She had no idea about this matter.
Le You nodded: "Today, Sister Yao and I went to Her Highness's quarters, and Sister Yao mentioned it herself."
Le You had suffered from a cold before—her throat had ached as if sliced by blades, her head had spun, and her whole body had felt like it was burning in a furnace. Having experienced it herself, she could empathize deeply, which was why she wanted to visit Sister Wan'er, who was also suffering from the same illness.
The Empress Dowager's eyes darkened. The news of Wan'er's illness had been deliberately concealed by the Empress.
The Empress Dowager decided that tomorrow, she would visit Baozhu Hall under some pretext and bring Li Wan'er back to Cining Palace to be raised under her care.
...
...
The next afternoon, Shen Wei was preparing to visit the Empress Dowager at Cining Palace, intending to subtly encourage her to go to Baozhu Hall to see Li Wan'er.
Unexpectedly, news arrived that the Empress Dowager was already on her way to Baozhu Hall.
Shen Wei silently drank her detoxifying herbal soup in her courtyard. There was no need for her to act as a bridge—the Empress Dowager had gone on her own.
Now, all she had to do was wait patiently, and good news would naturally reach her ears.
At the same time, word of the Empress Dowager's visit to Baozhu Hall also reached the Empress.
The Empress immediately set aside her palace duties and personally went to the entrance of Baozhu Hall to welcome her. The two young girls, Li Yao and Li Wan'er, stood beside the Empress, their heads lowered.
"When you see your imperial grandmother later, you’d better know what to say and what not to say," the Empress said coolly, her gaze sweeping over the two girls in a veiled threat.
Li Yao and Li Wan'er had no choice but to nod obediently.
The weather was clear today, and the sunlight was mild. Yet, Li Wan'er, standing under the eaves of the hall, soon began sweating profusely, her forehead damp with perspiration.
She had taken that bitter medicine—though her cold had improved, she now inexplicably broke into sweats, and her heart raced unnaturally at night.
"Wipe that sweat away. Don’t let the Empress Dowager see it," the Empress snapped in displeasure.
Li Wan'er silently dabbed at her forehead, while Li Yao also took out a handkerchief to help. Li Yao found it strange—Sister Wan had never been prone to sweating like this before.
Before half a cup of tea’s time had passed, the Empress Dowager's palanquin appeared on the palace path. The Empress quickly led everyone in a respectful bow, observing every proper etiquette.
The Empress Dowager stepped down from her palanquin, her sharp gaze sweeping over the Empress's face like a blade before lingering briefly on Li Yao and Li Wan'er.
Both girls were dressed in beautiful new gowns, their hair styled in elegant updos adorned with precious hairpins. From head to toe, not a single flaw could be found.
"It’s warm outside. This old one has come to Baozhu Hall to rest awhile," the Empress Dowager declared in a dignified tone.
The Empress smiled warmly and said deferentially, "Mother, the girls have prepared tea inside. Please come in and taste it."
Nanny Qian supported the Empress Dowager’s arm as the entourage entered Baozhu Hall in grand fashion.
Baozhu Hall was not particularly large, but its courtyard was neatly trimmed with flowers and plants, and the stone floors were spotless. The Empress Dowager entered the girls' bedchamber—the room was lavishly decorated, with fragrant cloud-silk bed curtains, Donglin cotton bedding, delicate incense burning in the air, and shelves filled with trinkets young girls adored.
Still, not a single flaw could be found.
The Empress Dowager took her seat, and Li Yao and Li Wan'er dutifully presented the freshly brewed tea. The six arts for gentlemen and eight graces for ladies—tea ceremony was a required skill for imperial princesses.
Two cups of perfectly prepared tea were presented.
The tea was pure white in color, its fragrance refined.
The Empress Dowager took a few sips—the taste was excellent.
The Empress, observing her expression and seeing satisfaction, seized the moment to say, "Mother, Yao'er and Wan'er study diligently every day. The palace tutors praise them endlessly. As their mother, it brings me great joy to see them so intelligent."
As she spoke, she affectionately stroked Li Yao's hair. Li Yao stiffened, feeling as though a venomous snake had touched her.
She dared not react, only tightening her grip on her sleeves in secret.
The Empress Dowager set down her teacup. "Good."
The Empress smiled humbly. "As the Empress, managing the harem and caring for the imperial children are my duties."
The Empress Dowager gave a slight nod.
She then called her granddaughters closer, asking what they had eaten for lunch, whether they slept well at night, and inquiring about Li Wan'er's recovery from her cold—whether she had experienced any lingering discomfort.
The girls answered truthfully, and the Empress Dowager found no inconsistencies.
Soon, the Empress Dowager rose to leave.
The afternoon sun was bright as Nanny Qian helped her into the palanquin. The Empress and her attendants bowed respectfully at the entrance. The Empress Dowager's gaze lingered once more on Li Wan'er—despite the mild spring warmth, the girl's pale forehead was beaded with sweat.
The Empress Dowager lowered her eyes, deep in thought. The eunuchs lifted her palanquin, and the procession departed Baozhu Hall in grandeur.
The Empress stood beneath the eaves, the wind billowing through her golden sleeves. A cold smile curled her lips. "That old woman… utterly unremarkable."
The Empress believed that the Empress Dowager, weakened by age and grief over Zhao Yang's distant marriage, had lost her sharpness.
She had been fooled so easily.
"Has the dosage in the tonic been increased?" the Empress whispered to her chief maid.
The maid nodded. "The Imperial Physicians have taken care of it."
The Empress's smile deepened.
...
The Empress Dowager returned to Cining Palace.
Clutching a jade teacup, she absently traced its cool rim, lost in thought. Nanny Qian, standing nearby, couldn't resist asking, "Does Your Highness also find Baozhu Hall… unusual?"
The Empress Dowager set the cup down with a sharp clink and rubbed her temples wearily. "Tantai Shuya, that fool. Every time I see her, my chest tightens with frustration. I must have been out of my mind to marry such a witless woman to my son."
The Empress thought she had executed everything flawlessly, leaving no room for suspicion, successfully deceiving the Empress Dowager.
But in the Empress Dowager's eyes, Baozhu Hall was riddled with inconsistencies.
The courtyard plants were clearly newly planted. The floor tiles, the freshly painted pillars, the new bed curtains and quilts in the princesses' chamber—all bore the marks of recent use.
A simple inquiry to the Ministry of Works would reveal when Baozhu Hall had been renovated. A check with the Imperial Wardrobe would confirm when new fabrics had been delivered to Li Yao and Li Wan'er.
The Empress was so inept it was maddening—yet she prided herself on her cunning. Her petty tricks might work on lesser consorts, but they were beneath the dignity of an Empress.
Instead of focusing on stabilizing the court and the harem, she resorted to the underhanded tactics of concubines. Disgraceful! Unbefitting of her station.
The Empress Dowager sighed. "I’m also worried about Wan'er. The weather wasn’t hot today, yet the child was drenched in sweat. It’s unnatural."
Nanny Qian suggested, "Shall we summon Young Mistress Wan'er this afternoon and have the Imperial Physician examine her again?"
The Empress Dowager smirked. "No doubt the Empress has her people in the Imperial Medical Bureau. That’s why she dares to act so boldly."
As they spoke, Le You's cheerful voice rang out from outside: "Grandmother! The tonic is ready! I watched over the kitchen the whole time to make sure it was brewed properly!"
Le You bounded in happily, followed by a maid carrying a bowl of warm herbal tonic.
She settled beside the Empress Dowager, blowing gently on the steaming liquid with rosy lips. "Grandmother, let me taste it first to see if it’s too bitter or too hot."
