Chapter 409 - 187: A Double Promotion

Chapter 409: Chapter 187: A Double Promotion

The Palace Justice Department quickly reached a verdict on Han Jinyi’s case. After hearing Nanny Yu’s report, Song Yunzhao’s expression remained largely unchanged.

In truth, she already had a premonition. That day, when she saw that Qin Xiyue showed no hint of panic, she had already guessed that someone would end up taking the blame for this.

It would be either Ying Chun or Wanqiu.

Nanny Yu, seeing that her mistress’s expression wasn’t good, composed herself and continued, "Your Highness, it’s not easy to cultivate a trusted aide. Losing Wanqiu is a major blow to An Fangyi as well."

Song Yunzhao sneered. "That just shows her own incompetence. When trouble arises, she just sacrifices her subordinates to take the fall. I thought An Fangyi had some spine, but it turns out she’s nothing special."

"Your Highness, it’s best to let this matter end here. Probing further might not be a good thing," Nanny Yu said softly.

Song Yunzhao turned her head to look at Nanny Yu. "What do you mean?"

"An Fangyi is backed by Duke Dingguo. After the Emperor ascended the throne, Duke Dingguo sided with the Emperor multiple times during his power struggles with the courtiers."

Song Yunzhao’s expression darkened. ’So that’s why when An Fangyi made a mistake back then, she was only demoted to Fangyi and didn’t suffer a tragic fate like the other concubines.’

"Have they found out why An Fangyi wanted to frame Han Jinyi?" Song Yunzhao still couldn’t figure this part out.

Nanny Yu shook her head. "The Palace Justice Department is investigating it, so it’s not convenient for me to intervene. However, the explanation they gave is that Wanqiu and Ying Chun had an old grudge. Wanqiu couldn’t stand how arrogant Ying Chun was in her daily work, and she was even more resentful that Noble Consort Han, despite having a lower rank than An Fangyi, could live in a main hall."

Song Yunzhao was speechless.

It was obviously an excuse.

"What about Ying Chun’s brother?"

"Ying Chun’s brother accepted silver from someone to commit perjury and frame Ying Chun. That silver was also sent by someone on Wanqiu’s behalf. They have both witness testimony and physical evidence. Your Highness, this was clearly all planned. An Fangyi had long seen Wanqiu as a disposable pawn, so now it looks like Wanqiu was behind the whole thing from start to finish."

Song Yunzhao looked at Nanny Yu and asked again, "Does Wanqiu have any family?"

Nanny Yu nodded. "Wanqiu’s family members are all servants born into the Duke Dingguo Mansion."

Song Yunzhao understood. With her family in the hands of Duke Dingguo, Wanqiu naturally wouldn’t dare to be disloyal to An Fangyi. Even if she were asked to die, she would do it to protect her family.

’Then there’s nothing to be done. Wanqiu handled everything from beginning to end. If her family remains silent, it will be impossible to overturn this matter.’

’Unless Wanqiu’s family could turn against them and expose the truth. But that would be too difficult.’

"Is there no other way?" Song Yunzhao asked in a low voice.

Nanny Yu shook her head. "An Fangyi was extremely cautious. Wanqiu was the only one who handled this from start to finish."

"It was premeditated," Song Yunzhao’s voice suddenly turned cold. "Nanny, keep a closer watch on An Fangyi. She wouldn’t target Noble Consort Han for no reason. We might not have found anything now, but we can’t remain in the dark forever."

"Yes, Your Highness. Rest assured," Nanny Yu agreed.

Wanqiu would not survive.

After a series of incidents in the palace, things suddenly quieted down. The Empress Dowager had caught a cold and temporarily excused everyone from paying their morning respects.

Song Yunzhao thought to herself that the Empress Dowager was probably too ashamed to face anyone. An Shutong’s disgraceful departure and the events of that day had been quietly circulating, despite Shouci Palace’s best efforts to suppress the news.

Under these circumstances, if the Empress Dowager had any sense of shame left, she wouldn’t appear before anyone for a while.

’Feigning illness is truly a time-tested trick. It’s not original, but as long as it works, that’s what matters.’

「Two days later」

Song Yunzhao received a reply from her first aunt, and tucked inside was a letter from Xie Linlang.

In the letter, her aunt told Yun Zhao not to worry. She said that her first uncle’s case was being reinvestigated and she believed his name would be cleared. She also mentioned that her third uncle was recovering from his injuries, that it was nothing serious, his health was fine, and he would be able to return to his duties once he was a bit better.

Song Yunzhao felt a sense of relief reading this. The Emperor had indeed kept his promise to her. For her first uncle’s matter, she only sought justice, not for the Emperor to bend the law. With the Emperor intervening and sending his own people to investigate, whoever was pulling the strings from the shadows wouldn’t dare to be so insidious, and the situation could still be turned around.

She was relieved that her father’s injuries were healing well.

Her aunt’s letter also mentioned several other married girls from the family. Seeing that they were all doing well with their in-laws, a genuine smile appeared on Song Yunzhao’s face. The letter also brought up Song Buming and the others studying away from home. The academy the Yang Family found for them was very reliable and strictly managed. The boys had indeed suffered quite a bit when they first arrived, but it was a good thing that none of them had given up halfway.

’I don’t really expect everyone in the family to be outstanding or pass the imperial examinations in the First Class,’ she thought. ’As long as none of them turn into useless dandies and drag everyone else down, that’s enough.’

In the letter, her aunt urged her to be careful in the palace and to take good care of herself during her pregnancy, which made Song Yunzhao’s heart feel a little lighter.

The letter made no mention of Mrs. Cai or Song Qinghan. It seemed that for the time being, Song Qinghan hadn’t caused any major trouble, and everything was still under her aunt’s control.

’Song Qinghan is a smart person. By now, she should know what’s best for her.’

「Another half a month passed.」

Song Yunzhao’s complexion grew healthier and healthier. By this time, the case involving her first uncle was settled. He had indeed been framed, but she never expected that Qin Yuanjing would have had a hand in it.

Song Yunzhao felt a headache coming on. ’What a surprise. It seems the female lead and I really are natural enemies. I didn’t expect the Qin Family to make a move against my family outside the palace first.’

Grand Tutor Qin had been maneuvering to find a new official post for his son, but when this matter came to light, he was so enraged that he fainted in court.

With Grand Tutor Qin fainting, it became difficult for the Emperor to pursue the matter further. However, Qin Yuanjing could forget about ever holding an official post again.

’Great,’ she thought. ’The feud with the female lead has gotten even bigger.’

Although Song Nanyong was cleared of the false accusations, the dispute in court was unusually fierce because the matter involved Song Zhaoyi.

Those close to the Song Family naturally spoke up for Song Nanyong. Although the truth had been revealed, could the matter just be dropped like that? He had to be compensated in some way.

Those at odds with the Song Family, of course, did their utmost to obstruct this. Having a Song Zhaoyi in the palace was already a huge headache. She was pregnant now; if she were to give birth to a little prince, who in the harem could possibly compete with her?

Therefore, the Song Family outside the palace could not be allowed to rise any further. Otherwise, with Song Zhaoyi and the Song Family flourishing both inside and outside the palace, the situation would become untenable. They had to be suppressed.

In the past, Feng Yi might have been somewhat hesitant. But ever since Prince Zhenbei led his troops south, and after dealing with a number of people in last year’s examination fraud scandal, the Emperor’s authority in court had been growing daily.

Feng Yi realized that this incident with the Song Family was also an opportunity. Thus, in open court, he issued a decree promoting Song Nanyong to Assistant Director of the Salt Transport Department, a fourth-rank position.

A two-rank promotion.