Zhi Shu respectfully agreed and withdrew.
Yingchun and Ruhua stared anxiously at the insect-infested fabric, their faces grim and unsightly.
Carefully choosing her words, Yingchun spoke softly, "This has happened four or five times since you were placed under house arrest, Your Highness. You've only been confined for a month, yet those people have repeatedly tampered with our belongings."
"This servant truly feels indignant on behalf of Your Highness!"
Xu Lejin's lips curled up, and she looked at the fabric on the table with a half-smile. She said coldly, "Indeed, as you said, this is the fifth time. A few days ago, it was just minor trouble, such as adding sand to the food or using inferior products. But now they've gone so far as to tamper with the fabric."
"Although this brocade satin is no longer fashionable, and it's infested with insects, so I might not be able to make clothes from it, but ultimately..."
With a solemn expression, Xu Lejin pondered for a moment.
Looking at Yingchun and Ruhua, Xu Lejin said, "When Physician Xu came, let him take a good look at all the New Year's gifts sent by the Imperial Household Department and the items in our West Annex Hall. I want to see if anyone has tampered with these things, except for the cloth that is infested with insects."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Welcoming spring, entering the painting, respectfully responding.
Meanwhile, inside the Kunning Palace.
The Empress is five months pregnant with the Emperor's child. Because she is preoccupied with many worries during her pregnancy, the pregnancy is unstable, which indirectly leads to the Empress's weakness and constant need for medication.
After drinking the bitter medicine that was served, the Empress wiped her mouth, looked at Yun Cui beside her, and said in a deep voice, "Yun Cui, if you fail to do what I asked you to do this time, you may request to leave the palace and return to the Hesheli family!"
"I will not keep any useless people around me."
Yun Cui knelt on the ground with a thud, looking at the Empress with pleading eyes, and said, "Your Majesty, this servant has already done as you instructed, tampering with Consort Xu's food, accessories, and ornaments."
"Consort Xu and Madam Xu were originally palace maids and are very healthy. It is probably because those medicines take a long time to take effect that there has been no news of Madam Xu's health deteriorating."
Yun Cui lay prostrate on the ground.
"Your Majesty, I am utterly loyal to you. Please, Your Majesty, do not send me out of the palace..."
The Empress gave a cold laugh and remained silent.
Nongyu lowered her head, a sense of lingering fear flashing through her mind. She became even more cautious, afraid that a single misstep would cost her her life.
After a long while, the Empress glanced outside Kunning Palace and said in a deep voice, "Spring has arrived, flowers are blooming, and all things are reviving. Zhang Shi in Yonghe Palace, is she about to give birth?"
Yun Cui was taken aback.
"Your Majesty, Consort Zhang's due date is in the middle of next month, which is a month away. The imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital have reported that Consort Zhang's baby is a princess, and the pulse is weak."
"Your Majesty need not worry!"
The Empress smiled and nodded, then said in a cold voice, "Although the imperial physicians have diagnosed that Zhang is most likely carrying a princess, we should be prepared for the worst. What if Zhang's belly is full and she gives birth to a prince?"
Even if they don't grow up to be big, as long as they are princes, the Emperor will cherish them.
Yun Cui bowed deeply, not daring to utter a sound.
Nongyu timidly raised her head, glanced at the Empress, and said carefully, "Your Majesty, Consort Zhang, although of humble origin, is beautiful and has been pregnant twice."
"Even if Consort Zhang's child is still a princess, with her beauty, it is possible that she will become pregnant again in the future. I think it would be better to take advantage of this childbirth to get rid of Consort Zhang."
Yun Cui looked at Nong Yu in horror, opened her mouth, but swallowed the words that were about to come out.
The Empress glanced at Nongyu with approval.
“What Nongyu said makes sense. Zhang is a vixen who seduced the Emperor. Sooner or later she will conceive again. In order to eliminate this trouble forever, I…”
After a pause, the Empress spoke in a cold voice. "The Emperor and the Empress Dowager value the imperial heirs. If I were to harm the imperial heirs, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager would not tolerate it. In that case, I will spare Zhang's life, but on one condition: that she, like Wanyan, be unable to bear children again after this birth."
"Nongyu, I entrust the Zhang family's affairs to you. Make sure it's handled flawlessly. If necessary, you can also shift the blame elsewhere."
Nongyu respectfully replied, "Yes."
The Empress then added, "Yun Cui has someone keep an eye on Yikun Palace. If it doesn't work this time, there will be another time. That vile woman Xu, as long as she's in the harem, is a constant reminder of how she defied me and climbed into the Emperor's bed."
"I can elevate them, like Shangjia and Fanjia, but I cannot tolerate them climbing into the imperial bed behind my back. The existence of Xu is a great disgrace to me."
Yun Cui lowered her head and nodded meekly.
Yun Cui pondered to herself, "Since the Empress is pregnant with this child, her temperament has become increasingly unpredictable and stubborn. If this continues, I wonder if it will affect the unborn child."
Inside Yikun Palace.
Xu Lejin stared at the problematic object that Physician Xu had examined, her face grim and her eyes sinister.
The intrigues and secrets of the imperial harem are truly everywhere and insidious!
She was careful and on guard, but in the end, she couldn't guard against it all. Her tea set, the decorations in the room, the accessories on the bedside table, and even the jewelry she wore every day were all tampered with.
Although it is not a deadly substance like arsenic or poison that kills instantly, prolonged use can weaken the body and lead to death without the person even realizing it...
Of course, it was fortunate that it only weakened her body, and not something like musk or safflower.
Xu Lejin's expression was solemn as she looked at Imperial Physician Xu and spoke in a deep voice, "Imperial Physician Xu, will these things that weaken the body and cause people to die quietly have any effect on my health?"
Physician Xu frowned and pondered for a moment.
"Reporting to Consort Xu, although it is a medicine that weakens the body, Consort Xu is healthy and has not been exposed to it much, so the effect is not significant. Consort Xu only needs to rest for half a month and her health will improve."
Xu Lejin nodded with a smile.
Yingchun hesitated for a moment, then asked softly, "Imperial Physician, would my young mistress need some nourishing herbal soup to help her recover as quickly as possible?"
Physician Xu raised his head slightly, glanced at Xu Lejin, and then lowered his head again. "Every medicine has some toxicity. Given Consort Xu's current condition, it is not suitable for her to take medicine. My suggestion is that Consort Xu maintain a cheerful mood every day and adjust her diet accordingly."
"It will take anywhere from ten days to a month for the concubine to fully recover."
Yingchun paused for a moment and looked at Xu Lejin.
Xu Lejin smiled gently and said softly, "I'll do as Physician Xu suggests. I'll trouble Physician Xu to list some foods that will benefit my health, and I'll have the Imperial Kitchen prepare meals according to the list every day."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey."
After a short while, Physician Xu finished listing the food items. Xu Lejin thanked Physician Xu with a smile and had Ruhua see him out.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
