Consort An dared not think further. What was more important to her now was to figure out why the Qilan leaf pollen from the secret compartment had disappeared.
There were few people who could enter her bedchamber and have the opportunity to take the Qilan pollen. Consort An almost instantly narrowed it down to a few suspects. What she needed to do next was to identify the culprit among them! She was determined to find out who was trying to divert the trouble onto her!
While the Changchun Palace and the Yanxi Palace were busy rooting out traitors, the Kunning Palace was no exception.
After waking up, the Empress was lucid for a brief moment. Besides speaking up for Qi Daiyu, she gave Mei Yi another order: pay close attention to the movements of everyone in the Kunning Palace.
If that jar of nourishing cream hadn't been tampered with before it left the Changchun Palace, then it must have been altered within the Kunning Palace. However, the Kunning Palace was different from other places. The Empress managed affairs of all the palaces, and every day, a continuous stream of stewards from various departments came to report, along with titled ladies entering the palace upon request. This greatly expanded the scope of the investigation.
Empress: "We must investigate both inside and outside the palace, especially within the palace itself. Even Lanyi, Zhuyi, them, and Li Lu must not be overlooked." She wasn't suspecting any of them specifically, but it was possible one of them had been used without their knowledge.
Mei Yi was a household servant of the Jiang family who had served her since childhood; the lives of her entire family were tied to the Empress. Betrayal was absolutely impossible, and the Empress trusted Mei Yi the most.
Mei Yi nodded: "This servant understands completely."
The Empress still felt abdominal pain and nausea. Moreover, for some reason, she felt a slight, tearing pain on the skin of her face and could vaguely smell a strange fragrance, which made her somewhat irritable.
"It seems I have been ill for too long, allowing some to nurture improper thoughts," the Empress said with a bitter smile. The exhaustion from a year of trivial duties, coupled with the dual torment of physical and mental illness, had left her in poor condition, and her management of the Kunning Palace had slackened considerably.
Mei Yi said guiltily, "It was this servant's negligence that caused Your Majesty to suffer."
Empress: "How can I blame you?" She blamed no one.
As the head senior maid, Mei Yi had many responsibilities. She was also utterly loyal, spending all her time worrying about the Empress's health and recuperation. Lanyi, following her orders, took care of the Second Prince. Zhuyi looked after the Eldest Princess. And Ju Yi had to deliver messages to various places and report back to the Kunning Palace, leaving no spare time either.
Naturally, the management of the Kunning Palace had become lax.
Empress: "After this matter is settled, we must also promote Hua Hu and Hua Rui." Hua Hu and Hua Rui were palace maids the Empress was training for future use. "When you and Ju Yi marry and leave the palace, I won't be left with no one to rely on."
Among the four "Yi"s, Lanyi and Zhuyi had already decided to stay in the palace permanently, having put up their hair. As for Mei Yi and Ju Yi, the Empress had already found suitable marriages for them.
Mei Yi had someone she fancied—her cousin, who was somewhat scholarly and had passed the county-level imperial examination two years ago. He was also waiting for Mei Yi to leave the palace. The Empress would release Mei Yi's family from servitude, restoring their status as commoners, and prepare a generous dowry for Mei Yi.
Ju Yi had a proud temperament and couldn't endure hardship. Originally, she could have been matched with an official, but due to a problem with her leg, the choices were fewer. The Empress had finally settled on a merchant who supplied the imperial household. Although it was his second marriage, there were no elders above him. Ju Yi would manage the household as soon as she married. With Ju Yi's connection, the family's business would be very stable. The husband would only cherish Ju Yi and would never let her suffer. Although he had a daughter from his previous marriage, she was only three. If Ju Yi was kind and taught her well, the child would naturally regard her as her birth mother. Once Ju Yi bore a son in the future, her life would be even more comfortable. The merchant status was lower, but it guaranteed a life of wealth. And a low status wasn't a big issue; once Ju Yi had a son, he could later take the imperial examinations and change the family's status.
As the Empress spoke, she started coughing again.
Mei Yi said worriedly, "Should this servant send an urgent letter to hurry Doctor Xia back?"
The Emperor had gone to the outskirts of the capital to review troops and had taken Doctor Xia with him, which was why he wasn't in the palace.
