Time Travel: Pampered by the Aloof Prince
Chapter 125: What Are the Princess’s Plans for Dealing with Me?

Chapter 125: Chapter 125: What Are the Princess’s Plans for Dealing with Me?

Kong Ran still thought she really wanted to go out for fun and nodded without hesitation.

Seeing this scene, Chunlan was stunned for a moment before looking towards her Princess, somewhat puzzled, "Princess, why bring him along?"

Wasn’t the visit to the Imperial Palace to see the Empress? What did it mean to bring a little monk?

A hint of amusement flashed in Qi Yu’s eyes as she spoke lazily, "Doesn’t the Empress want to find fault? This Princess will also give her a little surprise."

Chunlan’s eyelid twitched, sensing deep meaning in her words.

But she quickly cast those thoughts aside, and accompanied Qi Yu into the palace.

In the carriage, Kong Ran still didn’t know what going to the Imperial Palace was for and tugged at Qi Yu’s sleeve, asking her to describe what the Imperial Palace looked like.

Qi Yu hadn’t visited the palace many times, and since none of those visits were for pleasant reasons, she naturally didn’t have a good impression of it.

Upon hearing his question, she said nonchalantly, "Nothing worth seeing, just a place that devours people."

Kong Ran pouted, clearly dissatisfied, "You’re lying, my senior brother said the Imperial Palace is where the emperor lives, how could it possibly devour people?"

Qi Yu smiled but remained silent.

A child, after all, can be understood.

She hoped that once they crossed the palace gate, he would still think the same.

The carriage stopped outside the palace gate, and Qi Yu was in no rush, insisting on paying respects to the Noble Consort first despite the eunuchs’ repeated urgings.

In this unfamiliar place, Kong Ran felt that although the faces of these people all bore smiles, they strangely incited fear.

He clutched Qi Yu’s hand tightly, afraid that he might get lost in the next second and then be captured by someone.

The people here all seemed so terrifying.

The Noble Consort had recently been feeling ill and had just awakened from a short rest when a palace maid hurriedly reported that Princess Qi had arrived.

"Quick, invite her in," the Noble Consort said, sending someone to fetch the guest.

The palace maid knew the Noble Consort treated the Princess as her own, and not daring to be negligent, she respectfully invited Princess Qi into the hall.

Before Qi Yu had even taken her seat, she saw the Noble Consort’s face still held a trace of illness, and she frowned, "Mother, you’re sick?"

The Noble Consort smiled nonchalantly, "It’s just a cold, nothing serious."

She had felt weak and feeble recently and had the Imperial Physician examine her several times; all said it was just a cold, so she didn’t take it to heart.

Qi Yu, however, felt something was off; the Noble Consort’s complexion was clearly more haggard, and there was a faint dark energy on her forehead, not the signs of a common cold.

She couldn’t care less about other matters and approached the Noble Consort, "May I take your pulse, Mother?"

The Noble Consort blinked in confusion, "Take my pulse?"

"Yes, I’ve learned some medical knowledge," Qi Yu replied, preferring not to elaborate in the presence of others.

Remembering that Qi Yu had once revived her own son, and her medical knowledge must be sound, the Noble Consort agreed, "Alright then."

The palace maid at the side wanted to say something, but seeing Qi Yu’s serious expression, she swallowed her words.

There were no other outsiders, and even if Princess Qi weren’t following the rules, the Noble Consort didn’t mind.

After taking the pulse, Qi Yu looked rather grave and dismissed the attendants before saying, "Mother did not catch a cold; you have been poisoned."

"What?" The Noble Consort looked at her in shocked disbelief.

Kong Ran, forgotten to one side, made no fuss and simply blinked, listening in silence.

Qi Yu didn’t avoid him and spoke directly, "Judging from the symptoms, it seems to be a poison known as Love Potion. The person who poisoned you cleverly placed the poison in the calming incense you burn daily, such that even the Imperial Physician could not detect it."

The Noble Consort, having lived in the deep palace for many years, was not ignorant of the sordid maneuvers within the harem, but she had learned to hide her sharpness and generally did not leave her quarters except to pay respects to the Empress.

