Chapter 166 Purple Jade Bamboo

**Chapter 166: Purple Jade Bamboo**

**Noble Consort Lan Poisoned**

As Xiao Songzi spoke, a bolt of lightning split the sky outside.

A sudden flash of white light brightened the translucent windows, instantly turning the previously warm atmosphere solemn and tense.

Su Jiaojiao set aside the book in her hand, her brows slightly furrowed.

She remembered that during the third year of Tianyuan, when Noble Consort Lan and the other newcomers first entered the palace, no one had noted any particular frailty among them.

Though highborn ladies weren’t as hardy as commoners, there was no reason for her to fall ill so frequently and easily.

Noble Consort Lan had been in and out of illness repeatedly these past months. Su Jiaojiao recalled how she had appeared frail and barely recovered during last year’s autumn hunt.

At the time, she hadn’t thought much of it, assuming illness was simply part of life. She had only offered a few words of concern.

But now, looking back, Noble Consort Lan’s health seemed to have been hollowed out by something, deteriorating day by day. Her illnesses became more frequent, lingering stubbornly without recovery.

The downpour roared, pounding the eaves. Su Jiaojiao clutched her book tightly, silent for a long moment before finally speaking. “Send for Imperial Physician Liu. I’ll go see Noble Consort Lan.”

Hearing this, Yu Ying immediately stopped what she was doing.

She rushed over in alarm, pleading earnestly, “Your Highness, you mustn’t! You’re heavily pregnant now, and the storm outside is raging. What if something goes wrong?”

“Besides, you’ve always feared thunderstorms the most. His Majesty has already sent word he’ll visit after dinner. Please stay inside.”

Su Jiaojiao replied gently, “The court’s been in turmoil lately, and Noble Consort Lan is the only consort from the Zhong clan in the palace. I’d promised that if she allied with me, I would do my best to protect her. When I was vulnerable, she secretly helped me many times. Now that her clan’s influence is waning and she’s bedridden, how can I not go?”

“Moreover, there’s something suspicious about her illness. I need to see her myself to be at ease.”

Seeing Yu Ying about to protest further, Su Jiaojiao patted her hand lightly and said softly, “If the litter bearers seem unreliable in this weather, we can walk. You and Ling Xiao can support me on either side, and we’ll have others follow behind. Nothing will go wrong.”

Then, she placed a hand on her belly, her expression tender. “They say a mother’s courage grows. Ever since carrying this child, even thunderstorms don’t seem so frightening anymore. Yu Ying, don’t worry for me.”

Realizing her mistress was determined, Yu Ying lowered her head in resignation. “As you command.”

Though the storm darkened the skies, at least she was leaving in daylight, where the path was still visible—a small mercy in this misfortune.

Yu Ying hurriedly arranged the necessary attendants and supplies for the journey. Before long, her entourage was assembled outside Guanju Palace’s gate.

Xiao Songzi brought out the Emperor’s custom-made umbrella, struggling to unfold its massive frame—a peaked canopy with twelve ribs, large enough to shelter several people, requiring four men to hold steady.

Originally crafted to shield Su Jiaojiao from the summer sun, Shen Huai had thoughtfully instructed the artisans to make it dual-purpose.

Made of exquisite materials yet lightweight, it was ideal for the downpour.

As Yu Ying and Ling Xiao helped Su Jiaojiao out of her chambers, they saw Xiao Songzi and several eunuchs already poised outside, each holding a corner of the umbrella aloft. Yu Ying murmured, “Had His Majesty not ordered this umbrella made earlier, I’d have begged you to stay. Though the path is slippery, at least you won’t be drenched.”

Ling Xiao added quietly, “The Emperor dotes on you, Your Highness. The ground is wet—please walk slowly.”

The distance from Guanju Palace to Jiuhua Palace wasn’t far, but no quick stroll either. Fortunately, it was daytime and summer, and Su Jiaojiao was well-protected, hardly touched by the rain.

Guarded carefully by her two maids on either side, she arrived safely at Jiuhua Palace.

Jiuhua Palace had no leading consort—only Noble Consort Lan and Beauty Xiao resided in the side halls. Though Su Jiaojiao disliked Beauty Xiao’s arrogance and foolishness, today’s visit wasn’t meant for confrontation, so she paid her no mind.

Besides, by now, Beauty Xiao had long lost any standing to challenge Su Jiaojiao. With the Xiao clan barely clinging to power, she was in no position to fare better.

When Su Jiaojiao arrived at the entrance of Jiuhua Palace, the palace attendants waiting there immediately knelt down, weeping as they greeted her: "We greet Noble Consort Zhen. May Your Highness be well. Her Ladyship has fallen feverish again—please, come quickly and see her."

They had never expected that in such terrible weather, the pregnant noble consort would personally make the journey. Overcome with gratitude, they were at a loss for words. As soon as they rose, they hurried inside to announce her arrival.

Seeing this, Yu Ying tilted her head slightly to glance at Su Jiaojiao, concern evident in her eyes.

Was Noble Consort Lan’s condition truly this serious? That it had come to this?

It must have been a last resort indeed for them to send someone to beg for help from Her Ladyship.

Stepping into Jiyue Hall, Su Jiaojiao was immediately met with a strong medicinal scent. Passing the landscape-and-birds painted screen, she saw Noble Consort Lan lying on the bed—sweat-drenched, eyes clenched shut, cheeks flushed, clearly suffering from a high fever.

