Volume One, Chapter 15: Retribution

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The civil and military officials murmured among themselves, all finding the matter suspicious.

The Pearl Princess was a star descended from heaven. How could she possibly slander another behind her back?

Either the Commandery Princess of Changdu was lying, or those words truly had come from the Pearl Princess—in which case the Grand Princess and even the Imperial Physician were lying!

Ning Yunshu watched Ning Moxue as though enjoying a good show. That delicate, pitiful face was filled with panic and bewilderment, her eyes glistening as she shook her head again and again in denial.

How would she explain herself this time? Resting her chin in her hand, Ning Yunshu watched in silence.

Before Ning Moxue could speak, Consort Xian stepped forward to shield her.

“Commandery Princess, do not speak recklessly. Xue’er would never say anything that could damage the Grand Princess’s reputation.”

Tao Wanjiao stood dumbfounded. Consort Xian had clearly been in the Buddhist hall that day and had heard Ning Moxue say those very words with her own ears. How had her story suddenly changed?

Across from them, Ning Yu also rose to his feet.

“Mind your words, Commandery Princess! Was slandering one princess not enough? Now you want to drag another into the mud as well. Just what are you plotting?”

Even Shen Yan, who was ordinarily composed, could hardly remain seated. The look he cast at Tao Wanjiao was so sinister it seemed capable of killing.

“I am not lying! It really was Ning Moxue. She said it herself!”

Tao Wanjiao’s accusation was hysterical, yet all around her were eyes filled with suspicion.

Ning Yunshu found the scene absurd. It was almost identical to what had happened seven years ago.

Back then, in the Imperial Study, she had been just like Tao Wanjiao was now. Ning Moxue had plainly been at fault, yet everyone had rushed to protect her, turning instead on an innocent person and accusing her without cause.

Ning Moxue seemed to find courage as well. She bit her lip, her almond-shaped eyes growing even more clear and guileless.

“Little Sister, do not compound your mistake. Just apologize to Elder Sister. With her magnanimity, she certainly will not pursue what happened today.”

“Who said I would not pursue it?” Ning Yunshu said coldly. “Anyone who insults my honor will not be let off lightly.”

Tao Wanjiao stiffened, and Ning Moxue’s breath caught.

If this matter were pursued to the very end, there was no telling how it would conclude.

“Wanjiao!” Consort Xian, usually gentle, spoke with a hint of severity.

She knew what sort of man Imperial Physician Quan was. He would never have told Xue’er anything carelessly, so the matter of the shameful disease was certainly true.

Now that the matter was about to subside, the wisest course was for everyone to take a step back and preserve a measure of dignity.

“They say that family scandals should not be aired in public. The Commandery Princess is the adopted daughter of Noble Consort Xiao, and the two of you are sisters as well. Your mother consort will decide that today’s matter ends here. Since this is the Commandery Princess’s first offense, how about giving her only a verbal reprimand?”

Consort Xian spoke earnestly, trying to reason with her.

Ning Yunshu let out a cold laugh.

What a fine mother consort she had. She was forever standing on the moral high ground, uttering words that cost her nothing and changed nothing.

Why did she not consider that, had Ning Yunshu not instructed Nanny Gui in advance to investigate Imperial Physician Quan and threaten him with his wife and children, how could he possibly have risked the crime of deceiving the emperor to help her maintain the lie?

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If the lie had not held, if Imperial Physician Quan had revealed the truth before everyone, what fate would have awaited her?

Given His Majesty’s habit of placing face above all else, he would surely have ordered her death to preserve the dignity of the imperial family.

She had nearly been killed, and now they wanted to settle the matter with nothing more than a verbal reprimand?

Ning Yunshu walked slowly to Tao Wanjiao and looked straight into her eyes.

“Tell me. Did you merely believe slanderous rumors, or did you deliberately try to defame me? If it was the former, I will follow Mother Consort’s suggestion and let you off with a verbal reprimand. But if it was the latter…”

She left the words unfinished, yet her eyes were filled with ruthless intent.

Tao Wanjiao swallowed and looked toward Noble Consort Xiao for help, tears spilling down her cheeks in great drops.

Noble Consort Xiao’s heart ached for her. She hurried forward and took her hand.

“Grand Princess, please forgive Wanjiao this once. She must have misheard, which is why she spoke such nonsense.”

“Noble Consort Xiao, I want to hear her say it herself.” Ning Yunshu’s tone left no room for refusal.

Tao Wanjiao’s chest heaved. Pointing at Ning Moxue, she cried, “She was the one who told me! Consort Xian and Mother Consort were both there that day!”

Consort Xian’s lovely eyes darkened.

“Commandery Princess, do not speak recklessly. Explain yourself properly to the Grand Princess, and you will be safe.”

“No! None of you believe me! You are all taking Ning Moxue’s side! She was the one who told me!” Tao Wanjiao cried helplessly, her tears flowing even more fiercely.

