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墨書 Inktalez
I took a deep breath and slowly knelt down. "Your Highness, I am unworthy of your kindness. As for the matter concerning my father, there will be a fair judgment; I do not dare to hope for more. I only wish to serve the Emperor faithfully and alleviate your worries."
Consort Shu's expression darkened instantly. "Good! What a fine notion of 'serving faithfully'! Shen Wei Lan, remember this is your own choice! Don't regret it!"
I knew I had thoroughly angered her. From this point on, she would undoubtedly spare no effort in dealing with me.
Sure enough, just a few days later, rumors suddenly spread throughout the palace, claiming that I had used my medical skills to secretly collude with remnants of the previous dynasty, harboring ill intentions. Some even "accidentally" discovered so-called "evidence"—a few letters that imitated my father's handwriting, containing ambiguous content that hinted at treason.
In no time, the city was in an uproar. In the court, Consort Shu's father, Left Chancellor Lin Yuan, immediately seized the opportunity to unite several officials in petitioning for a thorough investigation into the matter, demanding that I be imprisoned in the dungeons.
Xiao Jingyuan faced immense pressure. On one side was his favored consort; on the other was a powerful chancellor and a surging tide of public opinion.
He summoned me once more. This time, his gaze was weary yet sharp.
"Wei Lan, tell me, are those letters real?"
I knelt on the ground, tears finally slipping down my cheeks. Not out of fear, but from feeling wronged by this endless framing and scheming.
"Your Majesty, I swear to Heaven that those letters are forgeries! My father has long been exiled, his fate unknown; how could I possibly contact him? Let alone collude with remnants of the previous dynasty! This is all a deliberate frame-up by someone!"
"Who?"
I raised my head and looked into his eyes. "Does Your Majesty not have an answer in your heart?"
He fell silent. After a long pause, he sighed. "I believe you. However, public opinion is formidable. Lin's influence is vast; if we do not give them an explanation regarding this matter, it may be difficult to quell."
My heart sank. His implication was... to sacrifice me?
"I..." He seemed to struggle with his words. "I will issue an edict to temporarily relocate you to the Cold Palace. It will be said to be for reflection but is truly for your protection. Once the storm passes, I will find a way..."
The Cold Palace! That was a place from which one could not return! How many discarded consorts had ended their lives there, turning into mere bones!
No! I cannot go! Once I entered the Cold Palace, I would truly be at their mercy!
"Your Majesty!" I suddenly knocked my head against the ground, my voice tinged with desperation. "I will not go to the Cold Palace! I am innocent! Please grant me a chance to prove my innocence!"
Xiao Jingyuan looked at me, a flicker of struggle in his eyes.
"How will you prove it?"
"Please give me three days!" I gritted my teeth. "I will surely find out who is behind this and prove my innocence!"
Three days? Faced with Consort Shu and Left Chancellor's meticulously laid trap, three days seemed far too short.
Xiao Jingyuan gazed at my resolute expression and finally nodded. "Very well, I grant you three days. After three days, if you cannot prove your innocence, do not blame me for being heartless."
"Thank You, Your Majesty!"
As I stepped out of Zicheng Hall, I felt a chill run through my entire body, my steps unsteady. I had only three days—just three days left. This was my Last Chance.
Returning to Qing Zhi Pavilion, I immediately began to take action. The first thing that came to mind was the forged letters. To imitate the handwriting, one needed to be very familiar with the original's style. Aside from family, the people who had the most contact with my father's writing were those from the Imperial Medical Bureau and... the Colleagues who had been close to him in the past.
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