Shen Ruihua only just realized she had been tricked but it was too late as they were now in the emperor's main hall.
"What's going on?" He Jingcheng's mood was visibly not good.
The entire morning and afternoon, he had been receiving memorials against Shen Ruihua and was still deliberating on what to do yet the person involved did not know a thing about lying low.
"Imperial aunt, what happened?" he asked Lingxi in his best possible tone at that moment.
"Your majesty, Her Highness summoned me to Fengyin Hall. However, on getting there, she accused me of framing her and attempted to attack me. Luckily my attendant called for help", Lingxi answered.
Shen Ruihua looked at her with resentment because what Lingxi had said was technically true. She had indeed summoned her and tried to hit her.
"Your majesty, I have been framed. She was the one who framed me. She deliberately poisoned herself and orchestrated everything to put the blame on me. She is a liar, you must not believe her words", Shen Ruihua pointed at Lingxi.
Everyone turned to look at Lingxi.
"Your highness, please speak with evidence. When did I ever frame you?" Lingxi pretended to be confused but Shen Ruihua was even more enraged by her act because she could not prove Lingxi's actions without exposing herself.
She could no longer maintain her composure at that moment and directly removed a hairpin from her hair and lunged towards Lingxi. Everyone's eyes widened in shock.
Fortunately, although she was fast, Qin Yan was faster. He blocked the hairpin with his sword and the impact sent Shen Ruihua staggering backwards. She was supported by Lady Mao.
"How dare you attack Her Highness?" Lady Mao wanted to scold Qin Yan but He Jingcheng's patience on Shen Ruihua had run out.
"Enough!" he yelled.
The atmosphere went quiet.
"Shen Ruihua, as the empress you not only failed to act like one, but also conspired to assassinate the Grand Consort. Do you plead guilty?"
Shen Ruihua could not believe her ears. "Your majesty, I've been framed", she tried to defend herself.
"You tried to attack the Grand Consort in front of me. Do you think I've gone blind?" He Jingcheng asked.
"Your majesty, she was making up stories so I lost my composure for a moment. Apart from that, I have done nothing else. Besides, no one here can prove I tried to attack the grand consort earlier", she tried to defend herself.
"Forgive me for my boldness, but I clearly saw you attack her. If not for her attendant, I'm afraid she wouldn't be standing here today", Gu Wenlan said.
"Gu Wenlan, don't think I don't know you are trying to use this opportunity to get rid of me. But, I'll still tell you this - your plan will not work", Shen Ruihua said looking directly at Gu Wenlan.
Gu Wenlan, on the other hand, paid her no mind.
She continued speaking to the emperor, "Your Majesty, if you think my testimony is not credible, you can ask every guard that accompanied me. We clearly witnessed the empress trying to attack her highness"
It was at that moment Shen Ruihua realized Gu Wenlan's presence was not merely a coincidence. Lingxi had been thoroughly prepared before going to see her and deliberately provoked her. She looked at Lingxi who gave a short smile in return.
"The empress has committed a grave crime and has failed to uphold the virtue of the inner palace", He Jingcheng sounded.
There was an opened edict before him. He picked his seal and pressed it on the edict.
Before everyone had come earlier, he had already prepared an edict against Shen Ruihua but was hesitant to stamp it.
Seeing now that she was unrepentant and even dared to attack Lingxi in his presence, he resolutely placed the imperial seal on the edict.
He picked it up and stretched towards eunuch Go who was standing behind him. Eunuch Go accepted it and opened it.
Before reading, he asked Shen Ruihua to kneel, "Your highness, please kneel"
Shen Ruihua cast one long glance at him before kneeling.
Eunuch Go then proceeded to read the decree.
"By the Mandate of Heaven, it is decreed:
"Shen Ruihua, Empress of Daxia, has abused her position, conspired to frame the Grand Consort, and committed an act of harm against the imperial household. Her conduct has violated the duties and dignity expected of an Empress.
"Therefore, she is hereby stripped of her title as Empress and demoted to Concubine Yu. All authority, privileges, and honors pertaining to the position of Empress are revoked.
"She shall henceforth reside according to her reduced rank and obey the regulations thereof.
"Let this decree be proclaimed throughout the court"
Eunuch Go read the decree aloud and Shen Ruihua's knees weakened, and she nearly collapsed sideways.
The thunder resounded loudly that everyone present concluded that even the heavens were not expected such a drastic downfall. Eunuch Go was not helping matters either.
He stretched the decree towards Shen Ruihua, "Concubine Yu, please accept the edict"
If looks could kill, Eunuch Go would have been killed a thousand times over.
How dare he address a renowned Empress like Shen Ruihua as a concubine? Her hands were shaking as she reached for the edict.
"Won't you thank His Majesty for his grace?" Eunuch Go added salt to the injury.
Shen Ruihua's eyes turned red as it burned with rage. She adjusted her posture and bowed, "I thank Your Majesty for your grace"
Lightening flashed across the room and a resounding sound of thunder echoed in the hall followed by a heavy downpour.
Eunuch Go went back to his position behind He Jingcheng.
He Jingcheng finally spoke up, "the matters of the inner palace cannot be left unattended. Starting today, Noble Consort Su will be responsible for managing the inner palace", he instructed.
He turned to Lady Mao, "hand the seal over"
Lady Mao slowly walked up to Shen Ruihua and brought out the seal from within her sleeves and handed it to her with a strong sense of hostility.
However, Gu Wenlan was not in the least offended. She smiled brightly as she accepted the seal.
She curtsied, "I shall not fail your majesty's trust"
He Jingcheng turned his attention to Lingxi, "you have gone through so much in one day. You may head back to Channing Palace to rest and recuperate. I shall find a way to compensate you", he said.
"I thank your majesty for your concern", she curtsied and turned to leave with Xin Lan and Qin Yan by her side.
She exchanged a short smile with Shen Ruihua's cold eyes and passed her side. However as she walked past her, her silk drape brushed slightly against Shen Ruihua's face. That added another layer of humiliation as far as Shen Ruihua was concerned.
Gu Wenlan, on the other hand, did not bother sparing a glance at Shen Ruihua and directly followed behind Lingxi.
They stopped walking when they reached outside the main hall.
"Grand Consort, that was a game well played", Gu Wenlan commented without looking at her.
"I owe that to Noble Consort Su", Lingxi responded without looking at her either.
At a distance, it seemed like they were both watching the rain.
"You shouldn't be so modest. I barely did anything and yet, you have given me such a grand gift", Noble Consort Su said looking at the Phoenix Seal in her hand.
"I am the one who owes your highness", she added.
"If that is the case, I shall wait for Noble Consort to repay me", Lingxi replied.
The downpour was no longer as heavy as before. The sky was dark as it was already night time and the moon shone brightly despite the weather.
It was then Lingxi noticed a carriage that had been waiting in front of Channing Palace.
He Yu alighted from it with an umbrella. He walked up to Lingxi with a smile on his face that even Lingxi could not resist the urge to smile back.
He stretched his hand towards her. Lingxi accepted it and he helped walk her down the stairs.
Watching them, Gu Wenlan smiled. Her assumption of Lingxi she made two months back was indeed right.
The girl before her was indeed not simple