sbdcsierra Chapter 426 Snake-Attracting Powder
Chapter 426 Snake-Attracting Powder
"The autumn examination will be held in August, and the results will be announced at the end of September."
Shen Zhinian smiled meaningfully: "We will know whether elder sister can get what she wants then."
Handan curled her lips: "It's not that I say bad things about my son-in-law, but a man in his twenties is like a baby who has not been weaned. He listens to his mother in everything. He doesn't even know how to behave himself, but he still wants to win the title of Jieyuan..."
Shen Zhinian shook his head: "Forget it, let's not talk about them."
"Xuepin has been raising the Second Princess for almost ten days. Is there any movement in Changchun Palace?"
Xiao Mingzi said, "Your Majesty, according to the news sent back by Qiangwei, Concubine Liang seems to have looked down upon this matter, and even said that she and the Second Princess are not destined to be together. If the Second Princess goes to the Yanxi Palace, it can heal Concubine Xue's pain of not being able to have children again, and everyone will be happy."
Handan snorted: "She has always been so good at putting on a good show. I don't believe she is so kind."
Xiao Mingzi continued: "Who said it wasn't?"
"Empress Liang is still the same as before. She cares a lot for the concubines who are not favored in the palace. She even had most of the share of Changchun Palace given to them."
Handan was shocked when she heard this: "Empress Liang is really bold enough... I guess she has won a lot of hearts in the palace again, right?"
Xiao Mingzi nodded: "All the concubines who were taken care of by her are grateful to Concubine Liang."
"But... the only difference from before is that since Concubine Liang's reputation is not as flawless as before, some people say that her actions are just superficial and not really kind."
"But these voices are not many, and no one dares to make it public."
Shen Zhinian sometimes really admires Concubine Liang: "If we talk about deeds rather than heart, Concubine Liang has indeed done a lot of good things in the harem."
She even had some suspicion that the one who ascended to the throne in the previous life was Concubine Liang!
In about half a month, Shen Zhinian will give birth.
Among the high-ranking concubines in the harem, Concubine Xue has a kind heart.
Concubine Liu regards the child in her belly as a backup and will probably not do anything to her.
As for the remaining Concubine Liang and Concubine De... Shen Zhinian didn't think that they would watch her give birth to the child smoothly.
Especially at times like this, we must not let our guard down!
Shen Zhinian said in a deep voice: "Continue to send people to keep an eye on Changchun Palace and Chengqian Palace. Report any abnormalities immediately!"
"Yes!"
Time passed slowly, and soon it was August 20th.
Although Shen Zhinian was expected to give birth in about ten days, she could go into labor at any time. Everyone in Zhongcui Palace was always prepared.
The emperor would come to Zhongcui Palace to visit Shen Zhinian every day after court.
In the past, when his concubines were pregnant, he had never visited them so frequently. He had no idea that pregnancy was such a difficult thing for a woman...
At the same time, he was also looking forward to the birth of his and Nian Nian's child!
That day, after lunch, Fuqiu came in and reported, "Madam, little Ruanzi wants to see you."
Xiao Ruanzi was a spy planted in Zhongcui Palace by someone else. On the day of Shen Maoxue's celebration banquet, he was ordered to throw the suspicious earrings in Zhongcui Palace. However, he was discovered by Shen Zhinian and turned against him.
Xiao Ruanzi's previous master always passed on tasks to him through different palace servants. Xiao Ruanzi didn't know the true identity of his master.
After learning that Concubine Liang was wrongly imprisoned, it was Concubine De who actually poisoned Concubine Liu at the palace banquet. Shen Zhinian and others also knew that Xiao Ruanzi was actually Concubine De's man.
But Concubine De didn't know that Xiao Ruanzi had been exposed long ago and had defected to Shen Zhinian.
Now it seems...that Concubine De has assigned a new task to Xiao Ruanzi?
Shen Zhinian's eyes were slightly cold: "Let him in."
"Yes!"
Little Ruanzi entered the inner room, knelt on the ground and saluted respectfully to Shen Zhinian: "Your servant greets the queen, and may the queen be blessed with good fortune and health!"
Shen Zhinian said calmly: "Get up and talk."
"But what did someone tell you?"
Little Ruanzi said flatteringly, "Your Majesty is as good as a god!"
"When I went to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to pick up something today, I met a young palace maid who looked unfamiliar on the way. She took the opportunity to stuff a package of things into my hand and told me to find a chance to scatter them outside the Empress's bedroom."
When Xiao Ruanzi said this, he handed over the paper bag in his hand.
Handan stepped forward and took it.
Shen Zhinian said in a deep voice: "Go and call Doctor Tang over!"
She was in a very heavy body and could get angry at any time. It was common for Zhongcui Palace to invite imperial doctors several times a day, and this would not arouse suspicion.
Fuqiu replied "yes" and went out immediately.
Soon, Tang Luochuan hurried over, and after paying his respects, he asked worriedly, "…Is your Majesty feeling unwell?"
Shen Zhinian shook his head and motioned for Handan to hand him the paper bag: "Take a look, what is this."
Tang Luochuan checked it carefully and his face suddenly changed: "My Lady, it's a powerful snake attractant powder!!!"
"As long as you scatter it in one place, a large number of poisonous snakes will soon gather there! How could such a dangerous thing appear next to you?!"
Everyone's faces turned extremely gloomy in an instant!
Because although the palace was cleaned every day by palace servants to prevent snakes, insects, rats and ants from disturbing the master, the palace was so large that who knew if there were any poisonous snakes hiding in any caves, bushes or ponds.
Normally they would not run outside to hurt people, but once they are lured by the powder, it is hard to say.
Handan said angrily: "Empress Defei is too vicious!"
"Who said it wasn't true? The queen is about to give birth. Let alone being bitten by a poisonous snake, even if she was frightened, it would be fatal!"
"Empress Defei is a mother herself. Why would she harm a mother like this? Isn't she afraid of retribution?!"
"It is precisely because she is the mother of the Third Prince that I don't want Your Majesty to give birth to a prince and threaten the Third Prince's position."
"..."
Fuqiu looked at Shen Zhinian and said worriedly, "Your Majesty, you can't make any mistakes now. Why don't you report this to His Majesty and let His Majesty make the decision?"
A hint of deep meaning flashed across Shen Zhinian's eyes.
Although Concubine De didn't know that Xiao Ruanzi had already surrendered to her, Shen Zhinian always felt that with Concubine De's cunningness, it would be impossible for her to leave any obvious evidence if she wanted to do such a thing.
She suppressed her anger, looked at Tang Luochuan and asked, "Besides this, have you found anything else?"
While they were talking, Tang Luochuan had carefully checked the paper package in his hand several times: "Your Majesty, I found that the kraft paper that wrapped the snake attractant powder is made of a material unique to Hegang."
Thinking of how Concubine De always liked to use a series of tricks to drag many people into the water, Shen Zhinian asked in a deep voice: "Which concubines in the palace are from Hegang? Or have any relationship with Hegang?"