Chapter 24 A Shocking Turn of Events at the Birthday Banquet Bai Xingzhi was standing in the center of the main hall at this moment…
The Empress Dowager's birthday.
Gu Xi arrived at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet early in the morning with the prepared birthday gifts.
When Gu Xi arrived, the Imperial Concubine was already on site presiding over the event. The Empress Dowager's birthday was a major event in the palace, and it was clear that she attached great importance to it.
After handing the gift to Liu, the old woman serving the Empress Dowager, Gu Xi led Zhu Yin to the seats that had been arranged in advance.
About half an hour later, the Empress Dowager arrived in full regalia and, with the help of the Emperor and the Imperial Concubine, took her seat. Only then was the birthday banquet announced to have begun.
"May Your Majesty enjoy boundless happiness and longevity!" The princes, ministers, and concubines of the harem respectfully knelt before the Empress Dowager.
"Rise!"
After everyone raised their glasses in a toast, Eunuch Wang, the chief steward of the Imperial Household Department, began to present the birthday gifts that everyone had given to the Empress Dowager.
The first gift presented was naturally the Emperor's birthday present to the Empress Dowager. Earlier, there had been news that the Emperor had personally painted a picture to give to the Empress Dowager, which must be this one.
Granny Liu carefully unfolded the painting, and after the Empress Dowager clearly saw the content of the painting, the smile in her eyes instantly disappeared.
"Your Majesty, I have always kept in mind your teachings to govern the world with benevolence and filial piety. This painting, 'The Mother's Deep Affection for Her Son,' is a small token of my affection. I wonder if Your Majesty will like it?" Xiao Heng said, his gaze meeting the Empress Dowager's with a perfectly timed smile, but his eyes were like a lake covered in dust, unfathomable.
The Empress Dowager quickly regained her composure. Listening to the Emperor's flattering words, she replied with a half-smile, "Your Majesty is too kind. I like it very much."
Although the Empress Dowager said she liked it, she didn't even glance at the painting again. Gu Xi had a feeling that the Empress Dowager didn't like the Emperor's gift.
"The Imperial Concubine Shu has arrived!"
With a loud shout, everyone looked towards the palace gate and saw a woman carrying a guqin walking straight in.
The woman was extremely beautiful, with captivating peach blossom eyes, yet her temperament was gentle and charming.
Why is she here?
"Yes, isn't she afraid of angering the Emperor with her sudden appearance?"
The concubines present began to whisper among themselves.
Gu Xi had heard Hua Yue mention this Consort Shu before. She was said to be skilled at playing the zither and had once played harmoniously with Xiao Heng. She was once his most beloved consort. However, for some unknown reason, Consort Shu lost favor overnight. Xiao Heng never set foot in her Guanju Palace again, and Consort Shu imprisoned herself in Guanju Palace, never appearing in front of anyone again.
Those in the palace kept this a closely guarded secret.
Today should be the first time she has stepped out of the palace since falling out of favor.
The Empress Dowager was momentarily taken aback when she saw the visitor, but quickly regained her composure.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."
"Rise," said the Empress Dowager.
"Today is the Empress Dowager's birthday, and I have come to offer a song," Consort Shu said.
After a while, there was still no response from the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, and the atmosphere at the scene instantly turned cold.
Consort Xue quickly recovered and hurriedly smoothed things over, saying, "Yes, yes, Consort Shu had already told me that she would be coming today to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday. Consort Shu's zither music is so beautiful that it lingers for days. Thanks to the Empress Dowager, I am also able to enjoy it today." Faced with this uninvited guest, she could only barely manage to deal with her and could not allow her to ruin today's birthday banquet.
"Then I shall make a fool of myself." Consort Shu said this to the Empress Dowager, but her eyes were fixed on Xiao Heng.
Consort Shu gently plucked the strings of the zither with her delicate hands, and the music flowed from her fingertips like the sound of a valley, clear and ethereal. The image of longevity seemed to leap out before one's eyes, and the lingering sound was as long as heaven and earth, captivating the heart.
After the music ended, the guests present couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
At this moment, Consort Shu was gazing sadly at Xiao Heng, her expression filled with resentment and longing, as if tears were about to spill from her eyes at any moment.
