"In the past few months, I have discreetly investigated quite a few people who were released from the palace back then, and vaguely learned that the Late Emperor and the Empress Dowager were at odds, seemingly because of an Honored Lady with the surna Tian!"
"But the Honored Lady’s na was never discovered after all..."
After all, the Late Emperor’s harem was full of beauties, even if not thousands, there were at least hundreds.
In the main quarters, the Empress and the two Noble Consorts, along with four consorts and nine concubines filled up the space; not to ntion those Honored Ladies and Ladies, which must be counted in hundreds.
In such a plethora of won, identical surnas were not uncommon, and there were even identical nas.
Servants had to differentiate by size or residence.
For instance, if there were two with the surna Li, they should be addressed as Honored Lady Da Li and Honored Lady Xiao Li, or by their residence.
Under such conditions.
The batch of palace attendants serving at that ti probably found it hard to distinguish who was who.
Especially since quite so ti has passed, and many have been released from the palace in batches.
Trying to inquire about these people’s titles now likely proves to be extrely difficult.
This is the first point.
And secondly.
With so many consorts in the harem, at that ti, the Empress Dowager, then the Empress, was in charge of the harem.
On the surface, it seed harmonious, with everyone calling each other sister.
But in reality, who truly found anyone pleasing, and who was genuinely harmonious with whom?
As the saying goes, ’three won make a drama’.
Then what chaos would there be with so many won in the harem?
Even the people involved might not be able to clearly speak about those secretive matters.
Having an Imperial Censor investigate such things is truly putting soone in a difficult position, as no one is born a deity.
However, Imperial Censor Zhou is, after all, the head among the Imperial Censors.
With detailed investigations over these few months, discovering Lady Tian’s surna was already no easy feat.
"Emperor, regarding this Honored Lady Tian’s title, perhaps you should ask Empress Dowager Zhen!"
Zhao Junyao’s expression instantly brightened.
"That’s right! There’s Empress Dowager Zhen!"
"Have you been to her?"
Imperial Censor Zhou shook his head.
"The Imperial Noble Consort is ditating at the monastery, I dare not rashly disturb her."
"Moreover... I’m not entirely sure Empress Dowager Zhen will know, please be discerning, Emperor!"
Zhao Junyao furrowed his brow again.
"What about those palace attendants back then? Investigated all of them?"
Imperial Censor Zhou nodded.
"I investigated all of them!"
"For those released from the palace back then who were related to the matter, almost none ca out alive!"
"It seems the Empress Dowager handled this matter extrely secretly!"
Zhao Junyao’s gaze deepened further.
He faintly felt that an astonishing secret was hidden in this.
As long as this secret is unveiled, everything can be brought to light.
By then, he would know exactly what happened between the Empress Dowager and him, causing her to go to such lengths to harm him.
Zhao Junyao frowned in thought for a mont, then made a decision.
"You’ve ntioned this; I am already aware!"
"I will personally go and inquire with Empress Dowager Zhen!"
"You may leave now!"
"Yes!"
Zhou Lin bowed and retreated.
Zhao Junyao imdiately called for Li Shengan.
"Get the horses ready, I must leave the palace for a while!"
Li Shengan dared not say much, responded promptly, and called for preparations.
In the afternoon.
Zhao Junyao, dressed in plain clothes, left the palace with Zhou Lin, appearing at the entrance of the Imperial Monastery where Empress Dowager Zhen was practicing within half a Shi Chen.
Due to the confidential nature of the trip, few knew about it.
Hence, the nuns in the monastery rely saw them as two n coming for incense burning, paying little heed.
Zhou Lin led Zhao Junyao to the entrance of Empress Dowager Zhen’s courtyard.
"Emperor, this is the place!"
Zhao Junyao glanced at him, then said softly,
"Wait here!"
Having said so, he walked in alone.
...
The small courtyard was quaint and serene.
Surrounded by tall trees with lush branches and leaves.
