Chapter 77: A Cloud of Suspicion

Chapter 77

Consort Yun was extremely displeased with Consort Chen's gesture of showing off her might.

"Who is she trying to show off for?"

The Empress was also clearly very angry.

Her breathing gradually became hurried, and she couldn't help clutching her chest as she staggered back two steps before sitting down in a chair.

It was clear she had been angered by Consort Chen to the point where her heart condition acted up.

The concubines immediately gathered around her with concern about her condition.

Consort Yao stood outside the crowd and shouted loudly to order the palace maid, "The Empress's heart condition is acting up again. Quickly summon the imperial physician!"

"Don't go..." The Empress weakly stopped her with a sentence, knitting her brows and shaking her head,

"Noble Consort Xiao becoming pregnant is a joyous event. Don't make a big fuss lest the Emperor hear that I and Consort Chen have had another argument. This happy event might end up giving the Emperor another headache."

Consort Yin said, "How is this just Consort Chen arguing with the Empress? She is clearly bullying too arrogantly! When the Emperor finds out, Consort Chen should be taught a lesson to take a look at her arrogance!"

"This Palace has said not to go so don't go!" The Empress was clearly somewhat anxious as her face was flushed red.

Fortunately Shuang Ruo had medicine pills on her that could relieve heart conditions. She took them out for the Empress to take with water. She also continuously patted the Empress's chest to help relieve her breath.

After over half a moment, the Empress's condition finally eased somewhat.

She let out a long breath and said, "Harmony in the harem allows the Emperor to focus on handling court affairs out front. Don't let such a small matter bother the Emperor."

Song Zhao watched this scene unfold. She didn't know whether the Empress was truly sick from anger or deliberately putting on an act in front of everyone.

In any case, this little scene made the impressions of the wise and virtuous Empress and the arrogant and domineering Consort Chen even more concrete.

Later, the Empress ordered Noble Consort Xiao to rest well before taking her leave first.

On the way back to her palace, the Empress sat in her palanquin while Shuang Ruo walked alongside, attending to her.

In the winter, palanquins were sealed up tightly to prevent drafts.

Feeling somewhat stifled, the Empress simply lifted the palanquin curtain to let in some air.

About what happened earlier, Shuang Ruo had felt irritated the whole way.

After holding it in for half the journey, when the Empress lifted the curtain, seeing the Empress's pale and weak appearance made Shuang Ruo even more distressed. She couldn't help but say,

"Consort Chen is going too far. Your Ladyship should give her some punishment."

"Actually, the most suspicious person in this whole matter is Yin Zhi. Without Elder Sister's order, why would she randomly go to the Imperial Pharmacy for snake flower buttercup? Now His Majesty says this was an accident. As Yin Zhi is Elder Sister's personal servant, she should be released soon. When that time comes, Elder Sister must ask her clearly just what exactly happened."

Noble Consort Xiao nodded repeatedly, then resentfully said,

"That treacherous slave! When she comes back, even if I beat her to death, I must wring the truth from her mouth."

*

That night, in the deep of night,

After winter came, few people would pass by the Lily Pond to the west side of the Imperial Garden.

The palace lights that used to burn all night here had broken recently. After night fell it was even more deserted without even patrolling guards willing to come by.

Yet tonight, there was a woman standing by the pond.

The woman stood under a tree. The tree shade immersed her in darkness so her appearance could not be seen clearly.

Before long, an internal monitor secretly ran over to rendezvous with the woman.

"Replying to Auntie, everything has been taken care of. Yin Zhi was disguised to appear as if she couldn't withstand torture and died suddenly. No one will notice anything amiss."

"Well done."

The woman took out a small, exquisite brocade box from her bosom. After weighing it in her hand she handed it to the internal monitor.

"This is the reward promised to you by Her Ladyship. Take a look, is it enough?"

The internal monitor smiled and said, "Many thanks to Her Ladyship's reward. This servant already has money in hand. I will naturally leave the palace stealthily with the water wheel tomorrow and never return in this lifetime. Please tell Her Ladyship not to worry."

After he finished speaking, he hastily opened the brocade box. But the instant the box opened, a large amount of white powder suddenly blew towards his face.

After just one sniff, he instantly lost consciousness and fainted with eyes rolled back.

The woman looked down at him with an icy smile. She mumbled softly,

"Her Ladyship only believes dead men can keep secrets."

She kicked the fainted internal monitor by the waist.

With the sloped ground, the internal monitor's body easily rolled into the Lily Pond appearing to have drowned by accident.

The woman watched as the internal monitor slowly sank inch by inch until no more ripples disturbed the surface of the pond.

Only then did she hurry away under the moonlight......