Chapter 49 (None)
Jiang Ling was shocked and exclaimed in disbelief, "What? Consort Li has been perfectly fine, how could she suddenly be on the verge of death?"
Emperor Yuanming was also taken aback, his face gradually darkening. He rose and strode outside. Jiang Ling hesitated for a moment, thinking that she was, after all, in charge of the inner palace and was genuinely curious. She quickly instructed Wen Juan to put the box away and hurriedly followed behind Emperor Yuanming.
After Consort Li moved out of Cuiwei Pavilion, she lived in the rear garden in the northeast corner of the palace. Jiang Ling was in a daze when she first came to this area. She had previously thought that Xiefang Pavilion was a shabby and cold palace, but compared with the rear garden, it could be described as magnificent.
Most of the concubines without official rank and who were not favored lived here. It was a matter of royal dignity; no matter how unfavored they were, they were still the emperor's concubines. Although the buildings in the rear garden were old, they still had five bays, with tall and magnificent eaves and bracket sets. Each room was deep and narrow. Each person had their own room, separated by a screen; the inner room was the bedroom, and the side rooms contained a couch.
Consort Li was staying in a room on the west side. Upon hearing that Emperor Yuanming was coming, all the concubines in the garden hurriedly came out to pay their respects. Huang Liang directed the eunuchs to drive them back to their rooms one by one.
Zheng Ze and Wu Shishan, both covered in sweat and with their court robes wrinkled and stained, hurried to the door to greet the Emperor and Consort Jiang: "Your Majesty, we greet you."
Jiang Ling stopped and nodded in return. Emperor Yuanming asked in a deep voice, "What exactly happened?"
Zheng Ze wiped the fine sweat from his brow and said nervously, "When I heard that Consort Li was vomiting and had diarrhea, I thought it was indigestion. I first sent Physician Wu to examine her. When Physician Wu arrived, he realized that something was wrong and quickly sent someone to report back to me. When I examined her, I found that Consort Li was in excruciating abdominal pain and there was blood in her stool. Physician Wu and I both believe that Consort Li must have been poisoned."
"Poisoned?" Emperor Yuanming's face grew increasingly grim, his anger rising like dark clouds on his face. He demanded sharply, "How could you be poisoned? What kind of poison?"
Zheng Ze's face turned pale, and he said tremblingly, "Your Majesty, please forgive me, I was unaware of this. Previously, Physician Wu and I induced vomiting in Consort Li using mung bean soup, and then prepared an antidote for her to take..."
Emperor Yuanming was consumed by rage. He glanced at them coldly, turned around, and stormed into the house.
"What's that?" Jiang Ling asked, pointing to the lush flowers and trees growing in the corner of the courtyard.
Zheng Ze followed Jiang Ling into the house dejectedly. Wu Shishan, who was walking behind, heard Jiang Ling's question and looked in the direction she pointed. He paused for a moment, a look of doubt flashing across his face, and said, "Replying to Lady Jiang, that is Gou Na, originally from the Western Regions. It is planted in the Imperial Garden and the Royal Garden. Gou Na blooms in April, with leaves like bamboo and flowers like peach blossoms. From a distance, it looks like clouds and is praised by the world as one of the Eight Fragrances."
Jiang Ling had never been to the Imperial Garden, and this plant was never grown in the Fanying Pavilion. Of course she recognized Gou Na, but she didn't know how to address her in the Dayin Dynasty.
Gou Na, which is the oleander of later generations!
If Consort Li was poisoned by oleander, unless she ate very little or was protected by a deity, she was doomed.
"Could wolfberry be used in medicine?" Jiang Ling pondered for a moment before asking.
Wu Shishan's doubts deepened, and he said, "Gou Na can be used for women to abort abortion and treat menstrual cramps. The leaves can relieve pain and remove blood stasis. Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners use them to treat swelling and pain from falls and injuries. They can also treat abdominal pain and rheumatic arthralgia. However, when picking the flowers, be careful not to get the sap on your hands, just like taro, or your hands will become red, swollen and itchy."
Jiang Ling remained silent, intending to say something, but then Consort Lin, Consort Zhao, and Consort Liu arrived together. She swallowed her words and curtsied to greet them from afar.
