Chapter 062: Disdain

This time, it was Wu Tan who was taken aback.

Could it be—murder to silence a witness? In the palace itself? Did Huo Yunhua truly have the nerve and the means for such a thing?

She instinctively turned to look at Huo Yunhua, only to find her still kneeling there in a daze, her face betraying unmistakable shock.

“She’s dead?” Consort Xianfei was caught utterly off guard. She sprang to her feet, strode over to Aunt Qi, and demanded, “How did she die?”

“This… even I am not sure!” Aunt Qi replied, troubled. “I was ordered to question the matrons in our palace, but after searching everywhere, I couldn’t find Matron Gui. I thought perhaps she slipped away while we were all busy fighting the fire, so I took people out to look for her. That’s when we found her. I don’t know if she fell into the water by accident or was pushed. If we want to know the details, we’ll probably need to send the body out of the palace for an experienced coroner to examine.”

With Matron Gui’s death, the possibility of a direct confrontation vanished entirely.

Huo Yunhua, after the wild swings of her emotions, now felt her legs go weak. She wanted nothing more than to collapse to the ground, but being caught in the heart of the storm, she dared not let her guard down. She gritted her teeth and forced herself upright again. “Your Highness, the young lady of the Wu family accused this matron of being in collusion with me, and now, conveniently, she’s dead. Isn’t this all a little too suspicious?”

Wu Tan retorted icily, “The people sent to your estate to collect evidence haven’t even returned, yet you’re already so desperate to attack my brother and me, trying to muddy the waters. Huo Yunhua, your guilt is showing rather plainly, isn’t it?”

“Why would I be guilty? I just refuse to be framed by you!” Huo Yunhua shot back loudly. “You two plotted together and staged this whole show. If I don’t defend myself in advance, should I just wait to be convicted by your schemes?”

She truly was feeling guilty—so much so that she had lost all sense of self-preservation and was frantically searching for a way out.

Wu Qinglin, who usually disdained arguing with women, suddenly spoke up: “Why would I go to such lengths to frame your family, Huo Yunhua?”

“Because…” Huo Yunhua almost blurted out that it was because Wu Tan’s marriage to Xiao Yun had fallen through and she still had hope. But she caught herself in time, remembering that Empress Jiang and Xiao Yun were present, and forced the words back.

Though Wu Tan had said she had no interest in becoming the Crown Princess, Huo Yunhua had never believed her. Today, with the Wu siblings standing firmly against her, she was convinced it was all for personal revenge.

Her eyes darted nervously. When she saw Princess Lin’an, cheeks streaked with tears, a sudden thought struck. She raised her voice again, harsh and shrill: “Everyone knows Wu Tan and I are at odds. The two of you bear a grudge, so you forged a love letter to ruin the Princess’s reputation—not only to frame my family, but also—”

She bit her lip, throwing caution to the wind. “Now, with Her Highness’s name in ruins, and with you, Young Master Wu, having saved her life, you can use this opportunity to latch onto the imperial family! This whole affair is a double win for your family—that alone should be proof enough. Conversely, if my family were truly behind it, then why would—”

What a shameless woman, to spout such falsehoods without batting an eye—she was truly astounding!

Wu Tan, furious, laughed coldly and cut her off. “You didn’t benefit because you’re a fool! If a failed scheme equals innocence, then do all caught thieves deserve to go free?”

Huo Yunhua was left speechless, her mouth opening and closing without a word.

Consort Xianfei and her daughter, along with Li Xun’er, were all now studying Wu Qinglin with different, suspicious expressions.

Wu Qinglin noticed, but kept his face impassive. He spoke with calm dignity: “The men of the Wu family have always been upright. I, Wu Qinglin, have no desire to curry favor with those in power, nor would I stoop to such vile tricks. Miss Huo, do not judge others by yourself. I entered the burning hall to rescue people by chance; besides, Princess Lin’an was not the only one trapped in the fire. Before you speak, consider your words. You’re a young lady yet unwed—so eager to sully others’ reputations, aren’t you going too far?”

There had been five girls trapped in the blaze. In the urgency of the moment, Wu Qinglin had indeed come into physical contact with all of them while rescuing them. If responsibility was to be assigned on that basis, he would have far too many to answer to.

Huo Yunhua, beset by the Wu siblings from all sides, found herself at a loss for words despite her desperate will to survive.

