Chuxiu Palace was in an uproar all night
Consort Sixue's child ultimately could not be saved.
In addition, Consort Sixue suffered a forced miscarriage when she was three and a half months pregnant, which damaged her health and meant that she would never be able to conceive again or give birth to imperial heirs.
Consort Sixue became the second concubine in the palace, after Consort Wanyan, to lose her fertility.
Early the next morning
Upon learning of Consort Sixue's miscarriage from Ru Hua, Xu Lejin's face showed sorrow. She sighed deeply and said, "Poor Consort Sixue, her child was already three and a half months along, yet she miscarried so suddenly."
"Consort Sixue served the Emperor for many years, and after many years of waiting, she finally had this child. It's pitiful that mother and child never even met, and the child never even had a chance to see the world before he was gone."
Ru Hua bowed slightly and quickly did Xu Lejin's hair and makeup.
Lianzhi pondered for a moment, glanced up at the outside of Yikun Palace, lowered her voice, and said softly, "Your Majesty, it is fate and destiny. Perhaps Consort Sixue is not fortunate enough to keep the little prince."
"Um."
Xu Lejin responded and asked Lianzhi and Ruhua to choose a dress with a simple color for her.
Inside the main hall of Chuxiu Palace, Consort Zhao looked haggard, her fair hands supporting her chin as she said listlessly, "Last night, Consort Sixue suffered a miscarriage, and all the younger sisters have already heard the news."
"I won't go into the specifics of the process, but..."
Consort Zhao sat up straight, her sharp eyes fixed on Xu Lejin and the other concubines below her. She spoke in a deep voice, "Last night, Concubine Sixue's miscarriage was not an accident, but rather a deliberate act."
"The imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital found a significant amount of abortifacient in Consort Sixue's medicine."
Xu Lejin and the other concubines were stunned by what they heard.
Abortifacient?
Who in the palace is so audacious as to harm the imperial heir? Although Consort Sixue comes from a humble background, the child in her womb is of royal blood. Who is so ruthless as to treat a child who is not yet fully formed and whose gender is unknown?
After a moment of contemplation, Xu Lejin looked at Consort Zhao and asked softly, "Your Highness, have the murderers who plotted against Consort Sixue and the imperial heir been caught?"
“You’re very kind, Consort Yu. I have already informed the Emperor and the Empress Dowager to investigate this matter thoroughly and give Consort Sixue justice.”
Consort Zhao gave Xu Lejin a cold look, her expression serious.
Xu Lejin nodded, lowered her head, and pondered to herself, who was the culprit behind this? Consort Sixue was pregnant, and any of the concubines in the palace could potentially poison her.
But those who bear the brunt are those who have princes or princesses.
Next was her, one of the concubines who received little favor and had no children.
Finally, there was Consort Zhao.
After all, Consort Zhao was the happiest when Consort Sixue became pregnant. She wanted to take care of Consort Sixue's daily life and meals herself. In Consort Zhao's heart, she already regarded Consort Sixue's child as her own.
The miscarriage of Consort Sixue has caused widespread panic in the harem.
The concubines speculated about who was so audacious as to openly harm the imperial heir. The Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager also took the matter very seriously.
Under the instructions of Emperor Kangxi and the Empress Dowager, the Imperial Clan Court and the Department of Criminal Justice conducted a thorough investigation into the matter.
Three days later, Consort Sixue did not receive the truth. Instead, she suffered a miscarriage and lost her child. Overwhelmed with grief, she never woke up again one morning.
In Chuxiu Palace, Xu Lejin and the other concubines, upon learning of the death of Consort Sixue, showed expressions of sorrow.
With a deep sigh, Xu Lejin murmured, "A beautiful soul has gone with the wind, leaving only sorrow in the world. It is pitiful that Consort Sixue suffered a miscarriage and lost her child. She did not live to see the truth come to light before she passed away with resentment."
Consort Zhao nodded slightly.
“What Consort Yu said is very true. Consort Sixue served His Majesty and had some seniority. Now that she has passed away with regrets, I am heartbroken. I only hope that the Imperial Clan Court and the Ministry of Justice can find out the real culprit behind the murder of Consort Sixue and the imperial heir as soon as possible, give Consort Sixue justice, and restore peace and tranquility to the harem.”
Consort Nara, Consort Majia, and others, acting affectedly, held handkerchiefs and wiped away crocodile tears from the corners of their eyes.
Although everyone looked sad, only one or two people were truly grieving for Consort Sixue. Most of the other concubines were gloating, happy that there was one less person in the palace to compete with them for the emperor's favor.
At this moment, Zhongshun, the chief eunuch of Consort Zhao's palace, bowed as he entered the hall.
Zhongshun knelt down and bowed to Consort Zhao, Xu Lejin, and the other concubines before reporting in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Clan Court and the Ministry of Justice have found the murderer who murdered Concubine Sixue and her son."
Who is it?
Consort Zhao stared wide-eyed at Chungshun with a sharp gaze.
"Your Majesty, it is Consort Muketu from Ning Shou Palace. Consort Muketu and Consort Sixue are half-sisters. Consort Muketu was born to the first wife and suffered greatly under her stepmother's care before entering the palace."
"The Dowager Consort Muketu entered the palace during her youth. In her early years, she was fortunate enough to serve the late Emperor and gave birth to his eighth son. The late Emperor's eighth son died at the age of seven, and the Dowager Consort Muketu was devastated."
After a slight pause, Zhongshun spoke softly, "Consort Sixue was born to the second wife of the Muketu family, and like the Dowager Consort Muketu, she was a legitimate daughter. Consort Sixue became pregnant, and the Dowager Consort Muketu, grieving the death of the late Emperor's eighth son, underwent a drastic change in temperament and took her anger out on Consort Sixue..."
Consort Zhao was stunned upon hearing this.
Xu Lejin raised her eyes and glanced at the eunuch Zhongshun, who was respectfully reporting. A meaningful smile flashed across her eyes.
Consort Muketu was the widow of the late emperor. She was of humble birth and had been living in the Ning Shou Palace for many years. She had no connections or influence. How could she possibly replace Consort Sixue's pregnancy-preserving medicine with an abortifacient medicine in full view of everyone?
In ancient times, people had a strong sense of family.
Although Consort Muketu had been mistreated by her stepmother in the Muketu family outside the palace, after entering the palace, she gave birth to the late emperor's eighth son and lived out her days in the Ning Shou Palace.
The death of the late emperor's eighth son was unrelated to Consort Sixue.
Consort Sixue's pregnancy is beneficial to both the Dowager Consort and the Muketu family outside the palace. How could the Dowager Consort be so ruthless as to treat Consort Sixue so cruelly?
Are the Imperial Clan Court and the Censorate unwilling to continue the investigation?
They still dared not continue the investigation, so they put forward the concubine who was enjoying her old age in Ning Shou Palace to take the blame.
Consort Zhao, Consort Li, and Consort Wanyan shared the same thoughts as Xu Lejin. Consorts Ma Jia and Na La, though puzzled, did not dwell on it.
The other concubines secretly rejoiced that their underhanded actions had not been discovered.
After a long while, Consort Zhao sighed softly and said, "Since it was discovered jointly by the Imperial Clan Court and the Censorate, then let them report the truth to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, and let them make a decision."
"yes."
Zhongshun respectfully withdrew, and the main hall of Chuxiu Palace was completely silent.
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