"Your Majesty, what do you think of my performance of this piece today?" Although it was meant to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday, the question was directed at Xiao Heng.
"Your Majesty used to love listening to the music I played the most." Xiao Heng ignored her and continued speaking to herself, then seemed to be lost in memories.
"Has Your Majesty thought of Lanxi these past few years?" Consort Shu was already on the verge of tears, her voice filled with grievance, resentment, and complaint.
Lanxi should be the maiden name of Consort Shu, and Xiao Heng must have called her that before.
Xiao Heng looked down at Consort Shu, his face remaining completely expressionless, as if he were looking at a complete stranger.
Looking into Xiao Heng's cold eyes, Gu Xi felt a shiver run through her heart. Would he treat her like this one day?
"Guards, take him away!" In the end, the Empress Dowager could no longer stand it and gave the order.
Before leaving, Consort Shu pursed her lips and said, "Lanxi wishes the Empress Dowager good health and longevity, and that the Emperor's wishes may be fulfilled. This concubine will take her leave now." With that, she picked up her zither and left the main hall.
As Consort Shu passed by Gu Xi, Zhu Yin whispered in Gu Xi's ear, "Miss, don't you feel like you've seen this Consort Shu somewhere before?"
Gu Xi shook her head.
Consort Shu arrived suddenly, and left suddenly as well.
The atmosphere in the main hall instantly froze, until Steward Wang's shrill voice rang out again: "The Imperial Concubine presents a pair of jade ruyi scepters; Grand Chancellor Xue Huaiyuan presents a pair of agate cranes..."
Gu Xi listened listlessly when she suddenly noticed a gaze fixed on her from afar. She looked around and happened to meet Bai Xingzhi's gaze.
He was dressed in a black brocade robe, sitting in the first seat on the east side, holding a wine cup in his hand, and staring straight at me.
The moment their eyes met, Bai Xingzhi felt that the thoughts he had carefully concealed and wrapped up in layers of his mind suddenly cracked open, and some ideas began to grow wildly.
Gu Xi never expected to meet Bai Xingzhi here. She had heard that the Emperor had sent him on a southern tour on the day the Empress Dowager returned to the palace, but she didn't expect him to return so soon.
She nodded politely to him, then looked away and stopped looking at him.
Bai Xingzhi paused for a moment, the light in his eyes dimmed suddenly, and his hand holding the wine glass tightened slightly.
A dazzling array of congratulatory gifts were delivered one after another, making it hard to look away.
"This food looks quite special, bring it up for me to try," the Empress Dowager said, pointing to the food boxes that the maids were presenting in the distance.
If Gu Xi remembered correctly, this should be the birthday gift prepared by Consort Li. Just now, Steward Zhao read out several gift lists in one go.
"Yes." Granny Liu scooped some candied fruit onto a glass plate and presented it to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager took a bite and said, "Hmm, not bad."
The Empress Dowager has always enjoyed candied fruits and other similar treats, and the types of candied fruits on this food box are mostly rare in the capital. No wonder the Empress Dowager favors it; it's clear that Consort Li has put a lot of thought into it.
"Your Majesty, this is what Consort Li of Shufangzhai prepared for you. It's candied fruit from the Western Regions, and there's also this box of thousand-year-old wild ginseng next to it," Chief Steward Wang repeated from the side. Consort Li is now a favorite of the Emperor, so he had to curry favor with her.
"Consort Li's gift is exactly what I wanted." The Empress Dowager looked at Consort Li below the table, her tense expression softening slightly.
Consort Li was about to rise and express her gratitude when she heard the Empress Dowager's praise when she suddenly heard a "poof" sound. The Empress Dowager was clutching her chest and spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager!" Granny Liu exclaimed in surprise, and Qin Wanyu quickly stepped forward to check the situation.
Xiao Heng said in a deep voice, "Summon the imperial physician!"
At all banquets, large and small, people from the Imperial Medical Academy were always arranged to serve at the palace.
At that moment, Imperial Physician Li was waiting in the side hall. Upon hearing the imperial decree, he quickly ran over, accompanied by Mu Yunqi.
Li Yuanpan came to the Empress Dowager's side and took her pulse. He was shocked when he felt the pulse. Mu Yunqi immediately stepped forward and took the Empress Dowager's pulse as well. After a moment, he nodded to Li Yuanpan.
