The prince carefully pulled out a handkerchief from his bosom and gently opened it, revealing a small pill hidden inside. This was something Jiang Meiyu had left for him as a backup the last time he was poisoned. At the time, Jiang Meiyu had only told him that it was an antidote pill that could cure all poisons, but she didn't reveal any further information.
The prince couldn't help but wonder: How could Jiang Meiyu, who had never left her home since childhood, have obtained such a precious antidote? Yet, his trust in her was unconditional, almost absolute. Perhaps, he thought, all this was heaven's will. He then carefully wrapped the antidote pill again and placed it back in his arms.
Meanwhile, in Changchun Palace, Concubine Xiao was in a very good mood. She thought, "After tonight, I'll be the most noble woman in the world. Lian'er, are you ready for tonight?"
Concubine Xiao sat upright in her chair, her lips curled up slightly, her eyes revealing a hint of anticipation and excitement. Her fingers tapped lightly on the table, her mind secretly calculating her next plan.
"Your Majesty, everything is ready." Lian'er stood respectfully aside and answered with her head down.
"Well, very good. Pour me another cup of tea. I want to taste the tea carefully." Concubine Xiao smiled proudly, with a hint of arrogance in her voice.
Lian'er carefully picked up the teapot, gently poured the tea into the cup, and handed it to Concubine Xiao. Concubine Xiao took the cup, smelled the tea, and then took a sip with a satisfied smile on her face.
"Your Majesty, it's almost the evening hour now. His Majesty should be here soon," Lian'er reminded.
"I understand." Concubine Xiao nodded, a sinister glint in her eyes. She put down her teacup, stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the scenery, her heart filled with confidence and anticipation.
After a while, footsteps were heard outside, followed by Eunuch Xu's shrill voice: "The Emperor has arrived!"
When Concubine Xiao heard this, she immediately turned back to her seat, straightened her clothes, and assumed a dignified and elegant posture. Her heartbeat accelerated, but she still kept a smile on her face as she waited for the emperor to arrive.
The emperor walked into the main hall of Changchun Palace with great strides, only to see Concubine Xiao waiting for him for a long time. She stood up gracefully, bowed slightly and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects." Her voice was as sweet as the chirping of an oriole.
The Emperor quickly walked towards the main seat, waving his hand and saying, "My beloved concubine, please rise." Lian'er, quick-witted and quick-handed, quickly filled the Emperor's cup with tea and respectfully placed it before him. However, Eunuch Xu, standing nearby, swiftly took the teacup and expertly poured it for the Emperor, carefully presenting it to him. The Emperor took the cup, gently sipped it, and nodded with satisfaction, "Mm, this tea is very delicious, fragrant and delicious, leaving a lasting aftertaste. My beloved concubine, have you been busy lately?"
Concubine Xiao's face was filled with a gentle smile, and she replied softly, "Your Majesty, I don't have any important matters on weekdays. I just like to invite the sisters from the palace to come to Changchun Palace to chat and pass the time."
The emperor smiled and nodded, expressing his approval: "My beloved concubine has a kind and amiable personality, and gets along well with the sisters in the palace. I am deeply pleased! But recently, state affairs have been busy, and the Crown Princess has unfortunately been poisoned and is in a coma. I have not been able to come to Changchun Palace to rest for quite some time. Will my beloved concubine blame me?" The emperor looked at Concubine Xiao with concern, and there was a hint of guilt in his tone.
"Your Majesty, you are too kind. How dare I blame you? I know that you are busy with state affairs. I am only worried about your health and well-being. I don't care about anything else." As Concubine Xiao spoke, she thought, "You deserve to be exhausted. Tonight is the day you die!" She secretly cursed the emperor in her heart, but she still maintained a smile and gentleness on the surface.
"Your Majesty, dinner is ready. May we serve it now?" Eunuch Xu asked respectfully. He knew the emperor and the imperial concubine's habits and always asked for permission before each meal.
"Serve!" the emperor nodded, signaling that the food could begin. Soon, the table was filled with a variety of sumptuous dishes, emitting an enticing aroma.
The emperor sat down at the table first, and then the imperial concubine followed suit. As the two began to enjoy their dinner, Imperial Concubine Xiao smiled and said, "Your Majesty, how about a couple of drinks today? I'm very happy tonight. I toast you!" She raised her glass and toasted the emperor.
"Okay, I'm very happy tonight too. Let's have a couple of drinks." The emperor readily agreed, took the glass, and drank it all in one gulp. The two of them ate and chatted in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. However, the emperor suddenly felt a little unwell, but he couldn't tell where it was.
At this moment, a guard quickly stepped into the main hall of Changchun Palace, knelt on the ground and said, "Your Majesty, General Xiao Shi wants to see you." The guard's voice broke the silence, causing the emperor and the concubine to stop what they were doing.
"What? Xiao Shi? Isn't he staying well in Fengcheng? How dare he return to Beijing without my order?" The emperor's face was gloomy. He stood up suddenly, with anger flashing in his eyes.
Then, he turned around, glared at Concubine Xiao, and said sternly, "Your father returned to the capital without permission. Did you know?"
Concubine Xiao was startled, but quickly composed herself. She immediately knelt down and said tearfully, "Your Majesty, I truly do not know! Father has never corresponded with me, and I truly do not know why he suddenly returned to the capital. I suspect he must have something important to report, otherwise he would never have returned without permission."
"Hmph, it's better to be as you say. If there is even a single lie, you can't get away with it. Eunuch Xu, please return to the Palace of Tranquil Longevity." The emperor's face was gloomy. He waved his sleeves and strode out of the gate of Changchun Palace.
Inside the room, Concubine Xiao watched the emperor's departing figure, a smug smile on her lips. She turned to the palace maid Lian'er beside her and said, "Hurry, Lian'er, send some people to the Yangxin Palace to keep an eye on it. Report back immediately if there's any movement."
"Yes, your majesty." Lian'er bowed slightly, turned around and left the room.
The emperor's face was gloomy, his eyes flashing with anger. As soon as he returned to the Yangxin Palace, he roared in anger: "Damn it! How dare Xiao Shi return to the capital without my permission? How audacious!"
Eunuch Xu was so frightened that he trembled all over. He knelt down and kowtowed, saying tremblingly: "Your Majesty, please calm down and take care of yourself!"
The emperor glared at Eunuch Xu angrily and shouted, "What are you still standing there for? Send someone to inform the Crown Prince immediately and tell him to find a way to deal with it. I'm afraid Xiao Shi will suddenly return to the capital and make a big move. Also, notify the commander of the Imperial Guard to come to see me immediately! Go!"
Eunuch Xu did not dare to delay and hurriedly turned around and ran out of the Yangxin Palace to convey the emperor's will to the guards outside.
Not long after, Commander Guan hurried over and upon entering the Yangxin Palace, he immediately knelt and saluted: "Your Majesty, your humble servant pays respects!"
The emperor's face was solemn. He waved his hand to signal Commander Guan to stand up and asked anxiously, "Commander Guan, I summoned you here because Xiao Shi returned to the capital without my permission. This is a serious matter. Go and investigate immediately to see if he returned alone or how many troops he brought with him."
Commander Guan looked serious and bowed, saying, "As you wish, I will check it out right away." After saying that, he immediately turned around and trotted away.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com