The Consort Xian heard this and turned to look towards the grand hall's entrance. A moment later, Empress Xiao, holding up her skirt, hurried in…
Before the new year, she had insisted on leaving the palace to visit her daughter and son in Dashui Village, but Emperor Cheng had forbidden it.
Because of this, Empress Xiao hadn't spoken to Emperor Cheng for half a month…
Today, upon hearing from Nanny Qian that Heng’er and Xin Ling had returned to the capital, Empress Xiao was overjoyed. Without even combing her hair, she rushed to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Who would have thought that as soon as she entered the hall, she would see Consort Xian sitting beside the Emperor, feeding him soup.
“Your subject pays her respects to Your Majesty!” Empress Xiao curtsied gracefully, her eyes casting a cold glance at Consort Xian.
Emperor Cheng smiled faintly, “Empress, why have you come? I was just thinking of visiting you at the Kunning Palace later!”
Empress Xiao: “……”
Visit my foot, I suddenly don’t want to talk to you.
“Sister, at this late hour, why are you rushing to see His Majesty? Is there something urgent?” Consort Xian looked at Empress Xiao, a half-smile on her face.
Empress Xiao curved her lips and replied unhurriedly, “What, must I inform you beforehand if I wish to speak with His Majesty? Do you have that qualification?”
Consort Xian: “……”
Her words were laced with barbs, as if she had swallowed a barrel of gunpowder.
Fine, let you two frolic for a while. When the time is right, neither of you will have an easy time…
“My sister certainly didn't mean that. Sister and His Majesty are deeply devoted and harmonious, a bond I can only envy. How would I dare harbor any presumptuous thoughts?” Consort Xian said with a smile.
Emperor Cheng rubbed his temples upon hearing this, feeling a throbbing pain in his head.
After a moment of silence, Emperor Cheng looked at Empress Xiao, “Does the Empress have something to tell me?”
“Can’t I come see His Majesty if there’s nothing?” Empress Xiao retorted.
Emperor Cheng: “……”
Are you brainless? Can’t you see I’m forcing a smile with Consort Xian?
Although Emperor Cheng was usually boisterous and had many concubines and beauties in his harem, his feelings for Empress Xiao were undoubtedly genuine…
If he could shed this dragon robe, he truly wished to take Empress Xiao to the countryside, build a small courtyard, plant a few acres of sorghum, and then live a peaceful life.
Seeing the Emperor and Empress arguing heatedly, Consort Xian smiled and advised, “Perhaps my arrival is ill-timed, disturbing His Majesty and Sister’s private conversation. If that is the case, then your subject will take her leave, and return tomorrow with medicinal soup for His Majesty…”
“Stop bringing soup!” Empress Xiao glared at her, sneering, “What you make is incredibly salty, as if salt were free. It’s so salty it’s unbearable, and tastes awful. His Majesty is only being polite by not saying anything, and you, you really think you’re a master chef, making all sorts of soups? If you have too much time on your hands, go scratch the walls in the imperial garden, I’ll have Eunuch Zhao accompany you!”
Eunuch Zhao: “……”
Your Majesty Empress, this servant does not wish to scratch walls.
Consort Xian’s face flushed red and her neck turned purple from the retort. Her beautiful eyes seemed to spew fire.
She suppressed her inner rage with great effort, a smile pulling at her lips, “Whether it tastes good or not, only those who have tasted it know. His Majesty hasn’t said anything yet, yet Sister is being so self-deprecating. Is that appropriate?”
“You… what did you say about me? Self-deprecating?” Empress Xiao’s cheeks flushed red, she was so angry she was sputtering.
Seeing this, Emperor Cheng waved his hand, “Enough, enough, what are you two arguing about so late at night? Consort Xian, you go out first. I need to speak with the Empress for a moment…”
“Yes, your subject takes her leave!” Consort Xian curtsied, cast another glare at Empress Xiao, and then reluctantly walked out.
The Hall of Mental Cultivation fell silent again. Eunuch Zhao poured Empress Xiao a cup of hot tea and then instructed a palace maid to bring a few plates of pastries.
Emperor Cheng held his pipe and reclined on the soft couch, questioning Empress Xiao, “What’s gotten into you today? Didn’t I tell you not to fall out with Consort Xian for now? Why are you becoming more and more insensible?”
“Your Majesty…” Empress Xiao said coquettishly, her voice full of grievance, “Consort Xian, that vixen, has become truly unbearable! You know that medicinal soup is problematic, so why are you still gulping it down?”
Emperor Cheng chuckled, exhaling a smoke ring, and said helplessly, “So you were worried about this?”
“What else?” Empress Xiao rolled her eyes. “If Your Majesty were to suddenly pass away, wouldn’t Consort Xian ride on my neck and defecate!~”
Emperor Cheng: “……”
Can’t you wish me well with this kind of talk?
What do you mean, suddenly pass away?
I’m still alive.
Emperor Cheng extinguished his pipe, sat up from the soft couch, and fumbled in his sleeve, pulling out a small medicine bottle. “Empress, look, what is this?”
“Liu Wei Di Huang Wan?” Empress Xiao blinked her large eyes.
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan was something Xiao Xin Ling had told her about last time. Princess Xin Ling had lived with the old Yun family for a long time and often heard Sweet Baby mention Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, so she gradually remembered it.
Emperor Cheng: “……”
This is an antidote, you fool! What is wrong with you?
“This is the antidote the imperial physician prescribed for me. Don’t talk nonsense!” Emperor Cheng put the medicine bottle away, stood up, and approached Empress Xiao. “I knew from the start that Consort Xian had ill intentions. I had the imperial physicians analyze the soup. It contains a slow-acting poison. She wants to poison me, then kill Heng’er, and have Jin Feng ascend the throne…”
Empress Xiao was stunned for a moment, then a mischievous smile spread across her face, “So Your Majesty isn’t slow at all, but like an old fox, cunning and sly, heehee!~”
Emperor Cheng: “……”
Why do some words taste different when they come out of your mouth?
I call this being wise and far-sighted. What old fox, how unpleasant.
“Your Majesty, I heard that Heng’er and Xin Ling have returned to the capital. Why haven’t they come to the palace?” Empress Xiao asked anxiously.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Cheng quickly nudged her, “Keep your voice down. Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, and I know. Absolutely do not let Consort Xian find out…”
Empress Xiao said, “Oh,” and then asked, “Can I go see them secretly?”
“You can!” Emperor Cheng nodded gently, looking at her vigilantly, “But don’t talk nonsense after you go out, and don’t make a fuss or spread it everywhere!”
Empress Xiao: “……”
Am I that thoughtless?
The next morning, at the old Yun family in Dashui Village.
After Jin Huaihua returned, she had a persistent high fever. After drinking two doses of herbal medicine, she felt slightly better, but woke up from her sleep with a fever again…
After Xiao Jinfeng met Gu Zhenshan, he sent Er Longzi to the county town to find Du Tieshan and the doctor to come and take care of Huaihua. He himself, however, took a whip and went to the woodshed.
Today, he would make Shen Ducai taste what it was like to wish he were dead.
How he had beaten Huaihua, Xiao Jinfeng would beat him back in the same way…