The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 218: Chapter 217: Slapping the Green Tea Empress Dowager 34

Empress Dowager couldn’t summon Yun Que, so she had someone find Emperor Jianwu.

Ever since Yun Que entered the palace, it had been several days since Emperor Jianwu visited the Empress Dowager’s palace.

When he arrived, the Empress Dowager felt as though ages had passed.

The son who was once close to her now felt like a stranger.

She looked at Emperor Jianwu: ”Your Majesty, what exactly is going on with Princess Consort Yun?”

At this moment, Emperor Jianwu seemed intent on opposing the Empress Dowager; he sat down carelessly: ”I granted her the title, I suppose I still have the freedom to appoint a concubine.”

”I do not agree.”

The Empress Dowager stood up abruptly: ”Your Majesty, do you realize what you’ve lost because of Princess Consort Yun entering the palace? You’ve lost the support of Prince Kang, the consort from a noble family, all because of that Mrs. Yun, and you still...”

”Heh!”

Emperor Jianwu laughed coldly: ”Mother, don’t put all the blame on Yun’er. What has she done wrong? I am nothing but a puppet emperor. Even if Yun’er had not come to the palace, do you think Prince Kang would truly have supported his son? And as for the noble lady, I care not for her.”

After speaking, Emperor Jianwu left without giving the Empress Dowager another look.

The Empress Dowager was furious, her eyes flashing dangerously.

She clenched her fists tightly: ”Mrs. Yun, she must not stay.”

The Empress Dowager called Nanny Qin and Xiao Yu, and after speaking with them for a while, she sent them to carry out her orders.

Nanny Qin and Xiao Yu left the room, breaking into a cold sweat.

Both felt that the situation was extremely perilous.

Nanny Qin whispered to Xiao Yu: ”Let’s find out what His Majesty thinks.”

Xiao Yu nodded.

Anning quickly received the message.

She burned the note that was written, chuckled softly, and penned a note for Xiao Yu to deliver.

Besides the note, Anning also instructed Xiao Yu to use a secret medicine she had previously sent into the palace.

After reading the note, Xiao Yu had a plan in mind.

She didn’t tell Nanny Qin the truth but merely told Nanny Qin to act according to the Empress Dowager’s wishes.

That day, in Jiyuan Palace, Emperor Jianwu was enjoying a game with Yun Que when eunuch Mr. Liu came in with a tray: ”Your Majesty, this is from the Imperial Kitchen.”

Emperor Jianwu looked down and saw two glasses of grape wine and several delicacies on the tray.

The delicacies were exquisitely made and looked very appetizing.

Yun Que, who loved to eat, took a pastry and said, ”This is good, Your Majesty, try some.”

While speaking, Yun Que fed Emperor Jianwu the pastry.

Emperor Jianwu ate with a smile.

Yun Que then picked up a glass of wine: ”Is this grape wine from the Western Regions? I must savor it.”

Emperor Jianwu also smiled and picked up a glass.

Yun Que’s eyes twinkled: ”Your Majesty, why don’t we drink cross-cupped wine?”

This suggestion was precisely what Emperor Jianwu had in mind, and he laughed as he intertwined arms with Yun Que to drink the cross-cupped wine.

Meanwhile, in Shoukang Palace

The Empress Dowager was also dining. Today’s meal was quite to her taste, and she was especially joyful since she had arranged for poison to be given to Yun Que. She believed the menace would soon be removed, so she ate heartily.

Feeling overfull, the Empress Dowager felt discomfort.

Clutching her stomach, she cried out: ”Nanny Qin, I, my stomach hurts terribly.”

Nanny Qin panicked: ”Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager, what’s wrong with you...”

The Empress Dowager tightly grabbed Nanny Qin’s hand: ”My stomach hurts so much, I...”

She couldn’t finish her words as she vomited a mouthful of black blood.

Nanny Qin was terrified and immediately began screaming: ”The Empress Dowager has been poisoned, quick, fetch the Imperial Physician, hurry!”

The palace maids and eunuchs of Shoukang Palace immediately started panicking.

Back in Jiyuan Palace

After drinking the wine and eating a few more delicacies, Emperor Jianwu also began clutching his stomach in pain: ”I, my stomach hurts so badly...”

Seeing Emperor Jianwu in pain, Yun Que cried out: ”I, my stomach hurts terribly, really badly, Your Majesty, what’s happening? Who wants to harm us?”

Two people in agony roll on the ground, Mr. Liu frantically orders someone to fetch the Imperial Physician.

Jiyuan Palace and Shoukang Palace both rush their people to the Imperial Hospital to grab the Imperial Physician.

In the process, people from both sides start fighting.

By the time they have snatched the Imperial Physician to their respective palaces, Empress Dowager is already in so much pain that she can only exhale without inhaling.

Meanwhile, Emperor Jianwu also passes out from the pain.

Yun Que, however, can still hold on.

She lies on the couch and commands the attendants to first see to Emperor Jianwu.

The little palace maid attending Yun Que whispers to her that the Empress Dowager of Shoukang Palace has also been poisoned.

