Chapter 19 The Heartless and Unfeeling Top Scholar (Part 19) (Added)
Jiang Xinyue suppressed her resentment: "I understand, it won't happen again."
Seeing her expression, Consort Jiang couldn't bear it: "Alright, you can deal with that maidservant slowly after your husband gets tired of her."
"As for Ji Huaizhi's wife, you'll see in a moment. She'll help you get revenge."
Jiang Xinyue looked up at her.
"real?"
Consort Jiang reached out her hand, and the palace maid beside her helped her up: "Ji Huaizhi is an ignorant and arrogant man. He speaks freely in the court and has offended countless people."
"But the higher you climb, the harder you fall."
Shen Zhiyi followed the Empress to admire the flowers in the Imperial Garden.
We encountered many other ladies and young women along the way.
Everyone was surprised that Lady Shen would be with the Empress.
"The Shen family is truly blessed. But why is the Imperial Concubine hosting this year's Hundred Flowers Banquet?"
"What else could it be? Consort Jiang is favored."
"Isn't Her Majesty the Empress angry?"
"Why is Your Majesty angry? With the eldest son, no one in the palace, except His Majesty and the Empress Dowager, can surpass her."
After the Hundred Flowers Banquet began, the Empress made a brief appearance before returning to the palace.
Consort Jiang rested her head on her hand, looking at the court musicians playing music below, feeling utterly bored.
Jiang Xinyue sat in the audience, looking at Shen Zhiyi across from her, and occasionally glaring at her with sharp eyes.
"Go down. These court musicians and teachers have nothing new to offer." Consort Jiang looked at the crowd below the stage: "Today's banquet is a Hundred Flowers Banquet, so please don't be so reserved."
That's what they say, but who knows what the others are really thinking?
Consort Jiang was also annoyed, not expecting that the Empress would only show her face and then leave.
A servant was sent to invite His Majesty, but the palace attendant returned and said that His Majesty was too busy with official duties to come.
The Hundred Flowers Banquet she hosted today was not only to get closer to Shen Zhiyi, but also to show everyone how favored she was in the palace.
Unexpectedly, apart from the Empress, His Majesty didn't come at all, so the show couldn't continue.
The most important event is the Hundred Flowers Banquet, but His Majesty is not here, so we cannot perform the hairpin flower ceremony.
The other concubines, seeing this, wondered how they would ridicule them.
"I have had the Imperial Household Department prepare edible flowers to accompany the delicacies from land and sea for everyone to try. I have also used the flowers to make exquisite pastries and rice wine."
Everyone was curious after hearing this.
As soon as he finished speaking, many palace servants came in carrying exquisite utensils.
It contains exquisite dishes, all made with flowers.
Some flowers were displayed alongside precious venison, as well as bird's nest and camel hump, placed in front of them.
The freshness and elegance of the flowers, combined with the rich flavors of other delicacies, added a unique artistic conception to the banquet table.
Everyone's eyes lit up as they looked at the delicious food and exquisite plating on the table.
May this banquet allow everyone to temporarily set aside their worries and enjoy this wonderful spring time.
Consort Jiang raised her wine cup, and everyone else raised their cups with both hands: "Thank you, Your Highness."
The banquet was already decorated with fresh flowers to create a vibrant atmosphere, and there were also flower arrangements on the tables.
"This wine has a floral fragrance," one of the women exclaimed in amazement.
Consort Jiang smiled and said, "Madam Shangshu has a good capacity for alcohol. This is osmanthus wine that I found, and I have also prepared rose syrup and jasmine tea."
"This osmanthus wine is mellow and sweet on the palate, smooth and rich, with a pleasant balance of sweet and sour flavors and a long aftertaste. Your Majesty has such refined taste."
Consort Jiang chuckled: "Good things should be shared among everyone. It's rare to have half a day of leisure."
"I hope you all enjoy yourselves."
I drank one cup of the Osmanthus Wine with the Delight of the Branches.
Although it's fermented rice, it can easily make you drunk, so I'm afraid of making a mistake and don't dare to drink too much.
Consort Jiang's gaze remained fixed on Shen Zhiyi: "Does Madam Ji dislike this osmanthus wine?"
All eyes fell on Shen Zhiyi.
Shen Zhiyi rose and bowed respectfully: "Your Majesty, I have been feeling unwell lately and the doctor advised me not to drink alcohol, but just now I smelled the rich fragrance of this osmanthus wine and simply couldn't resist."
"But then I remembered Physician Xue's instructions, so I had to suppress my feelings of pleasure, which led to the misunderstanding by the Imperial Concubine."
"Which imperial physician is Physician Xue?" Jiang Xinyue's voice was filled with disbelief, as if she was certain that she was lying.
"Who knows if you're telling the truth or not?"
Shen Zhiyi: "It was His Majesty who sent Physician Xue to take my pulse and ensure my safety."
Consort Jiang's face stiffened for a moment before recovering immediately: "Since Physician Xue has said so, then you should drink the jasmine tea. It's very fragrant, and you should like it."