Mei Yi thought to herself that perhaps the person who harmed the Empress had dared to act precisely because the Emperor and Doctor Xia were both away.
The Empress was about to say it wasn't necessary when a sudden palpitation struck her.
She clutched her chest, her face abnormally pale. Mei Yi immediately called for help.
Changchun Palace.
In a certain hidden room, Hongtao had originally thought that not being allowed to sleep, compared to punishments like flogging, nail-pulling, or branding, at least spared her physical pain. She could endure it for a while and it would pass.
Therefore, she remained silent, saying nothing, and when she did open her mouth, it was only to say things like "My mistress has wronged me."
Then she was taken into a room.
Xiao Li tied her up, ordered the windows sealed shut so not a sliver of light could enter, then used two wooden sticks to prop open her upper and lower eyelids, preventing her from closing her eyes. Her hair was also tied to a rope hanging from the ceiling beam, so that any attempt to lower her head would painfully pull her scalp.
Xiao Li sneered at her, "Our mistress is kind-hearted and cannot bear to subject you to physical torture. You just endure this." He stuffed a wad of cloth into Hongtao's mouth.
Kind-hearted? Hongtao was more inclined to believe it was because Concubine Hui dared not use illegal torture, hence resorting to these methods that left no visible marks.
Watching the door slowly close, cutting off the last bit of light, Hongtao felt inexplicably panicked, but quickly calmed herself. She just had to endure for a few days. Without evidence, Concubine Hui could do nothing to her.
At first, Hongtao only felt dryness, soreness, and pain in her eyes, tears falling uncontrollably.
Slowly, she began to feel sleepy—the room was too quiet and dark, drowsiness easily overwhelmed her. But with her eyelids propped open, she couldn't close her eyes to sleep, forcing herself to stay awake. She didn't know how long she held on, only that she grew sleepier and sleepier. Even though she couldn't close her eyes, the desire to sleep was unstoppable. Yet, the moment her consciousness started to fade, an intense pain shot through her scalp from the pull, jolting her awake again!
She couldn't sleep. She was unable to sleep.
Hongtao's inner turmoil grew increasingly agitated and oppressive. Compared to hunger, thirst, and the inability to sleep, the sense of unease brought by the pitch-black, utterly lightless room intensified. She tried to make sounds, but only her own muffled whimpers echoed in the room.
Even though it was her own voice, it sent chills down Hongtao's spine.
She couldn't help but think of various terrifying legends.
"Ah!!!"
Xiao Li requested an audience with Qi Daiyu.
"Mistress, Hongtao is ready to confess."
Qi Daiyu let out a long sigh of relief. Finally, she was going to talk.
Actually, only two days had passed since Hongtao was locked away, but Qi Daiyu was already growing impatient.
When Hongtao was brought in, she was clearly mentally disturbed, appearing somewhat deranged. The moment she saw Qi Daiyu, she frantically tried to crawl towards her, but was restrained by Xiao Li and Little Cheng.
Seeing her state, Qi Daiyu felt somewhat uncomfortable, a slight pang of pity arising, but she quickly hardened her heart and stared coldly at Hongtao.
"Master, Mistress! This servant will speak, this servant will tell everything!" Having not eaten for two days, Hongtao was weak, speaking breathlessly and gasping. Qi Daiyu had someone give her half a cup of water.
Hongtao drank it hastily, her face wet with what could have been tears or tea. "It was Xi, Xi from the Yanxi Palace! She was the one who gave that thing to this servant!"
Xi? Yanxi Palace?
Qi Daiyu's heart jolted. It was Consort An! This was truly unexpected.
Qi Daiyu had already experienced Consort An's deep scheming during the incident with Concubine Mei. If Consort An was the one who acted, it was indeed possible.
Yet, she frowned slightly. Why would Consort An want to harm the Empress?
Since giving birth to the Second Princess and contracting that strange illness, Consort An had almost no imperial favor. Even when the Emperor visited Yanxi Palace, it was only to see the Second Princess, rarely staying the night. Moreover, Consort An's family background was average, which was why she remained only at the consort rank. Could there be some past grievance between Consort An and the Empress?
Qi Daiyu wasn't sure.
Consort An had entered the Eastern Palace earlier than the original host, so it was normal for there to be past events the original host didn't know about.
