Xi Que was unaware, so she could only relay Shuang Jiang's exact words to her mistress, Jiang Xinyue, and ask for instructions on how to deal with the two maidservants who were planning to betray their master.
What else could be done?
Shuang Jiang had been threatened, and she had resisted at the cost of her life, refusing to harm her, therefore she had earned her forgiveness.
Those two maidservants were third-class maidservants. They were sly and dishonest. They had served Jiang Xinyue for a year and had not been promoted to second class. This showed they were not useful.
Jiang Xinyue ordered Xi Que, "You go and draw them out, see if they know about my pregnancy. If they don't know, send them back to the Internal Affairs Departnt."
Xi Que pursed her lips, "And...what if they do know?"
The fact that Shuang Jiang attempted suicide and the doctor was called to the Hexi Palace was sothing only known to those inside the palace.
What excuse did Concubine Zhen use to dismiss the Emperor?
"If they know..."
Jiang Xinyue's eyes closed and opened again, the fierce look in her eyes startled Xi Que.
Her voice was icy cold: "Those who betray their master cannot keep secrets. If they know, we'll see who they've turned to, and I'll make an example of them!"
She had said before, she would not harm anyone unless provoked. But if soone was planning mischief on her unborn child, she would not show rcy.
Xi Que nodded and was about to go, but Jiang Xinyue added, "Take good care of Shuang Jiang. When she is fit again, let her attend to . If she does not disclose who are behind her, I will find a way to learn it."
That said, it all depended on Shuang Jiang's cooperation.
Changxin Palace –
Concubine Li personally monitored Consort Shu, forcing her to eat an excessive amount of food before she laughed and said, "Dear Consort Shu, don't bla for being brash. After all, you've been missing your als these days, if this continues it will affect my little prince’s health. I hope tomorrow when the maid cos, she will tell that you ate two large bowls of rice. Then you won't have to suffer anymore."
She looked defiant, completely ignoring Consort Shu’s retching and tear-streaked face, and left with a large group of people carrying food boxes.
Tears welled up in Consort Shu’s eyes, they filled with resentnt.
As soon as Concubine Li was out of sight, she scrambled up and ran to the camphor tree by the door, furiously inducing vomiting with her finger.
"Vomit! Vomit... Vomit!"
"Your Highness!"
Lianxin’s eyes were swollen with tears. She supported Consort Shu, "Your Highness, shall we go seek His Majesty’s help? Ask him to let you move back to Jingren Palace? This Concubine Li... she's so overbearing, she will harm you."
They had just moved a few days ago, and taking the pretext of Consort Shu having grievances that might harm the unborn child, Concubine Li kept forcing her to overeat three als a day. She saw it, Consort Shu had already thrown up blood.
Consort Shu vomited violently before she managed to throw up all the excessive food in her stomach, she felt slightly at ease.
She slumped under the tree, shedding tears of despair, "No need! If I seek the Emperor now, all my efforts up until now would have been wasted."
"But..."
"There are no ifs and buts!" Consort Shu harshly wiped away the sour liquid at her lip's corner, "Concubine Li won't let bear this child. Rather than her torturing under the pretext of my baby, and then losing the child anyway, we might as well imitate her once."
Using a child who wouldn't survive anyway, to trap the person she dreaded the most.
The person most dreaded by Concubine Li was Consort Shu, so among Concubine Zhen and Consort Shu, she chose to tackle Consort Shu first.
But what about Consort Shu?
She hardly took Concubine Li seriously. The person she wanted to sche against was not Concubine Li.
On the second day, the Xuanwu Emperor ca to Hexi Palace after the early court under the reminder of Wang Dequan. Jiang Xinyue brought out the "fairytale storybook" that had been prepared long ago, asking the Xuanwu Emperor to narrate stories to the child in her belly with a soft voice.
Eunuch Wang, though injured, persisted in serving by the Xuanwu Emperor's side, receiving the care of all the maids in Hexi Palace.
This relieved the old man's heart.
In this palace, indeed!
Concubine Zhen had the most human touch. The servants were the reflection of their master. The goodness of Lady Xi Que and Little Xuan was indicative of her kind character.
A hint of gratitude appeared on Wang Dequan's face, to which Jiang Xinyue responded gently, without appearing overly enthusiastic.
It's not worth her thanks. In interactions, Jiang Xinyue used Wang Dequan more often.
He was close to the Emperor, it was impossible for her to trust him with her heart!
Many people misconstrue the difference and correct approach to avoidance and compassion.
Being too cold might lead Wang Dequan to feel disdained. If he spoke ill of her to the Emperor in a crucial mont, it would be hard for Jiang Xinyue to maintain the Emperor's favor.
Being too eager might tip off the Emperor. Being too purposeful, she wouldn’t win Wang Dequan's approval either.
What cos too easily is never cherished - not just applicable to the Emperor, but to all of mankind.
Jiang Xinyue was excellent at grasping this balance.
For instance, when Wang Dequan was injured by Li Guitian. It seed an innocent stuck in conflict between imperial chefs, when in truth, the discord was instigated by Empress Zhu and Jiang Xinyue.
In this matter, Jiang Xinyue had to evade suspicion - she couldn't ntion any wrongs of Empress Zhu in front of the Emperor, much less speak up for Wang Dequan.
The Emperor, the absolute monarch of this feudal society, liked everyone around him to be dependent on him alone. Any person he valued, he liked having complete control over.
Therefore, the people both Wang Dequan and Jiang Xinyue trusted and relied on could only be him. This gave the Emperor a great sense of accomplishnt.
While Wang Dequan was injured and serving the Emperor, Jiang Xinyue could take care of him. This demonstrated her good nature, and indicated her gratitude towards Wang Dequan's attentive care for the Emperor.
It further indirectly proved her genuine love for the Emperor.
Layer by layer, even heroic figures drown in this beauty's trap.
Having read the last part, the Xuanwu Emperor gently closed the book. "This year, I will not leave for the sumr palace. The Qinzhou local official corruption case was reported by your great uncle. I heard he is now living in the Jiang Household, taken in by your father, otherwise, he might have fallen victim to a cruel plot."
The Song Family's minions are scattered across the court. Silencing a minor Qinzhou official would have been a task too simple?
But now, he has been taken in by the Jiang family. Jiang Yankun might not be worthy of fear, but the Jiang family has a daughter in the palace, who is now the highly esteed Concubine Zhen. Should they offend Jiang Yankun, a word from his daughter to the Emperor might leave them in an undesirable position.
Why is the Xuanwu Emperor telling her this?
Jiang Xinyue struggled to find words, "My great uncle? I have never visited my parental ho. In previous family sacrifices, only my elder brother and Zhe accompanied my father. My sisters and I have never t the relatives there. As for my great uncle... I don’t know what he is like."
The Xuanwu Emperor smirked, "Do you think I am asking you if I can trust him?"
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