Tanya furrowed her brow and looked at her with an indifferent expression. "What do you want me here for?" Her gaze shifted back to Evelyn. "Where is Alexander?"

Evelyn pressed her lips together, her narrow phoenix eyes tinged with disdain. "Sister seems quite concerned about the guard Alexander."

Tanya was taken aback. "Are you lying to me?"

"Evelyn wouldn't dare deceive her sister; it's just the servants passing along rumors," Evelyn replied, her eyes sparkling with mischief, the golden hairpin in her hair shimmering against the night.

"Evelyn, I'm not in the mood to play games with you. If you have nothing better to do than trouble me, then I suggest you go somewhere cool," Tanya said, looking down at Evelyn, the dark night like ink, the air filled with the faint scent of lotus flowers from the pond.

"Sister, you jest." Evelyn lightly furrowed her brow, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Sister seems to be quite at ease now, but I wonder if after killing someone, Sister Vivienne can still maintain her composure."

Her lips curled into a strange smile, raising Tanya's eyebrows in suspicion.

"What are you going mad about?"

Tanya's peach blossom eyes locked onto Evelyn, her gaze sharp as autumn water, her long dress swaying gracefully in the breeze, exuding an aura of power.

"What's got me mad? Hmph." Evelyn scoffed, her mood shifting dramatically. "Vivienne, one can't go too far. You’ve harmed me to this point, yet you shamelessly flaunt your power in front of me."

Evelyn's hatred seemed ignited, her aura radiating coldness that even made Tanya pause.

"When have I ever harmed you? You're the one who tried to sneak a profit and ended up losing everything, and now you blame others. Truly one of a kind."

Tanya's eyes filled with anger, uncertain of Evelyn's intentions. "You called me here just to listen to you rant? I'm busy; I don’t have time for this."

Tanya wrinkled her brow in distaste, her long skirt billowing in the night breeze. Having confirmed that Alexander wasn't here, she saw no reason to stay.

Evelyn's dark eyes flickered with a hint of malice, her lips curling into a strange arc as her voice suddenly rose in pitch.

"Sister Vivienne, why must you treat Evelyn like this?"

With a loud shout, Evelyn unexpectedly turned and fell backward, her purple dress fluttering like butterfly wings, leaving a moment of stillness in the dark.

With a splash, she fell into the water, her nostrils filled with the scent of lotus.

Tanya's gaze darkened, locking onto Evelyn's pale arm floating above the surface. "Save her."

Little Eunuch Yew hesitated, causing Tanya to raise an eyebrow and shout angrily, "Hurry up!"

Little Eunuch Yew trembled and knelt, his dark eunuch robes falling open. "I’m afraid I can't comply. Princess Evelyn’s life is in danger; I must sacrifice myself to save her."

Before he finished speaking, another splash echoed, water splattering onto Tanya's embroidered sleeve as she contemplated deeply.

What does he mean by that?

"What’s happening? Did Evelyn fall into the water?" A familiar voice approached from behind, causing Tanya's heart to leap. She quickly turned and bowed. "This humble servant greets Your Majesty."

Heliam's handsome face was inscrutable in the night, his brows furrowed deeply. Tanya attempted to reassure him, "Little Eunuch Yew has already gone to rescue her. The water in the lotus pond isn't deep; Your Majesty needn't worry."

Before she could finish, Little Eunuch Yew emerged, dripping wet, holding Evelyn, whose lips still held a hint of a smile—a smile directed at Tanya, blooming like a deadly thorny flower under the night sky, eerily enchanting.

Little Eunuch Yew quickly checked for a pulse, his face turning pale. Trembling, he knelt before Heliam. "Your Majesty... Princess Evelyn... is dead!"

Heliam furrowed his brow, his forehead taut with anger. "I just saw her fall into the lotus pond. It was only a moment before she was retrieved; how could she be dead!"

Little Eunuch Yew desperately nodded, pressing his forehead to the ground. "Your Majesty, I wouldn't dare deceive you; Princess Evelyn truly has no breath left. Please call for the royal physician; I would never lie about the princess's death!"

Heliam's coldness deepened. "Summon the royal physician!"

The physician rushed to the study with speed, examining Evelyn before raising his brows. "Your Majesty, please accept my condolences. Princess Evelyn has passed."

"Absurd!"

Heliam roared, causing everyone present to drop to their knees in fear.

"I just saw her fall into the lotus pond! Little Eunuch Yew dove in to rescue her, and in just a few moments, how could she have died!"

