Chapter 78 Palace Maid Climbs into Bed
The next morning, news spread that Ruyi had sent her personal maid to the emperor's bed on her birthday in order to secure his favor.
"Bang!"
Jin Yuyan slammed her hand under the table. "Fine, I underestimated Ruyi before."
Zhenshu was somewhat puzzled. "Your Highness, Consort Xian didn't get away with it either. Wasn't she demoted by the Emperor?"
Jin Yuyan shook her head, her face inscrutable. "You don't understand. Everyone knows how much our Consort Xian used to spoil A'Ruo. Back then, I even laughed at Ruyi for raising a tiger to cause trouble, but now it seems she did it on purpose."
"This servant doesn't quite understand."
Lixin, who appears to be a simple-minded confidante of Consort Jia, is actually a royal spy, pretending to be clueless as she speaks.
Jin Yuyan knew that Lixin wasn't very bright, but that was precisely why she was willing to use her.
"Listen to the rumors outside. Aren't they all saying that A'Ruo climbed into the bed and betrayed her master? Ruyi is very cunning. In this way, she not only gained everyone's pity, but also had leverage to firmly grasp the newly appointed Consort Shen."
Li Xin was speechless. She really wanted to say that Consort Xian really didn't have the brains for this. Smart people just tend to overthink things.
Zhenshu raised a question: "But didn't the Emperor demote her? Isn't the Emperor's intention more important than other people's pity?"
"The Emperor's intentions are naturally the most important, but if it were truly Ruyi's scheme, it wouldn't be as simple as just demoting someone. It seems the Emperor is only suspicious. You have to admit Ruyi is clever. We used to laugh at her for always being so fickle, but it's precisely because we talked about her so much that the Emperor finds it hard to believe she did it."
"Has Consort Xian started making plans so early?"
Zhenshu was shocked, and Lixin was speechless. No, you've all misjudged the target! It's not that Consort Xian is clever, it's the Emperor! The Emperor!
It's obvious the Emperor wants to watch a show!
It's infuriating that they know so much but can only keep it all to themselves.
"However, the difference between the rank of Consort and the rank of Imperial Concubine is quite large. Isn't Consort Xian afraid that she won't be able to rise in rank later?"
Upon hearing Zhenshu's question, Jin Yuyan's expression turned solemn. "Although I look down on Ruyi, I know that she comes from a powerful family. She is the niece of the Empress Dowager and was personally bestowed the title of Consort by the late Emperor. Once these rumors spread throughout the palace, it will be certain that A'ruo climbed into the Emperor's bedchamber. I think the Emperor will still restore Ruyi's position."
"How many people could have imagined that she would be able to regain the throne? Isn't this a case of being put in a life-or-death situation and then surviving? Afterwards, no one would suspect Ruyi."
"It is truly flawless."
Li Xin was shocked. Ha, there are actually people in this palace who believe that Consort Xian is of noble birth? Noble Lady Jia, where did your intelligence go? When did you get brainwashed behind my back?
Lixin hesitated, but seeing Zhenshu's approving expression, what could she say?
She could say nothing, and could only learn from Xin Xin's way of dealing with Consort Xian, replying perfunctorily, "Your Majesty is wise."
Although the entire analysis was wrong, Jin Yuyan was right about one thing: the rumors in the palace gradually turned into the story that A'Ruo had successfully climbed into Ruyi's bed while she was off guard.
She was not just successful in ordinary ways; she skipped the stage of becoming a palace maid and became a concubine.
Once the news got out, countless "ambitious" palace maids were itching to take the plunge.
It wasn't just a matter of being eager to act; some people actually rushed in headfirst!
Perhaps because the Emperor had just experienced a palace maid trying to seduce him and didn't seem too opposed, he probably didn't expect anyone to try a second time. So, the skilled and daring palace maid from the Hall of Mental Cultivation immediately took action!
No one knows exactly what happened that night, only that the emperor fell ill and did not attend the morning court session the next day.
The Emperor is ill! A group of ministers and princes rushed to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to offer their condolences, but were stopped at the entrance by Wang Ren, the Grand Eunuch of the Imperial Guard.
"Your Highnesses, Your Excellencies, it's not that I refuse to announce your presence, but His Majesty has decreed that no one is allowed to enter."
Wang Ren looked troubled.
Prince Xun, Yunzhen, was the most hot-tempered. He had rushed back from the military camp upon hearing the news of the Emperor's illness, arriving last. But as soon as he arrived, he pushed his way to the front of the crowd, urgently asking, "What exactly happened? How could the Emperor suddenly fall ill?"
The others also looked worried, and Yun followed up by asking, "Was it because the palace servants weren't serving us well?"
The moment this question was posed, everyone's gaze towards Wang Ren was filled with pressure and skepticism.
Wang Ren smiled wryly, "This matter is really, really hard to say. Please don't ask any more questions. This servant truly cannot say."
Seeing that he clearly had something to hide, everyone became even more anxious. How could they not ask? It concerned the Emperor's safety; who could pretend to be deaf and dumb?
"What exactly happened to Eunuch Wang?"
"His Majesty's safety is a matter of great importance to the country and its people, and it is no small matter. Please speak frankly, Eunuch Wang."
...
The crowd tried everything – pleading, cajoling, even threats and inducements – but Wang Ren remained silent. While they were satisfied with his loyalty to the emperor, they also wished he would yield slightly to authority at this point.
The situation reached a stalemate; Wang Ren refused to speak, and the crowd refused to leave.
Just then, the doors of the Hall of Mental Cultivation were pushed open, and Wang Qin quietly walked out.
Everyone was quite familiar with this eunuch who often served the emperor, and they couldn't help but perk up and look at him expectantly.
Wang Qin stepped forward, bowed to everyone, and said, “His Majesty is aware of your concerns, so he has specially ordered me to lead several princes and officials to the side hall for a look.”
Unsure of what the Emperor was implying, the few chosen by Wang Qin followed him to the side hall. The remaining court officials stood guard at the main hall entrance, exchanging bewildered glances, sensing that something significant was about to happen.
"Wang Qin, what exactly happened?"
Yunli was more familiar with Wang Qin, so he immediately asked the question as he followed behind him.
Wang Qin looked indignant and guilty. "It was my fault. Last night I let a palace maid from the Hall of Mental Cultivation climb onto the dragon's bed."
Huh? A palace maid climbing into someone's bed?
"Could it be that this palace maid drugged the Emperor?" Yinzhi's gaze sharpened, and he asked in a deep voice.
Following his lead, everyone wondered if the medicine had damaged the emperor's health, their eyes filled with anger and worry.
"Where is that palace maid? Has she been interrogated? Is there anyone else behind her?"
Nian Xiyao couldn't help but speculate about conspiracy theories.
Seeing that the princes and high-ranking officials were becoming agitated and eager to draw their swords and charge into battle, Wang Qin quickly shook his head, "No, no, there was no poison, it's just..."
Wang Qin hesitated, a hint of embarrassment and fear on his face, "You'll see when you go in."
The group was full of questions. So what exactly was in the side hall?
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