She's skilled in medicine, martial arts, and even understands animal language—the abandoned dau

She knew that entering the palace was like entering a dragon's den or a tiger's lair, and that the slightest mistake could lead to utter ruin, but for Chu Zhiyi and for the truth, she was prepared to die.

She was dressed in plain clothes and waited solemnly at the palace gate.

However, half an hour later, it was not the emperor who summoned her, but Empress Cui Jintang.

Shen Man's heart sank. She knew that Cui Jintang was no kind person and that being summoned by her this time was probably a trap.

But in order to seek justice for Chu Zhiyi and Li Muyun, she still gritted her teeth and stepped into Fengyi Palace.

Upon entering the palace, one sees Cui Jintang sitting regally in the main seat, her makeup exquisite, but her eyes revealing a chilling coldness.

Seeing Shen Man enter, a faint smile appeared on her lips: "As expected of a country bumpkin, she doesn't know any manners. She doesn't even know to kneel and pay her respects to me! Zilu, go and teach her some manners..."

Upon hearing this, Zilu raised her leg and kicked at Shen Man's knee.

Shen Man's eyes narrowed, and she deftly dodged Zi Luo's sharp kick, then grabbed Zi Luo's wrist.

However, Zilu quickly broke free from her control and raised her hand to slap her face.

Shen Man was surprised to see that she reacted so quickly. She hadn't expected that the Empress's personal maid was actually a martial arts practitioner.

This further convinced her of one thing: the fake Taoist priest last time and the murder of Chu Zhiyi this time were both inextricably linked to the Empress.

Many thoughts flashed through Shen Man's mind, but her hands moved without the slightest hesitation.

She pulled a needle from her body and stabbed it straight into Zilu's palm.

"Ah!" Zilu cried out in pain.

The smile on Cui Jintang's face vanished instantly, replaced by anger: "How dare you be so insolent in front of me!"

She slammed her hand on the table, making the teacups on it shake.

Shen Man remained calm and composed, patting her sleeves as if she had merely brushed off a speck of dust, and coldly said, "Your Majesty, I did not come to the palace today to be lectured on etiquette."

"I have come to see His Majesty today with urgent matters to discuss, concerning the life and safety of Consort Li and His Highness the First Prince."

Cui Jintang parted her lips slightly and said casually, "His Majesty is busy with countless affairs of state. He has no time to listen to your baseless remarks. If you have something to say, you can tell me."

Shen Man took a deep breath, looked directly into Cui Jintang's eyes, and said, word by word, "Consort Li was kidnapped by villains, and His Highness the First Prince perished in a fire while trying to save her. This commoner wishes to request His Majesty to thoroughly investigate this matter and bring justice to His Highness the First Prince!"

Cui Jintang's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure and sneered, "Miss Ding, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. You said the First Prince perished in the fire, do you have any evidence? Could it be that you're deliberately fabricating these lies to evade responsibility and confuse the public?"

Shen Man was burning with anger. She took out a small piece of clothing embroidered with Japanese samurai patterns that she had found in the abandoned house and presented it, saying, "I found this in a place that seemed to be a Japanese samurai stronghold while I was looking for Lady Li. This is the evidence."

Cui Jintang took the hem of the garment, glanced at it casually, and tossed it aside: "It's just a tattered piece of cloth, what can it prove? Maybe you forged it yourself. Guards, take this country bumpkin who's spouting nonsense away!"

As soon as she finished speaking, a group of guards rushed in and surrounded Shen Man.

Shen Man struggled and shouted, "Your Majesty, you have distorted the truth and you will be punished one day!"

"Retribution? Only an incompetent person would believe in such a thing. As the Empress, in charge of the six palaces, I have no fear of any retribution!"

Cui Jintang's eyebrows furrowed, and a ruthless glint flashed in her eyes.

Shen Man was being forcibly held back by the guards, but she was still struggling. Her voice echoed in the Phoenix Palace: "Your Majesty, do you think you can cover up the truth like this? The truth will eventually come out to the world!"

Just as Shen Man was about to be dragged out of the palace, a strong voice suddenly rang out: "Wait!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw the Emperor walking in with steady steps.

Cui Jintang's expression changed drastically, and his previously arrogant demeanor instantly subsided. He quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, what brings you here?"

The Emperor ignored her and walked straight to Shen Man. He raised his hand to signal the guards to release her, and his voice was deep but carried an unquestionable authority: "Miss Ding, what do you have to say?"

Shen Man rubbed her wrists, which were sore from being bound, and knelt down with a thud. Her eyes were red and her voice was filled with sorrow: "Your Majesty, Consort Li was kidnapped by villains yesterday. They left a letter for His Highness the First Prince, asking him to go alone to the abandoned City God Temple in the west of the city."

The First Prince went to the City God Temple and was attacked by a group of unidentified men in black, tragically perishing in the fire. We implore Your Majesty to conduct a thorough investigation and bring justice to the First Prince!

"What did you say? Yi'er is dead?" Upon hearing this, the Emperor was struck dumb, and his body swayed violently.

“Your Majesty, this is absolutely true. I suspect that the attack on His Highness the Crown Prince was carried out by a group of Japanese. This is the clue they left behind.”

As she spoke, she presented the hem of her garment embroidered with Japanese samurai patterns once again.

The Emperor took the hem of the robe, examined it carefully, his face growing increasingly grim. He turned to Cui Jintang and asked, "Empress, what do you think of this matter?"

Cui Jintang was flustered, but she still tried to remain calm and stepped forward, saying, "Your Majesty, Ding Man's origins are unknown. She suddenly said these shocking things and took out this rag from who-knows-where. She is clearly up to no good and is deliberately trying to disrupt the palace. I am afraid that she has ill intentions, so I want to take her away for questioning."

Shen Man said urgently, "Your Majesty, everything I have said is true. If there is even a single lie, I am willing to be torn to pieces! That piece of clothing was found in an abandoned house near the City God Temple, where there are many signs that it was a stronghold of Japanese samurai."

The Emperor frowned, pondered for a moment, and then said in a deep voice, "This matter is of great importance, and I must investigate it thoroughly. Issue my decree to immediately dispatch secret guards to investigate this matter and uncover the truth."

"Your Majesty, would you rather believe an outsider than your concubine?"

The Emperor looked at the Empress with doubt in his eyes and said slowly, "It's not that I don't trust you, but this matter is of great importance and cannot be taken lightly."

Empress Cui Jintang felt a surge of hatred in her heart, but on the surface she forced a look of extreme grievance, her eyes filled with tears, and said weakly, "Your Majesty, since you insist on investigating, I naturally dare not stop you. However, during this investigation, there will inevitably be many complicated matters, and I am worried that Your Majesty will overwork yourself and harm your health."

As she spoke, she gently raised her hand and wiped the corner of her eye with a handkerchief, giving Zilu a subtle wink to Zilu behind her.

Zilu understood and quietly withdrew.

A moment later, she came in carrying a steaming cup of ginseng tea and respectfully presented it to the Emperor: "Your Majesty, this is ginseng tea that Her Majesty the Empress specially instructed the Imperial Kitchen to brew for you. Drinking it will help you relax."