Chapter 19 Night Meeting - The Forgotten River Pill, also known as the False Death Pill
In Pei Muwei's memory, the young empress dowager was always snacking. Every time she went to the Hall of Diligent Governance, her maid would carry a heavy ivory food box. It didn't seem like she was going to attend court, but rather like she was going on a spring outing.
Once the lid of the ivory food box is lifted, the dried fruits, candied fruits, pastries, and cheeses inside change daily.
After the ministers left the study, the young empress dowager would select a few pastries and fruits, carry a glass plate around the four seasons-themed screen, and place them gracefully on his desk.
Chu Yueyuan raised her eyelids to meet the man's deep, dark eyes.
If she were to mention to the Regent that Eunuch Zhao of the Inner Palace was neglecting his duties and deliberately made her appear at the Chaohua Palace Banquet in ill-fitting clothes, the Regent would likely order Eunuch Zhao to be severely punished in front of all the officials.
What about later?
In the harem, where people fawn over the powerful and bully the weak, money is far from enough; power is the only true measure of success.
At that time, she used the regent to punish Eunuch Zhao, and in the future, Eunuchs Li, Qian, and Sun will continue to emerge.
It's easier to deal with the King of Hell than with his underlings.
Thinking of all this, she smiled and casually made up an excuse: "I've been feeling unwell lately, so I've decided to eat less in the evening."
Pei Muwei lowered his gaze, his dark eyes reflecting a pair of trembling snow-white breasts. He looked away, raised his cup and drank a mouthful of strong liquor, and said in a low voice, "The Empress Dowager is perfectly proportioned, with a slender figure and a well-proportioned build. She does not need to eat less."
Setting down the white jade cup, he added, "This dress suits Your Highness's complexion very well."
Chu Yueyuan slightly opened her watery eyes; this was the first time she had heard the Regent praise her.
She was overwhelmed with praise tonight, but she was naturally happy to receive such compliments from the regent, who was as handsome as a god.
Chu Yueyuan smiled gently, and taking advantage of the wine, she raised the agate cup with intertwined flowers in her hand, leaned forward slightly, and took the initiative to clink glasses with the Regent.
"Pei Qing is a man of great bearing and outstanding talent. Any clothes look good on him."
The woman's cheeks flushed slightly, as if she were blushing with shyness. As she bent over, the already meager fabric around her chest suddenly tightened, making her appear even fuller, white and flawless, smooth and fragrant.
Pei Muwei remained expressionless, but the white jade wine cup in his hand, which had been held steadily, suddenly wobbled, spilling wine onto the back of his hand.
He took the handkerchief handed to him by Eunuch Wang and slowly wiped the back of his hands. His gaze swept over the group of young and ambitious officials behind the Empress Dowager, and he found that many of them were newly promoted officials whom he had personally mentored.
It just goes to show that even heroes can't resist the charms of a beautiful woman.
A dark glint flashed in Pei Muwei's eyes, and he gave the assembled officials a slight smile: "I am not a good drinker, so there is no need for you gentlemen to offer toasts to me and the Empress Dowager."
The regent's face clearly held a smile, but his tone was filled with a strong sense of oppression.
The Vice Minister of Revenue, who was about to offer wine to the young Empress Dowager, immediately turned from red to white. As if his thoughts had been read, he hurriedly bowed and retreated in a panic.
General Kan, who had struggled to squeeze to the front row, immediately showed a look of disappointment. He looked down at the wine cup he had been holding for so long, and even though he was unwilling, he could only drink it with regret.
When Chu Yueyuan heard Pei Muwei politely decline the ministers' offer, she nodded secretly to herself.
The Regent was a master of both literature and military strategy, but his alcohol tolerance was not good. Even though he hadn't drunk many cups of wine, he could barely hold the wine cup when he clinked glasses with her just now.
After pondering for a while, Chu Yueyuan concluded that the Regent's alcohol tolerance was far inferior to her own.
The music stopped, and the dancers on stage covered their faces with their long sleeves and filed off the stage.
Eunuch Wang walked to Chu Yueyuan's side, bent down and asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, the stage for the shadow puppet show has been set up. Should I go to the Fan Garden to fetch His Majesty back?"
Half an hour ago, Xiao Yun started clamoring to catch baby cicadas. Seeing that he couldn't sit still, Chu Yueyuan asked Granny Xu to take him for a stroll in the Fan Garden.
"No need. I was just thinking of going outside for some fresh air. I'll ask the Emperor to come back with me to watch the shadow puppet show."
Chu Yueyuan donned a light pink satin cloak embroidered with peacock feathers, informed the Regent, and then left from the side hall with a group of palace servants.
