The Sheng Hua hairpin was a gift from the Emperor when she was enfeoffed as Noble Consort Wei. It was crafted from pure gold in the shape of a phoenix, not particularly expensive, but of extraordinary significance.
During the grand ceremony for her elevation to Noble Consort, the Emperor himself had placed the hairpin in her coiffure.
Aside from the late Empress Xiaoxian, only Noble Consort Wei had received such an honor.
Therefore, when the palace maids announced that Noble Consort Wei's Sheng Hua hairpin was missing, she became anxious.
She had been sitting here just moments ago, and everyone had seen the Sheng Hua hairpin adorning her hair. Yet, after a brief excursion, the hairpin had vanished.
A palace maid inquired, "Your Majesty, could it have accidentally fallen outside?"
"Then hurry and search for it!"
The Empress Dowager comforted her, "Don't worry, you haven't gone anywhere far."
Noble Consort Wei forced a smile, "Yes."
For some inexplicable reason, a sense of unease washed over her.
The palace maids soon returned. The head palace maid attending Noble Consort Wei, named Tuan'er, had gone out with four junior palace maids. They had searched along the corridors and in the flower hall, but found nothing.
When Tuan'er reported the results to Noble Consort Wei, she grew even more agitated.
"How could it not be there? Did you not search diligently?" Noble Consort Wei's voice rose, her usual gentle and amiable demeanor completely gone.
Now, she was a formidable favored consort.
Tuan'er and the other palace maids serving in the hall all knelt in fright.
"Your Majesty, forgive us."
"Noble Consort Wei," the Empress Dowager cast her an displeased glance, "Do not be anxious, this is not their fault."
With so many eyes upon them, and the Empress Dowager present, Noble Consort Wei suppressed her inner displeasure. She said to the kneeling palace maids, "What are you doing? I am not blaming you. Go and search again, thoroughly. Rise now!"
Tuan'er and the others thanked her for her grace and stood up, trembling.
Noble Consort Wei did not often lose her temper, but when she did, the consequences were dire.
She looked at the Empress Dowager and offered a weary smile, "I apologize for the display, Your Majesty. This hairpin is simply too important to me."
Naturally, no one had the appetite for food anymore. They helped the Empress Dowager back to her seat.
Wang Qingyao had taken a few steps when, with a clang, a golden hairpin fell from her embrace, striking the ground with a clear sound.
It was the Sheng Hua hairpin.
As the Sheng Hua hairpin landed on the floor, the hall fell into a brief silence.
The hairpin… how could it be on the Princess of Ding'an?
A moment later, Wei Yu exclaimed dramatically, "Princess of Ding'an, how did Noble Consort's hairpin fall from you? When did you take Noble Consort's hairpin?"
Wei Qing nudged her lightly and whispered, "Don't speak carelessly."
Wei Yu, who had been looking for an opportunity to catch Wang Qingyao in a mistake, was unwilling to let such a golden chance slip away.
She ignored Wei Qing's reminder, her eyes darting excitedly for a few turns. She continued, "Could it be that the Princess fancied Noble Consort's hairpin and couldn't resist… taking it?"
Her voice trembled, and she could barely conceal her excitement when she uttered the word "took."
Everyone understood the implication of her words.
Almost as soon as she finished speaking, Noble Consort Wei glanced at her displeasedly and said sternly, "A'yu, do not speak nonsense!"
Wei Yu assumed Noble Consort Wei was acting, one playing the good cop and the other the bad cop. She was too familiar with this tactic.
She immediately looked at Noble Consort Wei with a wronged expression and said weakly, "Noble Consort, you are too kind. If other princesses fancied it, you might gift it to them, but this Sheng Hua hairpin, everyone knows how significant it is to you…"
The more Wei Yu spoke, the more somber Noble Consort Wei's expression became.
Yet, Wei Yu remained oblivious, believing this was all Noble Consort Wei's plan, and she was eagerly performing her part to make the scene as dramatic as possible.
"Wei Yu!" Noble Consort Wei called out to her again.
Wei Yu, acting as if she were standing up for Noble Consort Wei, turned to the Empress Dowager. "Your Majesty, we all know you dote on the Princess of Ding'an, but today, this matter is plain for all to see. You must uphold justice for Noble Consort! The Sheng Hua hairpin absolutely cannot be given to the Princess of Ding'an!"
She deliberately emphasized the word "given," feigning difficulty, but her eyes betrayed her uncontainable triumph.
Wang Qingyao had not spoken a word thus far.
Consort Chen glanced at her, about to speak in her defense, when she saw Wang Qingyao subtly shake her head.
In a flash, Consort Chen understood.
She said, "Miss Wei, what do your words mean? Are you implying that the Princess of Ding'an stole Noble Consort Wei's Sheng Hua hairpin?"
Wei Yu inwardly cursed Consort Chen as a fool.
Although that was precisely what she meant, she had not stated it so explicitly.
Consort Chen, however, had directly uttered the word "stole."
Such a heavy accusation, and a person with a delicate disposition might have burst into tears.
Wei Yu replied indifferently, "Consort Chen, those are your words. I did not say them."
Consort Chen appeared to be choked for words.
After a moment, she looked at the Empress Dowager. "Your Majesty, the Princess of Ding'an would not steal Noble Consort Wei's Sheng Hua hairpin. Someone must be framing her!"
As she spoke, her gaze meaningfully swept over Noble Consort Wei and Wei Yu.