Chapter 136: White Tiger Sha
Xue Sui slowly pushed open the door to the inner room.
The room was filled with a strong medicinal smell.
She tiptoed to the Old Madam’s bedside, saw her pale face, and gently sat down, holding her hand.
That hand was cold and weak.
At that moment, the doctor came from the side room, and Xue Sui casually asked:
“Doctor, how is my grandmother?”
The doctor sighed slightly and said with a grave expression, “The Old Madam is advanced in age, suffering from Qi and Blood Deficiency. This high fever has come on fiercely, and the situation is not optimistic… I have written a prescription. Let’s see how she fares after taking a few doses of the medicine.”
As he spoke, he handed the prescription to a maidservant standing nearby.
Xue Sui said, “Wait a moment…”
She gestured for the maidservant to bring the prescription over and frowned as she read it for a moment.
“This prescription is too cold. Add three qian of astragalus to strengthen the foundation and aid vital energy, and add two qian of wind-dispersing herbs. Simmer them together with the doctor’s prescription to expel wind evil.”
The doctor’s expression changed.
It was evident that he was very displeased with Xue Sui’s questioning.
Unexpectedly, Madam Qian heard this, took out a silver ingot from her embrace, and stuffed it into the doctor’s hand, saying with a smile, “Thank you, Doctor Wang. Just follow the Sixth Sister’s instructions.”
Doctor Wang took the silver, nodded, and said no more.
After he left, Xue Sui asked Third Madam.
“Why did Grandmother suddenly fall ill?”
Madam Qian glanced at the maidservant standing by, then twisted her handkerchief and whispered.
“This morning, Eldest Sister-in-law came to pay her respects. I don’t know what she said to the Old Madam, but I heard the Old Madam smashed her teacup on the spot. Not long after, she fell ill…”
“So, she was angered by First Madam.” Xue Sui raised her eyebrows, recalling Madam Fu’s cold eyes and blank expression when she entered earlier.
After so long, Madam Fu could still cause trouble; it seemed her wicked intentions were not dead.
Madam Qian said helplessly, “Eldest Branch wants to manage household affairs, and they only know how to sow discord. Forget it, no matter what, let’s save the Old Madam first. If she wants the power to manage the household, give it to her…”
“Third Aunt, don’t be foolish. Currently, the Xue family relies on the Third Branch to hold things together.” Xue Sui gave her a meaningful smile. “If the Xue family is to stand, the Old Madam must not fall, and I need Third Uncle, Third Aunt, and Grandmother too.”
“Alas, rest assured, I will do my utmost—”
After the medicinal soup was simmered, Xue Sui personally served it to the Old Madam. She stayed in the room for a while, and her eyelids began to feel heavy.
Just as she was about to fall asleep, she suddenly felt a slight movement in her hand.
She abruptly opened her eyes and looked at the Old Madam.
“Grandmother!” Xue Sui smiled slightly, tightly holding the Old Madam’s hand. “You’re awake?”
“Sixth Girl…”
The Old Madam slowly opened her eyes, saw Xue Sui, and revealed a weak smile, her voice faint and hoarse. “I’ve just walked through the gates of hell… That wicked woman… *cough cough*… wishes she could crush these old bones of mine… Even if I die, I won’t let her have her way…”
“Grandmother, don’t say such unlucky things. You will get better.” Xue Sui leaned over and hugged the Old Madam. “I’ll invite Doctor Shu to come later and prescribe further treatment for you. You will surely live a long life.”
The Old Madam’s cloudy eyes rolled, looking at Xue Sui, a complex light flashing in them.
“You are a filial child. Among the girls from the Eldest Branch, you are the most considerate…”
At this moment, Jinshu hurried in and whispered a few words into Xue Sui’s ear.
Xue Sui understood and got up, saying to the Old Madam, “Grandmother, Doctor Shu has returned to Shangjing. I will go and meet him now. Please take your medicine on time, and I will visit you again later.”
The Old Madam nodded, her gaze full of trust in her.
“Go slowly on the road, go slowly… *cough cough*…”
“Understood.”
—
The carriage turned onto the riverbank path as soon as it left the Xue Mansion.
Xue Sui entered through the back door of the Hongfu Gambling House and went up to a private room on the second floor, where she saw Wen Jia, her eyes red-rimmed, pacing back and forth, twisting her handkerchief.
“Princess.” Xue Sui quickly stepped forward and asked softly, “You sent for me in such a hurry, what happened?”
Wen Jia urgently grabbed her sleeve, her expression sorrowful.
“Consort Xiao is so heartless! She said that Princess Ping Le vomited blood last night and was in critical condition. She summoned the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, saying that observing the stars at night revealed a White Tiger Sha and a Bad Omen Star offending Ziwei—and insisted that my Mother move palaces, which would offend the earth veins of West Mountain and violate Feng Shui…”
Xue Sui asked, “What did His Majesty say?”
Wen Jia clutched her silk handkerchief, her knuckles turning white, filled with anger and unwillingness.
“His Majesty already favors her and cares even more for Ping Le. Upon hearing that Ping Le vomited blood and was beyond saving, he immediately led the Imperial Physicians to the Princess’s Mansion to visit her—”
Her voice choked, and tears streamed from her eyes.
“Just as my mother was about to break free from that cage, unforeseen events occurred.”
“We are both daughters of the same father, yet fate treats me so unfairly.”
Xue Sui gently patted her trembling hand, comforting her, “His Majesty is away from the palace to visit Ping Le, isn’t this the opportune moment? Don’t rush. Tell me, how is Consort Wan now?”