Qi Daiyu hesitated. The situation with the Empress was not good; she had sent someone to inquire and learned the Empress's heart condition had flared up, leaving her unable to manage affairs. The mastermind behind this didn't know she had discovered Hongtao yet and would surely lie low. But if she handed Hongtao over now, it might alert the enemy.
Wait for the Emperor to return to the palace!
The news of the Empress's incident had already been sent out. The Emperor was estimated to return within the next few days. Given the Emperor's regard for the Empress, he would definitely investigate strictly.
Having reasoned this out, Qi Daiyu ordered Xiao Li to take Hongtao away and guard her well, ensuring no news leaked.
Xiao Li grinned. "Rest assured, Master. This servant handles things thoroughly." This was no lie; although he was more slick than Little Cheng, he was also much more clever.
As Xiao Li stepped forward to cover Hongtao's mouth, Shiliu couldn't hold back any longer, asking with hatred in her voice, "Hongtao, why on earth did you betray our master?"
Qi Daiyu also couldn't help but look over. She was very curious about this question too.
They saw Hongtao lower her head, shoulders trembling, unsure if she was laughing or crying.
"Yes, the master is very good to the palace servants. But by following this master, I will never have a chance to rise! Even those little maids Sangsen and Lizhi have climbed up. Why can't I? Where am I inferior to Pingguo or Lianwu?" They all started serving the master at the same time, they were all second-rank palace maids. Why could Pingguo and Lianwu be promoted, while she remained a second-rank maid?
She was just... unwilling, that's all.
Xi said that she was of age to be released from the palace, which would leave a senior maid position vacant by Consort An's side. Consort An had long thought Hongtao clever. If Hongtao helped Consort An accomplish one thing, Consort An would ask Concubine Hui to transfer Hongtao over.
Shiliu was furious. "For this?" For the position of a senior maid, she chose betrayal?
She couldn't help but strike Hongtao. "Have you forgotten how good the master was to you? Has your conscience been eaten by dogs?"
Hongtao was full of regret, but still said, "You entered the Changchun Palace as a senior maid from the start, of course you don't care!"
Shiliu raised her hand to strike again.
"Enough. Take her away." After hearing Hongtao's reason, Qi Daiyu was the one who accepted it most calmly. Workplace intrigue, reporting on others, and betrayal were all too common. She had previously thought that in this world with its clear distinctions of nobility and baseness, the loyalty between master and servant couldn't be equated with workplace relationships. But she had forgotten: where there are people, there is ambition.
Hongtao's betrayal for a senior maid position might seem laughable to others, but perhaps to Hongtao, she was willing to pay any price to compete for that position.
In the end, it was her own failure to judge character correctly.
She had been pecked in the eye by the hawk she raised! Consort An never would have imagined that the mole would be Xi.
Consort An was meticulous and had her own methods for managing Yanxi Palace. It didn't take much effort to ferret out Xi.
When Xi was brought before Consort An, her face was ashen; she knew she was exposed.
"When did this start? Were you bought off in recent years, or were you a pawn planted by someone else beside this consort from the very beginning?" Consort An asked.
Xi knelt on the ground. "This servant has wronged you, Master."
Consort An then understood. Xi was assigned to her when she moved into Yanxi Palace after the Emperor ascended the throne. From that moment on, she was a hidden piece. All these years, she had served diligently, seeming no different from Puying and the others. But when her true master gave the order, she acted.
"What elaborate planning. Let this consort guess who your true master is." Consort An said firmly, "Consort Ning?"
Xi's expression didn't change.
"Or... Concubine Shu?"
Xi's eyelashes trembled slightly.
Consort An raised her hand and smashed the teacup on the table. "Well done, Concubine Shu! I underestimated her!" Thinking about it, in the early days of the Emperor's reign, only a few had the ability to plant people in the harem. She had been close to Concubine Shu, so naturally Concubine Shu would also be wary of her. She just never expected that even after the Yuan family's decline and Concubine Shu's house arrest, she could remain patient, only activating Xi now.
Seeing the situation exposed, Xi stopped pretending. "When you were pregnant with the Second Princess, the midwife was still found by Concubine Shu. The midwife naturally knew about the marks on your body, but later those marks disappeared. Concubine Shu sensed something was amiss and ordered this servant to keep a careful watch. That hidden compartment hadn't been touched for years. This servant only discovered it by accident once while cleaning the room. After informing Concubine Shu, she told this servant not to act. It wasn't until a few days ago that she ordered this servant to take the wooden gourd from that compartment and place it in the Changchun Palace."
