Chapter 116 Be careful, Empress!
Narcissus doesn't care about romance, but she likes to poke at Ruan Huan's heart.
In her past life, Ruan Huan's bowl of "pregnancy-stabilizing medicine" almost caused her to lose both her and her unborn child, and the assassin she hired later caused Yin Zhu to die in her arms.
This time, Ruan Huan first failed to persuade her to leave her mother and keep her son, then fabricated various charges against her regarding her relationship with Prince Duan, not to mention that she ordered someone to poison the food in the Cold Palace...
Ruan Huan's numerous misdeeds are too many to list!
Now, seeing the hope in Ruan Huan's eyes shatter inch by inch, Shui Xian felt no pity, only coldness.
Ruan Huan's love was indeed pure, but because of her self-proclaimed "love," how many innocent souls died unjustly in the deep palace?
Seeing that the time was almost right, Shui Xian took out a gold hairpin from her sleeve and placed it next to Ruan Huan.
When Ruan Huan saw the familiar twin lotus hairpin, her pupils suddenly contracted.
His gaze was fixed on the pair of flowers in the hairpin. Suddenly, he reached out his hand, as if a drowning person had grasped at the last straw, and held it tightly in his hand.
This hairpin... was personally placed in her hair by Emperor Zhaoheng...
As Shui Xian watched Ruan Huan caress the hairpin, a hint of tenderness flickered in her eyes, and she whispered:
"Once you've seen the ocean, other waters seem insignificant; once you've seen the clouds of Wushan, other clouds seem pale in comparison... Everything in this world that you've seen the best of has become dull and insignificant."
These words struck a chord with Ruan Huan.
yes.
I remember when she first entered the Crown Prince's residence, as the Crown Prince's concubine, she was the only one favored, and even the Crown Prince's principal wife had to avoid her.
Once upon a time, as the legitimate daughter of the Ruan family and the crown prince's favorite concubine, she lived a life of unparalleled glory and had a bright future ahead of her.
now......
Ruan Huan clutched the gold hairpin tightly, but the cold, lifeless object could not warm her heart, which had been parched for many years.
For three years, the emperor had been childless. She watched as the harem became overflowing with young women in the prime of their lives, like wild grass in spring, impossible to eradicate completely.
She was all alone; the favor she received had faded, and her beauty was fading...
Ruan Huan suddenly felt that none of this mattered. She gripped the tattered sheet beneath her and suddenly looked up at the narcissus.
"Keep a close eye on me, or my today will be your tomorrow!"
Seeing the tears welling up in Ruan Huan's eyes, Shui Xian suddenly stepped forward and, under Xiao Lizi's wary gaze, raised her hand to wipe away the glistening tears on Ruan Huan's cheeks.
Under Ruan Huan's slightly stunned gaze, Shui Xian said nothing.
She only glanced at Ruan Huan one last time, as if she had only brought Ruan Huan the hairpin.
Narcissus didn't linger any longer and turned to leave.
As she took a step, Ruan Huan suddenly grabbed her hand that was hanging by her side.
"Watch out...the Empress!"
Narcissus paused, but still didn't turn around.
Then Ruan Huan said in a hoarse voice, "I had someone poison her for a long time. According to the dosage, she should have died long ago!"
Ruan Huan poisoned the Empress?!
Narcissus frowned and turned to look into Ruan Huan's lifeless eyes.
Ruan Huan showed no remorse when she mentioned ordering the poisoning. "I am the Emperor's most favored woman. I should be the Empress. What right does she have to occupy my position!"
"But... she hasn't died all these years, even after I had the dosage increased!"
Narcissus's heart was inevitably stirred.
This was something she was learning for the first time!
In both her past and present lives, she had no idea that Ruan Huan had actually ordered someone to poison the Empress!
She asked Ruan Huan, "Is the Empress's illness caused by your poison?"
Ruan Huan achieved her goal. Looking at the eagerness that finally appeared in Shui Xian's eyes, she slightly curled her lips and revealed a mischievous smile.
Ruan Huan did not answer Shui Xian's question. She simply gripped the golden hairpin with the twin lotus blossoms tightly and slowly leaned back onto the couch.
"Cough cough... If I were you, I would never hand over my own flesh and blood to that poisonous woman!"
Narcissus slowly clenched her fists at her sides, her gaze gradually turning cold. "What exactly do you know?"
Ruan Huan shook her head and closed her eyes, as if she had returned to the lifeless, withered appearance that Shui Xian had left behind.
Narcissus knew she wouldn't get any more information out of her.
Ruan Huan's last words, seemingly a reminder to her, were actually a form of retaliation.
She quickly left the side hall where Ruan Huan was being held, accompanied by Xiao Lizi.
The guards breathed a sigh of relief when they saw her emerge safely, as they had been fearing that something might have happened to the emperor's favorite concubine in the cold palace.
Shui Xian had Xiao Lizi give each of the people on duty some reward money, and then she did not stay in the Cold Palace for long.
After leaving the cold palace, Narcissus looked back at the dilapidated and gloomy palace, called over Little Riko, and whispered a few words to him.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Lizi nodded slightly, then leaped up the high palace wall and hid behind the withered branches of the locust tree. Her dusty eunuch uniform blended seamlessly with the withered branches.
He moved so lightly, like a ghost, that even the guards couldn't detect his presence.