Wen Jia’s whole body seemed to tremble. “My Mother is frail and often ill, her body weak. After being moved from the Cold Palace, she was intercepted halfway and sent back to the Cold Palace. The Imperial Physicians refuse to treat her anymore…”
“This matter is easy to handle.” Xue Sui smiled slightly. “Go quickly and request an imperial decree from the Empress. Just say that His Majesty has not rescinded the decree. While the imperial procession has not yet departed, send Her Ladyship to the West Mountain Imperial Palace immediately.”
“Will Empress Niangniang get involved in this muddy water?”
“She will.” Xue Sui said, “The Imperial Astronomical Bureau spoke of White Tiger Sha, and the Empress’s birthday falls within the White Tiger position—Consort Xiao’s true target is the phoenix of Jiaofang Palace, not you and Consort Wan.”
A disfavored consort who had been imprisoned in the Cold Palace for many years was, in Consort Xiao’s eyes, not even worthy of being her thorn in the side. Consort Xiao had created such a scene, even bringing out the Imperial Astronomical Bureau; how could it be as simple as silencing a discarded concubine?
“I suspect the real killing blow is yet to come. The words of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau were merely to confuse the public and conceal her true objective—”
Wen Jia gasped, “Then I dare not disturb the Empress even more…”
The Empress had already gone to great lengths for her.
No matter how anxious she was, she could not harm the Empress for her own selfish reasons.
Xue Sui pressed her thumb against her hand, her gaze firm.
“This time, the Empress must do it whether she wants to or not—Consort Xiao is precisely trying to force the Empress into a difficult position. Go quickly, seize the time.”
“But…” Wen Jia was still hesitating.
Xue Sui said with certainty, “You just go into the palace; I will arrange the rest.”
–
“Imperial Mother.” Wen Jia stumbled into Jiaofang Palace, her forehead hitting the bluestone tiles heavily, her voice like cracking jade.
“Consort Wan is in critical condition. If she doesn’t depart the palace soon, I fear she won’t last a few more days…”
Empress Xie saw the woman kneeling in the hall, her brows furrowed even tighter.
When the Emperor heard that Ping Le had vomited blood, he was so anxious that his entire being, along with his soul, had flown away. She herself was also feeling stifled with anger at this moment.
“Wen Jia, Imperial Mother is also helpless.”
“Imperial Mother!” Wen Jia crawled forward on her knees, her mourning clothes stained with dust. “Consort Xiao falsely used celestial phenomena to twist right and wrong—but Father Emperor did not revoke the decree. Imperial Mother is the ruler of the harem, and acting according to the imperial edict would not be considered disobedience…”
Empress Xie frowned.
Although that was the case, the Emperor was not in the palace at this moment. To forcibly send someone would be equivalent to slapping the Emperor’s face. But if she stood by and did nothing, and something happened to Consort Wan in the Cold Palace, Consort Xiao would also use it to attack her—because the Emperor’s verbal order was for her to oversee it…
She was in a no-win situation, her face filled with coldness.
“Imperial Mother, please. If this opportunity is missed, Consort Wan will likely never have a chance to leave this deep palace alive…”
Wen Jia’s eyes turned red, like a wounded, trapped beast.
“Fu Yin is willing to exchange ten years of her life for Imperial Mother’s peace. I beg Imperial Mother to fulfill Fu Yin’s filial piety.”
Empress Xie was greatly shaken, her fingernails almost digging into the armrest of her phoenix throne.
“Wen Jia, get up and speak!”
“If Imperial Mother does not grant it, Fu Yin dares not rise…”
Wisps of green smoke rose from the incense burner. A clear voice suddenly came from outside the hall.
“Grant it, Imperial Mother—”
Li Zhao strode in, chuckling lightly, his jade crown shining brilliantly under the sun.
“Since Father Emperor ordered Imperial Mother to oversee it, if the decree is delayed and Consort Wan suffers any mishap, wouldn’t that confirm the White Tiger Sha theory? Imperial Mother is also thinking of the nation’s prosperity. If Father Emperor blames her for this, then it is Father Emperor’s fault.”
Empress Xie glared at him fiercely.
“What are you doing here?”
Li Zhao did not answer, turned, and announced loudly.
“Issue an imperial decree from the Empress, ordering Consort Wan to move to the West Mountain Imperial Palace for recuperation, departing immediately. Order the Imperial Hospital to send medical officers to accompany her for consultation, without delay!”
Empress Xie did not speak.
Wen Jia knelt on the ground, “Thank you, Imperial Mother, for your grace. Thank you, Crown Prince, for your benevolence.”
After Wen Jia left, Li Zhao raised his eyebrows and bowed respectfully to Empress Xie.
“Imperial Mother, this is a poisonous scheme.”
Empress Xie sighed, “Imperial Mother acts with integrity. Even if she frames me? If you hadn’t come, I would have agreed.”
“This son knows.” Li Zhao said, “But integrity does not prevent hidden arrows, and purity makes it harder to protect oneself. Consort Xiao is clearly using Consort Wan as a guise to deal with Imperial Mother. This son cannot just sit and wait to be dealt with.”
Empress Xie did not speak, a layer of moisture welling up in her eyes.
Wen Jia’s earlier words, “I fear she won’t be able to leave this deep palace alive in this lifetime,” were like ten thousand arrows piercing her heart, almost pinning her to that phoenix chair.
This palace was a cage for Consort Wan, but was it not also one for her?
It was just that her cage was larger, more luxurious, and more ancient…
“Everything will be as you say. If your Father Emperor blames me, you must not speak; Imperial Mother will handle it.”
Li Zhao’s eyebrows twitched slightly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
“This time, I fear he won’t be able to blame this son; he will have to commend me—”
Goodnight, see you tomorrow!
Reader: Crown Prince, your Imperial Brother has more scenes and lines than you. Are you angry…
Li Zhao: When I ascend the throne, I will have the historians record all my grievances!
