As soon as Xu Lejin left Kunning Palace, she ran into Consort Hesheli, who looked flustered.
After a moment's hesitation, Xu Lejin half-squatted and bowed to Consort Hesheli. Consort Hesheli returned the bow perfunctorily and then strode into Kunning Palace.
Watching Consort Hesheli's flustered figure, Xu Lejin's lips curled up into a faint smile.
Xu Lejin had just returned to the west wing of Yikun Palace when Xiao Jiangzi bowed and reported: "Your Highness, news has come from Changchun Palace that Yunxiang, the maidservant of Consort Hesheli, has died of poisoning after eating Laba porridge."
"Yunxiang? Died of poisoning?"
Xu Lejin suddenly realized why Consort Hesheli had rushed to Kunning Palace earlier.
It turns out that Consort Hesheli was not worried about the Empress's unborn child, but rather wanted the Empress to seek justice for her death from poisoning by Rue Ussuri.
After a slight pause, Xu Lejin spoke softly, "Her Majesty the Empress ordered the Imperial Kitchen to send Laba porridge to all the palaces. Even Yunxiang, a palace maid who served the Emperor but never received an official title, received Her Majesty the Empress's favor?"
Xiao Jiangzi smiled and said respectfully, "Your Highness, Miss Yunxiang was not so fortunate. The imperial kitchen sent Laba porridge to the west side hall of Changchun Palace, but Consort Hesheli did not like it, so she gave it to Miss Yunxiang instead. After eating the Laba porridge, Miss Yunxiang immediately passed away."
Xu Lejin nodded.
"So that's how it is. Yunxiang unintentionally saved Consort Hesheli from a disaster. No wonder she looked flustered when we encountered Consort Hesheli outside Kunning Palace earlier."
"How can one remain calm when it concerns one's life and fortune?"
Yingchun smiled and replied, "What you say is very true, Your Highness."
Half an hour later, news came from the East and West Six Palaces one after another: some palace maids had died from poisoning after eating Laba porridge, while others had been rescued in time due to mild poisoning.
Xu Lejin listened to Xiao Jiangzi and Ru Hua's report and sneered, "The empresses and concubines have all been working their way up in the palace for many years. When the Empress ordered the Imperial Kitchen to send Laba porridge to each palace, very few of the empresses and concubines ate it themselves. It was mostly given as a reward to the palace maids. It's just a pity for those innocent palace maids who were made scapegoats, died unjustly, or were poisoned."
"My lord, be careful what you say, for the walls may have ears."
Yingchun glanced towards the outside of the west wing hall, lowered her voice, and whispered a reminder.
The next day, apart from Consort Tongjia, who was confined to Chengqian Palace, and Consort Wanyan, who had just suffered a miscarriage due to poisoning, the other concubines gathered in the main hall of Kunning Palace.
It was past Chen Shi (7-9 AM), and the Empress had still not appeared.
“Sister Xu, I heard that Her Majesty the Empress was frightened yesterday and suffered a miscarriage. I wonder how Her Majesty is doing? I am pregnant and my body is heavy. I should have gone to Kunning Palace to visit Her Majesty the Empress yesterday, but unfortunately, the palace maid by my side died of poisoning. I am still shaken and feeling unwell.”
The heavily pregnant Consort Ma Jia looked at Xu Lejin, covered her mouth, and spoke softly.
Xu Lejin smiled slightly, "Sister Ma Jia is carrying the emperor's child, so everything should be done with the child's well-being in mind. Although Her Majesty the Empress was frightened yesterday, the child is now fine thanks to the treatment of the imperial physicians."
A hint of annoyance flashed in Consort Ma Jia's eyes, but her face showed a relieved expression. "It's so good that Her Majesty the Empress is alright. My sister Zhao Jia and I were worried half the night yesterday."
Xu Lejin smiled faintly and remained silent.
Consort Niohuru glanced at Consort Ma Jia and said softly, "It's quite strange, the Laba porridge that the Imperial Kitchen sent to each palace yesterday all had problems."
"Consort Wanyan of Changchun Palace suffered a miscarriage due to poisoning, which damaged her health. The Empress, myself, Consort Li, Consort Hesheli, Consort Dong, and the maids of Consort Zhang all died from poisoning after eating Laba porridge."
"The palace maids serving Consort Ma Jia, Consort Na La, and Consort Zhao Jia were not seriously poisoned and were saved by timely treatment. Consort Xu was lucky; she noticed that the porridge tasted wrong and asked the imperial physician to examine it."
Xu Lejin looked up at Niohuru, then quickly lowered her head.
Niohuru paused, then smiled and continued, "Among the concubines in the harem, only Sister Tongjia, whom the Emperor ordered to be confined to Chengqian Palace, remains unharmed..."
Consort Ma and the others exchanged glances and remained silent in contemplation.
At this moment, Yun Cui, who was by the Empress's side, came out from the inner room.
Yun Cui bowed to Consort Niohuru, Xu Lejin, and others, and said respectfully, "Your Highness, Consorts of Chuxiu Palace, Her Majesty the Empress is unwell and has specially instructed me to convey to Your Highness and Consorts of Chuxiu Palace that Her Majesty has received your greetings."
Niohuru paused for a moment, a flash of anger crossing her face.
Ma Jiashi, Zhang Shi, and others dared not speak out against their anger.
Xu Lejin and Dong Shi both lowered their heads, each lost in their own thoughts.
Two days later, the incident of arsenic being added to Laba porridge ended with the head of the imperial kitchen neglecting his duties, the imperial chef responsible for cooking the Laba porridge, and several eunuchs and palace maids committing suicide by hitting their heads against pillars, taking poison, or being beaten to death by order of Emperor Kangxi.
Despite her weakened state, the Empress met with the concubines in the harem.
"My dear sisters, the Laba porridge incident was caused by the negligence of the Imperial Kitchen. His Majesty and I have thoroughly investigated the matter. The person who suffered the most from the Laba porridge poisoning was Consort Wanyan. His Majesty rewarded Consort Wanyan with sixteen pieces of gold and silver jewelry and sixteen pieces of various brocades."
"I, I also had Nongyu send Consort Wanyan some of the best medicine to help her recover her health, hoping that she will be able to serve His Majesty soon."
Consort Niohuru took the lead, followed by the other concubines, who respectfully said, "Your Majesty is wise, and Your Majesty the Empress is kind. We, your humble servants, are deeply grateful!"
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