Palace Fighting Naive Concubines’ Ascent to Power
Chapter 200: Could Cause Miscarriage

Chapter 200: Chapter 200: Could Cause Miscarriage

He didn’t believe that a mere Imperial Censor would dare to play such a grand game of chess.

Cao De also understood the stakes and sighed, "Imperial Censor Wu has secretly submitted to Xue Ping. He has met with Xue Ping in secret recently, precisely on the day of the Beauty’s enfeoffment and the day after. During this period, Noble Consort Xue has also seen Wang Jinfang. Connecting these events suggests that Xue Ping is the person behind the scenes."

The Emperor felt something was amiss; indeed, as Cao De had initially said, it was too obvious, with too many flaws.

The Noble Consort had seen Nanny Qi the day before the incident, and the next day, Nanny Qi met with trouble. The Noble Consort was not such a foolish person to make herself so easily suspected; it was quite the contrary to what one would expect if it were true.

"It’s not that simple," the Emperor said.

Cao De nodded in agreement, "Exactly, Imperial Censor Wu is acting on Xue Ping’s instructions to file the impeachment; there’s no doubt about that. However, the procurement of timber, the release of poisonous insects, and the death of Imperial Doctor Wang may not necessarily be connected."

The three groups seemed unrelated, but their connections were indeed intricate, with plentiful suspicions within.

That’s why he said these matters could be separated and regarded as three individual cases, or as one single case.

The Emperor tapped his fingers on the imperial desk, "Is the man called ’Seventh Master’ the same person who gave orders to the steward? Have we found out who he is now?"

Cao De bowed and replied, "Your servant has questioned many, and according to descriptions from various parties, it is undoubtedly the same person. However, this individual seems to have vanished from the face of the earth, leaving no trace. Your servant suspects that the death of Imperial Doctor Wang is related to this person, who had fled the Capital before the incident and hence could not be apprehended. Your servant has already dispatched people to the major provincial capitals around the Capital to search in secret. We will cast a wide net to ensure he cannot escape, even if he grew wings."

These incidents all bore the trace of this man; if he could be captured, everything could be resolved with ease.

The Emperor nodded in agreement and discussed further matters with Cao De, ensuring that the security of Canglan Court must be guaranteed.

News of the serpent caused not even a ripple in the palace; even the people of Canglan Court were unaware of the subsequent developments, keeping a very low profile.

Only in the former court circulated some whispers. Imperial Censor Wu’s entire family was brought down by an imperial edict, and the charges were evident. Imperial Censor Wu’s extended family could not withstand scrutiny. Like pulling up a radish and bringing up the soil, every investigation was accurate, without needing any effort to lay charges.

As for Imperial Doctor Wang’s family, from the outside, it seemed that they had moved out of the Capital because Wang Jinfang had died. In reality, the family had been taken into custody by the Imperial Guard Prison for interrogation. Once the investigation found no omissions, the family was exiled.

No one outside knew the full details of these two families.

From that day forward, the entire Harem seemed the same as usual, but those who paid attention could sense that something was different. The checks at the palace gates were stricter than before, and some inconspicuous new faces had replaced the Harem’s menial workers.

At Canglan Court, the defenses were re-established, and renovations on the Main Hall continued as if nothing had happened, unaffected by the incident with the serpent.

However, the craftsmen and supervisors had been meticulously selected, not knowing that they were to refurbish the Main Hall of Canglan Court before they arrived. These men, once done with their work, gathered together and were arranged to stay collectively, prohibited from making outside contact until the work period was over. A new Chief Eunuch had been assigned to lead them, named Hu Miaomiao.

The mistress of Canglan Court knew nothing of these changes, continuing her days in serene tranquility.

In the morning, Nanny Qi, concerned, went personally to check the congratulatory gifts sent by the Palace Concubines that had been stored the day before. She had planned to check them the previous afternoon, but as the incident occurred, the task was postponed.

Early today, as she got up, she went with Pang Ya and Xiao Jizi to tally the items, while Xiao Qing and Xiao Linzi stayed at the entrance to the Side Hall, waiting for Lian Hua to wake up.

Since Xiao Jizi and Pang Ya had organized and registered everything the day before, Nanny Qi quickly went through all the items, and indeed, she found some inappropriate gifts.

All the gifts from the palace concubines were quite lavish, varied and costly, ranging from ornamental pieces for the house, to wearables, and even precious medicinal herbs—there was a bit of everything.

Among them, there were a few that, while harmless to the average person, should not be used by someone who is pregnant.

For example, the incense and accompanying incense burner sent by Consort Zhen were extremely precious. While they had a calming, soothing, and sleep-inducing effect on the average person, long-term use by a pregnant woman could lead to miscarriage.

Then there’s the secret jade face paste from Talented Lady Sun, made by the folks at Hanxiang Pavilion. With a unique secret recipe and scarce quantity, it’s a fiercely coveted scented cream among the ladies of noble families for its excellent skincare properties. Unknown to most, however, this cream also promotes blood circulation, which is unsuitable for pregnant women.

On the surface, these items seemed fine, and it would be difficult to discern otherwise without quite some experience.

Thanks to Nanny Qi’s extensive experience, having seen much in her younger days, she caught a glimpse of these items and singled them out. If someone inexperienced downstairs were to have given them to the young lady to use, the consequences would be unimaginable.

She took note of the individuals who sent these gifts. The young lady’s pregnancy had not yet been made public, only the Canglan Court, the Star Palace, and the Imperial Physician who took her pulse were aware. Whether these people sent the gifts intentionally or not, it wasn’t right to speak out, as they were ostensibly unaware, and the saying goes, "Ignorance is not a sin."

For the time being, it was better not to make a fuss but to keep an eye on these individuals in secret.

Xiao Jizi was breaking out in a cold sweat as he took notes and listened to Nanny Qi.

Yesterday, he had seen that box of scented cream; it was beautiful, smelled wonderful, and looked very fine.

He remembered that the master made all her own creams, and didn’t have anything nice to use, so he was thinking of presenting it to her as a treasure. But then he saw that the master was disinterested in the congratulatory gifts and didn’t even look at them before telling him to put them away, so he let it go.

Luckily, Nanny Qi, with her shrewd experience, spotted the trick at a glance. Otherwise, he and Xiao Qing alone would never have been able to tell the difference.

One must never let down their guard in the palace; in the future, any items sent to Canglan Court from outside must be scrutinized by Nanny Qi before they could be used.

Speaking of Xiao Jizi, his backside was still aching.

Last night, after the master had gone to sleep, His Majesty emerged from the Side Hall and called him, Xiao Qing, and Xiao Linzi over.

His Majesty said that the three of them had failed in their duties to protect their master. Out of consideration for their master’s feelings, they were to be given twenty cane strikes each. To prevent the master from noticing, they would receive five strikes that night and then five every five days thereafter. Should the master discover it during the day, the punishment would be doubled.

After saying that, His Majesty returned to the Side Hall.

That night, the three, with cloths stuffed in their mouths, began their punishment far from the Side Hall.

The Enforcing Eunuch’s technique was indeed masterful; the caning caused a burning pain, yet somehow managed to not break the skin or damage the muscles and bones.

He was doing alright; he was thick-skinned and tough, and as long as he wasn’t sitting down, he could bear it without giving anything away.

Poor Xiao Linzi had it worse. This fool had been punished for encouraging the master to go fishing the night before last, and no one knew how or why. Just yesterday, he was walking funny and, being unsuspecting, falling for Xiao Jizi’s bluffs had given it away.

Having been punished again last night, it would be a real challenge for him to keep it from the master.