After Song Yunzhao left, Consort Shu and Wang Zhaorong didn't just sit idly. Instead, they called Caiqin over for questioning.
It was Caiqin who had accompanied Noble Lady Xu to Shouci Palace the day before. They had to know what happened to make her fall ill—she couldn't have suddenly become so sick for no reason.
Caiqin was too afraid to speak at first, but when Consort Shu threatened to have her thrown out of the palace if she didn't tell the truth, she was terrified and immediately confessed everything.
Only after hearing Caiqin's account did the two of them learn the truth. Xu Mingying had gone to Shouci Palace the previous day, but the Empress Dowager refused to see her. Instead, she forced her to stand beneath the eaves for over four hours.
In such cold weather, with no shelter, no stove, and no brazier for warmth, just left to stand in the freezing wind—even a person made of iron couldn't have endured it.
