The banquet continued, with the dishes being replaced two or three times.
The Empress forced herself to keep a smile on her face. From time to time, she rubbed her forehead, but her complexion grew worse and worse, and even the hand holding her chopsticks began to tremble slightly.
“Your Majesty, your complexion doesn’t look good. Should we call for an imperial physician?” Consort Chen Yunyao, the Virtuous Consort, noticed something was wrong and immediately showed concern.
“I’m fine. Perhaps I just didn’t rest well last night.” The Empress waved her hand, though she was secretly puzzled, unable to figure out what was happening to her.
Jiang Zhaoxue, however, didn’t pay much attention to it. As the dishes were replaced one after another, she ate happily and couldn’t help but pick up another piece of food.
“Empress!”
Everyone raised their heads at once. They saw the Empress sway slightly, and the teacup in her hand fell to the ground with a sharp crash.
“Your Majesty!”
Several consorts stood up at the same time. If anything happened to the Empress, the Emperor would certainly not spare them.
The Empress grabbed onto the table for support, her forehead covered in a layer of cold sweat. She wanted to say something, but her entire body suddenly collapsed straight to the ground!
“Quick! Quickly summon the imperial physician!” Consort Chen Yunyao was the first to react, with a hint of hidden delight in her expression.
The hall instantly descended into chaos. Several noblewomen retreated in fright, while the consorts whispered anxiously among themselves, yet none dared to step forward, afraid of taking responsibility.
Palace maids and eunuchs rushed in and out. Some brought water, some helped move people. Jiang Zhaoxue remained calmly seated in her place, with a plate of snow-white sliced sea bass in front of her.
Granny Cui leaned over and whispered, “Princess Consort, why are you still eating? Shouldn’t we…”
“Don’t rush.” She picked up a piece of fish and placed it into her mouth. “Let’s see what happens first.”
The person who arrived was none other than the Chief Imperial Physician of the Imperial Medical Bureau, Physician Zheng.
Imperial Physician Zheng came rushing in, panting heavily as he carried his medicine box. He knelt beside the Empress’ couch, placed his fingers on her pulse, and his brows grew more and more tightly furrowed.
“How is she?” Consort Chen Yunyao asked anxiously.
Imperial Physician Zheng did not answer. He switched to the other hand to check her pulse, and his expression gradually became more solemn.
“Her Majesty’s pulse is irregular, but there are no abnormalities in her internal organs. I… I am unable to determine the root cause of the illness at the moment.”
“Unable to determine?” Consort Chen’s voice suddenly rose in anger. “You are the Chief Physician of the Imperial Medical Bureau, yet you can’t even diagnose something as simple as dizziness?”
After being scolded, Imperial Physician Zheng felt extremely aggrieved. He could only kneel on the ground and kowtow repeatedly.
“This subject is incompetent! This subject is incompetent!”
Whispers began spreading throughout the hall.
“Even the imperial physicians can’t diagnose it. What kind of terrifying illness is this?”
“Could it be that she offended some kind of…”
“Shh, don’t speak nonsense.”
Jiang Zhaoxue put down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and watched the scene unfold like an entertaining play.
Granny Cui leaned over again. “Princess Consort, what do you think about this…”
Jiang Zhaoxue could see that the gray-black aura above the Empress’ head was still moving, with signs that it was about to seep down from the top of her head into the center of her brows.
At this rate, within three days, the Empress would either lose her sanity at best or die suddenly at worst.
To be honest, the Empress had nothing to do with her. She wasn’t like Jing Prince, who was a partner of hers. Besides, there was an old grudge between the Empress and the Jing Prince’s residence, so she had no reason to help.
The problem was that the Empress had fallen ill after seeing her. With so many people watching at today’s banquet, Jiang Zhaoxue represented Jing Prince’s residence no matter what.
Her reputation as the “bride who brought luck to cure the prince” had just entered the palace, and then the Empress immediately fell ill. The Jing Prince’s residence could not escape suspicion, and people would surely gossip about them.
“Granny Cui, whatever I say or do later, don’t stop me.”
Granny Cui was stunned. “Princess Consort, what are you planning to do?”
Jiang Zhaoxue stood up without saying another word. The movement immediately drew everyone’s attention.
Seeing her, Consort Chen Yunyao asked in confusion, “Jing Prince’s Consort, what are you…”
“This concubine happens to know a few folk remedies from the countryside,” Jiang Zhaoxue said calmly. “If Her Majesty the Empress does not mind, this concubine is willing to give it a try.”
Only then did Imperial Physician Zheng notice that this little troublemaker had come to the palace. Thinking back to what happened at Jing Prince’s residence that day, he couldn’t help but feel a chill run down his back. However, with her here, perhaps the Empress’ illness could actually be cured.
Consort Chen Yunyao looked at Jiang Zhaoxue with a faint smile. “Does the Princess Consort also know medicine?”
“I don’t,” Jiang Zhaoxue shook her head. “I merely grew up in the countryside and have seen some strange illnesses that ordinary physicians were unable to treat.”
“Chief Physician Zheng!”
Imperial Physician Zheng immediately stepped forward. “What are your instructions, Princess Consort?”
“A bowl of clear water and a copper coin.” Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t stand on ceremony. “Bring them quickly. If you delay and something happens to the Empress, you won’t be able to bear the consequences.”
Imperial Physician Zheng was startled. Having witnessed her methods before, he hurriedly prepared the items.
A bowl of clear water and a polished copper coin were placed on the small table beside the Empress’ couch.
Everyone in the hall fell silent, their eyes fixed on Jiang Zhaoxue.
She placed the copper coin into the water and began chanting some incomprehensible incantation.
