Lanqin couldn't help but smile bitterly, thinking to herself, "If we investigate Consort Nian's enemies, wouldn't I become a suspect myself, and the prime suspect at that?"
Lanqin didn't know where to start her investigation. It seemed best to begin with her personal belongings. So she told the imperial physician, "Imperial Physician Yang, I think we can start by investigating Consort Nian's daily necessities, the tea and food she consumes."
Physician He replied, "Your Majesty, we examined Consort Nian's belongings last night, including her hair oil, and this morning we also checked all of her utensils. We found nothing amiss."
Lanqin found it strange that the poison in the Nian family came from.
She called Baoqin over and whispered in Baoqin's ear, "Go and send a few people to follow Cuiling and Baizhi. If they find anything unusual, report to me immediately."
Baoqin understood immediately and turned to leave.
Lanqin felt that she wouldn't find anything out by staying any longer, so she led her people back to the palace with suspicion in her heart.
Before leaving, Lanqin instructed Imperial Physician Yang to have the imperial physicians continue to examine the items used by Consort Nian, and to report to her immediately if they discovered anything.
Physician Yang answered repeatedly, "Yes."
Lanqin returned to Changchun Palace, still pondering how the poisoner managed to poison Consort Nian. Completely baffled, she sighed repeatedly in worry.
A maid brought over a cup of tea and said, "Your Highness, please don't think about it anymore. This is Consort Nian's retribution. Who told her to do so many bad things? She deserves this punishment."
Lanqin picked up her teacup and said, "I'm not worried about Consort Nian, but since the person who poisoned her was able to do so without anyone noticing, that person could also poison me, and might even harm the Emperor."
The maid exclaimed in surprise, "Oh! No way! How could someone like Your Highness want to harm you?"
Lanqin said, "How could you not? You've been in the palace for so many years, can't you see clearly? In this palace, if someone wants to harm someone, they don't need a reason."
She put down her teacup and said to the maid, "When will you ever learn to be a little smarter? I really don't know how many days you could survive in this palace if you weren't by my side."
Just then, Baoqin returned and said to Lanqin, "Your Majesty, everything has been arranged."
Lanqin nodded, and Baoqin continued, "Consort Song and the others have arrived. Does Your Majesty wish to see them?"
News of Lady Nian's poisoning quickly spread throughout the palace. Upon hearing that Lanqin had gone to Yikun Palace, Lady Song and several others became restless and went to Changchun Palace together to talk to Lanqin.
Lanqin guessed their purpose and said, "Good news doesn't travel far, but bad news travels fast. Let them in."
As soon as she entered, Madam Song said, "Your Majesty, I heard that Consort Nian was poisoned? And Your Majesty went to see her?"
Lanqin said, "Yes. She is unconscious. I am now in charge of managing the six palaces, so I should go and see her."
“Your Majesty, that Nian woman has a history of evil deeds, please don’t interfere with her,” said Madam Song.
She harbored deep resentment towards Consort Nian, and now that Consort Nian was likely to die, she naturally wanted to stop Lanqin from saving her.
Lanqin said, "I understand your thoughts, but I am now in charge of the six palaces. If anything happens to anyone, it will be my responsibility. Moreover, she is a Noble Consort. If something happens to a Noble Consort, it will involve the court. We cannot be careless."
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