"Your Majesty, this poison was indeed given to the Empress. It is called Datura. There is no antidote for this medicine. After taking it, a person will fall into a coma and then die quietly within three days. Fortunately, the Empress was poisoned by two kinds of poisons, which can counteract each other, so it is not that bad."
Lin Yuxin thought about the information about datura she had seen in her space and medical books before, and then began to seriously explain to the Emperor the origin of the poison.
"However, what I don't understand is that this datura is extracted from the stem of the datura flower, and this datura flower grows year-round on the border between Qi and the northern frontier, where there is a cliff called Eagle Beak Cliff."
"Eagle Beak Cliff is gloomy and rainy all year round, with extremely high humidity. On the other side of the mountain is the Northern Frontier, which is snowy all year round. Therefore, it is the sacred place where datura flowers grow. However, datura flowers are forbidden flowers in the Qi Kingdom. Only the royal family of the Qi Kingdom is qualified to pick or use them."
"Because the datura flower has another use. Besides being able to extract venom, its flowers can be steeped in water to have a calming and paralyzing effect. In the Qi Kingdom's royal palace, although this medicine is forbidden, the royal relatives like to use it to deal with some disobedient servants or concubines."
Lin Yuxin calmly explained the origin and uses of the medicine, then looked at Chunxiang with curiosity, glancing at Qi Pin out of the corner of her eye, and asked:
"This princess is very curious. How did something from Qi end up in our Xia Kingdom's palace? Chunxiang? Do you know about this?"
Upon hearing this, the emperor's expression changed. He had initially thought that this dog servant was acting under orders, but now it seemed that this matter was inextricably linked to the State of Qi.
"This servant didn't know! This medicine isn't mine! Really, this servant is innocent!"
When Chunxiang heard Lin Yuxin calling her, she shuddered and immediately prostrated herself on the ground, kowtowing frantically, refusing to admit it.
Consort Qi stood there, her lips pursed, her whole body trembling, but she had to hold back and not show the slightest sign of panic.
"Alright, it's fine if you don't know, Your Highness. Have someone give this medicine to the girl. You won't get any information out of her anyway. Just send her away."
Lin Yuxin shrugged indifferently and said to the man standing beside her like a wooden statue.
"Um!"
Li Xiaochen's expression remained unchanged. He nodded, took the medicine from her hand, and had a eunuch behind him feed it to her.
The eunuch respectfully took the bottle of medicine and walked towards Chunxiang.
The Emperor and Empress Dowager remained silent throughout. From the beginning, the Empress Dowager wanted to find out who was behind it all, and the Emperor was also investigating. As the Empress Dowager, she simply watched.
It turns out this whole thing is related to the State of Qi, which is something a woman like her shouldn't be involved in. The empress dowager, as the empress dowager, must abide by the rule that the inner palace should not interfere in politics.
The Empress Dowager remained silent, and the concubines behind her dared not speak either, simply standing quietly, waiting to watch the show.
Although Consort Qi hasn't stepped forward yet, and the Emperor hasn't taken his anger out on her, everyone knows that Consort Qi is likely to be in grave danger today.
"No! No, don't come any closer! Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, Your Highness, Your Highness, please save me! Please, Your Highness, save me!"
When Chunxiang saw the eunuch pick up the medicine bottle and walk towards her step by step, she lost her composure from her earlier denials and suddenly became frightened, begging for mercy everywhere.
The Emperor ignored her pleas for mercy and instead turned to gently tuck the quilt around the Empress.
After Chunxiang begged for mercy, Consort Qi clenched her handkerchief tightly and spoke through tears:
"Chunxiang, I ask you, I have always treated you well, why would you do such a thing? To poison the Empress? Such a treasonous act, how can I save you? You are confused!"
Seeing her mistress like this, Chunxiang opened her mouth, knowing that her mistress had abandoned her. She wanted to say something, but couldn't utter a word.
After a long while, she lowered her head and stopped begging for mercy, instead admitting that she had poisoned the food.
That was the end of it.
Everyone present thought the matter was over, and the Emperor's face was as black as the bottom of a pot. The Emperor then directly gave an order:
"Since Chunxiang has confessed, then drag her out and execute her by slow slicing. The same goes for this eunuch. As for Consort Qi, regardless of whether this matter is related to you or not, since Chunxiang is your person, you have failed to manage your subordinates properly, so you must also be punished. Then strip Consort Qi of her title and send her directly to the Cold Palace!"
The emperor had lost his patience and, regardless of whether someone was guilty or not, immediately imposed a punishment.
"No! Your Majesty, please show mercy! Please spare me!"
When Consort Qi heard that she had been banished to the Cold Palace, she panicked. She thought that at most she would be punished with confinement or demoted, but instead she was banished to the Cold Palace!
If she were banished to the cold palace, would she ever have a chance to turn things around? So she panicked and was afraid, but she dared not tell the truth and could only beg for mercy.
The surrounding concubines all watched expressionlessly. That's how the harem is. When things are good, they're like sisters, but once it involves money, no one will come out to help you, nor will they dare to.
Moreover, these concubines are all two-faced in their quest for the emperor's favor, and they might stab you in the back at any time.
Seeing this, Lin Yuxin pondered for a moment before speaking:
"Your Majesty, this matter must be thoroughly investigated, as it is related to the State of Qi. If there are spies from Qi infiltrated the palace, this time it was the Empress, and next time it could be any noble lady! I have a way to make her confess the truth."
Upon hearing this, the Emperor glanced at Lin Yuxin, thinking that what she said made a lot of sense. At this moment, Li Xiaochen also spoke up:
"Your Majesty, since Princess Pingning has a solution, let her give it a try. After all, this poison is related to the Qi Kingdom, and there might be spies from Qi in the palace."
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