Chapter 201: Is Your Mother Empress’s Illness Serious?
The old woman servant glanced highly at Jiang Ruanxi. Others inquire about the Empress Dowager’s preferences, but she actually probes the Empress Dowager’s taboos.
Even if she cannot win favor, at least she will not anger the Empress Dowager.
She knows how to advance and retreat.
The old woman servant smiled, “The Empress Dowager dislikes the sour jealousy and favor-seeking in the Imperial Harem, but has no other taboos.”
No wonder the Empress Dowager dislikes the Imperial Consort. She suddenly understood that perhaps the Empress Dowager could be her first breakthrough in the Imperial Palace.
If she could obtain the Empress Dowager’s permission, she naturally would not need to look at the faces of the Imperial Consort, Consort Qi, or even the Empress.
After entering, the Empress Dowager was sitting above. Jiang Ruanxi curtsied, “Grandmother.”
The Empress Dowager looked at Jiang Ruanxi with calm eyes, “You’ve worked hard. During this time, your Father Emperor and Mother Empress are ill. You just newly wed, originally the time to be sweetly intimate with the Crown Prince, yet unexpectedly called to this place of trouble.”
Jiang Ruanxi lowered her head and quickly said, “Grandmother is too polite. My marriage to the Crown Prince means we are family. Now is a time of many troubles. Being filial to Father Emperor and Mother Empress is only right. Where is there any hardship? Now I only hope Mother Empress and Father Emperor recover soon, so as not to waste Grandmother’s painstaking efforts.”
The Empress Dowager saw Jiang Ruanxi’s calm expression and understood in her heart that the Empress was truly ill.
This was truly quite a coincidence.
“Is your Mother Empress’s illness serious?” the Empress Dowager asked.
Serious?
Not asking if there is any illness?
Jiang Ruanxi understood in her heart. The Empress Dowager called her here, probably also suspecting something odd about the Empress’s illness.
“It is poisoning.” Jiang Ruanxi said truthfully.
She clearly understood in her heart that the Empress Dowager calling her here meant she already knew some matters.
She could not conceal it, and there was no need to conceal it.
“Poisoning?” The Empress Dowager was clearly shocked, “At this critical juncture?”
Jiang Ruanxi nodded, “Yes, the Imperial Physician said there is no threat to life, but it is quite damaging. Now in a coma.”
The Empress Dowager’s eyes were not pleasant, “Your Mother Empress sometimes lacks magnanimity, but she is fair in character. Managing the Imperial Harem for so many years without bias, yet something happens at this critical juncture. Is this not too strange?”
Jiang Ruanxi did not speak, but the Empress Dowager said, “This widow has despised the doting on concubines and extinguishing the wife for so many years. The Crown Prince is the great heir of the Qin Dynasty. If someone wants to make a fuss at this critical juncture, this widow will be the first not to let them go.”
Jiang Ruanxi knew that the Empress Dowager was the current Emperor’s birth mother. In earlier years, the late Emperor was nearly addled his mind by doting on his marriage, almost abolishing the Crown Prince.
It was the Empress Dowager who risked life and death to pull the favored consort down.
Now sitting in a high position, what she most tabooed in her heart was this matter.
Jiang Ruanxi now understood the reason the Empress Dowager disliked the Imperial Consort.
“To report to Grandmother, this matter is indeed strange, but currently there is no substantial evidence to prove that the poison was administered by someone else. Rest assured, Grandmother. The Crown Prince is secretly investigating. If the culprit is found, they will certainly be brought to justice.”
The Empress Dowager looked at Jiang Ruanxi, her gaze darkening, “You are a good child, but your heart is too soft.”
Jiang Ruanxi did not understand, but the Empress Dowager said, “The Second Prince is insignificant, but the Third Prince is forever a threat to the Crown Prince.”
Jiang Ruanxi’s heart trembled, yet she did not know how to respond.
The matter of the Crown Prince ascending the throne was originally up to the Emperor.
What did she mean by this?
Truly for the Crown Prince’s good, or just wanting to probe?
With that said, the Empress Dowager took Jiang Ruanxi’s hand and gently patted it, “Who poisoned does not actually matter. As long as the evidence is there, the poisoner is who it is. Do you agree?”
Her kindly majestic face, yet the words spoken made one shudder.
Even though Jiang Ruanxi was previously the Marquis Manor Madam of Dingning Marquis Manor and had seen much filth in the inner residence, after hearing these words, she could not avoid being shocked.
The Empress Dowager’s meaning was very clear. Now the matter of the Empress and Emperor being poisoned was already fact.
Although finding the person behind it was very important, if she could use this opportunity to pull down someone she wanted to deal with, it was a good chance.
Cold sweat broke out on Jiang Ruanxi’s back.
“Grandmother is right.” Jiang Ruanxi obediently said on the surface.
But her expression had changed.
The Empress Dowager understood her feelings. The young girl was too young, without experiencing great storms, always thinking the world is black and white.
But in reality, white and black are not absolute. From different angles, white might be black, black might be white.
But no matter which color, as long as it is beneficial to oneself.
Even if being a villain in the world’s eyes once, so what?
“You understand is good. In this Imperial Harem, whatever you want to do, Grandmother will support you. Go ahead boldly with confidence.”
Jiang Ruanxi felt moved in her heart, “Grandmother is right. Granddaughter-in-law understands.”
The Empress Dowager waved her hand, “Go down.”
After Jiang Ruanxi left, the incense in the censer had just burned out. The old woman servant quickly refilled it.
The familiar scent wafted, and the Empress Dowager’s heart calmed much.
“Empress Dowager, what do you think of the Crown Princess?”
The Empress Dowager looked at the Bodhisattva enshrined above the censer, full of loving kindness, “If she is truly sensible, she should understand my meaning.”
Old Woman Servant Zhang frowned. The Empress Dowager added, “After all, she is too young, and lived in the countryside for so many years. Inevitably cannot bring herself to act on many matters. Help her secretly.”
“This old servant understands.”
After the old woman servant left, the Empress Dowager devoutly bowed to the Bodhisattva again, “Bodhisattva bless, bless our great Qin Dynasty to be safe and sound this time, and best to eliminate that demon consort in one stroke.”
**
After Jiang Ruanxi came out from the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, her mind was always uneasy.
Yushui said, “Crown Princess, with the Empress Dowager’s help, even the Imperial Consort cannot do anything to you. But you seem still hesitant.”
A trace of bitterness rose at the corners of Jiang Ruanxi’s mouth. If it were really that simple, it would be good.
Originally just a struggle among the Emperor’s Imperial Harem concubines, but now the Empress Dowager was involved.
Things became complicated.
The Empress Dowager’s meaning, she was not without understanding, nor unable to do.
But what she could not understand was, for some matters, clearly the Empress Dowager could act, but why did the Empress Dowager not act herself, instead calling her to do it?
The Empress Dowager believed in Buddha year-round, could not bear to stain her hands with blood, yet incited her to handle this matter.
If the matter succeeded, the Empress Dowager would hold her handle. Even if Wei Chang inherited the throne in the future, she would not have good days ahead.
But if the matter failed, then it would only be her and the Crown Prince’s matter, having no relation to her.
Reaping benefits without effort.
Truly a good scheme.
