Kunning Palace
The Empress was more than three months pregnant and was experiencing morning sickness. She could not tolerate the smell of greasy or meaty foods, nor could she eat sweets.
Therefore, when the Imperial Kitchen sent Laba porridge to Kunning Palace, the Empress only glanced at it before casually rewarding it to the head maid who served her closely. At this moment, the Empress was half-supporting her pregnant body, flipping through the account books sent by the Imperial Household Department.
The head palace maid, Yun Cui, carefully chose her words and softly comforted her, "Your Highness, you are pregnant with the little prince, so your health is of utmost importance. The Imperial Household Department will certainly not be careless or negligent in purchasing supplies for the palace, and they will not try to deceive you."
The Empress closed the account book in her hand and said with a smile, "They certainly dare not deceive me, but as the Empress, I am ordered by the Emperor to manage the six palaces. I must do everything myself so as not to give others cause for criticism."
"yes."
Yun Cui looked at the Empress with pity and heartache.
Just then, a commotion broke out outside the palace. Immediately afterwards, Nongyu, another senior palace maid beside the Empress, stumbled into the palace and knelt down with a thud.
"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! My two elder sisters, Qiu Jin and Qiu He, just ate the Laba porridge you bestowed upon them, and now they are bleeding from all seven orifices and have collapsed to the ground, seemingly poisoned!"
Upon hearing Nongyu's words, the Empress's face immediately darkened to the point where it seemed as if water could drip from it.
My lower abdomen also started to cramp and ache.
The Empress clutched her belly, crying, "My belly! Quickly, fetch the imperial physician..."
Kunning Palace was in complete chaos, with chickens running wild and dogs barking.
Xu Lejin, accompanied by Yingchun, Zhishu, and Imperial Physician Xu from the Imperial Medical Academy, arrived at the gate of Kunning Palace, where they encountered Chu Qiao, a second-class palace maid from Kunning Palace, who was on imperial orders to summon an imperial physician from the Imperial Medical Academy.
Xu Lejin hurriedly summoned Imperial Physician Xu to Kunning Palace to treat the Empress.
In urgent situations, one must act expediently. Although Physician Xu was not the physician the Empress was used to, Yun Cui, after weighing the options, still led Physician Xu into the inner room to examine the Empress's pulse.
Xu Lejin waited anxiously in the main hall of Kunning Palace.
Half an hour later, Physician Xu emerged, his face pale.
Xu Lejin hurriedly stepped forward to inquire, "Imperial Physician Xu, how is the Empress? Is there any serious problem with the imperial fetus in her womb?"
"Your Majesty, the Empress has suffered a miscarriage and needs to rest in bed for some time. I am not very knowledgeable and can only temporarily save the Empress's unborn child. As for the subsequent care, we will need the continued care of Imperial Physician Jiang, who will continue to treat the Empress."
Physician Xu carefully chose his words and replied in a low voice.
Xu Lejin nodded.
"Thank you for your help, Physician Xu!"
Physician Xu said respectfully, "This is my duty. I dare not accept your kind words of thanks, Consort."
Physician Jiang from the Imperial Medical Academy arrived at Kunning Palace a quarter of an hour later.
Physician Jiang was a middle-aged man in his early thirties. Standing next to Physician Xu, who was over fifty, he looked even younger and more handsome. Xu Lejin shook her head almost imperceptibly and remained silent.
After entering the inner room and taking the Empress's pulse, Physician Jiang reached the same conclusion as Physician Xu.
Because Physician Jiang had always been the Empress's personal physician, he readily prepared a prescription for the Empress to protect her pregnancy and to recuperate afterward.
Inside the inner chamber, the Empress had already made all the necessary preparations!
Led by Yun Cui, Xu Lejin entered the inner room and bowed to the Empress, who looked weak and was half-lying on the bed, to pay her respects.
The Empress looked at Xu Lejin and said, "Fortunately, Consort Xu brought Imperial Physician Xu to my palace today, otherwise my unborn child might not have been safe. What brings Consort Xu to my palace at this hour?"
