Yan Wan is reborn as a legitimate wife: Curing Ruyi's Douyi syndrome

As the matter concerned Ruyi's reputation, Hongli did not dare to investigate it in a high-profile manner. He could only let Wang Qin and Yu Hu investigate it quietly. After several days without any progress, the flexible Hongli decided to seek help from the Empress Dowager.

Cining Palace

The Empress Dowager and Hongli spent an entire afternoon discussing the matter, and Hongli's words were full of favoritism towards Ruyi, but the Empress Dowager ignored him. The Empress Dowager had been fuming since her eastern tour and was desperate for a place to vent her anger. How could she not investigate Ruyi?

Fu Jia brought tea. The Queen Mother glanced at Fu Jia and sighed, "It seems that the Emperor still protects Concubine Xian. Even though there is physical evidence, he is unwilling to make a hasty judgment.

Master Anji is a guest from afar, and we cannot disturb Anhua Palace lightly. So, we will use this opportunity to clean up the harem. If any palace maids are truly misbehaving, they will be expelled immediately."

Fujia said respectfully, "Yes, I will do it immediately."

Hongli nodded and stopped talking.

……

Gyeongin Palace

Ruyi sat alone in the corridor, fiddling with her handkerchief. Jinxin and Sanbao were both taken to the Ministry of Punishment. Everyone in Jingren Palace felt insecure and did not dare to step forward to serve, fearing that they would also be taken away.

Fuga suddenly brought his men into Jingren Palace.

Fujia: "Greetings to the Empress Xian."

Ruyi looked up.

Without waiting for Ruyi to speak, Fujia continued, "Empress Xian, there's an assassin in the harem. I'm afraid it was caused by the misconduct of the palace maids. The Empress Dowager has ordered this servant to search the six palaces to prove their innocence."

Ruyi said calmly, "Thank you, aunt."

Fujia ordered: "Come, check every room where the palace maids live."

Everyone: "Yes."

Ruyi watched coldly as Fujia led his men to search Jingren Palace.

Yangxindian

Hongli lay on the couch in boredom, while Wang Qin stood by and fanned him.

Hongli asked, "Wang Qin, what do you think of this matter?"

Wang Qin's butt wasn't Ruyi's, so he naturally told the truth: "Your Majesty, I don't know the whole story."

Hongli: "Those involved are often confused, while those who are on the sidelines can see clearly. What matters is that you don't know."

Wang Qin scratched his head and said, "Logically speaking, the ladies have no contact with Master Anji, so this shouldn't have happened. But Noble Concubine Xian..."

Hongli asked in confusion, "What happened to Concubine Xian?"

Wang Qin wiped the sweat off his face and whispered, "Noble Concubine Xian single-handedly arranged for the master to pray for blessings. During the last prayer, the master also helped Noble Concubine Xian. The emperor also knows this.

Moreover, Noble Consort Xian was different from other empresses. Other empresses would handwrite scriptures and send them to Anhua Hall to burn and pray for blessings, but Noble Consort Xian went to Anhua Hall to recite scriptures in person every day."

It was for this reason that Hongli asked the Empress Dowager for help. Since the Eastern Tour, the Empress Dowager hated Ruyi to the core and would definitely investigate thoroughly.

Hongli sighed, "That's why I asked the Empress Dowager to handle this matter. Although the Empress Dowager doesn't particularly like Consort Xian, she is a devout Buddhist and won't be easily partial."

Wang Qin decisively flattered the emperor and said, "The emperor still cares about Concubine Xian."

The harem was searched thoroughly by Fujia. A Ruo had received the news early and gave detailed instructions. Moreover, A Ruo was not as fond of torturing the servants as Jin Yuyan, and there was no incident of Ai'er secretly hiding the Ando bracelet.

Chen Wanyin wasn't as ruthless as Jin Yuyan. She didn't mention Jinxin by name in the letter, nor did she arrange for the Ministry of Punishment to use torture. The evidence wasn't something close to her.

Fu Jia searched the place from top to bottom but found nothing out of the ordinary. Hongli could not blame the palace maid for her misconduct, so Ruyi remained in the dark.

Gyeongin Palace

Since Jingren Palace was a key area to be searched, Chen Wanyin's palace was also searched thoroughly. Fortunately, her honest and reserved image was deeply rooted in people's hearts, so Fuga did not make it too difficult for her.

