Chapter 13: Sent to the Cold Palace

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Feng Ruqing’s fingertips gently brushed the tender petals of the peony, yet the rich fragrance could not dispel the lingering gloom in her heart. Her sister’s smiling face, her gentle voice—one scene after another flashed before her eyes, finally freezing on that cold, lifeless body.

Feng Ruqing’s heart clenched fiercely, a sharp, stabbing pain spreading through her chest.

“Oh? Isn’t this Her Majesty the Empress? Why are you hiding here alone to admire the flowers? Afraid the Emperor will seek out Lady Bai again and be displeased?”

A sharp, bitter voice shattered the tranquility of the imperial garden. Without turning, Feng Ruqing knew it was Consort Liu.

She slowly turned around, her gaze as cold as ice, landing on Liu Zhaoyi and the white-clad Bai Zhi who followed behind. Today, Bai Zhi wore a pure white gown, like an untainted fairy, yet the glint of pride in her eyes marred that purity.

“My sister loved peonies the most,” Feng Ruqing said calmly, her tone masking a hidden edge, “It’s a pity she will never see them again.”

Bai Zhi’s expression shifted slightly, then she feigned regret as she smoothed the pearl hairpin by her temple. “Yes, truly a pity—a life so young...” She paused, glancing meaningfully at Feng Ruqing, “It’s just strange, how could such a thing happen for no reason?”

Feng Ruqing’s eyes darkened, a flash of killing intent passing through them. She understood Bai Zhi was deliberately provoking her, insinuating that her sister’s death concealed a hidden truth.

Liu Zhaoyi read the situation swiftly and added fuel to the fire: “Indeed, Your Majesty, there must be something suspicious! You must investigate thoroughly, lest your sister’s spirit be restless!”

Feng Ruqing sneered coldly, stepping closer to Bai Zhi. “Lady Bai, you seem very interested in my sister’s affairs.”

Bai Zhi instinctively stepped back, eyes flickering nervously. “I... I only…”

“Only what?” Feng Ruqing pressed on relentlessly, her aura suffocating, forcing Bai Zhi almost to lose her breath.

“Ah!” Bai Zhi suddenly cried out, swaying and falling to the ground.

Liu Zhaoyi immediately shrieked, “Your Majesty! How could you push Lady Bai? Her health is fragile—if anything happened…”

Others in the imperial garden heard the commotion and gathered around, whispering while pointing at the fallen Bai Zhi.

Feng Ruqing watched the clumsy performance before her, a cold smile curling at the corners of her lips. “Really? I pushed her?”

She did not rush to deny it but instead smiled as if admitting to a trivial matter. “Yes, I pushed her—so what?”

The crowd erupted in astonishment, their gazes darting between Feng Ruqing and the fallen Bai Zhi.

Both Bai Zhi and Liu Zhaoyi were stunned; they had expected Feng Ruqing to be speechless, not so candidly forthright.

“Your Majesty... you...” Liu Zhaoyi stammered, unsure how to respond.

Bai Zhi's face drained of color, utterly thrown off by Feng Ruqing’s directness.

Feng Ruqing scanned the crowd sharply, her gaze slicing through them like a blade. As she clearly laid out her argument, the onlookers grew more awed and contemptuous toward Bai Zhi. The murmuring crowd fell silent, seemingly subdued by Feng Ruqing’s commanding presence, their eyes finally resting on Bai Zhi.

She slowly crouched, delicate fingers lightly brushing Bai Zhi’s snow-white sleeve.

“Lady Bai, this dress of yours is beautiful, but a pity—it’s stained with something it shouldn’t be.”

Following her gaze, the crowd noticed faint yellow pollen on Bai Zhi’s sleeve.

A mocking smile played at Feng Ruqing’s lips. “This pollen comes from a flower called ‘Drunken Fragrance,’ which only grows in a secluded corner of the imperial garden’s northwest. Ordinary people wouldn’t dare approach it. Lady Bai, care to explain why your sleeve carries this pollen?”

Bai Zhi’s face turned pale; she hadn’t expected Feng Ruqing to notice such a detail.

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She hurriedly explained, “I... I just happened to pass by there…”

“Pass by?” Feng Ruqing sneered, cutting her off. “The pollen of Drunken Fragrance is extremely light; it only sticks if one deliberately approaches and touches it. Lady Bai, are you sure you only ‘passed by’?”

Sweat beaded on Bai Zhi’s forehead. She looked helplessly at Liu Zhaoyi, only to find her equally puzzled and unable to assist.

Feng Ruqing rose to her full height, looking down coldly at Bai Zhi. “One last time—how did you get this Drunken Fragrance pollen on your sleeve?”

Bai Zhi bit her lip, eyes flickering. Just as she was about to speak, a commanding voice cut through the air.

“Empress, what are you doing?”

Feng Ruqing turned to see Ji Ran, clad in a bright yellow dragon robe, his expression grim as he approached.

Bai Zhi, realizing her lie was exposed, hardened her heart. Tears streamed down as she pointed at Feng Ruqing and cried out, “Your Majesty, I am innocent! It was the Empress who deliberately dragged me near the Drunken Fragrance! I’m weak—how could I have broken free from her grasp?” Her frail body trembled, as if burdened by the gravest injustice.

