Chapter 297
**Chapter 295: The Copper Green Flaw**
As soon as these words were spoken, the room fell into stunned silence.
Lan Pin tightened her grip on the handkerchief in her hand, feigning interest. “Does the esteemed Consort Chen mean to say that evidence has been found to clear Mei Fei’s name?”
Shen Wei remained composed. “Bring forth that copper plate.”
Cai Lian obeyed, bringing in a tray that held the peculiar copper plate, revealing it to everyone present.
The plate was caked in mud, rusted and corroded, with patches of verdigris showing through. The palace maid attending Lan Pin frowned slightly, scrutinizing the plate, feeling as if she had overlooked something important.
After placing the copper plate down, Cai Lian stepped outside, returning with three elderly craftsmen waiting just beyond the curtain.
Zhang Miaoyu pretended to be curious. “Are these three from the Bureau of Craftsmanship?”
Cai Lian replied, “Yes, Your Highness. They are seasoned craftsmen. I have been instructed by the esteemed Consort to have them examine the rust on the copper plate and determine its age.”
The three old craftsmen approached cautiously, gathering around the oddly shaped copper plate for a closer look.
Half a stick of incense later.
Cai Lian cleared her throat and asked in a clear voice, “You three are top-tier craftsmen with rich experience. Can you tell how long this copper plate has been buried in the earth?”
One of the most experienced craftsmen replied, “Copper turns green, and the inscriptions darken. Based on my years of experience, this object has been buried in the soil for at least five years.”
The other two craftsmen nodded in agreement.
Silence enveloped the room.
The Emperor had ascended the throne for less than four years, and Mei Fei, Liu Ruyan, had entered the palace for even less time.
Could it be possible that a strange copper plate, buried for at least five years, was found in Liu Ruyan’s courtyard?
Zhang Miaoyu quickly pieced it together, feigning enlightenment. “So that’s it! This peculiar copper plate must have been buried in the courtyard long before Mei Fei moved into Yuxiu Palace. Oh dear, it seems we’ve all misunderstood Mei Fei.”
Lan Pin was secretly astonished.
She instinctively glanced at the maid beside her. The young maid furrowed her brow, equally puzzled.
Lan Pin had intended to drag Mei Fei down with her, and the Xie family had provided assistance from behind the scenes. This copper plate had been secretly delivered to the palace by someone from the Xie family, handed to Lan Pin’s personal maid.
The young maid had a nagging feeling that the Xie family was not genuinely helping Lan Pin. If the truth came to light, Lan Pin would be made a scapegoat.
Unwilling to give up, Lan Pin’s mind raced as she tried to find a loophole. “This... this copper plate might have been buried by Mei Fei under the plum trees at the Yan Wang residence. She brought it into the palace and buried it again in Yuxiu Palace.”
The craftsman, kneeling on the ground, countered, “Your Highness may not know this, but the soil in the Yan Wang residence is rather hard. If copper were buried there, it would only accumulate a thick layer of hard green, which would flake off easily. The soil in the palace is rich and acidic, brought in by gardeners from the mountains. Copper buried in the palace soil will develop blue-green rust.”
“This peculiar copper plate shows no signs of hard green accumulation or flaking. Therefore, it has always been buried in the palace soil.”
After finishing, the craftsman bowed his head again.
Cai Lian led the three craftsmen out.
Lan Pin frowned in secret; having lived in the depths of the palace for so long, she had no idea that copper would react differently in various types of soil.
In the main hall, Zhang Miaoyu waved her hand fan, smiling as she added, “When Mei Fei entered the palace, dozens of eunuchs were sent to the Wang residence to transplant plum trees. If the copper had been buried in the soil, it would have left traces. The eunuchs who transplanted the plum trees didn’t notice any signs of copper rust.”
Lan Pin fell silent.
She couldn’t understand how her family had sent such a flawed copper plate into the palace.
“Your Highness, who buried this copper plate?” one of the concubines asked curiously.
Lan Pin nervously pinched her palm, her mind racing to recall any mistakes she might have made. If even the slightest clue was discovered by Shen Wei, she would surely face punishment.
Slandering a palace consort, creating a cursed object, disturbing the peace of the former and current courts... one charge after another would fall upon her, and Lan Pin would be lucky to escape with her life.
She secretly observed Shen Wei at the main seat, hoping she hadn’t uncovered the truth.
Shen Wei traced her fingers over the teacup, slowly saying, “Before Mei Fei, Yuxiu Palace was home to the late Emperor’s Yun Fei. I asked the Empress Dowager, and she told me that Yun Fei once plotted against the heir and was given a cup of poisoned wine, leading to the extermination of her family. This cursed copper plate, which brings misfortune to the Great Qing, must have been left behind by Yun Fei.”
After a pause, Shen Wei turned to Lan Pin. “What do you think, Lan Pin?”
Lan Pin secretly sighed in relief; it was fortunate to pin the blame on a deceased consort.
She quickly nodded in agreement. “That makes sense, Your Highness. You have keen insight.”
Lan Pin’s personal maid felt heavy-hearted, glancing at her naive mistress, burdened with unspoken worries.
Zhang Miaoyu slammed her hand on the table in frustration. “So it was Yun Fei! What a wicked woman!”
Shen Wei cleared her throat and declared, “I have informed the Emperor of the truth. From now on, this matter must not be discussed in the palace.”
Everyone stood in unison. “Yes.”
The concubines began to leave one by one.
The tumultuous case in the harem came to a close today.
Shen Wei calmly sipped her tea, satisfied that she had resolved the palace’s troubles. As for the court officials who loved to gossip, Li Yuanjing would take care of them.
She managed the inner court while Li Yuanjing handled the outer, a strong partnership that would protect the innocent Liu family, stabilize the loyal ministers in court, and also cleanse the disloyal officials from the Si Tian Jian.
Shen Wei drank her tea, feeling quite pleased.
Zhang Miaoyu, filled with admiration, exclaimed, “Sister Shen Wei, you’re amazing! You even knew that copper changes color in different soils. How did I not think of that before?”
Shen Wei set down her white jade teacup, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. “Just lucky, that’s all.”
Zhang Miaoyu rushed over to Liu Ruyan, nudging her arm. “Consort Chen has stepped in, uncovered the truth, and saved you and the Liu family. Why are you still standing there? Say something!”
Liu Ruyan remained as cold as a plum blossom, her face betraying no emotion.
She did not express her gratitude.
Shen Wei didn’t mind, leading Cai Lian and the others away.
Zhang Miaoyu, exasperated, stomped her foot and jabbed Liu Ruyan’s nose, scolding, “You’re so high and mighty! Consort Chen went out of her way to help you escape your troubles, and you act like you’re on the brink of death, as if the whole world owes you something! You only care about your own feelings, and it’s no wonder you were framed!”
Liu Ruyan replied softly, “I didn’t ask Consort Chen for help.”
She had long been prepared for death.
Zhang Miaoyu was left speechless, utterly frustrated with Liu Ruyan, and turned to leave.
Yuxiu Palace fell silent once more.
The lonely autumn wind blew, and Liu Ruyan stood alone in the main hall. On the table at the main seat lay a delicate white jade teacup, left behind by Shen Wei.
Liu Ruyan’s mind drifted back to Shen Wei’s calm and confident demeanor. No one in the harem had ever been as clever as Shen Wei, who seemed to have everything under control.
A flicker of untraceable disdain crossed Liu Ruyan’s eyes.
She summoned a maid and ordered, “Throw away the teacup used by Consort Chen.”
Table of Contents
