Chapter 200: Poisoned
However, after she finished drinking the medicine, she would truly be ill.
Because when she was holding the bowl just now, she had added something to it.
She had figured it out: the Empress was feigning illness to lure her into the palace to serve her and find an opportunity to make things difficult for her.
But Emperor Qin had gotten there first.
Emperor Qin’s sudden collapse also seemed to be someone wanting her to enter the palace, but who was this person?
Jiang Ruanxi frowned tightly, unable to figure out exactly who it was.
Now she could only observe slowly, bide her time, and wait for the snake to reveal its tail.
So to allow herself to observe properly without the Empress troubling her, she made the Empress truly fall ill and stay in her own bedchamber, giving her a chance to deal with that snake.
Otherwise, she would also have to deal with the Empress, and she did not have that much energy.
After Jiang Ruanxi left, the Empress felt as if her heart was about to jump out, sweat beading on her forehead, her head dizzy and heavy, and she soon fell asleep.
The next day, before Jiang Ruanxi woke up, she was called awake by the palace servant outside the door.
“Crown Princess, are you up? The Empress is seriously ill and requests you to come and see her.”
Jiang Ruanxi was stunned, immediately got up and simply put on clothes, then followed the palace servant to the Empress’s bedchamber.
“What happened? Wasn’t she fine when I left last night?”
She had only used a very mild medicine, which would just make her uncomfortable a bit, nothing serious.
But judging by the palace servant’s expression now, it seemed very serious.
When Jiang Ruanxi arrived, Wei Chang was already waiting outside, and inside, the imperial physician was solemnly taking the Empress’s pulse.
Seeing her arrive, Wei Chang’s stern face softened a bit, but due to the presence of outsiders, Wei Chang only came to stand by her side, and the two did not speak.
After a long time, the imperial physician said, “It’s poisoning.”
“Poisoning?”
Not only was Wei Chang shocked, even Jiang Ruanxi found it unbelievable.
“How could that be? When I came here yesterday, Mother Empress was still fine. How did she get poisoned in just one night?”
The imperial physician said, “This is indeed suspicious, but the poison is very mild, only injuring the intestines, causing diarrhea or even coma, but not fatal.”
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief together.
Wan Bi said, “But Empress has been ill recently and hasn’t eaten anything. The only thing she ate was last night…”
At this point, Wan Bi subconsciously glanced at Jiang Ruanxi, “It was the medicine that the Crown Princess forced the Empress to drink last night.”
Wei Chang frowned, showing signs of anger.
Wan Bi thought Wei Chang was angry at the Crown Princess for poisoning, and secretly rejoiced.
“Maybe that bowl of medicine had a problem.”
“Come, arrest Wan Bi for me.” As Jiang Ruanxi’s words fell, the surrounding maidservants immediately came over and surrounded Wan Bi.
Wan Bi’s face turned pale, “You dare! I am the palace maid by the Empress’s side. Without the Empress’s order, what right do you have to arrest me?”
Jiang Ruanxi said sternly, “You plotted to harm the Empress, so naturally you must be arrested.”
“Nonsense! Clearly you plotted to harm the Empress. You’re slandering me.”
Jiang Ruanxi knew she was unconvinced and wasn’t anxious, “You keep saying I poisoned her, but the decoction was brewed by you. What does it have to do with me?”
“I did brew it, but it passed through your hands midway. Couldn’t you have poisoned it then?”
Wan Bi knew the Empress was now in a coma and couldn’t speak for her, so she looked to Wei Chang.
“Your Highness, this servant has served the Empress for over ten years. This servant would never want to harm the Empress.”
Wei Chang said coldly, “His Majesty is seriously ill, and noblewomen were summoned to attend to the sick. Entry to the palace was strictly checked. Those messy things weren’t allowed into the Imperial Palace. You say the Crown Princess poisoned her— isn’t that ridiculous?”
Wan Bi’s face immediately turned white. How had she forgotten this?
No wonder when she accused her, Jiang Ruanxi remained expressionless and unafraid.
“You not only wanted to harm the Empress but also frame the Crown Princess. Your heart is punishable. Come, drag her away and torture her severely.”
With Wei Chang’s order, the palace maids didn’t dare hesitate and quickly began dragging her away.
Soon, Wan Bi’s screams came from the courtyard.
A moment later, a maidservant came in and said, “Crown Prince, Wan Bi bit her tongue and committed suicide.”
Bit her tongue and committed suicide?
Jiang Ruanxi never expected Wan Bi to have such a fiery personality, preferring death over admitting it.
“Death doesn’t absolve her.” Wei Chang’s expression was indifferent. “Do you think dying means we can’t find out who poisoned? Ridiculous.”
“Your Highness, it’s not wise to make a big fuss now.” Jiang Ruanxi frowned. “That person used Wan Bi to frame me, targeting me. With His Majesty and the Empress in coma, there must be some unspeakable secret.”
Wei Chang nodded, “Don’t worry. Nothing is more important than stabilizing people’s hearts now. I’ll have it investigated discreetly. But you’re in the Imperial Palace now, surrounded by dangers. Why not leave the palace and return to the residence?”
Jiang Ruanxi shook her head, “That person went to great lengths to lure me to the Imperial Palace, surely planning some action. If I leave now, won’t I forever not know who lurks in the shadows?”
Even if she left the Imperial Palace and gained temporary peace, she would live in fear every day afterward.
She really didn’t want that.
Wei Chang understood the reason but was still worried, “We can use other methods.”
“No, we can’t wait.” Jiang Ruanxi said firmly, “Your fate has changed, but my fate is still being eroded.”
Only by her being in the open could the person in the shadows emerge.
Seeing her resolve, Wei Chang naturally wouldn’t force her.
“I still say the same: protect yourself well and don’t act rashly.”
“I know.”
Although the news of the Empress’s poisoning was sealed by Wei Chang, unknown to the Imperial Palace or even the ministers.
But this matter surely couldn’t be hidden from the Empress Dowager.
After lunch, Wei Chang went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to attend to Emperor Qin.
Jiang Ruanxi had planned to stay to care for the Empress, but unexpectedly was summoned by the Empress Dowager.
“Crown Princess, the Empress Dowager summons you.”
The visitor was the old woman servant by the Empress Dowager’s side. Jiang Ruanxi naturally didn’t dare neglect, “Old woman servant, I’ll go right away.”
Jiang Ruanxi followed the old woman servant. On the way, she was still uneasy and asked, “Old woman servant, may I ask what the Empress Dowager summons me for?”
The old woman servant smiled, “How dare this old servant speculate on the Empress Dowager’s decree? The Crown Princess will know when she goes.”
“Old woman servant, you misunderstand. I’ve just married Crown Prince and haven’t interacted with the Empress Dowager before. I’m just afraid I don’t know the Empress Dowager’s rules and might offend her.”
