Chapter 53: Collective Poisoning

Chapter 53: Collective Poisoning

When Consort Yun arrived at Yonghe Palace, it was nearly midnight.

She came dressed simply, lacking the usual eye-catching elegance of her usual attire.

As soon as she entered, she began whispering to Consort Chen,

"Didn't we agree to meet less privately? Sending Ying Xiang to my palace, aren't you afraid of being seen? You... Ah!?"

'Slap'

Consort Chen didn't wait for Consort Yun to finish speaking and slapped her across the face.

Consort Yun, covering her reddened cheek, stared wide-eyed in shock,

"As a consort of equal rank, how dare you strike me?"

"It's lenient of me to just slap you!"

Consort Chen angrily scattered the food box on the floor, spilling the brown sugar gardenia cakes everywhere,

"If these had been presented to the Emperor, the slap on your face would have come from him!"

Consort Yun looked at the scattered cakes, still not comprehending,

"What are these?"

"These are brown sugar gardenia cakes, made with the Begonia honey sent from your palace." Consort Chen's piercing gaze drilled into Consort Yun, "Now do you realize what these are?"

Hearing this, Consort Yun's mind buzzed, frozen in place, unsure of how to respond.

She couldn't understand how the item she intended to use against Song Zhao ended up in Consort Chen's palace.

Consort Chen said, "Had Song Zhao not added your Begonia honey to the cakes she made to curry favor with me, I would have been unaware of your scheme! The Emperor detests consorts plotting against each other. What did Song Zhao ever do to obstruct you, that you engage in such despicable, underhanded tactics?"

Consort Yun timidly replied, "But there's no evidence of this..."

"What on earth is in your head?" Consort Chen jabbed her finger at Consort Yun's temple, scolding,

"Doesn't everyone in the palace know that after Lady Li poisoned Song Zhao with arsenic, the imperial physician advised her to consume more brown sugar to replenish her blood and energy? And you had Zhi Lan secretly give 'Chushen grass' to Song Zhao during the consorts' greeting to the Empress. When the investigation eventually uncovers only Song Zhao's health issues, do you think everyone is too foolish to see through your intentions?"

Consort Yun had thought her plan was foolproof, but Consort Chen's words sent chills down her spine, filling her with dread.

Seeing Consort Yun's pale face, Consort Chen's tone softened,

"I will cover up this matter for you. Withdraw your hands completely from this and stop digging your own grave."

Consort Yun, clutching her chest, still shaken, said, "Thank you for this."

Consort Chen's fingers lightly traced Consort Yun's still-reddened cheek, her voice gentle,

"Don't take the slap to heart. Why do you think my father helped yours conceal his dominion in Qizhou for so long? Isn't it because I regard you as a sister and don't want to see your family fall?"

Consort Yun pressed her lips together, nodding tremulously, "I understand all of this."

Consort Chen said with a smile, "Let's consider the matter settled. By the way, you must have used up the perfume powder I gave you. Ying Xiang, fetch some more for Consort Yun."

As she spoke, she took Consort Yun's hand and gently patted the back of it, showing affection,

"Lately, the Empress has grown closer to you. Although Consort Ying flatters her way into managing the harem, your 'feud' with me over this past year has earned the Empress’s trust."

She whispered into Consort Yun's ear,

"Being the central consort, you should spend more time with her."

Meanwhile, Ying Xiang had brought the perfume powder to Consort Yun.

Consort Yun did not respond to Consort Chen's words, instead tightly holding the brocade box with the perfume powder, nodding somewhat helplessly.

After her departure, Ying Xiang said to Consort Chen, "Consort Yun really listens to Your Highness. She uses that perfume powder every day and often stays by the Empress's side. The 'special ingredient' in the powder will exacerbate the Empress's heart condition, keeping her ill but not critically so, and undetectable by the imperial physician."

Consort Chen lightly stroked her temple, scoffing disdainfully,

"Her father lacks brains, and she’s no smarter. If not for her convenience as a consort to be close to the Empress, I wouldn't bother covering for her family's mess."

In fact, the apparent discord between Consort Chen and Consort Yun had always been a show for the Empress.

Consort Chen's intentions were simple; the perfume powder she gave to Consort Yun contained a herb that slightly accelerates blood flow in anyone who smells it.

Ordinary people wouldn't be harmed, but the Empress, with her heart condition, would never fully recover as long as she kept inhaling it.

Someone with a heart condition, even if pregnant, cannot safely give birth,

As there's a high risk of the condition worsening during labor, potentially leading to a tragic outcome for both mother and child.

Consort Chen was determined to have her child precede everyone else’s,

The Empress remaining childless for life would only increase the likelihood of her own child becoming the Crown Prince.

*

Consort Yun's visit to Consort Chen's palace tonight was highly secretive; they thought no one had seen them.

Unknown to them, Xiaofuzi had been covertly observing Yonghe Palace's activities these past few days.

Now, he returned to Yaohua Palace and told Song Zhao,

"Mistress, your guess was correct. Consort Yun did visit Yonghe Palace. But she left unscathed."

Song Zhao then realized that Consort Chen must have discovered the trickery in the brown sugar gardenia cakes and chose to cover up for Consort Yun.

This confirmed her suspicion that Consort Yun and Consort Chen were in cahoots.

But could this matter really be concealed just because Consort Chen wished it so?

The fate of the palace, whether it crumbles or stands, has always been in Song Zhao's hands.

With a composed smile, Song Zhao set down the pipa she was practicing, draped in the veil of night, she entered the small kitchen, busying herself with something unknown.

The next morning, when the consorts gathered to pay respects to the Empress, Song Zhao was the last to arrive.

As soon as she entered, Consort Ying complained in a displeased tone,

"Lately, Song Changzai has been increasingly late to pay respects to the Empress. You've always been well-mannered. Having just entered the palace, how could you forget all the rules so quickly?"

Song Zhao did not try to justify herself but first paid her respects to the Empress and then sincerely admitted her fault,

"Arriving late to greet Her Majesty the Empress is my mistake, and I am willing to accept punishment."

"It's alright." The Empress did not blame her, but noticing that she brought two maidservants, each carrying a food box, asked, "What are your maids holding?"

Song Zhao replied, "I made some pastries, which caused the delay in paying my respects today."

She signaled Yunshan and Zhixue, who then presented the food boxes,

Smiling, Song Zhao said, "Both the Emperor and Consort Chen enjoyed these pastries, so I made extra to share with all the noble ladies."

As soon as the box was opened, gluttonous Consort Hui was the first to lean in for a look,

"Ah! Brown sugar gardenia cakes!"

Without minding the etiquette, she grabbed one and happily began eating.

Looking at the two trays full of brown sugar gardenia cakes,

Consort Chen's face immediately darkened,

While Consort Yun became visibly uneasy, nervously fiddling with her handkerchief, her fingers turning pale from the tension...