Chapter 126 Poisoning
Princess Duan's face turned pale when Emperor Zhaoheng called her name in public.
Inside the palace, the sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air, but upon hearing the anger in Emperor Zhaoheng's voice, all the noblewomen and concubines around them turned to look at Princess Duan.
Princess Duan rose from her seat and walked respectfully to the throne, forcing herself to remain calm.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I... I misspoke. I was just reminded of some old things by the lively banquet. I had no other intention. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Emperor Zhaoheng's gaze was cold. He looked down at Princess Duanqin, letting her kneel down, and did not immediately tell her to get up.
The emperor's silence prompted the musicians nearby to stop playing, and the hall immediately quieted down.
"Old stories?"
Emperor Zhaoheng spoke slowly in the silence, his voice slightly cold, but clear enough for everyone to hear in the quiet hall.
"Some old stories are better left unresolved."
"Consort Jin's management of palace affairs was entrusted to her by the Empress during her illness, and I agree with it. She has done her best and strived for perfection so that I, the royal family members, and the ministers could have a good New Year... I have seen her good intentions."
"Princess Consort Duan, what do you think?"
After all, Princess Duan was a noblewoman, so Emperor Zhaoheng could not criticize her too harshly.
However, Emperor Zhaoheng's words, though seemingly plain, were actually quite a warning.
He reiterated that Narcissus was now organizing the New Year's Eve banquet because the Queen was frail and ill, not because she was usurping power.
Princess Duan lowered her head even further, feeling extremely ashamed, and said, "Your Majesty is right. It was I who was confused and spoke out of turn... Consort Jin is virtuous and capable. She was very thoughtful in every aspect of today's banquet. I admire her greatly."
Prince Duan also rose from his seat and stepped forward, saying, "Your Majesty, please calm down. It is my fault for not teaching her well. The New Year's Eve banquet is the result of Consort Jin's hard work, and we must not let my wife spoil everyone's enjoyment."
He was so elegant and self-reproachful that it was hard to blame him any further.
Emperor Zhaoheng nodded slightly, glanced at Prince Duan and his wife, and said coldly:
"Good to know. Get up. It's New Year's Eve today, don't spoil everyone's fun."
Princess Duan thanked the emperor and rose to return to her seat, her face filled with shame, her steps unsteady as if she had no roots.
However, in a corner unseen by anyone, a cold sneer flashed quickly beneath her lowered eyelids.
Through the noisy crowd, she glanced at Narcissus, who sat at the head of the table, dressed in fine clothes and radiant with beauty.
Princess Duan recalled the Empress's instructions from some time ago, and she lowered her eyes to hide the coldness in them.
Let you be happy for a little longer, because the Empress's arrangements are already in place. This is probably your last moment of glory!
The banquet continued, the music started again, and the lively atmosphere seemed to return.
Shui Xian sat beside Emperor Zhaoheng and heard his defense clearly.
Narcissus could feel the envious or jealous glances directed at her from below.
For a concubine, to receive the Emperor's public defense in a public setting was an extremely prestigious thing, representing the Emperor's favor towards her.
However, Narcissus felt little moved at this moment; instead, she became somewhat cautious.
Princess Duan deliberately mentioned the late Imperial Noble Consort, her intentions were truly sinister!
The late emperor's concubine was once the emperor's favorite, but she was convicted for interfering in politics and living a life of extravagance, and ended up in a tragic state.
Princess Duan's comparison of her to the late Imperial Noble Consort was simply an attempt to leave a shadow in the Emperor's mind that she resembled the late Imperial Noble Consort.
Narcissus knew that if this matter was not resolved now, it would surely backfire later.
She came to Emperor Zhaoheng's side, took the silver chopsticks from the eunuch beside her, and personally served Emperor Zhaoheng his meal in a soft voice.
"Your Majesty, please try this. It's a new recipe from the Imperial Kitchen. Fresh vegetables are simmered in broth, making it refreshing and not greasy."
Emperor Zhaoheng used it, and then immediately granted her a seat next to him.
Shui Xian did not suddenly mention the late Imperial Concubine, but instead brought up the topic from today's New Year's Eve banquet: "Did Your Majesty find today's program satisfactory?"
Her voice was gentle. "Considering the recent snow disaster in Huaixi, I have arranged the program to be small and exquisite, so that the money saved can be used for disaster relief and helping the people."
"Your Majesty, what did you think of Tuoba's Whirlwind Dance just now?"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Zhaoheng's gaze fell on her beautiful profile, and then he looked at the harmonious scene at the banquet.
When he heard her mention the palace banquet today, and thought of how well she had handled palace affairs recently, the turmoil in his heart caused by the Princess Consort Duan's mention of the late Imperial Noble Consort subsided slightly.
Yes, Xian'er's style of doing things is simple and pragmatic, which is completely different from the extravagant and domineering nature of the late imperial concubine in my memory.
His expression softened unconsciously, and he nodded in approval, saying, "Very good."
"Thank you for your trouble, Xian'er. Everything is fine today."
Emperor Zhaoheng held her hand holding the chopsticks, his clear brows softening as he leaned close to her ear and whispered that she should eat more.
Narcissus nodded with a smile, her eyes revealing a clear and unmistakable affection.
The audience witnessed the tender interaction between the Emperor and Empress, each with their own thoughts and intentions.
No matter how much those present may disdain Narcissus's background, they must now admit that Consort Jin enjoys the Emperor's favor and her position is secure.
Consort Wan, sitting below Consort De, covered her mouth and whispered to Consort De, seemingly standing up for Consort De.
