Chapter 16: Completely Beside Oneself

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Yuan Peipei, recalling how the wicked women in the books bullied others, lifted her chin proudly and declared, "The Emperor favors me; therefore, I have the right! Besides, I’m just looking for something. Consort Ning, you won’t lose anything."

"Your Highness, nothing has been found."

"Your Highness, we haven’t found it here either."

You might think that was the end of it?

No, no, no.

Yuan Peipei continued, "If it’s not on the ground, then those palace maids must have stolen it. Have them all brought to the courtyard!"

The people around her were arranged by Dugu Jin and were not ordinary palace staff, so they obeyed Yuan Peipei’s orders without question.

All the palace maids were dragged into the courtyard, standing together, completely clueless about what was happening.

Consort Ning was no longer merely angry.

She pointed at Yuan Peipei with fury. "Consort Rou, do you really think that a few days of the Emperor’s favor grants you the power to run amok in the harem? I control the military; even the Emperor must show me respect, and the Empress Dowager dares not order me around. You must have the heart of a bear and the courage of a leopard!"

Today, Yuan Peipei was truly resolute and unyielding, commanding, "Search all the quarters of these palace maids thoroughly!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Since entering the palace, Consort Ning had never suffered such humiliation. She stepped forward to slap Yuan Peipei but was stopped by Cuizhi and Lanxin.

Long nails scraped against Lanxin’s neck, causing immediate bleeding.

Yuan Peipei had grown up with Cuizhi and Lanxin by her side, regarding them as sisters. Seeing Lanxin injured, she was furious and without hesitation, slapped Consort Ning hard.

Smack!

The sound stunned everyone around.

Who would dare strike Consort Ning? How bold must this Consort Rou be?

Consort Ning was in disbelief, clutching her face, speaking with hatred, "I had planned to deal with your foolishness later, but since you’re courting death, I shall grant your wish!"

Her voice turned icy cold. "Someone, summon the Emperor at once!"

The palace staff sent to search the maids’ quarters returned.

"Reporting to Consort Rou, we found this in one of the palace maid’s rooms."

It was an exquisite porcelain bottle, obviously something a palace maid should not possess.

"Open it," Yuan Peipei ordered.

The staff opened it. "Your Highness, it appears to be powdered medicine."

This must be it.

Yuan Peipei said, "Send for the imperial physician."

The physician arrived quickly, unaware of the situation, but ultimately confirmed the powder in the bottle was poison.

Even Consort Ning was now panicked.

Having poison secretly stored within the palace was no trivial matter.

In the imperial study, Dugu Jin was reading Yuan Peipei’s handwritten letter, pondering how she had discovered all this when Du Heng hurried in.

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His steps were quick, his face anxious.

"Your Majesty, messengers from Consort Ning reported a dispute with Consort Rou."

Dugu Jin immediately rose and headed out. "Why would Peipei go to Consort Ning’s quarters?"

Du Heng followed closely. "I only know it got quite heated, even turned physical."

A flash of killing intent crossed Dugu Jin’s eyes. "Consort Ning dared to lay hands on Peipei?"

He quickened his pace, almost wanting to fly there.

But at the doorway, he overheard the physician mention poison.

"Your Majesty has arrived!" Du Heng’s shout made everyone kneel.

Dugu Jin strode directly to Yuan Peipei, scrutinizing her. "You two fought?"

Finally finding the poison, Yuan Peipei’s plan succeeded. Now scared, she burst into tears upon seeing Dugu Jin.

"Waaah… sniffling…"

Dugu Jin held her tenderly, then turned to scold, "Consort Ning, do you realize your mistake?"

Consort Ning was dumbfounded.

"Your Majesty, I…"

"Waaah…"

Yuan Peipei was truly terrified.

She had brought people to search Consort Ning’s quarters.

She even arrested her palace maids.

She was scared to death!

"Waaah…"

Being the villain was terrifying.

The imperial physician reported again to Dugu Jin, "Your Majesty, this poison causes the intestines to rupture and the victim to die in excruciating pain."

A cold gleam flashed in Dugu Jin’s eyes. "Imprison all these palace maids in the imperial dungeon. No matter the methods used, they must reveal where the poison came from."

With that, he lifted the sobbing Yuan Peipei into his arms and strode away.

Consort Ning remained kneeling, watching the Emperor leave.

Even if the Emperor’s concern was for health, siding with that fool like this—how could she maintain her dignity in the palace? How could she assert her authority after becoming Empress?

She slowly rose, her eyes sharp as venom. "Consort Rou, you wretched woman! How dare you behave so arrogantly in my domain? Even if the Emperor chooses to protect you for now, I will never let you live in peace!"

At Nishang Palace, Dugu Jin gently set Yuan Peipei down and asked, "Where did Consort Ning hit you?"

Though he still had to consider Ning’s military power, it wouldn’t hurt to show her some color.

Yuan Peipei, crying less now, choked out, "I was the one who hit her."

At that, fear returned.

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"Waaah…"

She was terrified.

She had actually hit someone—Consort Ning no less.

Dugu Jin sighed in relief.

This girl truly scared him to death.

"You did hit Consort Ning, but you found the poison, so the merits and faults balance out," he said, completely biased.

The imperial physician tending to Lanxin overheard this and decided that matters concerning Consort Rou would henceforth be his top priority.

Yuan Peipei, still sobbing, asked, "Balance out? No punishment? No death sentence?"

"Waaah…"

Tears spilled again.

She threw herself into Dugu Jin’s arms. "Your Majesty, you’re truly kind."

He was better to her than her own parents.

She made mistakes but did not suffer punishment.

And he always gave her wonderful things.

Though the night had been tumultuous,

the Emperor during the day was truly wonderful.

Everyone else politely left.

Yuan Peipei still clung to Dugu Jin, crying.

[Hahaha, Peipei’s “You’re so kind” made the villain’s tail wag all the way to the sky.]

[I heard Peipei was the one who hit, and suddenly the merits and faults balanced out. Double standards.]

[Aaaah, they’re so sweet. Please lock this pair down; no more bad endings for them.]

Yuan Peipei cried herself to sleep. Not wanting to disturb her, Dugu Jin carefully laid her on the bed, using his arm as a pillow and awkwardly reclining beside her.

News that Consort Rou had struck Consort Ning rapidly spread throughout the palace.

The other consorts who had planned to vie for the Emperor’s favor suddenly swallowed nervously.

Is Consort Rou really that fierce?

Maybe it’s better to hold off on competing for now.

The Empress Dowager also learned of the matter. "How outrageous! Such arrogance because of favor—what rules will remain in the harem? Bring Consort Rou to me immediately; I will teach her a proper lesson!"

A palace attendant whispered, "Reporting to Empress Dowager, the Emperor said that although Consort Rou hit Consort Ning, she found the poison, so the merits and faults balance out."