Ning Yu clenched both fists in anger.

“Silence! You are plainly jealous that Xue’er’s status is above yours, and you are trying to slander her because of it!”

The palace servants had always whispered that the Commandery Princess and the Pearl Princess were as close as sisters. But in truth, a commandery princess was still merely a commandery princess—how could she compare with a princess, a favored daughter of Heaven?

Tao Wanjiao naturally knew of those rumors.

But she had never been jealous of Ning Moxue.

Not until this very moment.

Ning Moxue was clearly the true culprit, yet so many people were protecting her, while Tao Wanjiao stood utterly alone. Even Noble Consort Xiao, whom she had called Mother Consort for seven years, was now doing nothing.

“Mother Consort, explain it to them! You were there that day too. You heard Ning Moxue say it herself, didn’t you?” Tao Wanjiao’s voice broke with sobs.

Consort Xian also turned to Noble Consort Xiao and asked in a steady tone, “Sister Xiao, did you ever hear Xue’er say anything that slandered the Grand Princess?”

Noble Consort Xiao’s lips moved. She looked helplessly at Tao Wanjiao and finally forced out the words, “No…”

Tao Wanjiao collapsed completely onto the floor, unable to tell whether she should laugh or cry.

Why was no one willing to believe her? It really had been Ning Moxue who lied. It truly had.

As Ning Yunshu looked at the woman on the floor, she seemed to see her own self from seven years ago. She stepped forward and slowly bent down, speaking in a low voice.

“It is not pleasant to be unable to make anyone believe you, is it?”

Tao Wanjiao abruptly raised her eyes to look at her.

So Ning Yunshu knew everything. Her affliction with the shameful disease was real, and she knew that everyone was shielding Ning Moxue.

Ning Yunshu straightened and turned her gaze toward Ning Yu.

“Elder Brother, in your opinion, how should one who sought to slander both me and Moxue be dealt with?”

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Ning Yu looked at Tao Wanjiao with disgust.

“She has offended her superiors, shown no regard for rank, filled her mouth with lies, and harbors a vicious heart. Someone like that should be dragged out and beaten to death!”

“First Prince, spare her life!” Noble Consort Xiao cried, dropping abruptly to her knees.

That was the daughter she had raised for seven years!

She had been unable to protect her, but she could not allow her to lose her life as well.

Seeing this, Consort Xian hurried to help Noble Consort Xiao up. She looked at Ning Yu and spoke softly.

“Yu’er, who among us has never made a mistake? The Commandery Princess merely misspoke. Her offense does not warrant death.”

Ning Yunshu feigned puzzlement.

“Then, Mother Consort, how do you think she should be punished?”

Consort Xian looked at Tao Wanjiao with pity.

“Strip her of her status, reduce her to a commoner, and expel her from the palace.”

Ning Yunshu gave a slight nod. Tears shimmered in Noble Consort Xiao’s eyes. Though she was unwilling to part with her, as long as the girl remained alive, that was enough.

“In that case…” Ning Yunshu began.

Noble Consort Xiao’s heart rose into her throat.

“The Commandery Princess has disgraced herself before the throne. She shall receive fifty strokes, be stripped of her title, and be sent to the Laundry Bureau as a warning to others!”

No one dared say anything. To fall in a single day from a commandery princess to the lowest-ranking servant in the Laundry Bureau was truly lamentable.

“Thank you, Grand Princess,” Noble Consort Xiao said, though resentment still lurked in her eyes. The Laundry Bureau was no place for a human being to live.

Had Tao Wanjiao merely been expelled from the palace, it would have been better. At least Noble Consort Xiao could have sent her gold, silver, and jewels to support her. But once she entered such a place, she would remain a servant no matter how much money she had, and hardship would be unavoidable.

Moreover, fifty strokes were enough to take half a person’s life.

The guards seized Tao Wanjiao by both arms and dragged her away. Her eyes were bloodshot and full of grievance, yet she kept staring at Ning Moxue.

Ning Moxue hid behind Ning Yu, not daring to look at her again.

Ning Yunshu drew a quiet breath and watched coldly as Tao Wanjiao disappeared into the darkness beyond the palace hall.

With the disturbance over, no one had any heart left for the banquet. Ning Moxue claimed to be unwell and left first. Consort Xian accompanied Noble Consort Xiao, who had been reduced to tears, and departed as well.

The court officials understood that they should not linger. One after another, they bowed and withdrew.

“Lord Zhang, wait!”

Seeing Zhang Zhixi about to leave with the others, Ning Yunshu called out to him.

Shen Yan had also been on the verge of leaving. At the sound of her voice, he unconsciously stopped and remained hidden perfectly among the crowd.

Ning Yunshu walked toward Zhang Zhixi, her expression as calm as ever.

“Beginning tomorrow, Lord Zhang, come to the Yongning Palace after morning court each day and teach me the qin.”

It was not a request.

It was an order.

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