Chapter 444 - 222: Gag Her and Tie Her Up
Anshun accepted the order and departed, moving as swiftly as the wind.
Nanny Yu stepped forward to support her mistress. "Lady Zhaoyi, please sit down and rest. It will likely take some time to bring that wretched maid here."
Song Yunzhao took Nanny Yu’s hand and sat down.
Princess Consort Zhuang shot her a look, her expression foul. She wanted to say something but feared Song Yunzhao would shut her down with a sharp retort and humiliate her on the spot. After all, with Song Yunzhao pregnant, she didn’t dare do anything to her.
But she simply couldn’t swallow her indignation, which was why her face was so particularly foul.
Qin Xiyue sat amongst the crowd with her head slightly lowered. She was utterly inconspicuous as long as she remained silent. It was impossible to tell what she was thinking, but her quiet demeanor was a far cry from the aggressive way she had interrogated them earlier.
Soon, the housekeeper was dragged over. Anshun kicked the back of her knees. With a loud THUD, the housekeeper slammed onto her knees on the stone slabs, a sound so brutal it made everyone’s own knees ache in sympathy.
The housekeeper glanced at the palace maid, who had been beaten half to death. Her face paled, but she steeled herself and asked, "I wonder for what reason Lady Zhaoyi has summoned this servant?"
But Song Yunzhao ignored her, her gaze fixed on the other palace maid. "You claim she’s the one who put you up to this. Do you have proof?"
The palace maid gasped for breath, cold sweat beading on her forehead, but she still managed to say through gritted teeth, "In my quarters, you will find the fifty taels of silver Nanny Chen gave me as a deposit, as well as my younger sister’s redemption contract. Lady Zhaoyi will see the truth once an investigation is made."
Hearing this, Nanny Chen burst out furiously, "Lanxiang, what is the meaning of this? You borrowed those fifty taels of silver from me! You said you needed to buy someone’s freedom. I only lent it to you out of consideration for our long acquaintance. What are you trying to pull now?"
"Go search," Song Yunzhao said, looking at Anshun.
"Yes!"
The moment Anshun left, Nanny Chen’s expression shifted. She quickly looked up at Song Zhaoyi. "Lady Zhaoyi, this servant did give Lanxiang fifty taels of silver, but it’s because she told me she needed it to buy her younger sister’s freedom. She wept and told me her family had sold her little sister to a brothel at a young age, and she couldn’t bear to abandon her. I took pity on her and lent her the silver. But that redemption contract has nothing to do with me, I swear! Please, my lady, see the truth! I acted out of kindness. I have no idea why she would frame me like this."
Lanxiang, who had been lying prone on the ground, shot her head up in shock and fury. "Nanny Chen, we’ll know if my words are true or false as soon as the search is complete! I’m on duty in the gardens all day. How could I possibly have left the palace to obtain a redemption contract?!"
Hearing this, Nanny Chen lunged at her, ready to strike. "You ungrateful little wench! I was kind enough to lend you silver to save your sister, and you turn around and bite the hand that fed you! A vicious, disloyal traitor like you who frames others has no place in this traveling palace!"
With quick reflexes, Nanny Yu shot forward and grabbed Nanny Chen, holding her back. It was clear from Nanny Chen’s crazed lunge that she was trying to silence Lanxiang for good. Having already endured fifty strokes of the paddle, Lanxiang was in no condition to withstand such an attack; she would likely have died on the spot.
Xiangxue immediately stepped forward to help, kicking Nanny Chen to the ground. "How dare you act so brazenly in the presence of their ladyships!"
Sprawled on the ground, Nanny Chen still managed to speak. "Lady Zhaoyi, this wretched maid is spouting baseless lies! For committing such an error, she must not be let off lightly. However, she is ultimately a servant of this traveling palace. It would be best if the traveling palace authorities were to handle her punishment."
