The next morning, Xu Miaoyin"s young eunuch, Xiao Menzi, and her palace attendant, Chun Er went to Lateral Palace to bring Nan Yan to Shou An Palace.
As they were entering the hall of Shou An Palace, Nan Yan saw that several concubines and the empress were all waiting there.
Xu Miaoyin was sitting higher up on the central chair, while Consort Kang and the other concubines in attendance were seated nearby by her side as custom dictated.
Nan Yan discreetly threw a glance at Imperial Concubine An out of the corner of her eye. She looked serene, as if everything here had nothing to do with her.
Across from her, there was Xia Yunting; her eyes were red as she sent her a glare before resentfully turning her head away.
Seeing her like this, Nan Yan felt slightly uncomfortable, but she still tried to calm herself down enough to go up and greet the Empress.
Before she could kowtow, Xu Miaoyin raised her hand to stop her. "Si Nan Yan, do you know why this Palace summoned everyone here again today?"
"This servant believes it should be because of the royal gift that was lost," Nan Yan whispered.
Xu Miaoyin nodded her head. "Indeed. It would seem that you understand the situation."
"This Palace has locked you up long enough to repent. Now that you had a few days to think it over let this Palace ask you again: Do you plead guilty to your crime?"
Nan Yan shook her head without hesitation.
Xu Miaoyin didn"t seem surprised and her expression hardly changed, yetConsort Kang, who was on by her side, angrily retorted,
"The bracelet was found in your room, yet you still dare to deny it? You d.a.m.n servant! You really think you won"t be punished just because you claim innocence when you"re actually guilty?!"
After speaking, she turned to Xu Miaoyin"s direction. "Your Highness, please do not waste time on this shameless woman. This concubine suggests that we directly punish her."
"……"
Xu Miaoyin had a disconcerted smile on her face, she turned her head to look at Nan Yan. "Si Nan Yan, did you hear Consort Kang"s claims? Do you still want to plead not guilty?"
"This servant attests that the bracelet found in this servant"s room wasn"t Xia Zhaoyi"s. This servant strongly believes there is a mistake and insists on her innocence."
Xia Yunting"s eyes became red. Fulan, who was standing behind her, immediately countered, "You still dare to spout nonsense? If you claim that the bracelet found on your table isn"t my Master"s, then where can the missing coral bracelet possibly be?"
"……"
It was Gao Yu Rong who answered while Nan Yan remained silent, "Your Highness, seeing Female Officer Si be this stubborn, this Concubine is starting to have some doubts. What if the bracelet of Shou An Palace wasn"t stolen, and they simply misplaced it?"
"What?!"
It was Xia Yunting"s turn to be anxious this time. She hastily replied, "That"s impossible."
Gao Yurong smiled. "Are you sure? Why not check again, just in case."
After having listened to their squabble, Xu Miaoyin turned her attention back on Si Nan Yan. "Si Nan Yan, is this also what you want?"
"……"
Nan Yan was silent for a moment, then gently nodded her head.
Xu Miaoyin carefully considered her next words. "Alright, this Palace will send people to search Shou An Palace at once. However, Si Nan Yan, you listen carefully: if there is still no results after this, this Palace will severely punish you."
Nan Yan felt nervous.
"Go and search it," the Empress ordered.
This time, Xu Miaoyin sent her own people— a young eunuch named Xiao Menzii, along with Bihe and Chun Er, her palace attendants— rummage through Shou An Palace.
Every corner in the room; the bed and even under the pillows; and the magnificent heavy curtains were searched.
Still nothing was found.
Nan Yan couldn"t help but look warily at Imperial Concubine An, Gao Yurong, who in contrast was still the picture of calm.
Will be updated 3 times a week.
End of Chapter
Edited By Anon
Proofread by Michelicious11