Ji Ran’s gaze flicked between Feng Ruqing and Bai Zhi, brow furrowed deeply.

He knew Bai Zhi’s nature was gentle, while Feng Ruqing had always been decisive and strong-willed since entering the palace—not the type to resort to petty tricks.

But what of the Drunken Fragrance pollen on Bai Zhi’s sleeve?

“Empress, is this true?” Ji Ran’s voice was heavy, tinged with accusation.

A cold smile curved Feng Ruqing’s lips. Unhurried, she produced a slender silver thread from her sleeve. “Your Majesty, I have something I wish for you to see.”

All eyes fixed on the delicate silver thread.

Feng Ruqing went to Bai Zhi’s side, her gaze sharp as a hawk’s. She crouched and gently lifted Bai Zhi’s sleeve. Under the moonlight, the nearly invisible thread shimmered faintly. The onlookers held their breath, their eyes glued to the silver strand as if time itself had frozen.

They then noticed that Bai Zhi’s sleeve was tied with this almost transparent silver thread.

Feng Ruqing displayed the other end of the thread to the crowd—it extended to a nearby tree, beside which grew a Drunken Fragrance flower.

“This thread is called the ‘Shadowless Silk,’ as fine as a hair yet extremely strong. I had prepared it in advance, tying it to Lady Bai’s sleeve.

If Lady Bai had truly been pulled by me, this thread would have snapped.

Yet now it remains intact. What does this prove?” Feng Ruqing’s gaze burned into Bai Zhi, her tone icy. “It proves Lady Bai approached the Drunken Fragrance herself. She staged this entire scene to frame me!”

Bai Zhi’s face turned deathly pale, lips trembling, unable to utter a word.

Ji Ran looked at the Shadowless Silk, then at Bai Zhi’s panicked expression, his mind made up.

His face darkened with anger. “Lady Bai, how dare you scheme before me!”

Bai Zhi collapsed, trembling all over. She knew this time she had lost completely.

Feng Ruqing regarded Bai Zhi’s pitiful state with no mercy—only cold disdain.

She turned to leave, but caught a furtive figure out of the corner of her eye.

“Liu Zhaoyi, since you’re here, why hurry to leave?”

Liu Zhaoyi, who had been hiding behind the crowd planning to slip away, was startled by Feng Ruqing’s sudden words.

She stiffened and turned, forcing a strained smile. “Your Majesty... I... I was only passing by…”

Feng Ruqing approached step by step, her gaze as sharp as a blade, making Liu Zhaoyi shudder in fear.

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“Passing by? Liu Zhaoyi, do you think I’m a fool?” Feng Ruqing sneered coldly. “Do you believe no one knows of your secret collusion with Bai Zhi in the harem? I’ve simply been waiting for you to slip up. Today’s incident is your own doing. If there’s a next time, I won’t be so lenient.”

Liu Zhaoyi’s face turned ashen. She collapsed to her knees, kowtowing repeatedly. “Your Majesty, have mercy! I know my mistake! I will never dare again!”

“Never dare again?” Feng Ruqing looked down on her, eyes full of scorn. “Do you think that phrase can erase the sins you’ve committed?”

Liu Zhaoyi trembled all over, unable to meet Feng Ruqing’s gaze.

She knew Feng Ruqing’s methods were ruthless; to anger her would bring unforgivable consequences.

“Begone!” Feng Ruqing commanded fiercely.

Liu Zhaoyi felt as if pardoned, scrambling away hastily from the imperial garden.

Bai Zhi sat slumped on the ground, watching Liu Zhaoyi’s hasty retreat, a glint of malice flashing in her eyes.

She never expected her carefully laid plan to be so effortlessly dismantled by Feng Ruqing.

Feng Ruqing gave her a cold glance before turning to leave.

She knew Bai Zhi would not give up easily; she needed to be even more vigilant.

This battle for dominance in the harem had only just begun.

Back in the Fengyi Palace, Feng Ruqing’s mind remained restless.

Her sister’s death was a thorn deeply embedded in her heart.

She felt herself drawing closer to the truth, yet also sensed an invisible pressure, as if a vast net was slowly enclosing her.

“Your Majesty, news from the Cold Palace...” whispered Cui’er, her close attendant, breaking the silence of Fengyi Palace.

Feng Ruqing’s eyes flashed sharply as she looked up. “Speak!”

Cui’er hesitated before whispering, “The Cold Palace... it seems someone there has... has seen...”

“Seen what?” Feng Ruqing pressed.

Taking a deep breath, Cui’er slowly said, “...a figure resembling the princess...”

Feng Ruqing sprang to her feet, grabbing Cui’er’s shoulders urgently. “Is this true?!”

Startled by Feng Ruqing’s sudden grip, Cui’er nodded earnestly. “Indeed! I just heard it from the palace maids who clean the Cold Palace...”

A complex gleam flashed in Feng Ruqing’s eyes. The Cold Palace... her sister’s corpse... could it be...

“Prepare the sedan chair! To the Cold Palace!” Feng Ruqing’s voice was resolute, leaving no room for doubt.

As night fell, the gates of Fengyi Palace slowly opened, and an unassuming sedan chair silently slipped into the darkness...

“Stop! Who goes there!” a sharp shout suddenly rang out at the silent gate of the Cold Palace.