A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 222: Chapter 221 Play Innocent

”I... how could I harm the Noble Consort?”

”My spices? My mother taught me how to make them. How could there be a problem?”

Li Shengan coughed lightly twice.

”But your spices, at the Noble Consort’s place, they are deadly poison...”

”Honored Lady Xi, my apologies... please come with us.”

As he spoke, he also gave orders to his apprentice.

”Guard Lijing Pavilion well; no one is allowed to enter!”

”Yes!”

Little Zhuzi answered.

Upon arriving at the Punishment Department, Honored Lady Xi was so scared that her face went pale.

”Eunuch Li, I also gave many of my spices to Consort Yun, and there was no problem...”

”Why only the Noble Consort...”

”Eunuch Li, I’ve been wronged!”

With that, Honored Lady Xi started crying. Her large eyes were filled with tears, her weeping face like pear blossoms bathed in rain.

Li Shengan had no choice but to comfort her.

”If you are truly wronged, Eunuch Wei will naturally vindicate you...”

No sooner had he finished speaking, several Little Eunuchs came out from the Punishment Department and took Honored Lady Xi inside.

Li Shengan dared not linger and left directly...

A day passed, and Lijing Pavilion was searched from top to bottom. Except for some raw materials for making incense, nothing else was found. The raw materials were taken to the Imperial Medical Bureau. There were a few types that even Imperial Doctor Zhang had not seen before. They just... smelled quite fragrant.

They were tested at Noble Concubine Shih’s place, with no reaction.

Imperial Doctor Zhang shook his head. ”It’s not these; there must be something else!”

The Punishment Department interrogated Honored Lady Xi once more. She continued crying, claiming she knew nothing.

Wei Sheng understood and said with a cold face, ”Since the Honored Lady is unwilling to speak, we have no choice but to order a continued search...”

Honored Lady Xi just kept crying.

With no other option, Wei Sheng had to lead people back to Lijing Pavilion once again. Li Shengan handled affairs efficiently, leaving no clues. Wei Sheng searched for a long time but could not find anything suspicious. After some thought, he knew he couldn’t delay any longer and went straight to Zhaochen Palace.

He explained the situation to Li Shengan.

Wei Sheng then asked, ”Eunuch Li, what do you think about this matter?”

Li Shengan thought for a moment and then sighed. ”This matter... well, it still depends on the Emperor’s will!”

After speaking, he turned and went in to report.

Zhao Junyao frowned. ”How is Noble Concubine Shih?”

Li Shengan had not expected the Emperor to ask this. He was stunned for a moment before replying, ”Your Majesty, she woke up last night... The Imperial Physician said the Noble Consort still has poison in her system and needs to be slowly nursed back to health!”

Zhao Junyao nodded. ”There’s no need to investigate this case further. Tell the Punishment Department to release everyone!”

”Ah?” Li Shengan was astounded.

Zhao Junyao shot him a glance. ”Why aren’t you going?”

”Yes, yes, yes, this servant will go now...” Having said that, he quickly retreated.

...

When the imperial decree reached the Punishment Department, Consort Yun almost cried out.

”The Emperor is wise!” After speaking, she kowtowed in the direction of Zhaochen Palace.

Honored Lady Xi simply fainted. It was a Little Eunuch who carried her back!

「That night, another decree came down!」

”Consort Yun’s accidental mistake nearly cost the Noble Consort her life! Although unintentional, her actions were at fault. Her position as Consort is revoked, and she is demoted to Pin.”

Another decree followed.

”Honored Lady Xi’s making of incense led to Noble Concubine Shih’s poisoning. Although it was an unintentional mistake, her actions were at fault. She is stripped of her title of Honored Lady and demoted to a Seventh-Rank Lady!”

Two imperial decrees, just before the year’s end, completely resolved this messy affair.

To make up for her own oversight, the Empress issued another Benevolent Decree.

”No discussion of this matter is allowed in the palace. Anyone discovered doing so will face confinement for three months and forfeit half a year’s salary!”

