“Consort Rong! Consort Rong! Blood!”
Panic erupted. Many people jumped up in alarm, only to see Consort Rong clutching her abdomen, her skirt soaked in blood.
Chu Ze’s face went pale as iron. He sprang to his feet and immediately ordered the imperial physicians to come, then had someone help her to a side hall to rest.
“My Emperor… my royal child… my child!” Consort Rong groaned in excruciating pain, sweat pouring from her brow. Her lips were pale, yet her concern remained for the child in her womb.
This was her first child with the Emperor!
Chu Ze tried to calm her. He quickly ordered all meals to be withheld and began a meticulous investigation.
“It’s the Empress! It must be the Empress trying to harm me! She’s always wanted me dead!” Consort Rong no longer cared about rank or protocol. She clutched the bedclothes, tears streaming down her face.
She could feel it—this pregnancy was lost.
Chu Ze stood tense as several imperial physicians arrived—some administering acupuncture, others examining for poisons.
“Your Majesty, I report that Consort Rong has indeed been poisoned—arsenic!” The chief physician, Sun Yuanpan, looked anxious as he hurried to the Emperor’s side to report.
Clearly, someone had deliberately poisoned her. Not only was the unborn heir in danger, but Consort Rong’s life as well. Whoever was behind this had committed a grave crime.
Consort Rong, not yet unconscious, writhed in pain. Upon hearing it was poison, she mustered the last of her strength to gasp, “My Emperor, you must act for me! Someone truly wants my life!”
“Your Majesty, Consort Rong’s life is in grave danger, and the heir cannot be saved. We can only do our best to protect her,” the physicians reported.
“Do whatever it takes to save her—no mistakes!” Chu Ze’s face was as dark as iron. Hua Shu and Empress Dowager Zhao soon arrived.
Hearing this, Hua Shu realized the palace was on the brink of disaster.
“Search! I want to know who has such audacity to poison! I will punish them severely and show no mercy!” Chu Ze’s voice dropped to a menacing low, his anger unmistakable.
When the Son of Heaven is enraged, all hearts tremble.
Consort De paused briefly, then walked in as if nothing had happened, her face betraying panic. “Consort Rong, what happened? Could it be something she ate?”
The maid kneeling beside Consort Rong, Songshi, seemed to recall something and urgently said, “Your Majesty, the Empress herself had not eaten yet. This must have been a premeditated act. I beg Your Majesty to see justice done for Her Majesty!”
The physicians examining the poison found nothing at the banquet.
“Did the Empress consume anything before arriving?” Sun Yuanpan asked. If it weren’t accidental ingestion, how could this be so severe?
Songshi, crying, thought for a moment and said, “Her Majesty’s appetite has been poor lately. This morning—yes, before coming—Her Majesty ate some sour jujubes.”
Li Sheng, ever perceptive, hurried to fetch the items himself.
Consort Rong writhed in pain, almost fainting, yet her lips still whispered the Empress’s name.
Many eyes turned toward the Empress, their expressions complex.
Hua Shu, however, remained quietly by Empress Dowager Zhao’s side, neither participating nor speaking. She was now a true “idle empress,” bored beyond measure.
Chu Ze slammed his hand on the table, causing many to flinch and instinctively back away.
Consort De stood nearby, eyes darting to the Empress, her sleeves twisting nervously, already dampened from sweat.
Empress, you wanted Consort Rong to miscarry—now you’ve achieved your wish.
But you should also let me fulfill mine.
Suppressing her fear, she reasoned: Consort Rong’s suffering was not caused by the banquet food, so how could it be blamed on her, the palace steward in charge?
Soon, Li Sheng returned with the sour jujubes. Sun Yuanpan examined them, his expression changing. It was confirmed—the poison was in the jujubes. Only a small amount, which explained the slow onset.
Songshi knelt, trembling, “Your Majesty, the mistress often eats these jujubes—they were always checked for poison. How could they be poisoned?”
Indeed. Even if Consort Rong were pregnant, any item given to a concubine would be tested multiple times. How could arsenic have gotten in, unless someone from within the palace was involved?
Songshi’s nervousness was understandable. She had to clear her name.
“Yes. The one who delivered the jujubes was a strange maid, with a black mole above her left eyebrow,” Songshi recalled. Her mistress in danger, she had to report this accurately.
Chu Ze’s face was cold, his fists clenched over the table, veins standing out. “Search the entire palace—no place may be left unchecked.”
He could not imagine someone daring to commit such a crime.
His gaze swept over to the Empress, who remained quiet and calm.
Hua Shu seemed to sense the Emperor’s stare and lifted her head, meeting his eyes.
Her expression was complex—concerned, even carrying a trace of reproach, as if accusing him of suspecting her.
For a moment, Chu Ze withdrew his gaze, letting his hands rest on his knees, thoughts churning.
It had better be unrelated to her.
If anyone was behind today’s incident, he would show no mercy.
Soon, the palace was thoroughly searched. Fear hung thick in the air. Even the bravest trembled, some to the point of tears.
Time passed, and those waiting grew increasingly anxious.
Fortunately, the physicians acted in time, and Consort Rong’s life was temporarily secured.
Consort Xian watched from behind, eyes gleaming, enjoying the spectacle.
Meanwhile, Consort Shu moved attentively, offering tea to the Emperor and Empress Dowager, saying calming words.
Empress Dowager Zhao glanced at the Empress. Seeing her unnaturally calm, concern stirred within her. Could it be… this incident…
Before her thoughts fully formed, Li Sheng hurried in, face grim.
Consort De’s eyes widened, eagerly awaiting news.
It had come from Kunning Palace!
Li Sheng reported to the Emperor, glancing briefly at Consort De: “Your Majesty, during the search I saw Consort De’s personal maid, Hongru, in the bamboo grove. Her behavior was suspicious, and she had some scratches—likely from a failed attempt. I had her searched and discovered she was trying to swallow something: a pouch of arsenic!”
Consort De!
All eyes turned toward her.
Her face went ashen. She could not believe it. She staggered forward, legs weak, falling to the ground. “Your… Your Majesty, someone must be framing me!”
How could it appear at her place… clearly…
Her eyes flicked toward the Empress. Hua Shu’s expression was cold, as if looking at a lifeless object.
At that moment, the lead general of the imperial guards, General Song, brought in two people—one male, one female. The woman was disheveled, but the black mole above her left eyebrow was unmistakable.
Before anyone could speak, Songshi immediately identified her. “It’s her! She delivered the poisoned jujubes to Her Majesty today!”
General Song said, “Your Majesty, when we found them, this person was attempting to drag her into a well—obviously to eliminate a witness. The eunuch involved is from Consort De’s palace.”
At this, the Emperor’s teacup crashed to the floor, startling everyone.
Consort De was paralyzed with fear, staring dumbly at the Emperor, muttering repeatedly, “How… how could this happen? How…”