Chapter 26: She Seduced Me!

The guard was tied up, and Su Yao also wondered how her embroidered bodice had ended up in his hands. She glared at him. But the guard seemed crazed, crawling desperately toward the Empress Dowager. He bowed repeatedly, his forehead striking the cold floor with dull thuds until it grew swollen and red.

“Empress Dowager, please see clearly!” he shouted hoarsely. “This garment was given to me by this young lady. She… she seduced me!”

“You’re slandering me!” Su Yao trembled with fury, her voice sharp. “You claim I seduced you—then do you even know my name? How exactly did I seduce you?”

The guard cast a furtive glance at Lady Gui and answered calmly, “It was on the day of the flower banquet. I was patrolling outside when you nearly fell into the lake—it was a close call! My only thought was to save you, so I grabbed you without hesitation. But then, you looked at me with longing eyes, making my heart flutter. You even took off your bodice and gave it to me, saying… saying…”

“Saying what?” The Empress Dowager, who had been lazily reclining in her chair, suddenly perked up, sitting upright with keen interest, her gaze fixed intently on the guard as she pressed for an answer.

“That you must repay the life-saving favor with your body, and that I should visit your room at night to serve you properly,” the guard recounted vividly.

Su Yao trembled with rage, glaring fiercely at this man full of lies.

At that moment, she understood: this man was here to slander her, spinning a web of deceit so convincing that if she weren’t involved, one might actually believe his nonsense.

Lady Gui spat disdainfully beside them. “Shameless, truly. Such words disgrace the ears of the Empress Dowager.”

“Your Majesty,” Lady Gui replied, narrowing her eyes, “I have never privately exchanged anything with anyone. This garment is indeed mine, but I do not know how it was lost and picked up by this man. On the day of the flower banquet, I stayed by Your Majesty’s side the entire time and never went near the riverbank. I beg Your Majesty’s clear judgment.”

Lady Gui squinted slowly, “I recall you left for quite a while, saying you went to fetch tea leaves. I do not know why it took so long—perhaps it was then that the incident occurred.”

Watching these two exchange words, Su Yao’s doubts gradually turned into certainty. She had been wondering who wished to ruin her reputation, and now she had her answer.

“Su Yao, if you and this guard are truly of one mind, you may tell me. I will arrange a marriage for you both…” the Empress Dowager began.

“Today, Cining Palace is unusually lively,” a cold voice sounded from outside the hall.

Everyone turned toward the sound, seeing Lu Huaijin enter with steady steps.

His gaze never once fell on Su Yao, as if she were utterly insignificant.

He entered slowly and performed a formal bow.

Before the Empress Dowager could speak, he stood upright, his posture tall and proud, his presence imposing.

That innate noble bearing made one feel as if he were the true master of the realm.

“What did Your Majesty say just now about arranging a marriage?” His voice was icy, sending a chill down the spine.

The Empress Dowager furrowed her brows, pondering silently.

No matter what Su Yao said, she was Lu Huaijin’s servant. His attitude was inscrutable.

The guard suddenly crawled on his knees to the Empress Dowager, weeping and shouting, “Empress Dowager, please see clearly! This bodice is indeed a token she gave me. She said she wished to be with me and begged Your Majesty to officiate our union.”

Before he could finish, the dark boots embroidered with golden dragon patterns of Lu Huaijin crushed down upon his throat.

In that instant, the air in the grand hall froze; everyone held their breath.

“What is the Prime Minister doing?” the Empress Dowager frowned in displeasure.

“Lowly dog! What are you to dare interrupt here?” Lu Huaijin looked down on the guard with overwhelming authority.

The guard was overwhelmed by Lu Huaijin’s aura, his face pale and lips trembling. He stammered incoherently, only managing weak whimpers.

The Empress Dowager watched Lu Huaijin with a half-smile. “Prime Minister, your maid seduces men and privately pledged herself to this guard in the palace. Are you willing to approve this union?”

“Oh? Is that so?” He cast a cold glance at Su Yao. “Such a bed-hopping lowly servant disgraces my Prime Minister’s household.”

Lu Huaijin grabbed Su Yao’s neck, pressing her down onto the incense table. The incense burner toppled, scattering ashes over her sweat-dampened back.

“Did you hear that? Even the Empress Dowager sees you as a habitual seductress.”

Su Yao felt sharp pain in her neck and a surge of injustice in her heart.

The Empress Dowager was momentarily stunned, then quite satisfied.

She casually said, “Prime Minister, do not be angry. Release her first. I still have questions for them.”

Tears welled in Su Yao’s eyes. She gripped the back of her hand tightly, stubbornly refusing to let them fall.

“Su Yao, do you have anything to say?”

Red-eyed, she kowtowed desperately, her forehead striking the ground with dull thuds.

“Your Majesty, I truly do not know this man. I am innocent.”

The Empress Dowager had planned to deal with this swiftly but had not expected Lu Huaijin to arrive so soon.

The guard’s flawed testimony would likely not hold up.

Rubbing her temples, the Empress Dowager feigned helplessness. “You each tell a different story. This matter must be investigated thoroughly. Su Yao, I will give you one more chance. Are you involved with this guard? Do not hesitate—if it is mutual, even if the Prime Minister refuses, I will support you.”

Su Yao kowtowed again, the pain in her forehead numbing her.

“Empress Dowager, please judge clearly—I truly do not know him.”

The Empress Dowager waved her hand impatiently. “Lady Gui, take them away and investigate thoroughly where they were and what they did on the day of the flower banquet. Also…”

At these words, Su Yao’s heart turned icy.

The flower banquet day… what had she done…

Lu Huaijin suddenly spoke. “Your Majesty, Su Yao is my servant. This matter concerns the reputation of my household. I wish to personally interrogate them and provide Your Majesty with a satisfactory explanation.”

His words cut through the Empress Dowager’s speech. A flicker of displeasure crossed her face but quickly faded.

“Since the Prime Minister wishes to handle this, I trust he will be impartial. The matter is yours to resolve. However… to silence rumors, Su Yao should remain under the watch of Lady Gui, who serves by my side.”

“As you command,” Lu Huaijin nodded slightly, his face betraying no emotion.

The guard on the floor trembled at the thought of the Prime Minister personally investigating and interrogating him.

Who was Lu Huaijin?

If he were truly as gentle as he appeared, how would he have risen to such a high post at such a young age?

Filled with regret for having tried to slander the Prime Minister’s household for a paltry sum, the guard feared grave consequences.

He had already lost all courage. Seeing Lady Gui refuse to speak for him, he was utterly despondent.

“M… my lord…”

Sensing the danger, Lady Gui quickly gagged the guard with a cloth, afraid he might say more than he should.

“Stop sullying the Empress Dowager’s ears with your filthy talk. This matter will be thoroughly investigated,” she said, signaling the guard not to struggle further.

Su Yao crawled, kneeling at Lu Huaijin’s feet. “My lord, please uncover the truth and clear my name.”

Lu Huaijin’s expression was somber, but he did not respond, only casting a deep look at her.

In his eyes, Su Yao saw disdain and revulsion.

After everyone left, Lady Gui presented the bloodstained feather duster to the Empress Dowager. “As you ordered, we will now thoroughly investigate whether Su Yao is involved in the disappearance of Eunuch Hai. But that guard…”

“A mere pawn,” the Empress Dowager said, stroking her prayer beads.

“Only the dead can keep secrets.”