Chapter 88: Storms Rise Again in the Imperial Harem—The Heroine Outsmarts a New Conspiracy

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Chapter 88: Storms in the Inner Palace, the Heroine Outwits a New Plot

"Top Scholar Lin..." Palace Maid Li ran breathlessly to Lin Shiya, her face pale as death. "The Empress... the Empress, she..."

"What happened to the Empress?" Lin Shiya furrowed her brows, a sense of foreboding rising in her heart.

So, the calm in the inner palace was truly nothing but the lull before the storm.

"The Empress has summoned you to Phoenix Luan Palace at once, saying she has urgent matters to discuss." Palace Maid Li finished in a faltering voice, then lowered her head, not daring to meet Lin Shiya's eyes again.

Lin Shiya's keen gaze caught the fleeting panic in the maid's eyes. Trouble, she thought—clearly, another scheme was brewing among the palace factions.

Her expression remained guarded as she nodded faintly, "I understand. I shall go at once."

After Palace Maid Li departed, Lin Shiya did not immediately make her way to Phoenix Luan Palace.

She lingered where she was, her gaze sweeping over the seemingly tranquil Imperial Garden, but she could feel the undercurrents swirling beneath the surface.

Even the fragrance of the flowers in the air seemed heavier, laced with a suffocating sense of oppression.

"Top Scholar Lin, what a coincidence to find you here." Consort Li's coy voice drifted from nearby, shattering the garden's peace.

Turning, Lin Shiya saw Consort Li approaching, resplendent in ornate palace attire and wearing a seductive smile. Yet in her eyes, Lin Shiya detected a glint of icy malice.

"Consort Li," Lin Shiya nodded slightly, her tone neither servile nor arrogant.

Consort Li drew near, seeming casual as she closed the distance, but suddenly feigned a stumble with a startled cry, toppling toward Lin Shiya.

"Ah!" Consort Li's cry rang out through the Imperial Garden. Maids and eunuchs all halted, their gazes snapping toward the scene.

Consort Li fell to the ground, clutching her ankle in apparent agony. She looked up at Lin Shiya with tearful, pitiful eyes. "Top Scholar Lin, why... why did you push me?"

Tension crackled instantly in the garden. The onlookers whispered amongst themselves, their eyes darting between Lin Shiya and Consort Li.

Lin Shiya stood her ground, her expression calm, offering no explanation.

"Consort Li," Lin Shiya's voice was cool and resolute, "one may speak carelessly about food, but not about words."

Lin Shiya swept the crowd with her gaze, noting the mixture of curiosity, suspicion, and glee among the maids and eunuchs, a cold smile playing on her lips.

"Consort Li, your words are misplaced. There was still distance between us—how could I possibly have pushed you? With so many eyes watching, are you saying they're all blind?"

Consort Li's expression froze. She had not expected Lin Shiya to remain so composed, let alone expose her ploy in public.

She bit her lip, resentment flashing in her eyes, but forced herself to remain calm. "You... you're lying! It was clearly you—"

"Consort Li, I can testify that Top Scholar Lin did not go near you," a bold palace maid stepped forward, voice timid but firm.

With the first, soon a second, a third followed...

More and more maids came forward to vouch for Lin Shiya. Though fearful of the Empress's power, they could not bring themselves to lie.

Now, doubt filled the gazes fixed on Consort Li, and the whispered gossip grew louder.

Consort Li turned deathly pale. She had not anticipated her plan being unraveled so swiftly.

The Empress arrived, moving to Consort Li's side to help her up, her voice cold. "Top Scholar Lin, even if you did not push Consort Li, can you prove your loyalty?"

"And what does Your Majesty mean by that?" Lin Shiya thought with a cold smile: the Empress was ready to make her decisive move.

The Empress took a letter from Eunuch Chen and held it aloft. "This is evidence of your collusion with our enemy nation! Seize this traitor at once!"

With the letter revealed, a suffocating tension gripped the inner palace. No one dared to breathe.

Lin Shiya eyed the letter, a cold smile in her heart. It was clearly a forgery!

"Your Majesty," she replied unhurriedly, "if you wish to condemn someone, you will always find a charge..." As she spoke, she slowly drew something from her sleeve...

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"Does Your Majesty recognize this object?"

From her sleeve, Lin Shiya produced a silk handkerchief embroidered with a delicate phoenix—an item intimately associated with the Empress.

She had found the handkerchief behind a rockery in the Imperial Garden. Fresh ink still stained it, left behind in haste.

"Does Your Majesty recall this handkerchief?" Lin Shiya's voice was icy, yet carried an undeniable authority.

The Empress's face drained of color. She had been so careful—how could she have left such an obvious flaw?

Instinctively, she reached for her waist, finding the handkerchief gone.

Eunuch Chen, too, blanched, sweat beading on his brow. He darted a fearful glance at the Empress.

Now, the maids and eunuchs began to whisper among themselves, their looks for the Empress filled with suspicion and disdain.

The accusation against Lin Shiya shifted into doubt toward the Empress's faction.

Unfolding the handkerchief, Lin Shiya pointed to the ink stains. "The ink is still fresh, and matches that on the letter. How does Your Majesty explain this?"

The Empress was speechless. Her carefully plotted scheme unraveled with astonishing ease.

