Meanwhile, Liu Shushu was quite surprised to suddenly receive a fertility-enhancing medicine sent by Wei Huaixu, but...
"I haven't served you in bed recently, so why send this fertility-enhancing medicine?" She raised an eyebrow and said, "Could it be some kind of poison?"
The more I think about it, the more likely it seems.
Just as she was about to take the medicine bowl to the side hall to examine it more closely, a young eunuch rushed in to announce: "Your Highness, Eunuch Yu has sent someone to tell you to prepare to serve me tonight."
Liu Shushu was stunned for a moment, puzzled: "What's wrong with him all of a sudden?"
The personal maid, Xiqiu, said with a smile, "I heard that the Emperor went to Baoyi Palace last night, and came out this morning with a grim expression. Could it be... that they had a fight?"
"That's strange. Ever since Liu Qingying entered the palace, she has been clearly trying to suppress me. Why would she throw herself into disarray and send the Emperor to me? What evil plan is she up to now?"
Xi Qiu shook her head, indicating that she did not understand.
Consort Liu may appear gentle and mild-mannered, but no one in the palace dares to underestimate her. Everyone says she is incredibly cunning and scheming, not only bewitching the Emperor but also leaving the Empress completely powerless against her.
"The Ye family has now been legitimized; even the dead can be granted titles and ranks, and even the deceased Ye Ning has been promoted to the rank of Lady. As the only surviving member of the Ye family, she has even been included in the direct line of the Liu family genealogy. Why doesn't she seize this opportunity to rise to the top and completely overthrow me? But then, something unexpected happened... What exactly is she planning to do?"
Liu Shushu couldn't understand it at all. Her gaze fell on the dark bowl of medicine in her hand, and she frowned slightly.
An hour later.
Upon closer inspection, she was surprised to find that the bowl of medicine was indeed just an ordinary fertility-enhancing herb. However, she did not drink it, but instead casually poured it into the flower bed.
That night, Wei Huaixu indeed stayed overnight in Liu Shushu's palace. Although he slept fully clothed and did not touch her, this was already a huge leap for Liu Shushu.
This continued for several days.
Soon, the Phoenix Palace was renovated, and Wei Huaixu ordered her to move in. Now, she could finally secure her position as Empress.
And the fertility-enhancing medicine was delivered to her openly and honestly day after day.
Rumors spread throughout the palace that the Empress had finally regained favor. However, only she knew the truth: Wei Huaixu was using her to spite Liu Qingying.
The resentment in her heart grew stronger and stronger.
Last night, she couldn't bear it any longer, so she climbed on top of him while he was asleep. But to her surprise, he slapped her so hard that she was sent flying and almost died on the spot.
She was a beautiful woman with a graceful figure lying beside him, yet he was able to remain unmoved and act like a virtuous man for so long... If it weren't for that one night, she would have suspected that he was suffering from some kind of hidden illness.
"In the end, I still don't love you..." Liu Shushu rubbed her still slightly aching left shoulder and gritted her teeth.
She didn't know when it started, but she grew increasingly jealous of Liu Qingying. That woman not only possessed a stunningly beautiful face and a stable, wealthy life, but she had also been protected by several men in succession, and now she had the emperor's favor.
And all of this should have originally belonged to her!
Liu Qingying should have died when she was only three years old!
"When was Pan Shi sent away from the capital?" Liu Shushu held scissors in her hand, carefully trimming the flower branches in front of her.
A masked man dressed in black knelt behind her and replied in a flat, emotionless tone, "Tonight."
Do you know what to do?
"Know."
"Go."
"yes."
The man in black slipped away from the window in a flash, disappearing without a trace as if he had never been there. Only the lush green trees outside the window swayed slightly in the wind.
Liu Shushu lowered her head, half of her face hidden in shadow, and with precise and swift movements, she trimmed off an extra branch.
"Mother, don't blame your daughter for being heartless. This is all what you taught me. You said that only by disregarding everything can one achieve their goals."
...
Compared to the undercurrents on Liu Shushu's side, Qingying seemed quite relaxed, spending her days listening to the rain and admiring flowers, or drinking tea and playing with cats, living a very happy life.
But it really worried the people around him.
"More than half a month has passed, and His Majesty has not set foot in Baoyi Palace even once. Why aren't you worried at all, Your Majesty?"
"What's there to be anxious about? He's the emperor, the entire harem belongs to him. He can go wherever he wants, it's none of my business as a mere concubine."
Granny Zhou frowned slightly and said, "This servant thinks that Your Highness seems to be deliberately pushing the Emperor out."
Qingying smiled. "Yes, if the Emperor were to stay overnight every day, wouldn't that confirm my reputation as a wicked concubine?"
Recently, floods struck the Jiangnan region, and a city in the northern border suffered a locust plague. Rumors, of unknown origin, began to circulate that these natural disasters were the work of demons, divine retribution. Some seized the opportunity to spread these rumors, gradually pointing the finger at her. With such a clear objective, it was difficult for her to feign ignorance.
So Jin Heng gave her advice, suggesting that she temporarily avoid confrontation and wait for the right opportunity to strike.
Yu Yue said, "But you clearly know that those rumors were spread by the Empress's associates. Isn't what you're doing just what she wants?"
Tong Xia nodded in agreement: "Yes, yes, you haven't seen it. The Empress is now favored. Even Xi Qiu by her side looks down on people with her nose in the air. All those snobbish people in the palace are now scrambling to get close to Fengqi Palace. They've forgotten how they used to fawn over Your Majesty."
"You don't understand. People are most likely to make mistakes when they are successful."
Qingying took a sip of tea and stroked the cat lying beside her with a smile, clearly in a very good mood.
Seeing this, the others decided not to say anything more.
Just then, a young eunuch rushed in and knelt down to pay his respects.
Qingying asked, puzzled, "Why are you in such a hurry?"
Before the young eunuch could catch his breath, he stammered, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty... Guard Li has come... has come to report that Madam... Madam has been assassinated!"
"Who?" Qingying didn't react for a moment.
"The former wife of the Duke of Zhenguo!"
"How could this be... When did this happen?"
"Just last night, the carriage escorting the lady was attacked by a group of bandits as soon as it left the capital. In the chaos, someone stabbed the lady in the chest with a dagger, and she died on the spot."
Qingying frowned deeply. "Where is the body?"
"The body... has already been burned..."
"What?"
"Guard Li said that this is an order from the Emperor..."
Qingying gripped the armrests of the chair tightly, her breathing becoming rapid and disordered. She couldn't quite describe her feelings at that moment. Her enemy was dead, his body gone without a trace. She should have been happy, but there was something stuck in her heart, as if something was blocking her throat.
Having once been mother and daughter, she couldn't bring herself to be completely heartless and cruel, and always thought of sparing her life...
Qingying closed her eyes briefly and waved her hand weakly. "Step back and send the message to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion."
"yes."
The young eunuch bowed and took his leave.
Qingying sighed and pondered, feeling that something was amiss.
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