It was early morning, just as dawn was breaking.
Shi Lan opened her eyes alertly, glanced at Zhao Wang who was sleeping like a log beside her, and was very satisfied with the bewitching spell that Ming Xiao had given her.
Outside the curtain, the eunuch Yi approached and called out in a low voice.
Shi Lan raised her hand and pushed Zhao Wang hard, waking him from his sleep. "Your Majesty, it's time to go to court."
King Zhao groggily opened his eyes and saw the beautiful woman right in front of him. The intoxicating feeling from last night immediately surged from his tailbone throughout his body.
He wanted to do it again, but worried that it was too hasty. Helpless, King Zhao raised his hand and rubbed her slender waist twice. Then, thinking that the beauty had just been favored, he couldn't help but feel very affectionate. "My beloved concubine, are you feeling unwell?"
Shi Lan's face immediately turned as red as the morning sun. "Your Majesty is so brave, and I am so weak. I cannot bear your pity." As she spoke, her voice became barely audible.
King Zhao was amused by her half-hearted words and burst into laughter, feeling a surge of satisfaction that words could not express.
The eunuch Yimo stood two steps away from the curtain, his eyes lowered, like an old monk in meditation.
The two embraced and whispered sweet nothings to each other. After being served by the eunuchs, King Zhao rose to attend to the court.
The spacious side hall was suddenly empty. Shi Lan lifted the curtain and looked around. Seeing that no one was around, she quickly used her hairpin to prick her arm, squeezed out a few drops of blood, and smeared them on the bed.
Half an hour later, a palace maid came to tidy up the bed.
Shi Lan sat before her dressing table, seemingly tidying her appearance, but actually observing the expressions of the palace maids.
She felt a sudden sense of relief when she saw the palace maid turn back to report after seeing the bloodstains.
As the sun reached its zenith, Shi Lan headed to the main hall just before King Zhao was about to leave court. She was a concubine who had come with Duan Yang when she was married into the royal family. As this was her first time receiving the emperor's favor, she was obliged to pay her respects to Duan Yang, which was an unwritten rule.
In Yiling Palace, Shi Lan, with her sleeves gathered, looked like she had been pampered too much. She bowed gracefully and delicately, saying, "This concubine, Shi Lan, greets Consort Jiang."
Duan Yang's phoenix eyes narrowed sharply, and the jealousy and hatred in her heart made her unable to control herself and raise her hand to smash the jade bowl of soup on the table at Shi Lan.
Shi Lan slightly turned her body to avoid it, and the jade bowl shattered two steps behind her.
Upon seeing this, Duan Yang's anger intensified, and he shouted, "You shameless wench, you've got some nerve! Guards, drag her away and beat her!"
The palace maid standing by the palace gate responded and came over. Xi, who was half a step behind Duan Yang, stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, please calm down. This lowly maid must not be hit now."
Duan Yang glanced at Xi sideways. She could still listen to some of the advice given to this woman who was deeply trusted by Queen Jiang. "Why do you say that, old woman?"
Xi glanced at Shi Lan, then whispered into Duan Yang's ear, "This lowly woman has just gained favor, and the King is currently in high spirits. If you hurt her, wouldn't the King blame you? It's better to let the King be happy for a couple of days, and once he loses interest in her, you can find a fault with her and vent your anger."
Upon hearing this, Duan Yang pondered for a moment. Although she knew that what Xi said made sense, she was still feeling very frustrated. "But old woman, I feel really uncomfortable."
Xi glanced at Duan Yang's sad face, sighed inwardly, but said aloud, "Your Excellency grew up in the palace since childhood, you should know the meaning of forbearance."
Xi's words reminded Duan Yang of the concubines in the Jiang Kingdom's palace who were dressed up in a flamboyant manner and who enticed the Jiang King to linger, and the Jiang Queen who always endured and sighed in secret in her own palace.
Duan Yang felt a lump in her throat, thinking that she had only been in the Zhao Kingdom for half a year and was about to follow in her mother's footsteps. A hint of ruthlessness appeared in her eyes. "Old woman, force-feed her the medicine. I will make sure that she can never have the King's child in this lifetime."
Seeing that she no longer mentioned the beating, Xi felt relieved and hurriedly went to prepare the medicine.
When Duan Yang saw Shi Lan's radiant spring-like appearance, she felt a pang of pain in her eyes. She flung her sleeves and simply returned to her bedchamber, ordering the palace maids to keep a close watch on Shi Lan and not allow her to leave.
Upon hearing her command, Shi Lan knew she was no match for the three or four palace maids, so she could only stand still, wondering what would happen if she drank the medicine in her current condition.
The original owner suffered from malnutrition since childhood. Although she had recovered most of her health thanks to Ji Lang's careful treatment, she had been subjected to witchcraft twice in succession, which caused her body to become deficient. If Duan Yang were to give her a potent drug, she would probably die before she could avenge the original owner.
Time passed slowly, and Xi brought a bowl of brown liquid with a bitter smell to Shi Lan.
"Shi Jia Alan, this is a tonic bestowed upon you by a noble person. You should drink it quickly."
Shi Lan wrinkled her nose and said reluctantly, "Thank you for your trouble, Consort Jiang, but Shi Lan is weak. If I were to drink the tonic rashly, I would be unable to bear the effects. Please take back the reward."
Seeing that Shi Lan refused to accept it, Xi raised her eyes and gave a wink to the palace maid.
The palace maids surrounded her, tightly gripping Shi Lan's arms. Xi pinched Shi Lan's chin, forcing her to tilt her head back, and tried to force-feed her the bowl.
Shi Lan struggled desperately, trying to avoid the pouring medicine, but no matter how she tried, the medicine inevitably entered her throat.
At this moment, Shi Lan only regretted that she lacked the strength to break free from the restraints of these people.
Xi looked at Shi Lan and coldly shouted at several palace maids, "Why aren't you grabbing her?"
Xi held considerable power in the palace. With a single command, the palace maids quickly restrained Shi Lan. As Shi Lan drank the medicine little by little, Xi's face gradually relaxed.
"You lowly servant, let her go!" a man shouted as he rushed into the hall from outside.
Then, Xi flew straight out like a kite with a broken string, until she hit the wall half a meter away and fell to the ground with a 'bang'.
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