Chapter 194: Suspicion

Chapter 194: Suspicion

His revelation stunned everyone in the room.

Rou Pin's face briefly flashed with shock, but she quickly composed herself, stood up, and bowed to Jiang Hui, declaring, "Empress, this is absolutely untrue. Doctor Yan is speaking nonsense and causing confusion!"

After speaking, she turned to Doctor Yan and challenged, "Do you have any proof?"

She had always known Doctor Yan wouldn't jeopardize his loved one. Anyone exposing their relationship would surely pay a price. But why would he expose her involvement when she had acted through Yi Jieyu? Why confront her instead of Yi Jieyu?

Or was it that Doctor Yan actually didn't know it was her behind the scenes, and accused her only to protect Yi Jieyu from revealing his relationship with Jing Fei?

At this moment, Doctor Yan spoke up, "Princess Rou Pin and Gao Zhao Yi both reside in Wenlian Pavilion. Every time after Gao Zhao Yi summons me for a medical examination, Princess Rou Pin would come to talk to me and even offered me a handkerchief she embroidered herself. San Yue has seen this too."

Doctor Yan then produced from his sleeve a handkerchief embroidered with reeds and a wild deer, with a small "Lan" character stitched in one corner – the boudoir name of Princess Rou Pin.

On seeing this, Yi Jieyu realized the significance; no wonder Doctor Yan insisted on keeping the handkerchief when she used it to test him – it was meant for this very moment.

"San Yue, is it as Doctor Yan claims?" Jiang Hui asked in a soft voice.

Qingfeng pulled the handkerchief from San Yue's mouth, who, after a few coughs and a slight turn of her eyes, nodded and said, "Yes, Your Highness. Every time my mistress called for the doctor, Princess Rou Pin would find an excuse to come by. This handkerchief... it indeed belongs to Princess Rou Pin."

San Yue, with her mistress gone, faced the prospect of being assigned to another palace or accompanying the sixth prince elsewhere. But whatever the outcome, knowing that Rou Pin was aware of her former mistress’s actions, she realized Rou Pin would make things difficult for her if she remained unscathed…

Rou Pin's expression remained unchanged as she quickly retorted, "Empress, this handkerchief is made of common material, accessible to anyone. The embroidery is nothing special and can be replicated by anyone. If mere possession of this handkerchief is taken as proof of my involvement with Doctor Yan, it seems rather hasty. In the future, could any woman’s reputation be ruined simply because she gave a handkerchief to a man?"

“Moreover,” she continued logically, “San Yue belongs to Gao Zhao Yi. Who knows what her true intentions are? How can her words be taken as evidence?”

San Yue, growing agitated, countered, "Princess Rou Pin, you say I belong to Gao Zhao Yi, but should we then believe those around you, who are loyal to you? You say the embroidery is common, but I find the combination of reeds and wild deer quite unique!"

She turned to Jiang Hui and knelt, pleading, "Empress, if Princess Rou Pin claims my words are unreliable, then summon her attendants for questioning to see if they have ever seen this handkerchief embroidered with reeds and wild deer!"

Hearing this, Rou Pin’s expression subtly changed.

Besides the "Lan" character, the rest of the embroidery was indeed her own handiwork, and any palace maid might have seen it. She had chosen reeds and wild deer as a discreet hint to Yi Jieyu that it was Jing Fei Lu who had connections with Doctor Yan, as only Jing Fei, surnamed Lu, had a maid named with "Lu" (deer) in her name.

But at this moment, she couldn’t admit it, as doing so would be acknowledging that the handkerchief was indeed her work!

Nor could she prevent the Empress from summoning her personal maids for questioning, even though she knew there might be informants among them ready to seize this opportunity to turn against her.

For any attempt to delay or prevent their questioning would only incriminate her further.

Besides Grape, who had always been by Roufei's side, the other palace maids serving her at Qingning Villa were brought in for questioning. After a while, a young maid whispered timidly, "I... I have seen my mistress embroidering this handkerchief..."

Hearing this, Grape was about to rebuke her but was stopped by Roufei.

At this point, trying to completely extricate herself was impossible.

Steeling her heart, she looked at Jiang Hui, "Empress, I indeed embroidered this handkerchief myself, but the 'Lan' character on it was not done by me. This can be verified by the embroideresses of the Imperial Household Department. I did not give this handkerchief to Physician Yan; it was handed to Consort Jing through Grape. As to how it ended up with Physician Yan, that would be a question for them."

Roufei knew, telling the truth wouldn't just absolve her from the charge of plotting against another consort; Yijieyu would never admit to having received the handkerchief, and would instead malign her further.

But if she claimed the handkerchief was given to Consort Jing, Yijieyu, to avoid exposure and to prevent Consort Jing from having a chance to nurture the Sixth Prince, would naturally have to go along with her story. Physician Yan and Consort Jing, hearing her say this, would understand if they truly wanted to drag her down, she was prepared to take them with her.

"Empress, the handkerchief depicts reeds and wild deer, unrelated to love or romance. If it were... a token of affection, it doesn't quite fit," Yijieyu said subtly, breaking her silence. "I seem to recall that Consort Jing's surname is Lu, and her chief maid is called Luqin Luhao."

The implication was that the handkerchief was meant for Consort Jing.

Shufei casually set aside her mung bean cake, speaking leisurely, "That's uncertain. Perhaps Roupin embroidered these symbols to frame Doctor Yan and Consort Jing. If, as you say, you gave the handkerchief to Consort Jing, why would she pass your handkerchief to Doctor Yan? Was she just bored?"

Roupin was momentarily speechless, then defended herself, "Shufei, I gave the handkerchief to Consort Jing, but how would I know she'd give it to Doctor Yan? There’s no question of framing. As for why Consort Jing might pass my handkerchief to Doctor Yan, perhaps she was waiting for today to slander me!"

Her words hinted at Consort Jing orchestrating Doctor Yan's plot against Gaozhao.

The gentle Consort Jing shifted her gaze from the landscape painting on the wall and looked at Roupin, speaking softly, "Firstly, why would you send a handkerchief for no reason? Roupin, when did you give this handkerchief to me? I don’t recall receiving it."

Roupin met her gaze and confidently replied, "Right after we arrived at Qingning Villa."

In the palace, with strict rules and many prying eyes, it was safer to claim the exchange happened at Qingning Villa.

"Oh?" Consort Jing's tone was measured, "You just said Grape handed over the handkerchief. Is it because during our stay here, you were always with Gaozhao and never visited my residence, hence couldn’t deliver the handkerchief in person?"

Without waiting for Roupin’s response, she turned to Grape, "Tell us, Grape, to whom did you give the handkerchief?"