After the Lantern Festival, Shangjing welcomed the first rain of spring.
A fine, drizzling rain fell from the sky, enveloping the entire Imperial Palace in a misty veil.
Two little eunuchs in straw raincoats hurried to the entrance of Moon Viewing Pavilion.
The Yulin Guards standing watch at the entrance raised a hand to block their path.
One of the little eunuchs took out his waist token and said politely,
"We are from the Imperial Kitchen, here to deliver lunch to Princess Consort Zhen."
A Yulin Guard took the token and inspected it. After confirming it was authentic, he opened the gate and let them pass.
The two little eunuchs entered Moon Viewing Pavilion carrying food containers.
A moment later, they came back out.
Their wide straw raincoats completely enveloped them, and they wore bamboo hats. With their heads lowered, only the tips of their chins were visible.
The two Yulin Guards at the entrance glanced at them but didn’t notice anything amiss.
Carrying the food containers, the two little eunuchs quickly walked away.
Only after their figures had completely vanished into the rainy mist did one of the Yulin Guards belatedly speak up.
"I have a feeling that last eunuch seemed a little shorter."
The other Yulin Guard replied, "Which eunuch? I didn’t notice."
"The one walking behind. Or was it just my imagination?"
The two Yulin Guards looked at each other, and the same suspicion simultaneously popped into their minds—
’Could Princess Consort Zhen have disguised herself as a little eunuch and escaped?’
It was too late to chase after the two little eunuchs now, so the two Yulin Guards decided to enter Moon Viewing Pavilion to check.
Inside Moon Viewing Pavilion, everything was as usual.
Seeing the two Yulin Guards walk in, the nanny immediately stepped forward to block them, frowning as she asked,
"This is a consort’s residence. How can you enter so casually? Get out!"
Although Princess Consort Zhen was confined, she was still the Seventh Prince’s birth mother. Her status was undeniable, so the two Yulin Guards dared not offend her and could only speak politely.
"We have something we’d like to discuss with Princess Consort Zhen. We’ll have to trouble you to announce us, Nanny."
The nanny initially refused. It was only after the two Yulin Guards repeatedly stressed that it was a very important matter that she had no choice but to agree.
"Very well, then. Follow me."
"Thank you, Nanny."
The nanny led the two Yulin Guards into the Warm Pavilion.
The nanny said with a serious expression, "Her Highness is taking care of the Seventh Prince. If you have something to say, say it here. Keep your voices down so you don’t frighten the Seventh Prince."
Before the two Yulin Guards stood a tall folding screen.
Through the translucent silk of the screen, they could vaguely make out the figure of Princess Consort Zhen. She appeared to be sitting, holding a swaddled infant in her arms.
The two Yulin Guards breathed a sigh of relief.
’Since Princess Consort Zhen is still in her chambers, it means there was nothing wrong with the two eunuchs who just left.’
’We haven’t failed in our duty.’
In truth, the two had nothing to say, but to keep up the pretense, they steeled themselves and made something up on the spot.
Princess Consort Zhen remained silent behind the screen.
It wasn’t until the Seventh Prince in her arms suddenly started to cry that she spoke.
"Qiong’er is hungry."
The nanny quickly responded, "This servant will go and fetch the wet nurse."
As she turned, she glanced at the two Yulin Guards.
"Is there anything else, you two?"
The two Yulin Guards took the hint and excused themselves.
Once they were gone, the nanny hurried behind the screen.
The woman sitting on the soft couch was not Hua Qingqing, but Xi Xiang, dressed in Princess Consort Zhen’s clothes.
The nanny took the Seventh Prince and held him, cooing softly to soothe him.
Soon, the Seventh Prince quieted down and stopped crying.
Xi Xiang stood up and asked nervously,
"How did I do just now? They weren’t suspicious, were they?"
The nanny said, "You did very well. They didn’t suspect a thing."
Xi Xiang let out a sigh of relief. "That’s good."
「Inside Biquan Palace.」
The Empress Dowager was kneeling before a statue of Buddha, tapping a wooden fish with one hand and fingering her Buddha Beads with the other, continuously chanting scriptures.
She was praying for the Emperor’s blessing, hoping for his swift recovery.
A female official walked in and asked respectfully,
"Empress Dowager, it is time for your lunch."
Only after chanting the final verse of the scripture did the Empress Dowager set down the wooden fish.
A palace maid waiting nearby immediately went forward and carefully helped the Empress Dowager to her feet.
The Empress Dowager went to the dining hall.
Faced with a table full of delicacies, she had no appetite at all.
Just then, a little eunuch who had been standing in the corner suddenly came forward and bowed to the Empress Dowager.
"Empress Dowager, may I have a word with you in private?"
The voice was very familiar, causing the Empress Dowager’s heart to jump.
When she got a clear look at the little eunuch’s face, she froze.
"Princess Consort Zhen? Why are you here?"
Hua Qingqing had gone to great lengths to slip out. She knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity she could not afford to miss, and she spoke at once.
"I did not poison the Saint’s medicine. I was framed."
The Empress Dowager frowned. "You personally fed the medicine to the Emperor. After drinking it, he vomited blood and fell into a coma. If you claim this has nothing to do with you, where is your proof?"
Hua Qingqing took a step forward. "I have no proof.
But please, Empress Dowager, think carefully. What benefit would I gain from harming the Saint?
If it was to let the Seventh Prince inherit the throne, the edict to name a Crown Prince hasn’t even been stamped with the Jade Seal. Wouldn’t it be far too rash for me to make a move now?
I fed the Saint his medicine in front of so many people. How could I dare to poison it at that moment?
Even if I were a complete fool, I wouldn’t do something like that!"
What she said was not without reason, and the Empress Dowager began to waver.
The Empress Dowager murmured, "If you didn’t do it, then who did?"
Hua Qingqing said, "The simplest method is to work backward from the result. See who benefits most from the Saint’s fall, and that person is the most likely culprit."
The Empress Dowager immediately thought of Prince Wu Zhang, who now held the power of regent.
If one were to ask who gained the most after the Emperor fell, it could only be Prince Wu Zhang, Li Ying.
The Li Ying of the past was merely a marginalized figure in the palace whom anyone could bully. But now, he had transformed into the all-powerful Prince Wu Zhang.
While observing the change in the Empress Dowager’s expression, Hua Qingqing asked,
"You must have already guessed who the final suspect is, haven’t you?"
The Empress Dowager was still hesitant. "How could Prince Wu Zhang be so sure he would be the one to rise to power after the Emperor fell?"
Hua Qingqing analyzed calmly.
"Do you remember the night the Saint fell gravely ill?
When Prince Wu Zhang came to the palace to visit the Saint, didn’t he also summon all the influential ministers of the court?
That was a step in Prince Wu Zhang’s plan.
On one hand, it’s because he knew those ministers would never agree to name the young Sixth Prince or Seventh Prince as the Crown Prince.
On the other hand, it’s because he had long anticipated that something would happen to the Saint that very night.
As soon as the Saint fell, he could incite those ministers and have them support his rise to power.
And as it turns out, his plan succeeded."
The Empress Dowager carefully recalled the events of that night and realized that things were indeed just as Princess Consort Zhen had described. On the surface, Li Ying seemed to have done nothing, but his actions had already revealed his true intentions.
The Empress Dowager murmured, "No wonder the Emperor said he was lying. He truly is a master of deception."