Empress Fucha sat on a soft couch in the palace, gazing at the scenery outside the window. On the west side of the courtyard, several long bamboo trellises were covered with flowering vines; the dense green leaves set off the delicate, vibrant purplish-red blossoms, making them appear like a beautiful ribbon of color from afar. Empress Fucha was in a good mood; she hadn't felt this relaxed in a long time.
A maidservant came in and said, "Your Highness has good news."
Lady Fucha raised an eyebrow and asked, "What good news?"
"I heard that something happened at Yikun Palace. Consort Nian is unconscious, and the imperial physicians can't find the cause. The whole palace is in chaos," the maid said.
After hearing this, Empress Fucha raised her eyebrows and said happily, "That's wonderful! All my hard work hasn't been in vain. Go and close the palace gates and bring some wine. I want to celebrate properly."
Fucha and her servants celebrated behind closed doors in Qixiang Palace. After administering poison for more than half a year, Lady Nian finally succumbed to the poison.
It turns out that she was the one who poisoned Consort Nian.
Empress Fucha drank her wine, feeling pleased. "That Consort Nian was so arrogant, now she's surely dead." Empress Fucha laughed heartily.
The maid said with some worry, "Your Highness, I also heard that Consort Xi has already gone to see Consort Nian. Do you think Consort Xi will find out about our poisoning?"
Lady Fucha said, “Don’t worry, she will never be found out. Every night at midnight, we use incense to coat the bamboo leaves with poisonous mist. The dew on the leaves the next day contains poisonous water. Lady Nian, in her pursuit of beauty, sent people to collect this dew to apply to her face, and that’s how she was gradually poisoned. Besides, even if Changchun Palace thinks of the dew, they won’t be able to find out now, because the concentration in those dews is negligible. Lady Nian was poisoned because she used this dew to apply to her face for a long time.”
Empress Fucha snorted and said, "If you want to blame someone, blame Consort Nian herself. Who told her to be so vain at her age? Can't she see that the Emperor doesn't want to talk to her anymore?"
The maidservant was still worried and continued, "Your Highness, what if they find out?"
“Impossible,” Lady Fucha interrupted her, saying, “How could the investigation have traced it back to us? Let’s not even talk about whether she knew it was about dew. Even if she did know, so what? This palace is so big, anyone could go to that bamboo grove. How could it be you and me?”
“Besides, even if she asks, we just deny it. She can’t do anything to us without evidence,” said Fucha.
The maid was relieved after hearing this and said, "It was my fault for being impatient. In my opinion, Your Highness is truly wise."
"Then, Your Highness, what should we do next? Should we continue to poison the bamboo forest?" the maid asked.
After thinking for a while, Fucha said, "No need. Consort Nian is already unconscious, so she won't use the dew for the time being. Poisonous dew would only expose our poisoning method. Based on my understanding of Consort Xi, she is bold and meticulous in her work, and she will definitely have someone investigate Consort Nian's daily necessities. We need to make preparations first."
"Please give your orders, Your Highness. I will do my utmost to serve you," the maid said.
Empress Fucha said, "I haven't figured out how to deal with Consort Xi yet. As the saying goes, if the enemy doesn't move, I won't move. Go and send someone to keep an eye on Changchun Palace. If Consort Xi makes any moves, report to me immediately."
"Yes, Your Highness, I will go right away."
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