Li Yueyao immediately said, "Assign it to Consort Xian."
The Emperor was stunned upon hearing this: "Consort Xian?"
After thinking for a moment, he shook his head and said, "Better assign it to Consort De."
Li Yueyao smiled and said, "Emperor, in your opinion, which of Consort De and Consort Xian has a sharper mind?"
The Emperor remained silent.
"This investigation aims to uncover the poison expert hidden within the palace. Consort Xian is tough and clever enough to swiftly and smoothly expose the person behind it."
After a long pause, the Emperor sighed and said, "I'm worried she won't come out…"
Li Yueyao laughed upon hearing this; it was clear the Emperor hadn't truly grown to dislike Consort Xian.
Originally, Consort Xian should have been the Crown Prince's principal consort. At that time, the Emperor had mistakenly chosen a woman from the Xie family, but after the marriage, Consort Xian became the most favored person in the Eastern Palace.
Consort Xian possessed both talent and beauty, and she was also skilled in maneuvering. Before ascending to the throne, the Emperor liked her most.
Unfortunately, they eventually fell apart because of the Imperial Consort. Over the years, Consort Xian stubbornly refused to leave Yong'an Palace, which inadvertently benefited the Empress and the Imperial Consort.
Thus, Li Yueyao said, "I'll handle this matter; you don't need to worry. Just issue the decree."
The Emperor nodded.
Half an hour later, these two decrees were issued to the rear palace.
Upon hearing this, the Empress remained unmoved.
The Emperor's poisoning was a grave matter; being reprimanded or losing palace authority was something she had anticipated.
But who would take over palace authority was a question worth pondering deeply.
"Qingning, who was given palace authority? The Imperial Consort? Or Consort De?" the Empress asked her personal maid.
Qingning respectfully replied upon hearing the inquiry, "Neither. It's… Consort Xian."
"Consort Xian?" the Empress exclaimed in surprise.
"How could it be Consort Xian?"
Qingning lowered her head and whispered, "Your Majesty, after you left Taiji Palace, the Emperor summoned Consort Shu. Before Consort Shu departed, the Emperor issued these two decrees."
The Empress sneered upon hearing this, "Consort Xian… Now there will be excitement in the palace. Let's see how the Emperor chooses between his new love and old love. Hmph~"
At Yong'an Palace, Qian Lou personally came to deliver the decree, but found Yong'an Palace still tightly shut. He waved his hand toward the back.
A guard behind him directly climbed over the wall, jumped inside, and opened the door from within.
Qian Lou slowly entered Yong'an Palace with the decree, stood in the middle of the courtyard, and loudly announced:
"The Emperor has issued a decree. Consort Xian, please come out to receive it."
After a while, the palace attendants came out one by one and stood in the courtyard, but Consort Xian was nowhere to be seen.
Qian Lou continued, "Consort Xian, I am Qian Lou from Taiji Palace.
Princess Jin Yang's verbal decree: If Yong'an Palace continues to lock its gates, all doors of Yong'an Palace will be dismantled."
Indeed, a cold voice came from the main hall: "Has Princess Jin Yang returned to the palace?"
"Yes, Consort Xian."
"How many days is Aunt planning to stay this time?"
"Your Majesty, Princess Jin Yang resides in the side hall of Taiji Palace. It seems she won't be leaving anytime soon."
Upon hearing this, Consort Xian finally appeared at the entrance of the main hall.
Consort Xian had bright eyes and a fair nose, red lips and white teeth. She wore no makeup, dressed simply, with her hair tied up plainly and adorned with a jade hairpin.
In her left hand, she held a book; in her right hand, a string of emerald prayer beads continuously twirled between her fingers.
The sunset shone on Consort Xian, casting a golden glow on her beautiful and intellectual face.
"Is there a major incident in the palace?" Consort Xian asked calmly.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor's health is not well."
“Hasn’t he been unwell for over two months already? Is there something hidden behind this?”
Qian Lou slowly walked forward, stopping two steps away from Consort Xian, and whispered, “The Emperor has been poisoned.”
Upon hearing this, Consort Xian first sneered coldly, then said, “Has he finally played himself to the brink of death?”
Qian Lou dared not respond to such treasonous words.
“Speak, what instructions does Princess Jin Yang have?”
