The words "Regent" were like a thorn, deeply embedded in Lin Wanwan's heart.
After her late-night private conversation with Ruolan that night, she fully understood her situation.
She was not only facing a power-hungry empress dowager who wanted to control her son, but also a vast and deeply entrenched power that had already laid a tight net in the court and the harem.
The Empress Dowager is merely the one who appears in the public eye.
The mysterious, unidentified "Regent" is the real iceberg hidden beneath the surface.
This realization put Lin Wanwan under unprecedented pressure.
But at the same time, it also ignited an unprecedented fighting spirit in her.
She knew that before this huge storm arrived, she had to quickly and quietly gain more leverage for herself and for Xiao Che.
Right now, the most important and urgent thing is to deal with the "life-threatening soup" that is eroding Xiao Che's body every day.
She had to find a way to replace that bowl of medicine.
Inside the room, the candlelight flickered.
Lin Wanwan and Ruolan were having another secret meeting that only the two of them knew about.
"Your Majesty, do you intend to... start with the medicine itself?" Ruolan's face turned serious after hearing Lin Wanwan's plan.
Lin Wanwan nodded, her gaze calm: "That's right. Everyone knows that His Majesty takes medicine every day. As long as we can find a reasonable excuse to change the prescription or the person in charge of preparing the medicine, we can temporarily cut off the Empress Dowager's reach towards His Majesty."
“But this… is too difficult.” Ruolan’s brows furrowed tightly.
As the Empress Dowager's former informant, her understanding of palace procedures was far deeper than anyone else's.
She lowered her voice and analyzed, "Your Majesty, you are unaware of the fact that His Majesty's daily medicine treatment follows an extremely rigorous and seemingly flawless process, from prescription and dispensing to decoction and delivery."
"The prescription was personally reviewed by Director Li of the Imperial Medical Academy, who is also the Empress Dowager's man. Even if we know there's a problem with the prescription, we can't influence him in the slightest."
"The Imperial Kitchen's Medicinal Cuisine Department was responsible for dispensing and decocting the medicine. The eunuchs who delivered the medicine were also dedicated to their duties, making it impossible for the medicine to be switched during the journey."
Ruolan's expression grew increasingly solemn.
"The entire process is like an airtight iron barrel. And the most crucial core of this iron barrel is at the source—the imperial kitchen."
“The Imperial Kitchen…” Lin Wanwan repeated these three words softly.
“Yes, Your Highness.” A hint of apprehension flashed in Ruolan’s eyes. “The head of the Imperial Kitchen is named Liu Fu. He has been operating in the palace for many years and has deep roots. He is very shrewd and meticulous. Everyone in the palace, from concubines to powerful eunuchs, has to give him some face.”
“And his most important identity,” Ruolan paused, then said, slowly and deliberately, “is one of the Empress Dowager’s most trusted confidants, whom she has placed in the palace for many years.”
Lin Wanwan's heart sank.
She understood.
The Imperial Kitchen, which may seem to be only responsible for food and drink, is actually the place where the Empress Dowager controls the "lifeline" of the Emperor's health.
Liu Fu was the Empress Dowager's most loyal watchdog planted on this vital artery.
Trying to find out the problem from him is like asking a tiger for its skin.
Lin Wan-wan paced slowly around the room, her mind racing.
She began to mentally rehearse the scenario.
Imagine she rushes up to Xiao Che right now and tells him that the medicine he's been drinking for years is poisonous, that his biological mother is the mastermind behind it all, and that Liu Fu, the head of the imperial kitchen, is an accomplice.
Will Xiao Che believe it?
Won't.
Without any evidence, he would only think she was crazy, that she was exaggerating, and that she was trying to drive a wedge between her and her son.
So, suppose she, as the "Empress," forcibly ordered a thorough investigation of the Imperial Kitchen under the pretext that "there is a problem with the medicine"?
The outcome will only be worse.
Liu Fu was the Empress Dowager's man; he must have made thorough preparations long ago. Not only would she find no evidence, but she would also immediately alert him.
The news will reach the Empress Dowager's ears immediately.
At that time, the Empress Dowager will surely realize that she has been exposed.
What value does an exposed empress have to the empress dowager?
What awaits her is a thunderous and merciless annihilation.
As for Ruolan, this traitor who betrayed her master, her fate will only be worse than Ruolan's.
Thinking of this, Lin Wanwan broke out in a cold sweat.
no.
We must never launch a direct attack.
A direct attack would be tantamount to suicide.
She looked at the cold, clear moon outside the window, her gaze gradually sharpening.
Since a direct assault won't work, the only option left is... to outsmart them.
She had to find a charge that had nothing to do with the "poisoning" itself, but was serious enough to warrant the emperor's swift and decisive action to remove Liu Fu, the head of the imperial kitchen, from his post immediately.
What she wanted was not to find out the truth.
What she wanted was a "replacement".
If she could remove Liu Fu, this thorn in her side, without anyone noticing and replace him with her own people, she could change the poison from the source into a real tonic.
This is the only path she can take, and the only path she must take.
But what kind of crime could possibly achieve such an effect?
Lin Wanwan fell into deep thought.
Embezzlement? Neglect of duty?
These charges might punish Liu Fu, but given his influence in the palace and the Empress Dowager's protection, it would be very difficult to bring him down in one fell swoop.
We must find a crime that directly touches the "dragon's reverse scale".
One crime that could enrage Xiao Che so much that he would stop at nothing to punish him.
What could it be?
A sudden inspiration flashed in Lin Wanwan's mind.
Got it!
She turned around abruptly, looking at Ruolan with an almost excited gleam in her eyes.
“Ruolan,” she commanded in a deep voice, “I now need you to go secretly and investigate two things immediately.”
Ruolan immediately bowed and accepted the order: "Please give your command, Your Majesty."
“First,” Lin Wanwan said quickly and clearly, “you need to investigate carefully whether Liu Fu, the head of the imperial kitchen, has made any mistakes or loopholes in his daily management that we can exploit, even the smallest ones. For example, the purchase of ingredients, the management of utensils, the allocation of personnel… don’t overlook any detail.”
"yes."
"Second," Lin Wanwan paused, a sly glint in her eyes, "you go and find a way to investigate one thing by checking the Imperial Household Department's daily records or questioning the old servants who have served His Majesty for many years—"
"Does Your Majesty have any... unknown dietary restrictions? Or is there anything that causes a mild 'allergic reaction' to him?"
"Allergy?" Ruolan looked puzzled. It was a word she had never heard before.
"It's... something that causes rashes or makes you feel uncomfortable after eating it," Lin Wanwan said, using a different wording that she could understand.
Although Ruolan didn't understand why Her Highness wanted to investigate these things, she immediately nodded heavily: "Yes, this servant understands!"
"Go." Lin Wanwan waved her hand. "This matter must be kept secret. No one must be allowed to find out."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Ruolan accepted the order and quietly withdrew once again.
Lin Wanwan was left alone in the bedchamber once again.
She walked to the table, looked into her calm eyes in the candlelight, and slowly curled her lips into a cold, slightly manic smile.
Since we can't touch your "medicine".
Then I will take your "meal".
A bold, almost self-destructive, yet flawless plan quietly took shape in her mind.
She wants to direct a great show herself.
This single act could enrage Xiao Che and leave Liu Fu speechless...
An elaborately planned "allergy" drama.
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