137 Festival
◎But I still remember it clearly◎
Liu Chunyan's funeral was hastily held because the fire in the palace was just regarded as a natural disaster. Even though everyone in the palace knew the truth, no one could do anything to a pregnant concubine for no reason.
Besides, there is no evidence.
During her lifetime, Liu Chunyan was just the mother of an unfavored prince. Even if she was buried as one of the four concubines, the posthumous honors she received would be worthless.
Rong Ruoyu still felt the situation was handled too roughly when she spoke about it. "You were so obvious. What did Liu Chunyan have against you?"
Cui Rumei was seen leaning on a drying bench with her eyes slightly closed. Palace maids were fanning her from behind, and there were huge blocks of ice nearby for her to cool down.
These diseases are not often used even in the Queen's Palace. Rongguo is further south than Da Zhou, and the climate is hot and humid, making it more difficult to store ice. Rong Qianyu has naturally become accustomed to this climate, and after coming to Da Zhou, she doesn't feel it is so hot.
Hearing this, Cui Rumei lazily sat up, stared at Rong Ruoyu quietly for a moment, and said, "What grudge does Rong Qianyu have against you? Is she your biological sister? You're also involved in this matter. Don't make yourself sound so innocent, sister. Have you forgotten that Rong Qianyu still has something on you?"
Rong Ruoyu simply smiled, took the maid's fan, and fanned herself. "Liu Yuan committed suicide out of fear of punishment, and the forces behind her are now useless. Rong Qianyu will definitely investigate the matter of Liu Chunyan. If this baby is a girl, I'm afraid my efforts have been in vain."
"Sister, you are very smart. Do you have any good ideas?" Cui Rumei's pregnancy was unstable and she often couldn't sleep. Seeing her belly getting bigger day by day, she had to make preparations early.
Rong Ruoyu is still useful to her at the moment. "After all, helping me is also helping yourself."
It was the height of summer, and Rong Qianyu didn't like going out. She was overwhelmed by all the things going on.
Liu Chunyan died in unclear circumstances, and the first to bear the brunt of the consequences were Cui Rumei and Rong Ruoyu, one the master and the other the servant, both of whom were difficult to deal with.
Cui Rumei had always been like this, and they were at odds with each other. But Rong Ruoyu was her sister, and she didn't want to harm her family no matter what. The marriage ruined her fate, and it ruined Rong Ruoyu even more. Although she was spoiled and willful as a child, she was not a bad person. Now, it seems that she has long forgotten the flesh and blood relationship.
The words she promised Rong Zhao were still fresh in her mind, but... could she really keep Rong Ruoyu? Cui Rumei had the prince and Fu Hua's endless favoritism, but Rong Ruoyu had nothing. Perhaps Cui Rumei's promise of the queen's position made her gradually lose her way.
"This is a letter from Lord Xue to you, telling Her Majesty not to worry." Yuan Qing took out a box containing two bean-sized pills.
Rong Qianyu was mesmerized. Did Rong Ruoyu deserve such punishment? Did she hate her, or was it something else? It was clearly a conflict between her and her stepmother. Rong Ruoyu was still a child at that time. Was it really right for her to vent her anger on her?
She is the elder sister. He Wanrou killed her mother and brother. Should she kill her own sister to retaliate against him?
The inner torment made her unable to make up her mind. She didn't want to make the relationship so embarrassing, but... it seemed that the relationship between them sisters could no longer go back to the way it was before.
The same is true for my relationship with Fu Hua.
After much deliberation, Rong Qianyu closed the box and said solemnly, "Is everything settled?"
Yuan Qing nodded. "Some of Her Majesty's subordinates are in disguise in the capital, while others are training at the border of Rong State. If necessary, they can return to the capital within three days."
"Okay," she said listlessly, not knowing whether it was the hot weather or something else. Then she asked, "Jiming didn't get involved, did he?"
Yuan Qing shook his head, "Master Xue knows his limits. These are all done by his subordinates, so they can't find out about you, Master."
"That's good."
