Chapter 226 If it weren't for the Imperial Noble Consort, there wouldn't be any children in the harem yet.
Xiao Yirui is dead.
The news that the former Prince Duan, now a commoner, was killed on the spot for resisting arrest could not be suppressed no matter what.
After entering the Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager fell seriously ill that very night.
This time, it wasn't an act; I was genuinely sick.
Even though the Empress Dowager didn't understand why her favored youngest son would use her to poison the twins, and even though she was extremely angry with Xiao Yirui when she discovered the truth, it didn't mean she wanted him dead!
Despite the best doctors from the Imperial Medical Academy taking turns to treat the Empress Dowager, her illness could not be cured.
The smell of medicine in Cining Palace grew stronger day by day, and the entire harem was immersed in a cautious atmosphere because of the Empress Dowager's serious illness.
Most of the concubines knew that the Empress Dowager's favorite youngest son had died, and the Empress Dowager and the current emperor were still at odds with no sign of improvement.
No one dared to cause trouble during this sensitive time, fearing they would incur bad luck.
News of the Empress Dowager's serious illness due to Xiao Yirui's death inevitably reached the court.
The Golden Palace was solemn and dignified. Ministers lined up on both sides, while Emperor Zhaoheng sat alone on the dragon throne. The distance between them made his imperial aura even more majestic, and the ministers below could hardly see Emperor Zhaoheng's expression.
Today's court assembly, however, was unusually tense.
Several high-ranking officials, dressed in crimson and purple robes and led by Liu Taifu, a member of the Empress's family, stepped forward in turn, each holding a jade tablet.
They spoke earnestly, quoting classical texts and going around in circles, but their only point was to express the same idea.
The emperor requested that Consort Jin, Narcissus, go to Cining Palace to attend to the ailing Empress Dowager.
Grand Tutor Liu had white hair and beard. He rarely spoke in court, but now that he had spoken, he drew the attention of the surrounding high-ranking officials.
"The Empress Dowager is unwell and bedridden, which has caused us great anxiety. His Majesty is busy with many affairs of state and bears the heavy responsibility of the country. He must not venture into dangerous places where he is ill."
Grand Tutor Liu paused, seemingly due to old age and weakness, and took a breath before continuing:
"Her Majesty the Empress is unwell and needs to recuperate. Now, Consort Jin, whose rank is equivalent to that of a secondary empress, assists in managing the six palaces and performs filial duties on behalf of the Emperor and Empress, is duty-bound to fulfill this responsibility both morally and logically!"
Several officials behind him echoed, "This is an act that demonstrates filial piety to the emperor and sets an example for the world!"
There are three levels of filial piety: the highest is to honor one's parents, the next is to not disgrace them, and the lowest is to provide for them.
These court officials hurled one accusation after another, as if if Narcissus did not attend to the ailing concubine, she would be unfilial, unworthy of the title of Imperial Noble Consort.
On the dragon throne, Emperor Zhaoheng's face was ashen as he listened to the sincere or insincere advice from his ministers below, a layer of frost forming in his deep eyes.
He did not immediately lash out, but instead turned his gaze to the newly summoned head of the Imperial Medical Academy.
"Your Excellency, what is the Empress Dowager's condition? Is the diagnosis still clear?"
His voice was calm, yet it carried an invisible pressure.
The head of the Imperial Medical Academy felt a pang of anxiety and quickly stepped forward, bowing as he replied, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager... is still suffering from a cold, with pathogenic factors causing her recurring fever. We are doing our best to determine the appropriate medication..."
Although it was just a common cold, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy was still trembling with fear when facing Emperor Zhaoheng's questioning.
Moreover... although the head of the Imperial Medical Academy did not look in Liu Taifu's direction, he seemed to be able to feel the faint gaze directed at him.
The head of the Imperial Medical Academy immediately lowered his head, feeling caught between them, and even a simple case of wind-evil had become incredibly troublesome!
