Chapter 230 Trump Card
She showed leniency in front of the entire court, not because she wanted to spare her life, but because she didn't want to be remembered as someone who "disregarded kinship and harmed her sister."
As long as she dies in this cold palace or on the way to Qianzhou, and is given a name like "died of illness" or "accident" by outsiders, Li Yuanzhao can both get rid of her as a "hidden danger" and leave behind a good reputation for "benevolence and kindness".
Thinking of this, Li Yuanshu trembled even more violently.
She originally thought she could endure the cold and loneliness of the cold palace and survive until the day she went to Qianzhou.
But now she realizes that she didn't even have the chance to live to see the spring.
Every bite of food and every sip of water in this cold palace could contain deadly poison.
She was nothing more than an ant that Li Yuanzhao could crush at any moment.
Just as she said before, "Wait and see when I'll come back to take your life."
The young palace maid gripped Li Yuanshu's arm tightly, her voice trembling uncontrollably, "Third Princess, what should we do? Should we...should we tell His Highness the Crown Prince?"
The fear in Li Yuanshu's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a resolute look.
Since Li Yuanzhao was determined to kill her, she didn't want to grant his wish.
Anyway, she's already in this situation, how much worse can she get?
At worst, she'll just die, but before she dies, she might just drag Li Yuanzhao down with her!
Besides, she wasn't completely out of cards.
Physician Lin!
Back when she watched Physician Lin take her father's pulse in his palace, she felt that something was off about him.
He was clearly a man, yet he had a handsome face.
Especially her hands, which were fair, slender, and with distinct joints, even more beautiful than the hands of the most pampered empresses in the palace.
At that time, she and Zheng Xiang carefully examined her medication but found nothing unusual about the prescription or the dregs.
It wasn't until later, when she secretly sent someone to follow Physician Lin for nearly a month, that she discovered the truth.
This Physician Lin is actually a woman!
Why would a woman disguise herself as a man to infiltrate the Imperial Hospital?
It is possible that men, including the emperor, naturally distrusted women's medical skills, which led them to resort to this desperate measure.
But then she thought, Li Yuanzhao was by no means a kind-hearted person, how could she possibly sincerely invite famous doctors to treat her father's illness?
Perhaps she had long wished for her father to die sooner, just as she herself had wished for his early demise.
The Emperor's health condition over the past few months is the best evidence of this.
He had only been suffering from a headache before, yet he was still able to handle state affairs.
However, ever since Physician Lin entered the palace to attend to the sick, although his headaches have been relieved, his health has deteriorated day by day. From initially vomiting blood and fainting, to later being bedridden and unable to be cured by medicine, he is now almost ready to be buried.
Such a rapid decline is by no means ordinary.
Although they found nothing unusual in the Emperor's daily medications, they did find a large quantity of medicinal herbs used to make poison in Physician Lin's room.
Many of them are rare items unique to southern Xinjiang.
Therefore, she had already concluded in her heart that this Imperial Physician Lin was actually a witch doctor that Li Yuanzhao had found in the southern border, with only one purpose: to secretly poison her father so that she could seize the throne as soon as possible.
As for why she remained silent at the banquet that night, it was because she hadn't expected that Li Yuanzhao would spare her life.
She knew that if she exposed the matter on the spot, she would die immediately, so she might as well endure it for the time being and save her life first.
But things are different now.
Since Li Yuanzhao has already made up his mind to kill her, why should she bother to cover up this crime of "patricide" for her?
But now that she's imprisoned here, how can she get the message out?
At this moment, she looked at the little palace maid who looked worried.
Now, she's the only one who can help me pass on messages.
Thinking of this, a look of shame suddenly appeared on her face.
"There's something I'd like to ask you for a favor. Could you please pass on a message to someone for me?"
The young palace maid nodded eagerly in agreement, "Of course, Third Princess! Who would you like to contact?"
"Don't rush to agree." Li Yuanshu gently pressed her hand, his tone becoming serious. "This matter might be dangerous, and it could even implicate you."
The young palace maid did not back down in the slightest. "Third Princess, you are my savior. If it weren't for you, I would have died long ago! Even if there is danger, I am not afraid."
"When I saved you that day, it was just a casual remark; it's hardly a favor."
Li Yuanshu interrupted her, his tone unusually serious, "You must remember that your own life is the most important thing. Don't risk your life for this little favor."
The young palace maid pursed her lips, but still stubbornly shook her head: "Third Princess, this is no small matter. You are in such a difficult situation now, and I feel at ease if I can help. Don't worry, I will be careful and will never cause you any trouble."
Upon hearing this, Li Yuanshu's eyes reddened slightly.
Just then, there was a light knock on the door, followed by a guard's gruff voice urging them on from outside.
"Are you done yet? Don't waste any more time!"
Li Yuanshu stopped worrying, leaned slightly closer to her ear, and whispered the instructions in a voice only the two of them could hear.
After saying that, she solemnly instructed, "It would be best if you could deliver the message, but it's okay if you can't. I will never blame you. Do what you can, and don't push yourself too hard, understand?"
The young palace maid nodded vigorously, glanced at Li Yuanshu one last time, and then picked up her basket and left.
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