"They're both imperial concubines, so why is my elder sister so calm and collected, while a little maid who came later has stolen the limelight?"
Consort De paused slightly with her silver chopsticks, then casually picked up a piece of food.
Her eyes remained calm and unwavering, as if she hadn't heard Consort Wan's words and was completely uninterested in the power struggles and favors before her.
Although she was a concubine like Narcissus, she was like a jade Buddha enshrined on an altar, never vying for anything, as if she had already renounced all emotions and desires.
Seeing that her attempt to stir up trouble had failed, Consort Wan pouted in displeasure and returned to her seat.
On the steps, just as Shui Xian and Emperor Zhao Heng were chatting happily about the anecdotes that had happened at the New Year's Eve banquet, Feng Shunxiang, who had left sometime earlier, suddenly rushed over.
He moved almost silently around to the throne and reported in a low voice:
"Your Majesty, an urgent report has arrived from Kunning Palace: Princess Yongning has suddenly developed a high fever, and the situation is quite critical. Her Majesty the Empress requests your immediate presence."
Although he spoke in a low voice, Shui Xian, who was sitting next to Emperor Zhaoheng, heard everything clearly.
"Yongning?"
Emperor Zhaoheng's smile faded slightly, and a hint of worry flashed in his eyes as he turned to look at Feng Shunxiang.
Shui Xian's heart tightened, and she subconsciously gripped the sleeve of Emperor Zhaoheng's dragon robe, urgently asking Feng Shunxiang, "Has the imperial physician been summoned?"
Feng Shunxiang nodded. "The imperial physicians have already gone, including Physician Pei."
He seemed to know what Narcissus wanted to ask, and spoke up in advance.
Emperor Zhaoheng was naturally going, and when she saw him get up to leave, Shui Xian instinctively wanted to follow him.
However......
As soon as she stood up, she noticed countless eyes on her from below the stage, people whispering among themselves, and the banquet became somewhat chaotic for a moment.
no.
Tonight's New Year's Eve banquet is a grand and important event in the palace.
With the Empress Dowager and Empress absent, and now the Emperor about to leave, how will this grand banquet end if she departs now?
Emperor Zhaoheng also realized this.
He pressed down on Shui Xian's slightly cool hand and said in a low voice very quickly, "Xian'er, you stay here and stabilize the situation. I'll go see Yongning first."
"Don't worry, with the imperial physician here, nothing will happen."
Narcissus, concerned for her daughter, nodded gently and watched as the Emperor rose and quickly followed Feng Shunxiang away.
Narcissus returned to her seat, trying to maintain a smile, and instructed the musicians to play, signaling for the banquet to continue.
However, her heart had already gone to Kunning Palace with Emperor Zhaoheng.
Since the beginning of winter, Yongning has been plagued by minor illnesses. Why has he developed a fever now?
When the banquet had settled down a bit, Shui Xian quietly called Ting Lu to her side and whispered, "Go to Kun Ning Palace quickly. If there's any movement, come back and report to me immediately."
"yes."
Tinglu nodded, clearly having heard the news of Princess Yongning's high fever at Kunning Palace, and left the banquet in small steps.
Narcissus waited anxiously, her mind preoccupied with her daughter in Kunning Palace. Even the most delicious dishes tasted like wax to her mouth.
As time passed, not only did Emperor Zhaoheng not return, but Tinglu also disappeared without a trace.
Shui Xian was even more worried. It was New Year's Eve, and the Emperor was staying at Kunning Palace, which showed that Yongning was seriously ill.
After finally waiting for the New Year's Eve banquet to end, Shui Xian did not engage in any extra social activities, and did not even bother to have the noblewomen come forward to pay their respects.
She gave only a few hurried instructions before leaving the palace banquet and walking quickly toward Kunning Palace.
Not long after, Shui Xian encountered not Ting Lu on the way, but Feng Shunxiang, who had just left with the Emperor.
Upon seeing her, Feng Shunxiang stepped forward with a solemn expression and stopped her, bowing and whispering, "Your Highness, the Emperor requests that you go to Kunning Palace immediately."
The unease in Narcissus's heart suddenly intensified: "Eunuch Feng, is it the princess...?"
Feng Shunxiang respectfully replied:
"You'll know when the Imperial Concubine arrives."
Narcissus's heart sank straight down.
She asked no more questions and quickened her pace toward Kunning Palace.
——
As soon as Shui Xian stepped into the side hall of Kunning Palace, she was hit by a strong medicinal smell.
What she saw was not her sick daughter, but the Emperor and Empress sitting side by side in the hall, with Emperor Zhaoheng's face solemn, as if he were pondering something.
The empress beside her was weak and pale, her eyes red-rimmed, as if she had just been crying.
In the center of the hall, a woman dressed as a maid was being held down on the ground by two burly old women, kneeling silently.
Shui Xian's first thought was Ting Lu, who had gone and never returned. However, when she went up to look, she saw that Yin Zhu's mouth was stuffed with cotton cloth and there were several clear handprints on her cheeks.
When Yinzhu saw her, she suddenly became excited, as if she wanted to say something to her.
Shui Xian frowned deeply, looking at the Emperor and Empress sitting side by side, wanting to ask why Yin Zhu was being held here.
However, before she could even ask...
The empress at the head of the table had already spoken, her weak voice carrying a hint of grievance and confusion.
"Consort Jin!"
"I have never treated you badly, so why...why did you order this lowly maid to poison Yongning?!"
Narcissus's eyes widened in shock.
Poisoning?!
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