A slap to her face

Chapter 26 A slap to her face

In the early morning haze, Li An returned quietly to the palace, slipping through the shadows with practiced ease. Her steps were light, and her breathing steady as she recalled the events of the previous night. After discovering the poison in Concubine Su's veins, she had spent hours purging it and caring for her mother, watching as color slowly returned to her cheeks. With Seedee's aid, she had pieced together a complex network of culprits responsible for the poisoning, gathering all the confessions and evidence needed to confront the hidden hand behind this treachery.

Now, as she hid behind one of the large stone columns near the Jade Cloud Courtyard, she witnessed an unsettling sight: the emperor and Empress Su Mu Fang walking directly toward her mother's quarters. Even from a distance, Li An could see Empress Su's posture exuding tense urgency, her fan snapping shut with barely controlled restraint as she exchanged sharp words with the emperor.

At the entrance of the courtyard, Alu stood with her head respectfully bowed, waiting as the pair approached. The girl looked worried, shifting her weight as she held her hands together tightly in front of her. Li An frowned, wondering what the maidservant would do next. Alu wasn't skilled in martial arts nor in subterfuge; she was gentle, but not one to stand in the way of two of the most powerful figures in the empire.

Empress Su approached the door, her fan pressing into her palm so forcefully her knuckles turned white. Without so much looking at Alu, she made to push her way in, eyes hardening when Alu stepped forward, lifting her arms with a subtle shake to block the entry.

"Your Majesty, Concubine Su is unwell," Alu said softly but firmly, though her gaze remained respectfully averted. "She is taking some rest."

Alu is not really aware of Concubine Su's condition as she was made to stay out guarding the doors all night till morning.

"How bold of a servant to presume she knows the proper judgment of the empress," Empress Su snapped, her voice tight and dangerously quiet. "Move aside."

Alu hesitated, but she did not move. The emperor watched, silent but attentive, his gaze flickering between his empress and the maidservant with an expression Li An couldn't quite decipher.

As if sensing an unspoken cue, Empress Su's lips curled, and she turned to the emperor with an almost plaintive expression. "My lord, if there is truly nothing to hide, then I see no harm in paying a visit to your poor, sick concubine, do you?"

The emperor nodded, his expression unreadable, and waved Alu aside, granting the empress permission to enter. Alu's shoulders sagged, but she dutifully stepped back, giving Empress Su and the emperor free passage.

Li An clenched her fists, staying hidden in the shadows, her mind racing. This confrontation was happening sooner than she had anticipated. A cold wave of dread washed over her, yet she reassured herself with the knowledge of the evidence she'd gathered—the scrolls on the table would speak louder than any verbal accusation. But she wondered if Concubine Su was ready for what lay ahead.

Empress Su pushed the doors open with an abruptness that sent them creaking against the hinges. She stepped in first, her eyes narrowing as she took in the scene before her.

Seated at the low dining table, dressed in a simple but elegant robe, Concubine Su held a teacup lightly between her fingers, her posture calm, almost serene. The delicate porcelain clinked softly against the table as she placed it down, unhurried, her eyes lifting to greet her uninvited guests with a faint smile. Though her face bore the pallor of her recent ordeal, there was a spark in her gaze that Li An recognized immediately—a quiet, unyielding resolve.

The emperor stepped inside, his brow furrowing slightly at the sight of the concubine looking not nearly as ill as he'd been led to believe by the physicians. Beside him, Empress Su froze mid-step, her smile slipping as her gaze fell on the scrolls spread out neatly on the table.

"Oh? What an unexpected visit, Your Majesty, Your Highness," Concubine Su greeted, her voice low and measured. She gestured to the table with a graceful wave. "Please, sit. You've arrived just in time for tea."

Empress Su did not sit, but her gaze lingered on the scrolls—one of which lay open, displaying a signature and a seal unmistakably belonging to Lin Mei, her own attendant which was still in the dungeons.

"What is all this?" the empress demanded, her voice sharp, though she struggled to maintain a semblance of politeness in front of the emperor.

Concubine Su calmly took another sip of her tea before replying, her eyes on Empress Su, unwavering. "These," she began, tapping one of the scrolls gently, "are testimonies. It seems that certain parties within the palace have taken great care to… compromise my health."

