Chapter 55

Chapter 55

After the attendant who had delivered the report withdrew, Empress Xu stood quietly by the window.

"The Sixth Prince has been poisoned with Suihongzi. This person likely wants us to clash with Cining Palace so they can reap the benefits from their conflict," Empress Xu said.

Shuang Yue bowed and said, "Your Majesty, whether the perpetrator is the Sixth Prince or not is irrelevant. Someone is using this incident to harm the Crown Prince."

Empress Xu looked toward the Crown Prince's bedchamber.

Under the cold, clear moonlight, all the palace walls seemed to cast strange shadows, just as darkness crept into her eyes.

In the court and the harem... anyone who threatened her son's position was an enemy.

...

The storm was brewing, and the palace was fraught with anxiety. The attack on the Eastern Palace turned the night sleepless.

In the court, due to the attack on the Eastern Palace, the Imperial Guard conducted a thorough search of the harem, stirring up suspicion among the concubines. After three days of investigation, the Imperial Guard Commander discovered that the most likely route for the assassin was via the carriage of a noble lady in the palace. The palace defenses were tight, but only the carriages of those entering the palace were not thoroughly inspected.

That very day, a modified noble lady's carriage was found in the palace. There was just enough space beneath the seat to hide a person.

With this news, the issue pointed directly to the Imperial Household Department and the Court of the Imperial Stud.

The noble ladies' carriages were always their responsibility, and since they were connected to the outside of the palace, the Court of the Imperial Stud bore even greater responsibility.

When Qi Hanzhou heard this news, his brows furrowed slightly. He knew the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace had assassins. This act seemed more like a staged incident. But once evidence appeared, it would be deliberate framing. First the attack, then the trail of clues. Qi Hanzhou sensed this: someone had skillfully set this up, placing the Eastern Palace as the victim. Those being targeted would all increase the Emperor's suspicion.

Such obvious moves were definitely not the work of Shuang Yue alone... it was likely Empress Xu.

After the incident at the thatched hut, no one staked out the place again. Qi Hanzhou knew that the assassins' failure had alerted the other side.

First the Eastern Palace, then Empress Xu. The harem was deep and unpredictable.

The two physicians surnamed Chen were under his protection. To the mastermind, this had already deviated from their plan, so they made a move against Shen Changcun.

"Matters concerning the palace carriages are now entirely under Lord Shen's authority. The Brocade Guard have already gone to Lord Shen's residence," Song An reported. "The Junior General sent word through an adjutant, saying this must be relayed to you immediately. The evidence suddenly appeared, pointing entirely at Lord Shen."

It was intentional.

In the bedchamber, Xiaoqing was pecking at Ying Fusheng's hand.

Hearing this, Ying Fusheng paused slightly, his gaze shifting to Song An.

Song An looked at the quietly seated Sixth Prince. When he heard about the Shen family's trouble, his brows furrowed slightly. The pieces before Ying Fusheng were scattered, mixed black and white in the go stone bowl. The attack on the Crown Prince seemed to tear through the veil of secrecy. The commotion at Kunning Palace had erupted.

The Emperor did not immediately believe the allegations, but the court's reaction was strong. The Brocade Guard still went immediately to the Shen residence for a detailed search.

This move marked a shift from the previous covert tactics. Civil officials in court submitted memorials calling for impeachment. This was the Xu family's intention.

With just one risky move, the mastermind directly shook the harem. Now, except for Qianqing Palace, everyone in the harem was on edge. Some things were real, some fake. For now, everything seemed to be proceeding in an orderly manner, but the stable order within the palace was subtly changing. Disorder meant opportunity.

In the previous life, the claws had only emerged later. In this life, they had come early. The Crown Prince's consecutive setbacks had made them anxious.

If the Court of the Imperial Stud was implicated, the problem lay with the Imperial Household Department.

"Your Highness, it's bad. People from the palace have come," a palace attendant reported from outside the door.

Song An's face changed, and he immediately looked at Ying Fusheng.

Ying Fusheng came down from the couch and saw several eunuchs and Brocade Guard members standing outside. The Brocade Guard were not familiar faces, and even the eunuchs were strangers. These people had been dispatched temporarily.

During the thorough palace search, witchcraft objects had been found in Ying Fusheng's former bedchamber at Weiyang Palace. Since Consort Ning moved to the Cold Palace, Weiyang Palace had been vacant. Previously, before Ying Fusheng established his own residence outside the palace, this place was his domain, and usually his own people handled matters there.

"Your Highness, please forgive the intrusion," the leading eunuch said. "When the servant and the Brocade Guard officers searched Weiyang Palace, we discovered this item and have come to ask Your Highness about it."

