The Free Consort of the Rear Palace: The Virtuous Consort Who Died from Overwork Solves Mysteries - Episode 6

The great hall of the Kouyou Palace, "Houshou Tower," was as bright as day, illuminated by over a hundred lanterns. Silk cloths hung from the ceiling swayed in the gentle breeze. Golden dragons coiled around vermilion pillars, and the tables were crammed with luxurious dishes the likes of which she had never seen. The white steam of steamed fish, the sweet fragrance of osmanthus wine. The soft rustle of the consorts' silk garments was pleasant to the ear. The Mid-Autumn Banquet. The one night a year when all the consorts of the rear palace gathered in one place. Shu Rei sat at her seat, holding her breath. (*It's fine. Everything is ready.*) Her heart pounded like a frantic drum. Her body, still not fully recovered from the aftereffects of the poison, trembled faintly. But there was no turning back now. The original ledger that Rasetsu had delivered had reached her hands just before the banquet began. The written confession she had obtained by squeezing a low-ranking member of the Yajou gang was also in her sleeve. Tonight, she would end everything here. In the seat next to her, her maidservant Toumei stood by with a pale face. She knew nothing. She was simply trembling, sensing that something was very wrong with Shu Rei. "[gentle]Toumei, it's alright. You don't need to worry about anything." Shu Rei gave a small smile. Toumei nodded, looking as if she was about to cry. That was when it happened. "Her Majesty, the Empress, arrives—" The eunuch's voice echoed through the hall. A stir. Everyone straightened their posture at once. The door at the back slowly opened. The one who appeared was the Empress, Ka Rin. A deep crimson ceremonial robe embroidered with gold. A golden hair ornament shaped like a phoenix in her black hair. Her white skin was as translucent as porcelain, and her narrow, slanting eyes slowly surveyed the hall. For an instant, her gaze caught Shu Rei. (*—Eep.*) Shu Rei thought her breath would stop. But. Ka Rin immediately averted her gaze, a graceful smile on her face, and proceeded to the seat at the very back. As if Shu Rei wasn't even worth her notice. (*That's right. You still don't think of me as an enemy.*) Shu Rei clenched her fist inside her sleeve. (*That carelessness will be your downfall.*) The banquet began. The consorts' cheerful chatter, the sound of clinking cups, the elegant melody of the *koto*. Shu Rei did not touch the food, merely waiting for the right moment. Her body trembled. Her fingertips were cold. Ever since she had been poisoned, she had become afraid of eating. But right now, that fear served her well. If she put nothing in her mouth, she didn't have to worry about being poisoned. The banquet was approaching its midpoint. "[formal]Everyone, thank you so much for gathering here today." Ka Rin stood up. Her voice was calm, gentle, almost like that of a loving mother. The consorts all focused their attention on her. "[gentle]It brings me heartfelt joy to be able to admire the mid-autumn harvest moon with you all again this year. Please, forget the barriers of the rear palace tonight and enjoy yourselves at your leisure." A perfect smile. Perfect words. The consorts applauded with enraptured expressions. (*...Now.*) Shu Rei took a deep breath. Her lungs ached. Her heart ached. The trembling in her fingertips wouldn't stop. But her legs moved. "[serious]—Your Majesty, Empress." Her own voice sounded terribly distant. The hall fell silent. The gazes of nearly a hundred consorts focused on Shu Rei all at once. Curiosity, contempt, bewilderment, ridicule. Ka Rin slowly turned around. Her eyes were still smiling. "[gentle]Oh my, Shu Rei. Is something the matter? If you are feeling unwell, please, do go and rest in your chambers." A gentle voice. But her eyes coldly asked, "What do you want?" Shu Rei pulled a sealed letter from her sleeve. "[serious]There is something I would like everyone to hear. This is a copy of the secret ledger of the Tenrin Trading Company. It contains records of transactions involving a certain contraband item." "[cold]...Shu Rei, what are you doing at a banquet—" Ka Rin's smile vanished, just a little. But Shu Rei did not stop. "[serious]That contraband is 'Seika Powder'—. The very poison that took the life of the consort Reika three months ago." A stir. A commotion ran through the consorts. "[serious]According to the ledger, the person who purchased this poison was—a eunuch named Xu who works in the rear palace kitchens. And he has testified that he bought it using 'Her Majesty the Empress's private funds.'" The commotion turned into shrieks. "[angry]How insolent!" "[angry]Who do you think the Empress is!? There's no way she could have bought poison—" "[cold]...Shu Rei." Ka Rin's voice froze everything. The hall fell silent as if water had been thrown over it. Ka Rin was still smiling. But her eyes were not. "[cold]That is nothing but a scrap of paper. Evidence fabricated by someone. Do you understand what you are saying?" "[serious]Of course I understand. The proof that this ledger is genuine is the watermark pattern on the paper. This is a special paper used only by the Tenrin Trading Company. Forgery is impossible." Shu Rei took out another piece of paper she had hidden. "[serious]And this is the written confession written by Xu. It clearly states here that all transactions were under the orders of Her Majesty the Empress—" "[cold]It's a fake." Ka Rin stepped forward. The smile completely disappeared from her face. "[cold]That criminal was merely threatened by someone into writing a false testimony. Shu Rei, why do you want to slander me so badly? Jealousy? Or perhaps, the one who killed Reika was rather—" "[angry]You're the one who killed Reika!!" In that instant, Shu Rei slammed a small paper packet from her sleeve onto the floor. "[angry]This is the final piece of evidence! The remaining Seika Powder that Xu was hiding. Let's have the Suiran Bureau appraise it, right