Chapter 347

Chapter 347 Fang Yuan'er stood frozen in place, hearing the Emperor's words, feeling as though her soul had left her body in an instant. These words were both terrifying and bewilderingly unfamiliar. She could only grit her teeth and say, "Your Majesty, I did not poison her!" The Emperor's expression was cold. "I will investigate everything thoroughly and clear your name." The guards gave Fang Yuan'er no chance to struggle—they gagged her and dragged her away. At this banquet, Xie Run was also frightened. Even after the banquet ended, she still couldn't figure out what kind of play had been performed today. She sat in her palanquin while Lady Lu walked alongside, her face a picture of sheer shock. Lady Lu patted her chest and said, "What was going on at today's banquet? Imperial Concubine Gong is usually such a shrewd person—how could she dare to poison someone in public?" "Everyone knows about her past conflicts with Consort Li! If anything happened to Consort Li, she'd be the first one suspected." "And if she truly hated Consort Li that much, why choose this particular time to poison her? Of all times, why at the Empress's birthday banquet? With the entire imperial family and nobility present, even if the Emperor had some pity for her, he couldn't possibly speak up for her. Isn't she just walking to her own death?" Xie Run leaned against the palanquin and said calmly, "Exactly. Isn't she walking to her own death?" "This matter... it's strange in every way." Xie Run didn't believe that Fang Yuan'er had nothing to do with the poisoning. The look she had given her earlier was clearly different from usual. Moreover, her defense just now had been far too weak—full of holes everywhere. But to say she had publicly poisoned Consort Li—that made even less sense. For no reason at all, Fang Yuan'er wouldn't be so desperate as to do something so foolish. Once they had gone a good distance, Lady Lu said softly, "Sister Xie, don't you think Qiu Wu's death was a bit too strange?" Xie Run cast her eyes down and glanced at her. "Tell me what you think." Lady Lu said, "She was Imperial Concubine Gong's personal maid. When something like this happened, instead of quickly defending her mistress and clearing her name, she rushed to take her own life..." "Originally, the blame couldn't have been pinned on Imperial Concubine Gong. But once Qiu Wu died, it was as if the accusation against her had been confirmed. The Emperor, in his rage, sent her to the Imperial Prison." Women of the harem rarely ever ended up in the Imperial Prison. Xie Run said, "You're right... today's scheme seems deliberately designed to kill Fang Yuan'er." Even the Emperor, unlike before, hadn't conducted multiple investigations. He hadn't even bothered to say much—he simply sent Fang Yuan'er straight to the Imperial Prison. "Even if Imperial Concubine Gong is later cleared of all charges and released from the Imperial Prison, she'll still be the subject of gossip behind her back." Xie Run murmured softly, "Perhaps... she won't come out at all?" Lady Lu looked at Xie Run in surprise. "Sister Xie, have you figured something out again?" Xie Run shook her head and only uttered two words: "Intuition." Those two words were as faint as morning mist, quietly dissipating with her voice. Lady Lu heard her words and felt a heaviness settle in her heart as well. That evening, news came from Fengyi Palace that Consort Li had been saved, but the poison had been so potent that it had damaged her Five Viscera and stomach. Like Beauty Duan, she would need to spend much of her time bedridden from now on. Since returning, Xie Run had been sitting by the window in deep thought. From dawn to dusk, candles had been lit around her at some point, casting light upon her delicate and elegant profile. "Blood-sealing Throat Cinnabar-top Red—Consort Li drank it in one gulp, and yet she still managed to keep her life." Xie Run said softly, "Is she just lucky, or does she have some other ability?" Was Consort Li really Wan Linlang?! In the past, Xie Run had merely treated it as watching a play, occasionally guessing at Consort Li's identity. But now she realized—perhaps it had been a trap from the very beginning?! From the moment someone began to suspect Consort Li's identity, they had already stepped into the snare. Xie Run thought too much and felt a headache coming on. She asked Dantao to help her undo her hair bun and comb through her hair, hoping to ease the pain. But as she was combing, Xie Run slowly opened her eyes and said softly, "Dantao, why is your hand so much heavier than usual?" "What, did I hurt you?" A deep male voice fell upon her ears. Xie Run was somewhat startled and turned her head to see the Emperor sitting behind her. Xie Run: "Your Majesty?" Though she didn't finish her sentence, the Emperor could tell she wanted to ask, "Why are you here?" The Emperor smiled. "I was worried that you and Taotao might have been frightened, so I came specifically to check on you." Xie Run pressed her lips together, her perfectly proportioned brows lightly furrowed, her voice soft and gentle. "Could it be that Your Majesty didn't want to be bothered by Sister Hua, and so came to my place to find some peace and quiet?" If not for Hua Yu's foolishness at the banquet today, the Emperor probably wouldn't have come to Zhaohua Palace at all. No doubt Hua Yu was feeling wronged right now, believing she had been humiliated by Fang Yuan'er. The moment she saw the Emperor, she would launch into a tearful complaint. But unfortunately, the Emperor disliked foolish people. And unfortunately, the Emperor also disliked such tearful complaints. That was why he thought of Xie Run and came to Zhaohua Palace to seek some quiet. Having served the Emperor for so long, Xie Run could guess the whole sequence of events without even thinking. The Emperor hadn't expected Xie Run to say not a word about the banquet and instead be jealous of Hua Yu. Then he thought about it. He had been busy with court affairs lately—it had indeed been quite some time since he last visited Zhaohua Palace. He reached up and gently pinched Xie Run's nose, a hint of a smile spreading across his face. "This is indeed my fault. I've been busy with court affairs these past few days and haven't had the time to come see you." Xie Run seemed to take it seriously, speaking softly, "The Emperor has no time to visit me and Taotao, yet he finds time every few days to accompany Hua Zhaorong." The Emperor appeared somewhat annoyed: "It's only been a short while, and you've become increasingly fond of jealousy." Xie Run played along with his act: "It's not that I'm jealous—it's that the Emperor is too partial." The Emperor seized the moment to draw her into his arms. "It truly is my fault. Then I'll come see you more often these days and won't visit Hua Zhaorong." Xie Run cast him a sidelong glance and leaned against the Emperor's chest. Having just removed her hair ornaments, her cascade of ink-black hair spilled over the Emperor's embrace. Her strikingly pure yet alluring features took on a gentle, serene charm under the lamplight. Xie Run smiled and said, "I'm afraid Sister Hua will be muttering about me behind my back." "You hold the authority of Management of the Six Palaces. If she dares to show you disrespect, you may punish her as you see fit." Xie Run teased with a smile, "I fear the Emperor would feel heartache. Hua Zhaorong is now with child. Punishing her would be one thing, but if it were to harm the Imperial Heir in her womb, how would I dare?" "Then are you saying I don't care about you?" Xie Run smiled gently, "That's not necessarily certain." The Emperor chided lightly, "You ungrateful thing. When have I ever not cared about you?" "Today at the banquet, Taotao, knowing nothing, was giggling on the side. When you heard the word 'poison,' you looked as if you wanted to reach into Taotao's mouth and dig out what he'd eaten. Afterward, your face went pale." This time, Xie Run was genuinely surprised. Her tone grew even softer. "I never imagined the Emperor would truly keep me in his thoughts." With so many people at the banquet, the Emperor had still noticed her actions. The Emperor gave a light snort, shedding his solemn demeanor for something more relaxed and carefree. "That's exactly why I said you're ungrateful."