Chapter 10: The Incident

Chapter 10: The Incident

Jiang Hui’s illness lasted for almost half a month.

The incense table in the inner chamber still displayed the three incense tools, with the tranquil and faint scent of agarwood lingering in the air.

Consort Jia, dressed in a long robe with alternating yellow and blue patterns and a snow-white overcoat, sat in a round-backed armchair, her face showing just the right amount of concern.

She had come to visit the sick. During these past few days of Jiang Hui's illness, she was deeply worried, visiting every few days.

“Is Sister Jiang feeling better today?”

Jiang Hui leaned against the bed, her face pale. After a light cough, she replied, “I’ve switched to a new prescription; it’s a bit better than yesterday.”

“Sister, ever since you gave birth to the eldest prince, your health has greatly declined. You really need to take good care of yourself,” Consort Jia spoke softly and melodiously, then brought up recent events, “I heard that the Empress Dowager summoned the third young miss of the Marquis of Changping’s house again. The Emperor saw her during his visit and praised her, saying she has the grace of a jade and the beauty of a hibiscus. Sister, what do you think...”

Jiang Hui had met the third young miss of the Marquis of Changping in her maiden days. She was slightly younger than herself, a strikingly beautiful woman, and also the Emperor's first cousin.

The Empress Dowager frequently summoning her own eligible relatives during the Grand Selection period sent a clear message, understood by everyone in the palace.

Jia Fei, not one to be restless, likely had probing intentions with her questions.

"It's best not to speculate about the Dowager Empress's intentions," Jiang Hui advised without elaboration, comforting her, "You, with the Second Princess by your side and as a consort, will not be neglected by His Majesty, who values past affections."

Jia Fei fell silent for a moment before responding softly, "With new ladies soon to enter the palace, turmoil is inevitable. I sometimes wish to emulate Sister Jiang and seek solace in solitude."

"You're talking nonsense again. I'm ill; how can that be the same?" Jiang Hui smiled warmly, her tone intimate.

After sitting for a while longer, Jia Fei stood up to take her leave.

Riding in her palanquin, she returned to the Baoqing Hall in Fuyang Palace. After instructing her maids Bai Guo and Bai Zhi to secure the doors and windows, she asked her attendant Bai Zhu, "How is Yan'er?"

Bai Zhu replied respectfully, "The Second Princess has been ill for two days. Bai Ji is taking care of her; she's taken her medicine but still has a fever."

Jia Fei nodded slightly, instructing gravely, "In a quarter of an hour, go invite the imperial physician, saying both I and the Second Princess aren’t feeling well."

"Yes," Bai Zhu responded, then asked quietly, "Should we inform His Majesty?"

"No need," Jia Fei shook her head slowly, a barely perceptible smile playing on her lips, her cheeks dimpling shallowly.

"Our Emperor, concerned about his sparse offspring and sentimental by nature, will surely visit upon hearing of the illness of me and the Second Princess. Let's not be like that fool in Guangyang Palace, who sends for attention from the Emperor even when she’s not sick."

As Bai Zhu, a mere servant, could not openly agree with her mistress's mockery of Guangyang Palace’s Xu Xiu Yuan, she simply showed a disdainful expression.

Jia Fei, noting Bai Zhu's reaction, didn't elaborate further. After a moment, she softened her tone, "Bai Zhu, do you think Jiang Hui discovered the trick with the incense burner?"

Bai Zhu bowed her head, replying, "In my view, she hasn't, otherwise, why would the Noble Consort be bedridden?"

Jia Fei chuckled softly, sipping her tea, "You're wrong. My sister, the Noble Consort, is sharp as frost. She noticed the incense burner’s anomaly long ago."

"Ah?" Bai Zhu gasped in shock, murmuring, "Then how come..."

Jia Fei, composed and calm, addressed her maid's confusion:

"The incense burner was meant only for the child in her womb, but unexpectedly, she didn’t burn incense during her pregnancy. Now, the incense burner used daily is likely a fake."

Bai Zhu, failing to follow her mistress’s train of thought, questioned, "But if that incense burner is a fake, doesn’t your feigned illness inadvertently expose us?"

Bai Zhu whispered the words "inadvertently expose us" very softly.

