Chapter 110 A mother's status rises with her son's, but a son's status also rises with his mother's.
The daily morning and evening greetings were held as usual in the Kunning Palace.
In the depths of winter, even the sunlight seemed to grow weaker, and the rays that shone through the windows were not as warm as the charcoal brazier in the center of the hall.
It is currently winter, and the Queen has bestowed this special favor upon us.
Lower-ranking concubines were not required to pay their respects daily; twice a month, on the first and fifteenth of each month, was sufficient.
Even concubines of the rank of Consort or above still had to come to the Empress's presence every day to receive her personal instructions.
The Empress sat upright in the main seat, her demeanor still dignified and graceful, but a hint of weariness inevitably showed in her eyes.
Consort Wan, being perceptive, asked first, "Your Majesty the Empress seems somewhat tired today. Is she unwell?"
The Empress smiled slightly and raised her hand to touch her forehead: "You're too kind, Consort Wan... I'm fine, but Yongning cried a bit last night and didn't sleep well, so I stayed up a little late with her."
Upon hearing this, Consort Wan and the others immediately echoed, "Her Majesty the Empress has a kind heart; she is truly a blessing to the Princess."
Consort Li, sitting at the back, scoffed softly upon hearing this, "The court and the public are currently arguing endlessly about Princess Yongning's identity. It's uncertain whether she can even retain her title as princess."
She gently stroked the twin lotus hairpin in her hair, looking at the Empress above with a half-smile.
"Your Majesty is putting in so much effort now. What if in the future... wouldn't all that hard work have been for nothing? In my opinion, it would be better to save your energy."
Consort Li recently heard that Emperor Zhaoheng had been frequently visiting Kunning Palace because Yongning was ill, and she was filled with jealousy and resentment, which also made her feel disgusted with that child.
Especially when she thought that Yongning's birth mother was that lowly maid... she felt that child was an eyesore!
Upon hearing this, Consort De couldn't help but frown and rebuke, "Princess Yongning is the Emperor's own flesh and blood. How dare you make such unfounded speculations and utter such malicious words? You really are..."
Before she could finish speaking, the Empress raised her hand to interrupt her.
The Empress spoke gently, stopping the impending conflict: "Alright, we're all sisters, why argue over a few words?"
Her gaze swept over everyone, as if it were a warning from the Empress, or a persuasion from a sister.
"That one in the Cold Palace...is deeply in love with the Emperor. We sisters have all witnessed what happened in the past."
"How could Yongning not be the Emperor's flesh and blood? Such nonsense is nothing but the work of certain people in the court with ulterior motives."
She sighed, "Just like Consort Yi, who is still being cared for in Changxin Palace, no one is perfect, who can be without fault?"
"As long as you sincerely repent in the cold palace, you may one day be able to return to the harem."
The Empress looked at everyone and said with utmost sincerity, "If the one in the Cold Palace truly has a day of return, I will personally send Yongning back to her side and fulfill their wish for a mother-daughter reunion."
Consort De and the others rose and flattered, "Your Majesty the Empress is so magnanimous!"
Only Consort Li managed a forced smile, but a deep thought flashed quickly in her eyes.
Yes, if we really wait for that lowly maid to return to the harem, wouldn't that be...
Consort Li gripped the corner of the table tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force.
The empress, who had ascended to the throne, noticed her unusual behavior, gave a slight smile, and then looked away...
......
After the morning audience, Consort Li returned to Zhaoyang Palace.
The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became... What if Narcissus really had a chance to turn things around...?
"Chi Xia!"
She immediately summoned her trusted maid to the inner room and asked anxiously, "That Bao Xiaohuai has been dead for several days now, so why is that bitch Shuixian still alive and well in the Cold Palace?!"
"Did you actually lay a hand on me or not?!"
Seeing her agitated expression, Chi Xia cautiously replied, "Your Majesty, please calm down. Bao Xiaohuai has only recently died. If things continue to happen in the Cold Palace, it might arouse suspicion."
"This servant is thinking, perhaps we should postpone it for a few days..."
"Slow down? If we slow down any further, are we really going to wait until she seduces the Emperor again?!"
Consort Li slammed her hand on the table and decisively declared, "We must act as soon as possible!"
She didn't care whether it was obvious or not; all she wanted to do was kill Narcissus immediately.
A ruthless glint flashed in Consort Li's eyes. "I don't care what methods you use, hurry up!"
"Yes! This servant understands!"
Chi Xia's heart skipped a beat, and she dared not persuade him any further. She quickly bowed and agreed.
——
In the cold palace, Narcissus's days were much more peaceful than when she was in the harem.
A few days ago, she discovered that she could bribe the guards with money to bring in some clean and nutritious dishes.
Fortunately, she had brought enough money with her when she left Yongle Palace. Now she used some of it to bribe the guards, who have been sending her food for almost half a month.
I bought extra narcissus and had Xiao Lizi deliver some of the food to Consort Liu's side every now and then.
Consort Liu never commented on this, neither saying it was good nor bad, but she accepted every meal that was sent to her.
Shui Xian always felt that Consort Liu was unfathomable and someone worth befriending. Therefore, even though the other party was cold, she still insisted that Xiao Lizi deliver vegetables every day to show goodwill.
That day, as usual, Shui Xian went to the entrance of the Cold Palace to receive the food box from the eunuch.
