The poison must have been ingested when the guards went to Zhonghua Palace to apprehend her, but it only manifested now.
Taken completely by surprise by this turn of events, the Empress Dowager was enraged upon hearing the news.
"Drag her out of the palace and leave her exposed for three days. During these three days, no one is allowed to approach her, nor is anyone to collect her body!"
A palace servant committing suicide was a grave offense. According to palace rules, her entire clan would have to face punishment, making this penalty relatively lenient.
The guards quickly dragged Yao Xin's body away. Concubine Ning watched from the side, her expression carefully controlled, not daring to show any hint of sadness.
With Yao Xin taking the full blame, the Empress Dowager could no longer pursue Concubine Ning's culpability. However, the core issue in this incident was not Concubine Ning.
Having endured an entire night of interrogation without torture, only to be stared at by guards, Ye Tingyu's spirit was severely battered.
Just as he finally endured the questioning and was being led back to his cell, he heard the news that Concubine Ning had instructed someone to poison Feng Yinwan. His eyes rolled back, and he directly fainted.
Although he was implicated in this matter, there was no substantive evidence. At most, he would have to suffer some hardship, but he could not be convicted. However, with Concubine Ning's actions, the situation had completely changed.
If it had succeeded, it would have been fine. But with its failure, it had backfired, inadvertently confirming the matter.
And now that the woman was poisoned to death by her, he was beyond redemption.
Outside the palace, someone was clearly more aware of the situation than he was.
Yao Xin's body was dragged outside the palace gates to be exposed in the morning, and Ning Fengzhi requested an audience in the palace that afternoon.
When the Empress Dowager heard this news, she was in the Emperor's sleeping quarters. Upon hearing it, she rose immediately.
"Where is he now?"
Such swiftness indicated that Ye Tinglan's previous guess was indeed correct; they had already been lying in wait near the capital.
Eunuch Gao glanced at Jiang Rumo beside him and replied in a low voice, "Prince Mo has brought him to the council hall. The Empress Dowager may proceed there directly."
The Empress Dowager nodded and began to walk out. Eunuch Gao followed to see her off. Upon his return, he noticed a half-drunk cup of tea on the table. He paused for a moment before stepping forward to collect it.
...
The Council Hall.
Besides Ye Tinglan and Ning Fengzhi, there was no one else in the hall.
Ning Fengzhi's intention for this visit was self-evident, but he was unwilling to discuss the matter with Ye Tinglan before seeing the Empress Dowager.
After the time it took for half a cup of tea to brew, the Empress Dowager arrived from the rear palace. Upon seeing her, Ning Fengzhi immediately rose.
"Your subject greets the Empress Dowager."
He performed the grand ceremony. The Empress Dowager glanced at him and nodded indifferently.
"Minister Ning, please rise. There is no need to be so formal."
Ning Fengzhi, however, did not move. He lowered his head and held an object in his hand, presenting it above his head without preamble.
He made no attempt to conceal it. Upon closer inspection, it was easily discernible as a bronze tally in the shape of a leopard.
Seeing this object, his purpose became clear.
This was the military tally that could mobilize all the forces of Yuzhou. By handing it over now, Ning Fengzhi sought to exchange it for Ye Tingyu's life.
"I know I deserve death and dare not ask the Empress Dowager to absolve me of my guilt. I have come today to present this military tally, hoping to implore the Empress Dowager to spare the life of Yu'er."
"Yu'er's mind is simple, and he acted out of foolishness. I implore the Empress Dowager, for the sake of his royal bloodline, to forgive him this once!"
At this point, no matter how much they regretted it, they had to accept responsibility.
The original intention of going through such trouble was to seize his military power. Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager did not make things difficult.
"I promise you."
Only then did Ning Fengzhi relax upon receiving this answer. As he was about to step forward to present the military tally, a servant suddenly burst in from outside.
The man whispered something into his ear, and Ning Fengzhi's expression immediately changed.