Looking at Ji Huan, whose face was deathly pale, Emperor Qianlong said with a pained expression, "My beloved concubine, don't worry, I will not let the person behind this get away with it."
Ji Huan looked at him with a look of dependence: "Your Majesty, I trust you."
Thus, Ji Huan began her life of rest and recuperation during her pregnancy. As for other matters, she said she would leave them to Qianlong and did not inquire about them at all.
Soon, it was discovered that a palace maid in Xianfu Palace had died from poisoning. Coincidentally, she was the person involved. Li Yu followed the investigation of this palace maid and found that the investigation became more and more complicated. It seemed that she could be connected to anyone. For a while, Li Yu couldn't figure out the clues.
He reported this to Emperor Qianlong, whose first reaction was that it was done by a concubine who came from a bondservant family.
The purpose? The reason became the thought of the vacant position of the Imperial Concubine.
But it's hard to say exactly who it is.
He focused his attention on Consort Jia and Consort Ling, but secretly he felt it was Consort Jia.
"Go and investigate Consort Jia...and Consort Ling, especially Consort Jia."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
When a palace maid died in Xianfu Palace, Consort Li fell ill from fright. Ji Huan immediately closed her palace to recuperate, and apart from the imperial physician coming in regularly to see her, very few palace maids left the palace each day.
Her posture, looking as if she were terrified, made Emperor Qianlong feel sorry for her.
Meanwhile, thanks to Chen Mama's reminder, Consort Shu learned about Consort Jia's role in the matter and provided many clues during Li Yu's investigation. Half a month later, Li Yu finally found out the truth.
"Your Majesty, this servant has discovered that the palace maid who put purslane juice in Consort Rou's food was arranged by Consort Jia. That palace maid has no relatives, but she has a childhood sweetheart. Consort Jia has something on that sweetheart. This matter took this servant a long time to investigate."
Emperor Qianlong sighed: "I know you've had a hard time lately."
"It is my honor to share the Emperor's burdens, and I am willing to endure any hardship."
"You are a loyal man. I will reward you with that piece of mutton-fat jade from my private treasury. For now, do not let anyone know about this."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Emperor Qianlong was not surprised by this result.
But Consort Jia has three sons, and he can't be completely careless, especially since Ji Huan hasn't actually gotten into any trouble.
He considers issues, but he never talks about fairness; he emphasizes balance. If this gets out, how will the children of Consort Jia and Ji Huan get along in the future?
He needs to think these things through carefully.
But it was impossible for him to let Consort Jia go. All the evidence from before was gone, and he wasn't sure who was involved. But now it seemed that Consort Jia was definitely involved.
Thinking of the children he had lost, and Empress Fucha's two legitimate sons, even though Emperor Qianlong would not reveal the truth, Consort Jia's fate would certainly not be good.
The investigation has been going on for almost a month, and Emperor Qianlong has finally given his verdict, punishing a group of problematic palace servants. The scapegoat is a rather unruly noblewoman from the previous emperor.
Ji Huan couldn't help but laugh when she saw the result.
Shuxiang thought she was angry, after all, they knew the truth, and the culprit, Consort Jia, was completely unharmed, so how could she not be angry? So she quickly comforted Jihuan.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor is protecting and favoring Consort Jia. Should I think of a way to teach Consort Jia a lesson?"
Ji Huan raised an eyebrow and smiled as she looked at Shu Xiang: "Do you think the Emperor is protecting and favoring Consort Jia?"
Isn't that so?
"Of course not. If our Emperor had such feelings for Consort Jia, Consort Shu wouldn't have had a chance, and Consort Jia would have become Consort Jia long ago."
"But this servant does not understand why His Majesty does not expose Consort Jia's true colors?"
"Don't forget that Consort Jia has three sons! The Emperor is probably letting the palace intrigue affect the princes. After all, the Emperor may not be sincere with women, but he is still somewhat sincere with his sons."
"We can't let Your Highness suffer like this!"
How unfair this is!
Ji Huan shook her head: "I am not wronged. You just wait! Just because there is no punishment in public does not mean there will be no punishment in private. Consort Jia's future is over! The Emperor is holding a grudge. Our Emperor is the kind of person who will make anyone who makes me uncomfortable uncomfortable."
"So, it's actually a good thing that this matter wasn't exposed?"
"Pretty much! And my position as a Noble Consort is already half secure."
After the incident involving Consort Jia, Emperor Qianlong would probably not choose a bondservant as a Noble Consort again, and as the victim, he still felt some pity for her.
As for the other half, it lies with Consort Yu.
She felt that with Consort Ling's methods, she should be able to suppress Consort Yu. Even if she couldn't suppress her, she wanted to let Emperor Qianlong know that neither Consort Yu nor Consort Ling were restless.
She's determined to get the other imperial concubine position.
Subsequently, Ji Huan made further arrangements to ensure that Consort Ling and Consort Yu would know the truth about Consort Jia's plot against her, and that the Emperor would also know about it, so that Consort Jia would have no chance of obtaining the rank of Imperial Consort.
Then she continued to nurture her pregnancy.
Consort Ling and Consort Yu are indeed vying for the rank of Imperial Consort. Consort Shu's child is fine, and she seems to be in good health. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, her position as Imperial Consort is secure. If she can't secure the last Imperial Consort rank, who knows how many more years she'll have to wait to advance further.
The two took turns performing, creating quite a lively atmosphere.
Consort Yu was able to give birth to the Fifth Prince safely, which means she wasn't exactly favored, but her methods were quite remarkable.
The two were evenly matched.
Emperor Qianlong was somewhat displeased with this. Competing for favor was one thing, but fighting for it was going too far!
Emperor Qianlong immediately spread the word that the selection of the Imperial Concubine would be finalized next month. Whether the news was true or not was unknown, but Consort Ling and Consort Yu both took it seriously.
The information coming from the Hall of Mental Cultivation is never wrong, and the two of them are becoming increasingly shrewd.
With Consort Ling pregnant, Consort Yu inevitably found it difficult to move around freely.
A few days later, Qingyin came in.
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