Three, Wen Yi

  I quietly returned to the banquet, where music and dance were in full swing, and everyone was drunk and lost in their own world. Each person was absorbed in their own focus, and Hu Bi whispered anxiously in my ear: "Where did Miss go? She didn't even let me follow her, what if something happens?"

  "I said: I'm fine, just going out for a walk."

  "It's good that you're alright, miss."

  Ling Rong finished singing a song with a clear voice, and then Xuan Ling turned to me and said: "What's going on that you've been out for so long?"

  "I'm afraid I've had too much wine and need some fresh air." I smiled, "I saw a flower called Yèyán and was captivated by it for a moment."

  He looked puzzled: "Yu Yan? What flower is that?" Then, smiling at me, he said, "The Zi Wei in the courtyard are blooming beautifully. I've already ordered someone to move a few pots to your Yi Fu Pavilion. Hmm, it's the season for Zi Wei to be in full bloom."

  I bow deeply in gratitude.

  Wisteria, wisteria, with purple-red flowers swaying gently, radiant and charming. But at the moment, it's just a small twilight that matches my mood.

  "His Majesty is very good to me," said Cao Jieyu with a smile.

  I smiled calmly: "The Emperor treats all six palaces equally, and is also very good to my sister."

  Empress Cao gazed at Xu Ling with a gentle and affectionate look, her eyes seeming to convey deep emotions: "The emperor's benevolence is like the rain that nourishes all living things equally; from the empress down to the lowest-ranking concubines, we are all recipients of his grace." Empress Cao raised her cup in a toast to Xu Ling, taking a sip first to encourage him, and won thunderous applause from the entire assembly.

  She took a handkerchief to gently wipe the corner of her mouth, when suddenly a palace maid rushed to her side with a flustered expression and whispered a few words in her ear. Cao Jieyu's face changed color, she stood up hastily and bid farewell. Xuan Ling stopped her and asked: "What's wrong that you're so flustered?"

  She forced a smile: "The maid came to report that Wen Yi spit up milk again."

  Xuan Ling's face flashed with anxiety: "Has the imperial physician come to examine him?"

  "Yes." Cao Jieyu replied, "It's said that Wen Yi had a weak condition since birth, and with the current epidemic heat, it would be like this." As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes, "Originally, things were getting better, but I don't know why they've relapsed today."

  Xuan Ling got up and went out. Cao Jieyu, the Empress, and Consort Hua hastily followed him out. The rest of the people remained on the spot for a moment before dispersing.

  Ling Rong came out and returned to the palace with me.

  She lowered her head and thought for a moment before saying, "Don't you think it's a bit suspicious, sister?"

  "Tell me about it."

  "Spitting up milk is a common thing for babies, why did Wen Yi Di Ji repeat it so many times. If it's said to be due to the heat, Wen Yi Di Ji and Cao Jie Yu lived in Yan Yu Zhai which is near water."

  I secretly agreed in my heart and said: "Princess Wenyi is already a year old, it seems that she didn't have any symptoms of spitting up milk before. Indeed, this came suddenly."

  "But," Ling Rong smiled slightly and said, "perhaps it's just a common symptom in infants, taking good care of him will make him better."

  I said faintly: "I hope Cao Jieyu and Empress Hua can take good care of the princess."

  Her expression was solemn and her eyes were cast downward. Her face showed a sorrowful look, "For the sake of one person's honor and favor, to be a mother and queen like this is also too heartless."

  In his heart, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the lovely and delicate Wen Yi, who was now suffering some kind of hardship. He shook his head and whispered, "Don't say any more."

  In my heart, I am entangled with complex and indescribable fears and sadness. An old palace maid told me that in the previous dynasty, Emperor Hui of Jin's concubine, Jingfei, would often secretly pinch the young prince to make him cry and attract the emperor's attention, but was eventually demoted and imprisoned in a cold palace after being discovered.

