The Cuju tournament concluded with the Empress's stunning arrow shot. As expected, news of this quickly spread beyond the palace walls, becoming a hot topic of conversation among the capital's citizens.
Countless people sighed in admiration, noting that the Empress had inherited the style of the old Marshal Jiang. If she had been born a man, the Jiang family would likely have produced another general. To have such a virtuous and courageous Empress was a blessing for the nation of Zhao.
While the capital's populace had a new subject for gossip, so too did the concubines within the rear palace.
The day after the Cuju tournament ended, Beauty Ji was reprimanded by the Emperor for improper conduct. She was stripped of her Beauty rank and sent to the Compassionate Grace Temple to live as a tonsured nun, praying for the Empress Dowager's blessings.
Just yesterday, Beauty Ji had been the envy of all the concubines, draped in the Emperor's cloak. How could she have suddenly provoked the Emperor's wrath and received such a severe punishment?
What was this 'tonsured nun' business if not forcing someone to become a nun? Although the Compassionate Grace Temple was an imperial temple, life there was austere and bitter. Only women who had committed offenses were sent there.
Some consorts sent people to investigate. The events in the Imperial Garden the previous day were no secret, as many had been present. Soon, everyone learned the details.
And upon understanding the specifics, a wave of trepidation washed over them.
The reason for Ji Yuanning's downfall was not that her attempts to win favor were wrong in themselves, but that the methods she employed had crossed the Emperor's bottom line.
The route the Emperor and Consort He took to the Western Garden had been decided randomly. How was it such a coincidence that Beauty Ji was waiting by the fishpond in the Imperial Garden? There was only one possibility: she had bribed a servant from the Qianqing Palace to learn the Emperor's intended path.
Bribing someone from the Qianqing Palace to probe the Emperor's movements was an act the Emperor would never tolerate.
Sure enough, observant individuals noticed that not long after, the Qianqing Palace quietly replaced a number of its staff, and Chief Eunuch Quan Fuhai was seen walking with a limp.
Several eunuchs responsible for the fish in the Imperial Garden were also caned for dereliction of duty, accused of letting the ornamental carp overeat to death. This was the Emperor's displaced anger—the treats Beauty Ji had fed the fish must have been laced with something to make the carp swarm so eagerly.
No one had anticipated that among the new consorts who had entered the palace just a few months prior, one would already fall. This served as a stark warning to the other three newcomers, who immediately became more subdued. They dared not stage any further dramas to compete for favor, let alone entertain thoughts of becoming arrogant due to any affection they might receive. This rather disappointed some older consorts who had been looking forward to watching the newcomers fight amongst themselves.
Qi Daiyu hadn't expected the Emperor's punishment to be so severe either. She still held no fondness for Ji Yuanning, but the thought of such a young girl henceforth keeping company with only dim lamps and ancient Buddha statues stirred a sense of pity within her. The faint, smiling dimples that had once graced that face seemed to appear before her eyes. With a sigh, Qi Daiyu stood up.
"Pomegranate, bring out that set of complexion cream I made a few days ago. We are going to the Kunning Palace."
After briefly explaining her thoughts, Qi Daiyu saw the Empress look at her with an expression that was both exasperated and fond.
"You, your heart is always so soft."
Qi Daiyu felt quite embarrassed under that gaze. It wasn't that her heart was soft. If Ji Yuanning had truly committed some heinous crime, she would never speak up for her. But when it came down to it, neither her previous visit to the Changchun Palace seeking patronage nor her attempt to win favor in the Imperial Garden could be considered a major "wrongdoing."
The Emperor punished Ji Yuanning because she had triggered his suspicious and sensitive nature as a ruler. Qi Daiyu, however, could not view it the same way.
Watching a young girl in the prime of her youth be sent to such an austere and bitter place, where her spirit might wither and her jade-like beauty fade within a few years, Qi Daiyu found she could not harden her heart to it.
Moreover, the request she made was not an excessive one.
"It truly is no great matter," the Empress said. "Very well, I shall speak to those at the Temple of Compassionate Grace and have them look after the Ji clan member discreetly."
