Chapter 147 Consort Jia Under Investigation

Consort Jia leaned against the chaise longue, listening to her trusted maid's report, and couldn't help but smile.

"Really? The Emperor arrived at Weiyang Palace late at night, only to be driven out by that vile woman?"

The palace maid nodded repeatedly: "It's absolutely true. I saw it with my own eyes while sweeping the path in Weiyang Palace. The Emperor went in and came out not long after, and his face looked terrible."

Consort Jia stroked the jade bracelet on her wrist, her eyes gleaming with calculation.

"Jiang Huan only dared to be presumptuous because of the Emperor's favor. Now that the Emperor has forgotten her, what is she? How dare she refuse His Majesty's presence? She has dug her own grave. However, this has given me an opportunity."

Consort Jia paced excitedly in the hall, saying, "His Majesty must be in a bad mood right now, and since he is just recovering from his injuries, he needs someone to care for and comfort him."

Her eyes gleamed, and a bold idea quickly took shape.

"Someone come here," Consort Jia ordered loudly, "Go to the small kitchen immediately and have someone make a nourishing soup. Be quick."

After the palace maids left, Consort Jia found her dressing case and took out a small porcelain bottle from the bottom shelf.

This substance can make one's mind wander and become infatuated. As long as the emperor drinks it, she is determined to have him tonight.

Once the deed is done, even if the emperor remembers Jiang Huan later, it will be too late.

If she's lucky enough, she might even manage to conceive a child with the emperor, at which point Jiang Huan would pose even less of a threat to her.

Soon, the food for the emperor was prepared.

Consort Jia looked at the soup in the food box, took out a porcelain bottle, and dripped two drops of liquid into it.

She smiled, as if she could already see herself as the future empress.

After carefully packing her things, Consort Jia adjusted her makeup in front of the bronze mirror to ensure she looked radiant before heading towards the Hall of Mental Cultivation with her maids.

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the atmosphere was oppressive, and Huo Lin had nowhere to vent his anger.

Reviewing memorials? I can't concentrate.

Sleepless night? I toss and turn, unable to fall asleep.

The image of Jiang Huan flashed uncontrollably through his mind, and her words, "I dare not serve the Emperor," made his heart clench with unease.

He must have been poisoned and damaged his brain to be bothered by a woman like that.

There are plenty of gentle and understanding women in the harem, so why should he always think about one person?

Just then, Wang Degui came in and announced, "Your Majesty, Consort Jia requests an audience, saying she has specially prepared a nourishing soup for Your Majesty."

Huo Lin frowned. Consort Jia?

Normally, Huo Lin might not have had the time or inclination to see her.

But at this moment, a thought that was almost a fit of pique quietly began to take root.

Jiang Huan is unwilling to serve him. Does he really lack someone?

"Announce." Huo Lin's voice was unreadable.

Consort Jia entered quickly. She had clearly dressed up carefully today, her fair skin accentuated by her light red palace dress, and her jewelry jingled as she walked in, accompanied by a fragrant breeze.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects." She bowed gracefully, her voice soft and alluring. "I heard that Your Majesty is unwell, and I was very concerned. So I specially prepared this wolfberry and black chicken soup, which is very nourishing. Please have some, Your Majesty."

As she spoke, she opened the food box and took out the soup inside.

Huo Lin glanced at the bowl of soup; it looked quite good, but he had no appetite at the moment.

"Your Highness is so kind. Please keep it."

Consort Jia was not about to give up.

She moved gracefully, picked up the bowl of soup, and approached Huo Lin.

"Your Majesty, this soup is best drunk while it's hot. I'll serve you." As she spoke, she picked up a spoon, scooped up a spoonful, and brought it to Huo Lin's lips.

Huo Lin was already annoyed, and seeing her so close, with the strong scent of her perfume wafting over him, he felt even more disgusted.

He instinctively leaned back to avoid the spoon being offered to his mouth.

"Put it down, I'll do it myself."

Consort Jia froze, her smile almost fading.

She forced a submissive posture and placed the soup on the small table beside Huo Lin, saying, "It is I who have overstepped my bounds, Your Majesty. Please enjoy your meal."

Huo Lin picked up the bowl of soup and brought it to his nose. The overly strong aroma made him instinctively feel a little strange.

As an emperor, he grew up in the palace from a young age. What kind of underhanded tricks hadn't he seen?

The vigilance towards what enters the mouth is almost ingrained in their very bones.

The aroma seems a bit off; it has a faint, sweet scent that doesn't seem to be the smell of the ingredients themselves.

Huo Lin's eyes instantly sharpened like knives as he glanced at Consort Jia.

Consort Jia's heart skipped a beat when she was stared at. She tried to remain calm and lowered her head, but her hands nervously clenched her handkerchief.

Huo Lin was not about to miss such a small trick.

He slammed the soup back onto the table, his eyes cold.

Consort Jia felt a sense of foreboding, but since things had come to this, she couldn't panic.

Pretending to know nothing, she asked, "Your Majesty? Is this soup not to your liking?"

"Not to your liking?" Huo Lin's voice was low and slow, but every word struck Consort Jia's heart like a hammer. "Consort, tell me, besides goji berries and black-boned chicken, what other ingredients were added to this soup?"

Consort Jia's face turned deathly pale in an instant, all color draining away.

She forced a smile and said, "I don't understand Your Majesty's meaning. This soup is just a regular tonic."

"Don't understand?" Huo Lin slammed his hand on the table, making the memorial jump. "Wang Degui!"

"This old servant is here."

"Go, summon the imperial physician on duty to examine this chicken soup and find out what's in it." Huo Lin's voice was not loud, but it was deep and authoritative.

Consort Jia's legs went weak, and she almost collapsed to the ground, barely managing to stand by holding onto the table.

She forced a smile, "Your Majesty, what do you mean? This soup is a token of my affection, how could it be..."

"Shut up!" Huo Lin interrupted sharply. "Whether it's true or false, we'll know once we check."

Soon, the imperial physician on duty was hastily summoned and carefully examined the patient.

The Hall of Mental Cultivation was completely silent. Consort Jia was pale as a ghost, and cold sweat trickled down her temples.

Although her thing was well-hidden, it could not possibly escape the notice of an experienced imperial physician.

A moment later, the imperial physician walked up to Huo Lin with a solemn expression, bowed and reported: "Your Majesty, someone has added a potent drug called 'Drunken Dream' to this soup."

"What is the purpose of this medicine?" Huo Lin's voice was as cold as well water in winter.

"This medicine..." Physician Li explained with a forced smile, "This medicine has an extremely strong aphrodisiac effect, and its medicinal properties are domineering. If taken for a long time, it may harm the body."

As soon as the imperial physician finished speaking, the air in the Hall of Mental Cultivation suddenly froze.

Wang Degui lowered his head, held his breath, and dared not utter a sound.

Consort Jia was covered in cold sweat and knelt down directly in front of Huo Lin.

She wept, tears streaming down her face, "Your Majesty, please understand! I am innocent! I was only concerned about Your Majesty's health and wanted to do my part. I would never dare to tamper with the soup. Your Majesty, please believe me!"

No matter what, she cannot admit it, otherwise she will be doomed.

Huo Lin remained unmoved, looking down at Consort Jia with an icy gaze as if he were looking at an inanimate object.