While Fujia was searching the East Side Hall, Chen Wanyin was in the side hall, holding Yongqi and whispering to Shunxin, "Noble Concubine Xian is not decent and is not worthy of raising an heir. I'm going to find the Emperor."

Shunxin comforted him, "My Lord, if Concubine Xian loses her reputation and innocence, she will not be worthy of raising the royal heir. The Fifth Prince will return to you. We just need to wait a little longer."

Chen Wanyin murmured, "Wait, wait a little longer, until the day when Concubine Xian can't explain herself. How can a concubine who is surrounded by rumors become the mother of a prince? Soon, Yongqi will be back with me."

In the Yangxin Palace, Hongli tossed and turned, his mind brooding over the doubts surrounding this matter. Hongli had been suppressing the matter, and Chen Wanyin, unlike Jin Yuyan, had not added fuel to the fire, so the rumors had been spreading quietly in private, never coming to light.

In Jingren Palace, besides the Fifth Prince's attendants, even Shunxin was taken away. Even the guards on patrol that day were sent to the Ministry of Punishment for questioning. Jingren Palace was completely locked.

Yangxindian

The emperor lay on the couch, frowning and thinking.

Wang Qin advised, "Your Majesty, it's time to change your clothes. Your Majesty, today is your birthday, and Chonghua Palace has prepared a banquet to celebrate in your honor. If we don't go now, it will be too late."

Hongli stood up and said, "Change your clothes."

Wang Qin: “Yeah.”

Wang Qin, Li Yu and Jinzhong helped the emperor change his clothes.

Hongli asked, "What happened in Jingren Palace?"

Wang Qin replied, "Your Majesty, all the servants of Jingren Palace have been taken to the Ministry of Punishment, and the patrolling guards have also been taken away. Jinxin claims she didn't see the assassin, while Sanbao only claims to have seen the assassin outside. The patrolling guards that night all reported seeing men in white entering and leaving Jingren Palace."

Hongli: "Did they use torture?"

Wang Qin: “Not yet.”

Hongli said in a deep voice, "Torture him. It must be tortured."

Chonghua Palace

Ruyi was under house arrest, and among the concubines, Su Lujun was the leader, and she looked in high spirits.

Yi Huan asked, "Speaking of which, Noble Concubine Xian should be presiding over the Emperor's birthday ceremony, so why isn't she here?"

Su Lujun was extremely embarrassed; she was the one hosting the Wanshou Festival. Concubine Zhe glanced at Yihuan and sneered, "You're asking questions even though you already know the answer."

Su Lujun tried to smooth things over, saying, "Shupin, today is the Emperor's birthday. Wait, please don't mention Concubine Xian, or you'll spoil the Emperor's mood."

Yihuan, however, felt that these concubines did not understand the emperor's thoughts. The emperor was obviously worried about Concubine Xian, so how could saying anything spoil the emperor's mood?

Yi Huan said calmly, "Everyone says that the assassination in Jingren Palace is because someone is having an affair with Concubine Xian, but I just don't believe it. Sister Wenpin, have you ever met Concubine Xian?"

Yihuan originally wanted to ask Chen Wanyin, who lived in Jingren Palace with her, about Ruyi's recent situation, but she didn't expect that this question would hit Chen Wanyin's sore spot.

Chen Wanyin said coldly: "The emperor has issued an order, forbidding Yongqi and I to see Concubine Xian." She wished that Ruyi would be under house arrest for the rest of her life, so how could she go to visit her?

……

Gyeongin Palace

Everyone around Ruyi was taken away. She sat alone in the study, wrote two longevity characters by hand, and called out, "Madam."

Nanny Jingqi stepped forward and asked, "Does Noble Concubine Xian have any instructions?"

Ruyi smiled and said, "Today is the Emperor's birthday. I have made some of his favorite snacks to celebrate his birthday. I would like to ask Madam to deliver them to the banquet."

Nanny Jingqi was shocked and said, "Your Majesty, you are under house arrest. According to the rules, people and things in Jingren Palace are only allowed to enter but not leave."

Ruyi, with a confident expression, threatened, "I know this is the rule, but today is the Emperor's birthday. The Emperor and I have been together for over ten years. If I don't express my feelings, it would seem impolite and might displease the Emperor." (original words)

Aunt Jingqi hesitated and said, "But."

Ruyi interrupted, "I know it's hard for Madam to send things away."

