Xue Xingyue followed the eunuch, her heart feeling a bit heavy. It seemed that even mentioning the Ninth Princess didn't elicit any extra expression from the Consort's eunuch, clearly indicating that the Consort was confident of victory this time.
She couldn't understand when she had offended Consort Min. Suddenly, she thought of someone – could it be the Crown Prince? But she hadn't spoken many words with the Crown Prince. Moreover, her current identity was Song Xiuyuan's wife. Could Consort Min actually believe the Crown Prince would be interested in a married woman like her?
As she was lost in thought, the eunuch leading the way stopped. She looked up and saw the words "Shuming Palace" written with strong, vigorous strokes. Shuming Palace was vast and opulent, a testament to Consort Min's favor with the Emperor. Such a person, even if offended, would likely be unassailable with the Emperor as their backing.
Thinking of this, her heart sank a little further.
Upon entering Shuming Palace, the eunuch asked her to wait there briefly. The head eunuch had already gone into the sleeping quarters to report.
The midday sun was intense. Furthermore, she had only eaten a simple bowl of Lily porridge before entering the palace that morning, fearing that any stimulating food might cause an unpleasant odor. Nearly five hours had passed by now, and she was so hungry her chest felt as if it were sticking to her back. To be left standing in the scorching sun without any shade made her feel uncomfortable.
After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the eunuch emerged and said, "Miss, please. Her Ladyship the Consort is inside."
Xue Xingyue nodded. She knew that emerging after such a long wait clearly meant Consort Min intended to put her in her place.
As she entered the main hall, she sensed a pair of rather sharp eyes scrutinizing her from the front. She couldn't look up to meet their gaze and could only force herself to walk forward. After about a dozen steps, the eunuch leading the way said, "Have you no yet paid your respects to Her Ladyship the Consort?"
Xue Xingyue curtsied and said, "This commoner pays her respects to Her Ladyship the Consort!"
After she finished speaking, there was no reply. She waited like this until her legs began to feel slightly weak. Only then did she hear a languid voice from above say, "You may rise!"
"Thank you, Her Ladyship the Consort!" If she still didn't realize that Consort Min was doing this intentionally, she would truly be a fool.
"Look up and let me have a good look," Consort Min's voice rang out again.
Xue Xingyue had no choice but to steel herself and look up. She saw a pair of sharp, beautiful eyes, as if steeped in ice, emanating a cold and sinister aura. Setting aside those eyes, she had a stunningly beautiful face. Even time's relentless march had left not a single trace on her complexion; instead, it was tender and fair, like that of a young maiden, exuding a unique radiance.
"Not bad. No wonder you could captivate His Highness the Crown Prince and Prince Min Nan," Consort Min's voice carried an extreme chill, causing Xue Xingyue to furrow her brow involuntarily.
Consort Min snorted coldly and said, "Do you know your crime?"
"This commoner does not know where her crime lies, Your Ladyship," Xue Xingyue replied.
Consort Min gave a cold smile. "You are facing death, yet you still argue with me. Very well, then I shall tell you your crime. Lu Ming, tell her what mistake you have made?"
Lu Ming, the senior eunuch who had first appeared in Tianlu Pavilion, stepped forward to Xue Xingyue and said, "Miss Xue, already a future Prime Minister's wife, has secretly met with Prince Min Nan in the Imperial Garden and attempted to seduce His Highness the Crown Prince."
"Do you understand? As a future Prime Minister's wife, your conduct is improper and uncivilized. Do you still not realize your guilt?"
Upon hearing this, Xue Xingyue looked up and said, word by word, "Is it not easy to condemn someone who has already been judged? Moreover, how did Your Ladyship come to know of my secret meeting with Prince Min Nan? Where is the evidence? Or is it that Your Ladyship speaks without basis?"
"Insolent! Are you speaking to me like this?" Consort Min was furious, her hand slamming onto the chair with a sound that indicated considerable force.
"Did I not just spend the entire time speaking with someone else?" Xue Xingyue asked coldly, observing Consort Min's rage.
"You..." Consort Min clutched her chest, then said with cold anger, "Such defiance towards me is a capital offense. Guards, drag her out and give her forty heavy lashes."
Xue Xingyue did not move, but looked at Consort Min coldly and said, "Your Ladyship, do you intend to beat this commoner to death? Despite my humble status, I will soon be the Prime Minister's wife. Does Your Ladyship intend to assault the Prime Minister's wife?"
Consort Min let out a cold, mocking laugh. "As you said, 'soon'. Now, you are but an ant, an ant that I can crush at will. Drag her out and give her forty heavy lashes." The word "heavy" was spoken through gritted teeth by Consort Min.
Several young eunuchs stepped forward to seize Xue Xingyue. Xue Xingyue turned around and said coldly, "Do not touch me." Her voice was like a biting cold wind, like that of a noble goddess. The young eunuchs instinctively took a few steps back.
"Useless! Why aren't you dragging her out immediately?" Consort Min roared in fury.
The young eunuchs, gritting their teeth, lunged at Xue Xingyue. Xue Xingyue's hand was already on the soft whip at her waist, waiting for them to get close before drawing it. She wasn't afraid of offending any Consort. She had merely hoped to leave the palace safely and restrain herself. However, if some people insisted on provoking her, she couldn't allow the situation to escalate further. At worst, she would give up any claim to the Dragon Pendant; she was alone and what did she have to fear?