After a broken heart, I traveled through time and space and became an abandoned concubine. My fate i

The atmosphere within the Imperial Palace was as heavy as lead, almost suffocating. The Emperor sat high atop the Dragon Throne, his face as cold as ice. His hawk-like gaze, like a cold blade, swept directly across the court, demanding with authority, "Give me a reasonable explanation!"

Liu Changzai's delicate body trembled slightly, but she still tried her best to hold on, forcing out a bit of composure. She bowed respectfully, her voice trembling like a leaf in the wind: "Your Majesty, I really did stumble upon this doll while tidying up the drawers of my dressing table. I only noticed that the drawers were in disarray, so I reached out to tidy them up, and unexpectedly touched the doll. I dare to swear to heaven, if I tell even a single lie, I will be struck by lightning and die a miserable death!"

Young concubine Yingyue's legs were shaking like sieves as she quickly echoed the words, her voice trembling as if blown to pieces by the cold December wind. "Your Majesty, I was also sorting out my wardrobe when I saw the doll in the corner by pure coincidence. I opened the wardrobe to take out a piece of clothing and saw the doll hiding in the corner. It was truly a coincidence."

Xianfei Wanru pursed her lips, her face pale as rice paper, her voice trembling as if she were trying to squeeze out the words through her teeth: "Your Majesty, I did find it under the bed. That day, I felt that the bed was shaking and unstable, so I asked someone to check, and unexpectedly found this doll underneath. Perhaps I really have misunderstood Xianfei Su."

The other concubines also responded. Some nodded continuously and said timidly: "Yes, maybe there is another hidden story." Some muttered in a low voice: "This matter is really strange." For a moment, the voices of agreement came one after another, but the eyes of these concubines flickered, obviously because of guilty conscience and fear.

The Emperor's expression remained gloomy, like the inky sky before a storm, and he remained silent. The Minister of Justice, Lord Zhao, stood beside him, trembling with fear, sweat pouring down his face, soaking his clothes down his back. He twisted the corners of his clothes with his hands, his mind racing with a thousand horses. "This harem affair is like a tangled mess, impossible to untangle. If I mishandle it, not only will my official position be in jeopardy, but I could even risk my life and property. What should I do?"

The young concubine Yingyue suddenly broke down, wailing with a cry as piercing as a cuckoo weeping blood. She pointed at Consort Wanru and cried out at the top of her lungs, "Your Majesty, it was Consort Wanru who ordered me to act this way. I was foolish and blinded by greed, hoping to find a supporter and rise to prominence!"

Xianfei Wanru was so angry that her face flushed red, her eyes widened, like an angry lion, and she shouted angrily: "You, a liar, how dare you slander me! I have always treated you well, but you repay me with evil. You are completely devoid of conscience!" The young concubine Yingyue fell to her knees with a "thump", kowtowed like pounding garlic, and blood instantly flowed from her forehead, staining the ground red. She cried and said, "Empress Su Xianfei, I really have no intention of harming you. We have no grudges!"

The concubines who discovered the puppet all looked pale as death. Some of them felt their legs go weak and almost collapsed to the ground. Everyone was in danger, as if the end of the world was approaching.

Concubine He Shu's eyebrows arched as she shouted angrily, "Such a shameful thing has happened in the harem! Come on, drag this crazy concubine out immediately!"

The young concubine Yingyue turned her head abruptly, her eyes filled with despair and anger. She turned her spearhead towards Concubine Liu and shouted hoarsely, "Concubine Liu, don't even think about denying your involvement!"

Concubine He Shu was so angry that she stamped her feet. The sound was particularly loud in the silent hall. She cursed and said, "If the real culprit is not found, there will never be peace in the harem! It's a pity that Concubine Su Xian has suffered such a great injustice."

The Emperor turned to look at the Minister of Justice, Lord Zhao, and his tone was so cold it could freeze anyone in an instant. He asked, "Lord Zhao, how exactly do you plan to investigate this puppet matter?" Lord Zhao left the case and fell to his knees, his whole body trembling. He spoke in a tearful voice, "Your Majesty, this...this matter concerning the harem, I am truly walking on thin ice, as if on the edge of an abyss. I fear that if I am not careful, I will anger Your Majesty and commit a horrible mistake. I hope Your Majesty will be magnanimous and give me some time. I will do my utmost to uncover the truth and give you an explanation."