The main hall of the courtyard enshrined Buddha, with side rooms on the left and right.
Empress Dowager Zhen lived on the left side, while her two Little Palace Maids lived on the right.
For now, there was not much distinction between ranks, as it looked similar in all directions.
Zhao Junyao quickly reached the main hall, seeing soone kneeling before Buddha, rapidly discerning it was naturally Empress Dowager Zhen.
Zhao Junyao briskly walked up.
Empress Dowager Zhen, hearing the sound, turned her head.
Upon seeing the Emperor, her face filled with amazent.
"It’s..."
"It’s you!"
She stared at his face in shock, frozen, not knowing what to do.
Zhao Junyao felt sowhat awkward.
He walked to the side, coughed lightly, and said calmly.
"I ca today to consult the Imperial Noble Consort about sothing!"
Empress Dowager Zhen’s gaze flickered, her heart skipped a beat.
’You finally ca,’ but her face remained composed.
"What question does the Emperor have!"
"If I can assist in any way, I will definitely speak without reservation!"
Zhao Junyao couldn’t quite believe it.
"Are you sure?"
After the initial astonishnt, Empress Dowager Zhen’s face was left with cold indifference.
She rose calmly, sneering.
"Emperor, you’ve kept here; wouldn’t you know that I am innocent!"
"You should be clear who is truly behind this!"
Zhao Junyao was speechless.
"Speak, I will trust you then!"
Empress Dowager Zhen sneered again.
"And what benefit is there if I speak?"
Zhao Junyao replied without hesitation.
"If you truly speak, I will promote you to Noble Imperial Consort!"
Empress Dowager Zhen shook her head sarcastically.
"I don’t care!"
"Rather than becoming a Noble Imperial Consort, I would rather step on the Empress Dowager!"
"Also, my Sixth Son..."
"Rest assured!"
Zhao Junyao’s patience was dwindling.
With difficulty, he agreed to the Imperial Consort’s conditions one by one.
Yet just as he did, Empress Dowager Zhen suddenly furrowed her brows, rolled her eyes, and fainted.
"Hey!"
"Hey! Empress Dowager Zhen! Empress..."
"Get help, soone! Summon the Imperial Physician!"
Fortunately, Zhao Junyao was astute, having anticipated such silencing actions, and deliberately had an Imperial Physician secretly follow.
Now... indeed, it proved useful.
That Imperial Physician, also in plain clothes, stepped forward to diagnose.
His hand just checked the pulse before stroking his beard and shaking his head.
"It’s hopeless!"
"The poison has sunk too deep!"
Zhao Junyao’s expression turned cold.
"Poison? Impossible!"
"I’m right here; who dares poison her?"
Imperial Doctor Zhang stroked his beard, his countenance grave as he spoke.
"It is a poison from the Northern Border, called ’One-Live Hundred-Dead’. As implied, the ’hundred-dead’ ans it is refined and concentrated from a hundred deadly poisons. The ’one-live’ suggests it has a trigger poison, which can be changed arbitrarily!"
"This poison, when soone is poisoned, they show no reaction, but once the trigger is present, the poisoned person will die instantly."
"According to her pulse, Empress Dowager Zhen has been poisoned by this for at least half a year!"
Zhao Junyao found Imperial Doctor Zhang’s jargon uninteresting, only angrily and impulsively asking.
"She’s beyond saving?"
Imperial Doctor Zhang nodded.
"She has already perished!"
Zhou Lin, unwillingly, questioned further.
"What is its trigger poison?"
"My estimation suggests it should be the Emperor’s ambergris!"
Imperial Doctor Zhang continued.
"If the lord doesn’t believe, you can cut Empress Dowager Zhen’s arm and apply a bit of ambergris, see if it imdiately rots!"
Zhao Junyao twitched his lips.
"Enough!"
"There’s no need, let’s go!"
User Comments
0 comments from readers