Chapter 18: Scandal Unveiled

The celebration hall buzzed with hushed conversations, the faint sound of music mingling with laughter and gentle chatter. As the women gathered in together, Lady Yanli was notably absent, a detail not lost on the sharp-eyed nobility.

Xiolan glanced anxiously toward the door, eyes scanning for Yanli, but it was Prince Zhen who had foreseen every step of this evening's scheme, ensuring Yanli's absence from the trap. Meanwhile, Yanli's maid looked tense, waiting for the signal to execute the next part of Consort Mei's plan.

In the far corner, Xiolan's eyes darted over to Consort Mei. Consort Mei lifted her chin with an almost imperceptible nod, urging her to proceed. Xiolan quickly glanced down, pretending to be startled as she fidgeted with her sleeves. She took a deep, shaky breath and strode into the center of the hall.

"Xiolan?" Consort Mei called out, her voice just loud enough to catch the attention of the other ladies, but laced with an air of practiced concern. "Where is Lady Yanli? I cannot find her anywhere."

Xiolan faltered, eyes widening with feigned distress. She stammered, "My…my lady, I…"

Her fidgeting caught the attention of several noblewomen, who now turned their curious gazes her way. The Empress, watching from her seat, narrowed her eyes, sensing the underlying tension between Consort Mei and Lady Yanli. It was unlike Consort Mei to be so concerned over something so trivial, and she noted Xiolan's nervous manner with growing suspicion.

Consort Mei pressed, her tone dripping with a carefully crafted worry, "Xiolan, is something amiss? You seem very unsettled."

Xiolan's face paled, her hand clutched at her sleeve as she stammered, "L-Lady Yanli…she is…" She faltered, swallowing nervously, before stammering, "Lady Yanli is… with Prince Hanyu in the outer chambers."

A ripple of murmurs spread through the room, the suggestion of something improper sparking interest and shock in equal measure. Many noblewomen's eyes widened, some exchanged scandalized looks, and a few even smirked in anticipation of the brewing drama.

The Empress raised her hand to calm the growing storm. "Perhaps they merely wished to discuss something in private, as young couples often do."

Consort Mei quickly interjected, her tone alarmed yet laden with a hint of barely-hidden satisfaction. "Empress, forgive me, but it would not be appropriate for an unwed lady to be left alone with her betrothed in such a secluded place." She threw a wary glance at Xiolan, who stood, cheeks flushed, as if her silence held some terrible secret.

A few noblewomen leaned in, already imagining the scandal unfolding in the shadows. "Let us not jump to conclusions," one of them murmured, though her eyes sparkled with excitement.

But Consort Mei would not relent, her gaze fixed determinedly on Xiolan. "Xiolan, show us where they are. As her closest companion, you surely would not wish Lady Yanli's reputation to suffer from a misunderstanding, would you?"

Xiolan hesitated, but under the weight of Consort Mei's calculating gaze and the probing eyes of the nobility, she finally gave in. "Very well," she murmured, glancing down with feigned guilt as she led the crowd of eager noblewomen which also alerted the palace officials including the emperor and Yanli's family and the went toward the outer chambers.

Meanwhile, Yanli lingered in a shadowed alcove near the outer chambers with Prince Zhen by her side. She glanced toward him, a hint of gratitude in her eyes as she whispered, " Thank you for your assistance."

Prince Zhen smirked, his eyes gleaming with the thrill of anticipation. "Consort Mei's plans are often meticulous but too transparent when it comes to you. Rest assured, this spectacle will not unfold as she imagined."

As the crowd moved through the corridors toward the outer chambers, Xiolan struggled to maintain her composure. She could feel Consort Mei's expectant eyes upon her, and the thrill of impending scandal made her pulse race. After several tense moments, they finally reached the outer door to the secluded room.

Consort Mei's lips curled into a pleased smile as she stepped forward. "Is the door locked?"

A nearby eunuch hesitated, but when he saw Consort Mei's commanding expression, he nodded. "Yes, Your Grace, it appears to be locked from the inside."

A wave of gasps swept through the crowd, and even the Empress's brow furrowed with concern. The whispers grew louder, curiosity reaching its peak as Xiolan's face turned red, her shoulders trembling as she tried to keep her composure.