A hint of a smile flashes across Yun Que’s eyes as she urges the Imperial Physician to hurry and detoxify Emperor Jianwu. Moreover, she summons Mr. Liu to investigate who administered the poison.

Poison afflicted the Empress Dowager, Emperor Jianwu, and Princess Consort Yun; the news soon spread through the palace.

Without the restraint of their masters, the gossiping spirit of the servants soared, and rumors flew everywhere.

Some said it was Prince Kang’s doing, others claimed that the Empress Dowager could not stand Princess Consort Yun and attempted to poison her, however, Emperor Jianwu ended up drinking that poisoned wine.

There were also whispers that Emperor Jianwu, bothered by the Empress Dowager’s meddling, poisoned her food.

Of course, some stated that Princess Consort Yun resented the Empress Dowager for a past assassination attempt and now sought to poison her.

There were various speculations.

A day later, neither the Empress Dowager nor Emperor Jianwu had recovered, but Yun Que was detoxified.

She immediately sprung up and schemed to fake Emperor Jianwu’s decree to proclaim herself as the Empress.

However, Yun Que’s maneuver didn’t last long.

During the early court session the next day, seventy to eighty percent of the civil and military officials petitioned Emperor Jianwu to abdicate in favor of the Heir of Prince Kang.

The Heir of Prince Kang, esteemed for his virtue and brilliance in both letters and martial prowess, was also renowned for his benevolence. Not only the court officials, but ordinary citizens spoke highly of him.

If the Heir of Prince Kang ascended the throne, the people were absolutely willing.

Not only did officials submit petitions, but the citizens also wrote a petition of the masses, and calls for the Heir of Prince Kang to ascend to the throne surged among the public.

When Emperor Jianwu awoke, he faced these demands and passed out again from rage.

Meanwhile, He Zhenyu was supported by all courtiers and despite refusing several times, he was finally lifted and placed upon the imperial throne by several military officers.

Upon sitting on the dragon throne, the Heir of Prince Kang ceased his refusals, accepted the court’s tribute, faced south and ascended the throne amid cheers of ”Long Live.”

Prince Kang reacted too late.

His son had already been adorned with the yellow imperial robe.

His heart filled with complex emotions, he found himself speechless.

He intended to oppose but no one would listen to him anymore.

All his subordinates were now close and trusting towards He Zhenyu. It was only then Prince Kang realized that unbeknownst to him, his own dear son had stripped him of his power.

With He Zhenyu’s coronation, the former family of Emperor Jianwu was naturally expelled from the palace.

He Zhenyu, caring for his reputation and dignity, did not mistreat them and instead found a splendid residence outside the palace for them to dwell in, bestowing Emperor Jianwu with the title of Foolish Marquis.

This ridiculous title nearly infuriated Emperor Jianwu to death.

Having been poisoned, despite the detoxification, his bodily functions had been severely damaged. He was physically ruined and henceforth bound to bed with illness.

The Empress Dowager’s health also failed, leaving her bedridden.

Management of the Marquis Mansion’s affairs fell to Yun Que. From favored concubine to Lady of the Marquis, she didn’t feel much decline and remained cheerful, managing the household rather adeptly.

Watching all this from her sickbed, the Empress Dowager, who was now constrained by Yun Que and had to depend on Yun Que’s approval for everything, reflected on their expulsion from the palace and the ensuing hardships. She also feared Princess Kang’s intense hatred and unavoidable wrath, resulting in a profound sadness that made her cry bitterly.

While she was crying, Yun Que walked in with a laugh.

She glanced at the Empress Dowager, curled her lip, grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds, and started cracking them by the door.

”What are you crying for?”

Yun Que spat out a seed shell, ”Isn’t this a mess of your own making? Had you not harbored malicious intentions and poisoned me, His Majesty wouldn’t have drunk that cup of poisoned wine. Was it not for that event, would His Majesty have ascended the throne so smoothly? Those Ministers wouldn’t have dared to support His Majesty’s succession if they weren’t uncertain about my husband’s life or death. I say, one shouldn’t be too greedy, old witch, just like you. Unable to tolerate seeing your son and daughter-in-law in love, you schemed to tear them apart. Do you really want to monopolize your son forever?”

Provoked by Yun Que’s words, the Empress Dowager cried even harder.

Throwing down the seeds, Yun Que strode over, grabbed the Empress Dowager by her clothes, and pulled her up before starting to slap her left and right: ”What’s wrong, did I say something incorrect? You still dare to resent? I wish you did resent, I wish you did want to kill me! I had a hard time back then, dressed as a beggar and hiding in the City God Temple to stay alive. Now, I’ll let you taste this bitterness. Remember, one shouldn’t commit iniquities. As they say, the heavens are watching, and retribution will always come.”

”You dare to hit me?”

Fired up, the Empress Dowager retorted, ”I am your mother-in-law, you unfilial creature.”

Yun Que burst into laughter: ”Oh, now you admit that I am your daughter-in-law. Where was this recognition earlier? If you had accepted this earlier, it wouldn’t have come to this situation.”