Chapter 123: The Instigator

Chapter 123: The Conspirator

"It was... it was Concubine Lian."

Ling Xiao swiftly stepped past Jia Xi, draped the veil over Su Jiaojiao's face before helping her onto the bed.

All four windows in the main chamber were thrown open, the autumn wind howling through, dispersing much of the cloying scent of the lilies.

Upon learning that Su Jiaojiao only suffered from facial heat and itching, with no other ailments, the hearts of those in the reception hall settled slightly.

Yu Ye had long suspected Jia Xi was up to something. She had always disliked Jia Xi, and the sight of her feigned concern only fueled her anger. Instinctively, she believed this was all an act.

She lunged forward and slapped Jia Xi across the face, shouting furiously, "Scheming wretch! I knew you were trouble! Weren’t you just outside? How is it you just happened to know the lilies were poisoned? Was this your doing all along—did you plot to harm Her Ladyship?"

"Yu Ye!" Su Jiaojiao frowned at her, finding her too reckless.

This incident was suspicious, and Jia Xi’s convenient warning was far too coincidental—there was certainly more to it.

Yu Ye’s rash actions would only alert the enemy. If Jia Xi and the Empress realized Su Jiaojiao had long suspected Jia Xi, Su Jiaojiao’s plan to expose the Empress’s schemes would be ruined, leaving her suffering for nothing.

Now that things had come to this, Su Jiaojiao could only try to rectify matters. Covering her veiled face, she forced herself to regain control. "Jia Xi went out of her way to warn us—how could you treat her like this?"

Yu Ye, too enraged to listen, turned back to see Her Ladyship poisoned yet still defending Jia Xi. Heartbroken and furious, she stamped her foot and retorted, "Her Ladyship, she’s clearly behind this!"

Yu Ying glanced at Su Jiaojiao, understanding that Her Ladyship was considering far more than the immediate situation. She knew Yu Ye had acted rashly, but Yu Ye was too simple-minded to think ahead. Stepping forward, she feigned disapproval and pulled Yu Ye aside, deliberately scolding her. "Yu Ye, I know you mean well for Her Ladyship, but she has her own considerations. As a servant, how can you overstep her authority? You must withdraw."

"Even you’re taking her side now?" Yu Ye’s eyes welled with tears. She shot Jia Xi a hateful glare and spat, "You’d better pray Her Ladyship is unharmed—otherwise, I’ll make sure you pay!"

Yu Ying frowned as she watched Yu Ye rush out in tears, then exchanged a knowing glance with Her Ladyship.

She stepped forward to help Jia Xi up, softening her tone to soothe her. "Jia Xi, don’t take it to heart. I apologize on Yu Ye’s behalf. You acted bravely by warning Her Ladyship about the poison—she’ll surely reward you for your loyalty. How could she ever suspect you of ill intent? Come, rise now."

Tears brimming in her eyes, Jia Xi looked up at Yu Ying and took her hands to stand, sobbing. "Sister Yu Ying, I was only out delivering Her Ladyship’s message to Noble Consort Shu—everyone knows that. But on my way back, I saw a flower-delivering maid secretly rubbing something into the lilies when no one was around."

"I thought they were meant for another mistress and didn’t dare speak up. But when I followed her from afar and saw her enter Guanju Palace, I realized they were for our mistress! How could I delay after witnessing such a thing? I rushed back at once to warn Her Ladyship. Yet Sister Yu Ye accused me like this—I’m truly wronged!"

"Good Jia Xi, Yu Ye misunderstood you." Yu Ying forced a smile, patting her hand gently. "When His Majesty, the Empress, and Concubine Lian arrive, you must recount everything truthfully so the culprit is punished."

Jia Xi nodded eagerly and stood aside with Yu Ying.

Before long, His Majesty arrived first, with Xiao Songzi and others bringing the flower-delivering maid in tow, parading her before His Majesty.

Shen Huai, upon hearing of Noble Consort Zhen’s poisoning, had rushed over immediately. He strode straight into the inner chamber to see Su Jiaojiao on the bed.

Hearing His Majesty’s arrival, Su Jiaojiao turned away, pressing her face to the wall, unwilling to let him see her in such a state.

Even when Shen Huai tried to look at her, she pushed him away, turning her face aside as tears streamed down her face. "Your Majesty, Jiaojiao is disfigured now. Please... don’t look."

The more she resisted, the more anxious and furious Shen Huai grew. His voice turned thunderous. "Where is the Imperial Physicians' Office?"

Yu Ying, her face etched with worry, curtsied. "Your Majesty, the Imperial Physicians' Office is some distance from the inner palace. The servants have gone to summon them at once, but it may take a little longer."

Shen Huai, concerned, reached to turn her shoulders. "Please, my love. Let me see."

But Su Jiaojiao only wept harder. "For women in the palace, appearance is everything. Jiaojiao is unpresentable now. If Your Majesty truly cares for me, don’t force me. Let you remember me at my best."

