When Physician Lin left Yuxian Palace, he was very puzzled.
He had just taken the Emperor's pulse and found that the Emperor's pulse was clearly that of someone who had been given an aphrodisiac. Although the effects of the drug had worn off, the Emperor's condition was obviously not good. Judging from the Empress's appearance, she was clearly unaware of the situation, so he did not dare to reveal the truth.
He sighed; it seemed this secret would have to remain a secret to him.
After lunch, Xie Jingrun took a short rest before going to the Imperial Study.
Rong Qingqing called Xingchun over and asked her about the events that had happened in the Heavenly Palace.
“Nothing has happened while Your Majesty was away from the palace,” Xingchun replied, but she couldn’t help feeling a little guilty. Thinking about what happened in this bedchamber last night, she didn’t dare to look Rong Qingqing in the eye. She didn’t know whether it was better or worse to keep this from Her Majesty.
She was very conflicted.
Rong Qingqing paused for a moment, then asked, "Really not?"
Xingchun's heart skipped a beat, but she shook her head, forcing herself to remain calm. "Really, no."
Rong Qingqing frowned. "But I noticed those palace servants were acting strangely, like they were afraid of something. Are you sure nothing happened while I was away?"
Hearing this, Xingchun secretly breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "Actually, there is something."
"What is it?"
"Your Majesty, you may not know this, but the Empress Dowager actually planted several people in our Yuxian Palace to monitor the Emperor and Your Majesty's every move. When the Emperor found out, he was furious and immediately ordered those palace maids to be dealt with. That's why those palace maids are so trembling with fear, afraid that the fire will spread to them," Xingchun explained.
In fact, early this morning, Zhao Cheng suddenly arrived at Yuxian Palace with his men, dragged out several palace maids, and beat them to death in front of all the palace servants. She saw it too and was so scared that her legs went weak. The other palace servants were even more terrified and turned pale.
Those were several living, breathing human lives, gone in an instant.
Later, she asked Zhao Cheng in private. According to Zhao Cheng, those palace maids were sent by the Empress Dowager. Moreover, Zhao Cheng also took an incense burner from the Empress's bedroom.
She immediately thought of what happened last night.
Hua Yin's sudden appearance in the Empress's bedchamber seemed to be related to the Empress Dowager. From Zhao Cheng's words, she vaguely guessed that the Emperor must have been drugged last night, which was why he was with Hua Yin...
Even though this was not the Emperor's wish, it still happened. Afterwards, Huayin disappeared from the palace. It seems that the Emperor still cared about the Empress's reputation and did not take Huayin into the harem. So she was very conflicted about whether or not to tell the Empress about this.
She couldn't rest easy if she didn't tell the Empress, but if she did, she was afraid that the Empress would harbor resentment towards the Emperor.
Sigh, she doesn't know what to do either.
After hearing what she said, Rong Qingqing was somewhat surprised, "The Empress Dowager has planted someone here?"
“Exactly.” Xingchun nodded.
After thinking about it, Rong Qingqing realized it wasn't surprising.
She knew it! The Empress Dowager wouldn't have summoned her to accompany her without a reason; she must have been secretly planning something. She never expected that she would actually place someone in Yuxian Palace.
She frowned and asked directly, "Did those palace maids seduce the Emperor while I was away?"
Upon hearing this, Xingchun broke out in a cold sweat.
The Empress was indeed very perceptive, but she guessed the wrong person.
The Empress probably never imagined that Huayin, who was about to be married off to Jinzhou, would suddenly enter the palace and be with the Emperor in her bedchamber...
Suppressing her fear, she told a white lie, "Yes, but it didn't work."
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