"Tomorrow is the anniversary of the death of our mother and younger brother. The ceremony should be kept simple, no extravagance required." He paused as he spoke, then sighed. "Then... invite Concubine Min. She should come, too."
"Why does Your Majesty want her to come? She won't come, right?" Rong Pan asked.
"She will come," Rong Qianyu knew her sister very well. If it really came to that, their sisterhood would be broken, and she would not show mercy.
The next day, Rong Ruoyu arrived as scheduled and brought Fu Hua with her. This was the first time Rong Qianyu had seen him in several months.
"Your Majesty," Rong Qianyu stood up and exchanged a few polite words. "Your Majesty is very busy with official duties. Why are you here?"
What he meant was simply that he didn't want to see Fu Hua. In fact, Fu Hua felt the same way. The two of them really hated each other, but they needed each other for what they needed.
Rong Ruoyu was dressed very cutely today, wearing a light pink long dress that set off her snow-white skin, and the flower ornaments on her forehead were bright red. She looked three points like Rong Qianyu, and when they stood together in this outfit, they looked seven points alike.
She took Fu Hua's arm and pressed her body close to him, but her movements were a little stiff. "I called His Majesty here specially. For such a matter, His Majesty should also come and burn incense."
"Your Majesty is so busy with all sorts of things that there's no need to bother with such trivial matters. Thank you for your hard work, Your Majesty."
Fu Hua took Rong Ruoyu's hand as if on purpose, "I had already gone to burn incense before coming here, and it was Concubine Min who specifically asked for it."
"I also brought my sister's favorite dishes, all made by me, so she must eat them!"
Looking at the dishes brought by the palace maids, Rong Qianyu felt mixed emotions. Perhaps she was narrow-minded. Family affection was family affection, and blood was thicker than water, and it was difficult to sort it out.
My eyes reddened unconsciously, "Sister, you are so thoughtful."
During the meal, Rong Qianyu changed her previous indifference and took the initiative to pour wine for Fu Hua, drinking the full glass in one gulp. "I would like to offer a toast to Your Majesty. Thank you for coming to visit my mother."
Seeing her like this, Fu Hua happily agreed with her, as if the two of them had a really good relationship.
"Sister, eat some vegetables." Rong Ruoyu stood up and picked up a piece of meat for Rong Qianyu.
But Rong Pan stopped her, "Empress Min, your Majesty has been feeling weak lately and cannot eat too much meat."
"Stop talking so much." Rong Qianyu turned around and said indifferently.
"What's wrong with the Queen?"
"Nothing. Just a minor problem." Rong Qianyu still wanted to be cautious and tried to test the waters, then said, "Your Majesty, why don't you try the dishes my sister brought, and consider it as having eaten them on your behalf?"
"good."
"His Majesty!"
Fu Hua just picked it up when Rong Ruoyu stopped her and said in a panic, "This is the taste of my motherland. I'm afraid Your Majesty can't eat it."
Rong Qianyu seemed to have gotten a glimpse of the truth from the other party's evasion, "That would be even better, let His Majesty taste my cooking skills. If it's delicious, His Majesty must ask my sister to make more!"
Rong Ruoyu picked up another piece for Fu Hua, not the one specially prepared for Rong Qianyu, and said, "It's delicious. My beloved is a great cook!"
no problem?
How could that be?
Rong Qianyu and Rong Ruoyu looked at each other at the same time. Rong Ruoyu smiled knowingly and passed the dish to Rong Qianyu.
"Sister, have a drink. Your Majesty has already eaten. Please don't offend me again."
This wine is also a peach blossom wine specially mixed by Rong Ruoyu. There is wine on one side and poison on the other side of the wine glass.
After Liu Chunyan's death, Rong Ruoyu's relationship with her became even worse than before. Today, they are rarely together, but it is all due to scheming. She never wants to kill her, but Rong Ruoyu repeatedly refuses to give her a chance to live.
If this is the case, their sisterhood will be severed.
Rong Qianyu took a bite of the food and suddenly said, "I still remember when we were little, our mother made a sachet for each of us, but later I didn't see my sister wearing it."
