"Open the door!"
Zhi Cao nodded.
The door opened, and Ji Mingxuan stepped out.
Leading them was Lady Yancheng's head eunuch, Fu Lu. Since he started serving as the emperor's concubine, he had been responsible for transporting the concubines and delivering their nameplates to the emperor.
There were many places where nameplates were displayed; prominent positions ensured that the emperor would notice them. Therefore, the concubines vied for his favor by flattery.
"The emperor has chosen Lady Xuahua's nameplate today."
Ji Mingxuan raised her hand lightly to support him and then followed the proper etiquette to give Fu Lu a tip. She remained respectful without any hint of flattery.
Fu Lu did not get angry at all. Today was the turn to flip the nameplates. The nameplate of Lady Xuahua was placed in one of the least noticeable spots, yet the emperor chose this particular one today. This clearly meant that Lady Xuahua was highly favored by the emperor.
Once someone was favored by the emperor, things became complicated.
Although Fu Lu could make some adjustments to move some nameplates closer to more visible locations, there were certain positions he dared not touch.
These positions were the most prominent ones, and each was favored by the emperor. Former De imperial concubine, Chang imperial concubine, and current Ning Jieyu were among them.
A good servant knew how to benefit himself while also considering the wishes of his master. Today, Fu Lu felt he should place Lady Xuahua's nameplate in that pile as well.
Fu Lu smiled warmly as he accepted Zhi Cao's tip, regardless of its amount.
"Please prepare yourself, Your Highness. I will return to report back."
Ji Mingxuan nodded. Important figures around the emperor did not need to be courted by such a minor concubine. Moreover, if he tried to court her, it might become a disaster.
After Fu Lu and his entourage left, the people in Jing'an Palace were filled with joy.
Ji Mingxuan went to bathe and change clothes, thinking deeply about matters. Seeing how long Zhou Xiuhua hadn't accompanied the emperor, she guessed that she was close to losing her temper. Tomorrow, she would have to be extra careful.
Proper grooming was essential.
Ji Mingxuan sighed, having never been so meticulous before.
Under the bright moon, the carriage and sedan chairs moved gracefully under the night sky.
It was still the Imperial Bedchamber of Lady Yancheng. Ji Mingxuan was familiar with it after living here twice. When the room was empty, her eyes constantly scanned the furnishings, picking up anything interesting and playing with it.
Afterward, she sat at the table, looking at the exquisite pastries on it. A hint of suspicion flashed across her eyes, and she picked up one.
Sniffing the aroma, her face changed dramatically.
Without making a sound, she ate all the pastries down. Looking at the remaining wine bottle, she sneered and threw it to the ground.
As the wine bottle crashed to the ground, Ji Mingxuan suddenly fell off the table, unconscious.
The two guards outside heard the sounds inside. They called out, "Miss Xiuhua..."
No response.
The two guards exchanged glances and pushed open the door.
When they saw Miss Xiuhua lying on the table, her fair skin appearing particularly radiant, they experienced a sudden increase in heart rate.
"Miss Xiuhua..."
"Miss Xiuhua..."
"It seems like you've had too much to drink," one guard said.
"He's coming, Miss Xiuhua..."
"I'll go inform Grandfather Chang. You stay here," another guard said.
The guard nodded.
The guard attempted to help Miss Xiuhua up, but she woke up at that moment.
Her eyes half-opened, she looked particularly seductive.
"Who are you?"
The guard was shocked: "Servant Jujiang, reporting to Miss Xiuhua."
Miss Xiuhua shook her head: "Jujiang? Don't recognize me."
Jujiang hurriedly replied: "Servant Jujiang from Lady Yancheng. Miss Xiuhua, you've had too much to drink, right?"
Miss Xiuhua's mind was foggy, and she seemed especially enchanting.
"What are you?"
Jujiang was startled: "Servant Jujiang, meeting your Highness."
Miss Xiuhua shook her head: "Jujiang? Don't know who you are."
Jujiang quickly responded: "Servant Jujiang from Lady Yancheng. Miss Xiuhua, you've had too much to drink, right?"
Miss Xiuhua's mind was hazy, "Had too much? I had too much? Why? Jujiang, you're lying..."
Jujiang was stunned, just about to persuade her, but then saw Emperor Zhao walking in. She hurriedly helped Miss Xiuhua to bow.
However, Miss Xiuhua still mumbled: "I really didn't drink... I wanted to drink, but the wine already fell on the floor."
Seeing her state, Emperor Zhao commanded: "Get out."
Jujiang bowed respectfully and quickly retreated.
Zhao Xunlou walked over to Miss Xiuhua, surveying her with a deep gaze. He then looked at the scattered wine bottles and pastry remnants, his fingers picking up a bit and sniffing it.
Confirming his suspicions, he stared at the objects on the table expressionlessly.
