Abandoned Woman Busy Farming
Chapter 1445 - 1446: You Forced Me_1

Chapter 1445: Chapter 1446: You Forced Me_1

Bai Ruozhu and the eunuch beside her hurriedly went to help, finally managing to steady Ning Yu, preventing him from tumbling down.

"Madam Jiang really doesn’t avoid suspicion, does she? Even if he is your senior brother, it’s not appropriate to be pulling and tugging like this, right? Just after Official Jiang got promoted, his wife is embracing another man, it sure is a boost to his prestige," Imperial Concubine Liu said with a voice laden with mockery and frivolousness, barely stopping short of directly accusing Bai Ruozhu of cuckolding Jiang Yichun.

Bai Ruozhu’s anger surged in an instant, damn that Liu Xiyu, why did it seem like whatever urgent matter arose, she would always encounter her? She was doing this on purpose, wasn’t she?

Previously, when the National Master passed away and took her as a disciple, there were rumors that she had an affair with Ning Yu, implying that Ning Yu used the National Master’s name as a pretext to allow her entry to the Astrology Tower for secret rendezvous. Such talk was an insult to both her and Ning Yu, as well as to the deceased National Master. At that time, with the National Master gone and Diao Bin in critical condition, and with Diao Yao and Chu Hai taken by the Emperor, she didn’t have the time to quibble.

But now, she couldn’t just let it go!

"Imperial Concubine Liu, you can eat indiscriminately, but you cannot speak recklessly. After all, I am a lady conferred by the Emperor and a disciple of the Astrology Tower. By insulting me this way, are you disregarding the Emperor’s decree, or do you wish to be enemies with the Bai Family and the Astrology Tower?" Bai Ruozhu said through gritted teeth.

Ning Yu also showed a look of anger, "Imperial Concubine Liu, don’t spout nonsense; we have urgent matters, please let us through."

Unfortunately, with Ning Yu in poor health, even his stern words lacked momentum and did not deter Imperial Concubine Liu and her group.

Imperial Concubine Liu began to laugh, her demeanour full of charm, so much so that Bai Ruozhu felt nauseated at the sight, truly puzzled by the Emperor’s taste in indulging such a woman.

However, it was common for men to be fond of such coquetry.

"Intimidating me? You are not even qualified," said Imperial Concubine Liu dismissively after finishing her laugh.

"Ning Yu, get on the litter; don’t waste words with this kind of person." Bai Ruozhu glanced at the time, not wanting to delay any further. What if those who ambushed Diao Bin earlier made another attempt?

"You wouldn’t dare!" Imperial Concubine Liu’s eyes widened. "Do you still regard me, an Imperial Concubine, at all?"

Bai Ruozhu sneered, "Sorry to say, indeed not. Even the Empress Dowager’s urgent summons you dare obstruct—are you disregarding the Empress Dowager too?"

"You are using the Empress Dowager as a shield again, do you really think I’m so easily deceived?" Imperial Concubine Liu had a stance as if she would never budge.

Bai Ruozhu narrowed her eyes; today, she had to deal with this Imperial Concubine Liu no matter what, since she hadn’t claimed her reward for handling the epidemic area yet—if it came down to it, she could offset her actions with her merits.

With a wave of her hand, she brushed Imperial Concubine Liu aside, "Fine, you’ve forced my hand!"

Seeing her engage with the Imperial Concubine, Ning Yu became extremely anxious, and the two eunuchs carrying him also turned deathly pale, their hands trembling as they carried the litter.

In no time, Bai Ruozhu had pushed aside those fragile concubines and directly slapped a melon-seed-faced concubine twice, "My master’s name is not something you are worthy of mentioning—don’t provoke ’Old Mother’ if you don’t wish to die!"

The concubine screamed, her voice filled with terror, "My face, my face hurts so much, what have you, what have you done to me?"

Bai Ruozhu squinted her eyes and sneered coldly, "I am a doctor, after all; I do know a thing or two about the effects of medicines. Although I cannot take your lives, disfiguring you is quite simple."