"Consort An, this servant has wronged you. However, this servant's life was saved by Concubine Shu. What Concubine Shu orders this servant to do, this servant cannot refuse. Your Ladyship also need not hope that this servant will expose Concubine Shu. This servant would rather die than betray Concubine Shu."
Consort An gnashed her teeth. "Your duty to Concubine Shu is understandable, and this consort's duty not to let you off is also understandable."
She stood up. "For Concubine Shu to still wield influence under house arrest, she couldn't have managed it alone. It seems this consort must pay a visit to the Chengqian Palace."
She had many questions that could only be answered by meeting Concubine Shu.
Fortunately, with the Emperor absent from the palace and the Empress ill, it wasn't difficult for Consort An to enter the Chengqian Palace unnoticed.
After nightfall, Consort An carried a palace lantern and entered the Chengqian Palace, with Puying following behind.
Compared to the splendid Chengqian Palace of years past, the present one was dim and gloomy. Weeds grew in the corners of the courtyard, suggesting the servants in charge of maintenance were not diligent. Of course, now the palace only housed the house-arrested Concubine Shu and the Eldest Prince. The Emperor never visited, so what need was there for meticulous upkeep?
If not for the Eldest Prince residing there, the Chengqian Palace would likely have fallen into complete neglect, becoming a cold palace.
Approaching the main hall, Consort An faintly heard sounds of laughter. She listened carefully; it was Concubine Shu and the Eldest Prince talking.
Eldest Prince: "I haven't had any pastries from Concubine Hui's palace for several days now!"
Concubine Shu: "Eat, eat, eat, all you know is eating! Don't you see how much flesh is on your face now? You're almost a little fatty! If you keep going like this, your Imperial Father won't like you anymore!"
Eldest Prince: "He will! Imperial Father always likes to pinch the flesh on my cheeks when he sees me. Concubine Hui said I'm lively and cute, Imperial Father likes me very much! It's you, Mother, who did something wrong, that's why Imperial Father doesn't come to see you. I haven't done anything wrong. If I want to see Imperial Father, I can just go to the Palace of Heavenly Purity and request an audience!"
Concubine Shu: "Concubine Hui, Concubine Hui! That Qi Daiyu just gave you some pastries and you're completely charmed. Who is your real mother, after all?"
Eldest Prince: "The Empress in the Palace of Earthly Tranquility is my mother according to ritual law. You, Mother, are the mother who gave birth to me. The other ladies are my concubine-mothers. Ah, I have too many mothers!"
Concubine Shu: "This child is going to be the death of me!"
Eldest Prince: "Mother, don't be angry. Getting angry gives you wrinkles, and then you won't be pretty anymore. Don't worry, when I grow up, I'll take care of you. Concubine Hui says all princes are enfeoffed as kings when they grow up. When that time comes, I'll have my own princely mansion, and I can move you there. Then you won't have to stay in this little Palace of Celestial Favor anymore!"
Concubine Shu: "Can't you aim a little higher? What's the use of just being a prince?"
Eldest Prince: "Being a prince is great! I want to be a prince!"
"Tap, tap," the hall door was knocked. The young palace maid who opened the door was startled to see Consort An and immediately turned back to announce her.
They only heard the Eldest Prince rush out like a little firecracker, smiling at Consort An. "Consort An, why have you come? Are you here to see my mother? Then you should come in quickly, don't let others see you. If Imperial Father finds out, he'll punish you!"
He looked behind Consort An and mumbled, "Why didn't you bring Second Sister along?"
Entering the main hall of the Palace of Celestial Favor again, Consort An couldn't describe her feelings. When she saw the person sitting on the daybed, she was even more taken aback.
The last time she saw Concubine Shu was nearly three years ago, when Concubine Shu had just been confined. Although disheveled, her charm was still evident. But now...
Now, time and despondency hadn't left many traces on Concubine Shu's face. She was still as beautiful as a peony or a Chinese herbaceous peony, only this peony had become an extra-large one...