A gentle evening breeze brought a touch of coolness to my face.
Wandering around and stopping, after passing most of the lush garden, I could faintly hear the sounds of laughter coming from the Moon Reflection Pavilion across the lake.
There are two paths leading to Yingyue Water Pavilion: a shortcut through the bamboo-shaded corridor and a longer path up the nine-arched stone bridge.
As she drew closer, Chu Yueyuan heard Xiao Yun's carefree laughter coming from the waterside pavilion. She smiled slightly and stepped onto the nine-arched stone bridge.
The bright moon hangs high in the sky, casting its gentle light upon the ground.
The ram's horn candles hanging on both sides of the stone bridge railing swayed gently in the wind, and the warm yellow candlelight cast a long shadow on the man standing on the bridge.
Chu Yueyuan stopped in her tracks, took the glass palace lantern from Jin Tong's hand, and calmly instructed, "I want to enjoy the breeze on the bridge. Go to Yingyue Pavilion and tell the Emperor that the shadow puppet show is about to begin."
Jin Tong looked at the man in the shadows, her expression hesitant, and finally curtsied: "Then this servant will go and inform His Majesty first, and will come to pick up the Empress Dowager later."
She pointed to two palace maids, furrowed her brows, and instructed them, "The Empress Dowager wants to enjoy the breeze on the bridge. You two wait below the bridge and do not disturb Her Highness's enjoyment."
"We obey."
After giving her instructions, Jin Tong led the remaining palace servants toward the bamboo-shaded corridor.
Chu Yueyuan, carrying a palace lantern, gracefully stepped onto the bluestone steps. As the two drew closer, the flickering candlelight gradually illuminated the clear features of the man opposite her.
"Your subject pays respects to the Empress Dowager."
The man lowered his eyes, bowed respectfully, and his tone was impeccable, from his hair ornament to his black boots, the creases on his scarlet official robe, and the curve of his bow.
Chu Yueyuan couldn't help but think of the Regent, who sat motionless behind his sandalwood desk with cloud and dragon patterns every time she went to the Hall of Diligent Governance. Let alone making him bow properly, it would be considered a great honor if the man could even raise his noble dragon head to look at her.
Well... how should I put it? A treacherous minister is a treacherous minister.
"Master Shen, no courtesy."
Chu Yueyuan smiled gently, her eyebrows arching: "Lord Shen isn't at the banquet, so why is he here alone admiring the moon?"
The night breeze lifted the man's scarlet robe, and his clear eyes were like the surface of a lake touched by the night wind, rippling gently.
Shen Zizhan gazed at the person before him, his tone calm: "Your Majesty, I am waiting for you."
Chu Yueyuan raised her eyebrows slightly: "How did Shen Qing guess that I would take this path?"
"The Empress Dowager's floral dress today is infused with the fragrance of peonies, jasmine, lily of the valley, lilacs and other fresh flowers. The fragrance is sweet and easily attracts mosquitoes. There are many mosquitoes in the bamboo-shaded corridor at night, so I guess Your Highness will walk on the arched bridge."
Chu Yueyuan felt admiration. The man was meticulous and had no flaws in his plans. No wonder he was the youngest vice censor in the Censorate.
How could someone as astute as Imperial Censor Shen not see through the clumsy lie she told back then?
To see through something but not say it is the way of a wise person.
"Is there something you need for me, Shen Qing?"
"Your Majesty, I have something to offer." Shen Zizhan took out a palm-sized white porcelain jade bottle from his sleeve. The mouth of the bottle was tightly sealed with bright red beeswax, making it look quite mysterious.
Chu Yueyuan raised the glass lamp in her hand higher, turned her head, and asked in confusion, "What is this?"
Shen Zizhan stared at the woman's bright eyes and brows bathed in the lamplight, his soft voice as cool as the breeze on a lake:
"The Forget-River Pill, also known as the False Death Pill."
Chu Yueyuan's hand trembled as she gripped the bamboo handle, but fortunately Shen Zizhan reached out in time to steady her. The swaying glass palace lantern cast a ripple of light on their faces, like flowing water.
"After the Empress Dowager takes the Forget-River Pill, her heartbeat and pulse will become so weak that they are almost imperceptible within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Her skin will turn pale and her limbs will become stiff. Even the most skilled imperial physicians in the Imperial Hospital will not be able to detect anything unusual. His Highness will wake up after twelve hours."
Shen Zizhan softened his voice: "For the Empress Dowager, it's just a matter of taking a nap. When she wakes up, His Highness will be outside the palace. I will arrange for a boat at the dock in the suburbs of the capital to escort His Highness safely to Yangzhou."
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