Chapter 25 Imperial Kitchen Chapter 18
Both Consort Shao and Zhao Kelin were stunned by these words.
"How...could that be?" Consort Shao asked hesitantly.
Shinju had just used his six senses to examine the area, so he shared his thoughts: "There doesn't seem to be any residual poison in Your Highness's throat. It seems that she was poisoned but received timely treatment, isn't that right?"
Consort Shao couldn't help but glance at Zhao Kelin, and slowly nodded.
"Therefore, I think that Her Majesty was initially frightened by the poisoning, or perhaps she spoke without using her voice, which made her sound hoarse. Over time, she became depressed and even more reluctant to speak. I heard that Her Majesty likes to sing, so she must value her voice very much, but perhaps she values it too much, which has disturbed her mind."
Consort Shao's eyes widened instantly. She thought about it carefully and felt that it might be true. She cleared her throat, mustered her courage, and tried to sing a line. Then, a melodious and ethereal voice, like the song of a nightingale, rang out. Consort Shao immediately covered her face and tears of excitement streamed down her face.
But Zhao Kelin was even more agitated. He had been a doctor for many years and was always one of the best imperial physicians, but he had never considered or paid attention to the mental and emotional state of his patients. For example, he had already examined Consort Shao's condition twice. Since Consort Shao could not speak, he directly regarded it as her voice being poisoned and that it was an irreversible and serious illness.
Such a serious diagnostic error should have been hard for him to accept, but it was Aqing who pointed it out. Just now, he had even tried to teach Aqing about medicinal cuisine. However, Zhao Kelin found that he couldn't be angry at all, nor could he feel jealous. His chest was filled with a kind of surging emotion, as if he were meeting Aqing for the first time. In his eyes, Aqing was no longer just someone with a charming face.
Shinju was unaware that he had stirred up a storm; he only felt somewhat embarrassed, as if he had been showing off his limited skills in front of a healer and had even made the Empress cry. However, he discovered that his six senses had become quite acute since entering the intermediate stage of poison, and he had gradually grasped the relationship between the color flow and essential changes of his six senses.
"Your Highness, where is your maid? I'll go and fetch her for you," Shinju asked.
Shaopin wiped her face with her still-dripping sleeve before turning around. "I ran away on my own, Luli doesn't know. There's no need for her to come. I'll go back now."
Zhao Kelin was about to agree, but when he caught a glimpse of the disapproving look on Zhen Su's face, he changed his mind and said, "I'll go instead. Aqing, you don't know the way to Yicui Palace. Consort Shao, you can't move around right now, I'll go and call Luli."
This seems to be the best approach.
Neither Consort Shao nor Zhen Su objected, so Zhao Kelin went ahead.
Before long, having resolved her inner conflict, Consort Shao regained her lively personality and gradually became engrossed in conversation with Shinju. Just as Consort Shao was about to abduct him to her palace to serve as her head eunuch, Shinju glanced to the side, suddenly kicked the wall, and leaped over the high wall with fluid movements. Soon, a scream erupted from the other side of the wall, and in just a few dozen breaths, Shinju brought a maidservant to Consort Shao.
"Your Highness, this person is eavesdropping behind the wall. Do you recognize her?" Shinshu couldn't figure out which noble person was behind this maid, so he didn't take her into custody.
"..." The maid was already feeling guilty, and when she was caught red-handed, she was terrified and didn't dare to resist or utter a sound.
Consort Shao recognized her immediately; she would never forget her, even in death. "She was Consort Liang's personal maid."
.
Luoyan Palace.
"What a rare guest! Consort Shao, what brings you here? Did you only remember to come and pay your respects to me after Wang Yan left?" Consort Yan held her teacup, sat at the head of the table, and didn't even glance at the people waiting below.
Consort Shao was immediately silenced by a remark, and the courage she had finally mustered almost vanished.
Zhao Kelin stepped forward to pay his respects, saying, "Kelin greets Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine. Your Highness looks very well; you must be in good health."
Consort Yan then looked over and said with delight, "It's Doctor Zhao! Someone, bring him a seat."
