A gentle breeze caressed her face, filling her entire body with a sense of comfort.

Tanya glanced back, her enchanting almond-shaped eyes lingering on Tiffany before gradually overlapping with the shadow of Verdant.

“How is Verdant now?” she asked softly, as if casually mentioning something irrelevant.

Tiffany lowered her body slightly, replying, “Everything is fine.”

“Everything is fine?” Tanya’s gaze froze, a faint gleam flickering in her eyes.

“What do you mean by ‘fine’?” Her voice, devoid of any emotion, was as calm and still as a stagnant pond.

Tiffany hesitated for a moment, seemingly unsure how to deliver her report, then bowed deeply and said, “Verdant has been staying quietly in the woodshed, eating everything given to her, and says she’s waiting for Your Grace to release her.”

“She’s certainly confident,” Tanya sneered, weariness gradually surfacing in her eyes. “Sending out secret messages behind my back and still expecting my forgiveness?”

Her aura cooled slightly as she finished speaking. “Perhaps she thought sparing her life meant I’d be soft-hearted enough to let her continue her misdeeds.”

Tiffany’s eyes flashed with a hint of panic. She fell to her knees with a thud, her slender figure wrapped in the green robe appearing even more frail.

She kowtowed, her delicate skin grazing the spiky grass as her jade-like fingers tightly clutched the ground.

“Your Grace, I have something to report.”

Her voice was soft and tender, and in Tanya’s eyes, Tiffany had always been cautious and meticulous. Now, for her to kneel and speak like this, it must be something related to Verdant.

“If it’s about that person, there’s no need to say more.” Tanya’s gaze turned resolute, a sarcastic smile curling at the corners of her lips. “I have no interest in hearing you defend a traitor.”

Tiffany’s fingers dug into the ground, her body trembling slightly, appearing even more fragile under the setting sun.

In the end, she answered softly and propped herself up, dutifully following behind Tanya.

Tanya’s gaze was defiant as she let out a long sigh, her wide sleeves brushing against the breeze. “Let’s go. We’ll see that traitor.”

Tanya walked ahead, followed closely by Tiffany, as they made their way to the Fragrance Hall. Tiffany opened the wooden door first.

“Is it time for dinner?”

Verdant was huddled in a corner of the woodshed, her once vibrant green dress now covered in dust, her thin back facing the wooden door, trembling slightly.

Tanya snorted coldly and strode inside. “You’re being treated quite well—plenty to eat and drink, served nicely.”

The air carried a faint smell of blood and the stench of spoiled food. Tanya’s delicate brows furrowed as she suppressed the churning in her stomach, her gaze as sharp as a sword piercing Verdant’s frail back.

Verdant’s body shuddered before she slowly turned around.

Her face was smudged with dirt, and even Tanya couldn’t help but be taken aback. It had only been a few days of confinement, yet it was enough to reduce a lively maidservant to this state.

Verdant brushed a hand over her pallid complexion and turned to face Tanya, performing a deep bow.

“Your Grace,” she whispered feebly. Her once smooth hair was now uneven and torn, as if pulled by force. Tanya couldn’t sense any fear from her, though Verdant’s body trembled uncontrollably.

Tanya turned her gaze away, a sudden bitterness rising in her chest. But the memory of Verdant’s betrayal, passing on secret messages, reignited her hatred.

“I heard from others that you’re not reflecting in the woodshed but hoping I’ll release you.” Tanya tried to keep her voice indifferent, but her slender fingers were already tightly wound together.

Verdant kowtowed, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Yes, I am waiting for Your Grace to release me.”

Her nonchalance only fueled Tanya’s anger. “You dare speak so arrogantly! Do you think I’m soft-hearted enough to understand a betrayal?”

Verdant said no more, merely bowing her head heavily toward Tanya. There was a faint smile on her lips.

“I believe in Your Grace.”

These words, light as they were, struck Tanya’s heart.

Outside, the night had already fallen. The light from the lanterns outside the open door cast its glow into the windowless woodshed. Tanya knew exactly what kind of treatment awaited a maidservant cast aside by her mistress.

“Then stay here forever,” Tanya replied, her tone regaining its previous coldness. She turned her gaze away and stepped out of the woodshed without looking back.

Tiffany timidly followed, glancing back with a trace of sympathy in her eyes.

In the end, she closed the door of the woodshed, returning it to its silent state.

Tanya walked out of the woodshed and headed straight into the inner hall.

Only a single candle burned inside, casting a soft light. Tiffany followed and began lighting the rest of the candles, filling the room with the soft glow of countless flames.

Tanya lifted her chin proudly, the coldness in her eyes lingering as her voice drifted faintly in the air.

“Leave. I’m tired and wish to rest early.”

No sooner had she spoken than a crisp sound rang out.

Tanya turned around to see Tiffany kneeling on the floor, her forehead gently touching the ground.