Just as she was walking back, a young palace maid who came to clean the Cold Palace hurriedly walked past her with her head down.
The palace maid seemed to lose her footing and bumped into her lightly.
In the instant they brushed past each other, Narcissus vaguely heard the palace maid utter two words in a voice barely audible:
"poisonous!"
Shui Xian felt a sudden chill and instinctively turned to look at the palace maid. She saw that the maid was only a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl, dressed in the lowest-ranking palace maid's dress.
The young palace maid glanced at her, said nothing, and then turned and ran away.
Narcissus showed no emotion, quickly carrying the food box back to her place, and told Xiaolizi what had happened.
Xiao Lizi turned and went out. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he had caught a mouse in each hand.
Narcissus set aside a little of the newly delivered food and fed it to the mice.
She not only checked her own copy, but also the copy she was going to give to Consort Liu.
In a short while, the two rats convulsed and collapsed to the ground, foaming at the mouth, and soon stopped moving!
It really is poisonous!
And it's quite toxic!
She immediately sent Xiao Lizi to Consort Liu's residence to subtly inquire whether the meals sent to her recently had been unusual.
Soon, Xiao Lizi brought back news that Consort Liu was safe and sound.
This means... the poison was just administered today.
Narcissus's eyes flickered slightly, and she instructed Riko to bury the poisoned rats and the poisoned food.
After Xiaolizi finished doing all this, she returned with the coarse food that was regularly distributed in the Cold Palace. She carefully checked it before handing the food to Shuixian with peace of mind.
"Your Majesty, please inform the Emperor about the poisoning..."
Such a potent poison can be prevented once or twice, but if one fails to prevent it, even a single instance can be fatal!
"Wait a little longer."
Narcissus called out to him, recalling the little palace maid she had met earlier that day who had given her a warning.
"Before informing the Emperor, we need to obtain solid evidence."
"We still don't know who poisoned them, or whose master they were following orders... Let's not alert them yet."
She instructed Xiao Lizi to have the guard deliver the dishes as usual the next day, as if nothing had happened.
The next day, it was time to serve dinner again.
When Narcissus came to collect her food again, she noticed her surroundings and, sure enough, saw the little palace maid who had warned her yesterday, pretending to wipe the pillars in the distance.
Xiao Lizi had already been lying in ambush nearby. Shui Xian raised her head, gave Xiao Lizi on the eaves a look, and then took the food back to her room.
Xiao Lizi understood and, taking advantage of the brief gap during the guard's shift change, quietly crossed the high wall and approached the little palace maid.
Before he could react, they quickly subdued him, covered his mouth, and took him back to Narcissus.
The entire process was conducted without making much noise.
After the palace doors closed, Xiao Lizi threw the little palace maid into the center of the palace.
Although the young palace maid's face showed panic, she did not struggle too violently. Her eyes were clear as she knelt on the ground and looked up at the narcissus standing in front of her.
Narcissus lowered her eyes, looking at the kneeling palace maid. "Who are you? Why did you warn me that the food was poisoned?"
The young palace maid immediately bowed and said, "This servant, Tinglu, said that the other day when I was on duty, I inadvertently saw Sister Chixia, who was by Consort Li's side, making contact with a guard who was delivering vegetables to the Cold Palace, and slipping him some money."
"I became suspicious, so I secretly followed her for a while and found that Sister Chi Xia then went to the Imperial Kitchen and had a long private conversation with a junior steward there."
Tinglu, with her clear logic, said, "This servant recalls that Your Highness has been having the guards deliver extra dishes recently, and I suspect that they are probably trying to tamper with your food to harm you."
"This servant is of low status and has no power to stop you directly, so I can only risk reminding Your Highness."
After hearing this, Shui Xian did not show any emotion. Instead, she calmly asked, "Where do you usually work? How did you notice Chi Xia's movements at Zhaoyang Palace?"
Upon hearing this, Tinglu stiffened. "This servant was originally a cleaning maid near Kunning Palace."
Shui Xian winked at Xiao Li Zi, who, with a blank expression, instantly grabbed Ting Lu by the neck.
Tinglu was suddenly grabbed by the neck, and her face turned slightly red.
She heard Shui Xian's voice was extremely low, "Kunning Palace and Zhaoyang Palace are not close at all... Who exactly sent you! Speak!"
"This servant...this servant was not sent by anyone!"
Hearing Lu's words with difficulty, she couldn't help but reach out and pat Xiao Lizi's hand.
However, no matter how much she pleaded, Shui Xian did not let Xiao Lizi let go. A hint of fear flashed in Ting Lu's eyes, and she finally told the truth.
"That day, Princess Yongning had a high fever, and His Majesty stayed in Kunning Palace all night... This servant realized His Majesty's care for the princess..."
Upon hearing that Yongning had a high fever, Shuixian gestured for Xiaolizi to let go.
After releasing Tinglu, Tinglu ignored the pain in her neck and kowtowed heavily to Shuixian.
"It is said that a mother's status rises with her son's, but a son's status also rises with his mother's... His Majesty has clearly not forgotten Your Majesty!"
"This servant does not desire immediate benefits. I only ask that if Your Majesty regains Your Majesty's favor in the future, you may give this servant a chance to realize my ambitions and escape my lowly fate!"
"Tinglu begs Your Majesty... please give Tinglu a chance to serve you!"
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