  The mother was originally the most gentle and kind-hearted woman in the world, but she was deeply distorted in this deep palace, becoming a snake who would not hesitate to use her children as tools for honor.

  Their own children are like this, no wonder that throughout history there have been numerous cases of people fighting for the throne and viewing others' children as enemies, how frightening is the road to the emperor's throne paved with bloodshed.

  I subconsciously stroked my flat belly, gradually regretting that I shouldn't have taken cold medicine to avoid favoritism back then. Now there's still no sign of pregnancy, and it's probably very difficult to give birth too. However, if I want to give birth to a child, I'll inevitably have to fight with others again. Thinking about what's on my mind, I really can't laugh, so I forced myself to change the subject and said to Ling Rong: "I'm afraid many people will have trouble sleeping tonight."

  Ling Rong's sweet smile remained: "Hard to say, I'm afraid it won't just be tonight."

  Xuan Ling stayed overnight at Cao Jieyu's place and then spent the next two days staying at Imperial Consort Hua's place, even bringing along Wen Yi Di Ji to be taken care of in Imperial Consort Hua's palace. Everyone in the palace praised Imperial Consort Hua for becoming virtuous after reflecting on her past mistakes.

  The empress merely smiled knowingly and said indifferently while holding Songzi and playing against me: "Empress Hua is getting smarter, she knows how to use others now."

  I fell down and smiled slightly, "The Empress can see through the tricks of Consort Hua, it's clear that her skills are no match for yours, and she can't be considered very clever."

  The queen's eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a satisfied smile. The pine nut in her arms let out a "meow" and the green light in its eyes flashed brightly as it jumped down lightly and pounced on a fluffy ball by the flower pot. Its movements were swift and fierce, pinning the fluffy ball under its paw and tearing it to shreds before tossing it aside. Once again, it revealed a gentle and elegant smile.

  I suppressed the disgust and fear I had for Matsuko in my heart, turning my head away without looking at it.

  The queen stopped talking and quietly watched this process, smiling: "This thing also knows how to play ball."

  However, the situation of Empress Dowager Wenji spitting milk did not improve.

  The next morning, I followed the empress and others to visit Wen Yi Di Ji. The usually luxurious and grand Shende Hall seemed to be shrouded in gloomy clouds. Cao Jieyu's eyes were red and swollen, and Hua Fei and Xuan Ling also looked worried, while the imperial physician stood by with a fearful expression.

  Wen Yi seemed to have just woken up, her eyes still couldn't open, and her spirit seemed dejected.

  The nanny held her and cooed softly for a while, then Cao Jieyu took out the flower drum to tease her. Empress Hua said on the side: "A few days ago, the horse hoof soup that was brought in, I saw the princess eating it and thought it smelled good, why not go make some more to eat, everyone can also taste it together."

  Xuan Ling Dao said: "Alright, I'm a bit hungry too."

  But soon after, the horse hoof jelly was served up.

  It's actually a very simple dessert, using horse hoof powder and cotton sugar with boiling water to cook until white and semi-transparent, then add some melon, peach and watermelon pulp, it's appetizing.

  Wen Yi was still young, and there were no melons or fruits in her bowl. Cao Jieyu carefully fed her spoonful by spoonful from the nanny's arms, occasionally using a handkerchief to wipe away the drool from the corners of her mouth, seeing that she was eating deliciously, a gentle smile appeared on her tired face.

  I exchanged a glance with Ling Rong, thinking to myself that such a gentle and considerate mother wouldn't harm her own child for the sake of favoritism, and it was just Ling Rong and I being overly cautious.

  The empress smiled and said: "I see that the emperor's concubine is eating sweet food, it seems she will recover soon."

  Cao Jieyu heard this and showed a grateful expression, saying: "Thank you, Empress, for your concern."

  She had just fed him a few mouthfuls when the wet nurse came forward and said, "Young Master, it's time to feed the Princess."

  He said, holding Wen Yi sideways to breastfeed her.

