The old woman thought it was an accident, but Consort De didn't. It was an accident that one person got a rash, but for two people to get a rash, and specifically only the two of them, it didn't seem like an accident at all.
But she couldn't recall anyone in the harem who would target the two old women.
She didn't suspect Youqing because she knew that although Youqing was favored, she didn't have much power in the harem and had no intention of developing power. She felt that Youqing didn't have the ability to drug her people without anyone noticing.
But that's even stranger.
Consort De was also puzzled and could only treat it as an accident.
"Since they've been sent out of the palace, make sure they're settled in properly and don't let them gossip."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After the first month of the lunar calendar, Youqing ate something that didn't suit her taste in the morning, which made her feel very uncomfortable. However, she still forced herself to go to Cining Palace to pay her respects. After leaving Cining Palace, she couldn't help but feel nauseous, but she couldn't hold it in.
"Master, are you alright?"
Youqing shook her head and said, "It's nothing. I just didn't like what I ate this morning, so I feel a little unwell. I'll feel better after I go back and rest."
Cheng Ying, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but ask, "Master, could it be that you're pregnant?"
With the system around, she knew she simply had an upset stomach and wasn't pregnant.
"No, it's just that my stomach isn't feeling well."
Youqing didn't take it to heart, but Consort De, who was walking behind her, did. Although the Imperial Hospital said that Consort Shu was weak and had difficulty conceiving, Consort De didn't seem weak to her. Besides, pregnancy also depends on luck. Consort Shu was favored by the Emperor, so it was hard to say whether her luck would come.
Consort De felt that if she was really pregnant, she couldn't let her give birth, or if she did, the child should be born with defects.
After Youqing returned home, she didn't ask for the imperial physician to be summoned. By noon, she was feeling better and had a good appetite. Chengying and Sangzhu didn't take it to heart.
Consort Ke took it to heart.
Yongshou Palace was quite far from the Imperial Garden, so Youqing didn't go there often. When Emperor Kangxi wasn't visiting, Youqing would take a few strolls around Yongshou Palace after dinner to stretch her muscles and get some exercise.
Although it was winter, the Yongshou Palace was still green. She stopped in front of a pine and cypress bonsai.
It wasn't that she particularly liked the pine and cypress bonsai, but rather that the system had sounded an alarm.
“Host, there’s something wrong with the stones in this pine and cypress bonsai pot.”
Youqing asked, "What's the problem?"
What could possibly be wrong with a potted pine or cypress tree?
Youqing moved closer before the system gave a definite answer: "Those small black stones in the basin look pretty, but they contain metals, and they are radioactive metals. If ordinary people come into contact with them for a long time, it will affect their health and make them weak. If pregnant women come into contact with them, it will most likely cause birth defects in their babies."
Youqing's face immediately turned very ugly.
In a flash, she suddenly remembered that she had vomited on her way back from Cining Palace a few days ago.
She turned to Chengying and asked, "When you came back from paying your respects at Cining Palace last time, do you remember who was following behind you?"
She couldn't remember these things, but Chengying was the most meticulous; she should remember them.
Cheng Ying thought for a moment and said, "This servant remembers it should be Consort De."
It's Consort De again. She hasn't even had a chance to settle scores with her for what happened before the New Year, and now she's back again. She really won't stop until she's killed!
Youqing whispered some instructions to Chengying.
That night, Chengying secretly came to the garden of Yongshou Palace and replaced all the black stones in the pine and cypress pots.
Youqing said, "These things are unclean. It's okay for ordinary people to touch them occasionally, but pregnant women should avoid touching them. Let's get rid of them!"
Cheng Ying was startled. Although she already knew that the black stone was probably something bad, she was still taken aback.
She didn't ask how Youqing knew. Having been by Youqing's side for a long time, Chengying had figured out that she was a bit mysterious. She seemed to care about nothing on a daily basis, but she could always see through the secrets that even the old nannies couldn't see.
"Yes, Master."
Youqing thought for a moment and continued, "Go and check if Consort Cheng sent anything similar when she was pregnant with the Seventh Prince."
Cheng Ying suddenly thought of the Seventh Prince's congenital limp and her face turned pale instantly: "Does Your Highness mean that the Seventh Prince's foot might have been deliberately harmed by someone?"
Youqing wasn't sure, but the Seventh Prince and the Sixth Prince were close in age, both born with limps, and she had never heard of any such example in the Cheng Guiren's family, let alone in the royal family.
"Let's check it out! Do we need to see the results?"
If it's true, she'll definitely make Consort De suffer a terrible fate.
Youqing is no saint; how could she not retaliate after others treated her this way?
"Yes, Master."
Youqing was certain that the pine and cypress tree was the work of Consort De, but she had no evidence. Moreover, Consort De was a very cautious person, and her suspicion alone was not enough to prove anything.
Moreover, Consort De had given birth to the Fourth Prince and the Sixth Prince, so having two sons to rely on, even if it was found that Consort De was the one who killed Songbai, it wouldn't be enough to make Consort De pay a heavy price.
She needs a bigger bargaining chip, like the Seventh Prince.
Having been by Kangxi's side for so long, Youqing was able to understand his thoughts to some extent. He still valued his children very much, even the Seventh Prince. Because of the Seventh Prince's lameness, Kangxi was never very happy, but no one dared to mistreat the Seventh Prince. Kangxi still cared about this son.
Emperor Kangxi would not embarrass Consort De by "sending" her an unclean bonsai. He had to consider his two sons. The Fourth Prince was raised by the Imperial Noble Consort, but the Sixth Prince was raised by Consort De herself. The Sixth Prince was still young and was said to be in poor health. For the sake of the Sixth Prince, Emperor Kangxi would not let Consort De lose face over a "trivial matter".
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