Qian Lou replied, “The Emperor’s decree: from today onward, Consort Xian shall assist in managing the six palaces. Your Highness, this is the imperial edict, seal, and tally.”
Qian Lou gestured to the young eunuch behind him to hand the items over to Fu Shou, the inner attendant beside Consort Xian.
Then, lowering his head again, he whispered, “Princess Jin Yang has instructed me to convey that Consort Shu has also been poisoned.
There is a master skilled in using poison hidden within the palace. Your Highness must quickly apprehend this person.”
Consort Xian remained expressionless as she asked, “What about the Empress?”
The Empress has been stripped of her authority over the harem, but Kunning Palace remains utterly calm and undisturbed.”
“And the Imperial Consort?”
“Princess Jin Yang’s intention is that she will handle matters concerning the Empress and Imperial Consort herself. Consort Xian need only manage the harem well and uncover the culprit.”
Consort Xian nodded upon hearing this and said, “Return and report to Princess Jin Yang that this arrangement is excellent.”
Seeing that the matter was concluded, Qian Lou bowed respectfully and withdrew.
After everyone had left, Chunyun, the lady-in-waiting beside Consort Xian, asked, “Your Highness, shall the palace gates remain closed?”
“Issue the order: from today onward, Yong'an Palace will no longer be closed off. Arrange for the palace to be thoroughly cleaned.
Additionally, summon the heads of the Four Bureaus and Six Offices within the palace tomorrow morning for questioning.”
“Yes.”
Chunyun then asked, “If harem concubines come to pay respects, how should we handle it?”
“Although the Empress has been stripped of palace authority, she remains the Empress. Send them to her. I have no time.”
“Yes,” Chunyun replied respectfully.
After the two decrees were issued, the harem was shaken, but the greatest shock occurred in the Imperial Consort’s Fanghua Yuan.
“What are you saying? That Qin Momo hasn’t died yet and has actually gone to serve beside Princess Jin Yang?”
The Imperial Consort had shed her gorgeous attire and now lay weakly on her bed in plain clothes.
Her furious face flushed slightly with a blush, lending her a bit more spirit.
“Fools! Qin Momo discovered my secret years ago. The Emperor didn’t believe her, but that doesn’t mean Princess Jin Yang won’t believe her now.
Now that Princess Jin Yang has entered the palace, she has summoned and reinstated all those left by the previous Emperor and Empress Dowager. These people have been in the palace far longer than we have.”
As she spoke, the Imperial Consort visibly panicked.
Seeing this, Zhou Momo beside the Imperial Consort stepped forward to comfort her, patted her hand, and said,
“Imperial Consort, do not panic. No matter how formidable Princess Jin Yang is, she cannot surpass the Emperor.
As long as Your Highness firmly holds the Emperor’s heart, they cannot stir up great waves within the palace.”
The Imperial Consort shook her head upon hearing this. This time, we likely must muster every ounce of vigilance to cope with.
Now the management authority over the six palaces has fallen into Consort Xian’s hands. She is not like that fool, the Empress.”
The Imperial Consort’s senior maid, Miaoqing, spoke up, “Consort Xian has confined herself within Yong'an Palace for years without emerging, allowing the harem to become Your Highness’s domain.
This shows she isn’t particularly clever and is not worth worrying about.”
The Imperial Consort shook her head. Before I entered the palace, the harem was Consort Xian’s domain.
"If it weren't for her quarrel with His Majesty, and Consort Xian's stubborn refusal to appear out of spite, I wouldn't have had such smooth sailing these years. We must still proceed with caution."
Nanny Zhou nodded and said, "Indeed. By now, Nanny Qin has likely reported everything in full to Her Highness, the Grand Princess. These two decrees in the rear palace are likely not the Emperor's intention, but rather the opinion of Princess Jin Yang."
Miaoqing spoke up again, "Is Princess Jin Yang trying to use Consort Xian to deal with us?"
"No, this is a tacit understanding reached among the Empress, Consort Xian, and Princess Jin Yang. I have been contending with the Empress for so many years, and she hasn't gained the slightest advantage. Princess Jin Yang now wants to replace her with someone else to challenge me. The Empress remains silent because she wants to watch Consort Xian and me fight, so she can reap the benefits. No, I must send word to the young master as soon as possible."
Upon hearing this, Nanny Zhou nodded and said, "This servant obeys."