Chapter 128: Was It You Again?

"Your Majesty, they suspect me!" Shen Fuyu perked up, her tone indignant. "You must seek justice for me!"

"Consort Xian's words are quite amusing," Qin Zhiqing sneered coldly. "My brother and Tang'er have never uttered a word against you, yet you are the first to bite back. Could it be that you have a guilty conscience?"

"So, Prince Jing, you believe you were drugged?" Shen Fuyu raised an eyebrow, a mocking smile on her lips. "What kind of master would be capable of drugging the both of you without leaving a trace, and right here within the imperial palace, which is strictly guarded by the Imperial Guard?"

Qin Zhiyi glanced at her, suspecting that this woman was merely singing her own praises.

"There is always someone better, and a heaven beyond our heaven; it is not impossible. Imperial Brother, I admit that I do harbor feelings for Miss Tang'er, but I ask myself, would I ever commit such a despicable act?" Qin Zhiqing admitted the truth on the spot. "Given my status, if I were to fancy a woman, I could simply ask for her hand in marriage. There is no need for such underhanded methods. Furthermore, if such a scandal were to be exposed, it would only damage my own reputation. I have no reason to lift a rock only to drop it on my own feet. I pray that Your Majesty will see clearly!"

"At that rate, perhaps my dear elder sister simply doesn't care for you," Shen Fuyu clicked her tongue and shook her head. She was speaking the truth. "Since Prince Jing claims to be a victim, why wouldn't the person who drugged you just use a lethal poison to finish you off, instead of resorting to such a trifling, dirty drug? After all, Prince Jing, you are merely an idle prince; even if your reputation were damaged, it wouldn't really matter, would it?"

"You!" Qin Zhiqing glared at her. He prided himself on his noble character and certainly did not appreciate being called a good-for-nothing parasite!

"Enough! A prince and a consort, bickering like this—what kind of decorum is this?" The Empress Dowager's face darkened. "The Emperor and I will make our own determination regarding this matter; there is no need for further talk."

"We've been arguing for so long, yet I didn't see anyone come out to uphold justice from the start," Shen Fuyu muttered. Her voice was not loud, but many people heard her clearly.

"Consort Xian, how insolent!" The Empress Dowager was incensed.

Qin Zhiyi instinctively pulled Shen Fuyu closer and said, "Mother, please calm your anger. My beloved consort was also frightened by this incident; I ask that you do not blame her."

"Fine, fine!" What a wonderful son he was, completely bewitched by a woman!

Shen Fuyu made a smug face, while the Empress Dowager was already so enraged that she needed someone to support her as she walked.

"Tang'er." Qin Zhiqing helped Shen Tang'er up and wrapped his broad outer robe around her. Shen Tang'er was deathly cold, and even moving seemed to be a struggle. The pain in her abdomen made her feel as though she were about to faint. She bit her lip until it bled, her desperate appearance only deepening Qin Zhiqing's pity.

Qin Zhiyi led Shen Fuyu ahead, whispering in her ear, "Did you use the medicine your master gave you again in secret?"

Shen Fuyu pursed her lips. "It was just so boring... You insisted on forbidding me from performing, and sitting there for so long is so uncomfortable."

Qin Zhiyi frowned. So, it was his fault now?

"As for those two..." Qin Zhiyi felt a headache coming on. His relationship with Prince Jing could hardly be called close. When he was being pressured by the Cui family to fight for the throne, Prince Jing was busy writing poetry and appreciating paintings. After his ascension, to demonstrate the benevolence of a new emperor, Prince Jing naturally became the sibling who was treated with kindness.

Yet now, catching Prince Jing and the eldest daughter of the Shen family in such a compromising situation... Qin Zhiyi could not help but be suspicious.

"You forget, the day I returned from my maiden home, you lost your temper with Prince Jing," Shen Fuyu said, not taking it to heart. "My elder sister is the object of desire for every man in the world; isn't it normal for Prince Jing to like her?"

"I only fear that Prince Jing has ulterior motives," Qin Zhiyi replied, speaking his true thoughts.

"Honestly, this matter will never come to fruition," Shen Fuyu smiled brightly. "Don't forget the reason why my elder sister was reduced to being a palace maid. Prince Jing is nothing more than an idle prince."

Returning to the hall, Qin Zhiqing knelt in silence, but Shen Tang'er was reaching her limit, swaying unsteadily and in a truly wretched state.

"Take her to the side hall first and have someone watch over her," Qin Zhiyi glanced at Shen Tang'er. A stalemate was ultimately unfavorable, and she was, after all, a daughter of the Shen family; it wouldn't do to show them no respect at all.

The imperial physicians arrived at the scene. They began by examining the food and drink Prince Jing had consumed and everything he had come into contact with that day. Even he himself was pulse-checked three times. After consulting among themselves, the physicians provided a unified answer.

"Answering Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager, Prince Jing is perfectly fine. There are no traces of him having been drugged."

"Impossible!" Qin Zhiqing grabbed the physician by the collar. "It has only been half an incense stick's worth of time; how could there be no traces left?"

"Please calm your anger, Your Highness. There truly is nothing," the physician explained painstakingly. "I have practiced medicine for many years and have never seen a drug that leaves no trace at all. Of that, I can be certain!"

Qin Zhiqing was incredulous. He knew he didn't have such poor self-control, and he hadn't drunk much wine, so how could he have lost control and committed such an act?

At the same time, the physician who had examined Shen Tang'er reached the same conclusion. Everything they had touched or consumed showed no abnormalities.

The way the crowd looked at Qin Zhiqing had changed. The noble and scholarly Prince Jing had actually committed such a filthy act, and he was still desperately trying to deny it...

"Prince Jing, what else do you have to say for yourself?" Qin Zhiyi's face had sunk. "You truly disappoint me."

"Imperial Brother..." Qin Zhiqing was stunned. "This is all too coincidental. Why did Consort Xian follow me the moment I left? How much time has passed since I left my seat? Furthermore, everyone knows about the bad blood between Consort Xian and Tang'er. If there is no trickery here, I would rather die than believe it!"

"Then what do you want?" Qin Zhiyi asked.

Qin Zhiqing looked at Shen Fuyu's smug expression and was certain that this vixen must be the culprit. "Whether or not it was the work of Consort Xian, a search will reveal the truth. If she wanted to drug us, she would certainly have the substance on her!"

Qin Zhiyi's brow tightened at these words, and he snapped angrily, "How insolent!"

"I beg for an impartial investigation, Imperial Brother!"

"So, Prince Jing, you are convinced that I am behind this?" Shen Fuyu smiled. "Are you so sure?"

"It could not possibly be anyone else," Qin Zhiqing stared intently at Shen Fuyu. He wanted to see how she would escape this time!

Shen Fuyu raised a hand, and with the help of Green Tea, she rose to her feet. "Let's go then. Let's have a search. I walk upright and sit straight; I have nothing to fear from an investigation."

"To show fairness, I ask the Empress Dowager to have someone search me," Shen Fuyu said with a graceful bow. She walked directly toward the side hall, her calm attitude making it impossible for anyone to associate her with such malice.