Princess Baorong was nearly driven mad with rage.
She had always believed she was the most ruthless person in the world—no one could possibly be worse than her.
But to her surprise—there was someone worse!
It was true she had hinted to Shuanghua to get that nun to lure Qi Yuan away and then added a bit of croton powder to the medicine.
But that croton powder had absolutely no impact on her Royal Mother’s condition.
She knew very well—her mother wasn’t even sick!
That so-called “Qi Bi Syndrome” was nothing more than Qi Yuan making up nonsense to expose her mother’s act of fainting!
All she wanted was to cause her royal mother a minor illness—just enough to give her a reason to push her royal father into punishing Qi Yuan!
And it all came at a perfect time: Liu Wangfei had been making things difficult for the emperor, refusing to forgive him and throwing tantrums—leading to criticism from both court and public. They even had to spend New Year’s Eve at Baiyun Temple.
She thought if her royal father learned that Qi Yuan had “mistreated” her royal mother’s health, in his frustration, he would surely kill Qi Yuan!
But who could have guessed—who could have imagined—that aconitum carmichaelii would be found in the medicine?!
She didn’t put it there!
She absolutely didn’t!
Then who did?!
Princess Baorong pointed at Qi Yuan, cursing furiously: “You venomous snake—you wicked, poisonous snake! It was all you! You’re the one who caused all of this! I’m a princess raised in the deep palace—how could I possibly get my hands on such filthy, obscure poison?! You’re framing me—you’re setting me up!”
See? No matter how noble, elegant, and high-born a daughter of a grand household—or a princess—might appear, once real trouble strikes, she could cry as hideously as anyone.
Qi Yuan clicked her tongue silently in her mind.
From the side, Lai Chenglong glanced at her. Seeing how calm she remained—without even the slightest furrow of her brow—he felt a chill run through him.
He used to think that Princess Baorong was truly vicious.
After all, she was someone who, after falling from a rockery while picking flowers, demanded that every palace maid present be buried with her.
But now… this young lady Qi beside him was no less ruthless.
As expected—where there’s a crouching dragon, there must be a young phoenix to match.
The death of the Noble Consort had already exhausted Emperor Yongchang physically and mentally. He turned away and said to Lai Chenglong, “Take Qi Yuan down. Investigate thoroughly—see if she was ever in possession of such poison.”
It wasn’t that he was biased toward his daughter— It’s just that any rational person wouldn’t believe their own daughter would poison her own mother to death!
And Baorong was right: she was a princess of the imperial household. Where would she even get such a rare poison?
Qi Yuan, on the other hand—she was known for her medical skills, always carrying gold needles. If she also carried medicine with her, it would be entirely plausible.
He was simply too tired to keep listening to them argue.
With a choked voice, he closed his eyes and said: “Pu Wuyong, have the Internal Affairs Office prepare a full set of ceremonial attire for the Noble Consort. I want her buried with the honors of a Noble Consort. Also, summon the Ministry of Rites to draft a posthumous title for her, and have her interred in my imperial mausoleum.”
…
Eunuch Xia quietly looked over at Xiao Yunting.
This was blatant favoritism!
The Empress is still alive!
And yet he wanted to bury Noble Consort Xiao Liu in the emperor’s tomb— When the Empress eventually passed, where would she be buried?
Alongside the Noble Consort?
Then who would be the primary consort, and who the secondary?
Sure enough, Xiao Yunting clenched his fists, then suddenly knelt with a loud thud: “Imperial Grandfather! I fear this is highly improper. My imperial grandmother is still alive. In terms of status, she is Your Majesty’s legal wife; in rank, she is the only Empress officially recognized today! How could you ignore my imperial grandmother and allow Noble Consort Xiao Liu to enter your tomb first?!”
Wouldn’t this be no different from humiliating Empress Wencheng while she was still alive, treating her like a “dead Empress”?!
You might as well go all the way and posthumously promote the Noble Consort to Empress instead!
Emperor Yongchang was still steeped in grief when he heard what Xiao Yunting said. He instantly flew into a rage: “She is your secondary imperial grandmother too! You unfilial thing!”
Eunuch Xia’s heart almost leapt into his throat.
Heavens!
There was no winning for the prince.
If he didn’t step forward to speak, the whole world would point at him and curse him as unfilial, call him spineless and muddled.
But now that he had stepped forward, Emperor Yongchang might very well strip him of his position as heir in a fit of fury.
Somehow, at that very moment, Eunuch Xia subconsciously glanced toward Qi Yuan.
Qi Yuan didn’t have time to care about who was looking at her. She simply tugged lightly on Liu Wangfei’s sleeve, giving her a discreet signal, and lowered her voice: “Your Ladyship, things have reached this point—are you still going to endure it? The one who killed your own mother—are you really going to let her take your place and enter the emperor’s mausoleum as the principal consort?”
…..
Lai Chenglong quietly gave Qi Yuan another look.
Miss Qi, could your voice be just a little quieter?
He was from the Embroidered Guards!
Could she at least show a little respect for the Embroidered Guards?
Not only was she unafraid of saying it, she was even inciting Liu Wangfei to make a scene.
Princess Baorong instantly turned tears into laughter.
Although her mother had died in vain, it had brought them tremendous honor and benefit.
She was just about to kneel and thank the emperor when a sudden gust of wind swept past her.
When she lifted her head, she saw Liu Wangfei grabbing Emperor Yongchang by the collar.
….
Grabbing… Emperor Yongchang’s collar!
Moments ago, Qi Zhen had been so terrified he was scraping the bark off a tree in panic—now he sucked in a sharp breath and clutched Old Marquis Qi’s sleeve tightly: “Dad! Dad! Dad! Things are changing again!”
If it weren’t a matter of life and death for his entire household, he swore he would’ve sat down with a bag of melon seeds to watch the show.
What a d*mn spectacle!
Emperor Yongchang was also stunned at first, not reacting until Pu Wuyong rushed over, shouting, “Outrageous! How dare you lay hands on the Emperor—guards!”
But before he could finish, Liu Wangfei punched him squarely in the nose.
Blood sprayed from Pu Wuyong’s nose instantly.
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Qi Zhen stopped scraping bark. He snuck a glance at Qi Yuan.
What exactly had Qi Yuan just said to Liu Wangfei? How had she suddenly transformed like this?
Even Emperor Yongchang was taken aback. He reflexively shouted, “Outrageous!”
But Liu Wangfei pointed at his nose and sneered coldly: “Xiao Xianjiao, say it again—who exactly is being outrageous?! Does your great Zhou dynasty specialize in producing ‘deeply devoted lovers’? You want that woman buried with the honors of Noble Consort, laid to rest beside you in the central tomb chamber—what am I to you then?!”
Only now did Emperor Yongchang realize he hadn’t considered this matter at all.
His head had been muddled, consumed with thoughts of his beloved consort—young, beautiful, graceful, tender and understanding—who had died. He was lost in grief, wanting to give her the highest honors.
He had completely forgotten about the grudge between Liu Wangfei and the Noble Consort.
By all rights, it should have gone to Liu Wangfei, or even Empress Feng—but Noble Consort Xiao Liu? That position definitely wasn’t hers to take.
Feeling a little guilty, his voice softened: “Wanyin…”
Princess Baorong, fearing the situation might shift against her, immediately burst into tears and threw herself at Liu Wangfei’s side, clutching her sleeve: “Aunt… Auntie… everyone says that when someone dies, all past grievances should be buried with them. My mother is already gone. Even if she had wronged you in the past, please show mercy and let her go peacefully!”
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