Chapter 228: Feigning Illness
Prince Zhao’s Heir Apparent’s gaze fell upon the cat’s corpse, and he couldn’t help but clench his fists.
However, he ultimately did not lash out, merely saying to his follower, “Bury it properly. Don’t scare anyone else.”
He then left.
Gong Changan, seeing his displeased expression, walked beside him without speaking.
Upon returning to their residence, Ying Tong sat down, wanting some tea, and a palace maid quickly poured it for him.
Ying Tong said unhappily, “It’s so hot, how can anyone drink this?!”
The palace maid was so frightened she dared not speak. Ying Tong then said, “Get out, don’t be an eyesore here!”
Gong Changan picked up the little tabby cat from beside him and placed it in front of Ying Tong, saying, “Heir Apparent, please calm your anger. The dead cat cannot be brought back to life. Why not cherish the one you have now?”
Ying Tong snorted coldly upon hearing this, “What is this supposed to be? You kill my cat and then give me another one as compensation, and that’s supposed to be the end of it?”
“That cat might not have been Prince Chu’s Heir Apparent…” Gong Changan was interrupted halfway through his sentence.
“If not him, then who else?” Ying Tong sneered. “Who in this palace would have a problem with my cat? Ying Bai, that person, is heartless.
Moreover, I didn’t even know my cat was dead, so why would they send another kitten over for no reason? Isn’t that a clear sign of guilt?”
“They say distance doesn’t create estrangement between close ones, but I can’t help but offer a word of advice. Regardless of whether Prince Chu’s Heir Apparent did this, you have no evidence. If you were to make the first move, it would actually be disadvantageous to yourself,” Gong Changan said. “If you damage your relationship over this, it will be difficult to mend later.”
“That brat dares to play dirty with me, thinking I have no concrete proof and can’t do anything to him,” Ying Tong sneered. “If they can’t even tolerate a cat, who else can they tolerate?!”
Seeing his immense anger, Gong Changan stopped speaking.
“I know this is the palace and I can’t be too willful. You’re also reminding me with good intentions,” Ying Tong said, his tone softening. “I won’t lose my composure.”
Meanwhile, Wen Mingqian had been preparing medicinal cuisine for the Empress for the past few days.
The Empress tasted it and liked it very much, asking her to make some every day.
She also took the opportunity to understand the workings of the Imperial Kitchen.
Every day, the Imperial Kitchen prepared meals for the masters of various palaces. These meals were then inspected by Imperial Physicians before being taken by designated personnel to each palace.
Wen Mingqian’s medicinal cuisine was no exception.
After she finished preparing it, people from the Imperial Hospital would come to inspect it.
For several consecutive days, it was Imperial Physician Su Qingyun.
Wen Mingqian still remembered this person; she had encountered him twice before, and each time he had been cold.
“Is it usually Imperial Physician Su who inspects the Empress’s meals as well?” After Su Qingyun left, Wen Mingqian asked Qing’er a seemingly casual question.
“Not exactly,” Qing’er replied. “Most of the time it’s Imperial Physician Li. Imperial Physician Li has taken leave recently, so Imperial Physician Su is filling in. He is Imperial Physician Li’s disciple and comes from a family of physicians. But Madam, you know that medical practitioners cannot teach their own family members; they must find another master…”
Once Qing’er started talking, she couldn’t stop.
Wen Mingqian only listened to the important parts, letting the rest drift past her ears like the wind.
“Madam Wen, you are truly remarkable. Because of you, the Empress no longer serves green tangerines.” Qing’er, while talking, shifted the topic back to Wen Mingqian.
Wen Mingqian had intentionally revealed this matter to Qing’er. She knew that once Qing’er knew, more and more people would eventually find out.
The snake she wanted to lure out would likely make its move and strike at her.
As expected, on this particular day, Wen Mingqian was stewing medicinal cuisine again.
Aunt Bai brought over a celadon glazed lidded bowl and said to Madam Wen, “Madam Wen, this is specially sent by the Imperial Treasury for the Empress’s meals.”
Wen Mingqian looked at it and said, “It is indeed exquisite. The glaze must contain gemstone powder, otherwise, it wouldn’t be this lustrous.”
“Madam Wen truly knows everything,” Aunt Bai chuckled. “The Empress’s lunch is all prepared, only your medicinal cuisine is missing.”
Wen Mingqian served the medicinal cuisine into this bowl. Su Qingyun came over, lifted the lid, tested it with a silver needle, and nodded, indicating it was safe.
The palace maid responsible for delivering the Empress’s meals entered with a tray. Wen Mingqian then placed the bowl of medicinal cuisine onto it.
Perhaps because the bowl was too hot, Wen Mingqian’s hand trembled, and the medicinal cuisine spilled all over the tray.
“Oh dear!” Wen Mingqian exclaimed, her hand shaking. “I don’t know what’s wrong with my hands today; I’ve gone and spilled the bowl for no reason.”
Qing’er quickly came to check if Wen Mingqian’s hands were scalded, while Aunt Bai busied herself with cleaning up.
“What a shame about this medicinal cuisine; it can’t be served today,” Wen Mingqian said. “I will go and apologize to the Empress immediately.”
In reality, everyone knew it wasn’t a big deal. The medicinal cuisine was something Wen Mingqian had volunteered to make, and the Empress wouldn’t blame her for such a minor mishap.
At most, she could make it up during dinner.
The Imperial Kitchen prepared another soup and presented it.
Wen Mingqian also explained the situation to the Empress.
“Why apologize for such a small matter? It’s fine,” the Empress indeed did not mind.
Upon returning to her residence, Wen Mingqian feigned illness, saying to the palace maid attending her, “Why do I feel so uneasy?”
The palace maid was frightened upon hearing this and quickly said, “Madam, please lie down first. I’ll go to the Imperial Hospital right away.”
After a while, Su Qingyun was invited over.
“Xiao Yue, I was originally planning to take that package from the cabinet to Chunmei in Consort Yun’s palace. Could you please run this errand for me?” Wen Mingqian intentionally wanted to send the palace maid away.
“Madam, why are you being so polite with me?” Xiao Yue took the item and said, “Please ask Imperial Physician Su to examine you thoroughly!”
After she left, Wen Mingqian sat up and said to Imperial Physician Su, “Imperial Physician Su, I am not ill. I knew you would come if Xiao Yue went to the Imperial Hospital.”
Su Qingyun looked at Wen Mingqian, his expression growing colder, but he pursed his lips and remained silent.
“Imperial Physician Su, if I’m not mistaken, the medicine you prescribe after taking my pulse this time will be fatal, won’t it?” Wen Mingqian continued, unfazed by his silence.
Su Qingyun still did not speak, neither admitting nor denying.
“Imperial Physician Su, when you were inspecting the medicinal cuisine I made for the Empress today, you used the bowl lid to conceal your actions and added an extra slice of ginger,” Wen Mingqian said, taking a box from her bedside and opening it. Inside, there was indeed a slice of ginger.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Su Qingyun finally spoke. “Madam Wen must still be ill and speaking nonsense.”
“Imperial Physician Su, why bother with such self-deception, like covering one’s ears while stealing a bell?” Wen Mingqian smiled. “I haven’t dragged you to confront the Empress, don’t you understand my intentions?”
“You’re just trying to frame me,” Su Qingyun scoffed. “You don’t have any conclusive evidence.”
“Imperial Physician Su, I know you are not a fool, but you are certainly not a wise person either,” Wen Mingqian said, unperturbed. “I understand all your motives, yet you do not comprehend my well-intentioned efforts.”
