At her master's order, Xiuyu took the rest of the imperial wine and went out for a while before she came back with Lord Lei.

Xiuyu's pretty face was filled with anger, and she said angrily, "Your Grace, you are really prophetic. I left Jingyang Palace with the jug, and it was knocked over by a palace maid running towards me just at Peony Garden, and the jug was broken into pieces. Look at me. My clothes are completely wet with the wine smell."

Gu Yunxi turned to Noble Concubine Hui with a faint smile and then looked at Xiuyu again, "Can you recognize that maid?"

Xiuyu pouted. Lord Lei took a step forward and lowered his hands, "Your Grace, I was behind Xiuyu at the time, and I recognized the maid. She’s Zhiqiao from Jieyu Zhao's palace."

Noble Concubine Hui suddenly took a step backwards. She was surprised when she heard it and said impatiently, "Well. I see. It’s Jieyu Zhao!"

Gu Yunxi chuckled and shook her head, "Sister, I have to tell the truth. There are so many beauties in the imperial harem. Who is willing to take the risk of drugging His Majesty and pushing him into the arms of other women?"

Lord Lei curled his lips and nodded, "You’re right, Your Grace. I know that Zhiqiao has a lover in the palace..."

It was definitely a eunuch.

He stopped subtly when the listener took the hint. Noble Concubine Hui lowered her head slowly and realized something. She had never looked so frustrated before. After hesitating for a moment, she held Gu Yunxi's hand first and looked remorseful, "Sister, I was too impulsive. I'm sorry."

Gu Yunxi sneered secretly. She looked submissive and had a respectful attitude, but her eyes were cold and deep like an endless lake. She helped Noble Concubine Hui to sit down and served her tea in person. She smiled considerately and generously, "Don’t be like this. I also loved someone before, and I’m moved by your persistence. I know better than anyone else that you love His Majesty deeply, so you’re more nervous about everything about him than others. I’m really impressed by your deep love."

"Oh, sister…" While staring at her, Noble Concubine Hui was so touched by her warm words that she burst into tears, and her lips trembled, "Please forgive my mistakes. In the future, I will only believe in you. We sisters are one and the same, and I hope there will be no more misunderstandings."

"OK." Gu Yunxi replied with her eyes lowered, and a faint cold light flashed in her eyes.

A maid suddenly entered the hall and reported that Concubine Liang came with others concubines.

Shi Yuanqing was able to learn about the news that the Emperor entered Jingyang Palace last night and didn't come out again. The other concubines in the imperial harem would naturally be able to learn about it, too. Those well-informed concubines had also learnt that early in the morning, Noble Concubine Hui had gone straight to Jingyang Palace before she had breakfast.

Noble Concubine Hui had always thought of herself as the head of the imperial harem because her father was the Counselor-in-chief.

She looked gentle, but she was a very jealous woman. As soon as the Emperor left Jingyang Palace, she had headed there. They knew she must have gone to publish someone.

When Concubine Liang received the news that Noble Concubine Hui had left Miaoyin Hall, she was mentally and physically excited and immediately conceived a grand plan in her mind. The two women fought fiercely in the Main Hall of Jingyang Palace. As a result, their hair was messy; their hairpins tilted; their clothes were torn into pieces so that both of them were in rags.

Concubine Liang laughed to herself for a long time and decided to rush over to watch a good show!

Then she called the other concubines, and they rushed to Jingyang Palace.

"What are you doing here so early?" When the concubines greeted her and stood up, Noble Concubine Hui held a cup of tea and glanced at Concubine Liang’s slightly stiff face.

Concubine Liang smiled dryly and looked at Noble Concubine Hui and Concubine Yun who sat in rose chairs in disbelief.

What was wrong with the two women today? Concubine Liang was confused.

In order to compete for the Emperor’s favor, these two women had long been at odds with each other, so why were they sitting together and drinking tea in peace today? The expected bloody scene of the two women fighting fiercely for the Emperor’s favor didn't happen.

This was impossible!

Gu Yunxi touched the edge of the cup decorated with flowers with her fine fingertip. Squinting, Gu Yunxi looked at Concubine Liang with sharp eyes. The latter did not dare to look at her eyes as if there had strong power in her eyes, which could hurt Concubine Liang’s skin.

“Sister Liang, what are you looking at? Is there anything wrong with my palace? Noble Concubine Hui is asking you a question. Why don't you answer it?"

"Oh, I’m sorry."

Concubine Liang covered her mouth with her handkerchief to hide her embarrassed smile, "Today we’re supposed to get together to pay our respect. We heard that Her Grace came to Jingyang Palace early in the morning, so we came over together to Jingyang Palace to greet her and visit you. It really kills two birds with one stone."

"Oh, right..." Noble Concubine Hui and Gu Yunxi looked at each other, and both of them smiled decently.

Noble Concubine Hui raised her face slightly, glanced at those beautiful women condescendingly, and said with a hint of coercion, "Speaking of which, there is also a happy event in the imperial harem, and you must have heard about it. Sister Yun served His Majesty in bed last night, and I came to visit her because she had just recovered. Since I have the right to run the imperial harem and everyone is here, I will cut to the chase. In the future, we will serve His Majesty in the imperial harem together, and we should support each other and take it as our responsibility to bear children for His Majesty as soon as possible. I dislike those infighting tricks the most, so you’d better behave well. Is it clear?"

