Chapter 77: Shadows of Doubt in the Deep Palace

Chapter 77: Shadows of Doubt in the Deep Palace

Consort Yun was particularly dissatisfied with Imperial Consort Chen's show of power,

"Who is she trying to impress with her swagger?"

The Empress, too, was clearly angered.

Her breathing became increasingly rapid, and she pressed her hand to her chest, staggering back to sit in a chair.

It seemed she was so upset by Imperial Consort Chen that it triggered her heart condition,

The other consorts immediately gathered around to check on her,

Standing outside the crowd, Consort Yao loudly ordered the servants, "The Empress is having a heart attack, quickly summon the imperial physician!"

"Don't go..." the Empress weakly interrupted, frowning and shaking her head:

"Consort Xiao's pregnancy is a joyous occasion. Let's not make a fuss and trouble the Emperor with another quarrel between me and Imperial Consort Chen. It would only turn a happy event into a headache for him."

Consort Ying retorted, "Your Majesty, it wasn't a quarrel with Imperial Consort Chen. She was blatantly bullying you! It's better if the Emperor knows, so that Imperial Consort Chen can be shown her limits for oppressing the central palace!"

"I said don't go, and I mean it!" The Empress was visibly agitated, her face turning red.

Fortunately, Shuang Ruoxin had pills for heart conditions on her, which she quickly gave to the Empress with water and continued to gently stroke the Empress's chest to help regulate her breathing,

After a while, the Empress's condition began to improve.

She took a deep breath and said, "Harmony in the harem allows the Emperor to focus on state affairs. Let's not trouble him with such trifles."

Song Zhao observed and wondered whether the Empress was genuinely ill from anger or merely putting on a show in front of everyone.

After all, this incident seemed to further cement the Empress's reputation for virtue and grace, and Imperial Consort Chen's for arrogance and tyranny.

Later, the Empress instructed Consort Xiao to rest well before she left for the palace.

On the way back, the Empress sat inside the sedan, while Shuang Ruoxin walked alongside it, attending to her.

In winter, the sedans were tightly sealed to prevent drafts.

Feeling a bit stuffy, the Empress lifted the sedan curtain to get some air.

Shuang Ruoxin had been holding her anger over the recent event,

Having restrained herself for most of the journey, when the Empress lifted the curtain, revealing her weakened state, Shuang Ruoxin's heart ached, prompting her to speak:

"Imperial Consort Chen is too audacious. Your Majesty should teach her a lesson. She can feign amiability towards Consort Xiao, who nearly killed her, yet she treats Your Majesty with such disrespect?"

Lowering her voice, she leaned closer to the sedan and continued, "I caught a gist of what she whispered in Your Majesty's ear. What did she mean? Does she think Your Majesty and Consort Xiao conspired against her?"

The Empress remained silent for a moment before responding, "Imperial Consort Chen is just venting her frustration because the Emperor spared Consort Xiao due to her pregnancy. She was merely throwing her weight around in front of me."

Leaning her elbow on the window frame and gently massaging her temples with her unarmored index finger, she expressed her confusion:

"But I find it odd. The Emperor has pardoned Consort Xiao; she should have kept quiet about the Mei Garden incident. Why does she insist on involving me, repeatedly claiming her innocence?"

"Maybe she's putting on an act?" Shuang Ruoxin pondered, "After all, she was absolved due to the unborn heir, not because she was truly innocent. If this matter is brushed aside, once the heir is born, who's to say the Emperor and Imperial Consort Chen won't settle scores in the fall?"

The Empress nodded symbolically, pondering for a moment before saying:

"The maid serving her, Yinzhi, was it? I remember she was the one who took the initiative to get snake glow grass from the imperial pharmacy. The Emperor declared it an accident, and since that maid is her personal servant, she'll likely be released. Keep an eye on the Ministry of Punishment. Once she's released, bring her directly to me. I want to interrogate her personally."

*

Meanwhile, the bustle in Zhaochun Palace had also dissipated.

The consorts visited Consort Xiao only because she was pregnant and they had to offer their congratulations.

But most still believed she was the one who released the snake in the Mei Garden,

And naturally, they kept their distance from such a person.

Previously, Song Zhao had pretended to be close to Consort Xiao, so she stayed till the end.

After everyone had left, Consort Xiao suddenly asked Song Zhao, "Do you believe me?"

Song Zhao was silent for a moment before slowly nodding, "Of course, I believe you."

Their prior interactions had earned Consort Xiao some favor in Song Zhao's eyes, and now, she was the only person Consort Xiao could confide in. So, she got straight to the point:

"Someone is trying to make me the scapegoat. I didn't do anything from beginning to end.

I admit, when I thought my disfigurement might be due to Imperial Consort Chen's scheming, I did think about revenge. But after calming down, the thought of harming her and the potential exposure scared me. With the power of Imperial Consort Chen's family, not just me, but even the lives of my entire family would be at stake."

Consort Xiao became more agitated as she spoke, grabbing Song Zhao's hand and shaking her head continuously:

"I can't implicate my family, so I abandoned the idea of revenge. I really didn't do this! You believe me, don't you?"

"I've said it before, I believe you," Song Zhao clasped her hand back, speaking with firm conviction.

At this point, Song Zhao was almost certain that Consort Xiao was not involved in this affair.

Yet, she couldn't directly tell Consort Xiao that she suspected the Empress had orchestrated the entire situation, so she could only hint obliquely,

"Actually, the most unusual person in this whole affair is Yinzhi. Why would she go to the imperial pharmacy for snake glow grass without your instruction? Now that the Emperor has declared it an accident, Yinzhi, being your personal servant, should be released soon and return to serve you. You must confront her and find out what really happened."

Consort Xiao nodded repeatedly in agreement, then said indignantly,

"That treacherous wretch! Once she's back, I'll make her confess, even if it costs her life."

*

That night, in the deep hours.

After winter's arrival, the Qianli Pond in the western part of the Imperial Garden seldom saw passersby.

The palace lanterns that usually lit up the area at night had been broken recently, and even the patrolling guards were too lazy to come by.

Tonight, however, a woman stood by the pond.

The woman stood under a tree, her figure enshrouded in darkness, making it impossible to discern her features.

Soon, a eunuch sneaked over to meet her.

"Reporting to my lady, the task is complete. Yinzhi's death has been staged as a sudden one due to torture, and it won't raise any suspicion," he said.

"Well done," the woman took a small, exquisite brocade box from her bosom, weighed it in her hand, and then handed it to the eunuch, "This is the reward the Empress promised you. Check if it's all there."

The eunuch smiled, "Thank you for the Empress's generosity. With this money, I'll leave with the water carriage tomorrow and never return. Please inform the Empress to be at ease."

After speaking, he hurriedly opened the brocade box, but the moment it was opened, a large cloud of white powder burst out towards him.

He inhaled just once and instantly lost consciousness, his eyes rolling back as he collapsed to the ground.

The woman glanced down at him with a sinister smile, murmuring,

"Her Majesty believes that only the dead can keep secrets in this world."

She kicked the unconscious eunuch in the waist,

Taking advantage of the slope, the eunuch easily rolled into Qianli Pond, creating the illusion of drowning.

The woman watched as the eunuch slowly sank, waiting until not a single ripple disturbed the surface of the pond,

Then, cloaked in moonlight, she hurried away...