Chapter 142: All the Lady’s Doing
As for the words spoken by Consort Shu, Chu Mingheng paid them no heed.
Even if he said nothing, there were those who would seize this moment to mock Consort Shu, and Noble Consort Li was the first to step forward.
“Lady Shufei, you mustn’t speak like that,” Noble Consort Li said pitifully, glancing at Zhaoyi Wen before continuing softly, “Didn’t you just say that Imperial Physician Qi’s medical skills were exceptional, and that you had specifically sent him to examine Zhaoyi Wen?”
“Now that two imperial physicians have diagnosed an abnormal pulse, you turn around and claim it has nothing to do with you.”
“Who would believe that?”
Noble Consort Li touched the gold bracelet on her slender wrist and suddenly smiled. “You say you have a good relationship with Zhaoyi Wen, but as far as I know, during all these days Zhaoyi Wen has been ill, you haven’t once visited Hanlu Palace. Instead, Xiuyi Bai has been there two or three times—that’s what I call a good relationship.”
“After all, Imperial Physician Qi is just an imperial physician. How much enmity could he possibly have with a concubine of the inner palace? Perhaps…”
“Noble Consort Li! Think before you speak. Don’t blurt out something you shouldn’t and later regret it. When that time comes, no one will be able to speak for you.” Consort Shu was furious, shooting a sidelong glance at Noble Consort Li.
Noble Consort Li was now like someone with nothing to lose—she was already in such a state, enduring scornful looks every day in the palace. What more did she have to fear from Consort Shu’s torment?
Certainly not!
Whoever intended to deal with Consort Shu today, she was more than happy to watch Consort Shu fall from her high position and suffer.
“Your Ladyship worries too much. What could I possibly have to regret? On the contrary, the words you just spoke truly frighten me. With Your Majesty still present, you dare to utter such threatening words. If Your Majesty were not here today, would you have ordered me to be beaten and punished?”
“I am truly terrified.”
“You—” Consort Shu had always thought Noble Consort Li was foolish and impulsive, never expecting her to be so sharp-tongued. With just a few words, she had cornered her, forcing Consort Shu to calm her emotions and refrain from responding.
Lan Wu looked down at them as they finished their quarrel, guessing in her heart that this was likely the matter Chu Mingheng had mentioned. Since he hadn’t canceled the night banquet and had ordered all concubines to attend, he was using Zhaoyi Wen as a pretext to deal with Consort Shu.
It had to be said, Chu Mingheng truly had a way with schemes—without expending a single soldier, he could make people not even think of him in the end.
Perhaps even now, Consort Shu didn’t realize this was Chu Mingheng’s doing.
Imperial Physician Qi was brought into the main hall.
He was escorted in, looking rather disheveled. As soon as he was released, he stumbled to the ground but quickly straightened up and knelt properly.
“This humble official pays respects to Your Majesty, to all the ladies…”
Imperial Physician Qi seemed unaware of why he had been seized, but that didn’t stop him from trembling with fear. Seeing the two imperial physicians waiting nearby only added to his confusion.
“Imperial Physician Qi, you were responsible for diagnosing Zhaoyi Wen’s illness, is that correct?”
Seeing that the question came from the chief eunuch beside His Majesty, Imperial Physician Qi dared not be careless and hurriedly replied, “Yes, it was this humble official. Although Zhaoyi Wen’s condition has persisted without improvement, it is truly due to her weak constitution, which is why…”
“Imperial Physician Qi.” Chen Kangan interrupted him unhurriedly, “It has now been discovered that you added an ingredient to Zhaoyi Wen’s prescription that conflicts with her constitution. Two imperial physicians have stated that this medicine would harm her health. Imperial Physician Qi, do you have anything further to say?”
Upon hearing this, Imperial Physician Qi’s eyes widened instantly. He glanced sharply at Zhaoyi Wen, then at the two attending physicians, hastily denying the accusation.
“Your Majesty, please discern the truth—I, your humble servant, indeed prescribed the formula according to Zhaoyi Wen’s physical condition and never discovered any ingredient that would harm Her Ladyship…”
He anxiously lowered his head, wanting to defend himself, but with two physicians having already uncovered and confirmed his wrongdoing, no one would listen to him no matter what he said. After all, the prescription was his, and he was responsible for Zhaoyi Wen’s illness. If anything happened to her, he could not escape blame.
Thus, everyone heard him abruptly shift the focus, pointing the finger directly at Consort Shu.
“Your Ladyship—Lady Shufei, please save me—I was following your orders to diagnose and treat Zhaoyi Wen—it was all your command, Your Ladyship!” As he spoke, Imperial Physician Qi knelt before Consort Shu, kowtowing repeatedly, hoping she would spare his life.
It was true that Consort Shu had ordered Imperial Physician Qi to diagnose and treat Zhaoyi Wen, but his words sounded as if Consort Shu had given other, more sinister instructions, suggesting impure motives.
Consort Shu could not help raising her voice: “Silence! When did I ever give you such orders? I was merely concerned that Zhaoyi Wen’s illness had persisted for so long. Thinking your medical skills were competent, I asked you to try—who could have imagined you would harm Zhaoyi Wen!”
“Daring to plot against an imperial concubine—you deserve to die a hundred times over!”
Imperial Physician Qi paled at her words and hurriedly begged for Your Majesty’s mercy, shifting all the blame onto Consort Shu, claiming she had ordered him to do it.
“What exactly did Consort Shu order you to do?”
Finally, Chu Mingheng set down his teacup, as if intrigued by Imperial Physician Qi’s words, and asked coldly.
“W-what she ordered…” Imperial Physician Qi instinctively repeated the question, then guiltily glanced at Consort Shu, who was glaring at him.
Consort Shu stepped forward, kneeling before Chu Mingheng. Her knees struck the ground heavily, the sound clearly indicating it must have been painful, but she seemed utterly unaware. Before Imperial Physician Qi could speak, she began proclaiming her innocence:
“Your Majesty, please discern the truth. I have always cared deeply for Zhaoyi Wen. When she fell ill, I even sent people to her palace to visit. I truly have no reason to harm Zhaoyi Wen.”
“This matter must be someone bribing Imperial Physician Qi to deliberately frame me. I am entirely innocent—I beg Your Majesty to be fair!”
Each side presented their own version of events. Upon hearing her words, Imperial Physician Qi hastily refuted them.
“Replying to Your Majesty, it truly was Lady Shufei who gave me the orders. She said… she said Zhaoyi Wen was too strong-willed and difficult to control. She instructed me to use Zhaoyi Wen’s illness as an opportunity to make her too ill to speak or act, but not… not to die. This is what Her Ladyship told me. I dare not speak falsely—every word is true. Your Majesty, please investigate!”
Hearing this, Zhaoyi Wen’s fingers trembled slightly. She did not know whether his words were true, but if they were, then Consort Shu had indeed guessed her intentions correctly.
She had originally planned to distance herself from Consort Shu, never expecting her to strike first.
At that moment, a figure swept past before her, and another woman’s voice softly emerged—one that felt somewhat familiar to her.
“Your Majesty, this humble consort has something to say.”
Zhaoyi Wen turned her head to look at the person and saw Xiuyi Bai kneeling in the hall.
Chu Mingheng raised the corners of his lips with interest. No one could see his palm resting in Lan Wu’s hand, his fingers lightly tracing patterns in her palm. On the surface, however, he merely gazed down at the hall below. Seeing Xiuyi Bai step forward to kneel and speak these words, he nodded slightly and asked with a meaningful tone, “And what do you have to say?”