CHAPTER 116: CHAPTER 115 THE EMPRESS’S CONSPIRACY

Zhao Junyao returned to Zhaochen Palace, and Li Shengan came to report.

"Emperor, we’ve found out—the Imperial Physician said there was indeed Fuzi Powder on that piece of cloth!"

Zhao Junyao’s gaze immediately became icy and sharp.

"Go check the Ministry of Internal Affairs! Investigate everyone who handled these clothes, one by one. We must drag out the person behind this!"

Li Shengan then continued, "This servant has already checked. In the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ sewing room, besides those Embroideresses, there are a few Palace Maids in charge of delivering clothes to various places!"

"This servant has already had those Embroideresses and the Palace Maids who deliver clothes put under guard..."

Zhao Junyao nodded.

"Hand them over to the Punishment Department for interrogation!"

Li Shengan hesitated for a moment, then asked tentatively, "Emperor, Her Majesty the Empress..."

Zhao Junyao let out a cold laugh and did not reply.

Li Shengan dared not ask further and hurriedly went to carry out his duties.

「Jiaofang Hall」

The Empress had received the news the previous night.

To her, this was tremendous news, and she certainly wouldn’t concern herself with it.

The next day, the Emperor’s visit to Xifu Palace to see Noble Concubine Shih was, as expected.

The only thing that upset her was that Noble Concubine Shih’s child had not been lost!

This Honored Lady Hu is indeed unreliable. It seems she doesn’t want to live well anymore.

The Empress laughed coldly. I’ll deal with her later. Right now... I have more important things to do.

Having thought this, she stood up and instructed Yu Lan, "Go to the small storeroom and carefully select some of the best tonics; I am going to visit Noble Concubine Shih, my younger sister..."

Clearly, she was in a rather good mood as she said this.

Even if the fetus can’t be harmed, agitating the mother will also work. It will also let her see who truly rules this harem. Let her understand that trying to bypass me to give birth to a child is not going to be easy.

Yu Lan responded and quickly brought over several boxes of top-notch tonics.

Ginseng, bird’s nest—all were of the highest quality.

The Empress glanced at them and said, "That will do. Wrap them up!"

Saying this, she carefully adorned herself before the mirror, then, accompanied by Yu Lan, gracefully departed.

「Xifu Palace」

"Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!"

Noble Concubine Shih had just lain down when the Empress arrived.

She hadn’t fallen asleep and her eyes snapped open.

"HUMPH! She’s indeed quick to get news. Is she so eager to see my misfortune?"

Ying Yue quickly advised, "Your Highness, please don’t get angry; that would only please others!"

Noble Concubine Shih smiled coldly. "HUMPH! She’s just an old hen that can’t lay eggs. How could I, being pregnant, be afraid of her!"

The only thing the Empress has that I could envy is, at most, her position. My cousin has never favored her, yet she has the audacity to come here and flaunt herself. She’s truly shameless!

Despite her disdain, Noble Concubine Shih could not refuse the Empress entry.

"This consort pays her respects to Your Majesty the Empress. The Imperial Physician said that I am pregnant and must rest in bed, so I am unable to greet you properly. Please forgive me, Your Majesty!" Noble Concubine Shih said, lying in bed rather flippantly.

Even when paying respects, she had always just made a show of it; when had she ever truly paid the Empress sincere respects?

So, the Empress was used to it.

She smiled. "It’s nothing. Noble Concubine Shih, my younger sister, is unwell and should indeed rest well!"

While speaking, she found a place to sit down, took the gift box from Yu Lan, and said, "Seeing you’re unwell, I had someone specially find some top-notch ginseng and bird’s nest for you. These were all rewarded by the Emperor in previous years. I don’t need them, so I brought them for you, my sister, to nourish your body!"

The Empress spoke with a hint of smugness in her eyes.

These words, one could tell immediately, were not well-intentioned.

