A piercing scream cut through the snowy night, instantly rousing everyone in Changxin Palace!
In the West Side Hall, Shuixian’s eyes snapped open almost simultaneously.
She threw off the warm brocade quilt and sat up, her movements crisp and decisive, her gaze sharp and clear in the darkness.
Yinzhu had also risen swiftly, lighting a candle and positioning herself protectively at Shuixian’s side with vigilance.
Outside, chaotic footsteps could be heard—panicked inquiries from the palace servants, and the heart-wrenching wails of Attendant Song’s trusted maid.
Shuixian draped a thick plain cloak over her shoulders and whispered to Yinzhu, “Let’s go and see.”
As the mistress and servant stepped out of the West Side Hall, they nearly collided with Consort Yi, who had also been startled awake and was hurrying over, wrapped in a luxurious fox fur coat.
Consort Yi’s hair was slightly disheveled, and she wore a perfectly feigned expression of shock, as if she too had just been roused from sleep.
“What’s going on? What’s all the commotion in the East Side Hall?” Consort Yi pressed her lips together and asked.
“Your Highness, it seems… it’s Attendant Song—something has happened to her!”
A young eunuch stumbled forward to report, his voice trembling.
Consort Yi furrowed her brows, adopting a deeply concerned expression. “Quick! Accompany me to see!”
With that, she led her attendants and hurried toward the East Side Hall.
Shuixian followed at a more measured pace with Yinzhu.
Inside the East Side Hall, a suffocating odor hung in the air—an indescribable, sour, and foul smell.
Attendant Song’s personal maid was as pale as parchment, trembling uncontrollably as she pressed herself against the corner of the wall, desperately trying to distance herself from Attendant Song, who lay collapsed before the bed.
Attendant Song lay sprawled on the ground in a posture of extreme agony, surrounded by the vomit she had expelled before her death. The filth had soaked through her thin sleeping robes, leaving a long, trailing stain on the floor. One of her hands was stretched stiffly forward, as if she had been desperately grasping for something in her final moments.
Consort Yi covered her nose and mouth with an embroidered handkerchief, leaving only her disgusted eyes visible.
She took a quick step back, as if unable to bear the gruesome scene before her. “Heavens… Sister Song… How could this happen so suddenly…?”
She turned to Shuixian behind her, her voice urgent. “This place is filthy, and the stench is unbearable. Should we return to the main hall? With such a grave matter, I’ve already ordered someone to report it to the Emperor immediately.”
Shuixian’s gaze swept over Attendant Song’s rigid corpse, her face appropriately etched with sorrow.
She nodded slightly, her voice trembling faintly. “As Your Highness wishes.”
In the moment she turned to leave, her eyes flickered almost imperceptibly toward Yinzhu beside her.
Yinzhu understood immediately, falling back half a step without drawing attention.
Her gaze sharp, she fixed it firmly on every servant in the hall, observing their every move.
Her presence was barely noticeable, like a shadow blending into the darkness behind the door, silently watching the comings and goings of the crowd.
In the main hall of Changxin Palace, the roaring fireplace dispelled the chill brought in from outside but could not lift the heavy atmosphere that permeated the room.
Consort Yi sat in the host’s seat, holding a freshly served cup of hot tea.
From time to time, she dabbed the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, feigning a state of shock and distress.
Shuixian sat quietly in a lower seat, her eyes downcast as she stared at her hands resting on her knees. Her fingertips unconsciously traced the smooth satin of her cloak, as if lost in thought.
The wait was not particularly long. Soon, Emperor Zhaoheng, accompanied by the sound of a eunuch’s announcement, strode into the hall, bringing with him the chill of wind and snow.
Several coroners and imperial physicians in official robes followed closely behind him, walking swiftly with their hands clasped and heads bowed.
Emperor Zhaoheng’s gaze immediately fell upon Shuixian.
Seeing her sitting there safely, her face slightly pale but her eyes calm without obvious fear, the tension in his furrowed brow eased slightly.