Emperor Zhaoheng noticed that the head of the Imperial Medical Academy was unconsciously looking in the direction of Grand Tutor Liu, and he understood what was going on.
After a long silence, he finally spoke, his clear voice echoing throughout the hall.
"Imperial Noble Consort Jiang," he deliberately used the full name to show his solemnity, "has made great contributions to the country. She gave birth to my eldest daughter, Yongning, and risked her life to give birth to twin sons, Qingyan and Qinghe, so that the imperial line of our Great Qi could continue. This is an unparalleled achievement, and her hard work and merits are great."
At this point, Emperor Zhaoheng suddenly changed his tone, becoming abruptly stern.
"When she gave birth to twins last year, the Imperial Noble Consort suffered a severe postpartum hemorrhage and nearly died. Her vital energy was greatly depleted. The Imperial Medical Academy consulted with many doctors and they all said that she needed to take good care of herself for a long time, and she should not overwork herself or be exposed to any illness, so as not to damage her foundation and endanger her life!"
His gaze was tangible, coldly fixed on Liu Taifu and the others.
"Today, you all claim to be acting out of filial piety, yet you are actually forcing me to send my meritorious minister and the mother of three imperial heirs, with her frail body, to that dangerous and sickly place? What are your true intentions!"
Emperor Zhaoheng flicked his dragon robe and wide sleeves, his voice growing increasingly cold.
"Do you think that because I am a meritorious official, and also a meritorious official of our Great Qi, you can so easily disregard me and allow me to put you in danger with your empty titles? In your eyes, do you still consider me the emperor? Do you still consider the foundation of the Great Qi state?"
Emperor Zhaoheng's questioning directly elevated the matter of attending to the sick to the level of "shaking the foundation of the country" and "disregarding the emperor"!
Liu Taifu had not expected that Emperor Zhaoheng's protectiveness towards the Imperial Noble Consort would be so remarkable.
Emperor Zhaoheng even went so far as to argue with them in court for the sake of his Imperial Noble Consort.
The officials looked left and right, and they tacitly felt that it was time for them to make their appearance.
But think about it carefully, did the emperor ever disrupt the order of the court for the sake of the imperial concubine?
It seems not.
Was Emperor Zhaoheng's statement unreasonable?
If it weren't for the Imperial Noble Consort, there wouldn't be any children in the harem yet.
As a concubine, her main duty was to bear children for the emperor, and upon reflection, she could indeed be considered to have made great contributions.
In that moment of hesitation, the officials missed the best opportunity.
Emperor Zhaoheng snorted coldly, no longer looking at them. His gaze swept over the civil and military officials, and he said decisively, "Don't mention the matter of attending to the sick again! I will personally send more capable imperial physicians and reliable palace servants to take care of the Empress Dowager."
"Court adjourned!"
Having said that, he turned and stood up, leaving behind a hall full of officials with varying expressions.
The emperor's undisguised and even confrontational defense of Consort Jin, which went so far as to contradict high-ranking officials, swept through the harem like a whirlwind the moment he left court.
The news quickly reached the Palace of Rituals.
Yongning was going to play in the snow in the Imperial Garden today, and Shuixian accompanied him for half an hour before returning. The wet nurse went to give Yongning a bath, and Shuixian came to the side hall to play with the twins on the bed, whose spirits had been improving recently.
Upon hearing Yinzhu's report, her hands paused slightly before resuming their normal movements.
"To attend to someone who is ill..."
She let the wet nurse continue playing with the twins, while she and Eun-joo went to a private room where they could talk.
Shui Xian was not afraid to attend to the Empress Dowager when she was ill. After hearing about the controversy in the court, she remained calm and even began to calmly consider how to arrange palace affairs if she really had to go, how to protect herself in the environment of Cining Palace, and how to take this opportunity to further observe and even control Emperor Zhaoheng.
