Since that first visit, Consort Hui, née Chen, has become a frequent visitor to Kunning Palace.
She could always find all sorts of plausible excuses to come and pay her respects.
Sometimes, she would embroider a handkerchief by hand and specially send it to the Empress for her to admire; other times, she would get some fresh fruit in the palace and, not daring to enjoy it alone, would think of sending it to the Empress to have a taste.
Each time she came, she adhered to the duties of a concubine, behaving with humility and politeness, never lingering, and never making any excessive demands.
She was like a gentle, inconspicuous spring breeze, quietly blowing into Lin Wanwan's life, which was somewhat tense due to constant vigilance.
What made Lin Wanwan lower her guard the most was that she could always bring some trivial but absolutely true news about Cixi Palace and Chengqian Palace.
For example, the Empress Dowager had a poor appetite today and only ate half a bowl of bird's nest porridge.
For example, when Consort Shu was copying "Rules for Women," she was caught being lazy by Granny Qin and received another scolding.
These messages were all extremely trivial and hardly considered important intelligence. However, every time Lin Wanwan asked Ruolan to verify them, the results were exactly the same as what Consort Hui had said.
Gradually, Lin Wanwan's wariness of her was worn away by these repeated "tests".
She began to believe that this timid and cowardly Consort Hui might really be just a pitiful person who had been bullied in the palace and had finally found a powerful patron to rely on, so she couldn't wait to come and surrender.
In this cold and ruthless palace, having someone to confide in and share embarrassing stories about enemies is a welcome respite.
As a result, the relationship between the two gradually became closer.
From the initial awkwardness of "Your Majesty the Empress" and "Consort Hui," they have now become "elder sister" and "younger sister" who can talk about anything.
They would admire flowers together in the Imperial Garden, and enjoy tea and discuss painting together in Kunning Palace. Consort Hui would even bring her young daughter, so that this beautiful little princess could bring some rare joy and laughter to Lin Wanwan's dull palace life.
Lin Wan-wan seems to have truly found a confidante in this cold palace.
...
The weather was fine that day.
Lin Wanwan and Consort Hui are playing chess in the pavilion of the Imperial Garden.
On the chessboard, black and white pieces are locked in a fierce battle.
Consort Hui's chess skills, like her personality, were mild and conservative, proceeding step by step, but lacking a certain ruthless and decisive edge.
Lin Wanwan quickly gained the upper hand, and only needed to take a few more steps to completely surround and kill her white pieces.
However, at that moment, Lin Wanwan noticed that Consort Hui across from her seemed somewhat distracted.
She made several mistakes, and once she almost placed a piece off the board.
"Little sister?" Lin Wanwan placed a piece on the board and, seeing her absent-minded appearance, asked with concern, "What's wrong with you today? Did something bother you?"
Consort Hui trembled violently at her question, and the chess piece in her hand fell to the chessboard with a "thud," disrupting the original game.
"No...it's nothing..." She quickly waved her hand, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace. "It's because I...I didn't sleep well last night and I'm feeling a bit unwell. I'm sorry for disturbing your enjoyment, sister."
The more she said that, the more Lin Wanwan felt that she had something on her mind.
"Between you and me, sisters, what can't we say to each other?" Lin Wan-wan put down the chess piece in her hand, held her cold hands, and said gently, "If you really have difficulties, you might as well talk to your sister. In this palace, one more person can always make a difference."
Consort Hui looked into Lin Wanwan's sincere and concerned eyes, her lips trembled a few times, and her eyes instantly reddened.
As if she had made up her mind, she abruptly dismissed the palace servants attending her, then leaned close to Lin Wanwan's ear and, in a voice tinged with fear and trembling, said something only the two of them could hear:
"Sister...you...you must be careful!"
"Sister... I accidentally overheard a... huge secret yesterday!"
Lin Wanwan's heart tightened suddenly!
Consort Hui's face was filled with lingering fear and unease. She nervously bit her lower lip, lowering her voice even further.