She raised her eyebrows and focused her sharp eyes on Concubine Liang.

She knew whether the trouble-maker was here to greet her or to expect a fight. Concubine Liang had been standing respectfully with her head down. She trembled and did not dare to speak when she heard her words.

Gu Yunxi stood up immediately and knelt down hypocritically.

When the other concubines saw it, they knelt down and shouted in unison, "Yes, Your Grace."

The concubines had breakfast in Jingyang Palace and then returned to their respective palaces to rest. Gu Yunxi walked into the side room with Xiuyu. Zhiqi was lying still on the bed in plain clothes.

Hearing the door open, she struggled to sit up while looking around.

"Your Grace, why are you here? Look... I’m not even dressed. It’s really..." She was panicked and looked around for her jacket.

She frowned deeply, and she was sweating and exhausted. It was not hard to imagine how painful it must have been for her, a virgin, to endure the madness of Huanan Xin under the influence of the drug last night.

Gu Yunxi's eyes were wet with tears before she reached the head of the bed. Her knees felt soft and she knelt on the ground.

"Your Grace, what are you doing? Please get up. Xiuyu, hurry up!" Zhiqi turned pale in fright. She and Xiuyu grabbed Gu Yunxi's arms, trying to stop her from kneeling.

Gu Yunxi got up on her own after a serious bow. She slowly sat on the rattan chair and looked at Zhiqi with tears in her eyes, "Don't panic. I should kneel down. Without you, I would have been a cold corpse right now."

Zhiqi smiled warmly, "I’m just a humble servant, but you’ve treated us as human beings. You’re so good to us."

Xiuyu stood on one side and said angrily, "Your Grace, Lord Lei asked the people at the Imperial Kitchen last night and confirmed that Her Highness, Commandery Princess Jingle, had been in Imperial Kitchen. Her Grace, Noble Concubine Hui, was here just now. Why didn't you directly tell her? Now, the jug is broken, and the evidence of the crime is gone. Wouldn't Her Highness be more arrogant in the future?"

Gu Yunxi looked cold, "The people at the Imperial Kitchen can only confirm that Commandery Princess Jingle had entered the Imperial Kitchen, and no one really saw that she lifted the lid of the jug or put the drug into the wine. If Shi Yuanqing takes it to His Majesty, I don’t know whether Huanan Xin will severely punish Commandery Princess Jingle. Besides, if we startle her, it will make the person behind her become vigilant and see through the alliance between Jingyang Palace and Miaoyin Hall."

Gu Yunxi held Zhiqi’s hand, "I’ve always taught you to wait for an opportunity to do things and not to show your edge easily. Right now, each of us has to put up with it. Zhiqi, believe in me. Once the opportunity comes, I will definitely get justice for you."

Zhiqi nodded firmly, "Your Grace, I’ve believed in you the most, and I have something to say to you. I hope you don't blame me for being disrespectful."

Gu Yunxi patted the back of her hand and smiled, "We’re a team. Go ahead."

Her beautiful face looked slightly tired in the dim light.

Zhiqi saw it, held Gu Yunxi's cool hand, and said pertinently, "Your Grace, I have not waited on you for a long time, but I worked for Her Grace, Concubine Yu, a few years ago. I knew more or less about you and His Highness in the Eastern Depot. You and he have come to this day after so many hardships. Her Highness, Commandery Princess Jingle, is no big deal. Perhaps, her fate is somewhat similar to that of His Highness, so the two of them are at most sympathetic to each other. How can it compare to the love between you and His Highness?"

After a pause, she sighed lightly, "Xiuyu told me about what happened last night. You shouldn't be estranged from His Highness for Her Highness, Commandery Princess Jingle. You don't need to be angry at His Highness for me."

Gu Yunxi's face was burning hot. She was silent for a while before she said hesitantly, "I was so mad at the time. As the Commander-in-chief of the Eastern Depot, he was a master in handling cases. Now he’s so stupid when he gets older! How can he not understand things that others can guess easily?"

Zhiqi smiled knowingly, "Your Grace, if you want him to investigate the matter clearly, you should give him some time."

They were whispering when the door was knocked, "Your Grace, may I come in? I’m bringing you something good."

Even if they didn't see Lord Lei's face, it was not hard to imagine that he was happy and confident from his tone.

"What is it? Why are you so happy?" Xiuyu was allowed to open the door, and Lord Lei rushed into the room as if he had been a flexible and foxy loach.

In his hand was a basket of red wild roses with dewdrops.

Gu Yunxi was immediately dumbfounded, blushing all over.

Zhiqi sat on the edge of the bed with a chuckle and jokingly said, "Look. When the time comes, someone naturally finds out the truth and immediately uses flowers to show affection. Your Grace, calm down and forgive His Highness this time."

Gu Yunxi smiled silently. She carefully avoided the thorns, picked up a flower, and sniffed it under her nose.

Lord Lei took a step and lowered his voice, "Your Grace, I just met with Lord Le. He asked me to tell you that he has something on Concubine Liang, and he is waiting for your order."

Gu Yunxi's eyes turned cold, and she smiled evilly, "Okay, then I'll ask him to get rid of that annoying Su Mao first."