In truth, she had already known what was going on long ago. She was merely putting on this mysterious ritual for fun.
After setting down the bowl, Jiang Zhaoxue turned to the palace maid beside the Empress.
“Has the southeast corner of Her Majesty’s bedchamber been dug up recently?”
The palace maid froze for a moment before carefully recalling. “Replying to the Princess Consort, a gardener came a few days ago to replace a flower pot. It was placed right in the southeast corner.”
“Lead the way.”
The ritual from earlier had indeed worked. Everyone was unable to understand what was happening and did not dare to stop her. The palace maid hurriedly led Jiang Zhaoxue toward the rear hall.
A group of consorts and noblewomen followed behind, a grand procession of people, each stretching their necks to get a look at the spectacle.
In the southeast corner of the Empress’ bedchamber, there was indeed a newly replaced pot of ink orchid. The flowerpot was new, and the soil was new as well. At first glance, there seemed to be nothing unusual.
Jiang Zhaoxue crouched down and circled around the flowerpot once. The gray-black aura was indeed seeping out from beneath this pot of flowers.
She reached out and pushed the flowerpot aside.
“Dig.”
A young eunuch took a small gardening shovel and crouched down. After digging twice, the shovel struck something hard.
He brushed away the soil, revealing a small object wrapped in yellow cloth.
Jiang Zhaoxue reached out, picked up the small cloth bundle, and placed it in her palm.
The bundle was not large, only about the size of a palm. On the yellow cloth were messy talisman symbols drawn with cinnabar.
She opened the cloth bundle, revealing what was inside—a small doll sewn from coarse fabric. Seven silver needles were stuck into its body, and the Empress’ birth date and eight characters were written on its back in blood.
“Ah!”
Several noblewomen cried out in fright. Even Consort Chen Yunyao’s expression changed as she stared at the doll, her lips pressed tightly together.
Imperial Physician Zheng stepped forward to take a look and immediately sucked in a breath of cold air.
“This is the *yansheng* technique!”
The entire hall instantly erupted into chaos.
Jiang Zhaoxue turned the doll over and examined it carefully. The needles were newly inserted, and judging from the condition, it had been buried for no more than three days.
She stood up and handed the object to the Empress’ maid, her tone calm.
“Her Majesty the Empress is blessed with good fortune. This thing was only buried recently and has not yet accumulated enough power. Since it has been discovered today, simply burn it.”
The palace maid accepted the doll with trembling hands and quickly turned around to bring it back to the Empress.
Jiang Zhaoxue brushed the dirt from her hands and returned to the main hall. By then, the Empress had already heard the report of what happened, and her face was as dark as iron.
“Good. Very good.”
The Empress gritted her teeth, her voice lowered to a chilling tone.
“Someone actually dared to tamper with this palace’s own bedchamber.”
Jiang Zhaoxue stood to the side and did not comment. This matter had nothing to do with her. She had only helped dig something out; everything else was the Empress’ own family affair.
Naturally, the banquet could no longer continue.
The consorts and noblewomen dispersed one after another, each with different expressions on their faces. It was likely that tonight, there would be many more rumors circulating among the powerful families of Shengjing.
Imperial Physician Zheng was the last to leave. When he passed by Jiang Zhaoxue, he paused for a moment.
“Princess Consort.” He lowered his voice. “Thank you for what happened today.”
Jiang Zhaoxue glanced at him. “Thank me for what?”
“That thing was buried in the southeast corner, drawing earth malice into Her Majesty’s body. Although I understand medicine, I could not see through such an evil technique.” Imperial Physician Zheng looked sincere. “If not for Princess Consort, I truly would not have known how to resolve the Empress’ illness.”
Jiang Zhaoxue waved her hand. “You’re an imperial physician. Just focus on treating illnesses. Matters like this aren’t your responsibility.”
Imperial Physician Zheng gave a bitter smile, cupped his hands in respect, and turned to leave.
Granny Cui walked over and supported Jiang Zhaoxue’s arm.
“Princess Consort, you truly scared this old servant to death just now. What if that thing hadn’t been dug out?”
“Hadn’t been dug out?” Jiang Zhaoxue tilted her head and looked at her. “With me taking action, do you really think there’s anything I can’t dig out?”
As the two were walking out, a young eunuch hurried after them and called out in a sharp voice:
“Jing Prince’s Consort, please wait. Her Majesty the Empress requests your presence in the rear hall.”
Granny Cui’s heart tightened, and she looked toward Jiang Zhaoxue.
Jiang Zhaoxue’s expression remained calm, as if everything was within her expectations.
“Let’s go.”
She lifted her foot and walked toward the rear hall. After taking two steps, she suddenly remembered something and turned back to Granny Cui.
“Oh, right. Tell the Prince that I earned a big favor from the palace today. Have him prepare some silver.”
Granny Cui: “What silver?”
“Sealing money.” Jiang Zhaoxue blinked. “I helped the Empress dig out something that could cost someone their head. Shouldn’t he show some appreciation?”
“The old maid was completely speechless. This Princess Consort had just uncovered a major case of witchcraft in the palace, yet the next moment she was already calculating how to make money from the Prince’s purse.
How exactly did she manage to turn the world upside down while still thinking about earning money at the same time?
In the rear hall, the Empress had already changed into another set of clothes and was leaning against a soft couch. Her complexion was still not very good.
She raised her chin slightly, indicating that a seat should be given.
Jiang Zhaoxue was not polite either. She plopped herself down without a care, completely ignoring the etiquette expected inside the palace.
The Empress stared at her for a long while before finally speaking:
“Princess Consort of Jing, I ask you—who did you learn these skills from?”