Nanny Jingqi quickly evaded the question, saying, "It's nothing for me, but even if I send it over, I'm not sure whether the Emperor will accept it."

Ruyi smiled and said, "It's up to the Emperor whether to accept it or not. It's my gift to you. Otherwise, Madam, you don't need to send it to the birthday banquet. Just give it to Shupin."

Nanny Jingqi agreed and took out a silver needle to test for poison. After the test, Ruyi went forward to paste the longevity character and let Nanny take the snack box and leave. Ruyi also bowed to Nanny, but Nanny was gone and didn't see it.

Chonghua Palace

The Queen Mother and the Emperor came out together.

Everyone bowed and said, "May the Empress Dowager and the Emperor be well and healthy."

The Queen Mother said happily, "Okay, everyone sit down."

Everyone: "Thank you, Queen Mother."

The Queen Mother said with relief: "Emperor, today is your birthday. Let's put aside all your worries and have some fun."

Hongli looked at the empty seat and said with a forced smile, "Okay, Empress Dowager, let's start the meal immediately."

At the beginning of the banquet, Concubine Chun took the lead in toasting Hongli.

A young eunuch came out and whispered something to Yihuan, and Yihuan came out.

When Nanny Jingqi saw Yihuan coming out, she bowed and said, "Madam Shupin, this is the birthday gift that Concubine Xian prepared for the Emperor."

Yi Huan asked doubtfully, "Did Concubine Xian ask you to give it to me?"

Nanny Jingqi nodded in agreement and replied, "This is a cake specially made by Concubine Xian for the Emperor. She asked me to give it to you, saying that if you can see that there is nothing wrong with it, please take care of it."

Although Yihuan was puzzled, she nodded and said, "Thank you, Madam."

After completing her mission, Aunt Jingqi left.

Yihuan looked at the snack box in front of her, confused, and walked into the hall with gritted teeth.

Because Chen Wanyin did not frame Ruyi for accepting the master's seven-treasure bracelet, Yihuan would not understand Ruyi's riddle, so there would be no bracelet in the box, just two simple longevity characters.

As Hongli drank his wine, the Empress Dowager advised him, "Emperor, I know what you are worried about. The monks in Anhua Palace are practitioners and should not be disturbed lightly, lest we lose respect for them."

If someone truly harbors malicious intent, it's simply due to one person's lack of cultivation, and has nothing to do with others. Those detained and interrogated by the Ministry of Punishment are only the servants of Jingren Palace, the night patrol, and the few guards who found the evidence. Don't make a big deal out of this."

Hongli nodded. The empress dowager, realizing she had said enough, left the banquet, claiming she was too drunk. Yihuan happened to come in and saw Li Yu escorting the empress dowager off.

Hongli also wanted to leave. Seeing this, Concubine Chun stepped forward and reported: "Your Majesty, I have prepared some snacks. Please have a taste before you leave."

Hongli nodded, and the servants presented the snacks. Yihuan bravely stepped forward to report, "Your Majesty, since Consort Xian is unable to come to celebrate your birthday, I have sent someone to deliver some homemade snacks to wish you good health."

Concubine Chun's expression has changed. She had finally arranged a little clever plan, but Ruyi came to disrupt it again. Are she and Ruyi born to clash?

Hongli glanced at Wang Qin, who stepped forward to take it and put it on the table. Yihuan saw Concubine Chun's murderous look and didn't dare to say anything more.

Hongli looked at the two different characters for "longevity" on the dim sum, and said thoughtfully, "I won't eat anymore. I'll go back to the Yangxin Palace first."

Concubine Chun took the lead and said, "Let's see the emperor off." Well, the emperor didn't eat a single bite of the carefully arranged snacks and left in a hurry. Concubine Chun glared at Yihuan.

……

On the way back, Li Yu was bumped into by a palace maid, who stuffed a piece of paper into Li Yu's hand and left in a hurry.

Li Yu took the paper and looked at it. It said: "Noble Consort Xian is in trouble. Please return to Yangxin Palace immediately to change the letter." He turned it over and saw that there was indeed a letter with the paper.

Seeing this, Li Yu hurried back to the Yangxin Palace to search for the letter. Without Wei Yanwan's intervention, Hongli ran into it.

When Hongli saw Li Yu searching furtively, his face darkened and he asked, "What are you doing?"