Chapter 159: Double Play 01

Chapter 159

Upon hearing the imperial physician's words, Song Zhao’s eyes were filled with panic and alarm.

She felt weak in the knees and had to rely on Xiao Fuzi to support her before she barely managed to sit down on the chair.

"I have never used musk, which damages the fetus' vital energy!"

She anxiously asked Imperial Physician Liu about the condition of the imperial heir in her belly,

"Has the imperial heir in my womb been harmed?"

Imperial Physician Liu said, "Fortunately it was discovered early. This servant will prescribe two doses of medicine for Consort to take, which will expel this substance from your body, then there will be no harm. Based on Consort's pulse, the musk odor was externally contracted, not internally ingested. This shows that the musk does not exist in Consort's daily diet, it should have been contaminated from something you came into contact recently."

Xiao Jingheng's expression was solemn as he asked in a deep voice, "Daily contact? What do you mean?"

"It should be from application or inhalation. Based on the situation, Consort must have come into contact with this substance intermittently over the past dozen days or so. However, the dosage was light and gradual, not a potent drug, so Consort did not notice any physical discomfort. If this had not been discovered today, I’m afraid the consequences would have been unthinkable a month later from now..."

As Imperial Physician Liu spoke, he sighed several times, apparently also finding the matter extremely dangerous.

In response to his analysis, Song Zhao quickly shook her head in denial,

"Impossible. Since I became pregnant, I have stopped using any cosmetics or fragrances. As for smelling some scent... I have rarely left my palace in recent days, only going to pay respects to the Empress in the last couple of days. During this period, I did not smell anything peculiar."

Speaking of scents, it reminded Xiao Jingheng of something.

A few days ago when he went to Song Zhao’s palace, he happened to run into Xiao Fuzi burning mugwort all over the palace.

It was only later that Xiao Jingheng learned that the idea of ??burning mugwort actually originated from the Empress.

Burning mugwort can stabilize the fetus. It just so happened to be the solar term Start of Spring, when there were many snakes, insects, mice and ants, so it could also dispel evil influences.

Therefore, the Empress had it burned in her own palace, and also asked Noble Consort Xiao and Song Zhao to do the same.

The smell of burning mugwort was quite strong. If there was any musk in Song Zhao's palace, it might have been masked by the smell of mugwort.

So he said in a deep voice, "You didn't not smell it, you couldn't discern it."

With that said, he looked at Noble Consort Xiao lying ill on the sickbed, instructing her to take good care of herself.

Then he took Song Zhao's hand and said, "Come, We will go with you to inspect your palace."

Imperial Consort Chen said in a hurry, "Your Majesty... Then how should Consort Shu's deed be punished?"

"Your Majesty, everything that happened today seems to target this servant. Do you not feel it is too suspicious?"

Xiao Jingheng did not respond to her words.

His gaze as sharp as an eagle's quickly scanned the people in the hall.

Song Zhao wept silently. The Empress comforted her from the side. Imperial Consort Chen remained with a cold mocking smile, waiting to see Consort Shu's embarrassment.

He silently pondered to himself:

Even if Consort Shu wanted to harm someone, she would not have made it so conspicuous. With such conclusive evidence, it was more like someone wanted to frame and implicate her.

His hesitant gaze eventually fell upon the Empress.

Imperial Physician Liu said the musk in Song Zhao's body was accumulated intermittently over a dozen days or so.

It was about a dozen days ago that the palanquin injured Song Zhao on the corridor, making her afraid to leave her palace afterwards.

During those days, only the Empress was the one who came to visit her.

The burning of mugwort in the palace was also an idea initiated by the Empress.

Connecting all these matters, the plot to harm Song Zhao faintly took shape in Xiao Jingheng's mind.

Could it be...

The Empress took Consort Shu's sachet, added abortifacient musk grains inside,

Then took the chance when visiting Song Zhao to sneakily place the sachet under Song Zhao's bed.

Afterwards, to prevent Song Zhao from noticing, she had mugwort burned in all six palaces, and deliberately had more burned in the palaces of pregnant consorts and imperial concubines,

Seemingly for the sake of stabilizing the fetuses,

But actually to cover up the smell of musk?

Thinking thus, Xiao Jingheng's suspicions towards the Empress grew even heavier.

His expression was solemn, his tone extremely cold, as he commanded:

"Jiang Deshun, have someone take Consort Shu away. Without Our decree, do not let her take half a step outside of Zhongcui Palace. Go check with the Imperial Household Department again whether Consort Shu had reported the loss of this sachet."