That evening, Qiao Qiu dismissed everyone, then lay down on Yu Honghua's lap, closed her eyes, and asked lazily, "Ru Feng, I'm jealous."

Yu Honghua leaned against the huge bedpost behind her, holding Qiao Qiu's head, and said helplessly, "Why are you jealous?"

"You're sleeping in the Empress's bedchamber, how can that make me jealous?" Qiao Qiu said angrily. Has this guy forgotten that her body is female but her heart is a man?

"I swear, I have never slept in the same bed with her." Yu Honghua raised her hand to swear. The Empress had invited her once, but she had politely declined and had not mentioned it again.

"You're getting closer and closer to the Empress." Qiao Qiu's tone was incredibly sarcastic, and she even raised an eyebrow at her, her eyes clearly showing her dissatisfaction.

If Qiao Qiu were a woman, Yu Honghua would be very pleased, but Qiao Qiu is currently acting like a man, a very masculine type, which makes her behavior quite comical.

Because, slightly naughty.

Yu Honghua chuckled and explained, "It was Yu Honghua who did that during the day. How could I do something so brainless?"

Qiao Qiu thought about it and agreed. She sighed, sat up, and looked at her. "Ru Feng, let's not talk about this anymore. Do you want to stay outside the palace for the next couple of days?"

Yu Honghua raised an eyebrow slightly. "You want to get rid of me."

A tone of affirmation.

Qiao Qiu had meant this all along, so it didn't matter if she guessed it. Since her fourth brother had already made a move against their father, he certainly wouldn't stop so easily; there must be some other conspiracy behind it.

She wanted to focus on dealing with her fourth brother, so she absolutely couldn't afford to be sentimental about her children at this time.

Yu Honghua looked at her for a while, a smile playing on her lips, "I believe in you. Do whatever you want to do. I'll be waiting for you at home."

Qiao Qiu smiled too. Her lover understood her and knew her, so he felt at ease letting her do what she wanted to do.

"Alright, I'll have someone send you back tomorrow."

...

The next day, Qiao Qiu left the palace with Yu Honghua. When she returned, she was only accompanied by a fake Yu Honghua.

Qiao Qiu waited patiently for another day.

On the morning of the third day, the emperor fell ill and became unconscious.

Everything was as Qiao Qiu had expected.

Qiao Qiu led Ji Xian and more than ten imperial physicians to treat the emperor in the imperial bedchamber. The empress paced anxiously in the outer room, and the other concubines were terrified, fearing that they would become widows at a young age.

After the imperial physicians took turns examining the patient, they gathered together to discuss countermeasures, as the situation seemed extremely difficult.

Qiao Qiu glanced at Eunuch Gui standing beside her and said, "Eunuch Gui, go and invite Consort Yi here."

"Yes." Eunuch Gui retreated nervously.

Qiao Qiu gave Ji Xian a wink, and Ji Xian then slipped away unnoticed to the front of the dragon bed to take the emperor's pulse and read his face.

Qiao Qiu stood in front of Ji Xian, preventing the imperial physicians from seeing him.

In fact, how could the imperial physicians dare to meet Qiao Qiu's gaze? Seeing her standing there, they didn't even dare to lift their heads, and they were discussing things enthusiastically.

After a while, Ji Xian stood up, covered his mouth with his hand, and whispered a few words in Qiao Qiu's ear.

After saying that, he withdrew.

Qiao Qiu knew this because the drug's effects were triggered by someone she had sent.

This poison is none other than a drug that Ji Xian concocted himself when he had nothing better to do. It is called "One Season to the West." The effects are very slow, but they cannot be detected. After one quarter, the poisoned person will die.

Afterwards, no cause could be found, and it was almost indistinguishable from sudden death.

This medicine is not static, especially not Ji Xian's. He only used one tonic, which caused the poison to take effect prematurely.

This effect won't kill the emperor immediately, but it will make it clear what kind of drug it is.

Qiao Qiu used her internal energy to transmit a message to Ji Xian, "Ji Xian, give the antidote to Father Emperor."

With a flick of his wrist, Ji Xian produced a pill from his fingertip. He turned and pried open the emperor's chin, feeding it to him and then lifting the emperor's chin to help him swallow it.

Ji Xian finished quickly, in no time.

At this moment, Eunuch Gui also entered with Consort Yi.

Consort Yi was clearly crying; her eyes were swollen like walnuts. When she came in, she was still wiping away tears with a handkerchief.

"Your Highness, how is the Emperor's health?"

Consort Yi was very clever. When she came in, she asked the Emperor first, without asking why he had summoned her.

However, even so, it's useless.

Qiao Qiu turned and sat down on the chair next to her, tapping her finger on the table. "Imperial Physician, what exactly is wrong with Father Emperor?"

The imperial physicians froze, turning around tremblingly. "Your Highness..."

"Tell the truth." Qiao Qiu's eyes were piercing.

The imperial physicians shuddered, and the head physician stepped forward with a stiff upper lip. "His Majesty... His Majesty has actually been poisoned."

"How long have you been poisoned?" Qiao Qiu asked with a cold smile, her eyes fixed on Consort Yi.

Consort Yi's face had turned several shades pale, and her hand trembled as she wiped away her tears.

"Your Highness, it will take about half a month," the head of the academy replied, forcing a smile.

"Half a month." Qiao Qiu's lips curled into a smile. "Half a month?"

"This..." The head of the academy broke out in a cold sweat. The Crown Prince had invited Consort Yi here; what was there for him not to understand? This was a sign that the Crown Prince was doubting Consort Yi!

"Tell the truth!"

"No, no." The head of the academy was terrified. How dare Consort Yi plot to kill the Emperor? What was her purpose?

"Ji Xian, take men to search Consort Yi's bedchamber," Qiao Qiu ordered directly.

Consort Yi was so frightened that she knelt down immediately, crying with tears streaming down her face, "Your Highness, I didn't do it."

Qiao Qiu looked at the imperial physicians with a cold face and said, "All of you, leave now and prepare the antidote as soon as possible."

"Yes." The head physician quickly led a group of imperial physicians away.

Qiao Qiu stood up and said, "Eunuch Gui, you should go out too."

Eunuch Gui was somewhat surprised, but he dared not disobey Qiao Qiu's order. "Yes."

After everyone had left, Qiao Qiu walked up to Consort Yi, bent down, lifted her chin with her fan, and smiled wickedly.

Consort Yi was stunned, and even forgot to cry.

Qiao Qiu's eyes were particularly captivating, especially when she revealed such an aggressive smile, which made her even more mesmerizing.

"Consort Yi, what do you think of my appearance?"

Upon hearing this, Consort Yi blushed slightly. "The Crown Prince's appearance is naturally second to none."

"How does he compare to Fourth Brother?" Qiao Qiu looked intently at Consort Yi, a hint of desire in her eyes.

“Naturally, His Highness the Crown Prince is far more handsome and unparalleled.” Consort Yi’s heart pounded as Qiao Qiu looked at her, and her pretty face blushed even more.

Consort Yi was only in her early twenties, in the prime of her life.

"If I gave you a choice, would you choose your fourth brother or me, the Crown Prince? Hmm?" Qiao Qiu's eyes were aggressive, and her voice was even more seductive.

Especially that final "hmm," it was like a feather brushing against Consort Yi's heart, and her body immediately softened.