As expected, Noble Concubine Shih let out a cold laugh and retorted, "I appreciate Your Majesty’s concern, but I am quite well! The Imperial Physician also instructed me not to eat recklessly! It’s truly a shame to waste Your Majesty’s kindness!"

Saying this, without waiting for the Empress to speak further, she directly commanded Ying Yue, "Have you not served Her Majesty the Empress tea yet? She has come all this way; are you trying to let Her Majesty die of thirst?"

These words, one didn’t need to listen carefully to know they were certainly not kind.

The Empress’s complexion changed immediately, and she stood up abruptly.

"Noble Concubine Shih, what do you mean by that? Are you cursing me?"

Noble Concubine Shih sneered coldly.

"How would this consort dare?!"

Seeing her like this, the Empress grew a bit angry and, no longer bothering to feign magnanimity, sneered back, "Does Noble Concubine Shih think the harem is still the same as before? Well, you are mistaken; you are no longer the apple of the Emperor’s eye!"

This statement struck Noble Concubine Shih’s raw nerve.

She could no longer clearly remember how long it had been since her cousin had last spent the night with her.

But she was always proud and unwilling to concede, so she retorted defiantly, "Is Your Majesty the Empress referring to Lady Xia? Your Majesty herself has also suffered considerable losses at her hands, hasn’t she?"

A broken canopy bed, a collapsed house—in which of these situations did the Empress come out ahead?

Indeed, the Empress was very angry.

Yu Lan, sensing the atmosphere was wrong, quickly tugged at her sleeve.

The Empress suddenly came to her senses. I wasn’t here to quarrel today.

After secretly taking a few deep breaths to compose herself, the Empress smiled again, gentle and virtuous.

"Regardless, I do hope my sister can safely deliver this child," the Empress said, going against her conscience.

Noble Concubine Shih scoffed inwardly. I don’t believe a single word of it.

Yet, outwardly, she remained unyielding. "Then I shall accept Your Majesty’s auspicious words!"

Emerging from Xifu Palace, the afternoon sun was harsh, stabbing at the Empress’s eyes and making it hard for her to open them.

Much like Noble Concubine Shih’s pregnant belly, it pricked uncomfortably at her heart.

When she returned to Jiaofang Hall, Yu Fu greeted her.

She took the umbrella from Yu Lan’s hand and reported in a low voice, "Your Majesty the Empress, Honored Lady Hu requests an audience. This servant has asked her to wait in the rear hall."

The Empress’s gaze sharpened, and she sneered inwardly.

"She still dares to come!"

Saying this, she quickened her pace into the inner hall.

"Call her here! I want to see what she has to say for herself!"

Yu Fu affirmed and went out.

Honored Lady Hu knelt down as soon as she entered.

"This servant pays respects to Your Majesty the Empress!"

The Empress, drinking tea, felt the rage within her flaring like the blazing sun outside, scorching her reason.

CRASH!

The Empress slammed the teacup down.

"What more is there for you to say!"

Honored Lady Hu froze for a moment, then started kowtowing.

"This servant knows Your Majesty is angry, but I implore Your Majesty to hear this servant out first!"

The Empress snorted coldly. "Speak."

Honored Lady Hu pondered for a moment, then said with smug flattery, "This servant must first congratulate Your Majesty!"

The Empress was somewhat puzzled. "What joyous occasion could I possibly have?"

Honored Lady Hu’s eyes darted before she continued, "Your Majesty, think about it. If the Noble Consort were to miscarry now, with the Emperor’s methods, getting to the bottom of it would not be difficult..."

"Does Your Majesty think... we... could escape the Emperor’s grasp?"

The Empress, listening, was stunned.

I had intended for Honored Lady Hu to cause Noble Concubine Shih’s miscarriage and for Honored Lady Hu to be the scapegoat. But what she said also made sense. A mere Honored Lady, what motive would she have to harm a Noble Concubine? Surely, someone was pulling the strings from behind.