From within, a series of muffled, ambiguous sounds drifted through the door—soft whispers and faint rustlings that only served to heighten the crowd's suspicions. Consort Mei shot a glance at the Emperor, her face a perfect blend of feigned shock and dismay.

"Your Majesty," she whispered, her voice trembling with barely-contained outrage. "We must do something. It would be disgraceful for such impropriety to stain the reputation of both Lady Yanli and Prince Hanyu."

The Emperor's face darkened, and his gaze turned steely as he ordered, "Open the door."

A eunuch hurriedly procured the key and, with a hesitant glance at the Emperor, unlocked the door. The silence in the hallway was so tense that even a whisper could have shattered it. Slowly, the doors creaked open, revealing the scene within.

As the nobles peered inside, gasps filled the room. Prince Hanyu and Lady Lian lay entwined on the bed, their disheveled clothing and the unmistakable marks of their indiscretion blatantly visible. The scene left little to the imagination, and the scandal was now undeniable.

Consort Mei's face blanched, her shock mirroring that of the others. This was not the scene she had orchestrated. How had her meticulously planned trap gone so astray? She shot a venomous glance at Xiolan, who looked equally bewildered and horrified at the unexpected turn.

Empress Li's lips curled in a subtle, satisfied smirk as she observed Consort Mei's silent panic. With an amused air, she remarked, "Oh dear, it seems there was quite a misunderstanding after all."

Prince Hanyu stirred, his groggy mind slowly registering the room full of horrified onlookers. His gaze darted around, confusion giving way to horror as he realized the severity of his predicament. Lady Lian, equally stunned, stammered as she tried to adjust her disheveled appearance, her cheeks turning scarlet.

The Emperor's face was a mask of barely-contained fury as he demanded, "Prince Hanyu! What is the meaning of this shameful display?"

Prince Hanyu's mouth opened, but no words came out. His gaze flitted toward Consort Mei, who stood frozen, her face drained of color. She had no explanation, no carefully-crafted excuse to save them from this disaster.

Yanli's family, who had been standing quietly at the back of the crowd, paled as the full gravity of the situation settled over them. Yanli's father's eyes flashed with anger and disappointment, and he barely restrained himself from demanding answers from Hanyu on the spot.

Consort Mei's voice finally emerged, quivering as she attempted to salvage the situation. "Your Majesty, there must be some mistake. My son would never… He was surely set up!"

Empress Li arched a brow, her gaze icy. "Set up, you say? By whom, Consort Mei? And what of Lady Lian? Is she not also part of this… misunderstanding?"

The whispers among the noblewomen grew, many casting scandalized yet triumphant glances at Consort Mei. The Empress's well-timed interjection had turned the tide, making it impossible for Consort Mei to defend her son without implicating herself further.

As tension reached a fever pitch, Yanli entered the room, her expression one of calm curiosity. Prince Zhen followed close behind, his gaze steady as he took in the scene. The onlookers parted to let them pass, all eyes now on Yanli, whose graceful presence commanded attention even amid the chaos.

Yanli's voice was steady, though a faint glint of mischief sparkled in her eyes as she addressed the Emperor. "Forgive my intrusion, Your Majesty, but I could not help but overhear the commotion. May I ask… what has happened here?"

The Emperor's gaze softened slightly as he regarded Yanli, his anger momentarily abating in the face of her poise. "Lady Yanli, it seems there has been a grave misunderstanding. Prince Hanyu and Lady Lian were found… together. It is unclear how or why, but…" He trailed off, unwilling to delve further into the sordid details.

Yanli's brow furrowed with a pale face, feigning innocence as she replied. Wha...what?"

Prince Zhen smirked slightly, leaning toward Yanli to murmur, "Quite the show, wouldn't you say?"

Prince Ji, who had been watching from the sidelines, chuckled under his breath. "Indeed, Zhen. Your fiancée is… remarkable."

Yanli's lips twitched with a hint of satisfaction as she cast a sidelong glance at Consort Mei, who stood rigid, her carefully-laid plans unraveling before her eyes.

Consort Mei's mouth opened and closed as she struggled to regain her composure, finally managing, "This is…