Chapter 263: The Empress Is Ill
Palace of Compassion and Tranquility.
After removing that thorn in her side from the Yu Family, the Empress had been quite pleased lately. After getting up, her footsteps were very light.
Liu Ye thought about the information she had received, looking hesitant, unsure whether to speak or not.
“If there’s something, just say it. Why dawdle?”
The Empress glared at her.
Liu Ye brought the face-washing water to her and told her about Sun Tina’s death.
The Empress who was washing her face stopped her movements, then said faintly, “Useless thing, if she’s dead, she’s dead.”
She continued washing her face, as if the one who died was not a living person, but an insignificant ant.
Liu Ye didn’t mind and handed her a clean towel.
After finishing washing up methodically, the Empress went to the Main Hall, waiting for the consorts to come pay respects.
As soon as she arrived, the consorts were almost all there.
“Greetings to the Empress.” These consorts paid respects to her.
The Empress straightened her back and walked through these consorts to the upper seat.
This was the happiest thing for the Empress every day, because only by seeing those people kneeling before her, looking down at them from above, did she feel that all the grievances she had suffered over the years were worth it.
After taking her seat, she said faintly, “Rise.”
The consorts stood up and returned to their own positions.
She talked about the matters happening in the Capital and in the palace.
The Empress just watched, with no expression on her face.
“I heard that the Fifth Princess in the Cold Palace went mad because she couldn’t stand hearing that her former favorite pet was an ugly monster,” Consort Qi suddenly said from the side.
The Empress who was drinking tea slightly raised her head and gave her a glance, but said nothing, continuing to drink her tea.
Consort Yan took over the conversation, “This concubine also heard a little.”
“Gone mad is gone mad. In the Imperial Palace, there were plenty who went mad before. I heard that His Majesty’s most favored Consort Rou went mad for some reason after giving birth to a stillborn, and later the Imperial Palace was haunted.”
“Shut up.”
The Empress, who had always been calm and composed, suddenly scolded the speaking Consort Qi.
Everyone looked at the Empress, a bit surprised at how she suddenly got so angry.
And Consort Yan’s gaze flickered.
The Empress also knew she had lost composure, reined in her emotions and said, “These are all past matters. If His Majesty hears it, whatever he does then, this palace can’t help you.”
Everyone thought of Emperor Qin’s bad mood and irritable temper lately, and didn’t dare say anything more.
After that, they chatted some family matters and soon dispersed.
After they left, the Empress’s face became very ugly, her hand tightly gripping the tea table beside her.
“That bitch Consort Qi, mentioning what shouldn’t be mentioned.”
“Empress, this matter was so long ago. Consort Qi suddenly bringing it up, could she have some objective?”
Reminded by Liu Ye, the Empress’s anger calmed down.
Her eyes also became deep.
The Empress beckoned Liu Ye forward, whispered something in her ear, and Liu Ye nodded and also went out.
**
“Crown Princess, Consort Yan has already taken action.” Yushui reported everything she knew to Jiang Ruanxi.
Jiang Ruanxi stopped writing and said, “Mm, got it. Any information from Master Bian Du?”
“Master Bian Du used the power of Nameless Valley and has captured all the people the Empress sent to kill the Yu Family. They are on their way back to the Capital under escort.”
“Good. Let’s see how the Empress quibbles now.”
Suddenly, someone from the palace came, saying the Empress was ill and summoning her into the palace.
Jiang Ruanxi was stunned, a bit doubtful how the Empress got sick.
It wouldn’t be a Hongmen Banquet, would it?
After all, Wei Chang was not in the Capital now.
But no matter what thoughts she had, she was a daughter-in-law of the Royal Family, and with her mother-in-law ill, she had to go serve.
Before entering the palace, Jiang Ruanxi had Yushui find Grand Tutor Ling, so that if she didn’t return home by evening, Grand Tutor Ling would help her get out of the palace.
Yushui nodded.
After Jiang Ruanxi arrived at the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, she found the Empress pale-faced and listless.
Jiang Ruanxi stepped forward with concern and asked, “Mother Empress, what’s wrong with you?”
Consort Qi on the side was a big mouth and spoke directly before the Empress could, “Last night, the Empress don’t know how, actually saw the dead Consort Rou, and early this morning learned that her maternal home Yu Family was all killed, and she fell ill at once.”
Thinking of the information given by Grand Tutor Ling, Jiang Ruanxi cold smiled in her heart.
It wasn’t because of the Yu Family’s extermination, but because Consort Rou appeared!
Guilty conscience, scared sick.
Her gaze involuntarily turned to Consort Yan, only to see her face faintly calm.
Jiang Ruanxi withdrew her gaze.
“Mother Empress, don’t worry. I believe His Majesty will investigate everything clearly, and all demons and ghosts will show their true forms.”
For some reason, these words made the Empress’s face even paler.
“His Majesty arrives.”
Suddenly, the eunuch’s sharp voice rang out from outside.
Following that, Emperor Qin entered, wearing bright yellow clothing.
Everyone knelt to pay respects. The Empress also struggled to get up, but Emperor Qin raised his hand first, “Empress, your body is weak, don’t get up.”
He sat down beside the Empress.
“All of you rise.” Emperor Qin said to everyone.
He turned his head to the Empress and said, “Empress, how are you feeling now?”
“This concubine is fine.” The Empress said weakly.
“Good that you’re fine. Don’t worry. I will thoroughly investigate and give your Yu Family justice.”
The Empress didn’t seem very happy, forcing a smile at the corner of her mouth, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
As she spoke, her eyes reddened.
Watching her acting, Jiang Ruanxi slightly lowered her head, revealing a mocking smile.
After Emperor Qin said a few words, he left directly.
The others didn’t stay long either and soon followed.
Only Jiang Ruanxi was left.
“Mother Empress, may this daughter-in-law feed you the medicine?”
Jiang Ruanxi saw a large bowl of medicine in front and went to the table.
“No need, you may go. This palace is tired.” The Empress directly stopped her.
Jiang Ruanxi wasn’t sincerely wanting to serve her anyway. Since she said that, she was glad, but on the surface she still had to act filial.
“Now that Mother Empress is ill, as a daughter-in-law, how can I be at ease without watching you finish the medicine?”
Saying that, regardless of the Empress’s expression, she picked up the medicine and brought it to her.
The Empress glanced at her, had no choice, and directly opened her mouth.
“Pfft.”
Just as it reached her mouth, the Empress spat out the medicine.
“Are you trying to kill me? Such hot medicine, wanting to harm me to death…”
The Empress roared with full vigor, showing no sign of illness at all.
But halfway through, she realized something and immediately shut her mouth.
Her tone softened to cover up, “This palace is upset over the Yu Family matter right now. Hope you don’t take it to heart.”
Jiang Ruanxi had done it on purpose. Seeing her finally reveal her fox tail, she cold laughed inwardly while feeling extremely relieved.
But on her face, she showed a guilty look.
“It was this daughter-in-law’s fault. I should have tasted the medicine first to see if it was hot, so Mother Empress wouldn’t get scalded.”