The underlings stepped forward, lifting the tray to reveal a fortune and longevity doll.

What was eerie was that the doll was dressed in a spell robe, with seven needles piercing its body.

Anyone who saw it was immediately shocked. How could such a thing appear in the harem!

When Ying Fusheng saw the doll, his expression shifted slightly. He lowered his eyes slightly and merely said, "What does this mean?"

"Weiyang Palace is not a permanent residence, after all. But since this item was found beneath Your Highness's couch, we must investigate clearly," the eunuch said. "We had officials from the Imperial Observatory identify it. The spell robe on it is a luck-transfer talisman."

Not long ago, there were palace lanterns. Now, witchcraft items. The Sixth Prince had been associated with two unlucky incidents in succession. People in the palace were instinctively skeptical, but the newly discovered witchcraft effigy bore a luck-transfer talisman. Once this came out, it immediately made people think of the official duties the Sixth Prince had been handling at court. Everyone said the Sixth Prince was extraordinarily lucky, a little lucky star.

But where did that luck come from out of nowhere?

If the palace lanterns were borrowing Imperial fortune, then wouldn't this be explainable?

Just then, the Grand Empress Dowager's voice suddenly came from behind.

Ying Fusheng's expression moved slightly. He turned around and saw the Grand Empress Dowager.

Before the eunuchs could speak, the Grand Empress Dowager walked out, her expression dark, her gaze directly fixed on the witchcraft artifact on the tray.

The eunuch, upon seeing this, said, "Greetings, Grand Empress Dowager. This item was found in the Sixth Prince's former bedchamber..."

Lady Yu immediately scolded, "This is Cining Palace! How dare you cause trouble here!"

This sentence abruptly cut off the eunuch's words. The other attendants, seeing the Grand Empress Dowager's cold expression, all knelt. Since falling ill last year, the Grand Empress Dowager had rarely intervened in affairs. She did not manage matters, but her authority remained. Now, just standing before them, no one dared to lift their heads.

The Grand Empress Dowager said coldly, "Since it was his former bedchamber, what does that have to do with the Sixth Prince?"

Having lived in Cining Palace for so long, this was the first time Ying Fusheng heard her so angry. Witchcraft matters were a royal taboo. Placed on anyone, such an item would deepen suspicion. The Grand Empress Dowager especially believed in such things. Omens, both auspicious and inauspicious, mattered most to her.

The Grand Empress Dowager did not even look at the witchcraft effigy again. She stood slightly in front of Ying Fusheng, saying no more, yet her attitude was clear. Regardless of the truth, the mere appearance of the luck-transfer talisman was enough to spread gossip throughout the harem.

First the lanterns, then witchcraft... such malicious acts were not simple framing. They were meant to sow distrust and suspicion, subtly fueling others' rumors.

Her Xiao Liu had done nothing wrong, yet he faced such baseless malice time and again.

"Coming to Cining Palace with such a fanfare—did the Emperor or the Empress authorize this?" The Grand Empress Dowager's voice was harsh. In her youth, she had practiced martial arts, and her presence was imposing. A few words left the eunuchs at a loss for words. They stammered, unable to answer, and could only look at the Brocade Guard who had accompanied them.

The Brocade Guard were merely conducting an investigation and had come to check the situation, never expecting this.

The Brocade Guard accompanying the eunuch hurriedly begged forgiveness: "Grand Empress Dowager, we are acting according to the law."

"Since witchcraft objects have appeared in the palace, this is just a routine inquiry."

"The Brocade Guard are investigating the attack on the Crown Prince. To determine the truth, the one to investigate is the person who framed the Sixth Prince." The Grand Empress Dowager glared at the Brocade Guard. "Not even the Commander has come. Someone of your rank cannot investigate a prince."

The attendants saw that the Grand Empress Dowager's attitude was clear. She intended to shield the Sixth Prince completely.

"What are you waiting for?" Lady Yu swept her gaze over the surrounding attendants. "Weiyang Palace has been vacant for a long time. To use a suspicious witchcraft item to slander the Sixth Prince—this in itself merits punishment for the crime of disrespect. Men, drag these two away and give them a flogging!"

The attendants of Cining Palace immediately acted, dragging the eunuchs away.

"Her Majesty the Empress has arrived—"

The Empress Dowager shot a cold look as Empress Xu arrived at the gate of Cining Palace.

"Since a doll was found, then the stitches of the doll, the cinnabar on the talisman, and the silver needles used." The Empress Dowager looked at the eunuchs, casting a sidelong glance at Empress Xu. "None of these have been thoroughly investigated. Coming to Cining Palace to point fingers—was that your idea?"