In truth, the Empress felt no particular sympathy for Ji Yuanning; she naturally stood firmly on the Emperor's side. However, since Qi Daiyu was pleading for leniency on her behalf, and it was no great affair, granting the request was a simple matter.
She merely sighed inwardly, marveling at Consort Hui's kind heart. Over the years, Qi Daiyu's "kindness" had become deeply rooted in the Empress's perception. The Empress understood full well how rare it was to maintain such a disposition after years in the palace. As the saying goes, "Judge by actions, not by intentions." Regardless of what Consort Hui truly thought in her heart, judging solely by her deeds, she was a kind person.
The Empress was willing to trust someone like this.
"All these years, you have consistently donated silver to the capital's almshouse. Many orphans and elderly have received your beneficence, and quite a few have even had perpetual lamps lit and offerings made for you in the temples."
Twenty percent of the annual profits from "Lotus Blossom Bloom," amounting to several thousand taels of silver, was enough to ensure that the several hundred orphans and elderly at the almshouse no longer worried about food and clothing. Many could even learn a trade to support themselves. As the Empress knew, Qi Daiyu's father, Qi Caishang, delivered several books to the almshouse every month. On his days off, he would go to teach the orphans to read and write. Mrs. Qi also frequently sent over food and clothing, clearly acting on Qi Daiyu's instructions.
The Qi family's kindness ran from top to bottom.
These deeds, which Qi Daiyu believed were done discreetly, were in fact known to both the Empress and the Emperor. It was partly for this reason that the Emperor increasingly valued Qi Caishang.
The Empress assumed the Qi family acted on Qi Daiyu's orders, but Qi Daiyu was completely unaware of Qi Caishang and Mrs. Wan's activities!
She had only thought that with so much silver being donated each year, someone should check whether the money was truly being used properly. Naturally, such a task was best entrusted to family, so she had simply informed Qi Caishang.
But Qi Caishang was shrewd. While his heart ached for his foolish daughter sending away such vast sums every year, he knew the matter had reached the Emperor's ears and was irreversible. Since they had to do this good deed, they must strive to gain every possible benefit from it.
For instance, earning his daughter a good reputation!
Qi Caishang ignored Qi Daiyu's instruction to "observe discreetly." He went to the almshouse openly and made it his mission to inform everyone there that the food they ate, the clothes they wore, and the medicine they drank were all paid for by the silver from Lady Qi in the palace!
He not only built a reputation for Qi Daiyu, but also for himself. As an official, a good name was essential, especially for a scholar of his standing! Thus, he delivered several books each month—books were precious items!—and personally taught the children to read and write. He even had his elderly mother and his wife go to deliver kindness.
Qi Caishang did not mention any of this in his letters to Qi Daiyu, so she remained unaware.
Thus, upon hearing the Empress's words now, she could only feel astonishment: "This... I am not worthy of such honor. I merely..." She was also quite worried that the Emperor and Empress might think she was seeking fame or had ulterior motives.
The Empress patted her hand reassuringly. "You have done good deeds; it is only right that you receive admiration."
Seeing that the Empress truly bore no intention of blaming her, Qi Daiyu finally set her heart at ease. A secret joy then blossomed within her; it was naturally pleasing to have a good deed remembered by others, bringing a peculiar sense of pride and satisfaction.
After chatting with the Empress a while longer, Qi Daiyu presented the skincare set. This was what she had previously promised the Empress—a custom-made skincare regimen specifically formulated for her. Qi Daiyu had gone to great lengths to understand the Empress's skin type and tolerance. After waiting for so long, she had only received this complete set two days prior.
"As before, Your Majesty, please have the Imperial Physicians examine it first, and then have someone else test it before you use it yourself," Qi Daiyu advised cautiously.
The Empress smiled and said, "I naturally trust you." She instructed Mei Yi to take the items and store them.
As the Emperor was set to inspect the Tiger Guard Camp in the outskirts of the capital, this year's summer was spent within the palace walls.