Emperor Zhaoheng parted his thin lips as if to speak.
“Your Majesty!” Consort Yi preempted him, throwing herself into his arms like a startled bird, her voice trembling with tears. “Your Majesty… you’ve finally come! When I saw Sister Song in the East Side Hall earlier… that appearance… my heart aches so…”
Emperor Zhaoheng had to reach out to steady her as she threw herself at him.
Seeing Consort Yi’s tear-streaked face and remembering she had served in the palace for over three years, he softened his voice with reassurance: “My beloved consort has been frightened.”
He then instructed the physicians behind him, “Examine both Consort Yi and Changzai Shuixian.”
“Your servant thanks Your Majesty for your concern…” Consort Yi sobbed, leaning against Emperor Zhaoheng’s arm.
The physicians stepped forward to check both women’s pulses, confirming they were only slightly shocked with no other serious conditions.
Just then, the coroner who had gone to examine the East Side Hall hurried in, kneeling with a grave expression.
“Reporting to Your Majesty,” the lead coroner spoke steadily, “Preliminary examination indicates that Attendant Song… died from poisoning.”
The atmosphere in the hall instantly turned icy.
The coroner continued: “We detected significant amounts of Mind-Soothing components in the residue at the bottom of Attendant Song’s medicine bowl. And in the dinner remains… we found large quantities of Crimson Flame Fruit Seed Kernel Powder from the Southern Border.”
He paused, his voice cautious, “This Crimson Flame Fruit Seed Kernel is extremely hot and potent in nature. While ordinary people can take small amounts to warm their blood and dispel cold, if taken with Mind-Soothing herbs… it becomes like adding fuel to fire, extremely poisonous! The conflicting properties are enough to cause reverse blood flow! Attendant Song likely died from this medicinal and dietary conflict!”
“Crimson Flame Fruit?” Emperor Zhaoheng frowned deeply, his voice cold. “I’ve heard of this substance – it’s not produced in our Central Plains. How could the Imperial Kitchen have such a thing?”
The physician quickly bowed in response: “Your Majesty, although Crimson Flame Fruit Seed Kernel is rare, it’s occasionally used as a precious ingredient for winter nourishment by noble ladies in the palace due to its excellent cold-dispelling properties. However… the dosage has always been extremely cautious and minimal. Who would have thought Attendant Song consumed it with Mind-Soothing soup, causing this medicinal and dietary conflict…”
“Medicinal and dietary conflict?” Shuixian, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke in a clear voice.
She raised her eyes to look at the physician and finally asked: “According to what you said, this Mind-Soothing soup conflicts with Crimson Flame Fruit…”
Shuixian questioned doubtfully: “But palace consorts inevitably need Mind-Soothing medicine for occasional headaches or fevers, and may use warming substances for winter nourishment. Throughout all these years, we’ve never heard of such a tragedy occurring. Could it be… that this conflicting poison requires a certain dosage to become fatal?”
Note: I’ve maintained all the specialized terms from the glossary (Changzai, East Side Hall, Crimson Flame Fruit Seed Kernel Powder, Southern Border, Mind-Soothing) and kept character names consistent with the provided translations. The translation preserves the original tone and pacing while making it natural in English.
The imperial physician was taken aback by the question, stroking his graying beard as he pondered before replying, “Changzai Shuixian speaks wisely. Normally, consuming a small amount by mistake would at most cause abdominal pain, vomiting, or diarrhea—certainly not immediate death. In Changzai Song’s case… I’m afraid it’s related to her recent excessive melancholy and severely weakened constitution. With her heart burdened by sorrow and both her qi and blood depleted, her internal organs were already fragile. When suddenly struck by such a violent and potent toxin… it became impossible to save her!”
Just as Shuixian was about to press further, Consort Yi suddenly burst into loud sobs.
