MTLNOVEL Chapter 472
The faint white smoke drifted through the partition screen into the inner chamber, carrying a subtle floral fragrance that lingered at the tip of one's nose, washing away the fatigue of the entire day.
Consort Shu reclined on the chaise longue, as a palace maid presented freshly cut fruits. Mu Tan sat by the edge of the couch, massaging her legs: "Your Highness, white phosphorus powder was found in Shuang Jiang's room in Kunning Palace."
Consort Shu didn't even bat an eye: "Her Majesty the Empress won't believe it."
Shuang Jiang was one of the old-timers who had followed Her Highness for years, loyal and hardworking. How could she possibly be a spy for the Jin Kingdom?
Her Majesty the Empress wasn't a fool. What could the person framing Shuang Jiang possibly gain from this?
"Your Highness, Consort Liang is here."
Consort Shu had just sat up from the couch when, before the servants could even step out, Consort Liang rushed in like a whirlwind: "There's a sudden eerie wind outside. Your place is much more comfortable."
Consort Shu had suffered from the cold during her years in the cold palace, leaving her with a frail constitution. Jiang Xinyue had granted her Jingren Palace.
This palace was originally built by the Emperor for his "white moonlight" cousin. Whether in terms of location or comfort, it was among the best.
Warm in winter and cool in summer.
Consort Shu smiled: "It's your health that's the issue. Winter hasn't even arrived yet! What will you do when it really gets cold?"
Consort Liang shrugged indifferently: "As if your health is any better. Didn't the cold palace grind you down too? That bowl of arsenic from the late Empress nearly took half your life, didn't it?"
That was why, after leaving the cold palace, Consort Shu harbored such hatred for the late Empress, willing to ally with Jiang Xinyue to bring her down.
The Emperor had eyes only for Jiang Xinyue. Who cared about their lives?
When Jiang Xinyue was poisoned with arsenic, the Emperor was frantic—interrogating the culprit, summoning imperial physicians, and even moving her out of the cold palace to spare her suffering.
In the same situation, when Consort Shu was poisoned, she was sent to the cold palace, and not a single person in the palace dared to call a physician for her. She had to endure vomiting blood daily, relying on sheer willpower to survive.
Later, after Jiang Xinyue left the cold palace, Consort Shu relied on the supplies Jiang Xinyue had left behind to barely make it through.
But the cold palace had nothing—no clothes, no food, enduring hunger and cold, and sometimes even being bullied by cruel servants, forced to wash clothes in the dead of winter and other physically taxing chores.
How could a pampered young lady like her endure such a life for a year?
It was a miracle she hadn't died there.
It was truly lamentable.
Consort Shu suddenly chuckled: "No wonder the Emperor suspects us. Looking back, both of us have grievances against Her Majesty the Empress."
Consort Liang had schemed against Her Majesty multiple times, though none of her plots succeeded, they were all quite malicious.
Of course, after Her Majesty retaliated, Consort Liang ended up worse off, which was why, after over a decade of struggle, she remained Consort Liang.
If she appeared friendly on the surface but secretly harbored deep hatred, it wasn't impossible for her to harm Her Majesty's child.
As for Consort Shu, it was the arsenic poisoning and the cold palace incident.
Oh!
Right!
There was also Noble Consort Ye!
When Noble Consort Ye first entered the palace, she had tried to seduce the Emperor, but he ignored her and even had her beaten half to death, suspecting her of being an assassin or spy.
She had hated Her Majesty the Empress to the core back then.
One could only say Noble Consort Ye was incredibly foolish. Why try to seduce the Emperor? She should have gone straight for Her Majesty, driving a wedge between her and the Emperor, and whisking Her Majesty away.
So, in the Emperor's eyes, could all these incidents really be downplayed or forgotten?
"Consort Shu! Consort Shu!"
Speak of Noble Consort Ye, and here she comes.
She rushed in like a gust of wind, grabbed a water jug, and gulped down the warm tea. After finishing, she wiped her moist lips: "I just went to Shunan Palace, and the servants there said Consort Liang had come to Jingren Palace, so I ran all the way here."
"Why are you in such a hurry?"
Consort Liang patted her back: "If you catch a chill, your stomach will ache."
Noble Consort Ye was about the same age as the eldest princess, and Consort Liang had a soft spot for her.
"It's fine, it's fine!"
Noble Consort Ye giggled foolishly, then continued: "I just overheard some servants talking about Kunning Palace, saying white phosphorus powder was found in Shuang Jiang's room, so I rushed over to see you both."
Coming to them was simply to hear their thoughts.
"Pfft!"
Consort Liang burst out laughing: "What is this person thinking? Framing Shuang Jiang? They'd have better luck framing us! Shuang Jiang has been serving Her Majesty since she entered the palace, weathering countless storms together. I hate to say it, but Shuang Jiang holds more weight in Her Majesty's heart than all of us combined."
"Tsk!"
Consort Shu shot her a displeased glance: "You're you, and I'm me. I think I'm quite important in Her Majesty's heart too."
Wait—was this really the time to argue about who was most important to Her Majesty?
Shouldn't they be discussing why the culprit would frame someone everyone thought was above suspicion?
What was the reason?
Jiang Xinyue was also pondering the same question.
The night was deep, and the Emperor wrapped his arms around Jiang Xinyue from behind: "Stop thinking about it. Until I find the spy, you should avoid meeting Consort Liang and the others. Even if they aren't suspects, I suspect the people around them. I'll assign more guards to Kunning Palace to protect you and the child. Don't worry too much."
Jiang Xinyue wouldn't refuse the Emperor's kindness. The people he sent were undoubtedly experts.
Even if he sent a hundred or so, she wouldn't mind.
Both her life and the child's were precious, and she valued them dearly.
She nodded but couldn't help asking the Emperor: "Your Majesty, if you were the culprit..."
"Ugh—"
Him harming his own child?
This hypothetical was something the Emperor didn't want to hear, his heart aching at the thought.
"I mean hypothetically!"
Jiang Xinyue cooed: "I feel like I have some idea, but it's all jumbled up. Your Majesty, you're so brilliant, help me sort it out, won't you?"
"Go on, I'm listening..."
Fine, fine.
He was a beast, harming his own child.
"If you were the culprit, why would you frame someone who absolutely couldn't be suspected? It couldn't just be a random choice to get rid of the white phosphorus powder, could it?"
That would be too coincidental, targeting Shuang Jiang specifically.
The Emperor pondered for a moment before speaking: "If it were me, I wouldn't choose randomly. I'd have some backup plan you wouldn't expect."
"So, she might still need Shuang Jiang in the future?"
If it was the work of a Jin Kingdom spy, they wouldn't wait too long to act.
Jiang Xinyue muttered to herself: "So, if I secretly assign people to keep an eye on Shuang Jiang, the culprit will eventually make contact with her, right?"
"That's a reasonable assumption."
The Emperor nuzzled her neck: "It's late. Go to sleep now."