"It is my honor to serve Your Majesty the Empress. Your Majesty is in good health. Even without me and Physician Xu coming to Your Majesty's palace, the imperial fetus will surely be safe and sound."
After a pause, Xu Lejin continued, "I have come here today to discuss the Laba porridge."
"Today, the Imperial Kitchen, following Your Majesty's orders, sent me Laba porridge. I noticed a faint bitter smell in the porridge and became wary. I did not eat it, but instead sent someone to the Imperial Hospital to fetch Physician Xu to examine whether the porridge had been tampered with."
"This humble servant was just guessing randomly, but after Physician Xu examined it, he found that someone had laced the Laba porridge with arsenic, a deadly poison that can kill on sight. This humble servant is filled with fear and unease, so I thought of asking Your Majesty the Empress to do the right thing for me."
After speaking, Xu Lejin lowered her head slightly and looked at her toes.
The Empress raised her eyes and glanced at the head palace maid, Yun Cui.
Yun Cui spoke respectfully, saying, "Your Majesty, our head maids Qiu He and Qiu Jin of Kunning Palace died from poisoning after eating the Laba porridge you bestowed upon them. They bled from all seven orifices."
"Imperial Physician Jiang examined Qiuhe and Qiujin and said they were poisoned by the deadly poison arsenic..."
The empress's face was gloomy.
Upon hearing this, Xu Lejin covered her mouth in horror, her face filled with shock and astonishment.
Inside the Kunning Palace, all was quiet for a moment, with only the Empress's slightly rapid breathing due to her anger being heard.
At this moment, Nongyu entered with a flustered expression.
Nongyu knelt on the ground, opened her mouth, but hesitated.
The Empress's face darkened, and she said coldly, "What happened? Why are you in such a panic? What kind of behavior is this?"
"Your Majesty, please forgive me, Your Majesty, please forgive me."
Nongyu kowtowed repeatedly, and with a forced smile, she said respectfully, "Your Majesty, it was Consort Wanyan of Changchun Palace who was poisoned. After eating Laba porridge, Consort Wanyan suddenly vomited blood and fainted."
"Imperial Physician Zhang from the Imperial Hospital treated Consort Wanyan. She was poisoned by arsenic."
The Empress's heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to remain calm and said in a deep voice, "Arsenic again? How could there be arsenic in the Laba porridge of the Imperial Kitchen?"
"Chen Fugui, you must personally investigate and find out exactly where the arsenic in this Laba porridge is."
Chen Fugui, the chief eunuch of Kunning Palace, respectfully acknowledged and withdrew.
The Empress took a breath and looked intently at Nongyu, asking, "How is Consort Wanyan?"
"Your Majesty, Consort Wanyan has regained consciousness thanks to the care of Imperial Physician Zhang, as she ate too little Laba porridge. However, the imperial fetus in her womb cannot be saved."
After a slight pause, Nongyu continued, "Imperial Physician Zhang also said that Consort Wanyan accidentally ingested arsenic, which damaged her health, and she will never be able to conceive again."
"Is Consort Wanyan pregnant?"
The empress looked surprised.
Xu Lejin slightly raised her eyes and glanced at the Empress and Nongyu, who had her head bowed.
Nongyu respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, Consort Wanyan was already one month pregnant, but because it was still early in the pregnancy, it had not been diagnosed."
The Empress sighed, thinking to herself what a pity.
After a pause, the Empress scrutinized Nongyu and Yuncui, and then ordered in a deep voice, "Yuncui, go to the Qianqing Palace yourself and report to the Emperor that Consort Wanyan was poisoned and miscarried because someone had laced Laba porridge with arsenic. Please make a decision."
"yes."
Yun Cui respectfully agreed and withdrew.
The Empress looked at Xu Lejin and said, "Consort Xu, please return to Yikun Palace first. As for the matter of the poison in the Laba porridge, I will give you justice after I have investigated it thoroughly."
"Yes, Your Majesty. This servant thanks you. This servant takes her leave!"
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