Chapter 23
Miss Xiuhua's mind was still fuzzy when a strong hand forcefully pulled her towards him. The force was invasive. However, before the hand could reach Miss Xiuhua, she suddenly opened her eyes and reacted instantly, swiftly reversing her grip and easily dodging it.
Zhao Xunlou was slightly surprised.
This time, he anticipated her movements and struggled against her.
"Let me go..."
Zhao Xunlou said: "You've had too much to drink..."
Miss Xiuhua said: "I didn't drink anything. Why do you say I'm drunk?"
Zhao Xunlou said: "Little thief, don't deny it if you enjoy eating?"
Miss Xiuhua seemed to remember something.
She continued struggling, Zhao Xunlou tightly holding her.
Who knew this struggle made Zhao Xunlou hold her even tighter. Then, his body grew lighter, indicating he had been lifted up.
Miss Xiuhua's mind grew hazier, her struggles weakening.
"I want to sleep..."
Zhao Xunlou placed her on the bedhead, and she leaned against the pillow, intending to fall asleep.
"Don't sleep!"
But Miss Xiuhua closed her eyes at that moment.
Zhao Xunlou looked at this woman, wondering if she was clever or naive.
He woke Miss Xiuhua, and she seemed annoyed.
Her dazed eyes and flushed face made Zhao Xunlou heartbeat.
"Tell me, who are you?"
Miss Xiuhua looked into those beautiful eyes and thought they were the most beautiful face in the world.
"I am who? Haha, I'm Fourer..."
Zhao Xunlou's eyes flashed with a smile. Only when confused would he involuntarily call out his pet name.
Seeing the rosy cheeks and red blush on her face, Zhao Xunlou couldn't resist bending down. Good things deserved to be enjoyed thoroughly.
One night of passion, the next morning.
Zhao Xunlou watched as Miss Xiuhua regained consciousness and got up on her own.
After dressing herself, Zhao Xunlou called: "Grandfather Changquanhua, come in."
Changquanhua, who was dozing, immediately woke up, rubbed his head, and fully regained consciousness. He gently pushed open the door and entered Lady Yancheng's quarters.
"Do the two maidservants get dealt with?"
Changquanhua asked: "Return to the emperor, everything is handled. No news will leak out."
"Checked the items?"
Changquanhua asked: "Items sent by the imperial kitchen were checked before entering Lady Yancheng's quarters... Who knows, Miss Xiuhua..."
"Check again!"
Changquanhua lowered his head. Could the emperor not suspect it was Miss Xiuhua?
"Yes, sir, I follow your orders."
Zhao Xunlou stood up.
He glanced at the sleeping figure before him.
"Have them take good care of her."
Changquanhua lowered his head: "Yes."
Zhao Xunlou then allowed the serving maidservants to enter.
A moment later, the vast palace was empty once more.
At this moment, Miss Xiuhua opened her eyes.
Resolved! Miss Xiuhua breathed a sigh of relief.
Who was trying to frame her? Thinking about this, a chill ran down her spine.
Whatever item entered Lady Yancheng's quarters must be safe. A concubine rarely touched things in the imperial quarters, including food. So, the items on the table were likely for the emperor's use.
Whether the emperor ate them or not, she would be in trouble.
If he ate them and the medicinal properties activated, given the emperor's suspicious nature, he would definitely suspect her. Even if the matter escalated, he might vent his anger at her, making it difficult for her to rise again in the future.
If she didn't eat them, maidservants would eventually clean up the items the next day, revealing the incident. Allowing items that entered Lady Yancheng's quarters to cause problems would erase all traces, resulting in her downfall.
The cakes and alcohol in the item contained nothing visible or flavored. For men, eating them would merely arouse desire, but for women, it would result in intoxication similar to drinking alcohol. Even if a woman deliberately destroyed the rules of Lady Yancheng by eating it, in a single night of service, intoxicating the emperor in front of him wouldn't just be a case of improper behavior—it could lead to severe consequences.
All signs pointed to a dead end.
However, no one expected Miss Xiuhua to possess knowledge of medicines, let alone expert-level proficiency. Thus, she naturally had a way to solve this issue. Of course, to avoid suspicion, she would still appear intoxicated, albeit only seven parts real and three parts fake. Furthermore, intoxication needed artistry. Not only should it dispel the emperor's suspicions, it should look mesmerizing, creating a protective feeling. Even if this protective feeling lasted only for an instant, it would suffice! Because this instant reminded him of her, Miss Xiuhua!
Last night, he invited her to sleep with him because she served the empress dowager well. However, Miss Xiuhua was well aware that the emperor strictly investigated this matter not just to settle accounts with her and the empress dowager, but primarily because he felt someone had trespassed on his rights.
Through a series of analysis, Miss Xiuhua managed to escape this predicament and gained unexpected benefits.
From now on, her existence in the emperor's presence wasn't solely due to the empress dowager. Naturally, this event made Miss Xiuhua more vigilant. She was vigilant about the harem and the young emperor.
