Empress Fucha, supported by Biyu, walked towards Qixiang Palace, pondering her conversation with the Empress at Jingren Palace. She held the poison the Empress had given her, her eyes turning cold. "Nian, you vile woman, your good days are over."
"Biyu," upon returning to the palace, Empress Fucha summoned her personal maid. The two exchanged glances, and Biyu, understanding the unspoken message, dismissed the others and closed the door.
"You heard what the Empress said," said Fucha, sitting down in a high-backed chair in the room.
"Yes, Your Excellency, we've been plotting this for so long just to make them fight each other so we can reap the benefits!" Biyu said smugly, and served the tea prepared for Lady Fucha.
Unexpectedly, Empress Fucha let out a cold laugh: "Hmph! We have achieved our goal, but the Empress is not stupid either. Entrusting me with the task of poisoning Consort Nian is truly a brilliant move."
After speaking, Lady Fucha picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip of tea, and then slammed the cup down heavily on the table, splashing water out of it: "If we're not careful, we could be the ones who die!"
Biyu walked behind Fucha and massaged her shoulders: "Your Highness, please don't get angry, or you'll harm your health. But we need to put the poison on the bamboo leaves in the bamboo forest, which is not an easy task."
"Yes, the Empress has a brilliant plan, wanting to reap the benefits. But how can I let her have her way? I must involve the Empress. Otherwise, she might use me and then deny everything." Lady Cha said angrily, clutching her handkerchief.
That night, Lady Fucha pondered for a long time but couldn't come up with a good idea. However, Biyu said to Lady Fucha, "Your Highness, please entrust this matter to me with peace of mind. I will think it over carefully and I guarantee that I will give you a satisfactory answer."
After hearing Biyu's words, Fucha didn't take them to heart. She thought that a servant like her could be more intelligent than her and come up with some good ideas. However, she also felt that what Biyu said made sense. She couldn't come up with anything by thinking about it, so she might as well rest and think about it slowly.
Having thought it through, she nodded and had Biyu help her wash and dress before lying down on the bed.
The next morning, Lady Fucha got up and changed her clothes, but couldn't find Biyu. She asked the other palace maids, and the maid Cuiyuan said, "Aunt Biyu told us to serve the noble lady, but she didn't tell us where she went."
Fucha was puzzled but said nothing. While changing her clothes, she saw Biyu walk in from outside, bow to Fucha, and say, "This servant has something to report." After saying that, she took the clothes from the maid next to her and helped Fucha change.
"You may all leave now!" After the palace maids withdrew, Empress Fucha asked, "Where did you go early this morning?"
"Your Excellency, I secretly went to that bamboo grove to investigate," Biyu replied.
"Oh! So what did you see?" Fucha asked anxiously.
“My lord, I think we can use smoke to fumigate it,” Biyu said.
"So, what you mean is?" Fucha raised an eyebrow.
"As long as we dissolve the poison in the water, then... hehe!" Biyu let out a cold laugh.
"In other words, we dissolve the poison in water and boil it continuously until it turns into a toxic gas. This way, the bamboo leaves will be contaminated by the gas every night and eventually become poisoned as well, without anyone noticing," Fucha said happily.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
