Chapter 130 Another Wave Rises
Inside Yikun Palace, the palace maids and nannies moved back and forth with their heads down, while several imperial physicians huddled together, all looking worried and whispering to each other.
When Lü Jiaying followed the Emperor to Yikun Palace, she saw this chaotic scene. There was no one in charge in the hall, and the faint sound of children crying could be heard.
"What happened? How is Consort Nian?"
The Emperor had been walking quickly and hurriedly, and Lü Jiayingfeng almost lost her breath trying to keep up. But then he suddenly stopped outside the palace, staring blankly at the inside as if he couldn't react, and refused to take another step. Lü Jiayingfeng, being impatient, couldn't stand it and pulled a little maid carrying water to ask him a question.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness, Consort Nian...she has committed suicide by poisoning herself! The imperial physicians are currently treating her inside."
As soon as the little palace maid finished speaking, Lü Jiaying felt a sudden emptiness beside her. She quickly ran into the palace, taking three steps at a time.
Yinzhen strode into the inner palace in a flustered manner, and as soon as he entered, he saw the person lying on the couch.
The woman who was once as beautiful as a peach blossom now lay unconscious with her eyes closed, her face as pale as gold leaf, and her lips bluish. Even though she was dizzy, her brows were tightly furrowed and never parted.
He frowned, his eyes filled with incomprehension and pity. He couldn't understand why Shilan would suddenly give up all hope. Having always seen her as energetic and vibrant, seeing her like this now truly made him feel uneasy. An indescribable sadness choked in his throat, and he opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.
Lu Jiaying followed her in, and the first thing she saw was Wen Yi standing alone at the foot of the bed, pouting and silently holding back her tears. "Why is the princess still here? How are the nannies watching over her? Aren't they afraid of scaring the princess?"
She quickly walked over and hugged Wen Yi, gently patting her sobbing shoulders to comfort her. This child was born around the same time as her own Hong Zhou, and they were about the same age, but the child looked much more sensible and obedient than Hong Zhou. It was hard not to feel sorry for such a young child.
"Your Highness, it's not that we don't care, it's that the princess herself refuses to leave. She was the first to discover Consort Nian's poisoning, and she insisted on staying with her..."
Lu Jiaying raised her hand impatiently—"Consort Nian has been lacking in energy these days, which has emboldened you all. Does a servant like you have the right to interfere with what the princess does?"
Lu Jiaying rolled her eyes and said to Xia Yin behind her, "Take good care of the princess. Don't let the child stay in Yikun Palace for now. Send her to... Xianfu Palace and let Consort Jing take care of her. We'll talk about everything after Consort Nian recovers."
"yes."
...
Zhou Qi glanced up casually and met the questioning gaze of the Imperial Noble Consort. After a moment's thought, he cleared his throat and said, "Your Majesty."
His words interrupted Yinzhen's heavy thoughts. He sat down next to Nian Shilan, tightly holding her cold hands, and stared sharply at Zhou Qi with a questioning look in his eyes.
"Your Majesty, although Consort Nian ingested a potent poison, the dosage may have been unfamiliar, and the amount ingested was not large. Moreover, she was discovered in time and is no longer in danger of death. However, she may experience dizziness, headache, and nausea afterward, which are unavoidable symptoms."
Yinzhen nodded, and his heart, which had been clenched with worry upon hearing his words, eased slightly. Looking at Nian Shilan on the bed, he glanced at Lingzhi, who was trembling with fear beside her, and asked in a deep voice, "Why did Consort Nian attempt suicide? Who did she meet these past two days, or what did she hear?"
Lingzhi shook her head tremblingly—"This servant doesn't know. Eunuch Su took me to ask questions. I only returned to Yikun Palace last night. Her Highness stayed in the palace and didn't go out. However, Her Highness's expression was a bit off last night. This servant thought it was about family matters, so I didn't ask any more questions."
Lu Jiaying was also very puzzled. Nian Shilan was never the type to have a suicidal mindset. What could have made her disregard her own family and only want to die?