In her view, there is no question of whether or not to do it, only whether or not it is worth doing.
However, just as her mind was racing, a fragment of memories from her past life, buried deep within her, suddenly crashed into her mind without warning!
Around this time of year, an epidemic broke out in a village a hundred miles outside the capital!
Initially, the symptoms were very similar to those of a cold and high fever, leading to misdiagnosis by doctors. The government deliberately concealed the truth for the sake of political achievements and failed to report it in time, which caused the epidemic to spread rapidly, resulting in many deaths and widespread panic.
It was during this epidemic that Pei Jichuan, in his previous life, stood out with his medical skills, finding a prescription in an unorthodox medical book and improving it.
He was then exceptionally recruited by the Imperial Medical Academy for his outstanding achievements... This was the very time!
The timing was too coincidental; Narcissus couldn't help but think things through.
The persistent fever, despite several days of treatment at the Imperial Hospital, did not lead to recovery... How similar all of this was to the initial characteristics of that epidemic in my memory!
A chill ran from the soles of her feet straight to the top of her head, and Narcissus broke out in a cold sweat.
If she hadn't been reborn, she would have faced a near-death experience if she had actually stepped into the Cining Palace this time!
Shui Xian pursed her lips and remained silent, then carefully inquired of Yin Zhu what had happened at the previous court that day.
When Yinzhu mentioned that the leader was Grand Tutor Liu, Shuixian couldn't help but think of the Empress, who was currently confined to Kunning Palace...
Perhaps none of this is a coincidence.
It's most likely a trap set for her!
——
On the same day, in Kunning Palace.
Although she was under house arrest in effect, the Empress was still the Empress, and her network of communication within the palace had not been severed.
The Empress leaned against the soft pillows on her throne, listening to her trusted maidservant report in a low voice that her father had already launched an attack in the court. A cold and triumphant smile slowly appeared on her slightly pale face.
"very good……"
Her voice was low and hoarse, carrying a chilling excitement.
"Go, burn all the anti-epidemic herbs such as mugwort stored in our palace storeroom for me every day. Be careful to dispose of the burned items carefully, and make sure no one sees them."
She paused, a deep calculation flowing in her eyes.
"Send a message to those outside, tell them to add fuel to the fire, contact those officials who have always disliked the Imperial Noble Consort, and have them submit more memorials! We must force that wretched woman to step into the Cining Palace..."
The Empress felt a surge of pleasure whenever she thought that Narcissus would contract the terrible plague under her arrangement.
Fearing that Narcissus might not fall for the trap, the Empress summoned her confidante and whispered a few words in her ear, making the entire plan even more detailed.
Narcissus...she can't escape!
——
The turmoil in the imperial court seemed to have temporarily subsided with Emperor Zhaoheng's strong defense of Shui Xian.
Inside the Lihe Palace, Shui Xian's alarm did not subside even after learning how Emperor Zhaoheng had defended her in court.
If the Empress's plan fails, she must have other tricks up her sleeve.
Moreover, if the Empress Dowager had indeed contracted the plague rather than a common cold, then her remaining in the palace would pose a huge hidden danger.
As she was deep in thought, pondering how to subtly alert Emperor Zhaoheng to the unusual epidemic outside the palace and the Empress Dowager's condition without revealing her secret of rebirth, Yinzhu hurried in again, reporting with a somewhat strange expression:
"Your Majesty, I have just learned that Consort Wan, Noble Lady Huang, and two other lower-ranking concubines, perhaps in order to impress the Emperor, have taken the initiative to request from Her Majesty the Empress to take turns going to Cining Palace to attend to the Empress Dowager during her illness!"
Upon hearing this, Narcissus felt a sudden sinking feeling in her heart!
broken!
These women, so eager to win favor, have no idea what kind of dangerous and dangerous place they are about to step into!
Once the plague spread among the concubines, it then spread further...
The consequences would be unimaginable!
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