[1]The Consort is Both Charming and Scheming, Rising Through Palace Intrigue

Yunhua Palace, Feiyan Hall.

Consort Mi was reclining on her couch, eyes closed, quietly resting. Lian'er approached with a bowl and said, "My lady, it's time for your conception tonic."

Consort Mi slightly opened her eyes. "The medicine was brewed rather quickly today."

She sat up, took the bowl, frowned as she drank it, then popped a candied fruit into her mouth and gently stroked her flat belly. "I wonder when I'll finally conceive. Have an imperial physician check my pulse in a few days."

Lian'er replied, "Yes, my lady. I understand."

Consort Mi picked up another piece of candied fruit. "Why is the medicine so bitter today?"

Just as she finished speaking, a dull ache began in her lower abdomen. She clutched her stomach.

"My lady, what's wrong?"

"I don't know. My stomach... it hurts... it hurts so much..."

Gripping her increasingly painful abdomen, Consort Mi furrowed her brows tightly. Her face turned ghostly pale in an instant, twisted in agony.

With the last of her strength, she uttered, "Something's wrong with this medicine..."

Feiyan Hall immediately descended into chaos...

⸻

Meanwhile, in Lanyue Pavilion, Ning Shuyan was leisurely sipping tea when Qiule entered and said, "My lady, something's happened at Yunhua Palace. His Majesty, the Empress, and several concubines have gone there. Would you like to go too?"

Ning Shuyan put down her teacup, a graceful smile curving on her lips. "Go? How could I miss such a good show?"

After straightening her attire, she headed toward Yunhua Palace with Qiule.

By the time they arrived, the other concubines as well as the Emperor and Empress were already inside the hall.

Xiao Yu and the Empress sat at the head, both with grim expressions.

From the inner chamber came the pained groans of Consort Mi, along with a faint scent of blood.

After saluting, Ning Shuyan stepped aside. As she glanced up, she noticed Consort Rong staring at her in shock and disbelief.

Feigning confusion, Ning Shuyan asked, "Why does Consort Rong look at me so?"

Only then did Consort Rong realize her loss of composure. She turned her gaze away and clenched her fist tightly inside her sleeve. As she listened to the cries from within, the truth slowly dawned on her.

The one who was supposed to fall victim was standing here unharmed, while Consort Mi was suffering instead...

At such a critical moment, no one paid much attention to their exchange or noticed Consort Rong's expression.

Consort Zhuang, on the other hand, simply lowered her eyes and played with her handkerchief. She found the situation curious—how foolish could Consort Mi be, to mess up the poisoning and end up putting the drug in Ning Shuyan's medicine jar instead? Now, Ning Shuyan was perfectly fine, while Consort Mi had collapsed first.

What a useless, foolish woman who only ruins things!

After Ning Shuyan sat down, Cheng Yin whispered beside her, "Someone tampered with the conception tonic."

Feigning shock, Ning Shuyan remained silent.

Soon, most of the concubines had arrived.

The groans from the inner chamber gradually faded until they vanished altogether—likely indicating the person inside had passed out.

Imperial Physician Ji emerged and bowed deeply. "Your Majesty, the tonic Consort Mi drank contained an excessive amount of safflower. Her body has been damaged. She may not be able to bear children in the future."

He didn't say more, but everyone understood the implication—Consort Mi had likely lost the ability to conceive.

Xiao Yu's face remained extremely dark, like a brewing storm. He waved for Physician Ji to step down.

He said coldly, "Have the staff from the Imperial Medical Bureau been brought?"

Yang An replied quickly, "They're waiting outside. I'll call them in immediately."

Soon, two palace maids from the Medical Bureau—Chenger and Ziyun—were led in. They trembled as they knelt and paid their respects.

Xiao Yu toyed with the jade ring on his finger, not even lifting his eyelids. "Empress, you handle the interrogation."

The Empress hadn't expected Xiao Yu to delegate the matter to her. She was momentarily surprised, but accepted.

Facing the two kneeling maids, she asked, "Who was responsible for brewing Consort Mi's medicine?"

Chenger replied in a trembling voice, "It... it was me, Your Majesty."

The Empress' gaze turned icy. "Then explain—why was safflower found in the conception tonic? Did you tamper with it?"

The Empress's phoenix eyes bore down coldly, causing Chenger to tremble and shake her head desperately. "I wouldn't dare. I have no grudge against Consort Mi. Why would I harm her?"

"Then tell me clearly—who approached the medicine pot today? Did anyone act suspiciously?"

Chenger stared at the smooth floor, hesitating before speaking. "Actually... the medicine was originally meant for Lady Xiuyi (Ning Shuyan). But she was unwell and couldn't take it. Since Consort Mi always needs her tonic quickly, Ziyun delivered that batch to her instead. Please forgive us, Your Majesty."

Xiao Yu's eyes finally lifted upon hearing that the medicine was intended for Ning Shuyan. Seeing her wide-eyed in apparent disbelief, he asked, "You're saying... that medicine was originally for me?"

Chenger nodded. "Yes, Your Highness. I usually brew your medicine. When Sister Qiule came to retrieve it, it was already done."

Ning Shuyan stood up unsteadily, turning to Xiao Yu with sorrow in her voice. "So... someone meant to harm me. If I hadn't happened to avoid it due to my time of the month, I would've..."

She trailed off. Xiao Yu's forehead veins bulged in fury, but his gaze toward Ning Shuyan was soft. "I'll get to the bottom of this. I'll make it right for you."

The Empress furrowed her brow slightly. She noticed that Xiao Yu hadn't reacted much when told Consort Mi might never bear children again. But the moment he learned the poisoned medicine had been meant for Lanyue Pavilion, his reaction had been immense.

Clearly, it was Consort Mi who deserved justice and protection now—not Ning Shuyan.

Meanwhile, Ziyun added carefully, "All the medicine was already brewed when the palace maids came to fetch it. We watched over it carefully—no one touched the pot."

Chenger suddenly recalled something. "Wait—no, that's not right. Consort Rong's maid, Juchun, dropped her bracelet and asked Ziyun and me to help pick it up. I heard something clink near the medicine pot. When I looked up, Juchun was right beside it. She must have tampered with it!"

She pointed directly at Juchun.

Xiao Yu turned his gaze toward Consort Rong's side. Juchun, terrified, hurried forward, kneeling and trembling. "It's true my bracelet broke, but I didn't touch the medicine!"

Consort Rong's nails dug into her palms as she tried to stay calm, though cold sweat ran down her back.

Ziyun quickly added, "Maybe you broke the bracelet on purpose to create the opportunity to poison it."

Now that a scapegoat was found, it didn't matter whether they had seen her actually do it. They had to say she did.

Negligence was a lesser crime than attempted murder of a consort.

Juchun cried, "Did you see me poison it with your own eyes? If you did, why didn't you expose me immediately and have me arrested?"

Ziyun and Chenger were momentarily silenced by the question.