Throughout it all, Xiao Yun had not said a word, observing coldly from the side.

He was not a fool. His favorable impression of Huo Yunhua was mostly rooted in the simple, innocent warmth of their childhood together. After the incident at the lake, the Empress had spoken to him at length, and he no longer trusted Huo Yunhua entirely—he simply disliked the Wu family and Wu Tan so much that he stubbornly refused to admit it. But today, with another storm breaking out in the Huayang Palace, he had watched both Wu Tan and Huo Yunhua’s every move. If Huo Yunhua had truly been the same girl he remembered—guileless and straightforward—she would have done no more than cry and plead for his help in such a situation… She would never have lashed out, accusing the Wu siblings of framing her before the handwriting experts had even returned.

Such frantic, guilty behavior was too apparent; even a fool wouldn’t be deceived, let alone Xiao Yun, who was no fool.

Now, sitting there, watching the sharp-tongued Huo Yunhua, he was not so much disappointed as repulsed by the ugliness she revealed once her mask dropped—yet she herself seemed utterly oblivious.

As for Wu Tan, who had likewise cast aside all pretense and become fierce, even rude, that too left him stifled and uneasy.

He realized now that Wu Tan’s earlier meekness in front of him had been an act. Back then, he had thought her too false—pretending to be gracious and dignified for the sake of her reputation as a noblewoman. But today he saw she simply didn’t care about reputation. She hadn’t defended herself because she didn’t care whether he misunderstood her or not. What she cared about was Wu Qinglin—so when Huo Yunhua’s actions implicated her brother, she refused to back down and fought to the end!

She simply held him in such contempt she couldn’t be bothered with appearances or his opinion of her.

Xiao Yun admitted that even now, he still felt no affection for Wu Tan. Yet realizing her true indifference toward him left him strangely disconcerted and uncomfortable.

He sat there with a cold face, watching the two women exchange barbed words.

Empress Jiang had already formed her own judgment, but had intended to wait for the people sent to the Huo estate to return. Now, however, the quarrel was giving her a headache. She ordered, “Enough! Silence, all of you! Qi Fang, go see if Fang Jin is back. And move that servant’s corpse out of sight—there are still seven or eight young ladies in the back courtyard. We don’t want to frighten them when they come out!”

“Yes, Your Highness!” Aunt Qi answered at once. But before she could leave, Aunt Fang returned with her party.

Two young eunuchs from Zhengyang Palace followed, each carrying a tray stacked with thick sheaves of handwritten drafts.

Aunt Fang had them set the items down and dismissed them. Then she produced half a letter from her sleeve. “Your Highness, these drafts were all found in the study of the Huo family's third son. I have compared them with this letter, and the handwriting is indeed the same. Please see for yourself.”

The Empress remained seated, but Consort Xianfei was the first to rush over and compare the torn letter with the drafts on the tray.

Aunt Fang continued, “When I was returning, the banquet at His Majesty’s side had just ended and the guests were leaving. I quietly had the Huo family's third son detained. Shall I bring him here for questioning?”

Huo Yunhua had not expected Aunt Fang to act so swiftly. She kept her head lowered to hide her expression, but her mind was blank—she could barely remain kneeling.

Huo Yunhao, who had kept to the shadows throughout, quietly knelt down as well.

After checking the handwriting and confirming the match, Consort Xianfei felt her blood surge with rage. Even though she was from a noble family and one of the four chief consorts, at that moment she nearly lost her mind. Her eyes reddened; she turned and kicked Huo Yunhua to the ground, shrieking, “Wretch! What do you have to say for yourself? Who gave you the gall to plot against Lin’an?”

Before Huo Yunhua could even cry out, Consort Xianfei landed another kick square on her nose. With a scream, Huo Yunhua instinctively shielded her head.

Consort Xianfei, beside herself with fury, continued to kick her recklessly. Huo Yunhua writhed on the ground in agony.

It was a disgraceful scene. Empress Jiang quickly called out, “Quick, restrain Consort Xianfei! This is unseemly!”

Aunt Qi and Aunt Fang rushed forward, but before they could pull Consort Xianfei away, a knock came at the door. A palace maid announced, “Your Majesty, Chief Steward Tao brings a message from His Majesty…”

—End of Chapter—

The little Crown Prince says: I’m just a child—why do all women have two faces? I’m traumatized for life… So frightened…

This book was first published here. Please do not repost!