CHAPTER 251: CHAPTER 250: QINGQING, BE HONEST

「In the middle of the night.」

Xia Ruqing indeed developed a high fever. The ice water from Taiye Pool had been frigid, and her body bore multiple abrasions and bruises. Even after applying medicine, a fever was bound to follow. Zi Yue and Xiao Xizi also suffered injuries and fevers to varying degrees. Master and servants alike were falling ill, nearly half of them incapacitated.

The lights burned brightly all night in Qingya Residence.

When Zhao Junyao rushed over from Zhaochen Palace in the middle of the night, Xia Ruqing was already feverish and delirious, her face flushed red as she babbled nonsense intermittently.

"Xia Jieyu has caught a chill, and her numerous wounds have caused the fever!" the Imperial Physician announced after his diagnosis.

Zhao Junyao ordered, "Hurry up and write a prescription!"

Startled, the Imperial Physician grabbed his medical chest and hurried off to the outer room.

Zi Su, Zi Ning, and Xiao Zhu Zi handled writing prescriptions, gathering the medicinal ingredients, and decocting the herbs. Although they weren’t completely trusted, there was no other option at this point. Over where Zi Yue and Xiao Xizi were, they were completely short-handed, so two female doctors dispatched from the Imperial Medical Bureau were temporarily looking after them.

Meanwhile, the medicine bowl was brought over. Zhao Junyao gently propped up Xia Ruqing’s upper body. Zi Su carefully tried to feed her the medicine. However, Xia Ruqing was not lucid; smelling the bitter scent, she instinctively tried to dodge it. Each time Zi Su managed to get a spoonful in, Xia Ruqing would instinctively spit it out. Soon, the cotton cloth tucked under her neck was completely soaked.

"What... what should we do?" Zi Su asked, growing anxious.

Zhao Junyao took the medicine bowl, his expression darkening. "All of you, get out!"

Zi Su cast a worried glance at her mistress, suppressed her apprehension, and left with Zi Ning, closing the door behind them.

Zhao Junyao held her in his arms. He took a sip from the medicine bowl and then kissed her.

Her lips were burning hot. As they met the bitterness of the medicine on his, she struggled frantically with her hands and feet to pull away. Zhao Junyao tightened his arms, trapping her firmly in his embrace. Her hands were pinned, but her feet were still free. Forced to swallow a mouthful of bitter medicine, her little feet began to thrash about, kicking wildly. Her entire body protested; she was utterly uncooperative. Zhao Junyao, not having three heads and six arms, could only let her kick.

However... she inadvertently kicked... *that* area!

Once the entire bowl of medicine was administered, Xia Ruqing finally settled down considerably and fell into a deep sleep.

As for Zhao Junyao, he lowered his head to glance at his proud little brother, standing at attention. A sense of resigned frustration filled his heart.

Qingqing, once you are better, I’ll make sure you make it up to me properly.

「The next day,」 Xia Ruqing’s fever finally subsided.

Zhao Junyao came to see her after attending court. Xia Ruqing was drinking her medicine, a look of profound suffering on her face.

"Emperor, when did you come back?" she asked, holding the medicine bowl with clear reluctance.

Zhao Junyao sat down beside the bed. He didn’t engage in small talk, only uttering two words, "Drink your medicine!"

Xia Ruqing: "..."

Silently, she picked up the bowl, pinched her nose, and held her breath. With a tilt of her head, she downed the medicine. After rinsing her mouth, she ate a few of her homemade pickled sour plums, and her complexion finally looked much better.

Satisfied, Zhao Junyao inquired, "What happened yesterday? How did you fall in?!"

Xia Ruqing, only then recalling the events of the previous day, honestly replied, "The Noble Consort summoned me. She insisted on seeing my cat! I didn’t dare refuse, so I took Da Bai over."

Speaking of Da Bai, Xia Ruqing quickly looked around. Only after spotting Da Bai nestled safely in its little bed did she feel relieved and continue, "The Noble Consort held Da Bai for a while. When she stood up, she lost her footing and slipped, causing Da Bai to go flying! In a moment of panic, I jumped in after it!"

