Chapter 23: The Truth Pierces the Gloom, Happiness Reaches its Zenith

I held the jade pendant, turning it over and over in my hands. The strange symbol engraved upon it grew more familiar the longer I stared.

Suddenly, a realization flashed through my mind. Wasn't this... the exact same pattern as the one on the hairpin Noble Consort Xiao had accidentally dropped during the palace banquet?

Could it be that she was the mastermind behind it all?

I shared my suspicions with He Yunsheng. His face went pale with shock. "Noble Consort Xiao? But why would she do such a thing?"

I shook my head. "I don't know, but I suspect we will have the answer soon enough."

For the next few days, I acted as though nothing had happened. I went about my life in the palace, eating and drinking as usual, occasionally playing with the stray cats and dogs, all while keeping a close eye on the movements of the Noble Consort.

My persistence paid off. I finally learned that Noble Consort Xiao had been in close contact with a mysterious individual. It was said that this person was always cloaked in black, face concealed, shrouded in secrecy; no one knew his true identity.

Could this be the leader of the masked men who had hunted us down before?

I felt a surge of secret triumph. It seemed my guess was correct—the mastermind was indeed Noble Consort Xiao. To confirm my suspicions further, I decided to risk tailing her.

On a dark, moonless night, I slipped out of my quarters and followed the Noble Consort to a remote corner of the palace. Hiding in the shadows, I watched as she conferred with the man in black. I pricked up my ears, straining to hear their hushed conversation.

"Is the task done?" the Noble Consort asked.

"Everything is going smoothly, Your Ladyship," the man replied respectfully.

"Excellent," she nodded, satisfied. "Once Lu Wan'er is disposed of, this inner palace will be mine to command!"

I gasped inwardly. So, I was her target! I clenched my fists, desperate to rush out and confront her, but I knew I needed concrete evidence to expose her true colors and ensure she received the punishment she deserved. I continued to listen, hoping for more information.

"Oh, and one more thing," the Noble Consort added, as if struck by a thought. "Have you taken care of the items in the secret chamber?"

"Rest assured, Your Ladyship," the man replied quickly. "It has been thoroughly handled. Not a single trace remains."

A secret chamber? What secret chamber? My mind was filled with confusion. Were there more chambers than the one I had discovered previously? I decided to investigate once they had departed.

After a short while, the two left. I stepped out from the shadows and cautiously followed their path until I reached a dilapidated, abandoned palace. The heavy gates were shut tight, giving off an eerie, sinister air. I took a deep breath and pushed the doors open.

"This... this is..." I exclaimed, recognizing the familiar furnishings before me.

He Yunsheng poked his head out from behind me. "Sister Wan'er, what is it?"

I pointed at the surroundings. "This... this is the very secret chamber I discovered before!"

"What?!" He Yunsheng looked equally stunned. "How can this be?"

I shook my head, at a loss. Just then, I noticed a painting hanging on the wall. I walked over to inspect it and noticed something concealed behind the frame. Reaching out, I felt what seemed to be a book. Carefully, I removed the painting, and sure enough, a book was hidden behind it.

I opened the volume and flipped through the pages, finding records of various palace scandals. As I scanned the text, my gaze locked onto a particular passage. It detailed the dark secrets of Noble Consort Xiao.

"So that’s it," I whispered to myself.

"Sister Wan'er, what did you find?" He Yunsheng asked curiously.

I closed the book and took a deep breath. "I finally know the truth." I looked up at him and said, "Let’s go. We’re going to find the Emperor."

He Yunsheng nodded, and we left the secret chamber together. Shortly after we departed, a dark shadow appeared at the entrance.

"Hmph, you think you can escape my grasp so easily?" the shadow sneered. "How naive."

The shadow reached into his robes and pulled out an object...

I rushed to the Imperial Study with He Yunsheng, clutching the secret history that held the proof of the Noble Consort’s crimes. Upon hearing my report, the Emperor’s face turned ashen, and he immediately ordered a thorough investigation.

With the evidence irrefutable, Noble Consort Xiao had no defense and was ultimately cast into the cold palace. As for the man in black, it was no surprise to find that he was none other than Eunuch Wang. His crimes of corruption and framing the innocent were exposed, leading to his execution.

Phew! Finally, a weight had been lifted.

Having escaped that den of intrigue, He Yunsheng and I moved to a small courtyard on the outskirts of the city, living a life of blissful tranquility. Using the wealth I had "saved" while in the palace, I bought a few shops and started a business. My business acumen, combined with He Yunsheng’s pure and kind heart, proved to be a perfect match. Before long, our business was thriving, and we were quite prosperous.

"Sister Wan'er, look! Isn't this little toy fun?" He Yunsheng held a rattle-drum, waving it in front of me like a child.

I smiled and pinched his cheek. "Yes, it’s fun. Everything you play with is fun."

Life was peaceful and happy, and I believed it would stay that way forever... until one day, a travel-worn stranger appeared at our doorstep. He handed me a letter. My name was written clearly on the envelope in elegant, delicate handwriting, yet it carried an indescribable... chill.

Confused, I took the letter and slowly opened it. My hands began to tremble.

"Yunsheng, look..."