"Yes," Cai Xia responded and walked toward Granny Gan.
The crowd below only felt a sudden clarity, the pace was indeed too fast, one climax following another, too rapid for the eye to follow, left them unable to react, and finally with a snap, it was extinguished, the previously tense atmosphere felt like their illusion.
The people from the two palaces observed the calm, Consort De seemed to have returned to her former demeanor, and Noble Consort also regained her usual composure, both sitting as if engaging in casual conversation.
Only the several corpses lying on the ground, and the still breathing Granny Gan, reminded everyone that this was not a dream.
Consort De, looking at the cleaned whip with some satisfaction and without raising her head, said, "Ming Jing, read out the crimes of this granny and the servant who was executed by caning, to Noble Consort. No need for the flowery words often used by her people."
"Yes," Ming Jing opened the booklet and began to recite the crimes of accepting bribes by Granny Gan and Cheng Shisan’s spying on the sacred carriage.
Noble Consort, stroking her Armor, inquired, "Is there any witness or physical evidence?"
Ming Xin was already prepared, and bowed his head to present the evidence of the crimes.
Ming Jing said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Consort, this is the property Granny Gan sent out of the palace. The person who helped her send it out was also captured and dealt with. Does Consort wish to inquire about it?"
Noble Consort glanced at the ghastly pale Granny Gan and suppressed a look of disgust, "No need, though this old woman is detestable, her crimes do not warrant death. It’s quite pitiful to see her in this state. Find a medicine woman to see to her, which also demonstrates our benevolence and mercy. Consort De, you do not object, do you?"
The medicine women of this dynasty, born of low status, usually treated servants.
Consort De shifted her gaze from the whip and also glanced at Granny Gan, her tone cool, "Even those who target the consorts have been uncovered, how could I oppose such a trivial matter?"
Granny Gan, now too weak to cry out, shivered unconsciously, curling up her upper body. She was in pain, her whole body ached, but her knees hurt the most, sweating profusely from the pain, almost becoming numb.
Noble Consort smiled, but did not follow up, then asked, "And the servant who was executed by caning, did anyone see him spying on the sacred carriage?"
Impatiently, Consort De threw the whip on the table with a "slap," startling everyone present.
Xue Wanjun, when would it ever end? This ledger was handed to her by Cao De, with Cheng Shisan’s name circled in red, the Emperor specifically marked him for an example to let those in the Harem weigh their actions, a warning originating from monitoring Canglan Court.
Of course, knowing Cheng Shisan was acting like a scout aiming to harm Lian Hua for Noble Consort, she also harbored the intent to kill.
But how could she say these things!
Xue Wanjun knew what Cheng Shisan had done, yet feigned ignorance and sought a witness.
Such witness, let alone being unable to produce, even if brought forward, could still be questioned for knowing whether Cheng Shisan was truly spying on the sacred carriage.
Truly, even in unfounded cases, Xue Wanjun stirred trouble.
Consort Xu De looked impatiently at Noble Consort and said, "To know whether this servant was spying on the sacred carriage is simple! The ledger clearly records the date and place he went to spy on the sacred carriage, why not ask His Majesty to verify whether the servant’s whereabouts coincide with His Majesty’s?"
"However, Consort should think carefully. This servant has visited Huaqing Palace numerous times, closely interacting with people from your palace. Could it be that this servant was spying on the carriage under your command? Or was it merely visiting relatives at Huaqing Palace?"
Noble Consort’s eyelid twitched as she berated, "Consort De, watch your words!"
She had always known that Xu Rongying spoke bluntly, yet she had experienced it time and again. To directly point out that it was her instigated person, ha, was there any evidence!
Even relatives had come into the picture, which master would have a relative who was an eunuch? Xu Rongying’s words were really too oppressive, infuriating her as well!
Yet, Xu Rongying knew such intricate details that it left her no choice but to be on guard. Moreover, this barbarian girl was brazen, directly proposing to seek His Majesty for a decision, making it impossible for her to continue, utterly infuriating!
Enough, if she pursued it relentlessly, it might really lead to a connection with Huaqing Palace, then the situation would not end well.
She glanced at the assembly and looked at the booklet in Ming Jing’s hands, "What is this booklet? Bring it here, let me see what is written on it."
Upon hearing this, Cai Xia walked over first. Ming Jing looked at Consort Xu De and handed it over to Cai Xia after seeing her nod.
Noble Consort took the booklet and was startled upon opening it—her heart skipped a beat.
Cheng Shisan and Granny Gan were one thing, merely Consort De trying to undercut her authority.
But more than eighty percent of the people listed in this booklet were her own. How did Consort De possess such capability?!
Before coming here, Cai Qin had speculated that Consort De’s grand display aimed to purge her people from the palace, reduce her control in the palace, set an example to make the entire harem obedient, and smoothly ascend to control the entire harem, killing multiple birds with one stone.
She still had some doubts in her heart, after all, she was still in her position, even if Consort De ascended, she was still overseeing the harem.
To purge her people couldn’t be so brazen, could it?
She thought undermining her authority was inevitable, after all, it was the new official’s three fires, merely establishing authority.
Having operated in the palace for many years, purging her people would not be an easy task, and she doubted Consort De had such capability.
When she arrived and saw so many people afar, with all the Managers there, she felt her speculation wasn’t wrong; Consort De’s aim was more about establishing authority.
Latterly seeing Xu Rongying’s brutal and unpopular method of establishing authority, although she was angry that Xu Rongying disregarded what she said, she was secretly pleased. This move was exactly what she had anticipated, so she proceeded accordingly with the strategy previously planned in the palace.
Many people worked for her, she had not met everyone since the low-ranking servants were not qualified to see her. Previously, Nanny Chen organized these people, now Cai Qin took over, so although she saw many kneeling, she did not match the faces.
But she knew which ones she could use, their names, and matters they managed were all clear to her.
Seeing this booklet, she truly recognized how thoroughly Xu Rongying knew her, letting Cai Qin’s guess be right—the barbarian girl truly dared to wipe her out in one swoop!
Noble Consort Xue held the booklet, flipping from the beginning to the end, her heart turned ice cold, the contents shockingly eye-opening, her eyelids twitching violently.
If they really handled it according to this booklet, she would be blind in this palace, like a toothless tiger, a complete joke!
Controlling the entire harem was not as simple as just talking about it. To grasp the nuances in the palace, she needed her people in every position to carry out what she wanted to accomplish.