“Since there is no time, why aren’t you finding the real culprit?” Madam Zhou asked with a cold laugh.
Madam Sun was so furious she couldn’t speak. She knew perfectly well it was Madam Zhou, but without evidence, she couldn’t openly accuse her. She surmised that Madam Zhou knew she lacked proof, which was why she dared to bully her.
“Zhou Fenli, you are truly heartless! One is your own brother, the other your cousin. How could you do such a thing? Are you not afraid of heavenly retribution?”
“Sister-in-law, if you continue to accuse me unjustly, we may have to seek judgment from the 京兆府尹 (Jingzhao Prefectural Magistrate),” Madam Zhou said coldly.
“No wonder you have no children after half a year of marriage. It turns out you’ve done too many wicked deeds, and heaven is punishing you…”
Madam Sun, enraged, had lost all restraint and was speaking incoherently.
“Madam Zhou, one can eat whatever they please, but one cannot speak whatever they please…”
A cold voice interrupted the conversation between the two women in the room. Madam Zhou and Madam Sun turned towards the doorway.
A figure stood there, his tall frame blocking the moonlight streaming in. By the dim candlelight, Madam Sun saw that the person arriving with the moonlight was none other than Shen Yunxuan, who was supposed to have been framed for an illicit affair with Fan Yunxiu.
Madam Sun’s body trembled, and she involuntarily took a step back. “Lord Shen…”
“Your Lordship…” Madam Zhou’s heart sank. Had he heard their conversation just now? How much had he heard? Madam Zhou felt guilty and dared not look at Shen Yunxuan, fearing that the image of a gentle and considerate wife she had cultivated in his heart would shatter instantly.
Madam Sun felt a pang of fear. Would Shen Yunxuan be furious knowing she had plotted against him? Would Madam Zhou openly reveal everything? She looked at Madam Zhou, only to see her looking somewhat guilty and unable to meet her gaze. Madam Sun secretly thought, what new scheme was Madam Zhou brewing? Suddenly, something flashed through her mind, and she realized that Madam Zhou was likely just as afraid as she was of Shen Yunxuan finding out those things! After all, Madam Zhou had always been gentle in Shen Yunxuan’s eyes. If she could tear off Madam Zhou’s hypocritical mask, perhaps Shen Yunxuan would realize that this Madam Zhou was not as harmless as he imagined.
“Lord Shen, I beg you to give this humble wife justice,” Madam Sun suddenly knelt before Shen Yunxuan.
Shen Yunxuan was taken aback. Looking at Madam Sun, he said indifferently, “Madam Zhou, if you have a grievance, you can go to the 京兆府尹 (Jingzhao Prefectural Magistrate). This official does not handle cases here.”
Madam Sun was stunned. She looked up and saw Shen Yunxuan’s icy gaze, her heart sinking. But at this point, she had no other recourse. She had to press on. “Lord Shen, this humble wife knows that whatever I say next, you will not believe a single word, but you must listen. You absolutely must not be deceived by Madam Zhou.”
“Madam Zhou, what you say must be supported by evidence. Without proof or evidence, if you insult this official’s wife, this official will absolutely not let it go.”
Madam Sun steeled herself and said, “My lord, do you know that all of this was orchestrated by Madam Zhou? She arranged for her brother and her cousin to commit adultery in the imperial palace. Such a vicious woman, my lord should truly divorce her.”
Madam Zhou looked up. She looked at Madam Sun, never imagining that Madam Sun actually hoped his lordship would divorce her.
“You say my wife orchestrated for her brother and cousin to commit adultery here?”
“Yes, I implore Lord Shen to investigate,” Madam Sun said, kneeling on the ground, her back straight, speaking word by word.
“Madam Sun, do you know that framing the family member of a court official can result in thirty strokes of the cane at best, or exile at worst? Have you thought this through?”
“This humble wife has thought it through, as long as Lord Shen does not show favoritism to his wife.”
“Then, Madam Sun, do you dare to accompany this official to see the Emperor?” Shen Yunxuan said, looking at Madam Sun, word by word.
“How could this humble wife dare not?” Madam Sun replied.
Madam Zhou frowned, looking at Madam Sun, who was speaking with such righteous indignation. She wondered if she had overlooked something. Xue Zining heard that Shen Yunxuan wished to see her and initially thought it was about the upcoming sacrificial ceremony. However, upon summoning him, she realized it wasn’t about the ceremony. She recognized Madam Zhou from behind; they had spoken a few days prior with the aim of resolving Madam Zhou’s misunderstanding regarding her and Shen Yunxuan. At the time, Xue Zining had been forced to reveal the jade pendant Shen Yunxuan had given her years ago, which had led to Sun Zhiyuan and others. But afterwards, she felt it was inappropriate. Who would want their husband to have been involved in past ambiguous relationships with other women, and for that woman to constantly see her husband? After the incident with Li Chenxuan, Xue Zining had become much more cautious, especially after learning that Shen Yunxuan was already married. She avoided entrusting many matters to Shen Yunxuan, instead directly giving them to Wen Yuxi.
“Lord Shen, Madam Shen, is there something you need?” Xue Zining asked Shen Yunxuan.
“Greetings to Your Majesty!” Shen Yunxuan and Madam Zhou bowed. Madam Sun, meeting the Empress for the first time, was somewhat flustered. Only after Shen Yunxuan and Madam Zhou had paid their respects did she think to do the same.
“All of you may rise!” Xue Zining said calmly. Madam Sun had not expected the Empress to possess such authority. This powerful aura made her unable to stand upright.
“Lord Shen, state your business directly,” Xue Zining said, looking at Shen Yunxuan.
Shen Yunxuan stepped forward and bowed. “Your Majesty, Madam Zhou accuses this official’s wife of framing her brother and causing him to commit adultery with his cousin.”
Xue Zining frowned. She had heard about this matter from Feng Ling’er. At the time, Feng Ling’er had commented that the Zhou family was quite amusing. If they wanted to take a concubine, they should do so at home, why bother coming to the imperial palace for such a deed? Feng Xi Ning, however, felt that the matter was not so simple. Now that it had been brought to her attention, she couldn’t very well not investigate.
“Is this Madam Zhou?” Xue Zining looked at Madam Sun.
Madam Sun quickly bowed. “This humble wife is.”
“You claim Madam Shen framed her own brother and instigated him to commit adultery with his cousin. Does Madam Zhou have proof?”
Madam Sun replied, “If not her, then who else could it be?”
“Madam Sun, what I require is evidence.”
“Old Madam Zhou can bear witness,” Madam Sun said.
Madam Zhou’s body stiffened slightly. She bit her lower lip. Then she heard the Empress say coldly, “Please summon Old Madam Zhou.”
Madam Fan, also meeting the Empress for the first time, felt a sense of fear. However, she had to come, as it was the Empress who had summoned her. Upon arriving at the Empress’s chambers in the imperial palace, Madam Fan knelt and bowed. A clear and beautiful voice came from above, “Rise!” Madam Fan was then helped to her feet.
Xue Zining said, “Madam Zhou accuses Madam Shen of framing her brother and instigating him to commit adultery with his cousin. Does Old Madam Zhou know of this matter?”
Madam Fan was taken aback. She looked at Madam Zhou and then at Madam Sun. One was her own daughter, the other her daughter-in-law. She found it difficult to decide who was more important.
“Mother,” Madam Sun called out.
Madam Fan looked up at Madam Zhou. Madam Zhou’s gaze was calm, yet devoid of any sense of grievance.