here and now. Whose fingerprints are on it, who touched it last. —You can't run away, Ka Rin." "—!" Ka Rin's complexion changed for the first time. Shu Rei was no longer trembling. She was out of breath. Due to the aftereffects of the poison, just standing took all her strength. But she couldn't stop her mouth. "[serious]Reika found out about the bribes you were funneling to the Tenrin Trading Company. That's why you killed her. All for your own greed. And you poisoned me too, to keep me quiet..." "[cold]...Do you have proof?" Ka Rin's voice dropped low. "[cold]Proof that I put poison in that food. Isn't everything you say just ugly jealousy and delusion?" "[serious]The proof is right here." Shu Rei held up another piece of paper—the testimony of the Tenrin Trading Company's courier that Rasetsu had gathered. "[serious]This is the confession of the man who delivered the Seika Powder to the kitchen. It clearly states, 'Her Majesty the Empress ordered me to deliver a gift to the consort of the Shuuka Residence.' The person who received the food was indeed a court lady under your influence." "[cold]—" Ka Rin was at a loss for words. That was when it happened. "Wait." A heavy, low voice resounded. Standing at the entrance of the hall was the Head Court Lady, Chin Hou. Her face was ashen, her lips trembling. "[whispers]...Your Majesty, Empress. Let us end this." Chin Hou slowly stepped forward. "[crying]The one who ordered poison to be given to Lady Reika—was me. Under Her Majesty the Empress's command." "[angry]Chin Hou, what are you—" "[crying]I can't bear it any longer. The purchase of the Seika Powder, the delivery of the poisoned gift to the Shuuka Residence—I arranged everything under Her Majesty's orders. I can provide as much evidence as you want. Inside my desk, there are written instructions in Her Majesty's own hand—" "Silence!!" Ka Rin screamed for the first time. But it was already too late. The consorts stood up one after another. "[surprised]Could it be... it was true...?" "[scared]Were we being deceived this whole time?" "[angry]Reika... was killed by you...!" "[cold]............" Ka Rin looked around at the crowd. A hundred eyes pierced her. Gazes swirling with doubt, fear, hatred, contempt—every emotion. At that moment, the corner of her mouth—slowly curved into an arc. "[cold]Heh... hehe..." "Laughing...?" "[cold]Ah, yes. I did it." Ka Rin straightened her posture. As if a mask was peeling off. The face of the loving mother she had worn until now vanished. "[cold]Reika learned too much about my finances. So I eliminated her. You're the same. Troublesome, an eyesore—" Her eyes pierced Shu Rei with tremendous hatred. "[cold]Why won't you die? Why do you keep crawling back up so persistently?" Shu Rei did not back down a single step. "[serious]That's because—" Shu Rei stared straight at Ka Rin. "[serious]I don't want to work. So I decided to get rid of you, since you're in my way." Her legs were trembling from the aftereffects of the poison. Her vision was blurring. She could barely stand. But her voice did not waver. To Ka Rin, who stood with her mouth agape, Shu Rei continued. "[serious]I'll defeat you and become free. For the best slacker life where I never have to work again—I won't let you get in my way anymore." "[laughing]...Fu, fuhahahahahaha!!" Ka Rin clutched her stomach and began to laugh. A mad, dry laugh. "[laughing]You're joking, right? For a reason like that, you'd do something so outrageous...!!" "[serious]Outrageous is fine. You're finished." Before Shu Rei could finish speaking, the doors of the hall opened. A line of armed guards stood there. At their head was the Head Court Lady, Chin Hou. "[serious]Empress Ka Rin. For the crime of murdering Reika, and the crime of bringing poison into the rear palace—you are hereby taken into custody." "[angry]You defy me, Chin Hou!! What happens to your family—" "[sad]My family... already died last year, from the debts you arranged." Tears spilled from Chin Hou's eyes. "[crying]My husband, my son... they knew nothing. I was always threatened by you, unable to defy you. But tonight—watching this person..." Chin Hou looked at Shu Rei. "[crying]This person, who even when near death, stood up without giving up. I finally found my courage." "[angry]Silence!!" Ka Rin let out a shriek. But the guards' hands seized her arms. "Let go of me! Let go! I am the Empress! The highest in this land—" "[cold]The Empress will be deposed by tomorrow." Chin Hou declared coldly. "[cold]All the evidence has already been delivered to His Majesty the Emperor. Your family home, the Tao family, ends here as well." All color drained from Ka Rin's face. "U... uwaaaaaah!!" Leaving behind a scream like a death cry, Ka Rin was dragged away by the guards and vanished. A deep silence descended upon the hall. None of the hundred consorts could speak. Only Shu Rei stood there. (*—It's over.*) Her entire body screamed from the aftereffects of the poison. Her vision nearly went black, but she endured it. (*Ah, that's right. It's over.*) Shu Rei relaxed the corners of her mouth. (*—It's finally over.*) "[gentle]...Toumei." "[crying]Y-yes!" Toumei ran up to her, crying. "[crying]Thank goodness... truly, thank goodness..." "[weak]...Let's go home. To the Shuuka Residence." Leaning on Toumei's shoulder, Shu Rei took a step forward. That was when it happened. "Please wait, Lady Shu Rei." A voice called out. Turning around, she saw the court lady who had served the high-ranking consort—the one who had declared they should "keep their distance"—bowing deeply. "[sad]...We were terribly rude that time. We were only thinking of protecting ourselves..." "[casual]It's fine. It's only natural you'd do that. I'd have done the same if our positions were reversed." Shu Rei shrugged. "[casual]More

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Episode 6

Name: The Free Consort of the Rear Palace: The Virtuous Consort Who Died from Overwork Solves Mysteries
Author: Novelia

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