At the same time, she inevitably noticed Shinju standing behind her. The boy's face was her recent nightmare. Consort Yan was so excited that she almost dropped the teacup, but she managed to hold back and put the teacup and saucer down on the table.
The young man had obviously come with Zhao Kelin and had also bowed. Not wanting to make things difficult for him, she said impatiently, "I am tired. If there is nothing else, you may leave after you have finished your greetings."
Luli helped Consort Shao kneel down, and gently shook Consort Shao's hand, signaling her to speak.
Shaopin felt extremely embarrassed, but when Luli shook her, she remembered what her benefactor had told her: even if no one believes you, you must tell the truth. You should not apologize to anyone but yourself, who did nothing wrong.
...Yes, she clearly did nothing wrong.
So Consort Shao began to describe in detail what had happened that day.
After saying that, Consort Yan had her maid pull up her handkerchief, yawned slightly, and said, "It's good that no one is hurt. You said Yun'er pushed you, but that's not necessarily true."
"There are my and Yun'er's shoe prints by the well. Your Highness, could you send someone to take a look and see if they match?" Consort Shao said through gritted teeth.
"Your Highness, I'm innocent! I was just passing by the Imperial Garden, near some well. I think I glanced at a well and maybe that's where I left my footprints. But I didn't see Consort Shao then! Later, for some reason, that eunuch treated me like a criminal and even threatened me! Your Highness, you must do me justice!" Consort Liang's maid, Yun'er, pointed to Zhen Su, who was standing at the back.
"Is it related to him?" Consort Yan followed Yun'er's hand and her tone suddenly hardened.
Just then, Consort Liang arrived late and sat down at the lower seat.
"I'll see who dares to spread rumors. Yun'er would never do such a heartless thing. There's a limit to slander." Consort Liang glared at Consort Shao with hatred and said fiercely, "Besides, you said you fell into a well, so how did you get out?"
"As I said, I was rescued by a benefactor. Although I cannot reveal his name, Lord Zhao can testify to it." Consort Shao did not reveal the identity of Zhen Su, because after thinking about it, she intuitively felt that his skills were indeed extraordinary. Therefore, in order to protect Zhen Su, she took the initiative to conceal the identity of her benefactor.
Seeing Consort Shao's evasive behavior, Consort Liang instinctively felt there was something fishy going on, so she hurriedly said, "I sent someone to check that well. It's extremely deep and has been out of use for a long time. The ropes and buckets have all been removed. Who could have rescued you? You can't even make up a proper lie. In my opinion, Consort Shao didn't fall into the water at all; she's just trying to frame Yun'er!"
"You clearly ordered your maid to push me in, you saw it with your own eyes, and now you're turning around and accusing me of not falling into the water? How can you say such a thing? Are you crazy?!" Consort Shao was furious. She never expected the other party to be so shameless. Not only did she deny pushing her, but she also completely denied the injury she suffered.
Consort Liang realized that things were not going well, but since the words had already been spoken, she could only insist on the point that Consort Shao had not fallen into the water and started to argue unreasonably.
Consort Yan was dizzy from their arguing; both sides had their own version of events, and she couldn't figure out what was going on. However, that didn't stop her from taking a side, "Since neither of you can produce any solid evidence, then stop arguing. I'm really tired; you may all go back!"
Standing at the back, Masakuni watched this farce unfold, observing the helpless Consort Shao and the arrogant Consort Liang. A flash of malice crossed his eyes, and he was about to step forward when—
The announcement came from outside that "the Emperor has arrived."
Everyone in the main hall fell silent. Except for the Imperial Concubine, everyone else knelt down and waited for that person to enter.
Before long, Shinju felt someone stop beside him, but only for a moment before the ambergris fragrance moved forward, its lingering scent dissipating into the air around him.
"Why are so many people gathered here instead of having lunch?" Prince Zhen asked, taking the seat of honor vacated by the Imperial Concubine.
Consort Yan twisted her handkerchief and said reproachfully, "Such petty squabbles are tiresome to listen to. Has Your Majesty eaten yet? If not, I'll have the servants prepare some hot dishes."