At this point, Xia Ruqing couldn’t help but marvel at the Noble Consort’s cunning and craftiness. Truly treacherous and sly! She made me jump into the lake voluntarily. Even if I had died, she would have just shed some tears, played the victim, claimed the ground was too slippery, and insisted it wasn’t intentional. Even if the Emperor were furious, he couldn’t possibly do anything significant to her! But what about me? I would have lost my life for nothing! Heh. Such is the inner palace. Could someone innocent and kind-hearted truly survive here?

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Zhao Junyao furrowed his brows and chided, "That was utterly reckless of you! Would you jump into a lake for a mere cat?"

Xia Ruqing felt aggrieved. "But it was a gift from you, Emperor, to me!" she pleaded. "Emperor, I will never dare to do it again!"

After speaking, Xia Ruqing sneakily glanced at Da Bai. The creature was lying in its nest, snoring. This little beast, she thought, does it even understand how good I am to it!

Seeing her covered in injuries and looking so aggrieved, Zhao Junyao ultimately didn’t pursue the matter any further.

Xia Ruqing then acted coquettishly for a while, trying to coax a reaction from the impassive man before her. Then she asked, "Emperor, the matter concerning my brother... it won’t cause you any trouble, will it? My palace maid, Qiu Tong, was bribed. She overheard things and spread them!"

She thought for a moment, then added, "I had her locked up and beaten. She’s still confined to the storeroom in the back courtyard!"

After some thought, Zhao Junyao ordered, "Take her to the Punishment Department for interrogation. As for your brother, he advanced through successive rounds of selection; no one disputes it! If there are truly any dissenters, tell them to go settle it with a fight themselves! You don’t need to worry about these matters."

Upon hearing this, Xia Ruqing quickly adopted an obedient demeanor. "Thank you, Emperor!"

With these matters settled, Xia Ruqing felt no other displeasure. The palace maids and eunuchs who had spread rumors in the palace were all sent by Li Shengan to the Punishment Department, never to be seen again. Qiu Tong also never reappeared.

Thinking about it, it was quite gratifying.

Noble Concubine Shih was furious when she returned to her palace. Not only had she failed to eliminate Lady Xia, but she had also needlessly taken a tumble herself. That might have been tolerable, but to her dismay, the Emperor had witnessed the entire incident.

This... was indeed very perilous.

"Gao Changyi, are you certain that pavilion by Taiye Pool was thoroughly cleaned up?"

The pavilion floor had been so slippery, of course, because it had been tampered with.

Gao Changyi bowed his head and replied, "Rest assured, Your Highness, not a single trace was left!"

Only then did Noble Concubine Shih feel satisfied and relieved. "Hmph! If I weren’t so clever, the Emperor might well have suspected me!"

Gao Changyi hastened to flatter, "Naturally! Your Highness is truly brilliant! In winter, it’s quite normal for the ground to be icy and slippery. Your Highness, if you visit Xia Jieyu later and admit your fault before the Emperor, this whole affair will simply blow over!"

Noble Concubine Shih curled her lips. After a moment, she gave him a sideways glance. "Then hurry up and make the preparations!"

Since it’s an apology, I must make the performance convincing.

Gao Changyi, quick to understand, immediately assented. Just as he was about to take his leave, Noble Concubine Shih called him back and instructed, "That girl, Qiaoqiao... have her caned to death."

Being beaten to such a state, her face will likely be scarred. Seeing her in the future would only remind me that my own palace maid was repeatedly slapped by another. She’d be an eyesore, and I can’t just send her off to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. So, it’s best to have her executed by caning. An apology, after all, should carry some sincerity.

Gao Changyi swiftly prepared the gifts and soon received news: "The Emperor has finished with court and is heading to Qingya Residence!"

Upon hearing this, Noble Concubine Shih knew her opportunity had come. She freshened up, dressed carefully, and then set off gracefully with her entourage.

「Meanwhile,」 in the back courtyard of Xifu Palace, Qiaoqiao’s mouth was gagged as she was beaten to death. Unable to even cry out, her life was extinguished just like that.