Mei'er lowered her head and thought for a long time. She always felt that the Empress Dowager was giving her a chance. As long as she could produce evidence, she would be able to leave safely.
With this thought in mind, she quickly took out a sales contract from her body.
"This sales contract can prove that what this servant said is true. The name of the steward of Concubine Rui's maternal family is clearly written on it. The steward had served in Concubine Rui's maternal family for many years. I was bought back by the steward and entered the palace with the Concubine."
Without Shi Muyuan's order, Xiao Xiao directly took the sales contract.
Actually, the original purpose of creating the sales contract was just to prevent the servants from running away so that their master families could be traced. Now it came in handy.
Xiao Xiao nodded slightly. "Empress Dowager, the name of the steward of Concubine Rui's maternal family is indeed written on it. Everything Mei'er said is true."
Shi Muyuan gently tapped on her armor and looked at Concubine Rui with a smile. "Now, sister, what else do you have to say? All the evidence points to you. So it was you who were jealous of me and had people spread rumors behind my back?"
Concubine Rui was about to argue when suddenly, the voice of an eunuch came from outside.
"His Majesty the Emperor is coming."
Then, a small figure appeared in everyone's sight. Concubine Rui seemed to have grabbed a life - saving straw.
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is bent on framing me and getting rid of me from the harem. Please uphold justice for me."
Ji Heng gave her a disdainful glance, his eyes full of coldness.
"It's better not to speak too soon, Concubine. You said that the Empress Dowager is trying to frame you. What evidence do you have? I've heard that what the Concubine did has been testified by the maid. This matter has affected the court. I came here today just to see with my own eyes who has the audacity to do such a thing."
Although the Emperor was still young, the dignity on him made him seem like a real ruler. Concubine Rui didn't dare to look him in the eye for a moment.
Shi Muyuan was quite satisfied with this. "Heng'er, let me handle this matter. I haven't managed the harem affairs for a long time, which has made some people think that I'm out of touch."
The Emperor walked step by step to her side, his small face full of seriousness.
"I came here this time to help you, Mother. Since you don't need my help, I'll just watch from the side."
The two of them sat on the high seats together, making everyone below feel extremely nervous.
Concubine Rui didn't expect the Emperor not to help her. She gritted her teeth and wanted to continue struggling.
Mei'er directly played her last card. "By the way, I left some evidence when I went to deliver the message."
"Oh? It seems that you really cherish your life. In that case, show the evidence to me."
Mei'er slowly took out a jade pendant from her body.
"At that time, when the Concubine asked me to leave, I sensed something was wrong. So before I left, I quietly took the jade pendant that the Concubine always carried with her. This was the token of love from the late Emperor to the Concubine, and she never left it."
As soon as the jade pendant was taken out, the lifelike dragon on it shocked everyone. Yes, it was really the late Emperor's jade pendant. Now everything was confirmed. No matter how hard Concubine Rui tried, she couldn't prove her innocence.
The crystal - clear jade pendant landed in Shi Muyuan's hand. Her face darkened slightly.
"I remember that a few days ago, sister was still showing off this jade pendant in the imperial garden. But today you have nothing on you. How do you explain this?"
Concubine Rui's fingernails had dug into her flesh, but she seemed not to feel it.
"Sister knows her mistake. Because of my strong jealousy, I did such a thing. I hope sister can forgive me."
She played this retreat - as - advance strategy well. Shi Muyuan just wanted to make an example of others. Just based on this one thing, she couldn't force this woman who had been in the deep palace for a long time to abdicate.
Shi Muyuan snorted. "Concubine Rui should have set a good example, but because of so - called jealousy, she made a big mistake. From today on, Concubine Rui must stay in her own palace and reflect on herself. Only when I give my permission can she come out."
"Thank you, sister, for your generosity."
Just like this, the matter of rumor - spreading in the harem came to an end. Shi Muyuan stood there, imposing without getting angry. She had learned most of the former owner's bearing.
The others below quickly tried to clear themselves, afraid of being implicated.
"Please, Empress Dowager, make a clear judgment. We have never participated in this matter and have never had any disloyalty."
"I know. You can all leave. All of you should sober up your minds. Don't wait until you do something wrong stupidly next time and then regret it. Moreover, you'd better not stand on the wrong side. Maybe one day, because of someone's mistake, everyone will be implicated. By the way, Concubine Li was disrespectful to me. I don't want to punish you too much. Just go and kneel outside until I tell you to get up."
Shi Muyuan gave everyone a loud warning. From now on, even if they still wanted to do something, they had to endure it for the time being.
After all the concubines left, Shi Muyuan rubbed her forehead, feeling physically and mentally exhausted.
"Heng'er, I'm in a good mood today and plan to cook myself. Why don't you stay?"
Ji Heng thought of the taste last time and almost drooled.
"Thank you, Mother."
"Good boy. You wait here for a while. I'll serve the meal when it's ready."
She didn't plan to cook too much anyway, since there were only two of them. It didn't take much effort to put five dishes and a soup on the table. Even the maids and eunuchs beside them were drooling.
Shi Muyuan smiled. Anyway, there was no rigid grand national teacher at noon today. She waved her hand. "There's still some food left in the small kitchen. Xiao Xiao, have someone bring it all out. You can all sit down and eat together."
Xiao Xiao frowned and was a bit concerned.
"Empress Dowager, this doesn't conform to the rules. Besides, if this gets out, it won't have a good influence on you. If they really want to eat, just let them take the food from the kitchen back and divide it."
The others also knew this was unrealistic. They each smiled and stood obediently aside.
However, once Shi Muyuan made a decision, she wouldn't change it easily.
"Come on, there are no outsiders here. Besides, Heng'er, do you mind what Mother does?"
Ji Heng shook his head slightly. He had been with Shi Muyuan since he was a child and always thought that everything she did was right.
"In Mother's Shoukang Palace, Mother makes all the decisions. Moreover, whether they are maids or eunuchs, they are all human beings. As the Son of Heaven, I should understand the hardships of the people. And only by having in - depth contact with them can I truly understand."