After returning from the palace, Qu Fulan fell ill.
No matter how diligently she exercised normally and had good health, after catching a chill, sickness was inevitable.
Fortunately, it wasn’t too serious, just a persistent cough and occasional runny nose, all within a bearable range.
Pei Ji’an couldn’t stay at ho to keep watch, not to ntion that as a minister, he couldn’t stay ho every day, and he still hadn’t figured out the matter of Qu Fulan being frad.
There were always many things to be busy with.
Just doing tasks for the Emperor, doing whatever is instructed, Pei Ji’an has been investigating the matter of Qu Fulan being frad, but couldn’t uncover any substantial results.
Moreover, this kind of incident wasn’t suitable to be blown out of proportion, not many knew about it, making it increasingly hard to investigate.
However, it wasn’t without a breakthrough. Pei Ji’an heard that on the day of the banquet, Qu Fulan’s maid fell into the water, and the Empress ordered an investigation into the matter, but although the maid who bumped into the maid was identified, nothing could be pried out, only saying it was an accident, and one couldn’t just punish a palace maid over a maid.
The palace maid who accidentally splashed soup on Qu Fulan was also temporarily detained.
But the next day, that palace maid died, the Empress didn’t have ti to question.
This clue was cut off.
Coincidentally, the palace attendant who splashed soup on Xiao Shiqing also lost her life.
Obviously, the person behind this knew these two were key breakthroughs, so they silenced them at once, and the deaths of two insignificant people in the palace wouldn’t cause much stir.
The clues beca more and more complex and confusing.
However, it wasn’t difficult to guess that this involved factional strife, soone wanted to see the Pei Family and the Xiao Family turn against each other completely.
The Pei Family and the Xiao Family were originally arch-enemies but hadn’t completely split, seeing that now Pei Ji’an and Xiao Shiqing could still work together, which speaks volus.
If Xiao Shiqing did sothing to Pei Ji’an’s wife, would Pei Ji’an, as a man, spare Xiao Shiqing’s life? Certainly, he would want the other dead, and in the end, whoever lived or died, the one suffering the loss would be the Emperor.
The Emperor’s balanced court would be disrupted, others would find it easier to exploit the opportunity.
So, who wants to exploit the opportunity? Basically, anyone who wants to sit on that throne has the potential.
The scope is too large, as Princes, who wouldn’t want to be Emperor? Anyone saying they don’t is being insincere, and anyway, no one has said such a thing.
The Emperor has many offspring, just the Princes number over ten, as long as one is a Prince, even if just born, there’s potential for succession, not to ntion those who are grown.
Besides Princes, other potential contenders like Kings aren’t impossible, the most suspect would be King Jie, if he wasn’t currently detained in prison, his suspicion would be the greatest.
But, is this matter really unrelated to King Jie?
If unrelated, would the Emperor’s favored concubines and Princes dare to cause such a fuss at a banquet he values?
Why not cause trouble in past years but choose this mont? What’s the trigger?
If related to King Jie, with him in prison, how does he arrange affairs outside?
Unless he has accomplices.
If King Jie has support in prison, then there must be in the palace too, working together inside and out, what couldn’t be done?
Thinking of this possibility, Pei Ji’an realized the gravity of the situation.
The Heir Pei dared not delay for a mont, entered the palace to et the Emperor, dismissed all attendants, and the two discussed matters alone in the Imperial Study Room.
Since matters needed clarification, the issue of Qu Fulan being sched against couldn’t be hidden.
"...That’s how things happened, the Emperor can investigate a bit, and know that after the banquet, indeed two palace attendants died, and they both had splashed soup."
The Emperor’s expression was grave, imdiately ordering an investigation, as Pei Ji’an said.
"Has King Jie’s influence spread throughout the entire court?" The Emperor slumped back into his dragon throne.
"It shouldn’t be that rampant, but caution is necessary. If there isn’t, fine, but if there is, it requires careful planning, subtly luring a snake out of its hole would be best."
...
Qu Fulan had just finished drinking her dicine when she heard Princess Zhuyu had arrived.
She almost spat out the dicine in shock and incredulously looked at her maid, "What did you say?"
Bicao replied, "Replying to Young Madam, Princess Zhuyu has co to visit Young Madam."
Qu Fulan: "...Quickly help change clothes!"
A quarter of an hour later, Qu Fulan, dressed appropriately, entered the flower pavilion and saw a woman in a cloak holding a hand warr, occasionally glancing outside, and upon seeing her, stood up promptly.
"Princess, how co you’re here?" Qu Fulan couldn’t bother with anything else, her first question upon entering.
Princess Zhuyu bit her lip, looking slightly aggrieved, "The palace is too dull, and you aren’t coming to talk and chat with , and hearing you’re sick, I ca out."
"Does the Emperor know you’ve co out?" Qu Fulan inquired.
Princess Zhuyu shook her head.
Qu Fulan was shocked, "You actually snuck out of the palace? How did you manage that?"
Princess Zhuyu said, "Not many know , I wore maid clothes when I left, saying I was doing errands for a Princess, and ca out."
Qu Fulan felt as if she’d received a hot potato, unable to discard it, "Princess, you’re being too reckless, what if sothing happened while you’re out?"
"There are guards following, no problem."
Princess Zhuyu was raised in a rural household, had done mischievous things in her childhood like climbing walls and trees, but as she grew, she needed to understand, though her understanding was limited and didn’t grasp the palace’s dangers.
What she thought was fine was actually very serious.
Qu Fulan felt that even if she wasn’t sick, she’d get sick from shock, now only feeling dizzier, probably from fright.
"I rely caught a chill, will recover after a few days rest, I’ll visit you in the palace when I’m better, but for now, you must return to the palace imdiately, otherwise if others find out, many will suffer consequences."
"I ca out on my own, why would others have consequences?" Princess asked puzzled.
Honestly, Princess Zhuyu had a simple personality, in a rural ho it was likable, what elders appreciate, but in the palace, it doesn’t asure up.
"Because the Princess’s noble stature, any mistake, those serving around you will be punished, lightly with a few beatings, heavily with death, these are palace rules." Qu Fulan explained as she thought of ways to return the Princess.
Or else if other concubines in the palace knew, had ulterior motives, and blew things up, it wouldn’t be trivial.
Princess Zhuyu was startled with this explanation, "It’s...that severe?"
"Yes, very serious. In the future, wherever the Princess wants to go, you must tell the Emperor in advance and get approval, otherwise like today, eventually there will be trouble." Qu Fulan wasn’t pretending with kind words, her aim was to let her know the seriousness.
Princess Zhuyu was indeed intimidated, dared not speak, willing to accept any decision.
This couldn’t be kept from the Emperor, Qu Fulan already had a plan, despite the chill, escorted her to the palace gate, used the Princess Token, and had soone take the Princess directly to the Emperor.
This was the safest approach, otherwise intercepted by so malicious concubine, or having her grips caught preemptively, it was better to proactively face the Emperor and confess, seeking leniency through honesty.
Indeed, Qu Fulan’s move proved correct.
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