webnovelfull Chapter 450 Consort Zhou
Chapter 450 Consort Zhou
Emperor Wenjing inexplicably developed symptoms of thirst, frequent urination, and reduced sweating.
At that time, the imperial physicians of the Imperial Medical Academy were urgently summoned. After a careful diagnosis, they determined it to be a case of summer heat and prescribed some formulas to calm the mind and relieve dryness.
Coincidentally, after taking the medicine, Emperor Wenjing's symptoms actually improved. As a result, this seemingly ordinary abnormality was easily forgotten by everyone, and no one investigated it further.
Empress Su's expression was solemn. She slammed the record book in her hand shut with a "snap," then stood up and coldly raised her eyes.
"Go to Chaohua Palace."
Chaohua Hall, the sleeping quarters of Consort Zhou.
Since that day when she hurriedly returned to the palace from the Hall of Longevity, Consort Zhou has never stepped out of the Chaohua Palace again.
Firstly, because the Empress had already ordered palace servants to guard all the palace gates of the concubines closely, and no one was allowed to go out unless there was something urgent.
Secondly...
Consort Zhou felt very uneasy.
She remembered an old story.
She came from a humble background, and when she first entered the palace, she couldn't even see the emperor.
But she was not reconciled.
Although she came from a humble background, she possessed a beauty and figure that no man could resist. She believed that once the emperor touched her, he would become addicted and unable to stop.
But with so many women in the harem, there was no way she could get close to Emperor Wenjing given her status.
It was around that time that Li Chongyi's men approached her.
The man said that Li Chongyi was willing to help her become the emperor's favorite concubine.
Consort Zhou knew that there were no free lunches in the world, and that Li Chongyi's help must have some ulterior motive.
But at that time, she really didn't want to spend her life silently in the harem. After weighing the pros and cons, she still couldn't resist the sudden temptation and finally chose to agree.
No matter what conditions Li Chongyi proposes.
Through Li Chongyi's covert efforts, Consort Zhou finally succeeded in getting close to Emperor Wenjing.
Everything went as she expected; after getting to know her, Emperor Wenjing indeed showered her with affection.
Her rank rose rapidly, and she even became pregnant with the emperor's child. She was then made a concubine and enjoyed great favor.
But Consort Zhou was uneasy, because since she had gained favor, Li Chongyi had never sent anyone to contact her again, nor had he ever asked her to do anything.
Consort Zhou was not a naive person; she absolutely did not believe that Li Chongyi had suddenly become kind-hearted or had forgotten about her.
Until the summer seven years ago.
That year, she fell in love with lotus flowers. When Emperor Wenjing learned of this, he spared no expense in manpower and resources, ordering people to search for the most beautiful lotus flowers throughout the Great Zhao and transplant them into the Imperial Garden, just to make her smile.
It was around that time that Li Chongyi's men found her again.
The man told her to pick a few lotus flowers each day and send them to the Palace of Longevity.
She immediately felt something was wrong and wanted to refuse, but the man threatened her.
Consort Zhou still remembered what that person had said—
"Your Majesty, don't forget how you gained such favor and how you secured your position in the harem. As long as Your Majesty is obedient, my master will ensure your family's lifelong wealth and honor. But if Your Majesty is disobedient, everything you possess will vanish in an instant."
Having painstakingly climbed to this position, how could Consort Zhou be willing to lose it all?
Left with no other choice, she had to comply.
During those days, she lived in constant fear, afraid that someone would poison the lotus flowers.
Fortunately, before each delivery of lotus flowers, the imperial physicians examined the flowers and found no toxicity, and Emperor Wenjing showed no signs of poisoning.
And so, two months passed in fear and trepidation, until the lotus flowers faded, and Li Chongyi's men never contacted her again.
Consort Zhou gradually breathed a sigh of relief and slowly put the matter out of her mind...
The autumn wind, carrying a hint of chill, swept through the hall.
Consort Zhou shivered suddenly and was about to call for a maid to bring her a cloak when a voice suddenly rang out from outside the hall.
"May Your Majesty be well!"
When Consort Zhou saw Empress Su appear in her line of sight, she was suddenly startled.
The past she had just recalled was like thorns that would drag her into a quagmire, slowly but inescapably binding her.
Only after watching Empress Su approach did Consort Zhou rise and bow, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Empress Su's expression was cold and stern. She glanced at Consort Zhou and then her gaze fell on the painting of blooming lotus flowers behind her. "It seems that Consort Zhou has been having a pleasant time these past few days, and even has the time to appreciate paintings."
Consort Zhou subconsciously followed her gaze, and her expression froze for a moment.
This lotus painting was commissioned by Emperor Wenjing seven years ago when he noticed her fondness for lotus flowers. He specially ordered the best painter in the palace to paint it, using only the finest pigments. Even after seven years, the colors remain vibrant and dazzling.
Seeing Empress Su staring intently at the lotus painting, Consort Zhou felt a strong sense of unease, as if Empress Su had seen through everything.
She felt a pang of panic, and her face showed a sorrowful expression. "The Empress is keeping me away from His Majesty, and I can only think of him through familiar objects... Your Majesty, is His Majesty's illness truly incurable?"
Empress Su glanced at Consort Zhou, but did not answer her question. Instead, she walked towards the lotus painting hanging in the hall.
She reached out and lightly touched the painting, her fingertips tracing its surface. Suddenly, she exclaimed, "These lotus flowers are painted so lifelike that they remind me of the time seven years ago when Consort Zhou sent lotus flowers to the Hall of Longevity."
"Does the Imperial Concubine still remember that incident?"
Consort Zhou's smile froze on her face instantly.
Her heart suddenly raced, and she lowered her head, trying to hide the panic in her eyes. "Your Majesty, I certainly remember. At that time, I loved lotus flowers, and His Majesty favored me, so he allowed me to send lotus flowers to the Hall of Longevity."
As soon as she finished speaking, Empress Su turned around abruptly, her sharp gaze piercing straight at her.
His tone was icy: "Does the Imperial Concubine still remember that poison was hidden in that lotus flower?!"
"Poison?!" Consort Zhou's pupils contracted, seemingly frightened by the Empress's cold and fierce expression. Her legs went weak, and she knelt down with a thud.
Her voice trembled with tears: "Your Majesty, I have been wronged!"
"Your Majesty, I presented the lotus flowers only to please you; I had absolutely no intention of harming you!"
"I am where I am today because of Your Majesty's love and favor. How could I possibly be so foolish as to poison Your Majesty?!"
Empress Su ignored her repeated cries of innocence, slowly approached her, and looked down at her, saying, "I have searched through His Majesty's daily records and found only this one discrepancy."
"Furthermore, if I remember correctly, seven years ago, after the lotus flowers had finished blooming in the summer, you said you didn't like lotus flowers and ordered the palace servants to dig up all the lotus flowers in the Imperial Garden. Now, it looks like you were destroying evidence."
Consort Zhou raised her eyes, her eyes brimming with tears of grievance, "Is this the evidence Her Majesty the Empress found?"
“My preferences are often changing. You’ve wronged me by accusing me of destroying evidence simply because I later stopped liking lotus flowers!”
"In summer, I love lotus flowers, but in autumn, seeing the withered lotus leaves and pods fills me with sorrow. That's why I had the palace servants dig them up. Is that a crime?"