Shen Zhiyi bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Jiang Xinyue frowned: "Madam Ji really knows how to make excuses."
Consort Jiang gave Jiang Xinyue a look, inwardly cursing her for being so impatient.
Shen Zhiyi didn't touch the wine pot again, but was persuaded by Consort Jiang to eat quite a lot.
The banquet then included poetry games and dance performances.
Shen Zhiyi kept her eyes fixed on the dance in the center, going from initial excitement to feeling drowsy later on.
Consort Jiang had been watching her closely, and couldn't help but smile as she looked at the dancers in the middle.
So what if she doesn't drink? She wouldn't do anything to the drink.
"Madam, are you sleepy?"
Shen Zhiyi rubbed her temples, and before she could speak, she vaguely heard Consort Jiang above her say, "Madam Ji, what's wrong? Why are you so sleepy?"
Shen Zhiyi tried to get up, but she almost fell headfirst.
"lady."
Chen Zhiyi regained consciousness for a moment, her fingertips tightening around the tender flesh, her eyes clearing somewhat:
"I don't know why either. Perhaps the wine I just drank clashed with the medicine prescribed by the imperial physician, which is why he said I shouldn't drink alcohol."
"Are you blaming the Imperial Concubine for making you drink?"
Jiang Xinyue always tries to find fault with Shen Zhiyi.
Shen Zhiyi: "How could that be? This was clearly my own fault for indulging in too much drinking. It has nothing to do with Your Majesty."
"Since Madam Ji is unwell, she should go and rest for a while." Consort Jiang had someone escort her to a side hall, then said something to another eunuch before turning her head.
"In addition, I have already sent someone to invite Physician Xue. He will come and take a look at you in a little while."
Shen Zhiyi was helped away from her seat.
When no one was looking, a palace maid withdrew.
Consort Jiang raised her wine cup and glanced at Jiang Xinyue.
Jiang Xinyue seemed to see the words "learn something" in her elder sister's eyes.
Everyone saw that Madam Ji was helped to a side hall.
They all exchanged glances. Lord Ji was known for being fiercely protective of his own. If something happened to Madam Ji in Consort Jiang's palace, there would be quite a show to watch.
However, considering the strict rules of the palace, Consort Jiang would not do anything to damage her reputation.
After an unknown amount of time, a palace servant told Consort Jiang that Physician Xue had arrived.
Consort Jiang stood up: "Imperial Physician Xue has arrived. I will take him to see Madam Ji first. Everyone, please enjoy yourselves."
Jiang Xinyue thought for a moment and then got up and followed without making a sound.
Consort Jiang strolled leisurely, and when she saw Jiang Xinyue arrive, she gestured for the people behind her to move further away.
"Say what you want to say."
Jiang Xinyue was practically bursting with rage: "You drugged her? This was the banquet you arranged..."
Consort Jiang tapped her head: "Who said I drugged her? You yourself said this was a banquet I hosted. How could I do something that would ruin my reputation?"
Jiang Xinyue asked in confusion, "Then?"
Consort Jiang was speaking in riddles, which she couldn't understand.
"Just you wait and see."
Upon arriving at the side hall, Physician Xue was already waiting at the door. The other party greeted the Imperial Concubine.
Consort Jiang lazily told him to rise: "Madam Ji is feeling unwell, go and see what's wrong."
Physician Xue bowed his head: "Yes."
Hongyin was anxious, sensing that something was wrong with the lady's behavior.
After examining her, Physician Xue raised his eyebrows, seemingly unable to believe it. He looked at her again, then glanced at Hongyin in surprise.
"Imperial Physician Xue, what's wrong with my wife?"
Seeing his expression, Hongyin had a bad feeling.
"Has Madam Ji eaten anything today?" Physician Xue asked.
“My wife only had a cup of osmanthus wine and some food from the banquet, that’s all.” Hongyin’s heart skipped a beat.
"This..." Imperial Physician Xue had seen a lot in the palace after being there for so long.
"What's wrong, Physician Xue? Please speak freely," Consort Jiang said softly.
Physician Xue bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I have diagnosed Madam Ji with symptoms of poisoning. I would like to examine what she has consumed."
"How dare you!" Jiang Xinyue glared at her. "Are you saying my elder sister poisoned her?"
"But my wife..." Hongyin thought anxiously.
"You dog of a servant, you have no right to speak in this palace!" Jiang Xinyue felt a surge of pleasure upon hearing that she had been poisoned.
Consort Jiang told her to calm down, and then said to Physician Xue, "Everyone had the same food today, so how could Madam Ji be poisoned?"
"Besides, I have no grudge against Madam Ji, so why would I do such a thing?"
Imperial Physician Xue: "Your Majesty can call in other physicians from the Imperial Hospital to come and take a look."
Hongyin gritted her teeth, knelt down, and kowtowed: "Your Highness, my husband is still in the palace, may I ask!"
Consort Jiang frowned: "So rash! Someone, slap him!"
