This was not solely due to Lin Xiaowei's persistent attempts to latch onto Yi Zhixie when they first met, nor her current troublemaking, that made her actions unsurprising.
Yi Zhixie offered a cool smile, gazing at Sima Hao without flinching or showing any guilt. "Who told the Grand Empress Dowager, and what evidence do they have? You must realize, I only left the banquet twice. The first time, for less than fifteen minutes, and I went straight from the lavatory. Steward Jiang accompanied me. As for the second time, I was with the Grand Empress Dowager and all the court officials."
Yi Zhixie's words gave Sima Hao pause.
Indeed, now that he mentioned it, Sima Hao recalled Yi Zhixie saying he was unfamiliar with the Forbidden City after such a long absence and had specifically asked Jiang Yubao to accompany him.
If Jiang Yubao was by his side, how could he have possibly come into contact with the maidservant next to Baili Ziyun?
After all, while the maidservant was not unattractive, she was incomparable to the Grand Tutor's wife.
Could Yi Zhixie be getting old and looking for a change?
The thought had barely surfaced before he dismissed it.
It was highly unlikely.
After all, someone accustomed to abalone and bird's nest soup wouldn't suddenly develop a taste for corn cakes.
If Yi Zhixie knew Sima Hao's current thoughts, he would surely clap him on the shoulder and exclaim, "A kindred spirit!"
Meanwhile, Lin Xiaowei, seated opposite Yi Zhixie, had a ghastly expression. She had initially believed that by framing Yi Zhixie, she could drag him down with her. Even if it didn't change anything substantial, it would sow discord between Yi Zhixie and the Grand Empress Dowager and the Emperor, which would be beneficial for her future plans.
But who could have imagined that Yi Zhixie's simple explanation would be enough for the Grand Empress Dowager and the Emperor to believe him?
Her teeth clenched, Lin Xiaowei tightly balled her fists, doing her best to conceal her true feelings.
Since she couldn't rely on Yi Zhixie, she could only try her best to cling to the Emperor.
Even though the Emperor was corpulent, dark-skinned, and utterly repulsive, he was still the Emperor. Since she had no other choice, she was determined to secure the greatest possible advantage for herself.
With this resolve, Lin Xiaowei abruptly knelt on the ground, but she knelt facing Baili Ziyun.
"It's all this servant's fault. If this servant hadn't been careless and fallen prey to some villain, Miss wouldn't be in this state. Miss was destined to become Empress, but now, before her wedding, she has lost her virginity. Although the other party was the Emperor, the sycophantic courtiers witnessed it. It's impossible to have a legitimate grand wedding now. This is all this servant's fault..."
Lin Xiaowei spoke through choked sobs.
Despite the tears streaming down her face and her anguished tone, her speaking speed remained unaffected.
Her words were not only well-organized but also loaded with hidden meanings and subtle implications.
Everyone present, except for Baili Ziyun, was astute enough to understand the subtext of Lin Xiaowei's speech.
For a moment, both Sima Hao and Sima Zhu looked at Baili Ziyun with ambiguous expressions.
Baili Ziyun, pampered by Grand Princess Zande, was unsuited for such treacherous schemes. Furthermore, her mind had been in turmoil these past few days. How could she possibly grasp Lin Xiaowei's implications?
She merely felt that Lin Xiaowei was right. How could she become Empress now?
If she couldn't be Empress, she couldn't marry anyone else. Would she then have to live as a mere palace consort, subservient to others after the Emperor's wedding?
This was not the life she desired.
How could she not be Empress?
Baili Ziyun suddenly looked up, stood, and walked directly to Sima Zhu's side. "Your Majesty, you must see justice for Ziyun..."
Before she could finish, she was overcome with sobs.
Baili Ziyun, already beautiful and radiant, was now a picture of sorrow. Combined with her usual vivacious and charming temperament, her current timid demeanor captivated Sima Zhu, making it difficult for him to look away.
At the same time, Sima Zhu genuinely felt distressed for Baili Ziyun and was troubled by how he would explain this to Grand Princess Zande.
The wedding of Baili Ziyun, planned for this year, had been agreed upon with Grand Princess Zande long ago. But now, what was he to do?
If he didn't marry her, Grand Princess Zande might very well align herself with the Grand Empress Dowager.
If he did marry her, he would become a laughingstock.
As Sima Zhu hesitated, he heard Lin Xiaowei speak again, "Miss, this servant had advised you early on that Young Master Zheng did not enter the palace that night. Why didn't you heed my advice? In the end... thankfully, it was Your Majesty who came. If it had been someone else, what would have happened!"
This statement was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
Not only Sima Zhu and Sima Hao, but even Yi Zhixie and Sima Han were stunned into speechlessness.
Ultimately, Sima Zhu, one of the involved parties, recovered first. "What did you say? Speak clearly to me."
Lin Xiaowei, her face filled with feigned regret, covered her mouth, glancing fearfully at Sima Zhu, wanting to speak but daring not.