Concubine Su bowed gracefully and spoke slowly, "Your Majesty, witchcraft has brought chaos to the harem, a heinous crime that is unforgivable. I will wait for the Minister to investigate the truth. If I am guilty, I will willingly accept the punishment. The harem should be peaceful and harmonious, but now, this witchcraft incident has caused panic among the people. I hope Your Majesty will thoroughly investigate and restore peace to the harem, and not allow this evil magic to continue to bring disaster to everyone."

Zhen Fei looked terrified, twisting her handkerchief tightly with both hands until it was almost torn to pieces. The Emperor asked coldly, "Zhen Fei, what is your explanation?"

Zhen Fei stammered in reply, "Your Majesty, I really don't know what is going on. That maid must have evil intentions and did something evil behind my back. I have always respected Her Majesty Su Xianfei. I always bow and greet Her Majesty when I see Her Majesty. How could she do such an outrageous thing?" As she spoke, her eyes flickered. She didn't dare to look directly at the Emperor, and her gaze was unsteady.

Concubine He's eyes widened as she shouted angrily, "How dare you speak nonsense like this in front of His Majesty? Leave immediately!" Just as Concubine Zhen was about to take the opportunity to leave, Concubine Su Xian said, "Sister Zhen, please don't be so anxious to leave. Don't you need to give me a clear explanation?"

Zhen Fei was anxious and frightened. She said in a panic, "Your Highness Su, this is truly a misunderstanding. I don't know where that maid found this doll, and I bear you no ill will. Perhaps the maid was jealous of my favor and wanted to frame me." Then she quickly corrected herself, "Alas, perhaps it was my failure to discipline her that allowed this evil thing to happen. I am willing to accept the punishment, and I hope Your Highness will understand."

Concubine Zhen's eyes were filled with panic and she would steal glances at Concubine He from time to time, her body trembling like a leaf in the wind. Concubine He shouted angrily, "Come, take her back to the palace and discipline her!" But the emperor snorted coldly, frightening the servants so much that they dared not act rashly.

Concubine He Shu quickly apologized, "Your Majesty's health is paramount. Now that the matter has become clear, the rest will be handled by the Ministry of Justice. I have failed to manage the harem effectively, and I hope Your Majesty will forgive me. I will be doubly careful in the future and will never allow such a shameful thing to happen again."

Concubine Zhen fell to her knees again, hugged Concubine He's legs tightly, and cried out in a shrill voice: "My Lady Concubine He, you must save me! My Lady Concubine He, you must save me! Without your protection, what can I do in this harem?"

Concubine He Shu fiercely shook her hand off and shouted angrily: "Drag her out and clean up the harem. Don't embarrass yourself here!"

Zhen Fei screamed hoarsely: "Everything was instigated by Concubine He Shu!" She was dragged away while screaming, and the sound echoed in the hall, making people's hair stand on end.

Everyone, including the emperor, turned their eyes to Concubine He Shufei.

Concubine He tried to maintain composure, but her slightly trembling hands and tightly bitten lips betrayed her inner feelings. She squeezed out a few tears and sobbed, "Your Majesty, I am truly wronged. I have always been caring and loving towards the sisters in the harem, and have never harbored any intention of harming anyone. This incident deeply pains me and I blame myself. I worry daily about the peace and tranquility of the harem, so how could I have done such a foolish thing? It is truly my fault. I failed to share the Empress's worries, and I failed to maintain good relations between the sisters, leading to this calamity. Your Majesty, please punish me. I am willing to die to prove my innocence."

The emperor looked at the Minister of Justice, Lord Zhao, and asked, "My dear Zhao, how should we deal with this according to the law?" The Minister of Justice, Lord Zhao, knelt on the ground, speaking the law in a trembling voice. His voice was unclear, and it was obvious that he was extremely nervous.

Consort Su Xian, who had been kneeling on the ground, lowered her head and spoke sincerely, "Your Majesty, this matter has nothing to do with Consort He Shu. Consort He Shu and I have always been good friends and have always been very considerate of me. I have every confidence in your character and would never do such a despicable thing. I hope Your Majesty will not believe slanderous accusations and refrain from allowing innocent people to be wronged. I have always been cautious and prudent in the palace and have never made enemies or grudges. I believe someone is deliberately trying to sow discord in an attempt to disrupt the harmony of the harem. I hope Your Majesty will thoroughly investigate the truth and give everyone justice."