Chapter 34:

Several people looked at Imperial Physician Xu. After all, he had experienced many major events in his life. After carefully checking the pulse again, he knelt and reported, “Your Majesty, it is impossible for Concubine Shen to conceive within the short term.”

This statement surprised everyone present.

The Empress Dowager slightly frowned: “What do you mean?”

Imperial Physician Xu was a calm and composed man: “When I examined Concubine Shen’s pulse, I found it slightly floating and her breath unstable. If I am not mistaken, Concubine Shen must have come into contact with something inappropriate.”

His words were not very direct, but the women in the palace understood immediately.

The Empress Dowager’s expression turned colder: “Can you tell what it was?”

Imperial Physician Xu replied: “It should not be something ingested. If it were ingested, it would have harmed Concubine Shen immediately. But according to my diagnosis, there is no such indication. It is more likely something she either smelled or touched.”

“Crash!” The teacup was thrown down forcefully, and the lid rolled a few times before stopping near Imperial Physician Xu.

The Empress Dowager coldly said: “Do you think I no longer manage affairs and thus allow such misconduct? Xu, tell me everything you know clearly.”

“The dosage of the drug should not be heavy. If it were too strong, there would have been obvious physical reactions, such as dizziness or palpitations. However, the effects of a mild dosage would not be so apparent, and it cannot even be considered poison. Its only effect is to cause coldness in a woman’s body, making it difficult for her to conceive. Based on the pulse analysis, Concubine Shen must have been exposed to this substance for about two months, no more, no less.”

Both Virtuous Consort and Noble Consort Fu sat silently on one side, watching the Empress Dowager question Xu.

Meanwhile, Shen Layue appeared dazed, seemingly stunned by the situation.

“Then, will this affect her health now?”

“Your Majesty, as long as we identify the source and provide about six months of recuperation, Concubine Shen should recover without any issues.”

Upon hearing this, Virtuous Consort and Fu Jinyao both looked at Shen Layue with expressions of sympathy, though the sincerity of their compassion was something they all understood.

After dismissing Imperial Physician Xu, the Empress Dowager turned her gaze toward Shen Layue.

“You poor child, it seems your fate is to suffer. However, I have said before that I do not mind your competition for favor in the palace. But if anyone dares to harm the Emperor’s offspring, I will not forgive them. Nurse Gui, since Concubine Shen is young and inexperienced, take some people and go to Tingyu Pavilion. I want to see who is stirring up trouble in the palace.”

Only a few people were present in Huici Palace, but neither Virtuous Consort nor Fu Jinyao seemed particularly anxious.

At this moment, Shen Layue finally seemed to regain her senses. She stared blankly at the Empress Dowager, and tears streamed down her face.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please help me. Please help me…” She could not continue, only sobbing. Her youthful appearance today made her seem like a helpless child who had been wronged, evoking great pity.

“Enough crying, you poor thing. Whoever is responsible, I will not let this matter rest. It seems I have been resting too long, so long that some people think they can do as they please in this palace.” The Empress Dowager’s voice was icy.

Beside her, Virtuous Consort could not help but feel a jolt of alarm inside.

She did not know whether the Empress Dowager had discovered anything.

She pressed her fingernails deeply into her palm, yet maintained a calm and composed expression on the surface.

Time passed gradually amid Shen Layue’s sobs. After an unknown duration, Nurse Gui returned with people. There were several suspicious items on the tray.

The Empress Dowager glanced at them but did not speak.

Nurse Gui knelt and reported: “Your Majesty, I thoroughly searched Tingyu Pavilion and found these items suspicious.”

“Imperial Physician Xu.”

Xu hurried over to examine the items. After a while, he raised his head: “Your Majesty, the drug must have been mixed into the burned incense. Moreover, this sachet is also problematic. I can detect a small amount of musk on it.”

The Empress Dowager sneered.

“Virtuous Consort.”

Virtuous Consort immediately stood up: “Your Majesty.”

“Recently, you have been managing the affairs of the inner palace. Now, in Concubine Shen’s quarters, the incense issued contains a drug that causes infertility. Do you have anything to say?”

The Virtuous Consort knelt gracefully and said, “Your Majesty, I am innocent. Although I have been overseeing palace affairs, I originally shared the duties with Consort Song. The internal matters were handled by Consort Song. It was only a month ago that the responsibility was transferred to me. I have just taken over and truly know nothing about this matter.” Her words sounded reasonable, but they subtly shifted the blame to the disgraced Virtuous Consort, who was now confined to the cold palace.

Shen Layue could not help but admire the cleverness of her words.

“Regardless, you are still responsible for negligence in this matter.” The Empress Dowager remained stern. Virtuous Consort knelt there, her head bowed low, tears dropping one after another, seemingly wronged as well. However, whether she was truly wronged was something no one could determine.