  A tiny child, the wet nurse had just finished feeding her milk, but in an instant, white milk was spitting out of her mouth, and soon it was gushing out of her nose like a spring, like a small white rainbow, even the hoof-shaped pastry she had just eaten was spat out. Wen Yi's small and soft body couldn't withstand it, almost suffocating, trembling, crying uncontrollably, her little face turning purple. Cao Jieyu couldn't bear it anymore, "Waa" cried out, snatched the child from the wet nurse's hands, held her upright and pressed her cheek against Wen Yi's small face, gently patting her back with a soft gesture.

  The Empress Hua also shed tears, stretching out her hand to hug Wen Yi. Cao Jieyu hesitated for a moment and did not let go immediately, showing reluctance to part with her. Only then did the Empress Hua reluctantly release her hand.

  People and horses were thrown into chaos.

  Xuan Ling heard his daughter crying and immediately became furious, taking two steps forward and pointing at the imperial physician: "What's going on here? After treating her for three days, she doesn't seem to be getting any better. The fever is getting even worse!"

  The imperial physician saw the dragon's face turn red with anger, and was so frightened that he hastily knelt down on the ground, knocking his head loudly: "Your humble servant... Your humble servant really didn't know. According to reason, babies spitting up milk usually occur within one or two months after birth, due to the narrow pylorus. Now the princess is already over a year old..." He wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

  "Useless thing! Good for nothing! Can't even cure a baby's spit-up!"

  The empress hastily consoled him, saying: "Your Majesty must not get angry, lest you hurt your body and make things worse. Let the imperial physician examine you carefully."

  The imperial physician nodded repeatedly and said, "I have thought about it carefully and I'm afraid that the princess's stomach is not feeling well, perhaps she has eaten something that has harmed her stomach. I would like to investigate what the princess has eaten from the day she started vomiting milk until now."

  Xuan Ling said without hesitation: "Good."

  On the long table made of purple sandalwood, all kinds of baby food were lined up. The imperial physician checked them one by one and found nothing unusual. His face grew darker and darker. If there was no problem with the food either, it could only mean that this imperial physician's medical skills were not good enough. It was probably not just a matter of leaving his position at the Imperial Hospital.

  Everyone stood behind the queen, and for a moment they couldn't help but whisper to each other.

  The imperial physician picked up the half-eaten sweet potato porridge that Wen Yi had left behind and examined it carefully for half a day. Suddenly, a hint of joy appeared on his anxious face, and in an instant, he knelt down with a serious expression and said: "I think this porridge has some problems. To be cautious, please ask the eunuch who tastes food in the imperial kitchen to come and identify it together."

  Xuan Ling's face sank as soon as he heard this, and he ordered in a stern tone: "Summon Zhang Youlu from the Imperial Kitchen."

  But in a moment, Zhang Youlu arrived, rinsed his mouth with clear water, and first used a silver needle to test for poison. Only then did he use a spoon to scoop up a small amount and slowly taste it. He saw that his eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and he scooped up another spoonful to taste. He reported back: "This horse hoof gruel is non-toxic, but it's not made solely from horse hoof powder; it contains cassava flour mixed in."

  Xuan Ling furrowed his brow and said: "Tapioca flour, what is that thing?"

  The imperial physician replied, "Taro is also known as tree taro, tree sweet potato, and wood sweet potato. It belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family and its scientific name is Dioscorea alata. It's a specialty from Nanyang, our dynasty does not produce it. Taro flour can be used to make pastries, but the roots and leaves are toxic and must be handled with care."

  "The queen exclaimed: 'Your meaning is that someone has poisoned it?'"

  The imperial physician shook his head and said, "Tapioca powder is generally non-toxic, but babies have delicate digestive systems. Eating tapioca powder can stimulate the intestines and cause vomiting or spitting up milk. If this continues for a long time, it will lead to weakness and death." He added, "Tapioca powder and horse hoof powder are similar in color and shape, so they are not easily distinguishable when mixed together."