Tanya was startled. “What are you doing?”

Tiffany’s lips were tightly pursed, her face pale with fear. It was clear that she was deeply terrified of Tanya.

“Your Grace, please allow me to speak. There must be more to Verdant’s situation than meets the eye.” After speaking, Tiffany kowtowed heavily, and Tanya could feel the slight tremor of the hardwood floor beneath her.

Tiffany’s eyes seemed to glisten with light, her fingers curling into her palms. Tanya’s brows furrowed slightly.

“What if I refuse to listen? What will you do then?”

The figure in front of her trembled slightly, her pearly teeth biting tightly on her lower lip. "If Your Highness refuses to listen, Tiffany can't do much, but she is willing to kneel here to ease the guilt of standing by idly while Sister Verdant was trapped in the woodshed."

Her words carried a trace of resolve, and the pale face before Tanya lifted slightly, revealing a hint of stubbornness.

Tanya’s gaze lingered on her for a moment. The cool breeze outside gently swept in, causing the candle flame on the wooden table to flicker and make soft popping sounds.

When did she become so unrelenting?

Letting out a long breath, Tanya leaned back in the wooden chair. “You’ve certainly become bolder.”

Seeing that Tanya did not mention punishing her, Tiffany felt relieved. She kowtowed again, disregarding her reddened forehead, and looked directly at Tanya. “Your Highness, Sister Verdant has never harbored any intention of betraying you. I hope Your Highness can see the truth clearly.”

Her voice was naturally soft and delicate, but now, as she spoke, there was a trace of gentleness.

Tanya smoothed out a strand of hair between her brows, pretending to be indifferent. “You say she never meant to betray me? Then where is the proof?”

Tiffany’s body stiffened.

“You were the one who claimed you saw her leaving with a letter in her hand. Have I not given her a chance?” Tanya’s lips parted slightly, half of her exquisite face hidden in shadow, making it impossible to discern her emotions.

“The moment she saw me, she insisted that she was picking flowers for me to make new fragrances. Then how do you explain the letter when she left the hall? You keep defending her, yet she herself vehemently denied betraying me.”

“If she’s truly as loyal as you say, then why did she refuse to eat the white magnolia cake?”

Coldness surfaced in Tanya’s eyes. Every word she spoke seemed to strike at Tiffany’s heart.

“What is loyalty? In this deep palace, without the resolve to sacrifice one’s life, how dare she speak of loyalty before me? Are you all waiting for the day I am sold out, only to kneel before me, insisting on your loyalty?”

Having said this, Tanya’s earlier excitement faded, leaving only a weariness in her eyes.

“You may leave. I wish to rest now.”

Tiffany fell silent. Her pale lips moved slightly, but in the end, she said nothing.

After a long pause, she finally replied, “Your servant will take her leave.”

She bowed, her forehead gently touching the ground.

Tanya walked to the window on the other side. The cool breeze caressed her face with a peculiar warmth. She gazed at the pitch-black sky, feeling as though her heart was being choked. What kind of feeling was this?

She was the one being betrayed, so why did she feel so pained?

Tears shimmered in Tanya’s beautiful eyes. The wind carried a bit of fine dust, brushing her cheeks with an indescribable sensation.

The bright moon hung in the sky outside the window, the surrounding stars shining even more brightly.

Tanya’s mind kept going back and forth. Perhaps there really were some discrepancies in this matter.

Inside the pearl hairpin box, there was a note from Alexander to her.

Tanya gently took it out. The handwriting on it was bold and forceful, with not even a single crease on it.

She couldn’t help but be absorbed in thought.

Judging by Tiffany and Verdant’s behavior, it seemed there really was something odd going on here.

Alexander would never deceive her, and this note was from him.

“What exactly is going on...” she murmured unconsciously. Her beautiful eyes lowered, resembling a delicate lotus in full bloom. Her cheeks were tinged with a soft pink, and her lips had a rosy hue, making her fair and delicate face even more captivating.

“It seems I’ll have to ask Alexander about this,” Tanya said softly, her slender fingers tapping rhythmically on the table as she slowly closed her eyes.

Just as she was about to head to bed, a gentle knock came from outside the door. Tanya walked over and lightly opened the wooden door handle.

A clean, simple face appeared before her. “This servant is Sally, a maid from Fragrance Hall. By the Emperor’s order, I’m here to remind Your Highness to retire early tonight. Although tomorrow’s banquet is in the evening, preparations will begin in the daytime.”

Tanya lifted her chin slightly, her slender brows arching. “Am I to attend alone tomorrow?”

Sally’s smile widened. “No, Your Highness. This servant is to escort you there. In the past, it was customary for each attending consort to go alone, but this time His Majesty has arranged for two places. You’ll first meet with Lady Evelyn before proceeding together.”