The Maid Speaks

When Yu Mei returned to the table, Pei Nan stopped talking to Fei Ning and turned to check on Yu Mei. He almost reached for her hand but knew that would only infuriate her more. "Pan Yu Mei, I apologize for my harsh words earlier." He whispered instead.

"What's been said has been said. I am nothing more than a speck of dust in your eyes...and I'm okay with that. From now on, I won't speak to you if that's what you wish for." She said, turning to talk to Ji Er.

Pei Nan almost wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake her from frustration but decided against. What the two of them worked to achieve in the last few days had all been shattered by one moment of his irrational jealousy.

After sometime after dinner, dessert was brought over. Several plates of desserts were being placed at each person's table. The only person who did not have osmanthus cakes at their side was Pan Yu Mei. But she didn't mind, she had several other delicacies in front of her.

She picked up a walnut cake and took a huge bite.

Ji Er saw that she didn't have osmanthus cakes grabbed one and reached over to place one in her plate. But she declined, saying she did not like osmanthus cakes.

Yu Mei watched in the corner of her eyes as the osmanthus cake on Ji Er's side slowly disappeared into her mouth. She was jealous but what could she do, she had ruined Ji Er's cakes earlier. It was only right to give hers up.

The festival was coming to an end soon. Yu Mei noticed Ji Er wasn't looking too good and had started sweating. Which made no sense seeing how cool the air was. "Sister Ji Er, are you okay? You look so pale." She leaned over.

"I'm. alright…just feeling…" Before Ji Er could finish her words, a gush of blood burst out of her mouth and her body fell weak as she collapsed. Then she lost consciousness.

Yu Mei caught her in time as she held Ji Er in her arms. "Ji Er! Ji Er! What's wrong?" Yu Mei shouted as her body started shaking from fear. Ji Er was not answering.

In these few seconds, they had caught the whole crowds attention.

Pei Nan quickly rushed forward and took Ji Er from Yu Mei. He held her in his arms as he held her wrist, checking her pulse. "Summon the imperial doctor! QUICKLY!" He shouted loudly before carrying her and about to rush out.

The emperor and empress stood from their seat. "What's wrong with Consort Nuan?" The emperor asked.

"She's been poisoned. I must take her to see a doctor this instance." Pei Nan said loudly before leaving the room. This left the whole crowd gasping and shrieking in horror. If Ji Er had gotten poisoned, then the chances happening to them were just as high. Many of them wanted to run out and see a doctor but knew better in the presence of the emperor and empress.

"Ji Er." The empress softly called out in pain. Her precious daughter-in-law had been poisoned. She wanted to follow suit but the emperor stopped her. He stood in front of the crowd. "Guards, blockade the entire palace down. No one is allowed to leave. Whoever is guilty of such a crime is surely still here." He firmly spoke.

Then he gave the command for the whole entire palace to be searched.

It didn't take more than half an hour to find the culprit who was trying to sneak out of the palace. A young maid was brought into the main hall as the two guards holding her forced her on her knees.

At the same time, Pei Nan came back with a frown on his face. He made a quick turn over to Hou Lei who had no expression on his face. A few whispers later and Hou Lei anxiously made his way out the door.

The emperor continued to interrogate the maid in front of him. She was the same maid that Yu Mei had run into earlier. When Yu Mei saw who it was, she had a feeling something bad was going to happen. She couldn't help but stare at Fei Ning with suspicious eyes. There was no way she had nothing to do with this. Even when Consort Nuan, someone who had followed Fei Ning for months was lying on her deathbed, she did not flinch one bit. Either that or she was purely a heartless monster.

At least Ming Yan felt fear and worry for the whole situation. It showed on her whole face. She was about to burst into tears when thinking about Ji Er. Sadly, no one could leave the room, thus she could not accompany Ji Er.

Pei Nan slowly walked in front of the maid and with that crazy look in his eyes, the maid felt he would strike her. Instead, he asked his father to allow him to continue the interrogation since it was his wife that had fallen victim.

The emperor allowed it.

"Who is behind this? I know that a small maid like yourself could not have done so all by yourself. As long as you give me the name, I will not kill you." His sharp cold words pierced through her skin, sending a shiver down her spine. She secretly stole a glance over at Fei Ning and then to Yu Mei. It was so subtle that only someone who was seriously looking at her could see.

The maid did not speak.

Pei Nan spent several more minutes interrogating her but nothing.

It got to the point where he was at the peak of irritation. His consort was lying unconscious and yet no perpetrator found. "Guards!" He held his hand up and two guards came running. They stopped behind the maid.

