Xu Lejin looked at the results and found that it had been adulterated with various substances that were harmful to the body.
After a deep sigh and a moment of contemplation, Xu Lejin instructed Yingchun, "Put away all those adulterated items and put them in the storeroom."
Yingchun pondered for a moment, then respectfully agreed.
After a moment's consideration, Zhi Shu spoke softly, "Your Highness, these are all evidence. Are you just going to let the murderer get away with it? I think Your Highness should report this to the Emperor and the Empress and ask them to do justice for you. The mastermind behind this should not be tolerated."
With a smile, Xu Lejin glanced at Zhishu.
Shaking her head, Xu Lejin smiled faintly, "These things were all sent by the Imperial Household Department. Even if the Emperor investigates, it's just that the people from the Imperial Household Department are being made scapegoats."
“Even if we lose these things, there will be others. Rather than giving the murderer other opportunities, we should keep these things, pretend to use them, and lull the murderer into a false sense of security. Let’s be careful, and everything will be fine once we get through this period of confinement.”
Zhi Shu nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
Yingchun raised her eyes slightly and suddenly realized that their mistress was not weak or timid, but was thinking about the long term.
Of course, Yingchun had a vague feeling that their mistress was hiding something from them. Her mistress was confident in her abilities, which was why she let these demons and monsters jump around and cause trouble.
Xu Lejin summoned the imperial physician to Yikun Palace, and the news quickly spread throughout the six palaces, east and west.
The Empress's heart skipped a beat, followed by extraordinary joy, as if she could already see Xu Lejin lying ill in bed, on her deathbed, with little time left.
Yun Cui and Nong Yu exchanged a glance, suppressing their doubts.
Upon learning of this, Consort Niohuru of Chuxiu Palace dispatched her head maid, Lianxing, to visit Xu Lejin at Yikun Palace. After Lianxing's visit, everyone in the harem soon learned that Xu Lejin was depressed, which had led to her becoming weak and bedridden.
Consort Tongjia of Chengqian Palace, the heavily pregnant Lady Majia, Lady Nara of Yanxi Palace, and others could not hide their schadenfreude...
The Qianqing Palace.
Liang Jiugong carefully chose his words and respectfully reported to Emperor Kangxi: "Your Majesty, news has come from Yikun Palace that the items in Consort Xu's West Annex Hall have been tampered with and adulterated with drugs that weaken the body."
"After weighing the options, Consort Xu decided to remain unchanged and keep those things, pretending to be weak to lull the person behind the scenes into a false sense of security. Now, everyone in the palace is saying that Consort Xu is unlucky."
Emperor Kangxi paused for a moment, then wrote the character "Approved" on the memorial with his brown vermilion brush.
"Xu is quite clever. She knows that the enemy is in the dark while she is in the light. She keeps those things and pretends to be sickly, so that the mastermind behind the scenes will be careless."
With a loud laugh, Kangxi said in a deep voice, "Liang Jiugong, have someone thoroughly investigate what exactly happened in Xu's palace. The imperial court and the harem are one. The imperial court is currently in turmoil, and the harem is not peaceful either. How did the Empress and Niohuru manage the harem, that such a big mistake occurred?"
Liang Jiugong respectfully replied, "Yes."
After a moment of contemplation, Kangxi continued, "Take a thorough investigation of all the palaces, especially the Empress's palace, Zhongcui Palace, and Yonghe Palace. The Empress, Lady Ma Jia, Lady Zhang, and others are all pregnant. I have already lost five children in my previous life, and I do not want any more pregnant concubines in the harem to suffer any mishaps."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Liang Jiugong left the Qianqing Palace, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. He looked up at the azure sky and pondered to himself, "The harem is about to turn upside down. The Emperor values the imperial heir..."
The young eunuch Zhao Chang stepped forward with a fawning smile and said, "Master, the Empress of Chengqian Palace has sent word that she requests your presence at Chengqian Palace. What do you think, Master?"
Zhao Chang and Li Dequan were both disciples of Liang Jiugong.
Among them, Zhao Chang was young, clever, quick-witted, and eloquent, which made him a favorite of Liang Jiugong. As for Li Dequan, he was a bit dull and straightforward, so he was not as likable as Zhao Chang.
Liang Jiugong glared at Zhao Chang. "You're clever, but don't use your cleverness in the wrong place. We serve the Emperor in the Qianqing Palace, not the concubines in the harem. You need to know your place."
Zhao Chang responded meekly, keeping his head down and remaining silent.
Before they knew it, it was the end of January, and Xu Lejin's month-long confinement had come to an end.
The official entered the hall with a solemn expression, and said in a flustered voice, "Your Highness, Sister Nongyu from the Empress's palace has come to visit you on Her Majesty's orders..."
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "I understand."
After speaking, Xu Lejin, supported by Yingchun, left the inner room looking weak.
While looking Xu Lejin up and down, Nongyu bowed and said, "This servant Nongyu has come to visit Consort Xu on the orders of Her Majesty the Empress. May Consort Xu be well."
Xu Lejin coughed lightly twice, her face looking weak.
"Thank you for remembering me, Your Majesty. I was just released from confinement this afternoon and was planning to go to Kunning Palace to pay my respects to Your Majesty starting tomorrow. Now I'm troubling you, Nongyu, to come and visit me in person."
After saying this, Xu Lejin took a deep breath.
Nongyu smiled gently and said softly, "Consort Xu is unwell, and Her Majesty the Empress specially ordered me to visit her. Now that I see Consort Xu, she is indeed as frail as the rumors say."
"Consort Xu, Her Majesty the Empress has decreed that you should focus on recuperating in Yikun Palace until you are fully recovered, after which you may visit Kunning Palace to pay your respects to Her Majesty the Empress morning and evening."
Nongyu raised her head slightly, her face stubborn and proud.
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, suppressing her joy, and said weakly, "Your Majesty the Empress is so considerate, I should comply, but paying my respects to Your Majesty the Empress every day is my duty as a concubine, I..."
Before she could finish speaking, Xu Lejin coughed twice more.
With disgust in her eyes, Nongyu said coldly, "Does the Empress command that Consort Xu disobey Her Majesty's decree? Consort Xu is currently ill and weak, while Her Majesty the Empress is pregnant with the Emperor's child and her health is precious. If Consort Xu were to transmit her illness to Her Majesty the Empress, could Consort Xu bear the responsibility?"
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then lowered her head and remained silent.
Nongyu gave a cold snort.
"Consort Xu, please take good care of yourself. This servant still needs to serve Her Majesty the Empress. This servant will take her leave!"
After speaking, Nongyu gave a perfunctory bow and, without waiting for Xu Lejin's reply, got up and left. Xu Lejin quickly coughed twice, panting, "Zhishu, quickly see Nongyu off."
Xu Lejin breathed a sigh of relief after Nongyu left Yikun Palace.
With a smirk playing on her lips, Xu Lejin was no longer the weak woman she had been before; she was now full of energy.
Yingchun hesitated for a moment before speaking, "My lady, if Her Majesty the Empress finds out that you have deceived Nongyu like this, I am worried..."
"I didn't deceive Nongyu. I was just following the Empress's wishes and pretending to be weak. I'm weak, but I'll get better after some time of recuperation. The Empress is happy right now, so why would she blame me for being weak?"
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