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

No matter what happens in the future, at least tonight, Queen Yan's heart is sincere.

Fei Wan herself was also sincere.

Put everything aside for a moment and feel the friendship of mutual support and trust between women.

The palace is cold, but the friendship is real.

Unconsciously, a smile appeared on Fei Wan's lips.

She had toiled and planned till now, because she had her heart set on something, so she had no distractions. However, the friendships she had accidentally gained, with Empress Yan, Concubine Hui, Zhishu, and many others around her, made her feel that this difficult journey was not so lonely anymore.

The next morning, the thorough investigation overnight yielded results.

Empress Yan publicly announced that a palace maid, jealous of the Imperial Concubine's fame and favor because her eyes resembled hers, had secretly poisoned her nightgown. The imperial physician's prescription for realgar powder was a coincidence. As for the saltpeter, the maid had already deduced, based on the artillery workshop's unceasing work, that the New Year's Eve banquet would feature a large number of fireworks, hence the choice of thunderfire vine poison.

"So he's someone in the Imperial Court. No wonder he knows everything and is so cleverly using it to murder the Imperial Concubine!"

"Luckily it wasn't one of our concubines, otherwise it would be really scary. It's so cruel to destroy someone's appearance in such a vicious way. How evil."

"There's just one thing. If the imperial physician doesn't prescribe realgar powder, the Thunder Fire Vine poison won't be effectively aroused. Wouldn't the palace maid's efforts be in vain?"

"She serves the Imperial Concubine in the Imperial Court, so it would be easy for her to put realgar in her food. I guess the Imperial Physician prescribing medicine would save her the trouble."

"Just because her eyes resemble the Imperial Noble Consort's, she's so jealous. She takes herself too seriously. Does she think she's more beautiful than the Imperial Noble Consort and is angry about why she's not favored?"

The concubines who had been up all night burst into buzzing discussions.

Everyone despised the palace maid who was so cunning and vicious.

Queen Yan ordered the imperial maid to be brought into the palace.

The palace maid's face was pale and her eyes were dead. She knelt on the ground and confessed her crimes.

This was the person who was secretly arranged by Madam Liao to tamper with Feiwan's pajamas.

Fei Wan herself did not expose her, but Empress Yan decided to let her take the blame, using the excuse of jealousy of her favor to cover up everything.

Anyway, there have been many cases of people being harmed in the palace due to jealousy.

Anyway, this palace maid was a hidden chess piece arranged by the Duke of Zhenguo in front of the emperor. Once it was activated, she knew that she would be dead soon.

Her death could save Madam Liao, the Queen, the Duke's Mansion, and most importantly - her own family.

She had no choice but to plead guilty.

Fei Wan was wearing a veil, even covering her forehead with a silk scarf, and came to the hall.

Looking at the imperial maids kneeling below waiting to die, he sighed slightly in his heart.

Raising loyal soldiers was a common practice among the wealthy and powerful. These loyal soldiers were favored by their masters and would serve them at critical moments, dying for them as a foreordained fate.

However, we are all human beings, living beings, who would want to die?

This is different from dying heroically for justice, friendship, or saving others. It is just dying to harm others. I wonder what this palace maid is thinking at this moment.

Even if she was willing, this willingness was the result of the distortion caused by her childhood education.

People shouldn't die like this.

Why die in vain like this, without any meaning?

Because she was born a slave, driven and arranged by her master, she had no choice!

"Empress, please spare her life."

When Fei Wan opened her mouth, everyone in the hall was surprised.

"My Lady Imperial Concubine, she has harmed you so much, and you're still pleading for her?"

"Yes, my lady, what's the point of keeping such a cruel and twisted servant?"

"Your Highness, how do you repay kindness with kindness?"

The concubines spoke one after another.

Fei Wan raised her hand to interrupt everyone's discussion.

The red spot on her wrist was visible outside her sleeve, which was shocking to everyone, so her words made many people admire her kindness even more.

"Sisters, I've recently been reading Buddhist scriptures in the Japanese Imperial Palace, and I've been quite moved. All living beings toss around in greed, anger, and ignorance without realizing it, committing many perverse acts. Once awakened from their dreams, they find themselves in a state of laughter and tears at the reversals of the past. Although this palace maid did something wrong, she didn't implicate anyone else, only me. I, inspired by the Buddha's teachings, am willing to be her guide. I don't mind the disfigurement—worldly events are like the moon, waxing and waning. Since I was granted the title of Imperial Noble Consort, I've enjoyed such glory that Heaven has allowed this incident to happen, a warning to me against arrogance. This is a loss, but also a blessing. As long as she can sincerely reform, cultivate Buddhism from now on, and wholeheartedly pursue goodness, this matter will be wiped out."

Everyone in the hall praised Fei Wan.

After hearing Fei Wan's words, Queen Yan pondered for a moment.

After a moment, he said, "Okay, I will fulfill the Imperial Concubine's kindness."

Then he asked the palace maid to thank Fei Wan.

"Your death sentence can be spared, but you can no longer serve the emperor. It would be better for you to shave your head and work as a servant in the Buddhist temple. If you make progress in your practice in the future, you can find a master and concentrate on your cultivation."

The palace maid was startled at first, and then a glimmer of light appeared in her lifeless eyes.

However, silence soon returned.

She kowtowed, "I thank the Empress and the Imperial Noble Consort. But I know my sins are grave, and I can only atone for them with death."

She put her hands into her hair.

Everyone didn't know what she was going to do, and before they could react, they saw her wipe her neck.

Suddenly, blood gushed out, shocking the concubines so much that they screamed in fear and covered their faces, not daring to look closely.

The palace maids hurried forward to check.

Only then did he realize that she had a needle between her fingers, and had actually used it to cut the most important part of her neck. The cut was about an inch long, and blood immediately flowed all over the floor.

It turned out that she had just reached into her temples to feel for the needle hidden in her hair.

She had already made up her mind to die!

"Carry her away quickly and clean her up!" Linglong ordered from above.

The palace servants of Xianyue Palace acted hurriedly, and soon the place where the palace maid committed suicide was replaced with a new carpet, leaving no trace.

The palace maid's body was wrapped in a felt and carried away to an unknown place for cremation and burial.

Fei Wan lowered her eyes.

Queen Yan also gritted her teeth secretly.

They all understood why the princess wanted to commit suicide.

If the Duke's mansion's hidden pawn still survives after the plot fails, it will one day be dealt with by the Duke's mansion to prevent leaks. Dying late will only bring trouble to the family. It is better to die early, leave a good impression on the master, and leave some opportunities for survival and protection for relatives.

Some concubines are talking about bad luck.

"On the first day of the Lunar New Year, she actually dared to commit suicide in public. This palace maid is truly incredible!"

"Exactly! I'm so scared! How could there be such an ignorant servant?"

Queen Yan coldly told everyone to shut up.

"This matter has been exposed. It's getting late, so you should all go back. Pack up and go to Chenqian Palace to congratulate His Majesty on the New Year. Don't miss the time."

"Yes."

The concubines dared not talk anymore. No matter how sleepy or tired they were, they had to go back quickly, clean up, change clothes and go to pay New Year's greetings.

Soon, only Queen Yan and Fei Wan were left in Xianyue Palace.

"What about the Imperial Concubine's face? Will she go to Chenqian Palace later? If His Majesty sees..."

Concubine Shun spoke worriedly.