To respect Hailanzhu's wishes, Huang Taiji stayed for two hours as usual before leaving in a hurry. Before leaving, he also instructed the Imperial Household Department to restore the side hall to its original state.
"What a pity." Looking at the once magnificent palace now in ruins, Hailanzhu sighed, "I wonder how much silver it will cost to repair it. I hope it won't be wasted."
After saying this, he slowly walked back to his own palace.
Two days passed quickly. That night, she had just lain down when she heard Qingluan knocking on the door.
"Your Majesty, Consort Yan Zha has come to request an audience," Qingluan reported cautiously.
"Oh?" Hailanzhu raised an eyebrow. "Please ask her to wait in the main hall. I will be there shortly."
She knew Yan Zhaqiurong would come; being a modern person, she naturally knew that cowpox was effective against the smallpox virus.
So she got out of bed, dressed herself, and led Qingluan toward the main hall.
Before long, the two arrived at the main hall. As soon as Yan Zhaqiurong saw Hailanzhu arrive, she immediately knelt down on the ground and pleaded, "Please, Your Highness, save Yebushu."
It turns out that Yebushu still couldn't escape this calamity. Tonight at Hai hour, he started to break out in rashes all over his body and had a persistent high fever.
The imperial physician also said that this was the most severe case of smallpox, with almost no hope of survival, and advised Yan Zhaqiu to accept the loss and move on.
Just when she was about to despair, she heard the news that Yaotu had recovered, so she rushed over immediately. In her heart, even if there were mountains of knives and seas of fire ahead, she would go for Yebushu's sake.
"Stand up and speak," Hailanzhu gestured for Yan Zhaqiurong to stand up.
Yan Zhaqiu stood up, her eyes red and swollen. "What are your orders, Your Highness? I am willing to go through fire and water, even at the cost of my life."
Hailanzhu smiled calmly, "Now do you believe me?"
Yan Zhaqiu nodded vigorously.
Hailanzhu glanced down at her, "I heard from Yunxian that her being deposed back then might have been related to you?"
"She's talking nonsense, Your Majesty, please don't believe her," Yan Zhaqiu said, raising her voice, her eyes darting away.
"Is that so?" Hailanzhu knew she was lying, so she threatened, "Since you're not sincere, then Yebushu..."
Upon hearing this, Yan Zhaqiurong immediately became much more obedient, stammering, "Yes..."
Why?
"This concubine desires to become the Grand Consort," Yan Zhaqiu Rong stated frankly.
"It's a pity that the Yanzha clan isn't very powerful, so your schemes have been in vain," Hailanzhu mocked.
"I did everything for Yebushu. As long as I can become the Grand Consort, he will be the future Crown Prince." Yan Zhaqiu Rong said with a firm expression, but then lowered her head. "It's a pity that my status is too lowly, and I have dragged him down with me."
Her lowered eyes still held a hint of evasion. Hailanzhu didn't believe her, but her current target was Yunxian, and she didn't want to raise any more questions and waste time.
“Parents who love their children plan far ahead for them.” She agreed, feigning trust.
"So...Your Majesty, you must save my child," Yan Zhaqiu pleaded.
"I will not break my word." After saying that, she stood up and walked step by step to Yan Zhaqiurong, saying in a voice that Yan Zhaqiurong could hear, "Tomorrow, I hope you will tell the Emperor how Yunxian harmed Niohuru and her child."
"You..." Yan Zhaqiu was so shocked that she couldn't speak. After a long while, she finally said, "How did you know? You should know that when this happened, even your aunt Zhe Zhe hadn't married into the family yet."
Hailanzhu smiled slightly, "I not only know about this matter, but I also know how Yunxian secretly harmed her. If you dare to hide anything tomorrow, don't blame me for disregarding Yebushu's life."
Faced with her threat, Yan Zhaqiurong could only accept her fate, but there was one thing she didn't understand: "You and Yunxian are allies, so why would you turn against her instead?"
Hailanzhu already knew she would ask these questions, so she calmly had Qingluan hand her the long-sealed wooden box.
"What is this?" Yan Zhaqiu asked curiously, opening it.
Hailanzhu truthfully replied, "This is the poison that Yunxian secretly planted in my flower bed."
Upon hearing that it was poison, Yan Zhaqiurong immediately released her grip, and the wooden box fell to the ground with a thud.
"That's why I'm doing this," Hailanzhu said, slightly raising her chin.
"So you knew Yunxian's character all along and were just playing along with her?" Yan Zhaqiu Rong unconsciously took two steps back.
"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; I'm sure the concubine has heard this saying before!"
Yan Zhaqiu Rong froze. She had never seen such a terrifying person before. Looking at Hailanzhu's knowing-it-all expression, she began to suspect that Hailanzhu also knew her secrets.
In fact, Hailanzhu had no idea about the details of Yunxian's plot to harm Niohuru. She only understood that in doing anything, one must have an imposing presence and make the enemy truly believe that one knows everything in order to increase the chances of victory.
"Your concubine obeys," Yan Zhaqiu replied in a trembling voice.
"It's getting late, go back and rest. You'll have to work hard again tomorrow. Also, you must keep quiet about Yebushu's smallpox diagnosis tonight and make sure Yunxian doesn't find out." Hailanzhu said as she walked back to the main seat.
"Kebushu..."
Hailanzhu interrupted, "Don't worry, he won't die in the next two days. As long as you sincerely help me, I will definitely keep my word."
Yan Zhaqiu was very anxious, but the medicine was in Hailanzhu's hands, and the imperial physician also said that Yebushu could recover for another three days, so she had no choice but to suppress her anxiety and leave.
Actually, she regretted questioning Hailanzhu a few days ago; otherwise, she would have kept the medicine and wouldn't have had to put up with Hailanzhu's attitude.
Hailanzhu had long seen through her schemes, which is why she remained calm and composed.
Watching Yan Zhaqiu's figure recede into the distance, Qingluan asked worriedly, "Will she tell the Emperor the truth tomorrow?"
Hailanzhu nodded confidently, "Bringing down Yunxian will only benefit her and not harm her. Besides, she hates Yunxian to the bone, so how could she possibly hide it? It's already good enough that she didn't exaggerate."
“That’s excellent!” Qingluan replied thoughtfully.
The next morning, news came from Guanju Palace that the ruby had gone missing, and Huang Taiji ordered a thorough investigation of the entire palace.
However, with so many people in the harem, finding one person was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Later, Hailanzhu said that the ruby had been stained with rare fluorescent powder, which had not faded for three days.
So the guards took several dark boxes and made everyone in the harem put their hands into them, saying that the fluorescent powder would make them glow in the dark.
There was no fluorescent powder at all; it was just a ruse by Hailanzhu. She wanted those who had a guilty conscience to slip up.
Besides, she knows who it is, and if that person is truly calm and collected, she has a way to find him.
Today was another turbulent day. Hailanzhu eagerly awaited the punishment of Yunxian, a day she had waited far too long for.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