The maid was intimidated the moment his eyes locked into hers. "I'm giving you one more chance. If you don't tell me…I'll let you live a life worse than a dog. Are you going to tell me who sent you?"

Her whole body immediately crouched like a rock in front of him with both her hands on the cold floor. "Your highness, please spare me. I really had no choice. I really didn't." She sobbed.

"Give me the name and I will not kill you."

This was enough for her to lift up her head and look towards Yu Mei's direction. "I…I…I didn't want to but she forced me to."

"Who?" Pei Nan asked once more.

"Consort Pan." The maid pointed with shaky arms Yu Mei's way.

The whole crowd gasped in horror as they began to whisper amongst themselves.

"Consort Pan?" He arched his brow at her.

Pan Yu Mei immediately rushed forward. "Lies! I have never met you before. Why must you slander me like this." Yu Mei questioned the woman.

"Consort Pan, you knew my mother was ill and that I needed money. You said as long as I poisoned Consort Nuan, you would allow me to leave the palace with 100 gold taels." Then the maid looked over to Pei Nan. "Your highness, I really didn't have a choice. Consort Pan tempted me. If I am punished, then Consort Pan must also be punished. Please give me justice in front of everyone here." She cried out injustice. The maid looked into his eyes and sensed the doubts in his eyes. "If your highness doesn't believe me, the evidence must still be with Consort Pan. Earlier she came to me and put the powder onto the cakes herself." She quickly pointed towards Yu Mei.

Pei Nan turned towards Yu Mei. "Your highness, surely you believe that I would never harm Consort Nuan. How can you take a mere maid's words for truth. I am your wife, you cannot simply doubt me, right?" Then she saw the look in his eyes and knew he doubted her. She clenched her fist and grit her teeth. "If his highness truly doubts me, then search. I have nothing to hide." She said.

Moments later, a maid came to check her body. A small packet smaller and thinner than the size of a baby's palm was pulled out of her waist pocket. Yu Mei's eyes widened.

"Summon a doctor to have it checked."

The empress was the first to stand up for Yu Mei. She got down from the stairs and stood in between Pei Nan and Yu Mei. "Nan, this is a mistake and you know it. Yu Mei is not someone who would do such a thing. You must investigate. Your majesty, say something." She turned to look at her husband who only frowned.

"Prince Nan is the crown prince, the future emperor. I am allowing him to take over this case. If he can't even do so, then I will have to rethink his position." Was all the emperor had to say.

The empress once again turned to look at her son. "Nan..."

Yu Mei felt a string of warmth as she held onto the empress's hand. "Mother, if his highness doubts me, I will prove my innocence." The empress pat the back of her hand to assure her everything was going to be alright.

"Your highness, I really wasn't lying. The evidence is on Consort Pan's fingers." The guilty maid pointed.

This shocked everyone in the room who had been watching with their breaths held tightly. Pei Nan reached to grab her hand that was holding onto the empress's and there it was...powder under her nails.

Yu Mei finally understood. The maid had deliberately ran into her, fell on top of her in order to sneak the packet into her dress and now the powder under her nails. It was from the cakes she picked up.

Yu Mei looked at Pei Nan frantically. "Pei Nan, you know I didn't do it. This was all a setup by Fei Ning." Yu Mei pointed at the calm Fei Ning who hadn't spoken a single word.

Fei Ning didn't need to say anything as she knew Pei Nan would come to her rescue. All she had to do with fake an innocent face.

"Pan Yu Mei, you have disappointed me. MEN!" Pei Nan called out.

"Detain Consort Pan in the royal prison until further notice." Was his final judgement.

"Stop! Pen Nan, have you gone mad? You know Pan Yu Mei would never do such a thing. Especially to Ji Er." Gu Shao stepped out from the crowd and was about to storm over to Pei Nan and knock some sense into him when the emperor spoke up. He was no fool and knew Prince Shao had a close relationship with Yu Mei. "Prince Shao, go back to your spot. This is between Prince Nan and his household. You are not allowed to take one more step or interfere."

He dared not go against his father who was clearly not in the mood for arguments. He knew better than anyone else, if he did try to interfere, his father would have him dragged away and he would not be able to find evidence to save Yu Mei. In the end, he could only clench his fist as he watched Yu Mei get escorted out.

Before she willingly went with the guards, she took one step closer towards Pei Nan and gave him a stare he had never seen before. It was a look full of anguish, disappointment and anger. She muttered words only the two of them could hear. "Lin Pei Nan, you are the worse man I have ever encountered in my life. You say you are disappointed in me? I should be the one to say that to you."