She hadn’t expected someone would still try to make a move on her.

Seeing her disquiet, Qi Yu offered reassurance, "Mother, don’t worry. The dose is not large, and since it’s only been a few days and the symptoms are not severe, a few doses of medicine should clear it up."

The Noble Consort let out a sigh, looking exhausted as she said to her, "I have no idea who wants to send me to my death."

"Mother is kind-hearted, but she can’t guard against those with malicious intentions." Qi Yu first offered some comforting words before pointing out the culprit, "It must be Noble Consort Anran’s doing."

The Noble Consort was no fool; as soon as Qi Yu made the accusation, she understood.

Ever since Prince An fell from power, Noble Consort Anran had harbored hatred for Li Mingjue and Qi Yu.

However, with no means to bring them down, she could only find ways to make a move against her.

Qi Yu then inspected the incense burner in her room, took some ash from underneath with a handkerchief, smelled it, and confirmed the presence of the Love Potion’s scent.

After cleaning the incense burner, she advised the Noble Consort, "Mother, please refrain from lighting incense for the next few days."

The Noble Consort nodded faintly but expressed concern, "Who exactly is the person behind the poisoning?"

The Palace Attendants who served in her palace had been with her for over a decade, loyal and devoted. She was reluctant to believe it was their doing.

But the facts were right in front of her, leaving her no choice but to believe.

Besides those few personal Palace Maids, who else could enter her room?

While they were speaking, Kong Ran ran over, hiding behind Qi Yu and whispering, "Someone is coming."

He had just been sitting in the palace when suddenly a few people walked in from outside.

Sensing that these individuals were not to be trifled with, he immediately ran to find the Princess.

Only now did the Noble Consort notice Kong Ran, seeing his delicate, carved features, she asked, "Whose child is this?"

Qi Yu pushed Kong Ran forward with a smile, "I’ve brought him from Yunhe Temple, if Mother likes him, you can keep him as a companion."

Kong Ran glared at her and pouted his lips, but still respectfully saluted the Noble Consort, "Noble Consort."

The Noble Consort had never seen such a well-behaved child in the palace and was very pleased with Kong Ran, gently touching his head and speaking kindly, "Don’t be afraid, the Princess is just joking with you."

While the atmosphere here was harmonious, a group had gathered in the palace to demand accountability.

The Palace Maid greeted the Empress and the Princess with a forced smile, to which the Empress glanced at her and said nothing.

Li Huaixi, not seeing Qi Yu, frowned and asked, "Where is the wife of Prince Qi?"

As he spoke, Qi Yu came out from the palace with the Noble Consort.

Upon seeing the Empress, she was unfazed and, with a cool demeanor, gave her respects before glancing at Qi Anran beside her.

A look of disdain flashed in her eyes. Why was she everywhere?

As expected, the Empress took her seat at the head, sneering at Qi Yu, "The wife of Prince Qi certainly knows how to put on an impressive display, even when my people are sent to summon her, she fails to appear."

Just now, as soon as Qi Yu entered the Imperial Palace, the eunuchs reported her arrival.

There she was, acting high and mighty, waiting for people to come and charge her with an offense.

But after waiting and waiting, no one showed up.

Upon inquiring, she found out that Qi Yu had first gone to see the Noble Consort.

It infuriated her, leading her to smash several cups; she hadn’t expected Qi Yu to truly dare disregard her.

Li Huaixi was also angry; it was customary for women of the court to pay their respects at the Empress’s palace first when they entered the palace.

Qi Yu, however, had made them wait so long without showing up.

Pointing at the person seated next to the Noble Consort, she shouted, "Kneel to the Empress immediately!"

Qi Yu lazily lifted her eyelids, glanced at her indifferently, and smiled, "The Princess must have forgotten the words of Prince Lí."

When Li Huaixi heard her invoking her royal brother, her fingers trembled slightly.

But she still managed to retort, "Stop hiding behind the Prince. Today, your disrespect toward the Empress will not go unpunished by me!"

Qi Yu raised an eyebrow, her tone playful, "This Princess, too, would like to know how the Princess plans to deal with me?"