Chapter 68 My face was scratched

Lan Wu was startled by the palace servant's voice, and her hand trembled. When she turned her head and saw the current appearance of Consort Rou, she was stunned at first, then reacted. She suppressed the smile that was about to burst from her face, blinked, pretended to be unaware, released Chu Mingheng's hand, and joined the others in making a surprised and frightened expression.

She hid behind Chu Mingheng, leaning out halfway, one hand clutching Chu Mingheng's clothes, the other covering her lips, a hint of triumphant relief hidden in her eyes.

It's no wonder everyone was terrified, because Consort Rou's face was now extremely ugly.

She originally had a gentle face, graceful and beautiful, quiet and elegant, as if she spoke softly. But now, her lips were swollen, and the area below her lips and even the left half of her face were swollen. Large red rashes had appeared on her face, as if they had been there for a while. There were also scratches on her face caused by her fingernails scratching her cheeks.

Just now, everyone went out of the main hall together to watch the fireworks. The surroundings were dim, so no one noticed the changes on her face. It was only after returning to the hall that people could see clearly and assumed that she had been poisoned or had contracted some kind of plague.

The concubines all stood a little further away, looking at Consort Rou with strange and slightly disgusted eyes.

Consort Rou realized something. She had been feeling itchy on her face and scratched it a few times, thinking it was just a mosquito bite. But the palace maid's scream startled her.

She covered her face with her hands and hurriedly backed away, but behind her was a low table. She backed up onto the table and immediately screamed. Caught off guard, she fell onto the table, her clothes getting stained and messy.

She fell down and became silent, as if she had fainted.

The palace servants around her hurriedly helped her up, shielded her face, and kept anxiously calling her name.

Lan Wu stood behind Chu Mingheng and watched this scene, finally feeling relieved.

She knew, of course, that Consort Rou was intolerant to the Anluo fruit. In her previous life, this fruit was not used at her birthday banquet, but afterwards the Imperial Household Department sent the Anluo fruit to various palaces, and this sending caused problems.

The imperial physician was hurriedly summoned to Consort Rou's palace. After examining her, the physician said that Consort Rou was intolerant to the fruit and could not eat it anymore.

It's a pity that I didn't see Consort Rou's appearance in my previous life. She hid in the palace and recuperated for a month before coming out to meet people. Now that I see Consort Rou's face, I understand why she didn't dare to come out to meet people.

In this life, Lan Wu had Zhang Mu working in the Imperial Kitchen from the beginning. She wasn't foolish enough to directly state her purpose and ask the Imperial Kitchen to serve the fruit at the birthday banquet. She just said a few words indirectly, and the Imperial Kitchen had a plan. First, they wanted to curry favor, and second, these fruits would eventually be sent to the ladies of the palace anyway, so it was good to know who liked them and who didn't as soon as possible.

Chu Mingheng also saw Consort Rou's face, ordered someone to summon the imperial physician, and then had Consort Rou carried to the side hall.

Palace servants tidied up the mess in the hall, while the concubines lowered their voices and whispered, trying to guess what had happened to Consort Rou.

Poisoning is unlikely, because this banquet was ordered by His Majesty to be organized by the Imperial Household Department. It was such a grand affair, and it was held in the Kongshan Garden of Empress Dowager Jingwen. Who would have the audacity to openly poison someone?

But if it wasn't poison, then what was it?

Rong Shuyi's gaze swept over the things the palace servants were tidying up, as if she was thinking about something. She slowly looked around at the people around her, and finally her gaze lingered on Lan Wu, but after a moment, she lowered her head again, thinking that it couldn't be Lan Wu.

His Majesty specifically instructed Zhu Xia to tell her not to let Consort Zhen get involved in unclean methods. His Majesty must be even stricter with Consort Zhen, so how could he allow her to do evil to others?

Perhaps it was just an accident.

Lan Wu hid behind others and only stepped out after seeing Consort Rou being sent away. She covered her face, looked up at Chu Mingheng, and her bright eyes showed some displeasure and anger, but she held back.

She didn't speak, and Chu Mingheng didn't look at her either. His face was somewhat gloomy, and his profile, illuminated by the palace lanterns, was still majestic and handsome. However, when he glanced down and uttered a cold sentence, everyone's hearts jumped into their throats.

"Someone, search all the things that Consort Rou used just now, and also that plate of Anluo fruit, send it to the imperial physician."

Logically speaking, any offerings brought in from elsewhere, regardless of whether they were edible or not, would be examined by the Imperial Medical Academy before being given to the dignitaries. The Academy's responsibility was to determine whether these offerings would cause any physical discomfort and, if so, whether they could still be used in the future.

The fact that this Anluo fruit is being presented on this occasion should be perfectly reasonable, but this incident has occurred. If the problem truly lies with the Anluo fruit, then it is the responsibility of the Imperial Kitchen, which acted with short-sighted greed by serving this fruit, whose origins have not yet been verified, to the nobles.

Lan Wu followed Chu Mingheng to the head seat. She sat quietly and properly, lowering her head and avoiding looking at the people below.

The palace servants questioned all the concubines present before reporting to the emperor that, apart from Consort Rou, everyone who had eaten the fruit was fine.

Lan Wu was sitting very close to Chu Mingheng. Although she was prepared for him to be angry, she still subconsciously swallowed when she saw his cold and indifferent expression and his deep-thinking look.

Consort Rou may not be much, but this event was prepared by Chu Mingheng. She dared to make trouble under Chu Mingheng's orders and cause such a commotion. If Chu Mingheng found out, even she would definitely be severely punished.

No, no one will know. This is the first time Consort Rou has eaten the Anluo fruit. No one knows that she is intolerant to it. Chu Mingheng has no evidence and cannot find any evidence against her.

As Lan Wu pondered these thoughts, she gradually calmed down.

Just then, Chu Mingheng suddenly turned his head and gave her a long, meaningful look.

Lan Wu gripped his hand tightly, staring blankly at him.

"Your Majesty...why are you looking at me like this...?"

Chu Mingheng's eyes were deep, and when he was focused on looking at someone, he could hide his emotions. It's not unreasonable to say that the emperor's heart is unfathomable. At least for now, Lan Wu didn't know what he was thinking.

Lan Wu wasn't sure about things she didn't know.

"You were angry just now," Chu Mingheng asked her gently.

Lan Wu was stunned for a moment, then nodded emphatically. She seemed a little confused, not caring that there were other concubines present. She said indignantly and unwillingly, "His Majesty's birthday banquet for me has been ruined..."

Logically speaking, she should indeed be angry; it would be problematic if she weren't. She remembered to put on an act just now, and thankfully, it was a natural one. Now, hearing Chu Mingheng ask her this, she can still respond.

Chu Mingheng reached out and touched her face. Her cheeks were soft, and he didn't press too hard. His gaze towards Lan Wu was almost tangible, and his voice was deep and reassuring: "It's alright, I will have people investigate thoroughly and will definitely not let the troublemakers..."

His gaze was fixed, his tone dangerous, as he slowly uttered the last few words:

"They fled."