The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Song Zhiyuan held the tea, listening through a screen as Liang Cai explained the process of serving in the bedchamber, intermittently calling out her innocence. She didn’t understand why, after serving the Emperor in the bedchamber, the Emperor fell ill.

Attendant Zhou stood to the side, listening as well. In fact, Liang Cai had already been questioned several times, and her responses had no omissions. Since Song Zhiyuan inquired, he listened once more.

”Not a single omission?”

With tears, Liang Cai said, ”Truly, there’s nothing else.”

Song Zhiyuan’s voice was icy: ”You must think carefully, if there’s an omission and it’s discovered, not only you but also your father, mother, sisters, and brothers will all die with you.”

Liang Cai’s body trembled, and she cried out, having repeated many times that she truly didn’t know.

”Prime Minister...”

”There is one thing, I’m not sure if it counts.” Liang Cai’s hesitant voice interrupted Attendant Zhou.

Song Zhiyuan’s eyes sharpened, he raised his hand, and said, ”Speak.”

Behind the screen, Liang Cai’s face flushed, she stammered, ”After serving in the bedchamber, I went to the cleansing room. A young eunuch gave me a cotton handkerchief to wipe myself. Upon returning, the Emperor... the Emperor requested me again, and it was especially exhausting.”

Attendant Zhou’s pupils contracted, exchanging a glance with Song Zhiyuan.

”What did that young eunuch look like?”

Liang Cai shook her head, and said, ”I didn’t look closely, very delicate, but he had a small black mole on his right hand, between the thumb and forefinger.”

”Why didn’t you mention this earlier?” Attendant Zhou scolded sternly.

Liang Cai was terrified, sobbing she said, ”I-I didn’t know, I didn’t think it was important.”

Was relieving oneself and wiping, something that needed mentioning?

Attendant Zhou wanted to say more, but Song Zhiyuan had already stood up and said, ”First, find that young eunuch.”

Attendant Zhou, somewhat frantic, hurried away.

Song Zhiyuan gave a signal to the two nannies: ”Interrogate again.” He then left.

The problem was likely with that piece of cotton handkerchief.

When concubines served in the bedchamber, unless they had their own palace from having been concubines for many years, the Emperor would initiate and spend the night. Generally, plaques were flipped, and Jingshi Hall sent them over.

Especially these newcomers, after bathing, would be rolled up in a quilt and delivered to the Emperor’s side, and serving in the bedchamber had rules. The Emperor was not to be indulged, to prevent harm to his health and to avoid concubines using charms, seducing him into indulging himself and neglecting state affairs.

Emperor Chu himself was not someone driven by lust, to have such a strong desire for a tiny talent as this, the handkerchief likely had something unclean on it.

Song Zhiyuan’s brows furrowed.

He suddenly felt a bit of relief, hearing that Song Daying served in the bedchamber just a couple of days ago. If it were her last night, wouldn’t the Song Family also be implicated?

Song Zhiyuan stood in the side hall, watching Attendant Zhou, grim-faced, return. His brow twitched.

”The person is gone; the body was found in the water reservoir in the Inner Court. His name was Xiaolaizi, and he always helped the Emperor clean the chamber pot.”

Song Zhiyuan was not the least surprised and said, ”Investigate.” After a pause, he added, ”Also, investigate all the ones who served in the bedchamber over the past five days.”

Attendant Zhou’s eyes flashed, he said quietly, ”A couple of days ago, it was Song Daying who served.”

”It doesn’t matter who, as long as they’ve served in the bedchamber, thoroughly investigate, even the Empress is no exception.” Song Zhiyuan looked at Attendant Zhou and said calmly, ”The Emperor is most important.”

Attendant Zhou’s throat moved, he nodded heavily and bowed out.