She bit her lip hard.

Consort Li quickly stepped forward. "This handkerchief must have been stolen by Top Scholar Lin to frame Her Majesty!"

Lin Shiya let out a cold laugh. "Consort Li, you defend Her Majesty so eagerly—could it be that you have something to hide yourself?"

Consort Li's face stiffened, caught off guard by Lin Shiya's sudden turn.

"I... I did not..." she stammered.

Ignoring her, Lin Shiya turned to the crowd and spoke clearly, "Everyone has seen this handkerchief belongs to the Empress, and the ink matches that on the letter. This is proof the letter is a forgery—the true mastermind is the Empress herself!"

An uproar erupted. Fury and disappointment colored the gazes fixed on the Empress.

Standing to the side, Guard Xue watched Lin Shiya's calm and poise with growing admiration. He had never imagined that this seemingly delicate woman possessed such formidable intelligence and courage.

He gripped his sword hilt, silently vowing to protect Lin Shiya with his life.

Sensing the guard's gaze, Lin Shiya felt a warm current in her heart. She turned slightly, offering him a grateful glance.

Tension filled the air. The Empress and Consort Li both looked ashen, stunned that their carefully laid trap had so easily been foiled.

"Lin Shiya..." the Empress spat through clenched teeth, "don't get too pleased with yourself! I will not let you go unpunished!"

Lin Shiya gave a cold laugh. "Your Majesty, perhaps you should worry about saving yourself first..." She paused, her eyes sweeping the crowd. "Now that the truth is revealed, does anyone have further questions?"

No one spoke. The Imperial Garden fell silent, broken only by the rustle of leaves in the wind.

Eunuch Chen's face was ghastly pale. Trembling, he stammered, "Your Majesty... we..."

The Empress spun around, shooting him a murderous glare. "Silence!"

Eunuch Chen dared not utter another word, lowering his head in terror.

Lin Shiya regarded the Empress and Consort Li, knowing this struggle was far from over...

"Your Majesty," Lin Shiya spoke again, her tone tinged with mockery, "it seems you still owe everyone an explanation..." She drew yet another object from her sleeve. "And this jade pendant..."

Lin Shiya slowly produced a jade pendant, its lustrous surface gleaming in the sunlight. Carved into the shape of a soaring phoenix, the pendant was unmistakably the Empress's personal treasure.

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This pendant had fallen from Consort Li's hem when she had so "accidentally" taken her tumble.

"I trust Your Majesty recognizes this pendant as well?" Lin Shiya's voice was cool, with a trace of ridicule.

The Empress paled. She had never imagined her plan with Consort Li would fail so utterly.

She bit her lip until it nearly bled, while Consort Li trembled, her face ashen, never expecting to have slipped up despite her caution.

"This... This is indeed my pendant, but..." The Empress stammered, unable to find a convincing explanation.

"No need to explain further, Your Majesty," Lin Shiya cut her off. "Facts speak louder than words." Her gaze swept the assembly—some shocked, some terrified, some gloating. "I believe everyone here now sees clearly. The actions of Your Majesty and Consort Li are truly disappointing."

Her voice rang out with authority, echoing in the Imperial Garden.

Sunlight bathed her, as if gilding her in a golden aura, making her appear even more majestic and unassailable.

With the Empress and Consort Li's plot exposed, the palace factions dared not act rashly, at least for now.

Lin Shiya stood amidst the flowers, the breeze stirring her robes and carrying the scent of blossoms.

Her gaze was steady, her lips curved in a confident smile.

Around her, the palace maids and eunuchs all bowed their heads.

As evening approached, the garden was awash in the golden glow of the setting sun.

Strolling along the winding paths, Lin Shiya's mind was awash with thoughts.

She noticed, almost by chance, a nondescript palace hall hidden behind dense foliage—a mysterious air hung about it.

The doors were tightly shut. The plaque above bore the words: "Account Room."

A thought struck her. She recalled rumors of discrepancies in the palace accounts. Could this be related to the Empress's schemes?

She paused, eyes fixed on the enigmatic building, suspicions rising.

The windows were shuttered, curtains drawn tight. Not a thing could be seen within.

The very air seemed to grow heavy and cold around the place.

Lin Shiya drew a deep breath and strode toward the Account Room.

"Top Scholar Lin," a shrill voice called suddenly. "Where might you be going?"

She turned to see Eunuch Chen standing not far off, a sycophantic smile plastered on his face.

"Eunuch Chen," Lin Shiya replied coolly, "I wish to inspect the Account Room."

His smile froze. His eyes darted nervously. "That... that may not be convenient..."

Lin Shiya's brows knitted. She instantly sensed something amiss.

"And what makes it inconvenient?" Her voice carried a hint of authority.

A sheen of sweat beaded on Eunuch Chen's forehead. He dared not meet her gaze.

"It... it's just... the Account Room is a restricted area. Unauthorized persons are not permitted entry..."

Lin Shiya let out a cold laugh. "And I am considered unauthorized?"

Eunuch Chen's face turned even more unsightly. He opened his mouth but found no answer.

Lin Shiya ignored him and walked directly toward the Account Room.

"Top Scholar Lin..." Eunuch Chen's voice quavered with panic, "You..."