"He's been slacking off while serving the meal; I haven't eaten yet," the Poison King replied casually.
"...?!" The crowd below was stunned at first, and then when they realized who the person serving the meal was referring to, they were all shocked. They all glanced at Shinju out of the corner of their eyes, their expressions varied.
Shinju was also confused. He had clearly asked Kodun to help him ask for leave before he came, so how could it be considered as shirking his duties?
Consort Yan, who had intended to say what a coincidence that she hadn't eaten either, found herself unable to say what she was about to say. Suppressing her anger, she finally smiled and said, "Then this concubine will have someone prepare it."
Unexpectedly, the Emperor waved his hand lightly, "No need, let's talk first. Why is Imperial Physician Zhao here as well?"
Zhao Kelin's eyes still held a hint of hostility, but he quickly concealed it and stepped forward to tell the Emperor the whole story of Consort Shao falling into the well.
Although Consort Liang was afraid of the Emperor, in order to clear herself of suspicion, she still walked to the Emperor's side and cried, "Your Majesty, you must do justice for me! I did not have anyone push Consort Shao. She can't even say who saved her, but she insists on framing me and Yun'er."
"Isn't Imperial Physician Zhao willing to testify? Then Imperial Physician Zhao and Consort Shao conspired to frame you?" The Prince of Zhen's gaze naturally turned towards the direction where Zhao Kelin was.
Consort Liang wanted to say yes, but thinking of the Zhao family behind Imperial Physician Zhao, she stopped herself in time and said hesitantly, "Lord Zhao must have been misled by Consort Shao..."
"Besides, if there really is someone with such skills in the palace, they must be a guard. Men and women should not touch each other. Consort Shao, do you dare to admit that there really was such a person who saved you? Hehe, I'm afraid you wouldn't dare..." Consort Liang felt that she had found a way out, so she looked at Consort Shao with a smug look.
Consort Shao bit her lip, unsure of what to do.
Shinju couldn't stand it anymore. This Consort Liang really said anything and everything. If she continued to spout nonsense, Consort Shao would really be in trouble.
Just as Masaya was about to step forward again, someone spoke up.
"I do know someone who is that skilled."
Upon hearing the King of Poison's words, Shinju lowered his head and blinked.
"Your Majesty, that...that might not be the person who rescued her."
“That’s right, the person who saved Consort Shao might not necessarily be a guard.” Prince Zhen glanced at her indifferently. “Where were you when Consort Shao fell into the well? Let the Consort send someone to your palace to ask.”
Consort Liang knew that Consort Yan's relationship with her was only superficial. Now that the Emperor had appointed her to investigate the matter, Consort Yan would never cover for her. If forced confession was used, it would be impossible for her people to keep the secret.
Consort Liang immediately broke down, "Your Majesty! I truly did not push Consort Shao! I swear to Heaven and Earth, I am a Consort, and she is nothing but a bastard from Feng Kingdom..."
The King of Zhen's dark eyes remained calm as he glanced at Consort Yan.
Consort Yan's heart skipped a beat, she was terrified. If she were imprisoned for negligence in managing the six palaces, it would be a burden she could not bear. So she immediately shouted angrily, "Consort Liang! Are you crazy? How dare you offend the Emperor's ears! Guards, take Consort Liang back to await her punishment!"
Consort Liang cried and called for the Emperor, and together with Yun'er, she was dragged out by the eunuchs.
"Is such a small matter worth wasting time here?" King Zhen said, then got up and walked outside.
As he passed by Shinjuku, the King of Poison slowed down. "You are not allowed to skip dinner again."
Shinju couldn't help but glance up and saw that the King of Poison was looking straight ahead, as if he wasn't waiting for a reply. So he didn't say anything, but shook his head in his heart. He hadn't been lazy.
Unexpectedly, seeing that he remained silent, the King of Poison turned his face to the side, looked down at him, and asked, "Where is your response?"
Shinjuku could only nod in agreement.
The King of Poison turned his face away, subtly curving his right lip, and walked away.
A note from the author:
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