Lying in bed, Miss Xiuhua didn't intend to get up.
Not only was her body tired, but her mind was exhausted as well.
However, she didn't dare completely relax. Her brain kept replaying the events since she entered the palace. She was indeed eye-catching within the palace, but her background meant she posed no threat to anyone. The person who orchestrated this entire scheme couldn't be a newcomer to the palace. By analyzing it, Empress Dowager De was clearly the one she wanted eliminated the most. However, Miss Xiuhua wasn't entirely sure. She only considered her a threat, and the Empress Dowager De was currently confined, so rushing to act would be counterproductive.
Additionally, it should be Danyu Dan. However, Miss Xiuhua doubted whether she had the courage.
Thinking about it more, she realized the situation was complex. Miss Xiuhua sighed inwardly.
The sun slowly rose, almost reaching chengshi (early morning). She didn't want to get up either.
Just as she was getting up, the bed canopy was lifted.
A thirty-year-old maid servant respectfully said: "Miss Xiuhua, blessings."
Miss Xiuhua glanced behind her at the tray of washing essentials brought by Lady Yancheng's matron.
"Thank you, please tell me your name."
The maid servant answered far from near: "Servant Hai Lan serves Miss Xiuhua."
Miss Xiuhua nodded, and Hai Lan quickly helped her up, then put on her clothing to dress Miss Xiuhua. These clothes clearly came from Jingan Palace, meaning someone was waiting outside Lady Yancheng's quarters.
Everything was prepared, and Hai Lan, the matron, personally helped Miss Xiuhua out.
The sun was already rising in the sky, and Miss Xiuhua wore a smile, starting a new day. People always looked forward to the future.
Outside Lady Yancheng's quarters, Zizhu and Xiaosushu immediately greeted Miss Xiuhua.
Hai Lan said: "Servant Hai Lan retires."
"Thank you, Servant Hai Lan."
Hai Lan, not looking away, listened to Miss Xiuhua's words and led the other maidservants and eunuchs out.
Xiaosushu wore a happy expression, as the main subject had stayed overnight in Lady Yancheng's quarters. Now, who would dare say the main subject wasn't favored.
"Let's go, to theBright Phoenix Palace (Zhaofeng Palace)."
Zizhu hurriedly supported her, Xiaosushu suppressing her congratulations and quickly following!
"you..."
Ji Mingxuan lowered her head and said with sorrowful eyes, "Sister, I'm sorry for my mistake. I was so emotional that I said something inappropriate."
Zhou Xiuhua's expression tightened as she grabbed Ji Mingxuan's wrist even harder. Ji Mingxuan's face changed, and she cried out, "Sister, you're hurting me!"
A mysterious light flashed in Zhou Xiuhua's eyes, and suddenly, she used all her strength to pull, while Ji Mingxuan struggled to free herself. The two of them were involuntarily pulled towards the pond side. Ji Mingxuan's gaze flickered, and she struggled even more violently. Just as she was about to break free, Zhou Xiuhua suddenly let go of Ji Mingxuan, then her body fell into the pond on one side. Ji Mingxuan had long been prepared for this move; her hand quickly flipped, grabbing Zhou Xiuhua's hand. She then pulled hard, and both of them fell onto the ground together, but Zhou Xiuhua ended up pressing down on Ji Mingxuan.
Ji Mingxuan immediately cried out in pain and took out the hand she was supporting on the ground, finding it already bleeding.
Zhou Xiuhua's heart turned cold, and she exclaimed in shock, "Sister, what happened? Blood..." Before she could finish, she fainted.
At this moment, palace maids and eunuchs from far away rushed over.
Zizhu helped Ji Mingxuan up, and Zhou Xiuhua's maid helped her sister-in-law faint.
Ji Mingxuan endured the pain and said, "Please take Sister back to the palace to rest!"
Zhou Xiuhua's maid hurriedly nodded and bowed to Ji Mingxuan, saying, "Thank you, Ji Xiuhua."
Ji Mingxuan waved her hand, and when they left, Zizhu quickly wrapped Ji Mingxuan's injured hand with a handkerchief and said, "Mistress, please have the doctor come."
Ji Mingxuan nodded, and Zizhu quickly walked away.
Xiaosu supported Ji Mingxuan and said, "Mistress, you saved Zhou Xiuhua at such great cost."
Ji Mingxuan shook her head and said, "Don't say it, we need to hurry back to the palace."
Xiaosu hesitated but couldn't help but feel anxious.
Ji Mingxuan sighed in relief, thinking of the commotion that had just taken place. In the eyes of the palace maids and eunuchs, it looked like Zhou Xiuhua had almost fallen into the water when she was forcefully rescued by her. This woman truly went mad, and recalling her words, Ji Mingxuan shook her head. Could her 'true feelings' really be stimulating her?
She soon shook her head again. If it were stimulating her, according to the calculations, it should have been her who was pushed into the water. But how did she end up falling down instead? Was she trying to frame her?