Chapter 332

The Bureau of Apparel –0

All the seamstresses of the Clothing Department were gathered in the grand hall. Fang Rumeng, clad in a purple official gown for female officials, stood sternly on the elevated platform at the front.0

The seamstresses were puzzled and whispered among themselves, "Why did Director Fang gather us all here? The phoenix robe for the Imperial Noble Consort is still missing a few stitches!"0

"A new official takes office with three fires. She just got promoted to Director of Clothing, so naturally, she wants to show off her authority. A few stitches missing on the phoenix robe? Let us work overtime; it doesn't cost her anything. We are under her roof, so we have to bow our heads."0

"You can't say that. Director Fang has real skills. She even dyed the Sunset Brocade that can rival the Floating Light Silk. Our Clothing Department has outshone the Mansion of Treasures. The things Director Fang teaches us are indeed more than what the previous directors taught."0

"Yes, there's a reason why the Imperial Noble Consort trusts her. She has real talent."0

"You're just flattering her! Let's see if she promotes you to be a female official or a seamstress."0

"You…"0

"Silence!"0

Fang Rumeng already had a large following. She only needed to stand there to intimidate everyone; someone else would speak for her.0

Several female officials carrying rulers walked among the seamstresses, explaining the purpose of today's gathering: "You must have heard about the incident that happened in Yanqing Palace recently. Now, the Imperial Noble Consort wants to investigate. Who made the shoes and clothes for the woman in the mute slave's room? If you confess now, Director Fang won't hold it against you for taking private jobs during your free time. But if you don't confess and are found out, according to the rules, you'll be beaten with sticks and sent home."0

"Do you want this matter to be over, or do you want to live in fear, worrying that your side job will one day be discovered, and you'll be sent out of the palace in disgrace? It all depends on you."0

Some seamstresses looked calm, others were visibly nervous, and a few seemed indifferent.0

"Bang!"0

"Bang!"0

Two seamstresses, trembling and looking abnormal, were pushed to the ground by the female officials: "What are you afraid of? The clothes found in the mute slave's room that belong to Luyin, were they made by you?"0

Otherwise, why would you be so nervous?0

All the seamstresses wanted to avoid trouble. After the two were pushed out, everyone moved to the sides, leaving the two in the center.0

Fang Rumeng finally spoke: "Do you want to confess yourselves, or should I call the Investigative Bureau to interrogate you? I hear the Investigative Bureau has moved the man-eating fish from Yanqing Palace to their dungeon. Would you like to experience the feeling of being eaten by the man-eating fish?"0

The two seamstresses knelt down and begged for mercy: "Director Fang, spare us! We… we didn't know that mute slave was a psychopathic murderer! He gave us some money and said he wanted to make some clothes and shoes for Luyin. Luyin was a senior maidservant by Consort De, and we thought he wanted to curry favor with her to benefit from Consort De, so we helped make them. We are not his accomplices."0

The case was solved!0

Those clothes were not stolen by the mute slave from Luyin; he had them made to give to Luyin.0

These two seamstresses came from poor families and had barely passed the selection to enter the palace. They probably wanted to supplement their income, so they took private jobs during their free time.0

Fang Rumeng helped them up: "Why didn't you say this when the Investigative Bureau was investigating?"0

The seamstresses burst into tears: "We… we were afraid. He… he killed so many people. What if… what if we were also arrested as accomplices? I heard the punishments in the Investigative Bureau are terrifying and can even lead to death."0

For seamstresses like them, with no background or power, how could they dare to admit any contact with the mute slave?0

"Giving shoes and clothes to a woman? Isn't that just being a pervert? Old enough to be Luyin's father, an old eunuch, still dares to lust after Consort De's senior maidservant. Luyin was really unlucky; she was killed just for rejecting an old eunuch's advances."0

"I see the palace maids lately are avoiding the eunuchs. They're afraid of being noticed; if they refuse to be their partners, they'll be killed, right?"0

"It's terrifying. Poor Consort De, who was also stabbed by that old eunuch. Yesterday, I saw Consort De being carried out of Hexi Palace on a stretcher by the Internal Affairs Department."0

"I heard it was Xi Que who kicked her out. My goodness, I don't even admire the Imperial Noble Consort, but I admire Xi Que. She's really amazing!"0

"That's because the Imperial Noble Consort is backing her up. If she didn't have such a good mistress, do you think she'd dare? She'd be dead before she knew it!"0

Those who always doubted Jiang Xinyue had to admit that she was an unparalleled good mistress.0

Back when Concubine Li's senior maidservant beat Shuang Jiang, she directly took Shuang Jiang to confront them, even when she wasn't the Imperial Noble Consort yet.0

As a servant, isn't that what you hope for—a protective mistress?0

Looking at Fang Rumeng again, it was easier to understand why she had always been loyal to the Imperial Noble Consort.0

In just two and a half years, an ordinary person wouldn't even dare to dream of becoming the head of the Clothing Department. If it weren't for the Imperial Noble Consort's promotion, she would have had no chance, no matter how talented she was. Without seniority or background, she would have had to endure the wait.0

The two seamstresses went to the Investigative Bureau and revealed the truth. By the afternoon, rumors spread in the palace that Luyin had seduced the mute slave, taken all his money, and refused to be with him, which angered the mute slave and led him to push her off a mountain to her death.0

Jiang Xinyue commented that spreading rumors about a woman's morality, no matter the era, was a manifestation of human evil.0

Even a eunuch could be the subject of such rumors, and if it were a guard, who knows what kind of stories would circulate.0

However, everyone just took Luyin's story as entertainment and didn't pay much attention. What everyone really cared about was the Sixth Prince.0

It was said that he had caught a cold and was quite ill. Previously, the Sixth Prince's wet nurse would take him out for walks every day, but recently, she hadn't been seen.0

The palace staff had already received the news that the Emperor would hold a coronation ceremony in two days, and the phoenix robe had already been embroidered.0

The sacrificial altar at Suyi Gate was being set up, and the auspicious date had been calculated by the Court Astronomer. The officials of the court had already been informed.0

Time was tight, and even if someone wanted to object, there was no time to voice their dissent.0

The Emperor was very shrewd, leaving no room for rebuttal, catching the officials off guard.0

The coronation ceremony was imminent, but the Sixth Prince was so seriously ill, which wasn't a good omen.0

Perhaps to take care of the Sixth Prince, the coronation ceremony would have to be postponed.0

And those few days of postponement would be enough for Consort De and the Mansion of the Duke of Cheng to do a lot of things.0