Furious, Imperial Concubine Liu pointed at Bai Ruozhu and cursed, "You’ve crossed the line, Royal Guards, seize this demoness! If she resists, kill without mercy!"

The nearby Royal Guards immediately rushed over, but Bai Ruozhu glared at them, "The Emperor has commanded us to see the Empress Dowager; are you going to help her block us and defy an Imperial Decree? Or should I say, has your allegiance switched to someone else?"

The Royal Guards, initially poised to apprehend the two, hesitated upon hearing her words, unsure about how to proceed.

Bai Ruozhu glared at the two eunuchs carrying the litter, "What are you waiting around for? Are you not afraid the Emperor will chop off your heads if you delay us?"

The two eunuchs snapped back to their senses and hurriedly carried Ning Yu forward.

Meanwhile, Liu Xiyu and the others began to shout, as they touched their faces and found many red spots!

These palace concubines value their appearance above all else, and they immediately started to scream in terror.

Bai Ruozhu watched them with a cold sneer and walked straight ahead.

"What are you all standing around for? She poisoned the concubines, seize her immediately and lock her in the Sky Prison!" Imperial Concubine Liu shrieked.

"Fine, but then don’t expect your faces to recover," Bai Ruozhu scoffed with a cold smile.

This time, Liu Xiyu was the one who was stunned. She looked down on Bai Ruozhu, that was true, but she had also investigated many of Bai Ruozhu’s affairs and was genuinely afraid.

At that moment, a nimble figure ran from the direction of Cining Palace. Hao Mu appeared before everyone very quickly.

"Madam Jiang, what are you wasting time for? The Empress Dowager has lost consciousness and is waiting for your treatment. Anyone who dares to stop you is complicit in harming the Empress Dowager!" Hao Mu said loudly.

This made the Royal Guards even more reluctant to stop Bai Ruozhu; instead, they kept a close watch on Imperial Concubine Liu and the others, fearing they might indeed be conspiring to harm the Empress Dowager. If they were allowed to escape, the Royal Guards present would also be culpable for collusion.

Hao Mu pulled Bai Ruozhu and they dashed towards Cining Palace with great speed; she even employed her light-footed skills.

"The Empress Dowager really did pass out," Hao Mu whispered. "But it was the princess vomiting blood that caused the Empress Dowager to faint all of a sudden."

Bai Ruozhu’s heart leapt to her throat. Wasn’t Ning Yu the one to take the hit for the princess? Was she all right?

"Where’s His Majesty?" Bai Ruozhu had not yet met up with Jianqi and didn’t know the status of his message.

"His Majesty has arranged for the Shadow Guard to surround Cining Palace and took Jianqi with him to search other places in the palace," Hao Mu said softly.

The two spoke in such hushed tones that Ning Yu didn’t hear them; otherwise, knowing about Diao Bin vomiting blood would probably have caused him to vomit blood in shock as well.

Hao Mu led Bai Ruozhu straight to the Empress Dowager’s bedroom, only to see the Empress Dowager lying pale-faced on the bed, with a charming young woman next to her, praying with folded hands.

Bai Ruozhu had never seen this unfamiliar young woman before and was immediately suspicious. The young woman, sensing their arrival, hurriedly got up and said, "Are you Madam Jiang? Please, have a look at Auntie Empress Dowager."

"This is Princess Yuwei from the Virtuous King’s household," Hao Mu reminded from the side.

A thought struck Bai Ruozhu. Tang Yuwei? Wasn’t she the girl whom the Virtuous King had sought to marry to her second brother?

Putting her thoughts aside, she first checked on the Empress Dowager. Fortunately, the Empress Dowager had only suffered from intense anxiety on top of a lack of rest and showed no signs of poisoning or having been affected by witchcraft.

She used a needle on the Empress Dowager, and soon the Empress Dowager awoke.

"Ruozhu, you must go..." the Empress Dowager began but suddenly stopped upon seeing Tang Yuwei next to her.

Bai Ruozhu quickly stuffed a pill that calmed the mind and smoothed the Qi into her mouth, "Empress Dowager, you are unsettled; you must rest properly and not talk too much."