Chapter 403

Chapter 403 "I have only been in Yu Dynasty for a short time, yet I know that Noble Consort Zhao has always respected and honored you, Sister, holding you in the highest regard. In all these years, she has never once overstepped her bounds." "If not for Noble Consort Zhao, you might not have survived to this day. And later, thanks to Imperial Physician Xie's superb medical skills, she saved you from danger on several occasions." "To put it bluntly, you are indebted to them, the two sisters." Consort Wen lowered her head, her face full of guilt and distress. "Sister's death was entirely caused by Xia Dynasty." "I am a consort of Yu Dynasty, but also a princess of Xia Dynasty... If blame is to be assigned, I too bear some fault. Zhaoyi Huizhao may blame me, but please do not implicate innocent people." Of all people, Consort Wen was the most grieved and the most embarrassed by the Empress's death. The one who died was her own full sister, and the ones who killed her were her father, whom she had revered as heaven since childhood, and the Xia Dynasty. She had no favor, no children, and was a consort of Yu Dynasty—caught in the middle, suffering the most. Zhaorong Huizhao lowered her head and gritted her teeth. "Perhaps I was wrong to suspect Noble Consort Zhao." "But the Empress was as kind to me as a mountain. Back then, when I received her protection, I made a vow that my life would belong to the Empress from that day forward!" "Today, Imperial Physician Xie requested leave, and Imperial Physician Jiang harbors a Xia spy by his side..." Zhaorong Huizhao gritted her teeth. "I asked Nurse Li, and every word that spy spoke was meant to kill with words and wound the heart—clearly intended to drive the Empress to her death!" "If it were merely to report her passing, why say such cruel things?" "That Xia spy's every step was calculated. Without someone behind the scenes providing information and assistance, how could it have gone so smoothly?" Zhaorong Huizhao said, "I refuse to believe that no one in the harem had a hand in this!" Zhaorong Huizhao did not compete for favor, but she was different from Consort Wen. She had come through the open and covert struggles of the prince's household, and she knew best the methods of the women in the Emperor's harem. On the surface, it seemed the Xia Dynasty had murdered the Empress, but there was absolutely an invisible hand manipulating things in the harem! Hearing her words, Consort Wen only felt more ashamed and tormented. "Zhaorong Huizhao, Yu and Xia have been at war for a long time. For the interests of both nations, cultivating spies is a common practice..." Consort Wen could hardly openly say that the Xia Emperor was of vile character. He was entirely capable of doing something like calculating every step just to drive the Empress to her death. Zhaorong Huizhao said coldly, "Even if it wasn't Noble Consort Zhao, there must be someone else. If anyone truly dares to harm the Empress, I will never let them go." "If I cannot uncover the truth in this lifetime, then when we meet in the underworld, I will have no face to see the Empress!" Consort Wen opened her mouth, but felt she had no standing to persuade Zhaorong Huizhao. An outsider like Zhaorong Huizhao could offend Noble Consort Zhao for the Empress's sake, even risk her own life. She, the Empress's own sister, had done nothing at all, and now she wanted to stop Zhaorong Huizhao from repaying her debt of gratitude... With such a comparison, Consort Wen felt even more guilty and miserable. Xie Run did not know of the conversation between the two women in Fengyi Palace. After leaving Fengyi Palace, she boarded her palanquin. Beside her, Dantao and Xiaoshu were both filled with lingering fear. "How could Your Ladyship suddenly be so impulsive?!" "Even if you were dissatisfied with Zhaorong Huizhao, you could have ordered us servants to act. Why did you have to strike her yourself?!" "Your Ladyship is with child. If you had stumbled or bumped into something and hurt yourself, even taking Zhaorong Huizhao's life wouldn't be enough to compensate!" Xie Run sighed. "I was overcome with rage at the moment." She leaned against the palanquin, also somewhat helpless. "I've felt my inner fire burning fiercely throughout this pregnancy. I truly am not as calm as before." In the past, Xie Run would never have done something like waddling out with her big belly to slap Zhaorong Huizhao. She would never have placed herself in such a dangerous position. Nor would she have recklessly dragged Zhaorong Huizhao to kneel before the Empress's spirit hall. Xie Run raised a hand to her forehead and said helplessly, "Now that I've left Fengyi Palace, I regret it too." If this reached the Emperor's ears, it would inevitably breed some dissatisfaction. She was a pregnant Noble Consort; punishing a Zhaorong was as simple as saying a single word. There was no need to act with her own hands. The Emperor's displeasure would not be about her punishing someone, but about her failing to maintain the bearing of a Noble Consort and not taking the child in her womb seriously. Xie Run felt somewhat wronged as well. "Unfortunately, my emotions got the better of me at the time, and I couldn't think too much about it." She couldn't help but look down. "Could it be that this child has a hot temper?" Zihu, who was usually as invisible as a shadow, spoke softly from the side. "Your Ladyship, please calm yourself. In the later stages of pregnancy, it is indeed easy for inner fire to flare up. Sometimes it's better to let out the anger than to bottle it up and harm your liver and kidneys." "When we return to Zhaohua Palace, this servant will brew you some sweet soup to reduce the fire." Xie Run smiled. "Brew a bit more. I can see that all of you have quite a bit of fire in your livers today." When Zhaorong Huizhao had first voiced her suspicion of Xie Run, the faces of the servants attending her were all filled with anger. If Dantao hadn't held her back, Xiaoshu would have rushed out to strike someone. Upon returning to Zhaohua Palace, Xie Run had someone take Taotao to change clothes. She paced around the room, holding her belly. "Zhaorong Huizhao is indeed annoying, but what she said isn't wrong." "Everyone thinks this was all arranged by the Xia Dynasty, but what if someone interfered in the middle, or deliberately aided the villain?" "Elder Sister has always been tight-lipped. How did that spy know that she would be entering the palace today to take the Empress's pulse?" "Setting aside how the spy managed to disguise himself as Imperial Physician Jiang's disciple, after entering the palace he had to pass through layers of screening—and he slipped through every single one." "If he hadn't known what was happening in Fengyi Palace, how would a newcomer dare to rush straight to the bedchamber to make accusations?" "Wasn't he afraid that the Empress would have armed guards by her sickbed, just waiting for him to make a move before cutting off his head?!" "Certainly, the Xia dynasty was behind the scheming, but how this information leaked out is another matter entirely." Xie Run let out a slow sigh. "There are too many people in the palace who want the Empress dead, and no small number who want Ben Gong dead as well." Those who wished for the Empress's death were not necessarily her enemies. They could also be the Emperor's enemies, or Xie Run's enemies... Seeing Xie Run lost in thought, Dantao couldn't help but feel for her. She stepped forward to support Xie Run. "Your Ladyship, don't dwell on it. Thinking too much will give you a headache." "You're pregnant and about to give birth—the most important thing right now is your own health." "The Empress's matter is for the Emperor to investigate. Your Ladyship only needs to wait for news." Xie Run said, "Ben Gong doesn't want to overthink either. But even if the Emperor investigates, he can only look into what has already happened—he cannot uncover future schemes." "What Ben Gong is thinking about now isn't just the Empress's affair, but also Ben Gong's own future and the future of the two children." Zhaorong Huizhao's suspicion was indeed unreasonable, but from the perspective of who was harmed and who stood to benefit. Xie Run truly was the most likely suspect. Currently, she held the highest rank in the palace, already had a healthy prince, and was about to give birth to a second Imperial Heir. If the Empress were to die at such a time... And if she then gave birth to another prince, and the Emperor, in his joy, were to directly bestow upon her the position of Empress?!