Empress Li Hua looked upon Ah-Zhi and felt a surge of pity. Her voice was gentle, filled with compassion.
"Lift your head, child. Whatever burden you carry, speak to me openly."
Ah-Zhi slowly raised her face, and the moment the Empress saw it, she gasped. The girl's forehead was drenched in blood. The wound from striking her head against the ground had not yet healed; though the bleeding had been wiped away, crimson still seeped through the skin.
"Who did this to you?"
Ah-Zhi said nothing, her tears flowing freely. But the Empress could guess the answer.
Feeling sorrow at the sight, Empress Li Hua immediately ordered Zhong Lin to bring clean water and medicine. Zhong Lin obeyed at once.
The Empress then knelt and gently pressed the cloth to Ah-Zhi's forehead, unbothered by the blood.
Startled, Ah-Zhi lowered her head until it touched the floor.
"Your Majesty, I am too lowly to be touched by you. Please, do not let my filthy blood stain you."
"I do not find your blood filthy," the Empress said kindly. "Zhong Lin, help her to the chair. I will treat her wound myself."
Zhong Lin helped Ah-Zhi to a chair, and the Empress tenderly cleaned the wound and applied healing salve. The girl trembled—never before had she known such kindness. To her, this felt more like the love of a mother than anything she had received from Consort Hua.
Li Gaosun, observing from nearby, was displeased. This lowly servant belonged to Consort Hua—the sworn enemy of his daughter. How dare she step foot into their domain?
"What are you doing here?" Li Gaosun barked, drawing his sword and pointing it at Ah-Zhi.
Ah-Zhi, terrified, threw herself to the floor.
"Grand Chancellor, please spare me!" she cried.
"Father, please stop," the Empress said firmly. "She is under my protection."
"Under your protection?" Li Gaosun said sharply. "Why would the servant of that wretched woman be one of yours?"
"She came to pledge her loyalty of her own accord."
"Consort Hua is cruel and ruthless," Ah-Zhi sobbed. "She forced me to commit terrible acts. I no longer wish to serve her. If I stay by her side, she will surely destroy my family. Please, I beg for the Empress's mercy!"
"She cannot be trusted," Li Gaosun said darkly. "She could be pretending—sent here to spy or betray us. We must not keep her alive. Flog her to death!"
Ah-Zhi's eyes widened in terror. She crawled to the Empress's feet, clinging to her robes.
"Your Majesty, please save me! I swear, I am not what the Chancellor accuses me of!"
"Father, spare her. I believe she speaks the truth," said the Empress, her voice trembling with pity.
"At first, I too was suspicious. That is why I ordered Zhong Lin to watch her closely. And what she discovered was heartbreaking. Everything Ah-Zhi has said… is true."
"It is as Her Majesty says, Chancellor," Zhong Lin confirmed.
"And more importantly, if she dies, we may never know what Consort Hua is planning."
"Yes, exactly!" Ah-Zhi cried. "I came here to tell you… about her plans."
"What is that harlot planning?" Li Gaosun demanded, his sword flashing. "Choose your words wisely. If you lie to me, I'll rip out your filthy tongue!"
Ah-Zhi could barely breathe. She forced herself to calm down.
"Consort Hua… is having an affair with the Grand Minister."
The Empress and her father were struck dumb.
They had never imagined a man as virtuous as Zheng Shihwei would betray his duty by consorting with the Emperor's concubine.
The Empress staggered back, knees weak. Zhong Lin rushed to support her.
"Are you all right, Your Majesty?"
Li Hua raised a hand slightly, signaling that she was fine. But her eyes remained locked on Ah-Zhi, filled with doubt.
"I will ask you once more," she said sternly, "Are your words true? You know this is a matter of grave importance. If you lie, your entire family will be put to death."
"Every word I speak is true," Ah-Zhi declared, bowing deeply.
"If I lie, may my bloodline be cursed—may every descendant perish under sword and flame, with no heir to carry our name."
In the old world, oaths sworn before Heaven and Earth were sacred.
Such words, spoken without hesitation, began to pierce the Empress's doubt.
"What I have long suspected… is true after all."
"What do you mean?" Li Gaosun asked, frowning. "Did you know about this beforehand?"
The Empress nodded slightly.
"You once asked me who could be supporting Consort Hua. I fear that person is Zheng Shihwei. He must be trying to keep her from being buried."
"That damned traitor!" Li Gaosun roared.
"Please, Father. Stay calm," the Empress urged.
"Is that why you've hidden your pregnancy from the court?"