After arranging everything, Narcissus slowly walked along the palace path and left the Cold Palace...
......
At dinner time, Emperor Zhaoheng came to Yongle Palace to keep Shui Xian company.
Today is the fifteenth of the lunar month, and according to palace rules, Emperor Zhaoheng will spend the night at Kunning Palace.
Thinking of Kunning Palace, a thoughtful look flashed across Shui Xian's eyes.
Since returning from the Cold Palace, Ruan Huan's words had been swirling in her mind all afternoon.
Ruan Huan was foolish. His confidante Fang Fei had already been executed. Perhaps the Empress had already discovered Ruan Huan's poisoning and secretly took precautions or even found an antidote.
In her previous life, she never received any official rank, her status was low, and her child was taken by Yi Guichun. She also had little interaction with the Empress.
When she was pregnant with Yongning in this life, Ruan Huan, who was then a concubine, was eyeing her covetously, attempting to get rid of her and keep the child.
She voluntarily handed Yongning over to the Empress for upbringing in order to seek protection.
I never imagined... that the Empress had hidden such depths!
Yongning was a piece of her flesh that she had carried for ten months, and she absolutely could not risk Yongning's life!
During the meal, as Emperor Zhaoheng served her food, Shui Xian casually mentioned, "Your Majesty, I have now returned to Yongle Palace, and my health has stabilized somewhat..."
"I miss Yongning terribly, and I can't rest easy day and night. Perhaps... we should bring Yongning back from Kunning Palace?"
She is now a Noble Consort, while Yongning is a princess. There's no question of her being of humble birth and unable to teach the Crown Prince...
Only then did Narcissus dare to suggest during the banquet that she bring the princess back.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Zhaoheng put down his silver chopsticks. "The Empress has taken excellent care of Yongning, treating her as her own daughter. I have seen it all."
"It's been cold lately, and Yongning has been feeling unwell recently. Moving around at this time is not advisable for the child."
During this period, Yongning caught a cold. Whenever Emperor Zhaoheng went to Kunning Palace to see the child, he would often see the Empress taking care of the child by the cradle without taking off her clothes.
He always thought of the child they had lost young, and couldn't bear to take Yongning away from the Empress.
Emperor Zhaoheng knew that Shui Xian was always sensible and would surely understand him.
He looked at Narcissus with tenderness, "If you miss her, you can visit her at Kunning Palace often."
"Your most important task now is to take good care of your health and give birth to a healthy son for me safely. That is the most important thing."
As he spoke, he gently stroked her lower abdomen with his large hand, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Shui Xian's heart sank as she understood the deeper meaning behind the Emperor's words.
He didn't want her to be brought back to Yongning from Kunning Palace!
Narcissus pondered for a moment, and finally a gentle smile appeared on her face.
"Your Majesty is right. I was so eager to see my daughter that I didn't think things through... With Her Majesty the Empress taking such good care of me, I am naturally at ease."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Feng Shunxiang, who was not supposed to be on duty that night, strode in.
He first paid his respects to the emperor and his concubines, then came to Emperor Zhaoheng's side and whispered a few words to him.
Shui Xian didn't hear the specifics, but she saw Emperor Zhaoheng's expression change slightly, his brows furrowing as he said to Shui Xian:
"There are some urgent matters that I need to attend to."
"Xian'er, eat your meal properly and get some rest."
Having said that, he stood up and left Yongle Palace with slightly hurried steps.
Shortly after Emperor Zhaoheng left, a figure strode into the hall.
The person's footsteps were extremely light, and they came and went silently. It was none other than Xiao Lizi, who had been left by Shui Xian to keep watch outside the Cold Palace.
He knelt on one knee, his voice extremely low: "Your Majesty, in the Cold Palace... Consort Ruan committed suicide on the roof beam with a rope made from a tattered bed sheet."
Narcissus paused slightly in her hand holding the spoon, then resumed her normal posture as if she had only heard about something trivial.
Xiao Lizi continued, "As Your Majesty instructed, I carefully observed the movements in the room where Consort Ruan was. Since Your Majesty left, no one has entered."
"And this gold hairpin... When Consort Ruan died, she was clutching this hairpin tightly."
He took out the golden hairpin with twin lotus blossoms from his bosom and presented it with both hands.
Narcissus's gaze fell on the gold hairpin, a cold look of disgust flashing in her eyes.
She didn't take it, but simply instructed, "Tinglu, register this hairpin, along with the excessive amount of jewelry and ornaments recently sent by the Imperial Household Department, and send them back to the Imperial Household Department."
"Just say that I am currently pregnant and do not like extravagance. I wish to put these worldly possessions into the imperial treasury to prepare for the palace's occasional needs."
Tinglu immediately bowed and replied, "Yes, this servant will take care of it right away."
She stepped forward, took the gold hairpin, bowed, and withdrew.
The flickering candlelight inside the hall illuminated Narcissus's calm and serene face.
Ruan Huan's death will not bring complete peace to the harem.
The Empress Dowager, waiting for her chance; the Empress, biding her time; and Yi Guichun, who was raised in Changxin Palace and is now protected by the Empress Dowager's people...
She gently stroked her lower abdomen, her eyes reflecting the swaying light and shadow.
The most urgent task is...
She had to bring Yongning back...
......
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