Just then, the person on the bed slowly woke up and struggled to open their eyes.
"Shilan, Shilan, you're awake!" Yinzhen opened his eyes wide, holding Nian Shilan's hand and calling out softly.
Nian Shilan looked at the most distinguished man in the world in front of her. The worry and anxiety on his face were not fake. But why did her heart ache in waves? The pain rippled as if it was suffocating her.
Before she could even speak, tears streamed down her face, her expression filled with sorrow.
"Does the Huan Yi incense you gave me contain musk?"
Her voice was soft, barely a whisper, tinged with a deep sob. It struck Yinzhen like a blow to the heart, leaving him reeling. He stared at the pale-faced woman before him, his mind reeling. The word "no" was on his lips, but he couldn't bring himself to utter it.
Having followed him for so many years, Nian Shilan naturally understood what he meant by his expression and his silence.
Her eyes were filled with tears, yet she gave a soft laugh, which only amplified her sorrow—"It seems Consort Wan really didn't lie to me."
Consort Wan?
Upon hearing this name, everyone in the hall paused. Lü Jiaying waved to the imperial physicians and servants in the hall, and they understood and filed out. Even if one wanted to hear royal secrets, one had to be entitled to do so.
Lü Jiaying herself took a step back and listened carefully.
"Did Consort Wan tell you this? When?" Yinzhen's expression was not good, his eyebrows were raised. He was still angry about the matter of Chun Yuan's old clothes, and now that the old and new grievances were piled up, his face was full of anger.
Nian Shilan did not answer, but covered her chest with her hand to catch her breath, and then said, "Then I ask again, was it really Consort Duan who wanted to harm me with our previous child?"
These words were not as easy to say as the previous ones. Her voice grew heavier and heavier, and she shed more and more tears. As if she had exhausted all her strength, she tilted her head back and uttered the words, her eyes fixed on the Emperor, not missing a single expression on his face.
Yinzhen instinctively felt that if he remained silent or evaded the question, he would lose the woman before him completely. He reacted quickly, shaking his head without blinking, his tone even carrying a hint of incomprehension and anger—"Is this how Shilan thinks of me? Our child is gone, and I feel the same pain as you. You would rather listen to a few words from others and commit suicide than listen to what I have to say?"
These words were deeply moving and heart-wrenching. Nian Shilan stared intently at them without blinking. Only when she saw that the person in front of her seemed genuine did she withdraw her gaze with some skepticism. "Then Consort Duan..."
"I have always remembered that she grew up by the Empress Dowager's side, which is why I made an exception and gave her the honorable position. I did not know that Shilan was so bothered by this matter. Seeing you like this makes me feel bad, and I do not want to make you feel bad either." He interrupted Nian Shilan's next words first, his eyes filled with a layer of frost, and his coldness made Lü Jiaying feel a chill.
"Consort Duan has always been in poor health, and I will not allow her to get in your way in the palace any longer."
The meaning behind these words was obvious; the Emperor was intentionally trying to make Consort Duan "die of illness."
Whether Nian Shilan believed Lü Jiaying or not, Feng didn't know, but she didn't believe a single word she heard. If it really was Consort Duan who took the medicine without permission, it would be truly extraordinary that she could still obtain a concubine rank under the Emperor. Now, her "death from illness" was just to confirm her words and leave no one to verify them.
Taking advantage of Nian Shilan's momentary daze, Yinzhen spoke again, coaxing her gently—"Shilan, you must understand my good intentions. How could I not want to have a child with you? It's just that I really have no choice. You've seen for yourself what kind of temper your brother has and how arrogant he is. Even your words have no effect, so how can I not be on guard?"
He stroked the hair of the person in his arms, his tone incredibly gentle—"I promise you, I will pardon your brother's crimes. From now on, he will only be imprisoned in a separate courtyard, and all other matters will be dropped. After Nian Fu and Nian Xing are dismissed from their posts, they will be placed under the care and education of your eldest brother, Nian Xiyao. How does that sound?"
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