"Your Majesty, the other party is cunning and treacherous. Even if Lord Tu were to accompany you, I would not feel at ease," Qian Shengyan said, rising to her feet. "I will go with you."
"Nonsense!" Yinzhen pressed down on her shoulder, making her sit down again. "Wait for me to return."
"Your Majesty!" Qian Shengyan stood up and saw that Yinzhen had already walked out. She gritted her teeth and hurriedly followed.
She finally managed to catch up with Yinzhen by jogging, but he was walking too fast. Qian Shengyan could only talk to him as she ran: "I only recently learned that some poisons can be added to spices. I wonder what the situation is like at Changchun Palace now? Why don't I go there first? Their target isn't me. Even if I go, they won't..."
Before Qian Shengyan could finish speaking, Yinzhen, who was walking briskly, suddenly stopped, grabbed her shoulders with both hands, and kissed her without saying a word: "Be good, go back and wait for me."
Qian Shengyan: ...
Although everyone around quickly looked away, in public...
In the blink of an eye, Yinzhen had walked away again.
She hesitated for a moment, but still followed him. This time she wasn't in a hurry, just walked slowly. By the time she reached the entrance of Changchun Palace, Yinzhen had already gone inside.
Not only was Eunuch Li on guard, but there was also a squad of guards. The leader seemed to know Qian Shengyan. After bowing, he said apologetically, "His Majesty ordered that no one is allowed to enter. He also said that if the Imperial Noble Consort comes, he would... he would have me persuade you to go back."
"Don't worry, I won't go in." Qian Shengyan sighed. "I won't feel at ease going back, so I'll just wait here for a while."
"Yes." The guard didn't dare say anything more and went back to stand with the others, firmly guarding Changchun Palace.
Qian Shengyan found a sunny spot. She had rushed out without even putting on her cloak. It was fine when she was walking fast, but now that she was standing still, she felt a bit cold.
Bask in the sun, take a walk, and look around Changchun Palace. The quiet palace appears particularly ancient and grand under the midday sun, but even so, the courtyards still feel dark, as much of the sunlight is blocked outside.
Qian Shengyan had only been waiting for a short while when Green Willow hurriedly came over with a cloak, followed by a little palace maid with a hand warmer and a cushion. She found a spot to sit and bask in the sun while waiting.
When I get anxious while waiting, I stand up and walk around. When I get even more anxious, I go to the doorway for a stroll.
After circling around countless times, even changing the sunbathing spot, Yinzhen finally emerged.
Seeing that he was alright, Qian Shengyan happily stepped forward to greet him, but as Yinzhen walked, Qian Shengyan noticed with her sharp eyes that there was a small bloodstain on the back of his clothes.
She was taken aback for a moment, but Yinzhen had already taken her hand without her noticing, and said reproachfully, "Just waiting here?"
"Your Majesty... Is Your Majesty injured?" Qian Shengyan looked at his face with some concern. He was a little pale, but it seemed more like he was angry.
Yinzhen shook his head: "I am not injured." He paused for a moment, then added, "The Empress is probably not going to make it."
Qian Shengyan was taken aback: "Your Majesty the Empress..."
"My hands are freezing cold, let's talk about it when we get back."
Back at Yongshou Palace, it was only after Qian Shengyan pointed it out that Yinzhen noticed bloodstains on his clothes. He paused for a moment, then shook his head helplessly: "It's not mine, it must be... that old nanny's."
“She…” Qian Shengyan’s heart skipped a beat, and she dared not ask any more questions. Yinzhen took off his outer robe, wearing only his inner robe, and reached out to hug her, telling her in detail what had happened after he entered Changchun Palace.
As she had predicted, Ulanara was practically being held hostage. The old nanny probably knew she was nearing her end, and since there was no chance for her to leave Changchun Palace, coupled with the sudden check of the roster half a month ago that made her uneasy, she decided to take action. She not only made Ulanara sick, but also made the Empress's personal maid sick.
The old nanny had no medicine, but having served in the palace for many years, she knew all the secrets and didn't need to do much. She just needed to open a couple more windows for the Empress during her night watch and take the opportunity to lift the blankets off her. Even when the Empress woke up, she would only think that she had kicked them off. After only two or three nights of this, the Empress fell ill.
During the medication period, if the windows were opened several times in the middle of the night, the Empress would not get better and her condition would only worsen. In the end, a cold almost killed her.
Unable to get out, they tried to coax Yinzhen inside. According to Yinzhen, the old woman had already hidden a small knife in her sleeve. Fortunately, he was prepared, and as soon as the knife was brought out, it was kicked away by Tulichen. Then, he was interrogated in front of Ulanara. After the questioning, Yinzhen ordered Tulichen to kill the old woman right in front of the Empress's bed.
Blood splattered on the Empress's face, causing her to faint on the spot and twitch occasionally.
"...Your Majesty, I don't understand." Qian Shengyan was shocked and couldn't help but move closer to Yinzhen. "Since Princess Shushen went to great lengths to send people to Changchun Palace, she must be planning to cause trouble in the palace. How could Her Majesty the Empress agree to that?"
Yinzhen sneered: "Shushen gave birth to a son yesterday. She promised Ulanara that if that old nanny was left in the palace, she would give the child to Honghui for adoption."
"Honghui, Prince?" Qian Shengyan sat up in surprise, not expecting this reason. "This..."
"She probably thinks I've completely forgotten about Honghui and is thinking of taking this opportunity to ask for a title for him." Yinzhen sneered repeatedly. "I originally intended to save the favors bestowed upon my brothers for the next emperor, but she refused to wait."
Qian Shengyan somewhat understood Ulanara, after all, Honghui was her only child, but did she really not know what Shushen and the others were trying to do? Perhaps she didn't care.
Or... to put it more coldly, if the emperor really dies, whoever the next emperor is, as long as Ulanara is still alive, the pressure of "filial piety" will weigh on the new emperor's head, and she will be able to leave Changchun Palace no matter what.
Qian Shengyan closed her eyes, still feeling a lingering fear. She couldn't help but grab Yinzhen again: "Your Majesty..."
"Are you scared?" Yinzhen touched her hand; it was ice-cold and her palm was damp. He smiled helplessly, "With your personality, you probably would never come up with such a bizarre plan in your entire life."
Knowing she was dying and her days were numbered, the old nanny obeyed Shushen's orders and traded her life for the chance to seriously injure or even kill the emperor. Even if her deeds were exposed, it would still alienate the emperor and empress, which would be a worthwhile deal for them.
The old nanny is beyond saving, but Shushen is not entirely unable to extricate herself from this matter. She can simply say that the old nanny entered the palace to serve voluntarily, and that she had no choice but to do so. This would leave no one to testify against her, and would also make it seem as if she is a filial person for being so indulgent towards the elderly people around her late mother.
She is indeed very filial.
Yinzhen's eyes turned slightly cold, and after a long while, he snorted softly: "The marriage alliance with Mongolia is still very necessary. It's not a good thing to keep them all in the palace. Guanyinbao is also a capable general, and keeping him in the capital is a waste of his talent."
This means that Princess Shushen's husband is to be sent back to the grasslands.
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