Sludge suction system

After returning to her palace from the prison, the Empress sat on her phoenix throne, her brows furrowed, remaining silent for a long time. The atmosphere in the hall was heavy and oppressive; the palace maids dared not even breathe, bustling about quietly. After a long while, the Empress finally spoke: "Someone, go and fetch the head maid."

A moment later, the head maid rushed over and respectfully bowed before the Empress: "Your Majesty, what brings you here?"

The Empress raised her eyes, her gaze scrutinizing and probing: "I ask you, how much do you know about Liu Yunniang? Recently, Consort Wang has been making a big fuss, saying that she made things difficult for the embroiderer and tried to kidnap Lan Ke'er. What do you think of this?"

The head maidservant's heart skipped a beat. She lowered her head slightly, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Your Highness, in my opinion, Liu Yunniang is usually gentle and kind, and she always does things properly. She doesn't seem like the kind of person who would do such a thing. However, the people in the inner palace are complicated, and some things cannot be judged by appearances alone."

The Queen nodded slightly, signaling her to continue.

The head maid continued, "Consort Wang has always been arrogant and proud, and she can't stand anyone being more favored than her. Liu Yunniang has indeed attracted some attention from the Emperor recently. I suspect that Consort Wang might be jealous of this and want to take the opportunity to get rid of Liu Yunniang. As for why Lan Ke'er would come forward to identify Liu Yunniang, I also find it very strange. Lan Ke'er and Liu Yunniang used to have a good relationship, so there might be some hidden story behind it."

The Empress sighed softly, a hint of worry on her face: "I also find this matter highly suspicious. Liu Yunniang is imprisoned, and if the truth is not found out soon, she will likely suffer greatly. You have been in the palace for many years, with extensive connections and excellent information. Help me investigate this matter. Whether it's Consort Wang, Lan Ke'er, or any other clues related to this matter, you must find out the truth."

The head maidservant quickly replied, "Yes, Your Highness. This servant will do everything in my power to find out the truth as soon as possible and give Your Highness an explanation."

"This matter is of great importance, and you must not make a fuss about it, lest you alert the enemy," the Empress instructed again.

"This servant understands, Your Majesty, please rest assured." The head maid bowed again and hurriedly withdrew, her figure quickly disappearing into the palace corridor. The Empress gazed in the direction the head maid had left, her eyes filled with expectation and determination. She knew that within this seemingly peaceful harem, a fierce power struggle was quietly unfolding, and she had to rely on her wisdom and methods to safeguard the fairness and tranquility of the harem.

The head maid knew this matter was thorny, and the slightest mistake could lead to utter ruin. But she dared not disobey the Empress's orders, and after much deliberation, she decided to try her luck at Liu Yunniang's room under the cover of night.

The night was eerily quiet, the moonlight casting a silvery frost on the palace roof. The head maid, avoiding the patrolling guards, cautiously approached Liu Yunniang's quarters. She pushed open the door softly; the creaking sound was particularly jarring in the still night, sending a chill down her spine. She glanced around warily, making sure no one was there, before slipping inside.

A faint fragrance filled the room, a stark contrast to the stench of the prison. The head maid had no time to appreciate the room's decor; she knew time was of the essence and she needed to find useful clues as quickly as possible. She began a meticulous search, checking everything from the bookshelves to the wardrobes.

However, half an hour passed, and she still found nothing. The head maid was somewhat discouraged, but she didn't give up and decided to search more carefully. Just as she was about to leave, her gaze fell on Liu Yunniang's bed. She hesitated for a moment, then went forward and reached out to lift the pillow.

In an instant, a neatly folded letter came into view. The head maid's heart pounded, and she excitedly picked up the letter, her hands trembling slightly. She knew that this letter might hold the key to solving the mystery.

The head maid eagerly opened the letter and, by the dim moonlight, carefully read it. In the letter, Liu Yunniang meticulously recorded several conflicts between herself and Jin Lili, as well as Jin Lili's various harassments and threats against her. She also mentioned that she sensed that Consort Wang seemed to be plotting a larger conspiracy, which might be intricately connected to the situation in the harem and even the imperial court.

What surprised the head maid even more was that Liu Yunniang expressed in the letter that she suspected Lan Ke'er had been controlled by Consort Wang and had become a pawn in Consort Wang's scheme to frame her. She hoped that if something happened to her, someone would see this letter and clear her name.

After reading the letter, the head maid was filled with mixed emotions. She knew that if the contents of this letter were made public, it would cause a huge uproar in the palace. But in order to clear Liu Yunniang's name, she decided to give the letter to the Empress.

She carefully put the letter away, and after confirming that there were no traces left in the room, she quietly left. On the way, the contents of the letter kept replaying in her mind, and she secretly vowed to bring the truth to light.

In the dark and damp prison, Liu Yunniang huddled in a corner, surrounded by a nauseating stench. Her hair was disheveled and plastered to her face, and her prison clothes were tattered and worn, but her eyes shone with a resolute light.

Liu Yunniang called softly, "Little scum, little scum..." Her voice echoed in the silent prison.

A flash of light appeared, and Xiao Zha's petite figure instantly appeared before Liu Yunniang. Xiao Zha nuzzled Liu Yunniang's hand with its head and said with heartache, "Host, you've suffered."

Liu Yunniang forced a smile and said, "Little rascal, there's no time for this. I've collected some evidence and hidden it in a secret place in the prison. Now, please deliver it to the Empress's desk. This evidence is crucial; only if the Empress sees it can I clear my name."

Xiao Zha nodded, his eyes full of trust: "Host, don't worry, I will definitely deliver it."

Liu Yunniang quickly retrieved a package tightly wrapped in oiled paper from a crack in the cell wall. She carefully opened it, revealing several crucial pieces of evidence: a letter detailing Jin Lili and An Gu's conspiracy to frame her; proof of Jin Lili's purchase of arsenic, irrefutable evidence of their attempt to poison others; and the coroner's records of Cui'er, A'da, and A'san's deaths, showing dates almost identical to the time Jin Lili purchased the arsenic.

Liu Yunniang carefully wrapped up the evidence and solemnly handed it to Xiao Zha, instructing him, "Xiao Zha, be careful and don't let them find out."

Xiao Zha took the package, and in a flash, disappeared from the spot. With the special ability granted by the system, Xiao Zha moved like a ghost through every corner of the palace, skillfully avoiding all the guards and palace maids.

Soon, Xiao Zha arrived at the Queen's palace. The Queen was already resting, and the palace was quiet. Xiao Zha gently landed in front of the Queen's desk and carefully placed the package in a conspicuous spot, ensuring the Queen would see it first thing in the morning.

After completing his mission, Xiao Zha quickly returned to the prison. Seeing Xiao Zha return safely, Liu Yunniang finally felt a huge weight lifted from her heart. She knew that whether she could clear her name depended on this final gamble.