The queen is sober in the world, and she is winning every step of the palace fight.

When Concubine De saw Empress Yan start to question He Cainü, she immediately joined in.

"The Empress is right, He Cainu. Ever since you entered the palace and were canonized, besides arguing with us concubines and accusing us of bullying you, you've been disdainful of interacting with everyone and getting involved in palace affairs. Aren't you extremely aloof and proud? Tonight, the eldest princess came down with a rash, and no one knew what was going on, so no one dared to speak. Yet, you kept on talking. You blocked my way from questioning you, and you grabbed Linglong's purse. You were the most capable person in the room. But do you really care that much about the eldest princess? What's your reason for doing all this?"

Defei was the first concubine in the palace to be betrayed by He Shuangying.

He Shuangying pretends to be an ordinary palace maid and uses her hobby of listening to opera to stir up trouble at Empress Yan's enthronement banquet in order to attract the emperor's attention and gain the throne.

Afterwards, Queen Yan did not blame her, but Concubine De was already disgusted with He Shuangying.

He had been planning to deal with He Shuangying for a long time.

Now that I have the opportunity to find fault with He Shuangying, of course I have to do it quickly.

As for whether it would offend the emperor...

Concubine De didn't think so much.

Her family background was decent, not as good as Empress Yan's, but better than the other concubines. Her family had titles, positions, money and power. As long as she didn't make any big mistakes in the palace, she would be safe.

The emperor was not very kind to her, so even if He Shuangying took his anger out on her and she completely fell out of favor, it didn't matter.

It would be nice to stay in Lincui Palace and listen to operas all day long, and have some peace and quiet.

So she asked directly to He Shuangying's face.

Seeing that He Shuangying didn't answer for a moment, Concubine De stepped forward and said, "He, please speak up. You were chattering non-stop just now, but now you're silent? Why is that? Is it because you wanted to frame the Empress, but something went wrong along the way, and you were caught off guard? Apart from this reason, I really can't think of any other possibility. After all, there are many people in the palace who have good noses, but you are the only one who insisted on grabbing the Empress's maid. If you say you are just being fair and insist on getting to the bottom of this matter, then people will have to believe you!"

The concubines in the hall were very pleased to hear Defei's scolding, and most of them cheered secretly.

If the emperor had not been present, I am afraid that everyone would have spoken out and agreed with Concubine De.

He Shuangying suddenly came to power, but she was unpopular and did not do good things. Everyone had long disliked her.

Why is it that we live peacefully but don't receive the emperor's favor and reward, while you, who make trouble all day long, become a celebrity and even live in Concubine Zhao's palace? Is this fair?

Now that I'm letting you do it, you've made some mistakes, right?

This is what you deserve!

Yu Sujin stood up from her seat, bowed gently to Concubine De, and said:

"Your Majesty, please calm down for a moment. Although you have been ordered to thoroughly investigate this matter and have the responsibility to question He Cainu, look at her, how pitiful she is. She was so powerful just now, but now she is frightened by you and can't say a word. Your Majesty, please take a break, sit down and drink some water, and give He Cainu some time to let her slowly explain everything, okay?"

This seemed like a way for Frost Shadow to come to the rescue, but it actually pointed out once again the huge difference between her and the person she was just now.

It was also a buffer for Concubine De, preventing the Emperor from being too fond of He Shuangying and getting angry at her. After all, Yu Sujin was unsure of the extent of the Emperor's love for He Shuangying, so it was necessary for her to come forward and help Concubine De.

On the other side, when Concubine Chen from Feiwan's camp heard Yu Sujin speak, she also took over the conversation.

She said to Concubine De, "I think what Concubine Min said is absolutely right. Your Majesty should take a break and investigate further. As for what you said about He Cainv being too talkative, I have thought about it for her and feel that it is understandable. You see, although this dress was given by Concubine Zhao, He Cainv helped embroider it, so she is an important person in charge. Now that something has gone wrong with the dress, she is of course nervous, afraid that everyone will suspect her, so she is very active in finding ways to help track down the real culprit. Her mistake is that she should have avoided suspicion like Concubine Zhao and Concubine Min and not interfered with the investigation. Don't you agree, Sister He?"

The last sentence was asking He Shuangying.

Concubine Chen smiled at her, and He Shuangying's tears instantly welled up.

"Sister Chen, thank you for speaking up for me. I was right, you are a good person. I was born in a humble family and was looked down upon by others. Your Majesty made an exception and promoted me. Everyone envied me, but you were the only one who was willing to lend a hand to me, more than once. Sister Chen, I will be grateful to you forever."

I am also grateful to your eight generations of ancestors!

Concubine Chen secretly rolled her eyes in her heart.

She secretly thought that since He Shuangying was so grateful, the other concubines and sisters would probably hate her.

But she accepted Fei Wan's arrangement and wanted to get close to Concubine Chen. So, in addition to sending gifts and asking about her well-being on a daily basis, standing up to support He Shuangying at such a critical moment would definitely achieve twice the result with half the effort.

So, suppressing her discomfort, she gently said, "Sister He, your words are too serious. I was just speaking in a fair manner. But don't think that everyone in the palace is jealous of you and bullies you. That's not the case. The sisters in our palace all get along very well. Don't always feel inferior because of your family background and overthink things. Relax a little."

"Thank you for your advice, sister. I'll remember it." He Shuangying wiped her tears with her sleeves. "However, I was bullied, not because of my imagination, but..."

"He, don't change the subject!"

Queen Yan interrupted He Shuangying's rambling in time.

He said, "It's getting late. His Majesty has an early court tomorrow. If we delay here, it will affect the emperor's health. You must quickly explain your behavior tonight. If a few words are not enough, then go to the Palace Administration Office to face the wall. When you have thought it through, come back to Fengming Palace to kowtow to me."

Having said this, Queen Yan turned to look at the emperor. Seeing that the emperor looked calm and seemed to have no objection to her arrangement, she continued.

"Noble Concubine Ming, take the eldest princess back home to rest early. Imperial Physicians, you will be on duty at the Imperial Hospital tonight and will not leave. If the eldest princess has any other questions, you must be available at any time. Everyone in Chunxi Palace should stay, except for He, who should go to the Palace Administration Office. Everyone else, please report to me what happened before and after this dress was sent out, and how many people handled it. The eldest princess is His Majesty's eldest daughter, and how dare anyone try to tamper with her food and clothing? I will never forgive them! Everyone else, disperse!"

After this arrangement, no one in the hall dared to raise any objection.

Empress Yan has been very dignified in the palace since she became the virtuous concubine. What's more, now that she has become a full-fledged empress, she is in charge of managing the concubines.

Everyone stood up from their seats and bowed properly to say goodbye.

After paying their respects to the Emperor and Empress, they held their breath and filed out of the palace.

He Cainu was dissatisfied with Queen Yan's decision, so she rushed to the throne and knelt down.

"Your Majesty, I am wronged! Your Majesty!"