“A rash?” Yan Nan Gui frowned. “Your Majesty remembers what happened to Consort Mei… no, Consort Mei Ling last time, right? There are so many people serving in the harem, how could she easily run into someone she shouldn’t have? I’ve always felt it wasn’t a coincidence. Considering this matter, I’m afraid there’s someone behind it all.”
Shu Chengfeng frowned as well: "I understand. Don't worry, I will definitely give you a result."
"Really? What if it's the Empress? What if it's Consort Ye? What if it's Consort Xiangxian? Your Majesty, will you give me justice?" Yan Nangui tilted her head.
"Here you go. If it's them, I'll remember this for now. I'll give you justice later, okay?" Shu Chengfeng laughed.
"Tsk, Your Majesty is truly wicked. The Empress is your wife, and even if she has made a mistake, you should tolerate it. Consort Ye is your cousin, and she is pregnant. Are you just going to ignore her? Consort Xiang has been favored by you for many years. How can you punish her severely for making a mistake? So, is Your Majesty heartless, or is Your Majesty just being perfunctory?" Yan Nangui sneered.
"Insolent thing."
Shu Chengfeng laughed and scolded, "You're deliberately trying to make trouble for me. You're practically wearing your support for the Empress on your sleeve. Why would the Empress touch you? Ye Shi doesn't have that kind of brain. As for Su Shi, why would she touch you?"
"I don't want to hear any of this! Who asked you to reason with me? I've been wronged and I just want to hear something nice, why do you have to analyze it for me like this? I've been keeping quiet about it for your sake, and you're still trying to appease me!" Yan Nangui angrily punched him.
Shu Chengfeng pulled her into his arms and said, "Alright, alright, no matter who it is, I will avenge you. It's all about priorities, no matter who it is."
Yan Nangui lowered her head and bit Shu Chengfeng's shoulder hard, mumbling, "It's all your fault, you're a jinx."
Shu Chengfeng laughed, and she trembled so much that she couldn't hold her breath anymore.
Because of the thick winter clothes, His Majesty wasn't bitten this time.
"Alright, I'll find out. Stop fooling around." Shu Chengfeng patted her back with a smile.
"Is it me making a fuss? What if I actually eat it? Besides, my aunt loves it, is this harming me or her?" Yan Nangui was a proud person, and the thought of this made her angry.
"I will investigate thoroughly, don't worry." Shu Chengfeng patted her a few more times: "If it was directed at the Lady of Xinyang, I will certainly not show any mercy."
It's one thing for the concubines in the harem to make trouble among themselves, but if it involves plotting against the wives of officials in the court, then it's a different matter altogether. However, Shu Chengfeng thought that it was probably because the wife of the Marquis of Xinyang loved to eat that the people behind her were so sure that Yan Nangui would meet today.
This whole thing was just a random arrangement.
The emperor ordered a thorough investigation, and the Imperial Household Department cooperated, resulting in a resolution the very next day.
However, Shu Chengfeng temporarily suppressed the matter and said he would deal with it after the fifteenth.
Yan Nangui had no objection to this.
Making a scene during the Lunar New Year is never a good look.
However, the emperor already knew what was going on. This method wasn't particularly clever; it was simply bribing an aunt in the Imperial Household Department.
She's in charge of these things; she's the easiest target.
These past few days, everyone has been busy visiting relatives, and many people haven't paid attention to this matter.
The perpetrator probably felt relieved and relaxed, even though the failure was disappointing.
During the fifteenth family banquet, the Empress Dowager specifically praised the concubines a few times.
Consort Xiangxian was mentioned, and she was praised for her composure and magnanimity.
There's also Yan Nangui, who says she's sensible and intelligent.
There's also Consort Huo, who is said to be good at knowing the rules and how to behave.
Then there's Wen Guiyi, who's said to have a good temperament.
It's quite obvious that the Empress Dowager chose Consort Huo.
Shu Chengfeng didn't want to have a bad falling out with his mother, so since the Empress Dowager had specified the people, he knew it and first bestowed gifts upon the four of them.
Then I decided to visit Guiyunxuan tomorrow.
After all, the Huo family still needs to be employed.
That night, they naturally had to stay overnight at Fengxiang Palace.
After the fireworks ended, everyone dispersed.
When Yan returned from the south, he asked someone to cook some glutinous rice balls for him. After eating and drinking his fill, he lay down and went to sleep.
Another year has passed.
When the emperor was still in Fengxiang Palace when we paid our respects in the morning, Yan Nangui knew that today was the day.
Sure enough, after the greetings were finished, the emperor said, "On the fourth day, some unclean things entered Zhaochun Palace."
With that, he waved his hand, and Yunji began to recount what had happened that day.
The Empress was taken aback: "I'm so sorry, Consort Chen, why didn't you tell me for so long?"
"I think it would be embarrassing to make a scene during the New Year, especially since we have relatives visiting from all over the country. Why bother with such a big fuss?" Yan Nangui said.
"Consort Chen is indeed sensible; it's truly admirable." The Empress frowned. "Has Your Majesty investigated? Who dared to be so audacious?"
Shu Chengfeng smiled and said, "Should I ask you to step forward yourself, or should I summon you?"
After these words were spoken, all around fell silent.
The group looked at each other, all filled with doubt.
Only Wang Lingyi, who was sitting to the left of Yi Jieyu, suddenly asked, "What's wrong with Sister Yi Jieyu? Why is your face so pale?"
Everyone's eyes turned to look at them.
Yi Jieyu's hands trembled with nervousness, but she couldn't utter a word.
"Consort Yi?" The Empress's voice rose slightly: "Is that you?"
"No...it wasn't me...it wasn't me..." Consort Yi rose and knelt down: "Your Majesty, I'm innocent..."
"Bring your men here." Shu Chengfeng waved his hand.
Yunji went out for a while and then brought in two people.
One of them was that aunt from the Imperial Household Department. In less than half a month, she had become so thin that she looked unrecognizable. How could she not be afraid?
One of them was Sun Lin, the eunuch of Consort Yi. He was just captured and has already confessed.
As soon as Sun Lin entered, she kowtowed: "This servant deserves to die, this servant deserves to die, it was... it was Consort Yi who ordered this servant to do it, this servant dared not disobey."
"How dare you slander me? You...you're betraying your master!" Yi Jieyu said, her voice sharp but her voice weak.
"I have already found out where you got the items. If you don't want to implicate your family, you'd better confess honestly."
Soon, Physician He also entered.
"I have determined that this substance is the juice of a plant called dragon bone, which is ground into powder and dried. After ingestion, people will experience vomiting, dizziness, and diarrhea. In large doses, it can be fatal. Contact with it will cause skin redness and swelling, and if not treated promptly, it may ulcerate. Even with timely treatment, the rash will persist for about half a month."
"Is this...is this the same illness as Mei Lingyi's last time?" Consort Ke suddenly asked.
"Indeed, I have reviewed Mei Lingyi's previous medical records and diagnosis, and it is indeed this substance. However, Mei Lingyi had very little contact with it last time. This time, the amount is much larger, and ingestion will be more severe than contact," said Physician He.
Mei Lingyi rose and knelt down: "Your Majesty and Your Highness, please grant me justice."
Yan Nangui smiled and said, "See, you're a habitual offender."
"Qu! You are truly audacious to use such things in the inner palace!" the Empress roared.
Yi Jieyu was trembling all over, and it seemed she couldn't hold on any longer. If she was asked again, she would definitely have to admit it.
"Still won't admit it?" the Empress said sternly.
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