The physician bowed lower, "I wouldn’t dare deceive Your Majesty. Princess Evelyn was from Southland, known for their poor swimming skills. Though the pond isn't deep, the cold night and the shock she experienced made it far worse. If she had been rescued even a moment earlier, this tragedy might have been averted."

Little Eunuch Yew suppressed a sob, prompting Heliam to lose patience. "Why are you crying?"

"It’s my fault for not doing my job... I should have jumped in to save her without hesitation. I should die; I should die!"

Heliam's heart tightened. "Why didn't you jump in immediately? You didn't even care for your master’s life! You have such audacity!"

Little Eunuch Yew immediately burst into tears, his voice trembling. "I know I was wrong... I know I was wrong... It was Princess Vivienne... it was she who told me not to jump in to save her!"

Tanya could no longer bear it, her anger rising. "Stop talking nonsense! When did I say you couldn't save her?"

Little Eunuch Yew lowered his head, hurriedly bowing. "How can the princess say such things? Earlier, you ordered me not to save her; my mistake was hesitating for that moment... Otherwise, Princess Evelyn wouldn’t have drowned..."

Tanya's lips twitched, but Heliam noticed Eunuch Belmont hesitating nearby. "What do you have to say?"

Eunuch Belmont bowed low, his expression full of shock. "I... I seemed to hear Little Eunuch Shawn say 'unable to comply' and 'had to save her' while by the pond..."

Heliam's face darkened with every word from Eunuch Belmont, his expression toward Tanya now filled with disdain. "Vivienne, do you wish to explain why you prevented Little Eunuch Yew from saving her? And why you met Evelyn at the pond in the dead of night?"

Tanya, realizing the situation was against her, quickly knelt, pressing her forehead to the ground in a deep bow. "Your Majesty, it was Evelyn who summoned me, and she jumped into the water on her own."

Heliam's slanted eyes narrowed. "So you're saying that Evelyn called you to the pond and then jumped in by herself? This has nothing to do with you?"

His tone turned cold, and he sneered. "Hmph, Vivienne, I thought you would only show off in front of the consorts. Now you have the audacity to commit acts like this, even slaughtering people in the harem! I have treated you with such favor, yet never expected you to be so ungrateful! You even tried to frame Evelyn! What exactly is your intention?"

Heliam's words turned to teeth-gritting fury at the end, and Tanya furrowed her brow tightly. "Everything I said is true. If Your Majesty does not believe me, feel free to investigate!"

Heliam erupted in anger, veins bulging on his forehead. "What more investigation do I need! Evelyn fell into the water, and Little Eunuch Yew said you refused to save her! Even Eunuch Belmont heard it! You're full of lies! If Evelyn truly wanted to harm you, why would she risk her own life? Vivienne, I am truly disappointed in you!"

"You only believe what you see and hear. Now that Evelyn is dead, do you want to force me to my death as well?"

Coldness erupted in Heliam's eyes as he spoke sternly, "Are you threatening me?"

"I mean no such thing." She paused for a moment, then turned. "Little Eunuch Yew, I was clearly instructing you to jump in to save her. Why are you slandering me? You were the one who told me Evelyn wanted to meet at the pond, and now you've gone mute!"

"Enough!" Heliam angrily waved his sleeve. "Even now, you still speak lies! Take Vivienne back to Fragrance Hall. Without my command, she is not to leave the palace even a step, and all consorts in the harem are forbidden from interacting with her!"

...

After a day of turmoil, Tanya leisurely enjoyed herself in Fragrance Hall, with Tiffany bringing over a delicate food tray filled with pastries.

"Your Highness, it's time to eat."

Tanya sat down on a stool. "Why are there only pastries?"

"...Your Majesty issued a house arrest order, and no one outside dared to bring in ingredients, so I could only use what little was left to make some pastries for you. I hope you won’t dislike them."

Tanya was taken aback, quickly understanding her meaning. Seeing Tiffany looking downcast, she waved her hand dismissively. "It's nothing to worry about; it’s just a temporary lack of food. Perfect time to try your cooking."

Tanya smiled and motioned for Tiffany to sit down with her.

"Having been framed this time, have you thought about how to respond?" Tiffany hesitated for a moment before finally voicing her concerns.

Tanya took a bite of the exquisite pastry, raising an eyebrow. "Do you trust me?"

Tiffany lowered her gaze. "I am your servant, of course I trust you completely..."

After a moment's hesitation, Tiffany tightened her lips and continued, "Not only do I trust you, but Verdant... also believes in you."