Rong Ruoyu smiled awkwardly and lowered her head unconsciously, "It's the old days, I can't remember it clearly."
"But I still remember it clearly," Rong Qianyu said, "and after I fell into the water, my sister also brought me a box of pastries. But then, for some reason, I developed a high fever again."
Rong Ruoyu was not aware of many things, and Rong Qianyu had never taken her anger out on her, but today, she handed the poisoned wine to her.
The happy days of playfulness in the past now seem like a lifetime ago.
"Sister, don't you trust me?" Rong Ruoyu asked. She was too arrogant and not smart enough, so whatever she did was easily discovered, and this time was no exception.
In her panic, she almost spilled the wine glass.
Rong Qianyu pressed the wine pot and the poisoned wine flowed out of the pot. Looking at the wine in her hand, Rong Qianyu smiled with relief.
How could there be so many things that were supposed to be? Was it supposed to be hers to marry into a foreign alliance? Was it supposed to be her mother and brother who were brutally murdered?
As the eldest sister, she should naturally protect, tolerate and accommodate others everywhere?
Even if the other party puts poisoned wine in front of you, you should drink it magnanimously without complaint?
No.
She couldn't compromise just for the sake of a superficial appearance. She couldn't.
"Ruoyu..." She hadn't called Rong Ruoyu like this for a long time, "I like the wine in your glass, why don't we switch."
After hearing this, Rong Ruoyu was a little dazed. She didn't know whether she was hearing a name that she hadn't called for many years, or she was worried that the other party had discovered her.
"This... is all the same... why change it?"
"Pan'er!"
"Empress!"
"Give your Majesty's to me, give mine to Concubine Min, and give Concubine Min's wine to your Majesty." Rong Ruoyu was even more at a loss. Fu Hua didn't say anything. Today, the dead are the most important. He cooperated obediently, just thinking it was a little game between sisters.
"Sister, drink it." Rong Qianyu personally handed the wine glass to her.
Rong Ruoyu took the wine glass tremblingly, "Thank...thank you very much, sister."
"Eat some more dishes." He picked up another dish that Rong Ruoyu didn't want to eat and gave it to her.
"good……"
Rong Ruoyu picked up the wine glass, feeling caught in a dilemma. She looked at the glass, then at Rong Qianyu. At that moment, the other's eyes were filled with indifference, just like the poisoned wine, unpredictable and extremely dangerous.
No matter what happened in the past, from today onwards, we owe each other nothing.
Rong Ruoyu's eyes nearly burst with tears as she gulped down the wine in the cup. The two sisters looked at each other with complicated expressions. She frowned slightly, feeling a tightness in her chest. The poisonous wine flowed into her stomach, and instantly, a thread of pain swept through her body.
She tried to hold on for a while longer, but the cramping pain in her abdomen was unbearable. She was sweating profusely and her fingers couldn't help but tremble.
With a sudden sound, the wine glass fell to the ground with a clink, and the fragments of the wine glass exploded at the edge of the skirt and hung among the folds of the dress.
Rong Ruoyu spat out a mouthful of blood and staggered to the ground.
Fu Hua was startled, "What's wrong? What's wrong? Doctor, call the doctor quickly!" The servants were also in a mess.
In contrast, Rong Qianyu was very calm. Fu Hua helped her up. Rong Ruoyu was gasping for breath, and blood was still gushing out of her mouth, soaking her light pink and transparent robe.
Rong Ruoyu was arranged to stay in the inner room, surrounded by eunuchs and palace maids to serve her.
The imperial physician reported: "Empress Min was poisoned."
"Poisoned, how could he be poisoned?"
"I have already induced vomiting and administered acupuncture to the Empress, hoping to alleviate her pain. However, whether she can be saved depends on tonight."
Fu Hua had recovered from his earlier panic and asked, "What kind of poison is it?"
"It's... Rongguo's poison. There's no antidote in the Great Zhou."
"Go down."
Fu Hua sat quietly, his face livid, and he looked up at Rong Qianyu. "Did you know the wine was poisoned?"
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