Consort An's astonishment was something even her stiff face couldn't hide. Concubine Shu, feeling uncomfortable under her gaze, glared and said, "What are you staring at me for?" So what if she had gained a few dozen pounds?
With her maternal family's property confiscated and herself under house arrest, a proud person like Concubine Shu was just perpetually furious. She got angry every day and ate a lot. Ironically, the imperial kitchens had orders not to mistreat her, but they wouldn't provide the finest delicacies either, sending meat dishes full of fatty cuts no one liked. Trapped day after day, Concubine Shu grew fatter and fatter.
However, Concubine Shu believed that even fat, she was still a beautiful fat woman.
And that was indeed true.
Concubine Shu guessed why Consort An had come to the Palace of Celestial Favor and told the Eldest Prince to go back first. "Remember to review your lessons. Your handwriting is hideous. Practice more so your Imperial Father will praise you when he returns to the palace!"
Eldest Prince: "Mother, your handwriting is worse than mine!" With that, he scampered off.
"That child!" Once the Eldest Prince left, Concubine Shu wiped the smile from her face and stared at Consort An with an ambiguous expression. "What important business brings Consort An to my dilapidated Palace of Celestial Favor?"
Knowing Concubine Shu's temperament well, Consort An didn't beat around the bush. "Have you gone mad, daring to act against the Empress?"
Concubine Shu didn't even blink. "The downfall of my Yuan family couldn't have happened without the Empress's push. If something happens to the Empress, naturally I am pleased."
She wished the Empress dead.
Consort An: "Aren't you afraid of implicating the Eldest Prince?"
Concubine Shu: "Why would it implicate the Eldest Prince? The poison the Empress took came from the Qi Lan leaves in your possession, didn't it? What does that have to do with me?"
Xi would never betray her.
Consort An gritted her teeth. "Why frame me? We agreed before. I would help you look after the Eldest Prince, and you would keep secret my involvement in Concubine Mei's affair. Wouldn't it be better to just muddle through like that? You're confined. When the Eldest Prince grows up, if he wants to contend for that position, won't he still need my help?"
Mentioning the Eldest Prince actually made Concubine Shu more agitated.
"Help me look after the Eldest Prince? Consort An, I indeed kept my word to conceal your affair. But dare you swear that you have never been disloyal to me, that you have genuinely cared for the Eldest Prince?" Concubine Shu's eyes were venomous.
Consort An faltered. She...
Concubine Shu grabbed Consort An by the collar. "Consort An, you've always been clever, and I was willing to treat you as my strategist. Yes, my temper isn't good, and I wasn't exactly affectionate towards you. But for the sake of the Eldest Prince, I was willing to protect you. And how did you repay me? The Eldest Prince has a Te Lin constitution, yet you deliberately had people take him to places like the Imperial Garden, full of flowers, nearly causing him to have an asthma attack. Do you think I truly didn't know about this?"
Consort An: "I..."
"You wanted to eliminate the Eldest Prince, and eliminate me, to truly have no worries left, right?" Concubine Shu sneered. "You understand my nature, but do you think I don't understand yours?" Precisely because she understood, she had never used Xi. She had to keep a hold over Consort An.
Consort An admitted she had underestimated Concubine Shu.
Consort An took a deep breath. "Yes, I admit, I did have that thought once. But as you can see, the Eldest Prince is alive and well. I am not someone who disregards past ties!"
She had long since realized that only by letting the Eldest Prince live and grow up well would it be most beneficial for her and the Second Princess. She had no imperial favor, the Second Princess was not valued. In the future, the Second Princess's marriage might also require the Eldest Prince's influence. So she had long resolved to take good care of the Eldest Prince. In fact, she had done so. Whatever the Second Princess had, the Eldest Prince had too, sometimes even more than the Second Princess!
That's why the Eldest Prince was only happy to see her earlier!
"Do you think by framing me for the poisoning, you can rest easy? You're making a pact with a tiger. What outcome can there be besides harming yourself and the Eldest Prince?"
Concubine Shu was taken aback and said unnaturally, "What are you talking about?"
Consort An: "At this point, you're still hiding things from me? Confined here in the Palace of Celestial Favor, how do you know about affairs outside? How could you meddle in the affairs of the Palace of Earthly Tranquility? In this palace, who else has that kind of power besides the one in the Palace of Earthly Peace?"
