What to investigate in Chapter 77?
For five consecutive days, Chu Mingheng did not go to the inner palace. Occasionally, when he had free time, he would come to Yilan Palace for lunch.
The concubines were seething with hatred, feeling that they were all insignificant people in the palace, and that His Majesty would not even glance at them, as he was always looking at Consort Zhen.
However, the fact that Lan Wu moved her bedroom was not mentioned much compared to the events in the court and the affairs of the Rou Consort.
She was a concubine and shouldn't have been living in the main hall, but His Majesty's favoritism towards her was nothing new. No one dared to speak ill of her to her face. Moreover, the concubines had been behaving themselves lately, so even if they felt a pang of jealousy, they pretended not to know.
Inside the Yifang Palace, Consort Shu rubbed her head in exasperation, thinking to herself that His Majesty really knew how to cause her trouble.
Consort Li was originally a fool who couldn't accomplish anything significant, yet His Majesty still entrusted her with managing affairs for him. She was almost getting the hang of all the big and small matters in the harem, but Consort Li's arrival only made things more chaotic.
She had no idea whether Consort Li did it intentionally or unintentionally.
"Your Majesty, the other day, a palace maid from Consort Li's side came to inquire about things in our palace," Yun Qing whispered as she entered from outside the hall, leaning close to Consort Shu's ear.
Consort Shu did not open her eyes, but frowned and said impatiently, "What did she ask about?"
"Nothing much, just inquiring about what Your Highness has been busy with lately."
Consort Shu sneered: "I'm afraid she can't wait to seize power from me. What can that blockhead of her accomplish?"
“Your Majesty is right.” Yun Qing stood to one side with her head bowed.
Consort Shu pondered quietly for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Is there any news from the Imperial Hospital?"
Yun Qing shook her head: "Your Majesty, Physician Zeng said that Physician Xu is a cautious person and never shows his medical records to outsiders. He went to look for them twice and almost got caught but still couldn't find them."
"It's just a medical record of a miscarriage; it's strange that it's been hidden away for no reason." What kind of shady dealings could there be in this?
Consort Shu opened her eyes slightly and instructed Yun Qing, "Next time someone from Consort Li's palace sneaks in to ask, you should tell them that I've been busy with matters at the Imperial Hospital lately."
-
"The Imperial Hospital?" Consort Li read aloud, puzzled. "What could the Imperial Hospital possibly have to do?"
Yu Mei guessed, "Perhaps they're busy with Consort Rou's affairs?"
Consort Li scoffed lightly: "Would she be so kind? She's probably just thinking about how to ruin Consort Rou's face."
Consort Li dared to say these things, but the palace servants below dared not utter a single word in response.
Yu Mei kept her eyes down, pretending she was deaf and hadn't heard these words.
But Consort Li suddenly slammed her hand on the table, her temper flaring: "His Majesty asked me to assist her in managing the six palaces, but she refused in every way, saying she wasn't busy and wouldn't let me ask her anything. Those dog servants below are the same, they only know her name, Consort Shu, and when I ask them anything, they just keep saying Consort Shu!"
"What a bunch of lackeys! Sooner or later, I'll give them all fifty lashes!"
Yu Mei was rather helpless. Seeing her like this, she was afraid that she would make herself sick from anger, so she raised her hand to soothe Consort Li and advised her:
“Your Highness, even if those people weren’t following Consort Shu, they’ve been following Consort Rou for a long time. Since you’re new here, Consort Shu might have told them beforehand not to talk to you, which is why these scoundrels dared to say all sorts of nonsense to you.”
"Your Majesty, His Majesty has finally given you such a good opportunity to get involved in palace affairs, so you must seize it."
Consort Li glanced at her sideways: "Of course I know, do you need to bring it up?"
Yu Mei lowered her head respectfully, not daring to look into her eyes, and said softly, "Your Majesty, please forgive me."
"Since Consort Shu is busy with matters at the Imperial Hospital, I should naturally offer my assistance."
"Tomorrow, go to the Imperial Hospital and summon the imperial physician in charge of Consort Rou's health to me. I have questions for him."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The next day, Physician Wu entered Consort Li's Jinghua Palace.
Although it was called a question, Consort Li only said a few words of concern before quickly changing the subject.
Physician Wu was a veteran physician in the palace, and his answers were always impeccable. No matter what Consort Li asked, he could always smoothly steer the conversation back to the original topic.
Consort Li secretly slipped him some silver, hoping to find out what Consort Shu was busy with at the Imperial Hospital. She thought she wouldn't get any information, but unexpectedly, Physician Wu hesitated for a moment.
Consort Li's eyes lit up, and she had someone slip another cloth bag into Physician Wu's hand.
"His Majesty has decreed that I assist Consort Shu. How can there be any reason for me to do nothing and for Consort Shu to do all the work?"
"Doctor Wu, don't you think so?"
Physician Wu quietly put away the two cloth bags, cupped his hands in greeting to Consort Li, and said, "Actually, it's nothing serious. It's just that Consort Shu is particularly concerned about Consort Rong's health, which is why she sent people to the Imperial Hospital to inquire about Physician Xu several times."
Consort Li's eyes darkened, but she showed nothing.
She nodded, then asked Physician Wu, "Consort Rong's miscarriage has taken a toll on her health, so she should indeed be more careful. Are Physician Wu and Physician Xu acquainted?"
Physician Wu immediately shook his head and said, "Physician Xu has always been a loner. If we're talking about acquaintances, he's probably more familiar with Physician Deng. I've heard they've even drunk together before."
Hearing this, Consort Li was satisfied and ordered someone to send Physician Wu away.
As soon as the others left, the amiable expression on her face vanished.
Rong Shuyi?
Is Consort Shu investigating Consort Rong's miscarriage?
What's there to investigate? Isn't it just a miscarriage?
It wasn't a miscarriage...?
Consort Li suddenly stood up, grabbed the table beside her, her astonishment barely concealed on her face.
That's impossible. Where would Rong Shuyi get such audacity?
Just to frame a concubine named Zhen Jieyu?
"Your Highness?" Yu Mei entered the palace to change the tea and was startled by Consort Li's reaction, so she called out to her.
Consort Li was brought back to her senses. Upon seeing her, she sat back down in her chair, her initial shock quickly followed by uncontrollable excitement.
No wonder Consort Shu didn't tell her; it turns out she was secretly investigating this kind of thing.
However, the investigation is still ongoing, which means there are no results yet.
If she could find out the truth first and report it to His Majesty, wouldn't that be a recognition of her abilities?
There are so many things to do in the palace, big and small, that Consort Shu can't manage well. It's better to let her take care of them.
If it turns out to be true, then we should just get rid of Rong Shuyi as well. Among the newly entered concubines, she is the most aloof, so let's make sure she can never be aloof again.
It's a pity that she couldn't catch that little bitch Lan Wu in the act. If it were Lan Wu who miscarried, she would have laughed out loud.
Thinking of this, Consort Li felt a pang of regret. That little slut Lan Wu had moved into Yi Lan Palace, and with her running wild in such a huge palace, she was just like a local tyrant. If only someone could be placed there to steal her favor...
A figure flashed through her mind, and Consort Li remained silent.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com