Jia Fei chuckled lightly, explaining:

"Jiang Hui probably knew it was my doing all along. On the day of the Grand Prince’s full-month celebration, I panicked and pinched my daughter to make her cry non-stop, cleverly making the nurse take her away. That’s when Jiang Hui became suspicious of me. But with no evidence left, she needs more to catch a big fish."

"Then, Your Highness, this means…?”

“If she wasn’t pretending to be sick, I wouldn’t have to confirm now that the incense burner was a fake, nor would I have done something to arouse her suspicion. Since she suspects me, if I didn’t feign illness, how would I clear my name and divert suspicion when the incense burner incident arises in front of His Majesty?”

Jia Fei inwardly cursed the Emperor’s trust in Jiang Hui, which forced her into such a risky move merely based on suspicion.

*

Liangyi Hall.

With the new Emperor's ascension, numerous reports from officials across the lands, delayed or slow on the roads, are now arriving, congratulating the Crown Prince's elevation to Emperor.

Xiao Sheng flipped through several reports, frowning, and tossed them aside.

Sensing the Emperor's mood, Sheng An promptly offered freshly brewed early spring Longjing tea.

The Emperor took a sip and asked, "What time is it?"

Sheng An, with a smile in his eyes, replied, “Your Majesty, it’s almost the hour of You. After reviewing petitions all day, would you like to step out for a walk?”

“Let’s go to Yaohua Palace… Is the Second Princess feeling better?” Xiao Sheng paused mid-sentence, standing up and allowing Sheng An to adjust his attire.

"Your Majesty, the Second Princess has a fever today, and the Noble Consort Jia is also ill," Sheng An carefully smoothed the dragon-embroidered hem of the Emperor’s dark robe and stepped aside, bowing deeply.

"Noble Consort Jia?" Xiao Sheng's voice was flat, revealing no emotion.

"Yes," Sheng An’s gaze lingered on the complex floral patterns of the carpet, embroidered with golden threads, as he reported truthfully, "Noble Consort Jia visited Noble Consort Jiang at Yaohua Palace early before noon, left for Fuyang Palace at noon, and felt unwell by mid-afternoon, summoning the imperial physician."

"Unwell? Is it a headache, fatigue, nausea, and abdominal pain?" Xiao Sheng inquired.

"Yes," Sheng An maintained his respectful posture, head bowed.

Xiao Sheng, with a hint of a smile, commanded, "Let’s go to Fuyang Palace."

*

In Fuyang Palace’s Baoqing Hall.

Noble Consort Jia reclined on the couch, her lips pale. She had changed from her earlier attire, now wearing a thistle-white robe and skirt, complemented by a loosely tied Japanese-style hair bun, enhancing her delicate and pitiful appearance.

The Emperor asked about her condition outside the screen, dismissed the physician with a wave, and then approached her couch.

"Your Majesty..." Noble Consort Jia rose to greet him, "Yan’er has fallen asleep after her medicine; would you like to see her?"

"Lie down; you're ill too," the Emperor’s voice was gentle, ignoring her suggestion and instead asked, "You've always been healthy; what caused your sudden illness?"

Noble Consort Jia shook her head slightly, hesitantly speaking, "I'm not sure, perhaps a sudden change in the spring weather, catching a cold."

Xiao Sheng hummed in acknowledgment, sitting at the table where Bai Zhu promptly served tea.

Noble Consort Jia, not waiting for the Emperor’s response, gracefully smiled, saying softly, "This is the Huangya tea from Shouzhou, brewed from early snow gathered from plum blossoms, just like what Noble Consort Jiang does. How does it taste, Your Majesty?"

"Not bad," Xiao Sheng set down his celadon cup, commenting, "It has a unique flavor."

Noble Consort Jia, hearing this, gently smiled, then added with a tinge of worry, "It's just that Noble Consort Jiang has also been ill recently; I wonder when she will fully recover."

Bai Zhu, standing in the corner, breathed lightly, her hands subtly moving upon hearing her mistress’s words.

The Emperor's voice was close, but Bai Zhu couldn’t discern his emotions—

“The imperial physician mentioned that the beloved consort and the Noble Consort both suddenly fell ill, experiencing headaches, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting?”