  The imperial concubines who had just eaten the sweet potato soup were suddenly frightened and lost their composure, making gestures as if they wanted to vomit, and several of them burst into tears with a few sobs.

  The imperial physician hastily said: "Everyone, please don't panic. I dare to conclude that this cassava flour is non-toxic, and the dosage will only stimulate the infant's intestines and stomach, it won't have any effect on adults." Only then did everyone feel at ease.

  Xuan Ling's face turned iron-green, "How does the Imperial Kitchen do things? Even this can be messed up?!"

  Zhang Youlu bowed his head and did not dare to speak, Empress Hua said: "The Imperial Kitchen is meticulous in this matter, it will definitely not go wrong, it seems that someone has deliberately done so."

  Xuan Ling was enraged: "What a sinister move! Do you want to put me in a desperate situation?!"

  Everyone looked at each other in dismay, and for a moment no one dared to say another word.

  Ts'ao Chi-yü wept uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face as she said: "I am unworthy, if there is any punishment for unvirtuous conduct, I beg of Heaven to have mercy and spare Wen-chi. As her mother, I am willing to accept any heavenly punishment."

  The Empress Hua sneered and pulled her up, saying: "What's the use of praying to heaven? I'm afraid someone is playing tricks on you, intentionally making things difficult for your mother and daughter!" After that, she knelt down to Emperor Xuanling and said: "Please have mercy on Cao Jieyu and her daughter, thoroughly investigate this matter, and also purify the palace."

  Xuan Ling's eyes flashed with a cold light as he said, "Investigate! Investigate immediately!"

  As soon as this was said, who else dared not to handle things quickly. It was soon found that the use of Ma Ti's soup began on the night when Wen Yi had a severe vomiting milk, which was also the day of the night banquet. And Wen Yi has been using this soup for several days, it can be seen that the problem is indeed from the cassava flour mixed in the soup.

  When the eunuch in charge of the imperial kitchen finished checking the palaces of the concubines, his face turned pale and he spoke hesitantly. Finally, he said: "Only Zhen Bijun's Yifu Hall had someone come to pick up cassava flour four days ago, saying they wanted to make pearl balls. There was no one else."

  Everyone's gaze suddenly fell on me, and the surroundings were silent.

  I suddenly heard a loud noise by my ear, and I looked up in shock, knowing that something was wrong. With a clear conscience, I didn't bother to respond to others, but simply stood according to etiquette and said: "Four days ago, my wife wanted to eat maltose cake, so she asked the maid Bian Yu to go and fetch some. When she returned, she indeed brought back cassava flour to make pearl balls for my wife."

  "So dare I ask Jieyu, is the tapioca flour still available?"

  After a moment of hesitation, he thought that hiding was not good after all, so he said frankly: "I suppose it hasn't been used up yet."

  Xuan Ling asked: "Is it true that only Zhen Bijun's palace has received someone, and no one else?"

  "Yes."

  Xuan Ling's gaze swept across my face intentionally or unintentionally, saying lightly: "This also can't prove that it was Zhen Yueru who did it."

  Suddenly, one of the palace maids knelt down and said: "That night at the banquet, Zhen Bijun went out alone, and I saw the young master seemingly heading in the direction of the Smoke and Rain Pavilion."

  Xuan Ling suddenly raised his eyes and asked the palace maid, "Did you see it with your own eyes?"

  "Yes, I personally saw it with my own eyes, absolutely true."

  Another palace maid stepped forward and knelt down, saying: "The young master is alone and has brought no one with him."

  The spearhead is pointing directly at me, and it seems that I was the one who added cassava powder to Ma Ti's Fen to harm Wen Yi.

  Feng Shuyi said in surprise, "If there is really cassava flour mixed in this soup, Zhen Jieyu also ate it just now, I'm afraid there's some misunderstanding?"

