
Jin Suo, who was kneeling in the center of the Weiyang Palace hall, heard her mistress’s words and immediately cried out plaintively, “My Lady, save this servant! This servant has done nothing and does not know how she offended the Empress?”
Jin Jiali, upon hearing this, put on a stern demeanor and chided Jin Suo, “You wretched girl, have you done something you shouldn’t have? Wait until I’m back, and I’ll punish you properly!”
Willow sat above, watching this master and servant perform their act, feeling extremely annoyed. She cast a cold glance at Jin Jiali in the center.
“Consort Shu, please take a seat. Since I am the mistress of the three palaces, I have the obligation to properly discipline the servants of any palace or hall. If each mistress had the ability to teach them well, I believe they would not make mistakes. Since they lack the ability to teach them properly, then allow me to exert myself for you all.”
Willow’s words thwarted all of Jin Jiali’s and Jin Suo’s intentions. Jin Suo’s face paled slightly, and her body swayed a few times, as if more flustered than before. She knelt and dared not utter another word.
Although Jin Jiali was angry, she remained outwardly calm and dared not say more. She merely walked to the side and sat down, looking gracefully at the Empress.
“Since Your Ladyship says so, then I apologize for troubling you. However, I wonder what this maid has done that has led Your Ladyship to personally inquire about it?”
Willow’s expression was calm, neither agitated nor hurried. She swept a glance over Jin Jiali and said indifferently, “Why is Consort Shu in such a hurry? You will know soon enough.”
Jin Jiali’s lips curved into a sneer. She had always instructed Suo’er to be careful and did not believe this woman could catch her.
Because of her excessive confidence, she casually played with her fingers as if nothing were amiss. Jin Suo, kneeling in the center of the hall, cautiously glanced at the Empress seated above, then at her mistress beside her. A sense of desolation suddenly arose within her.
She was merely a pawn in the hands of her masters. She feared she was doomed this time. She only hoped her mistress would treat her foolish brother well, so her loyalty would not have been in vain. Tears welled up in Jin Suo’s eyes.