The three nodded to Jiang Ling in greeting and quickly went inside. Jiang Ling glanced at Wu Shishan, then went in as well.
The room reeked of a sour and strong medicinal odor, and was dimly lit, with candles still burning even in broad daylight. Consort Li lay on the bed with her eyes closed, curled up in pain, large beads of sweat rolling down her ashen face. The maid, Handan, anxiously wiped her face with a cloth.
Emperor Yuanming stood silently before the bed, his face so dark it seemed almost dripping with water. Zheng Ze's hand, holding the silver needles, trembled, and he hesitated to insert them. He gritted his teeth and said, "Consort Li, I have offended you. Handan, please hold Consort Li down."
Han Dan frantically pressed down on Consort Li's shoulders. Just as Zheng Ze was about to insert the needle, Consort Li suddenly woke up. With a strength she didn't know she had, she swept Zheng Ze's hands away and sat up on her side in bed. She got up so quickly that she seemed to have exhausted all her strength, and she fell headfirst off the bed.
Han Dan screamed and rushed forward to support Consort Li, saying in a trembling voice, "Consort, Consort, please lie down quickly. Physician Zheng will be giving you acupuncture."
Consort Li leaned against Handan, breathing heavily, and said with difficulty, "Your Majesty... I'm going to die..."
As she spoke, Consort Li gasped for breath again. She raised her hand and clutched her chest tightly, whispering, "Your Majesty, I am not afraid of death, but I cannot bear to leave you..."
A slight smile tugged at the corners of her lips, and flowers bloomed on her ashen face. The flowers deepened in color, complementing her bluish-purple lips, making her appear like a stunningly beautiful enchantress.
"Your Majesty... I fear dying unjustly. Mother... the Li family has been framed and can never be cleared."
Consort Li forcefully lifted her eyelids, and under the dim light, her cat-like eyes, which were like glass, were now only showing the whites, making them look particularly sinister.
"It was her, it was Consort Zhao who poisoned me! She took a bribe from the Li family and, fearing I would expose her, tried to silence me and bring about the downfall of the Li family!"
Consort Li stared intently at Consort Zhao, who stood behind Emperor Yuanming. Her voice became high-pitched and shrill as she cried out with all her might, "Your Majesty, please, Your Majesty, do justice for me and for the Li family!"
The room was deathly silent, the candlelight flickering. Consort Li's hand fell limply to her side, resting against Handan, and she remained silent.
"My lord, my lord!" Han Dan cried out, leaning back. Zheng Ze, seeing that something was wrong, stepped forward to check Consort Li's breathing, his whole body stiffened, and he quickly took her pulse.
After a long pause, Zheng Ze forced himself to reply, "Your Majesty, Consort Li has left."
Emperor Yuanming stared blankly, his gaze slowly shifting from Consort Li. He stiffly turned to look at Consort Zhao. As if he didn't recognize her, he asked softly, with feigned confusion, "Did you poison her?"
Consort Zhao's face turned pale. She seemed to be frightened and it took her a while to come to her senses before she said, "Your Majesty, I did not know about Consort Li's poisoning, much less would I have poisoned her. I know that no matter how I answer, Your Majesty will think that I am making excuses."
Her eyes gradually reddened, and she said sadly, "No matter what, I have been acquainted with Consort Li. Death is the greatest loss, so I will not argue or defend myself. I will return to Fuqing Palace and stay indoors. After Consort Li is laid to rest, if Your Majesty wishes to investigate or punish her, I will have no objection."
Emperor Yuanming felt as if his heart was in turmoil, extremely uncomfortable. With a ferocious expression, he roared, "If I find out who it is, no matter who it is, I will exterminate their entire family!"
"Huang Liang!" Emperor Yuanming shouted. Huang Liang strode forward, his eyes icy cold, his whole body radiating a chilling aura. His voice seemed to escape from between his teeth: "Have Yuan Changsheng escort Consort Zhao back. Send men to guard Fuqing Palace day and night, and don't allow even a fly to get out!"