The palace was not like the Summer Palace; the weather was unbearably hot. With the Emperor absent, the consorts also went out less, each staying within their own palaces.
Over at the Palace of Eternal Spring, Nie Zhiyu and Ye Qiong no longer visited frequently. Only Consort Li from the Palace of Universal Happiness at the rear occasionally came to teach Qi Daiyu the zither when the evening cooled down a little, staying to chat for a while.
Ye Qiong's pregnancy was now more advanced. It was her first time with child, and she suffered from severe morning sickness, developing a particular craving for sour foods. She especially loved the sour plum preserves made in the Palace of Eternal Spring. Qi Daiyu had the cook prepare a good amount and sent them over to satisfy her cravings.
Just after Lian Wu, who had delivered the preserves, left, Lan Yi arrived suddenly, her expression extremely grave.
"Noble Lady Hui, something has happened to Her Majesty the Empress. Please accompany this servant to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility at once."
Something happened to the Empress? Qi Daiyu was shocked and unsettled. "What has happened to Her Majesty?"
Lan Yi hesitated slightly. "Her Majesty was suddenly seized by severe abdominal pain today, accompanied by a terrible headache, and she fainted. The Imperial Physicians were summoned and said the Empress has been poisoned. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has already arrived at the Palace of Earthly Tranquility and ordered a strict investigation. The Empress's recent diet has been completely normal. The only thing different is that she used the beauty cream you sent, Noble Lady Hui..."
Given the Empress's trust in Noble Lady Hui, Lan Yi was reluctant to believe Qi Daiyu had done anything. However, the Empress Dowager was furious and had ordered Qi Daiyu to be brought to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, so she had no choice but to comply.
Qi Daiyu was stunned, her heart thrown into disarray for a moment before she quickly composed herself. She knew better than anyone whether the items she sent contained poison. If the Empress's poisoning was truly caused by that jar of beauty cream, then someone else must have tampered with it. The person behind this was targeting not only the Empress but also her.
Qi Daiyu took a deep breath. "I will go with you at once."
As she walked out, she glanced at Pu Tao and made a discreet hand gesture behind her back: Check the study.
Pu Tao gave an imperceptible nod.
The study in the Palace of Eternal Spring, filled with various tools and instruments, was usually entered only by Qi Daiyu herself. Even the cleaning was not entrusted to others. The placement of every item inside followed a set pattern; Qi Daiyu would notice if anything was added or missing. Moreover, as a precaution, she had secretly installed battery-powered surveillance cameras inside.
If someone wanted to frame her, tampering in the study was the most likely method. To be safe, Qi Daiyu instructed Pu Tao to search it first.
By the time she arrived at the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, the Empress had not yet regained consciousness.
Although Qi Daiyu had been summoned, perhaps because she had previously left a favorable impression on the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager's attitude towards her remained relatively mild.
"The Empress has been poisoned. I ordered an investigation into her recent diet and daily items. The only unusual thing was this beauty cream you presented to her. I had the imperial physicians examine it, and they said it contained Qilan Leaf, which is precisely what caused the Empress's poisoning. Consort Hui, do you have anything to say?"
Qilan Leaf?
Qi Daiyu had never even heard of such a thing.
She frowned slightly. "When I presented the beauty cream to Her Majesty the Empress, concerned that it might not suit her complexion, I specifically advised having an imperial physician examine it and having a palace maid test it first. If the cream was poisonous, how could the physicians have failed to detect it? Moreover, there have been no reports of any palace maid being poisoned."
As soon as she finished speaking, she noticed Lan Yi looking awkward.
Lan Yi: "Her Majesty trusted Consort Hui, so she did not summon a physician to examine it and began using it directly..."
The prolonged illness had indeed taken a toll on the Empress's appearance. No matter how strong-willed she was, she was still a woman. Seeing the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, she couldn't help but feel anxious. Knowing of Qi Daiyu's talent in skincare and trusting that Qi Daiyu would not harm her, this time she did not call for a physician, nor could she wait for a maid to test it, and used the cream herself.
Who could have known that in just half a month, this would happen.
