CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 42: TRAPPED BY A SCHEME

"Greetings to the Emperor, greetings to the Empress."

At Lijing Pavilion, Xia Ruqing stepped forward, curtsied, and kowtowed.

"Rise," Zhao Junyao waved his hand.

Xia Ruqing rose. The Empress then recounted the events once more before asking sternly, "What is Lady Xia’s explanation for this matter?"

Xia Ruqing stepped forward calmly. "Your Majesties, I have been wronged!"

"Oh?" The Empress narrowed her eyes.

Xia Ruqing continued, "Cheese is not a rare item. Even if Honored Lady Hu enjoys it, she should have informed the Imperial Kitchen in advance, rather than sending a servant to demand it from us! There must be something suspicious about this!"

The Empress nodded and looked towards the Emperor.

Zhao Junyao’s expression turned a few shades colder as he ordered, "Li Shengan, investigate the Imperial Kitchen first!"

After all, the poisoned cheese came from the Imperial Kitchen; it cannot go uninvestigated!

Li Shengan quickly assented and hurried towards the Imperial Kitchen.

Matters concerning the Imperial Kitchen were no small affair! Furthermore, Lady Xia was astute; it was unlikely she could do such a thing. Perhaps that bowl of poisoned cheese was actually directed at Lady Xia! The Emperor had finally found someone somewhat to his liking and probably wanted to protect her too!

With that thought, his pace quickened.

Meanwhile, Zhao Junyao clearly had no intention of waiting. Since Honored Lady Hu was no longer in mortal danger, he saw no need to waste further time here. He promptly commanded, "We have other matters to attend to and will depart first! This matter is to be left entirely in the hands of the Empress!"

Joy surged in the Empress’s heart. "I obey the decree!"

As he was about to leave, Zhao Junyao suddenly turned back. "We do not wish for anyone to be wronged!"

His tone was powerful and firm, permitting no doubt.

"I understand!"

The Emperor strode away. The Empress sat for a while longer, but seeing no immediate results, she issued some instructions and then departed as well.

Upon returning to Jiaofang Hall, the Empress let out a sigh of relief, lay down on the couch, and closed her eyes.

Yu Lan massaged her temples.

The Empress asked softly, "Tell me, was the poisoned cheese aimed at Lady Xia, or did Lady Xia intend to poison Lady Hu?"

"This servant cannot be certain!" Yu Lan replied. "It is known throughout the palace that the two Honored Ladies do not get along. However, this servant believes Lady Xia is an intelligent woman and would not commit such a foolish act."

The Empress gave a light chuckle and said no more.

Even a palace maid could see through this; could the Emperor fail to do so? His Majesty leaving this matter to me was simply because he wants me to investigate thoroughly and clear Lady Xia’s name. Truth be told, even if the Emperor hadn’t instructed me, I would have gotten to the bottom of this. I finally have someone who can occasionally vex Noble Consort Shih. How could I allow her to be so easily lost? It seems someone has grown anxious now that Lady Xia is gaining favor!

After the Empress had rested from her midday meal, Li Shengan came to report. "Empress, this servant questioned everyone on duty at the Imperial Kitchen today and also conducted a search."

"Nothing unusual was found!"

"Nothing unusual?" The Empress was taken aback.

Eunuch Li was known for his efficiency. If even he hadn’t found anything amiss, then things were becoming rather... difficult! If the poison wasn’t from the Imperial Kitchen, then Lady Xia... would be in serious trouble. After all, apart from the Imperial Kitchen and Xiao Zhaozi, the only other person who handled the cheese was Lady Xia’s eunuch, Xiao Xizi.

"What about the eunuchs who distributed the food? Have they all been interrogated?"

Eunuch Li nodded. "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Imperial Kitchen staff said that several buckets of fresh goat’s milk were brought in today. The cheese was all made in one batch. Other masters also received portions from it, and there were no issues with theirs."

"Oh," the Empress nodded.

"Empress, His Majesty still requires this servant’s attendance, so I shall take my leave first."

"Eunuch Li, take care. Yu Lan, see Eunuch Li out!"

"Yes!"

「...」

When Yu Lan returned, she found the Empress reclining on the daybed, massaging her temples, looking like she had a headache.

"I really have no clue at all!" the Empress murmured.

"Empress, why not summon Chief Steward He to ask about the situation?" Yu Lan suggested.

"Hmm!"

He Changshou, the Chief Steward of the Imperial Kitchen, received the summons and arrived at Jiaofang Hall with utmost speed.

"This servant greets Your Majesty."

"Rise! Tell me, what happened today?"

He Changshou was a palace veteran, suave and meticulous in his dealings. Under his management, the Imperial Kitchen had never experienced such an incident. He felt incredibly wronged.

"Empress, this servant has searched repeatedly; we found nothing suspicious in the Imperial Kitchen! From the head Imperial Chefs to the eunuchs distributing the meals, we searched every one of them, but found nothing!"

"And the cheese? Since Honored Lady Hu loved it so much, why didn’t you specifically provide it to her?" the Empress asked again.

He Changshou was almost in tears. "Empress, many masters come to collect their meals daily. We servants can, at most, remember the important ones. As for Honored Lady Hu..." Who would care what an out-of-favor Honored Lady likes to eat? Everyone in the palace knows how to trim their sails according to the wind.

The Empress thought for a moment, then waved her hand. "Never mind, I understand. You may leave."

"Yes!"

He Changshou bowed and exited.

The Empress was very frustrated. This is thorny! Truly thorny! One can’t just say the Imperial Kitchen was responsible for the poisoning because they curry favor with the powerful, neglect the unfavored, and thus didn’t give Honored Lady Hu her cheese. There isn’t a single flaw in the Imperial Kitchen’s account. The most reasonable explanation is... that eunuch named Xiao Xizi poisoned the cheese and then gave it to Honored Lady Hu.

Thinking this, the Empress felt a pang of disappointment. It seems Lady Xia is going to be lost.

Yu Fu entered and announced, "Empress, several Stewards from the Ministry of Internal Affairs request an audience..."

The Empress rubbed her temples. "Let them in!"

Regardless of the truth, I don’t want to waste any more effort on a mere Honored Lady.

Yu Lan was a bit worried. She hesitated for a moment but remained silent. In her heart, though, she sighed. The end of the year is approaching, and there are a thousand and one things to attend to, both inside and out. The Empress has been working non-stop for half a month! To avoid any mistakes, Her Majesty often stays up late reviewing the ledgers. What if her health suffers from this? But Her Majesty is so strong-willed and won’t listen to advice. She always says, ’The Emperor manages countless affairs daily and never feels tired; this little bit of exhaustion is nothing to me!’ Men handle external affairs, women handle internal ones; it’s the natural order of things. It’s because she’s the Empress! Alas...

Yu Lan sighed.

The Empress was engrossed in her work, and the day passed by quickly.

The next day was the twenty-eighth of the twelfth lunar month.

The Empress woke early, pondering. "The day after tomorrow is the thirtieth. Honored Lady Hu’s matter cannot be delayed any longer!"

"But Empress," Yu Lan interjected, "the menu for the New Year’s Eve banquet hasn’t been finalized, nor have the staff been assigned! How could Your Majesty possibly have time to investigate a case? There are many masters at the banquet, and many attendants are needed. Whether it’s the Emperor hosting the officials or the private imperial family banquet, not a single mistake can be tolerated."

The Empress nodded thoughtfully.

「...」

「Zhaohua Pavilion」

Xia Ruqing was utterly dejected. This damned disaster truly fell from the heavens! I supposedly ordered the Imperial Kitchen to poison Honored Lady Hu? And I’m the last one to find out?!