Chapter 124: Choice

Chapter 124: Choice

"Oh?"

The commander of the Jinwu Guard, General Yang Rong'en, stood meticulously outside the flower hall, slightly bowed, without entering.

"Let the Empress explain how Noble Consort Zhao conspired with foreign tribes to harm Us, and how she drugged everyone in this room?"

The Emperor's calm voice rose gradually, striking like thunder on a rainy night, causing the Empress to break into a cold sweat.

Today was Princess Huaiqing's housewarming banquet, and she was dressed particularly lavishly. At this moment, the twelve beaded tassels of the peony headdress with a phoenix hairpin brushed against her cheek, cold as snakes hissing.

The Empress lay on her side on the floor, her ear against the smooth wooden planks, listening to the Emperor's unhurried footsteps approaching her.

The voice of Minister Tan sounded close yet far, "Your Majesty, I have accomplished the task as ordered!"

So, all along, from beginning to end, he knew everything!

She was like an actor on stage, her actions merely for his amusement!

The Empress, recovering from immense panic, miraculously calmed herself, opened her eyes, sat up from the floor, wiped the blood from her mouth, turned to look at the Emperor who had approached, helping Noble Consort Zhao recover consciousness, and suddenly laughed coldly, "Who was it? Chunyan, Xiachan, or Nanny Qing?"

Even if Minister Tan's cooperation was feigned, the sedative from Worry-Free Palace, the muscle relaxant in the perilla drink, the aconite in the Emperor's wine jug, the wine mixed with pinellia handed by the crown prince, and the fire that should have ignited at the end, none should have been avoided by him!

The Emperor did not answer her question, and the Empress did not pursue further. She looked around, noticed that Shengan and Anjing had already carried out the princes and princesses, her gaze lingering on the still unconscious Princess Huaiqing for a moment, she murmured softly, "...It was Xiachan."

Her face showed no indignation or pain from betrayal, murmuring to herself, "...I should have acted earlier."

Then, she kneeled upright on the floor, ready to perform the three kneels and nine kowtows as a grand salute to the Emperor.

The palace lanterns flickered in the corridor, while inside the dimly lit inner chamber, overturned tables and chairs lay scattered. Nearby lay several bodies, frozen in terror. Some concubines and palace maids were still sprawled on the ground, not yet taken away by the servants summoned by Anjing.

Jiang Hui stepped back from the Emperor, avoiding the Empress's formal salute, and stood at a distance. With her hands crossed and hidden within her wide sleeves, she watched silently as Wang Shi, with a composed face, slowly performed the kowtow, awaiting her forthcoming words.

"Your Majesty," the Empress spoke with a slightly hoarse voice but maintained her dignity, "After I'm gone, please take good care of Wanyi. She knows nothing."

As she spoke, she completed her final kowtow. Her hands placed before her forehead on the ground, a lone jade bracelet peeked slightly from her sleeve on her right wrist.

"Huier," the Emperor suddenly stepped forward, speaking in a low voice, "you should leave now."

This act seemed to remind the Empress of something, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

"Yes," Jiang Hui obediently responded, about to step outside, when her skirt was suddenly grabbed.

"Your Majesty," the Empress spoke again, her voice hoarse, her hand clutching Jiang Hui’s skirt slightly tightened, whispering, "I have a question for Noble Consort Jiang."

"This contains a poison that kills upon contact with blood. A mere inhalation will lead to instant death." She slightly raised her right hand, showing the high-quality blood jade bracelet glowing red, "If you had to choose, Noble Consort, would you have everyone in this room, including me, accompany His Majesty in death, or..."

She looked up at Jiang Hui's still cold and distant face, smiling, "...or would you support the Crown Prince’s accession to the throne and ascend to the position of Empress Dowager yourself?"

She didn't expect the bracelet to turn the tables, but... if Noble Consort Jiang hesitated even for a moment, even if she died, Jiang Hui would not ascend to the Empress’s throne smoothly!

"Your Majesty—" General Yang Rong'en rushed in, his sword pointing at the Empress, hesitating to act for fear of causing harm.

Jiang Hui turned to look at the Emperor, meeting his dark gaze. Then she slowly crouched down, maintaining eye contact with the tense Empress, pulled a sharp golden hairpin from her hair to her throat, and calmly said, "Empress, let's accompany him in death then."

Before she could finish, her left hand forcefully aimed to stab her neck with the hairpin, but her right hand swiftly drew a dagger and stabbed the Empress’s right arm!

The Empress reflexively pulled back her hand, and Yang Rong'en seized the opportunity, quickly restraining her entire right arm.

"Huier—" The Emperor's voice, no longer composed, held Jiang Hui, whose neck was bleeding profusely, not caring about anyone else in the room, and commanded loudly, "Summon the imperial physician!"

Jiang Hui closed her eyes indifferently. She knew that if the Emperor was aware of the Empress’s scheme and still played along with this drama, then he must have known about any issues with the bracelet. With his cunning, he had probably replaced it with a fake.

When the Empress asked that question, his delay in responding was probably to test Jiang Hui's true intentions.

True intentions?

Was the rescue during the autumn hunt not enough? Was this time sufficient?

Late into the night, the lights in Yaohua Palace remained brightly lit.

The canopy above the bed, now adorned with bat and ruyi auspicious patterns, was suited for the summer season. Below the embroidered curtains, an additional layer of sheer and delicate gauze hung, creating a hazy and distant appearance for the person lying in bed.

In a corner, atop an ivory table, a Boshan censer emitted trails of smoke, the faint scent of agarwood masking the faint traces of medicine.

The Emperor sat beside Jiang Hui's bed, gazing at her neck wrapped in cloth for a long time. He gently placed her hand back under the silk quilt, stood up, and slowly walked to the courtyard.

Sheng An followed him quietly. After the Emperor sighed softly, Sheng An spoke, "Your Majesty, the tip of the golden hairpin was rounded and polished. Imperial Physician Li said it did not harm Noble Consort Jiang's vital areas. She should recover after a few days of rest. Please be at ease."

"I know," the Emperor said, looking up at the slightly waning moon, speaking faintly, "She didn’t need to harm herself with that hairpin. She only did so, fearing I might be swayed by Wang's manipulations."

Sheng An, observing the Emperor's long shadow cast on the floor tiles, hesitated to speak, ultimately standing silently with his head bowed.

The Emperor stood in the night breeze for a long time, then suddenly said, "Burn that memorial from Jiangnan."

Hearing this, Sheng An sighed inwardly and responded, "Yes."

After a while, the Emperor's expression returned to its usual calm and he inquired, "Have you found out about the pastries mixed with ginkgo powder?"

At this, Sheng An’s expression turned serious and he immediately replied, "Your Majesty, because Princess Huaiqing suddenly ordered pastries for her younger siblings, Chef Liu from Wuyou Palace’s kitchen prepared some cakes. The problematic pastries originated from her."

He paused before continuing, "According to Chef Liu, after she finished making the pastries, they were packed in food boxes and taken out by the maids for Princess Huaiqing and the other young royals to enjoy. She claims to know nothing about what happened afterward."

"Suddenly?" the Emperor's voice was deep.

"Yes," Sheng An spoke softly, "Initially, Chef Liu was only responsible for teaching Princess Huaiqing and the Second Princess how to make the cloud cakes for the banquet offering to Your Majesty. Other cakes were prepared by different chefs. But Consort De and the Third Prince arrived early, and since the Third Prince particularly enjoys pastries, Princess Huaiqing instructed Chef Liu to prepare additional ones."