The old woman behind her stepped forward and grabbed her, just as she was about to strike, a commotion arose outside.
"Her Majesty the Empress has arrived."
"What happened?" The Empress was helped in, her expression serious. "I was perfectly fine when I was strolling in the Imperial Garden with Madam Ji. How did I suddenly fall ill?"
"Your Majesty," Hongyin struggled, "Imperial Physician Xue says my lady has been poisoned! Please, Your Majesty, save my lady!"
The Empress frowned: "Consort Jiang, what are the people around you doing?"
The old woman bowed and withdrew. Consort Jiang said calmly, "It's too noisy. This girl is accusing me of plotting against her mistress. Shouldn't I teach her a lesson?"
Hongyin knelt on the ground and shook her head: "I didn't. I just wanted to ask the Imperial Concubine to tell my master about this."
The Empress said, "Xiao Xuanzi, go to the Imperial Hospital and summon a few more imperial physicians. Then go to the Imperial Study and inform the Emperor about this matter. At this time, Lord Ji should still be in the palace."
Then he looked at Hongyin and said, "Don't worry about your wife. Someone, check Madam Ji's food."
"yes."
Hongyin kowtowed gratefully upon hearing this, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress, thank you, Your Majesty the Empress."
She didn't know why, but she always felt that as long as the master came, the mistress would be alright.
Consort Jiang asked expressionlessly, "Didn't Her Majesty the Empress return to the palace? Why has she suddenly come here?"
"Feeling bored in the palace, I came out for a stroll and happened to run into someone from your palace who was looking for Physician Xue, so I thought I'd come and take a look."
Jiang Xinyue bowed and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress."
"Please rise."
The Empress went in and glanced at Chen Zhiyi: "Madam Ji looks quite well, how could she be poisoned?"
"Imperial Physician Xue?"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Imperial Physician Xue stepped forward and explained, "Your Majesty, although Madam Ji's complexion is good, she has been sleeping for a long time and has not woken up even when there is noise outside. In addition, before she went to sleep, Miss Hongyin said that Madam Ji was dizzy and weak, and kept yawning, as if she was extremely sleepy."
"I heard from Madam Ji's maid that she vomited before she fell into a coma. The preliminary diagnosis is that Madam Ji has been poisoned, but we do not yet know what kind of poison it is."
Jiang Xinyue glanced at her elder sister and noticed that she remained completely unfazed by what she had heard.
Consort Jiang stepped forward and said, "I have prepared a banquet today, and the food and drink are the same for everyone. Even the other concubines and court officials have not experienced any discomfort."
"How did Madam Ji end up like this?"
Physician Xue: "Madam Ji has been taking medicine to nourish her body recently. It's possible that the medicine she's taking is counteracting the prescription I gave her."
The Empress, holding the handkerchief, exclaimed in surprise, "You can even do that?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. The final result still needs to be carefully examined."
"His Majesty has arrived."
"Prince Rong and Lord Ji have arrived."
"Greetings, Your Majesty; greetings, Prince Rong; and Lord Ji."
Hearing the commotion, the people inside immediately came out. The Empress shook her handkerchief and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Consort Jiang and the others did not expect them to arrive so quickly.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
"Royal sister-in-law."'
"Your Majesty the Empress," Ji Huaizhi bowed.
"No need for formalities. What's going on? Can't even a Hundred Flowers Banquet be peaceful?" The emperor's tone was somewhat impatient.
After bowing, Ji Huaizhi immediately went into the inner room to see Chen Zhiyi.
"It's suspected that Lady Shen was poisoned; an investigation is underway," the Empress explained. "You arrived so quickly?"
"Your Majesty, I happened to run into them on the way there."
Consort Jiang was startled. No wonder he arrived so quickly; His Majesty knew about what was happening in the palace.
"How's the investigation going?" The emperor sat above, his expression somewhat cold and hard.
Physician Xue explained the situation, and just then, the eunuch who had gone to check on Lady Ji's food arrived. He said there was nothing wrong with the tea and food, and the wine was also fine.
The Empress glanced at Consort Jiang.
Consort Jiang also looked over: "I didn't expect Madam Ji to be so precious. Everyone is eating the same food, but only she is not feeling well."
"Now it's my fault."
The Emperor said, "Bring up everything Lady Ji has eaten so the imperial physician can examine it."
"yes."
Consort Jiang noticed that His Majesty hadn't looked at her since he entered, and suppressed her unease.
Jiang Xinyue stood aside, not daring to utter a sound, after all, the emperor was above her.
Ji Huaizhi went inside to check on Shen Zhiyi, while Hongyin was almost crying with worry beside him.
"master."
Before the master arrived, she was probably the only one here who was most worried about the madam's safety.
Ji Huaizhi frowned and checked: "Tell me everything that happened after Madam left the table."
“When Madam felt sleepy during the banquet, Consort Jiang asked her to rest. Actually, Madam said on the way that she was feeling better and was going to rest for a while before coming over.”
"But I didn't expect it to get even worse in no time."
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