Empress Xu watched as the eunuchs were dragged away for a flogging. At the mention of cinnabar and stitches, her expression shifted slightly. She apologized to the Empress Dowager: "My underlings acted rashly and deserve punishment. I'll handle this. Rest assured, Mother Empress."

Throughout this, Ying Fusheng looked at her calmly. She appeared no different from usual, as if she had rushed over hurriedly just to deal with this matter. Without the Empress Dowager today, the blame would've stuck to him, and the whole 'fortune transfer' thing would have become a lingering suspicion. Even though this slander was so blatant that even the Emperor would not believe it, rumors about 'dragon fortune' are the deadliest.

First Shen Changcun, then him... all deliberate scheming.

When it's all about profit, anyone can be a pawn in these power struggles.

Ying Fusheng calmly followed the Empress Dowager away.

When people get anxious, that's a good sign.

As she withdrew her gaze, Empress Xu noticed his expression, and a flicker of recognition crossed her face. Before she could place that feeling, Shuang Yue beside her said, "Your Majesty."

Empress Xu ordered her servants to handle it, and Shuang Yue quickly went to carry out the orders. As she turned, her gaze lingered briefly on the Empress Dowager, and finally she gave Ying Fusheng a meaningful look.

Suddenly, she noticed the pouch on Ying Fusheng's waist.

The pouch had patterns that flashed briefly, like some kind of totem.

This realization made her tense up. At that moment, Ying Fusheng walked past Empress Xu, and the pouch fell off. She instinctively reached out to grab it, and as she touched the pouch, some loose powder fell out.

After touching it, Shuang Yue saw the pouch's pattern was simplified, but it shared some similar lines with the totem she recognized. Based on this alone, a chill ran down her spine. She thought of the failed assassination at the thatched hut. Before she could sort out her thoughts, she heard the sound of flapping wings.

Not far away, a falcon swooped in!

She immediately understood what falling from Ying Fusheng meant.

It was a test!

A regular palace maid wouldn't know martial arts. She immediately pretended to be shocked, "Your Majesty, be careful!" Using this chance, she shielded the Empress, and as she raised her hand, she was scratched by Xiaoqing as it swooped down.

The sudden turn of events caught everyone by surprise. Ying Fusheng looked pale with fear, but Shuang Yue knew what was up and quickly said, "I saw something fall from His Highness and just wanted to pick it up."

"His Highness was just playing with Xiaoqing a moment ago," a palace maid from Cining Palace muttered. It happened so fast, no one was watching Xiaoqing.

The Empress Dowager recognized it—a spice Ying Fusheng had seen in some book a few days ago. After consulting the imperial physician, he'd made it into a sachet and often tossed around to play with Xiaoqing. Seeing Shuang Yue hurt, she said, "Get her wound treated."

Song An rushed over with a medicine box, "Miss, the wound needs to be treated first."

Ying Fusheng stood off to the side. Shuang Yue remembered the totem on the sachet—even simplified, she recognized it.

The people sent to kill Doctor Chen earlier hadn't come back. Was he behind it?

Shuang Yue hid her shock, a dark look in her eyes.

A sharp pain shot through her arm. Shuang Yue turned and saw Song An fumbling; the medicine had spilled. Seeing this, she saw a chance to refuse and said gently, "It's not a big wound. I'll take care of the rest."

Outside Cining Palace, Qi Hanzhou arrived.

He came in a hurry. As he entered Cining Palace, he looked toward Ying Fusheng's direction. The latter stood silently behind the Empress Dowager, eyes downcast.

Qi Hanzhou's expression tightened slightly. He scanned the surroundings and said, "I've been remiss. Forgive me, Mother Empress."

Seeing Qi Hanzhou, the Empress Dowager's expression softened. His arrival undoubtedly carried the Emperor's intent.

After Qi Hanzhou arrived, the imperial guard who had come with the eunuchs was taken away by others. As he scanned, he thoroughly observed that guard and instructed Ye Xuanjiu: "Take those two eunuchs outside as well."

"Since the Embroidered Uniform Guard is here, let them handle the rest," said the Empress Dowager.

Empress Xu: "Naturally."

Shuang Yue, seeing the Embroidered Uniform Guard, had no choice but to support the Empress and prepare to leave.

As Qi Hanzhou was leaving, Ying Fusheng followed the Empress Dowager into Cining Palace.

He looked cold and detached, his complexion paler than usual, as if he could not care less about the witchcraft issue.

Qi Hanzhou withdrew his gaze. When he looked again, Shuang Yue had already left.

... The palace lanterns and witchcraft objects were no longer just a matter of the Eastern Palace's alert. The Xu family was determined to put him to death.