With the joint pressure from the Emperor and Empress, and with Noble Concubine Shih gradually recovering, the matter was finally put to rest.

The Empress breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, this matter hasn’t implicated me!

That mastermind behind the scenes must be disappointed now!

The Empress sneered.

Sister Ji advised from the side, ”Even so, Your Majesty must still be cautious.”

The Empress sneered, ”I wonder... who had the audacity, the heart of a bear and the guts of a leopard, to scheme against me!”

Hmph!

But when I think about it, this outcome isn’t bad at all.

Consort Yun became Consort Yun Pin overnight. Noble Concubine Shih must have lost a powerful supporter!

Sister Ji pondered, ”The Emperor has Eunuch Li by his side, who is not easy to deceive! This matter, Your Majesty, might just have been Consort Yun Pin’s doing!”

The Empress laughed, ”That is not impossible!”

Reflecting on this, she then said, ”Sister, you know the Emperor’s temperament. In the Harem, he does not prioritize evidence!”

Every matter in the court requires evidence. But it’s different in the Harem. As long as the Emperor knows who did it, they will be dealt with, with or without evidence.

”So that means Consort Yun Pin can forget about ever turning things around!” Sister Ji sighed.

The Empress sneered. ”Whether she can turn things around is of no consequence! The one currently in the limelight is Lady Xia. Now she’s truly clever!”

Having said that, the Empress showed a trace of worry and sighed deeply!

Sister Ji also said, ”Indeed, that one is the truly clever one!”

”Hmph! I’ve been blinded by the Noble Consort all this time! I was careless for a moment, and she has managed to gain such favor!”

”However...” The Empress took a sip of tea, moistening her throat. ”I don’t believe she can maintain that favor forever!”

”Next year is the selection of new ladies. Fresh and tender flower buds will be entering!”

The Emperor is not someone who indulges in romantic affections. How could he truly favor only one woman?

”Before one’s beauty fades, grace is lost; leaning against the perfumed cage, one sits until dawn.”

”Heh, how normal this is in the deep palace!”

Sister Ji laughed as well. ”That’s true. Xia Jieyu has no children up to now, and she seems to be a person of little fortune. Why should Your Majesty be worried?!”

”Mhm!” The Empress reclined comfortably on the couch. Below her, a golden cage held burning high-quality Silver Thread Charcoal. The room was as warm as spring.

”Your Majesty, you’ve looked over the account books all morning. Why don’t you go to bed and rest for a while!”

”Mhm!” Leaning on Sister Ji’s hand, the Empress was attended by palace maids as she went to the couch.

...

The weather in the twelfth lunar month could change on a whim. The day before had been sunny, but by evening it became overcast, and during the night, it began to snow.

Xia Ruqing sat on the bed, playing a paw game with Da Bai.

Zi Yue sat to one side, sharing news she had heard from who knows where!

”It’s said that... Consort Yun Pin has been crying and causing a scene in the palace, insisting she has been wronged!”

Xia Ruqing’s expression remained unchanged. ”What about Lady Xi?”

Zi Yue thought for a moment and said, ”Lady Xi is quite quiet. There hasn’t been any stir from her!”

Xia Ruqing’s eyes flickered for a moment. She didn’t say much.

In her mind, she had already cursed ten thousand times.

Of course, Lady Xi wouldn’t stir after pinning the blame on someone else.

As for Consort Yun Pin, she was rather pitiful.

Who told her to be so foolish!

She had raised a snake, intending to have it bite others.

She never expected it to be a venomous snake that would end up biting her viciously.

Who can she blame for that?!

”What do you think, Da Bai?” Xia Ruqing scratched the back of Da Bai’s head.

Da Bai’s reflexes were slow; only after a moment did it turn its head and meow at the air: ”MEOW!”

Xia Ruqing burst out laughing. ”You silly cat, how can your reflexes be this slow!”

As soon as she finished speaking, Da Bai gave her a haughty look and scratched her hand with its fluffy little paws.

It protested, ”MEOW!”