"Preposterous!" Shen Huai’s temper flared. He forcibly turned her around and removed her veil. "Beauty means nothing—what is beauty compared to your life? If I don’t care, why must you cling to this?"

His sudden fury left Su Jiaojiao momentarily speechless. She hadn’t expected His Majesty to declare her life more precious than her beauty. Her heart swelled with conflicting emotions.

The Emperor gently cupped her face in his palms, his cool fingertips brushing against her fevered cheeks.

Shen Huai immediately frowned and said sharply, "You're burning up. How do you feel now? Are there any other discomforts?"

Su Jiaojiao shook her head and whispered softly, "Only my face feels hot and maddeningly itchy. There’s nothing else yet."

In truth, her words were somewhat exaggerated. When the symptoms first appeared, it had indeed been unbearably hot and itchy, as if thousands of ants were crawling beneath her skin—not just on her face, but deep into her heart, making her wish she could tear it out. She had clawed her own palms to resist the urge to scratch her face.

Fortunately, Ling Xiao had reacted quickly and given her one of Imperial Physician Liu’s antidote pills. Though she still felt discomfort, it was far more bearable than before, preventing her from disfiguring herself.

But since she was the victim, if she didn’t appear pitiable, she would be at a disadvantage.

Sure enough, as soon as Shen Huai heard Su Jiaojiao’s suffering, his expression darkened further, his face thunderous. He helped her lie down and ordered sharply, "Summon the imperial physician at once!"

On his way here, the messenger maid had already informed him of the situation. After settling Su Jiaojiao, he rose and took his seat in the main hall.

The flower-bearing maid knelt trembling on the carpet, her eyes flickering wildly in panic. She had thought her act was carefully arranged, yet she had been caught so soon—it was something she never expected.

Shen Huai gazed coldly at the kneeling maid before finally asking, "Is she the one who poisoned Noble Consort Zhen?"

Jia Xi, glancing at Yu Ying’s expression, immediately stepped forward and knelt. "Your Majesty, this lowly servant witnessed with her own eyes—it was she who secretly applied poison to the lily stamens while delivering the flowers. Shortly after Noble Consort Zhen received those poisoned lilies, she was poisoned. I beg Your Majesty to deliver justice!"

The maid recoiled in shock. She had believed her actions were perfectly concealed, yet someone had been watching her from behind. The thought sent chills down her spine.

But poisoning a noble was a capital offense—no one would confess easily. She kowtowed desperately, crying, "Your Majesty, spare me! I didn’t do it! I didn’t!"

Just then, Imperial Physician Liu hurried in with his medical kit. After bowing to the Emperor, he swiftly entered the inner chamber to examine Noble Consort Zhen’s pulse through the thin gauze curtain.

After checking her pulse and inspecting her face, he examined the lily Su Jiaojiao had smelled.

In the backyard refuse bin, shattered double lilies lay mixed with soil and spilled tea—a chaotic jumble. Imperial Physician Liu meticulously examined each item before retreating to a side chamber to write a prescription. He handed it to the palace servants to prepare the medicine before swiftly returning to the main hall.

He bowed to the Emperor and declared gravely, "Your Majesty, after examining Noble Consort Zhen’s pulse and the remnants in the courtyard, I’ve concluded that the poison did not come solely from the lily stamens. If the stamens alone were poisoned, this maid would have suffered long before Noble Consort Zhen. It’s no coincidence that only Her Ladyship was affected while others remained unharmed."

"Zhengshan Xiaozhong tea grows in the perilous Wuyi Mountains—rare, scarce, and notoriously difficult to harvest. There are even rumors of tea pickers losing their lives there. While the dangers of the mountains are well-known, few realize that a counterpart herb resembling Zhengshan Xiaozhong grows alongside it. If both are ingested simultaneously, they become toxic. Such poisoning is exceedingly rare. Had I not traveled extensively in my youth, I might not have recognized the cause."

"Most who visit Wuyi Mountain seek the priceless tea leaves—hardly anyone would deliberately gather this lookalike weed. The lily stamens were coated with its sap."

Imperial Physician Liu continued calmly, "It seems Noble Consort Zhen inhaled the lily’s fragrance and then drank the tea, precipitating the poisoning."

"This method of poisoning is devious. Only those widely experienced or familiar with Wuyi Mountain’s tea pickers would know such a trick."

The maid had never imagined her meticulously hidden scheme would be exposed—first by a witness, then by the physician’s sharp diagnosis. Despair congealed in her chest.

She broke into terrified sobs, kowtowing desperately. "Your Majesty, spare me! I was a tea picker from Wuyi Mountain before entering the palace. My family fell into ruin, and I was brought to Chang’an, forced into servitude. I bear no grudge against Noble Consort Zhen—I was forced under duress! Please spare my life, for it was not my intention but another’s command!"

Jia Xi watched the maid’s terror with lowered eyes, her lips curling faintly for the briefest moment.

The Emperor looked down coldly at the weeping maid and demanded, "Who ordered you?"

The maid trembled, pressing her forehead to the floor. "It... it was Concubine Lian."