"I..."


    It wasn''t until Ye Baolin''s cheeks swelled up, trying desperately to break free from the eunuch''s grip, her movements bing increasingly frantic, that Jiang Xinyue finally ordered them to release her.


    Her tone was icier than ever before: "Think carefully before you speak again. Otherwise, I won''t hesitate to tear that foul mouth of yours apart."


    Ye Baolin, who had initially doubted Consort Zhang''s words, now had no choice but to believe them.


    This vile Jiang Xinyue had indeed approached her only because of her good family background. Now that she had gained power, the wench''s true, hypocritical face was finally revealed.


    As Ye Baolin''s expression grew more venomous, Jiang Xinyue let out a coldugh and stepped out from behind her writing desk. "Speak! Who put you up to this,ing here to make a scene?"


    "You..."


    Ye Baolin gasped for air, straightening her disheveled clothes, and red at Jiang Xinyue fiercely. "I need no one''s instigation! We entered the pce together as candidates. I treated you like a sister, confiding everything in you. How did you repay me? You knew... you knew I had feelings for His Majesty, yet you still... you still... Jiang Xinyue, I was wrong about you. Remember this: one day, I''ll make you regret it."


    Having spewed her venom, the enraged Ye Baolin tried to leave, but Jiang Xinyue grabbed her wrist. "What exactly were you wrong about? We were both candidates. Who wouldn''t want the Emperor''s favor? Why is it eptable for you but not for me? Did you expect me to be cast into the Pce of Exile just to preserve our sisterly bond?"


    She snorted derisively. "You gained the Emperor''s favor by imitating me, and I haven''t even med you for that. Yet here you are, trying to turn the tables on me. Ye Baolin, don''t you find yourself disgusting?"


    From the beginning, Ye Baolin had merely seen Jiang Xinyue as her subordinate, a mere servant. What sisterly affection?


    She had only befriended Jiang Xinyue because of her outstanding beauty, deliberately revealing her true feelings for the Emperor to pressure Jiang Xinyue not topete with her.


    "We''re both foxes from the same hill. Why are you putting on this act for me?"


    Ye Baolin retreated step by step under Jiang Xinyue''s intense gaze. Her guilty eyes darted around, unable to meet Jiang Xinyue''s. Her lips trembled, unable to utter a word.


    "Hah!"


    Jiang Xinyue released her hand. "Ye Baolin, don''t try to guilt-trip me. I have no such thing as a conscience."


    Havinge to reprimand Jiang Xinyue and make her feel guilty, only to have her intentions exposed, Ye Baolin could only flee in disgrace.


    Jiang Xinyue calmed her anger and summoned Xiaoxuan: "There''s been a lot of rat-catching in the pcetely. Take Gui to Zhong Cui Pce and say you heard from the maids that Consort Zhang''s pce is infested with rats. Tell her I''m kindly offering to help clean them out."


    Consort Zhang was still basking in the joy of having instigated Ye Baolin to cause trouble for Concubine Zhen when a servant came to report that Concubine Zhen''s beloved dog had arrived.


    Concubine Su''s tragic fate after killing Concubine Zhen''s dog was still fresh in everyone''s mind. Consort Zhang didn''t have the courage to harm this precious pet.


    Xiaoxuan led a group of eunuchs and maids, bringing Gui into Zhong Cui Pce. "Good Gui, the rats in Consort Zhang''s pce are as big as people. You must catch them one by one. Don''t let these filthy sewer rats escape!"


    "Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof!"


    Gui stood on his hind legs, poised to charge. Before Consort Zhang could react, Xiaoxuan released the leash.


    Gui lunged forward, leaping towards Consort Zhang, who screamed in terror: "Ah—"


    The snow-white dog''s agile body traced a perfect parab over her head,nding and darting straight for Consort Zhang''s chambers.


    "Bang!"


    "Crash!"


    "tter!"


    In the ensuing chaos, Gui shattered numerous precious porcins and decorations in Zhong Cui Pce.


    Consort Zhang''s bedchamber suffered even greater losses, with even her bedding soaked in dog urine, filling the air with a foul stench.


    "You... you''ve gone too far! What are you trying to do?"


    Xiaoxuan cradled Gui, whose ears drooped, his expression even more indignant than Consort Zhang''s. "What''s wrong with your Zhong Cui Pce? Why spread false rumors? There clearly aren''t any rats, yet you imed there were, causing our mistress to send us to catch them. Our Gui is an infallible rat-catcher, and now he''s suffered a blow in your Zhong Cui Pce. Not catching a single rat must have dejected him. If he bes depressed because of this, our mistress won''t let you off easily."


    He red at Consort Zhang, then stroked Gui''s head lovingly, gathering the dog in his arms as he headed out. "Don''t be sad, Gui. The rats here have be spirits. It''s normal that you couldn''t catch them. I''ll make you some meat bones to eat when we get back!"


    Consort Zhang wanted to order her people to seize the wretched dog and Xiaoxuan, but they were from Concubine Zhen''s pce. Her own people might not dare to act.


    A dog catching rats—wasn''t this a veiled criticism of her meddling?


    Impossible!


    She had been so discreet; Jiang Xinyue couldn''t have discovered that she was the one who had soured Ye Baolin''s rtionship with her.


    In Chengqian Pce—


    The Xuanwu Emperor finished reviewing a stack of memorials, the corners of his mouth curling into a barely perceptible smile. "She sent Gui to Consort Zhang''s pce to wreak havoc?"


    Wang Dequan couldn''t help butugh. "Indeed, Your Majesty. Concubine Zhen is childlike in her ways. Not only has she won the affection of the princes and princesses, but even the animals she raises seem exceptionally intelligent."


    Consort Zhang had instigated Ye Baolin to cause trouble in Hexi Pce, hoping to reap the benefits. She never expected Concubine Zhen to y outside the rules, directly retaliating and leaving Consort Zhang with no grounds forint.


    After all, she could hardly tell the Emperor that the reason Concubine Zhen''s dog came to wreak havoc in Zhong Cui Pce was because her own misdeeds had been exposed.


    Unaware that the Emperor knew the truth, Consort Zhang was now kneeling in the imperial study, tearfully pleading her case: "Your Majesty, Concubine Zhen is abusing your favor and has bewless. She allowed her pet to humiliate me. I beg Your Majesty to uphold justice for me."


    The Xuanwu Emperor looked up from the tall stack of memorials, his expression unreadable—whether angry or something else—and asked with curiosity: "Do you actually have rats in your pce?"


    Consort Zhang''s sobs abruptly ceased. She looked at the Xuanwu Emperor with a strange expression. "I... my pce doesn''t have a kitchen. How could there be rats? Concubine Zhen was clearly trying to cause trouble for me. If Your Majesty continues to protect her, it truly breaks my heart."


    The Xuanwu Emperor felt a twinge of disappointment.


    How could there be no rats?


    If there were any,ing over wouldn''t have been in vain. Its title of "Mouse-Catching General" would truly be well-deserved!


    Though regretful in his heart, his face turned cold and stern: "How did Concubine Zhen insult you? Did she use you of passing by theke and refusing to save her? Or did she wrongly me you for encouraging Ye Baolin to cause her trouble?"


    Consort Zhang was shocked and terrified. Her legs gave way, and she fell to her knees, her face showing extreme fear: "Your Majesty, I''ve been wronged... I... On the day Concubine Zhen fell into the water, I... I didn''t know about it at all!"