"Sister, as you know, in just half a month, it will be the royal family's annual 'Silkworm Ceremony'."
Lin Wanwan nodded.
The Silkworm Ceremony was one of the most important royal blessing ceremonies presided over by the Empress. During this ceremony, the Empress would lead the concubines in personally picking mulberry leaves to feed the silkworm deity in the palace, praying for national peace and prosperity, and favorable weather.
This was an extremely solemn ceremony, and also a great test of the empress's "virtue".
“I…I overheard people in Cixi Palace plotting…” Consort Hui’s voice trembled more and more violently, “They…they said that the Empress Dowager is going to…tamper with you during this year’s silkworm-raising ceremony!”
Lin Wanwan's pupils suddenly contracted!
"They are planning to secretly smear a colorless and odorless powder on the batch of the finest mulberry leaves you used to worship the silkworm goddess!"
"That kind of powder is harmless to humans, but if the golden silkworms in the palace eat it, they will immediately become sick and unable to spin silk!"
"At that time, in front of all the civil and military officials and members of the imperial family, the Silkworm Goddess will fall ill. This... this is an ominous sign from heaven!"
"At that time, the Empress Dowager will immediately launch an attack, slandering you... slandering you as 'morally deficient, disrespectful to the gods,' and an ominous person! In this way, not only will your position as Empress be in jeopardy, but even... even your life will be in imminent danger!"
"boom--!"
Consort Hui's words were like a series of thunderclaps, exploding in Lin Wanwan's mind one after another!
What a vicious scheme!
In ancient times, when people placed great importance on the supernatural, using the omen of "heavenly misfortune" to frame someone was the most deadly and irrefutable tactic!
If this comes to fruition, Lin Wanwan will instantly transform from a virtuous empress who "outwits treacherous concubines" into a "wicked empress" despised by everyone!
"Sister, please believe me!" Consort Hui cried out, tears welling in her eyes as she saw her sister's face change drastically. "I heard it all clearly! They even planned out who would carry out the attack, as well as the time and place!"
She gripped Lin Wanwan's hand tightly and said urgently:
"The one in charge of carrying out the deed was a lowly eunuch named 'Xiao Luzi' from Cixi Palace. Because he was inconspicuous, he was not easily noticed!"
"The time to begin is the night before the silkworm-rearing ceremony, at midnight!"
"The location is in the 'First Silkworm Altar' where the mulberry leaves used for sacrifices are stored!"
She explained every detail of the entire plan clearly and plainly, making it sound flawless and without any loopholes!
More importantly, this plan provides an excellent, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to catch the perpetrator red-handed!
As long as Lin Wanwan has her men lying in ambush beforehand, she can catch Xiao Luzi, the one who poisoned the girl, on the spot at that time and place!
At that time, with witnesses and physical evidence all present, what will the Empress Dowager have to say?!
Lin Wanwan's heart was pounding wildly at that moment!
Only four words remained in her mind.
A golden opportunity!
She was worried about not finding any leverage over the Empress Dowager, and she was also worried about how to completely bring her down.
Unexpectedly, just when I was feeling sleepy, someone brought me a pillow!
This is simply... even God is helping her!
Overwhelmed with joy, Lin Wanwan was instantly blinded by elation. Any lingering doubt she had about Consort Hui vanished completely in the face of this "fatal" intelligence.
She gripped Consort Hui's hand tightly, her clear eyes filled with unprecedented gratitude and excitement.
"younger sister!"
Her voice trembled slightly with excitement.
"You...you've done your sister a tremendous favor this time!"
"I... will remember this kindness!"
Looking at Consort Hui's face, which appeared exceptionally sincere due to her worry, she began to quickly start making plans in her mind.
How will she use this intelligence to lay a trap?
How could she, at the silkworm-rearing ceremony, in front of everyone, completely shatter the Empress Dowager's mask of benevolence?
She wanted to make that wicked woman pay the most painful and unforgettable price for all her schemes!
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