  Qin Fangyi said disdainfully, "Didn't the imperial physician just say that this little bit won't kill her? If she doesn't eat... humph!" Feng Shuyi looked slightly disappointed and helplessly glanced at me.

  The Empress Hua looked at me coldly and said, "Don't you kneel down yet?"

  Cao Jieyu walked up to me, crying and saying: "Sister may have been careless in her words and actions, unintentionally offending me. Last time at the Shui Qing Nan Xiang Palace, sister was just momentarily reckless and didn't intentionally want to cause misunderstanding between the Emperor and my younger sister. If I really committed an offense because of this matter, I can be beaten or scolded, but please don't make things difficult for Wen Yi, she's still a baby in swaddling clothes." As she spoke, she was about to kneel down before me.

  I grasped her hand and said, "Sister Cao, why must you say such things? I've never felt that you've wronged me in any way. The Water Green South Fragrance Temple incident didn't even make the Emperor misunderstand me, so where did this talk of resentment and blame come from?" I paused for a moment, then asked back, "Could it be that sister thinks she's done something to owe me an apology, but I don't feel that way at all."

  Cao Jieyu suddenly became speechless, and could only pull on my sleeve, sobbing uncontrollably.

  The queen said: "Cao Jieyu, what are you doing? The matter has not been investigated clearly, and you're crying like this. What kind of behavior is this?"

  The Empress spoke up: "This palace thinks that it's not that you haven't investigated clearly, but rather you've made it all too clear. The way the Queen is speaking now seems to be intentionally shielding Zhen Bijun."

  Empress Huifa spoke so presumptuously, but the Empress Dowager did not get angry. She slowly said: "Is this how you should speak to me, or are you treating me with disdain just because of your position as a consort?"

  The Empress's face didn't look good either, and she stubbornly said: "I didn't intentionally offend anyone, I just pitied the suffering of the Princess, and felt it was unfair to Cao Concubine." Then she turned to Emperor Xuan and said: "Please let His Majesty make a decision."

  Xuan Ling said: "Even if you care about Wen Yi, the emperor's daughter, you must respect the empress. After all, she is the mistress of the harem." He looked at me and said, "You can say whatever you want to say."

  I slowly knelt down, looking up at him with a calm expression and said: "Your subject has not done such a thing, nor will I do such a thing."

  "So, did you go to the Rainy Night Teahouse alone that night?"

  "I did indeed pass by the Smoke and Rain Pavilion, but I didn't go in."

  The Empress said indifferently, "On the night of the banquet in the palace, most of the palace maids and eunuchs were waiting outside the Fuling Hall, and the remaining servants were also sneaking around drinking and dozing off. I suppose no one would have noticed if you entered the kitchen of the Yunyu Pavilion. However, apart from the Imperial Kitchen, only your Yifu Pavilion has cassava powder, and there was a palace maid who saw you heading in the direction of the Yunyu Pavilion. After you went, the Princess began to show symptoms... I'm afraid it can't be explained away as just a coincidence."

  I ignored her and stared at Xuan Ling's expression, saying: "Although everything points to me, I really didn't do it."

  The Empress Hua said coldly: "At this point, it's useless to try to talk your way out of this."

  "I said: 'The imperial concubine insists on blaming the consorts, and the consorts have nothing to say. I only hope that Your Majesty and the Empress will clearly discern the truth. I am not a person with such a sinister heart.' After speaking, I bowed my head and touched my forehead to the clean, hard ground."

  Xuan Ling Dao said: "You'd better raise your head. Since you say you didn't, then after you left the seat that night, did you meet anyone who can prove that you didn't enter the Smoke and Rain Chamber, which would also prove that you have nothing to do with this matter?"

  At the thought, I almost blurted out what happened with Xuan Qing that night. Raising my head, I suddenly saw Cao Qin's sorrowful face, and the incident at Shui Qing Nan Xun Hall surged up in my mind. My throat choked, and I saw the concern and trust hidden in Xuan Ling's eyes. If he didn't believe me or want to protect me, he could have sent me to the palace prison for slow interrogation, or imprisoned me like Mei Zhuang for punishment.

