Chapter 85 Leading you into the urn
"Your Majesty, this servant understands and will certainly not disappoint you," Li Changfu replied firmly.
Fanghua sighed, "Alright, after this is over, send her out of the palace." This second-class palace maid is doomed.
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty," the young palace maid said immediately upon hearing this.
"Don't thank me yet. Once you leave the palace, you'll be someone who can't go home and has no name to speak of. Are you willing to accept that?" Fanghua wasn't going to lie to her, so she asked again.
The young palace maid's name was Wen Yin. She came from a bondservant family, but her family background was complicated, and she entered the palace at a young age.
Her mother died early, leaving her, a little girl, to live in the mansion. Her father remarried, and she became someone who was neither loved by her father nor her mother. Her stepmother resented her for taking the place of her own child's legitimate daughter and wanted to get rid of her when Wen Yin was eight years old.
Wen Yin was lucky to encounter a kind-hearted nanny who rescued the person and brought them into the palace.
She stayed there for eight years. Before she died, the old woman used her last connections to send her to Kunning Palace.
That nanny came from Cining Palace. Although she wasn't a head nanny, coming from Cining Palace still gave her some prestige.
It was because of this identity that Wen Yin was approached by Su Ma.
Leaving the palace and concealing her name and identity was Wen Yin's greatest wish, because if she stayed in the palace, her family would not let her go.
"This servant is willing, but this servant would like to ask for a favor." Wen Yin would not return to that home, nor would she use her previous surname.
But she knew all too well that her life would change drastically after leaving the palace.
And now, I think the Empress, seeing how hard I've worked for her, is granting me a favor.
Upon hearing this, Li Changfu immediately rebuked, "How dare you! How dare you bargain in front of the Empress?"
They really gave her too much credit; Li Changfu's face was extremely ugly at this moment.
They all told her to be careful with her words and actions, but she still dared to court death. If she did, she might as well drag herself down with her.
Fanghua raised her hand to stop Li Changfu's scolding, "It's alright, let her talk."
She doesn't mind giving a little favor for small things, but if you ask for an exorbitant amount, don't blame her for being ruthless.
"Your Majesty." Wen Yin kowtowed three times heavily, then made her request: "This servant knows that she has been presumptuous, but this servant has no one to rely on outside the palace. Please take her in."
Upon hearing this, Fanghua understood. Yes, this era imposed many restrictions on women. As an orphan, she probably wouldn't survive long outside.
There was no other way out but to get married, but even marriage couldn't guarantee one's safety.
She's quite clever, though.
"Can."
She agreed to the offer; smart people are worth investing in.
After saying that, Fanghua glanced at Granny Zhang and gestured for her to take out the pills.
These pills were made by Xiao Feng to control people; anyone who spoke of her would die instantly.
It can be considered a kind of soul medicine.
"But you have to take this pill. Are you willing?"
Granny Zhang took out a jade bottle from her bosom and handed it over.
Fanghua took the pill, poured it out and placed it on the table, then said to Wenyin, who was kneeling on the ground.
Without thinking, Wen Yin knelt down in front of the table, picked up the medicine, and put it in her mouth.
Those actions and that attitude truly pleased Fanghua.
"Hmm, not bad." He wasn't worried that she was faking it, because the medicine melted instantly in her mouth.
I didn't even have a chance to vomit.
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty." Wen Yin immediately expressed her gratitude.
Fanghua was relieved. "You can arrange Li Changfu's affairs from now on. Arrange for her to go to Rongyan Pavilion after she leaves the palace." Wen Yin was indeed a clever person.
Fanghua was very satisfied with her attitude.
"Yes, this servant has noted it down."
After Li Changfu led Wen Yin away, Fanghua's smile vanished, replaced by a murderous glint.
"Hmph, you're really giving her too much credit."
Now she completely agreed with Xiaofeng's idea.
Su Ma acted swiftly, not keeping Fanghua waiting long, perhaps because the Empress Dowager couldn't wait any longer.
After receiving the medicine from Su Ma, Wen Yin reported it to Li Changfu, who then informed Fang Hua.
"In that case, proceed according to plan." There are some things she has to do herself, such as inviting our Emperor to the banquet.
"Yes, this servant will go and make the preparations."
Fanghua nodded in agreement, and then called Qiaoling over.
Qiaoling was already serving by her side, so Fanghua didn't have to wait long before she arrived.
"Your Majesty, did you summon me?" Qiaoling, unaware of what was wrong, rushed over quickly.
"Hmm, I heard that His Majesty has been busy with court affairs these days. Could you prepare some old duck soup for me? I'll go see His Majesty later, but I can't go and exhaust myself."
He must recover his health so that he can withstand the Empress Dowager's murderous intent tonight.
"Yes, it's on the stove. I'll go prepare it right away."
The Qianqing Palace.
When Fanghua arrived, the Emperor was reviewing memorials. Upon learning of the Empress's arrival, he immediately ordered someone to invite her in.
"Your Majesty." Because of Fanghua's change in attitude, the two of them had become more relaxed in their relationship. "I have heard that Your Majesty has been busy until very late these days and has not been able to rest properly."
"Fang'er is here. Don't listen to the nonsense from the servants. I'm perfectly fine."
Upon learning that the Empress was coming, Emperor Kangxi had already ordered the memorials on the table to be put away, waiting for her to enter.
This shows how deeply he guarded against the harem.
Fanghua would never dare to provoke such a reaction, and besides, she had no such intention.
"Hmph, do you think I don't know whether it's good or not?" Fanghua gave him a coquettish look. "I brought you some old duck soup with some nourishing herbs in it. Drink some, don't take it lightly."
The Empress's gentle and caring words pleased Emperor Kangxi greatly.
The smile in his eyes became more genuine. "Fang'er still cares about me. Come, drink with me."
Fanghua didn't stand on ceremony with him; she drank with him, since the soup wasn't poisonous anyway.
"Alright, I'll drink with you."
She served him a bowl, then poured the rest into her own bowl. "Still the same as always, he doesn't like meals with medicinal herbs," she couldn't help but complain.
Emperor Kangxi was willing to listen to the Empress's nagging, as this would make him feel that she was his wife, not just his empress.
"It has a bad taste, so it's normal that I don't like it. Fang'er is sick and doesn't want to drink her medicine soup either."
Fanghua glared at him fiercely, "It's so bitter, who would like to drink it?"
Seeing her like this, Kangxi laughed heartily.
After the two finished their soup, Fanghua invited him to Kunning Palace.
"The affairs of state are never-ending, and the Emperor cannot deal with them every day. He must relax for a while."
The Emperor naturally accepted the Empress's invitation and immediately followed her back to Kunning Palace.
Upon learning of this, Su Ma personally contacted Wen Yin, urging her to be careful and absolutely not to harm the Emperor.
Wen Yin naturally assured him that she would not accidentally harm the Emperor.
Only then did Su Ma feel at ease enough to go back.
Unfortunately, plans can't keep up with changes.
That evening, during dinner, Emperor Kangxi was poisoned and vomited blood in the Kunning Palace.
When Su Ma heard this news, she felt her scalp tingle.
She dared not hide anything and immediately told the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager was both shocked and furious, and insisted on going to Kunning Palace.
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