Rachel rolled her eyes at Aro. Everyone knows that the principal wife dislikes us concubines, and the concubines have never been to the principal wife's courtyard. That's why I had to poison her in the principal wife's courtyard so that no one would suspect us.
“But going to the main courtyard is easier said than done,” A-Luo said.
Rachel stroked her chin, lowered her head in thought, and remained silent for a long time. After a while, she raised her head and said, "Perhaps, we can use Zi Xun."
Rachel walked up to Aro and whispered her plan in her ear.
Meanwhile, Lingxiu returned to Jingren Palace. Upon seeing her return, the Empress quickly asked, "How was it? Did you see Xueying?"
Lingxiu nodded: "I have met you. Please give my regards, Consort."
"This child is still so filial. All my kindness to her has not been in vain. So, what is her attitude?" the Empress asked.
“Well…” Lingxiu hesitated, after all, she had seen Xueying’s attitude when she saw the letter.
The Empress glanced at her and said, "Why are you stammering? Just say what you have to say."
Lingxiu dared not conceal the truth and could only say, "This servant noticed that the concubine seemed somewhat at a loss; she even asked this servant..."
"What do you want me to ask you?"
"The concubine asked me what Her Majesty the Empress really wanted to do." Lingxiu told the Empress everything she had seen.
The Empress's face changed drastically upon hearing this, and she snorted coldly: "It's true what they say, a married daughter is like water spilled from a cup. This child really doesn't respect me, her aunt, at all. I've treated her so well for nothing. She is the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Ying's mansion, but now her behavior is even worse than that of Shuzhen, a concubine's daughter. It truly breaks my heart."
Lingxiu advised, "Your Highness, there's no need to be angry. The concubine is your niece, and you know her temperament best. After all, the Fourth Prince is the concubine's husband. How could she so readily agree to poison her own husband?"
The Empress breathed a sigh of relief: "I've always felt that the child bears a resemblance to me. If she had married Hongshi back then, perhaps Hongshi wouldn't be the way he is today. It's a bit difficult for her to poison her own husband. However, I know she probably isn't having an easy time in the Fourth Prince's residence either."
All that Lingxiu has realized.
When Lingxiu heard the Empress mention Hongshi, she walked to the Empress's side and asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, this servant wants to know about the Fourth Prince. Do you want to tell the Emperor?"
The Empress thought for a moment, then shook her head: "Let's not tell the Emperor about Hongshi's temporary disappearance yet."
"Why did Your Majesty say that?" Lingxiu asked, puzzled.
The Empress said, “The Emperor and I have been husband and wife for many years. What the Emperor hates most is an unambitious person. If we tell the Emperor that Hongshi has disappeared, he will definitely think that Hongshi has gone off somewhere to indulge in debauchery again. That will only make the Emperor hate Hongshi even more. The more the Emperor hates Hongshi, the less likely he is to return, and then my position as Empress will be in jeopardy.”
Lingxiu nodded: "If that's the case, we really can't tell the Emperor. But I heard that the Emperor has also sent people to keep an eye on the Fourth Prince. What if he tells the Emperor?"
The Empress reassured her: "His Majesty only sent people to watch over Hongshi when he was first demoted to a commoner, to prevent him from doing anything illegal. So much time has passed, His Majesty has long since stopped caring about Hongshi."
“In that case, I am relieved,” Lingxiu said.
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