Based on their first meeting, Hailanzhu couldn't see through Zhe Zhe. Zhe Zhe appeared gentle, elegant, kind, and virtuous, but no one knew if it was all an act.
Hailanzhu then said, "Thank you for your concern, Aunt. However, I ate too much for breakfast, and I'm afraid there's not enough room in my stomach for these medicinal herbs."
Zhe Zhe smiled and said, "It's alright. This medicine is different from other medicines. Drinking it when it's cold will actually make it more effective."
"A higher rank can crush a lower one," and since she had said so, how could Hailanzhu dare to disobey?
"Yes, Lan'er will definitely drink it after she finishes digesting her food." Hailanzhu nodded in agreement and instructed Qingluan to accept it.
Zhe Zhe said, "Okay, just remember to drink it."
"Yes." Hailanzhu lowered her head, not daring to look up, afraid that Zhe Zhe would see the distrust in her eyes.
"Alright, it's getting late. I heard the Emperor is going to dine at your palace. You should go back and prepare!" Zhe Zhe said. "I won't see you off."
"Auntie, please wait!" Hailanzhu hurriedly bowed and said.
Not long after Hailanzhu left, a palace maid beside Zhe Zhe couldn't wait to ask, "Master, why didn't you let her drink it before you left?"
Zhe Zhe smiled faintly and shook her head: "Brother Zhen, although she is different from before, her wariness of me has not diminished." Having lived in the palace for many years, she could naturally see through Hailanzhu's little thoughts.
“That’s right,” Zhen Ge agreed.
“So if I force her to eat, it will definitely provoke her resistance.” Zhe Zhe said as she walked back to her seat.
Zhen Ge followed anxiously and asked, "What should we do? What if she throws away the medicine when she returns to the palace?"
"Don't worry, she'll drink it." Zhe Zhe said confidently.
"How do you know?" Brother Zhen asked, puzzled.
"Just because she hasn't had a child in two years!" Zhe Zhe curled her lips, her smile somewhat eerie.
Seeing this, Brother Zhen felt a chill run down his spine. For some reason, every time he saw that expression, he would feel a cold sweat run down his spine.
Zhe Zhe continued, "Given Hailanzhu's personality, she will definitely summon the imperial physician after returning to the palace to confirm that the medicine is truly safe before she drinks it. She also wants to become a mother."
"Is the medicine really safe?" Brother Zhen asked again.
"How could there be a problem? If there really were a problem, do you think the Emperor would let me off the hook?" Zhe Zhe scoffed disdainfully.
But now Zhen Ge was even more puzzled, "Why would Your Highness help Consort Chen, who is so disrespectful to you?"
Zhe Zhe glanced at Zhen Ge and said, "The mother leaves the child behind; I understand this principle, and you will understand it too."
"Master means..."
“That’s right.” Zhe Zhe interrupted Zhenge. “I am getting older and it is no longer suitable for me to have more children. Yu’er is not favored, so even if she has another child, it is not certain that it will be a prince. That’s why I gave this opportunity to Hailanzhu.”
"Master is truly brilliant." Brother Zhen couldn't help but give a thumbs up.
Zhe Zhe smiled and said, "She won't live much longer after she gives birth to the prince."
Brother Zhen nodded repeatedly, indicating his approval.
Zhe Zhe stared in the direction Hailanzhu had left, narrowing her eyes as she said, "If it weren't for the Khorchin, I really wouldn't want those two to enter the palace. What woman would want to share her husband with someone else!"
If Dayuer had given birth to a prince, Zhe Zhe might have spared her life, since Huang Taiji truly disliked Dayuer.
But Hailanzhu was different. Huang Taiji devoted his entire heart to her, and he almost deposed Empress Zhe Zhe for her sake. If it weren't for the resistance of the entire court, Zhe Zhe would probably have been demoted to a concubine long ago.
Therefore, how could Zhe Zhe not hate Hailanzhu? It's just that Hailanzhu is still useful. Otherwise, with her intelligence, Hailanzhu would have died long ago.
...
After returning to Guanju Palace, Hailanzhu stared blankly at the bowl of medicine, her thoughts in turmoil. She really didn't know whether she should drink it or not.
From the moment Zhe Zhe agreed to let her take the medicine back to Guanju Palace, she knew that there was absolutely no problem with the medicine, because no one would be stupid enough to poison someone under their real name.
She hesitated because she felt the medicine was too bitter and difficult to swallow.
"Your Majesty, if you don't want to drink it, I will secretly pour it out and I will never let the Empress know." Seeing Hailanzhu so conflicted, Qingluan felt sorry for her.
After a moment of contemplation, Hailanzhu finally said, "Then let's throw it away!" She really didn't want to wrong herself.
"yes."
Just as Qingluan was about to take it away, she heard the footsteps of a young eunuch at the door.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor has finished court. Shall we order lunch?" the young eunuch asked respectfully, bowing low.
"So fast?" Hailanzhu realized it was already noon and hurriedly said, "Send it quickly!"
"Yes, sir!" the little eunuch replied and hurriedly ran out.
Seeing that the eunuch had left, Qingluan immediately removed the medicine from the table.
"etc!"
Hearing Hailanzhu call her to stop, Qingluan halted, turned around, and asked in confusion, "Does Your Highness have any further instructions?"
"I will drink this medicine," Hailanzhu said.
"But Your Majesty, aren't you worried about the Empress?" Qingluan asked in confusion.
"Who says I'm not at ease?" Hailanzhu said, though her words didn't reflect her true feelings.
"Even if Your Majesty is at ease, you should still summon the imperial physician to take a look. If there is anything unclean inside, the consequences would be unimaginable," Qingluan reminded her.
Knowing Qingluan's good intentions, Hailanzhu stopped being coy and said directly, "The Empress wouldn't be so stupid. If I really died from drinking her medicine, then the Emperor would definitely depose her from her position as Empress and make her be buried with me."
Qingluan pondered for a moment, "That's true, but..."
Before Qingluan could finish speaking, Hailanzhu snatched the medicine from her hand and drank it all in one gulp.
Instantly, a bitter, nauseating taste swept through her entire body, and Hailanzhu felt as if her internal organs were churning.
Qingluan quickly handed Hailanzhu water to rinse her mouth, and then brought her candied fruit, which she ate one piece at a time, finally managing to alleviate the unbearable pain.
"It's so bitter! Couldn't the Empress add some sugar when preparing the medicine?" Hailanzhu complained.
Qingluan did not reply to Hailanzhu's words. At this moment, her mind was focused on Hailanzhu's face, fearing that she might suddenly vomit blood and die.
Fortunately, the worst thing didn't happen, which made me breathe a sigh of relief.
Then she asked, "Your Majesty, why did you suddenly change your mind?"
Hailanzhu turned her beautiful, clear eyes and said, "I want to try. If I really get pregnant after drinking the medicine, then my wish will be fulfilled."
These were her words to deceive Qingluan. In reality, she was afraid that Huang Taiji would want to be intimate with her again, and she would not be able to refuse. Therefore, the best way was to get pregnant.
Historically, Hailanzhu probably became pregnant around one or two months ago, so she wanted to have a child as soon as possible so that she wouldn't have to pay so much money for leaving temporarily.
Upon hearing this, Qingluan nodded: "That's very good."
"Alright, quickly take the empty bowls away, the Emperor will be here soon," Hailanzhu reminded him.
Upon hearing this, Qingluan picked up the empty bowl and then used a handkerchief to wipe the crumbs off the table.
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