Chapter 5: An Unfounded Accusation

The tray lurched sideways.

The pot of scalding tea looked like it was about to spill all over Zhao, but somehow it swerved midair and headed straight for Su Qingyuan's face!

A few people in the hall gasped.

Zhao shot to her feet, completely forgetting herself, and let out a yelp—"Ahhh!"

Su Qingyuan dodged to the side in the same instant. The hot water splashed past her shoulder and drenched the table between her and Zhao. The teacup hit the floor and shattered.

The little maid dropped to her knees in terror, banging her head on the ground. "This servant deserves death! I deserve death!"

Zhao caught her breath and quickly put on a concerned look, leaning toward Qingyuan. "Lady Su, you're not burned, are you?"

Her voice was all sweetness, but the disappointment in her eyes was plain as day.

Before Qingyuan could answer, Zhao turned to the maid. "Which palace are you from?"

The girl was trembling all over, her voice hoarse. "I—I'm from… Chengqian Palace."

The hall went dead silent.

Zhao blinked, then narrowed her eyes. A slow smile spread across her face, like she was savoring a dish just served.

"Ohhh." She drew out the word, straightening up slowly. "Chengqian Palace?"

She turned to look at Qingyuan, her tone taking on a sharp edge. "Lady Su, your own maid nearly dumped boiling water all over me. You know that?"

She paused, and her voice turned cold.

"Or was that on purpose? Aimed at me?"

The air in the room turned ice-cold.

Everyone stared at Su Qingyuan.

Zhao pressed on. "Today is Her Majesty's spring banquet. All the consorts are here. If you've got a problem with me, say it to my face. But to have your maid throw tea at me in front of everyone—was that meant to humiliate me?"

Her voice rose with every word, landing like a slap.

A few consorts exchanged glances. No one dared speak.

Even Consort Shen, sitting beside the Empress, furrowed her brow slightly.

---

Qingyuan didn't rush to defend herself and didn't panic either.

She just looked at the trembling maid on the floor.

"You, look up."

The maid raised her head, still shaking.

"What's your name?"

"L-Lanxin…"

"You claim to serve Chengqian Palace."

A pause.

"Then tell me—what's sitting in the southwest corner of my room?"

The maid's face went blank.

She opened her mouth. Nothing came out.

The silence stretched.

Qingyuan added softly, almost gently, "If you really serve me… you should know that."

Qingyuan's question hung in the air.

Lanxin’s mouth opened, then closed. Her eyes darted around like she was searching for an answer that wasn't there. Nothing came out.

The silence said everything.

Then, from the side—

Qing cleared her throat softly, offering a light laugh.

"Come now, Lady Su, she's just a servant. The poor girl's scared out of her wits. How could she possibly remember where things are in your room?"

Lanxin latched onto the lifeline immediately, nodding frantically.

"Y-yes! This servant is just a lowly maid who works outside! I don't usually go into the inner chambers, and when I do, I keep my head down—I wouldn't dare look around! And Lady Su doesn't let me inside much anyway!"

Qingyuan listened quietly, her expression unreadable.

Then a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

"You don't go inside much? I don't let you in?"

She tilted her head.

"Then let me get this straight: you and I are not close. I barely even let you step into my room."

She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in.

"So… if we're not close, and I don't even trust you enough to be around me—why would I send you to do something like that for me?"

She looked at Zhao, then back at Lanxin.

"If I really wanted to do something to Imperial Concubine Zhao, wouldn't I pick someone I actually know well? Someone I trust?"

She let out a soft, almost amused laugh.

"Using a maid I barely even let into my room to carry out a plot like that… that's just asking to be caught, don't you think?"

The room fell into complete silence.

One of the consorts quietly covered her mouth with her fan.

Someone else let out a small, barely audible cough.

Lanxin's face had gone pale, her head was practically touching the ground.

"Come on," Zhao's voice grew sharper, "Everyone knows Qingdai is your personal maid. She's been at your side for years. Everyone in the palace has seen her face a hundred times."

She gave a light laugh.

"If you really wanted to do something to someone—why would you send someone everyone recognizes? That's just asking to get caught, don't you think?"

She paused, letting her words settle.

"Of course you'd pick someone unfamiliar. Someone nobody would notice."

She glanced at Lanxin, then back at Qingyuan, "Aren't you clever?"

Qing nodded along from beside Zhao, her voice soft and agreeable.

"Exactly. That makes perfect sense."

Before anyone could respond—

Consort Shen finally set down her teacup: "How troublesome."

No one could tell whether she was referring to the maid or the argument itself.

She glanced at the trembling girl.

"Since everyone seems so certain...Why don't we simply check the palace register?That should settle the matter."

Her voice was calm, almost lazy.

Zhao's face stiffened. For the briefest moment, Zhao's smile faltered.

Then she laughed softly.

"Of course. If checking the register can clear Lady Su, that’s nice."

Qing glanced at Lanxin, "Come on! It's only a clumsy servant. No need to let such a trivial matter spoil Her Majesty's banquet."