However, the more she acted this way, the more Sima Zhu was convinced there was something important. His face hardened, and he said sternly, "Tell me."
Lin Xiaowei looked at Baili Ziyun, who was still in shock, with caution and trepidation, then carefully began to speak, "Miss, a long time ago, she fell in love with Young Master Zheng..."
"What Young Master Zheng? Which Young Master Zheng?" Sima Zhu sprang to his feet, demanding of Lin Xiaowei.
"Your Majesty!"
Baili Ziyun cried out in alarm at Sima Zhu.
"Your Majesty, don't listen to this wicked servant's nonsense. How could Ziyun possibly like someone else."
Sima Zhu ignored Baili Ziyun's protest and interrupted, "Hold your tongue! I want to hear her speak."
Saying this, Sima Zhu slowly sat down and looked at Lin Xiaowei, saying word for word, "Explain it clearly to me. If there is even a single lie, I will have you torn apart by horses."
Lin Xiaowei trembled all over, her face instantly paling with fear.
It wasn't that she was timid; it was that Sima Zhu's tone was terrifying.
She hadn't expected Sima Zhu to react so strongly.
Even later, she realized that Sima Zhu's strong reaction wasn't due to his deep affection for Baili Ziyun, as emperors were known to be heartless.
What Sima Zhu cared about more was the fact that Baili Ziyun had cuckolded him.
A normal man would find it unbearable if his woman fancied someone else, let alone a high and mighty Emperor.
Lin Xiaowei took a deep breath, trying her best to calm herself and prevent Sima Zhu from sensing any guilt. She then said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, this servant was rescued by Grand Princess Zande during the snow disaster. Later, Grand Princess Zande arranged for me to serve Miss Baili."
"...I am unaware of what happened before that, but I often heard Miss murmuring to herself, speaking of her unwavering love for a Young Master Zheng and waiting for him to come for her."
Hearing this, Sima Zhu's face became contorted with displeasure.
He had never imagined that the woman he longed for and planned to marry as Empress was harboring feelings for someone else.
Sima Zhu stared intently at Baili Ziyun, his gaze filled with a ferocity that suggested he could devour her whole in the next moment.
"Baili Ziyun, is this how your mother raised you? Teaching you no sense of propriety or shame, daring to be involved with another man while you are betrothed? Do you think you can act with impunity because your mother is my aunt? You must know, I have only one aunt, but I am the only Emperor."
Sima Zhu's words were harsh. Baili Ziyun, who was already feeling uneasy, was so frightened by Sima Zhu's outburst that she fainted.
No one had anticipated this sudden turn of events.
If she had known this would happen, she would never have told Lin Xiaowei about her past.
Fortunately, Lin Xiaowei didn't know who that Young Master Zheng was; otherwise, today would truly have been her last day.
After regaining some composure, Baili Ziyun looked at Sima Zhu with tear-filled, wronged eyes and said, "Your Majesty, Ziyun grew up alongside Your Majesty since childhood. Has Ziyun ever done anything so reckless?"
Sima Zhu was truly stumped by Baili Ziyun's words, at a loss for what to say for a moment.
Looking at Baili Ziyun's stubborn yet slightly wounded gaze, Sima Zhu inexplicably felt a pang of guilt.
But this guilt was fleeting.
He quickly turned his attention back to Lin Xiaowei on the ground and continued, "Do you know the crime of a maidservant slandering her mistress? More importantly, do you know the crime of betraying one's master!"
These two short sentences made Lin Xiaowei's already pale face turn even paler.
Was Sima Zhu implying that no matter how she answered, she would face a dire fate?
Then what should she do?
Just wait to die?
No!
She, Lin Xiaowei, could not die.
She had just transmigrated; how could she die before achieving anything?
Despite the tempest raging in her heart, Lin Xiaowei tried her best to appear calm.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, this is Miss's private affair, and this servant should not have spoken of it. However, that night, if Miss hadn't been so insistent on using those things, saying she wanted to... to have a good time with Young Master Zheng... Fortunately, it was Your Majesty who arrived. If it had been someone else, not to mention Miss, even this servant would have had no choice but to dash her head against a wall."
By the end, Lin Xiaowei was already weeping uncontrollably.
Hearing this, Sima Zhu remembered that this young maidservant had also lost her virginity to him that night.
He looked closely at Lin Xiaowei, and his heart softened instantly.
Her pale, bloodless face was no bigger than a palm.
Her large eyes were filled with fear and sorrow, and she would occasionally steal glances at him. Beneath the surface of her eyes, undisguised love and admiration could be seen.
Such a gaze made Sima Zhu feel instantly invigorated. Even the anger of Baili Ziyun cuckolding him seemed to diminish inexplicably.
Unconsciously, Sima Zhu's tone softened as he asked, "What is your name?"
Sima Han and Yi Zhixie, who had been observing from the side, exchanged glances, a hint of amusement visible in their eyes.
Earlier, they had feared Lin Xiaowei would cling to them. Little did they expect that someone would now take over this mess.
This was even better, relieving them of their burden.