  If Xuan Ling were to find out that I was talking to another man alone, even if it's his brother, it would probably be bad. What's more, Xuan Ling will definitely ask me what I said to Xuan Qing, and my conversation with Xuan Qing involves the old affair between Shu Gui Fei and the previous emperor in the palace back then. If someone with ill intentions were to hear about it and spread it to the Empress Dowager's ears, it would be even more embarrassing. Summoning Xuan Qing again for questioning would only make a big fuss, making everyone inside and outside the palace aware of it, which would bring harm to both me and Xuan Qing without any benefit.

  Moreover, Xuan Ling had once suspected me due to Cao Qin's few provocative words, and I was worried that if I brought up old matters again, I would lose Xuan Ling's trust in me. His trust in me is the only thing that can keep me safe and innocent. Once lost, the crimes that Empress Hua wants to add to my name will become a reality, and that will be truly tragic.

  In an instant, countless thoughts had flashed through her mind, and she decided to seal her mouth and not speak. She bowed her head and said: "I haven't met anyone, but I don't know who else saw me not entering the Smoke and Rain Chamber." As she spoke, she glanced around at the surrounding concubines and palace maids.

  But then Ling Rong rushed out of the crowd, knelt beside me and said to Xuan Ling with tears: "I am willing to stake my own life to vouch for Zhen Yu, she will never do such a thing that violates heaven and reason." After finishing speaking, she kept kowtowing.

  A noble-looking person on the side showed a look of disdain and muttered in a low voice, "One hill's mole."

  The queen said gently: "An Mei, you get up first. This matter will be handled impartially by the emperor and me. I also believe that Zhen Bijun is the most knowledgeable and reasonable person beside the emperor, she won't do such a thing."

  Empress Hua said: "One may know a person's face but not their heart, Your Majesty the Empress mustn't be deceived by others." As she spoke, she gave me a sideways glance.

  The queen no longer had the usual tolerance and patience for Imperial Consort Hua, and countered sharply: "This palace thinks that it is not this palace being deceived by others, but rather Imperial Consort Hua has been too rash and impulsive."

  Xuan Ling said sternly: "I want to ask questions, your words are more than anyone else's, one by one you all go out and it will be quiet!"

  Upon seeing Xuan Ling's attitude, the Empress immediately apologized and the other consorts and palace maids also knelt down to beg for Xuan Ling's forgiveness.

  Xuan Ling said to me: "You think carefully again, if you think of anyone who can prove that you didn't go to the Smoke and Rain Pavilion, tell me."

  My knees ached on the hard marble floor, as if small insects were crawling up my calves and biting me one by one. The ground was smooth like a black mirror, almost reflecting my pale face from kneeling for so long. Sweat dripped from my temples and hair, making a soft "drip" sound as it fell to the ground, forming irregular circles.

  I thought for a moment and finally shook my head. I knew that Xuan Ling was willing to help me, but if I used the palace maids by my side as witnesses, people would say they were covering up for me and it would only implicate them. Moreover, on that day, there really was no one following me, and if I was exposed as a liar, it would only confirm my guilt in harming the princess, and I would likely be accused of deceiving the emperor as well, at which point even Xuan Ling wouldn't be able to protect me.

  Xuan Ling let out a long sigh and said after a moment of silence: "In that case, I can only have you placed under house arrest for now."

  A dizziness in his mind, his body swayed slightly and was caught by Ling Rong beside him.

  He gazed at me firmly, "You trust me, I will investigate this matter. I must not let one person be wronged, that's what you told me."

  A warmth spread through her chest, and she suppressed the sob that was about to burst out of her throat. She looked up at him, his red dragon robe fluttering in the wind, and said, "Yes. I believe you."