Chapter 51 Poisoning?
"Your Highness, I am so grateful for your hard work."
The old lady was holding a small tray with a covered white porcelain soup bowl on it, and she knelt down with a gentle smile.
"I am the kitchen manager for this villa. The meals are not ready yet. The climate here is cooler due to the mountain. Eunuch Zhuang is worried that the masters are tired and cold and hungry after the journey, so he ordered the kitchen staff to bring them a bowl of hot soup to warm them up first."
Yanyu took it: "Thank you."
Even with the lid on, the soup bowl still exuded a fragrant aroma, but Yanyu had just eaten a lot, so the smell was a bit greasy.
The old nanny was still standing at the door, looking at Su Ci with a smile: "This is venison soup. It is very good for the master to drink in winter. It warms the body and nourishes the body."
Su Ci paused and turned her head, then walked to the round table and sat down with a smile.
"Thank you, Madam. Bring the misty rain over here so I can have some."
"…yes."
Yanyu put down the soup bowl, and a glimmer of light appeared in her lowered eyes.
Su Ci took a spoon and stirred it slowly, blowing lightly, looking at the old nanny in confusion.
"Madam, is there anything else?"
"Uh, nothing more, then, Madam, enjoy your meal, I will take my leave now."
Yanyu went forward and closed the door. She listened for a while before returning to her master's side and asked in a low voice, "Master, is there something wrong with this old nanny?"
Su Ci stared at the greasy broth in the bowl, sniffing the strangely fragrant smell, looking thoughtful.
"The roast duck was sent by Eunuch Zhuang. He is always considerate and would probably send something light and easy to digest even if he sent food. It is impossible for him to send this greasy broth."
Yanyu pursed her lips and pushed the soup bowl a little further away, then pulled out the silver hairpin and tried it.
"Master, this hasn't turned black yet."
"Not all poisons can be detected with a silver hairpin."
Su Ci thought for a moment and stood up. She took a small porcelain bottle of powder from the dressing table, emptied it, scooped a piece of meat and a little soup into it, and covered it with the lid.
"Pour the broth into the potted plant, cover it, and then take it to the back room to bury it late at night."
"Falling?"
Yanyu hesitated: "Master, won't you tell His Majesty? This soup is evidence of a crime."
"I just walked in and haven't even sat down yet, and the soup has already been delivered. This must have been planned long ago, and there can't be any major loopholes left."
Su Ci thought about it and shook her head. "Besides, tomorrow is the festival. If word gets out that I, the Concubine Shu, was poisoned, it will definitely cause chaos. It won't be a big deal for His Majesty, but the Empress Dowager and the clan members will probably have some bad ideas. It's better to suppress it for now."
"...Okay, I will obey you, Master."
Yanyu quickly poured the soup into the pot of greenery under the window and covered it with soil. "So, does the master plan to have someone inspect the remaining soup after the ceremony?"
"No, the drug will probably be gone by then."
Su Ci handed her the small porcelain bottle and said, "His Majesty will go hunting later. Father and brother are civil servants and they probably won't follow. Find a chance to give this to them and find out what it is in private. Don't say anything else for now, lest there be ears."
"But let my father act quickly. I don't know what's in this soup. If I don't have any poisonous reaction, the Queen will probably guess that I didn't drink it. We need to know the effect of the medicine as soon as possible so that we can hide it."
"Okay, I'll let Fulu guard the door..."
"Don't let Fulu know about this."
Yanyu was stunned: "Master, are you suspicious of Fulu?"
"Not that I doubt it."
Su Ci waved her hand. "He's the Queen Mother's man. If he knew, it would only cause trouble. Let's keep it a secret for now. Leave the soup bowl here. When you go out, pay more attention to the servants here. If anyone asks, just say I miss my father and brother and sent you to say hello."
"…yes."
Yanyu walked out of the door as usual, only to see Fulu hurried back.
"Where are you going, Miss Yanyu?"
"Oh, the master asked me to go and greet the old master in the mansion. Where have you been and why did you come back so late?"
Fulu scratched his head helplessly. "Just now, when I entered the courtyard, I saw a young eunuch fell and hurt his leg. I took him back to his residence and delayed him for a while. Master, have you rested?"
Yanyu accidentally caught a glimpse of a piece of gray cloth exposed in the corner of the wall in front.
"Not yet. The kitchen just sent over some hot soup, and the master is drinking it. You just wait at the door. I'll be back after I pass on the message."
"good."
Fulu breathed a sigh of relief and stood by the door. A moment later, he saw the emperor coming down the corridor with only Zhuang Yu.
Knock knock.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty is here."
Su Ci opened the door and came out, wiping the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief: "Well, take the soup bowl out and prepare some tea."
"yes."
Xuan Yi entered the courtyard and saw the pretty girl Jiaojiao standing by the door, looking at him with a smile.
I am so happy just eating roast duck.
"His Majesty."
Su Ci bowed slightly and naturally reached out to hold his arm: "Your Majesty, how did you find time to come here? Aren't you going hunting?"
"I'll be there soon. I'll come see you."
Xuan Yi glanced at the soup bowl Fulu was holding. There was only a little leftover soup. "Huh? Not full yet?"
"I'm full, so I just want some soup to help with the greasiness."
Su Ci let go of his hand and paced back and forth: "I'm taking a walk to digest my food. Your Majesty, can I go hunting in the enclosure?"
"No."
Xuan Yi frowned slightly. "You don't know how to ride a horse. The arrows in the enclosure are blind. It's too dangerous."
"Your Majesty, can you please teach me?"
Su Ci pouted and stamped her feet: "I don't care, I want to ride a horse, Your Majesty, please teach me~"
"No fooling around."
Xuan Yi stretched out his long arm and pulled the person to sit on his lap: "I will teach you after returning to the palace. Next time I take you to the enclosure, if you feel bored, go to the Queen Mother and talk to the clan wives."
"ah…"
Su Ci's face fell, and she muttered, poking his chest: "Those clan ladies sit together, talking about poetry, songs, flower arrangement, tea, or their husbands, children, and gossips at home. I'm just a dozing piece of wood, making people laugh at me. I might as well stay here and sleep..."
Xuan Yi frowned and raised his hand to rub her slightly cold earlobe.
"Who dares to laugh at you?"
"I certainly wouldn't dare to do that to your face."
Su Ci was ticklish and dodged, playing with his slender fingers. "Those ladies of the royal family are all of noble birth, full of talent. Everyone in the world knows my background. Even if I were a concubine, I wouldn't understand what they are saying, let alone compose poems or write calligraphy on the spot."
"Your Majesty, you're always complaining about me not being able to write well. If I get caught, it'll be your loss of face. Then people will think, oh my God, how could Your Majesty, such a wise and powerful person like a god, favor an illiterate person who knows nothing..."
"Stop, you flattering girl."
Xuan Yi shook his head helplessly: "Is this all you think about in your head all day long?"
"It's what they said~"
Su Ci moved forward flatteringly, twisting her shoulders pretentiously: "Your Majesty, I like to draw small animals. I want to see little rabbits, little deer, little brain axes, etc. with my own eyes. I also want to see your majestic archery on horseback. I will draw it for you. Please let me go with you~"
Having just experienced the poisoning incident, she felt that the safest place to be at the moment was the emperor's side.
…
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