Crouching by the bedside, Xue Ling wore a face etched with despair as she gazed at her mistress. At the sound behind her, hope flashed in her eyes, thinking Imperial Physician Liu had arrived.

But when she turned, she was startled to see Noble Consort Zhen herself. If the noble consort had come in person, then she must truly value her mistress's well-being. And since Imperial Physician Liu served under Noble Consort Zhen, perhaps there was still hope for recovery!

She hurried forward to kowtow, crying, "We greet Noble Consort Zhen. Your Ladyship, our mistress has been ill for many days now, with no sign of improvement. Please, look after her!"

Su Jiaojiao nodded and, hand resting on her pregnant belly, walked to Noble Consort Lan’s bedside. Seeing her lying there with tightly closed eyes and obvious discomfort, she felt a strange sense of recognition—though the familiarity was vague and difficult to place.

Soon after, Imperial Physician Liu arrived, carrying his medicine chest and brushing rainwater from his sleeves, his expression calm.

He bowed respectfully to Su Jiaojiao before stepping forward to take Noble Consort Lan’s pulse.

Unlike his usual assured manner when examining the empress, he appeared hesitant this time, as if something had occurred to him.

Indeed, he withdrew his hand and turned to Xue Ling and Yu Ling, Noble Consort Lan’s personal maids: "I have not been overseeing Her Ladyship’s health, so I am unfamiliar with her previous condition. May I ask—has her health been worsening steadily? When she falls ill, does she struggle to recover, and even if she does, does she soon fall ill again?"

Yu Ling’s eyes went wide. "Exactly so! Imperial Physician Liu, could Her Ladyship be suffering from some strange illness?"

Imperial Physician Liu remained silent, instead walking over to Su Jiaojiao.

Su Jiaojiao slightly frowned, sensing he had something important to say. She waved her hand. "All of you, step back. Only my attendants need remain here."

Once everyone had withdrawn, Imperial Physician Liu spoke calmly. "Noble Consort Lan is not suffering from an illness. She has been poisoned."

"Poisoned?" Su Jiaojiao’s eyes narrowed slightly, a vague premonition stirring within her. "What kind of poison?"

Imperial Physician Liu bowed. "I have been overseeing the Crown Prince’s health and am intimately familiar with the poison he suffered. The moment I took Noble Consort Lan’s pulse, I sensed something wrong. Further examination confirmed it—she has been poisoned with the same substance as the Crown Prince."

"However, the Crown Prince is young, so the poison acted swiftly and violently. Noble Consort Lan is an adult; her body much hardier than a child’s, which is why she has endured for so long. Otherwise, the poison would have already seeped deep into her system."

Su Jiaojiao’s expression darkened, unwilling to believe that Noble Consort Lan and the Crown Prince had been poisoned with the same toxin.

After the Crown Prince was poisoned, all traces had been destroyed—there should have been none left in the palace.

Moreover, the one who harmed the Crown Prince was the empress. Why would she target Noble Consort Lan?

She didn’t compete for favor and kept to herself. With the Zhong family now disgraced, there was no reason for anyone to harm her.

Yet if it wasn’t the empress, how had Noble Consort Lan been poisoned?

This disturbed Su Jiaojiao deeply. She could make no sense of it and, unconsciously, tightened her grip on Yu Ying’s hand.

She still remembered—the investigation into the Crown Prince’s poisoning had never concluded. To this day, no one had uncovered who was behind it.

Nor had anyone ever figured out how the empress had poisoned the Crown Prince.

Back then, Commoner Wang had been utterly devoted to the Crown Prince. The Jade Hall Palace was staffed entirely with trusted confidants of Lady Wang and those she deemed reliable—beyond the reach of the Empress.

The only place where harm could have reached the Crown Prince was at the Imperial Academy (Guozijian).

Inside the Academy, all items the Crown Prince came into daily contact with had been seized by the Palace Command under imperial orders for thorough inspection.

A strong intuition nagged at Su Jiaojiao. Suddenly, she recalled that night when Lady Wen had come secretly to Yaoxian Palace seeking protection, mentioning that the Empress also had her own people within the Palace Command.

So, back then, the Empress must have poisoned the Crown Prince while he was at the Imperial Academy, then ordered her agents in the Palace Command to cover her tracks, thereby harming him without anyone noticing.

But how had Noble Consort Lan been poisoned?

Su Jiaojiao pressed her temples and asked, "Has Lady Lan come into contact with any strange people or unusual incidents recently?"

"This..." Yu Ling and Xue Ling exchanged uneasy glances. "Your Highness, Lady Lan has never been one to seek favor or stir up trouble. She rarely interacts with other consorts in the palace, let alone involve herself in disputes. Her days are spent mostly reading, writing, and occasionally painting when inspired. We truly cannot imagine who might have wronged her."

Su Jiaojiao knew this well enough already.

She exhaled softly and walked over to Noble Consort Lan’s desk, hoping to spot anything out of place.

It was impeccably neat and elegant—an obvious reflection of her care and taste.

Su Jiaojiao casually ran her fingers over the immaculate brush rack, noticing that only a single calligraphy brush lay upon it.

The brush handle was made of high-quality bamboo—translucent, beautiful, clearly premium craftsmanship. Yet the handle was slightly longer and thicker than usual, appearing rather unsuited for a woman's hand.