“How did you get this sachet?” Layue looked at Shen Layue and asked.

Shen Layue stared at the sachet for a long time before sadly looking at the Empress Dowager: “Your Majesty, this… this was given to me by my cousin… no, by Chen Changzai.”

Her voice trembled greatly, and her words revealed deep hurt. She had never imagined that her close cousin and good friend would betray her like this.

“What a profound sisterly bond indeed. To betray her in such a manner. Nurse Gui, summon all the imperial consorts to Huici Palace immediately. It is time to restore order within the inner palace.”

The Empress Dowager acted decisively. Soon, the consorts from various palaces hurriedly arrived. Seeing Virtuous Consort and Shen Layue kneeling on the ground and Fu Jinyao with a solemn expression, they quickly knelt down to greet the Empress Dowager.

Now that Noble Consort Fu had just been confirmed pregnant, and these two were kneeling here, some could not hide their excitement, thinking that perhaps these two had been caught in wrongdoing by the Empress Dowager. If so, it would be great news indeed.

Seeing the schadenfreude in some people’s eyes, the Empress Dowager coldly looked at everyone.

She did not tell them to rise, so they had to remain kneeling. As a result, Fu Jinyao felt uneasy and hurriedly stood up to kneel again.

“You are with child, and I permit you to sit.”

Upon hearing this, envious glances like daggers flew toward Fu Jinyao.

“Do you know why I summoned you all here?”

“No, Your Majesty.” They all claimed ignorance.

The Empress Dowager coldly snorted: “Just now, Noble Consort Fu was confirmed pregnant, and coincidentally, Concubine Shen was also there. Imperial Physician Zhou examined her as well, but unexpectedly uncovered a case. I have said before that I do not mind your competition for favor. However, no one shall dare harm the Emperor’s offspring. If Concubine Shen is favored, you give her drugs to prevent pregnancy. Then, perhaps one day, if you think I interfere too much, will you also drug me?”

This was a serious accusation, and everyone fearfully replied that they would never dare.

“Never dare? None of you dare? Chen Changzai, your ‘daring not’ is shown by giving your own cousin a sachet containing musk? Your ‘daring not’ is shown by tampering with the incense in Concubine Shen’s quarters to prevent her from conceiving?”

At this moment, Shen Layue was not crying loudly, but her eyes were already swollen and red. She bit her lip tightly, remaining silent, yet tears continued to flow.

Everyone cried out that they dared not, while Chen Yulan was greatly shocked, not knowing how her secret plot had been discovered so easily.

She shouted loudly and appeared particularly pained.

“I could have handled this matter quietly, but I want you all to know what is permissible and what is not. In this palace, there are some things that must never be crossed. Perhaps some of you are innocent, but I suspect that many of you are not. As for those who are indeed guilty, Chen Changzai, how should I deal with you?”

At this moment, Chen Yulan also wept bitterly: “Your Majesty, I am innocent, I am innocent! How could I harm my cousin? We grew up together…”

Perhaps touched by something, she was silenced by a sharp rebuke from the Empress Dowager.

Many people’s gazes toward Chen Yulan changed—not because she had been demoted to a mere Attendant, but because of the musk sachet.

Bai Xiaodie, who was kneeling, thought about the sachet with musk and felt her heart pounding with fear. Finally, she could not help but speak up: “I… I…”

Seeing her speak, Nurse Gui, under the Empress Dowager’s signal, asked: “What does Concubine Bai want to say?”

Summoning her courage, Bai Xiaodie spoke with a mix of fear and grievance: “Chen Changzai once gave me a sachet too.”

After she spoke, everyone looked at her.

Nurse Gui immediately went to Bai Xiaodie’s quarters to retrieve the sachet.

Upon examination, it was indeed found to contain musk.

The Empress Dowager was furious.

Despite Chen Yulan’s loud cries of innocence and tearful pleas, the Empress Dowager was not someone easily swayed.

Nurse Gui directly approached and slapped Chen Yulan ten times. She fell to the ground, dazed.

At this point, she had no defense.

“You have a heart as venomous as a snake’s. I have no use for such a sister. Chen Changzai, you are demoted to an Attendant. As for the matter of the incense, Virtuous Consort, I entrust it to you to handle. I expect a satisfactory resolution, or else I think you will no longer be the Virtuous Consort.” Although Chen Yulan had committed a mistake, the Empress Dowager still left her a chance.

Virtuous Consort staggered and fell to her knees, but eventually gathered her spirits: “Your Majesty, I will certainly investigate this matter thoroughly, to restore justice for Concubine Shen and to clear my own name.”

The Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction. With an air of superiority, she cast her gaze downward and spoke coldly: “Noble Consort Fu’s pregnancy is joyous news indeed. However, should anyone dare to harm this child, the disgraced Virtuous Consort now confined to the Cold Palace shall serve as their example.”