Song Yunzhao finally deigned to look Nanny Chen in the eye. ’She’s a clever one. No wonder she managed to become a steward.’ The meaning between the lines was clear: she was trying to put Song Yunzhao in her place. She was pointing out that the staff of the traveling palace was separate from the capital’s, implying that Song Yunzhao was overstepping her authority.
Princess Consort Zhuang’s eyes darted about before she spoke up. "Song Zhaoyi, what Nanny Chen says is reasonable..."
"Is Princess Consort Zhuang trying to make excuses for a villain?"
"What?"
Song Yunzhao looked up at Princess Consort Zhuang. "I know Your Ladyship has always been displeased with me, but this matter concerns the safety of Sixth Miss Huang and my own innocence. If we hand this woman over and she is silenced, how will I ever clear my name? Or could it be... that this is precisely what Your Ladyship intends?"
"Song Zhaoyi! Watch your words!" Princess Consort Zhuang’s face darkened. ’This Song Yunzhao is completely shameless! How can she just say whatever pops into her head?’
"So, Princess Consort Zhuang *does* understand the principle of not speaking carelessly..."
The heavy sarcasm in her voice silenced everyone who heard it.
Now they had finally witnessed the sheer arrogance and dominance of the Emperor’s favored concubine!
Truly arrogant, and truly domineering!
She paid no mind to Princess Consort Zhuang whatsoever!
Princess Consort Wan wisely kept her mouth shut. ’Let them fight it out. I’m not about to let Song Yunzhao drag my face through the mud. After all, I don’t have an imperial heir in my belly to back me up, nor do I possess Song Yunzhao’s ruthlessness—she’d kill a person as easily as she’d kill a chicken.’
Consort Shu was pleased. As long as Princess Consort Zhuang was unhappy, she was happy.
’When Song Yunzhao uses that sharp tongue of hers to tear into other people,’ Consort Shu mused, ’it’s actually quite satisfying to listen to.’
"Princess Consort Zhuang, I don’t mean to criticize," Consort Shu began, "but when that palace maid was framing Song Zhaoyi earlier, why didn’t you step in to uphold justice? Don’t tell me your sense of fairness depends on who’s involved? That simply won’t do. As one of the three high-ranking concubines, you must be impartial. How can you show such favoritism?"
Consort Shu relished the opportunity to kick her while she was down. It felt absolutely invigorating.
Princess Consort Zhuang was so infuriated by Consort Shu’s retort that she nearly coughed up blood. "Consort Shu, that is not what I meant!"
"Tsk. But it certainly sounded like that’s what you meant."
Princess Consort Zhuang took a deep breath, her face grim, and clamped her mouth shut.
’She could still try to use her rank to pressure Song Yunzhao, but Consort Shu was her equal. She couldn’t overpower her!’
Just then, Anshun returned with his men. He presented the items in his hand and said, "My Lady, we did indeed find the silver and the redemption contract."
Song Yunzhao glanced at the items but did not take them. Instead, she looked at Lanxiang and asked, "Since you cannot leave the traveling palace without permission, who arranged for this redemption contract on your behalf?"
Lanxiang knew she likely wouldn’t survive this ordeal, but she couldn’t let her sister die too. Mustering her remaining strength, she said, "Nanny Chen found someone to do it. I don’t know who it was specifically."
Song Yunzhao turned to Nanny Chen. "Speak."
Nanny Chen’s expression faltered. "Lady Zhaoyi, this servant... doesn’t know what to say."
Song Yunzhao let out a soft laugh. "I gave you a chance, but you don’t want it. Very well." She then looked at Anshun. "Go find Zhang Maoquan. Have him bring his men to investigate this."
Anshun was merely a steward in Song Yunzhao’s service; he had no authority to interfere in matters outside her household. Nanny Chen had been certain of this, which was why she had dared to defy her. But she never expected Song Yunzhao to bring up Zhang Maoquan.
And who was Zhang Maoquan?
Even as a servant at the traveling palace, Nanny Chen knew the names of the Emperor’s personal stewards. Her expression shifted dramatically, and she immediately stammered, "This servant..."
"Gag her and tie her up!"