The two seemed to have reached the same conclusion.
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has been poisoned!" Imperial Physician Li said with a grave expression.
"Poisoned?" Xiao Heng asked.
"Exactly."
The hall immediately erupted in commotion.
Xiao Heng pondered for a moment, then asked, "Do you know what kind of poison it is?"
Judge Li shook his head.
"Can this poison be cured?" Xiao Heng continued to ask.
"Your subject is willing to give it your all!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than Qin Jianshan suddenly stood up and shouted sharply towards the outside of the hall, "Guards, arrest the person who poisoned me!" With that, he waved his hand and pointed directly at Consort Li.
At Qin Jianshan's command, several guards rushed in from outside the door and, without saying a word, grabbed Consort Li. The one in the lead was the Imperial Guard Commander whom Qin Jianshan had just promoted.
Chaos erupted in the main hall.
Xiao Heng narrowed his eyes and asked in a deep voice, "General Qin, what do you mean by this?"
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager was poisoned after eating Consort Li's birthday offerings. With so many eyes watching in this hall, I must have her arrested and imprisoned to await judgment," Qin Jianshan said, bowing, but his voice lacked respect.
"Your Majesty, I didn't." Consort Li looked at Xiao Heng in a panic. She had no idea what had happened or why the Empress Dowager had been poisoned after eating the candied fruit she had sent.
"General Qin, before the matter is thoroughly investigated, it's best not to speak recklessly," Xiao Heng said coldly, his eyes filled with gloom.
Everyone knows that Xiao Heng dotes on Consort Li. Qin Jianshan wanted to take her down before the matter was even cleared up, showing no regard for Xiao Heng's reputation whatsoever.
"Your Majesty, what is there to be unclear about? I saw it with my own eyes!" Qin Jianshan said bluntly, "Your Majesty, could it be that..."
"General Qin, please be careful with your words," Bai Xingzhi interjected, trying to stop him.
What was Qin Jianshan trying to say in the second half of his sentence? Was he implying that the Emperor was protecting Consort Li? Or was he implying that... the Emperor was an accomplice?
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Uncle is only worried about the Empress Dowager. Concern can cloud judgment. The most urgent task is to treat the Empress Dowager first." Xue Huaiyuan quickly smoothed things over after seeing Bai Xingzhi step forward first. He deliberately pointed out Qin Jianshan's status as the Imperial Uncle to remind him that he and the Emperor were family and should not be so hostile.
Qin Jianshan snorted coldly upon hearing this.
No sooner had he finished speaking than Judge Li suddenly exclaimed in surprise!
Gu Xi looked in the direction of the sound and saw that the Empress Dowager was convulsing uncontrollably.
Oh no! The Empress Dowager has been poisoned by the Seven Poisons Powder. She had heard her master say that this poison cannot be cured by medicine alone. She must immediately bleed to let the poison flow out. Otherwise, the poison will quickly spread throughout her body via her internal organs, and even a great immortal might not be able to save her.
Gu Xi glanced at Consort Li, who was still being held captive by the Imperial Guards, and strode to the center of the hall. She shouted to Mu Yunqi, "Imperial Physician Mu! Quickly! Seal the Empress Dowager's Qihai acupoint and then bleed her!"
Gu Xi's voice suddenly rang out in the hall, carrying an undeniable firmness.
Upon hearing this, Mu Yunqi hesitated for only a moment before doing as Gu Xi had instructed, making a cut on the Empress Dowager's wrist.
"How dare you! What have you done to the Empress Dowager!" Liu, the old nanny beside the Empress Dowager, suddenly exclaimed in shock.
Judge Li was also taken aback, not understanding why Mu Yunqi was so impulsive, actually believing the words of a concubine!
The crowd then realized what was happening, and an uproar erupted in the hall.
"bloodletting?!"
"How can you act so recklessly, given the Empress Dowager's health?"
"Who are you? How dare you harm the Empress Dowager's health?!"
Qin Jianshan was furious and was about to step forward to capture Gu Xi.
Bai Xingzhi was standing in the center of the hall at that moment, and subconsciously tried to step in front of her to block her.
A note from the author:
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There are quite a few characters in this chapter. Guess who poisoned him? And why? [Evil grin]
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