Li An watched from her vantage point as a shiver passed through the empress, her hand tightening around her fan. But if Concubine Su's words unnerved her, she hid it well.

The emperor took a step forward, his gaze moving over the documents with growing interest. "Testimonies?" he echoed, his voice low.

"Indeed, Your Majesty." Concubine Su's expression remained gentle, yet there was an edge to her words. She pushed the scrolls forward, revealing confessions signed by Lin Mei, as well as several other palace servants who had aided in the plot. "These documents detail confessions from several individuals, who admit to conspiring in my poisoning."

Empress Su's eyes narrowed, but before she could interject, Concubine Su continued.

"They outline a most… curious scheme. One aimed at ensuring my demise by slow poison—a process that would have seemed natural, a sickness of the body, unnoticed by all but my closest attendants."

The emperor's face hardened as he skimmed through one of the confessions. His jaw tightened, and for the first time, he looked at his empress with a flicker of suspicion. "Su Mu Fang," he murmured, his tone questioning yet disapproving.

Empress Su, realizing the gravity of the accusations, forced a laugh, though it came out brittle. "Surely, my lord, you do not take these scrawls seriously? This could be nothing more than forged signatures and baseless accusations."

Concubine Su's calm gaze never wavered. "I believe the signed seals speak for themselves, Your Highness."

Empress Su took a step forward, lifting her chin, an indignant glare simmering in her eyes. "Who could have gathered such 'evidence'? Certainly, not a mere maidservant." Her gaze shifted toward Alu, who stood by the doorway, silently witnessing the tense exchange.

A faint smile flickered over Concubine Su's lips. "Someone I trusted has taken an interest in this matter. She seems to have a knack for uncovering secrets that many would prefer remain hidden."

Li An's heart raced at her mother's words, a surge of pride swelling within her. Yet, she stayed hidden, knowing her role in this was best kept out of sight for the time being.

The emperor looked back at the empress, his gaze now colder. "Su Mu Fang," he began, his voice low but carrying an unmistakable edge, "you would do well to explain the presence of your personal attendant's confession and finger print among these scrolls."

Empress Su's face flushed, her fingers gripping the fan so tightly her knuckles turned white. She turned her gaze to Concubine Su, her eyes flashing with thinly veiled fury. "Concubine Su, you've grown bolder during your convalescence. I would tread carefully if I were you. Such accusations could easily be turned against you."

"Oh?" Concubine Su raised an eyebrow, unfazed by the threat. "Is it not the role of the empress to care for those under her wing? To ensure their protection and health?" She met the empress's gaze head-on, her tone steely. "Yet, here I am, recovering from poison—poison that could have taken my life."

The emperor glanced down at the documents again, the weight of the evidence seemingly pressing upon him. He looked to Empress Su, his voice grave. "If there is any truth to these claims, my dear empress, then an investigation must be conducted. I will not permit such treachery within these walls."

Empress Su's mask of composure faltered, her eyes darting between the emperor and Concubine Su, who remained unwavering. With a barely concealed tremor in her voice, she replied, "My lord, I am loyal to you above all else. Surely, you know this."

"Loyalty?" Concubine Su's tone was soft, almost a whisper, but it cut through the room like a blade. "If loyalty is measured in acts of kindness, then forgive me if I have yet to feel it."

The emperor's silence weighed heavily upon them all, and he slowly nodded, seeming to reach a decision. "I will have the confessions examined by a trusted official. If they are proven genuine, those responsible will face severe consequences. Including anyone… of rank."

Empress Su's face paled, her hands dropping limply to her sides. For a fleeting moment, her regal facade cracked, and Li An saw the anger and fear flit across her face.

Without another word, the emperor turned to leave, motioning for Empress Su to follow. Her expression transformed from rage to quiet resentment as she followed him out, not daring to look back at Concubine Su.

As the door clicked shut behind them, Li An stepped from the shadows and entered the room, her face bright with restrained satisfaction. Concubine Su met her gaze with a mixture of pride and love, reaching out a hand.

"Mother, you did well…" Li An said proudly, her voice soft.

Concubine Su nodded, giving her daughter's hand a gentle squeeze. "Thanks to you, my dear An'er," she replied, a warm smile breaking through her weariness. "You have ensured not only my survival but a reckoning long overdue."

Alu just watches on the side with awe as to what her little mistress has done. She truly was a miracle in the life of her master.