Consort Zhao neither cried nor made a fuss. She curtsied, took her leave, and turned to depart. Her back was straight, and her steps were composed.
Emperor Yuanming suppressed his anger and said slowly and deliberately, "Consort Li died of heart palpitations and shall be buried with the rites due to a talented woman. Consort Lin, prepare the funeral arrangements."
Consort Lin agreed, and Emperor Yuanming said no more, taking long strides outside.
Zheng Ze and Wu Shishan then took their leave. Consort Liu said, "Your Highness, I am not feeling well, so I will return first."
Consort Lin said "Very well," and Jiang Ling immediately curtsied and took his leave. She nodded, did not linger, and called Zhong Mama and Xiuyun forward.
Jiang Ling stepped outside. The sun had already set, and the spring evening breeze was icy cold against her skin. She breathed slowly in and out, her mind, which had been foggy, finally clearing.
Inside the room, Consort Lin's calm voice came out: "Send her to the Palace Justice Department. The Emperor will interrogate her later."
Han Dan's frightened cries rang out, and Granny Zhong said impatiently, "Gag her!"
The crying turned into sobs, and then into silence.
The lanterns in the back garden were lit, and the dim light shone through the windows of each room. People moved about, and the world was silent, like a tomb for the living dead.
Jiang Ling felt a tightness in her chest. She rubbed her arm, which was covered in goosebumps, and quickly left with her head down.
Back at Fanying Pavilion, Jiang Ling washed up and came out to find Wen Juan had already prepared the meal. She ate a small half-bowl of rice, but then lost her appetite and returned to her side room, where she lay on the couch, lost in thought.
Wenjuan brought in hot tea and said, "My lady, the box that was stored away in the warm pavilion has been locked in a chest."
Upon hearing the name "warm pavilion," Jiang Ling couldn't help but think of his residence in the rear garden. Consort Li's room was only slightly wider than the warm pavilion.
The Fanying Pavilion has five bays in width and three bays in depth, with front and rear porches and side halls and ear rooms, and she lived there alone.
Consort Li moved from Cuiwei Pavilion to the back garden, falling from grace overnight; her fate was predictable.
Jiang Ling never expected that Consort Li's secret before her death was that she used her last bit of strength to accuse Consort Zhao of harming her.
Jiang Ling had previously encountered the dangers of oleander; Consort Li clearly exhibited symptoms of cardiotoxicity and died of sudden cardiac arrest.
Oleander is known as one of the "Eight Fragrant Plants" and was widely planted in the palace, with a clump also growing in the rear garden. Wu Shishan stated that oleander could be used in medicine, while also warning that the sap could damage the skin.
Oleanders in February have not yet blossomed, and oleanders used for medicinal purposes should also be processed.
Consort Li wouldn't pick oleanders for no reason; there are only two possibilities for her poisoning.
One possibility is that she was poisoned, and the other is that she ate it herself.
Jiang Ling couldn't help but sigh in admiration. Consort Zhao's reaction at the time was extremely quick, and her handling of the situation was truly remarkable!
Emperor Yuanming once favored Consort Li. Witnessing his former favorite concubine die tragically before his eyes would sadden even the most hard-hearted person.
Even if Consort Zhao is innocent, if she argues and cries on the spot, she will definitely anger Emperor Yuanming.
Despite the hatred from Consort Li, Consort Zhao never forgot their past affection and grieved for her death.
Consort Zhao was considerate and thoughtful. She requested to be confined to her quarters, displaying an open and honest attitude, and waited for Emperor Yuanming to find out the truth.
Emperor Yuanming's grief was fleeting, like a flower picked at dawn and dusk. Once he was comforted by the new favorite he had chosen to enter the palace this year, Consort Li became a thing of the past. Whatever the investigation revealed, it would certainly be lighter than the punishment he received in his rage.
With a few casual words, the imminent crisis vanished in an instant!
However, what Jiang Ling couldn't understand was that she was the one who clashed with Consort Li at the Wende Hall, and she was Consort Li's enemy.
If Consort Li deliberately ate oleander, risking her life to protect the Li family and avenge herself.
Why did Consort Li point out that Consort Zhao was the murderer, instead of her?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