"Junior General, there is a result from the matter of the deaf-mute palace maid's identity tablet that you asked the Qi family to investigate," said Ye Xuanjiu. "Not only that, but it also relates to the assassins we were tracking..."

After the Eastern Palace assassins, the defensive measures he had set up in advance yielded results.

Qi Hanzhou looked at him, a sharp gleam in his eyes.

"We followed the trail of the deaf-mute palace maid and found that during her time in Kunning Palace, she had repeatedly entered a certain place," said Ye Xuanjiu. "That place is an abandoned corner of the Cold Palace."

Qi Hanzhou looked in the direction where Shuang Yue had disappeared, seemingly understanding: "Follow her."

...

The news of the witchcraft objects discovered in Weiyang Palace reached Qianqing Palace, and the Emperor ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate thoroughly, obviously not believing such slander. At this time, the matter of Shen Changcun in the court had just erupted, and now witchcraft appeared—the situation was gradually escalating.

Empress Xu went to the Eastern Palace. After Shuang Yue attended to her, she turned and walked deep into the palace corridors.

With a slight change, she disappeared at the edge of the Cold Palace.

"According to Empress Xu's intention, this matter should be framed on the eldest prince, diverting the attention of the Eldest Prince Faction to the sixth prince. We will watch the tigers fight from a distance," Shuang Yue instructed the person beside her. They had wanted to stir up trouble anyway, so they could extend their reach further... Ideally, the sixth prince would be in trouble, but the Empress Dowager had interfered.

"As for the Empress Dowager, we cannot keep her for long."

If not for the Empress Dowager's obstruction today, the witchcraft rumor would have spread, and suspicion would have fallen on Ying Fusheng.

Such tricks might not fool the Emperor, but if the Empress Dowager were to die at this time...

Deep in the Cold Palace, weeds overgrown.

Shuang Yue entered a dark corner. Behind a rockery and scattered stones, a plant remained.

Since Empress Xu knew about the thatched hut, she must have learned something from that old woman.

Even if it wasn't because of Ying Fusheng, this Changxin had to be destroyed as soon as possible.

The Changxin was planted in a pot, a tiny thing that looked no different from other flowers and plants in the palace.

Shuang Yue approached. The best thing about the mad pollen parasite was its subtlety—it entered the body without a trace.

On the branches of the Western Shu crop Changxin, a fist-sized mother parasite was sleeping. She reached out and touched it, and it crawled onto her finger. She gently peeled off the parasite's outer layer, stripping off a layer of skin.

Suddenly, a sharp pain struck. The normally docile mother parasite bit her.

She quickly shook her hand, and the gu insect fell to the ground. Mother gu do not attack humans... She steadied herself and backed away, but after only two steps, her vision went dark. She suddenly felt weak and dizzy, her body uncontrollably lurching forward, and this movement inevitably created a noise.

"Someone!"

Not far away, several shadow guards disguised as cold palace cleaning servants heard the commotion and hurried to enter. At that moment, a blade flashed in the night. Qi Hanzhou dropped off the palace wall, striking swiftly to slit their throats. Before the servants could commit suicide, he acted preemptively, leaving intact bodies.

Tonight, there were more than two Brocade Guard members. The several servants had not anticipated a Brocade Guard ambush here at all.

The other servants didn't even have time to cry out before they were subdued by the Brocade Guard.

When no one came in response from outside, Shuang Yue, her consciousness fading, she touched her nose and found her hand covered in blood.

Shuang Yue was stunned. Bleeding from every orifice...? No, what's happening?! The mother gu that had fallen to the ground fluttered up and bit Shuang Yue on the neck. As the mother gu latched on, she suddenly realized with a jolt.

Child gu—her blood carried the scent of child gu, which was why the mother gu was attacking her!

But child gu cannot survive outside the body unless the blood is poisoned...

Pain flared in her arm, and the memory of that day at Cining Palace abruptly resurfaced. But how did that person know?!

When Qi Hanzhou finished dealing with the shadow guards outside and walked in, what he saw was a pool of blood on the floor. The maid Shuang Yue lay on the ground, beside her the shattered Changxin potted plant, and she writhed in agony, a dagger in her hand cutting open her arm, as if desperately trying to extract something before fainting.

Ye Xuanjiu was stunned on the spot: "Junior General, this!"

"She's dead." Qi Hanzhou checked her breath through the clothes.

At best she'd faint, at worst she'd die from the child gu eroding her.

Qi Hanzhou stared at the mother gu crawling on Shuang Yue's corpse, a chill running down his spine.

Inside the palace, the only child gu existing externally was the one on the Empress Dowager—

It was Ying Fusheng!