“Wuu… Your Majesty!” Consort Yi fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face like rain:
“It was I… it was my fault! I saw Sister Song these past days unable to sleep or eat properly, her appearance haggard and worn, and my heart ached for her… so I specially instructed the imperial kitchen to send some highly nourishing items to Changxin Palace. I never imagined the imperial kitchen would use those so-called Blazing Flame Fruit seeds, nor did I expect Sister Song would be taking Mind-Soothing decoction…”
Emperor Zhaoheng looked down at Consort Yi weeping pitifully at his feet, then thought of the Song family’s recent conviction. It was true that Changzai Song had been filled with anxiety and fear. The physician’s explanation about her weakened state and deep melancholy seemed plausible.
He sighed, bending down to help Consort Yi to her feet. “Enough, beloved consort. I know you meant well, without any ill intent. This matter… was truly an accident. You needn’t blame yourself excessively.”
An accident?
Shuixian sneered inwardly.
In her previous life, the timing of Changzai Song’s sudden illness and death had almost perfectly coincided with the downfall of the Song family.
This time, it was merely a more plausible excuse… incompatible medicine and food, weakened constitution and melancholy.
All clues pointed to coincidence, to Changzai Song’s own misfortune.
Consort Yi emerged completely unscathed, even gaining a reputation for caring about her sister.
There must be someone well-versed in pharmacology lurking by Consort Yi’s side!
This person could not only accurately identify incompatible substances but also discreetly control the dosage and timing, disguising a murder so flawlessly!
There was no need to stay any longer…
Shuixian rose and performed a graceful bow to Emperor Zhaoheng and Consort Yi, her voice tinged with weariness. “Your Majesty, Your Highness, this humble one is feeling unwell and wishes to take her leave first.”
Emperor Zhaoheng’s attention immediately returned to her.
Seeing her complexion had indeed grown paler than before, her delicate chin appearing especially fragile against the plain cloak, he assumed she had been frightened by this sudden death.
His pity for Shuixian surged once more as he nodded. “Go then, and rest well.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Shuixian lowered her gaze and quietly retreated from the main hall of Changxin Palace.
Returning to the West Side Hall, she found Yinzhu already waiting there.
Shuixian brought Yinzhu to the inner chamber for a private conversation.
Yinzhu first reported in a low voice that there had been constant coming and going in the East Side Hall earlier, but no one had been destroying evidence.
Already clear about the cause of Changzai Song’s death, Shuixian nodded slightly.
There was no need to send anyone to destroy evidence.
The reason of incompatible medicine and food was seamless, making it seem as though Changzai Song had simply been unlucky and met her end.
In her previous life, during her time in the palace, she had been too naive to notice the people serving by Consort Yi’s side.
It appeared now that Consort Yi likely had someone knowledgeable in pharmacology nearby, enabling her to emerge completely unscathed from Changzai Song’s death.
Shuixian closed her eyes in contemplation, her fingertips lightly tapping on the nearby table.
She recalled the medicinal decoction that Xuemei had brought her each time after she had received the emperor’s favor, following Consort Yi’s orders…
In this treacherous deep palace, one must have a capable person by their side, otherwise they might not even know the reason if they were to die suddenly one day.
She slowly lifted her gaze and looked at Yinzhu beside her.
“During your time in the palace, have you ever noticed a young eunuch named Xiao Chuanzi? He’s quite young, probably around sixteen or seventeen, and particularly… seems to know quite a bit about medicinal herbs and fragrances.”
Seeing Yinzhu nod, Shuixian then said slowly:
“Please help arrange an introduction for me.”
After giving these quiet instructions, she dismissed Yinzhu.
Shuixian sat before her dressing table, dipped a handkerchief in pearl powder, and gently pressed it against her lips.
In the bronze mirror, her complexion appeared increasingly pale and fragile.
Not long after, just as she had anticipated, Emperor Zhaoheng knocked on her West Side Hall’s door.
The man’s voice was deep, carrying a hint of concern.
“Xian’er… are you asleep?”