With a "smack," the pastry in Xiaowu's hand was knocked to the ground, breaking into several pieces and creating a mess.
"Xiao Wu, what are you doing?" I turned around and glared at Xiao Wu. My boredom had finally been relieved by the pastries in front of me, but Xiao Wu came out to cause trouble and ruin my mood.
"Poisonous!" Xiao Wu stared at Jie'er with a chilling gaze, as if Jie'er were a piece of trash about to die at her hands.
"What?" She looked at the broken pastries on the ground and then at the plate of pastries on the table.
How could this be? Jie'er poisoned me? This is unbelievable. How could Jie'er possibly want to kill me?
Xiao Wu's words clearly shocked everyone in the room. Everyone stared wide-eyed at Xiao Wu and me. Jie'er was so frightened that her face turned as white as a sheet of paper, and she trembled all over, staring at Xiao Wu in disbelief. The palace maid next to her was so frightened that she knelt down and kowtowed.
"No, no, I didn't poison her, sister, sister, I didn't poison her!" Jie'er bit her lower lip, gripping my hand tightly, large tears streaming down her face, but she dared not cry out loud, afraid of arousing misunderstandings.
"Xiao Wu, you must be mistaken. This doesn't look poisonous at all." I ordered a palace maid to get a silver needle to test it, but there was no sign of it turning black. It didn't look poisonous at all!
Xiao Wu stepped forward, dipped some pastries from the plate, smelled them, then widened her eyes, her gaze as cold as stars piercing Jie'er. She reached out and grabbed Jie'er's neck, asking sharply, "Who are you?"
Jie'er was having difficulty breathing as Xiao Wu choked her, and her face turned blue and purple. She was hitting Xiao Wu's hand. In my opinion, Jie'er's neck in Xiao Wu's hand was like a pair of chopsticks, which would break with a single pinch.
I rushed forward, pulled Xiaowu's hand down, and shielded Jie'er behind my back. Jie'er hid behind me in fear, too scared to come out.
"Xiao Wu, wait a minute. You can't accuse someone without evidence."
"Miss, do you think I've wronged her?" Xiao Wu looked at me coldly.
"No, Xiao Wu, these things don't prove that Jie'er poisoned her. Xiao Wu, what kind of poison was it?" I didn't dare to provoke Xiao Wu any further, because Xiao Wu was also thinking of me.
"Desire to Immortality" Xiao Wu frowned as she looked at the pastries on the ground.
"Desire to Immortality? What is that?" After comforting Jie'er, I pulled her to her maid's side and approached Xiao Wu to ask.
"It's a deadly poison. People who are poisoned by it feel very comfortable at first, but in the end they bleed from all seven orifices and feel like they're floating on air. That's why it's called 'Delightful to the Immortal.'" He was watching Jie'er behind me to prevent her from making any rash moves, and he explained for me.
I looked at Jie'er in astonishment, then at the ground. My God, what kind of poison is this? It has such a nice-sounding name, yet it's deadly. I can't even imagine what would have happened if I had swallowed it. I wouldn't be standing here now.
"Xiao Wu, is this poison very rare? Why do you look so incredulous?" I wanted to ask Xiao Wu, remembering her 'impossible' expression when she first smelled the poison.
"This is a poison only the Demonic Sect possesses, and even the Poisonous Maiden has it, though it rarely appears now." He flashed past me, standing in front of Jie'er and staring sharply at her. Xiao Qing, who had somehow appeared behind Jie'er, held a sword to her neck. Jie'er trembled as she looked at the sword, her eyes pleading for my help.
Demonic Cult? I pondered this term. I knew a little about demonic cults from reading novels before, but who is this Poisonous Woman? My goodness, more and more people I don't recognize are appearing!
"Who is Poisonous Mother?" I didn't stop Xiao Wu's actions. As long as she didn't kill Jie'er, I wouldn't stop her.
"She's a notorious poison master in the martial arts world. Her entire body is covered in poison, and she's been developing poisons. Someone once got close to her and died, and their body hasn't been found yet. The victim's disciples wanted revenge, but they were all poisoned to death overnight. She's a woman, which is why she's known in the martial arts world as 'Poison Maiden'."
"According to you, only the Demonic Sect and the Poison Girl have it now, so this matter is related to them." He pondered the doubts like a famous detective, punching one hand with the other, looking enlightened, without showing any fear that someone was trying to poison him.
"No, it's only related to the Poison Girl," Xiao Wu firmly denied.
"Why"
"Because the Demonic Cult never shares its poisons with outsiders."
"Oh," I thought about those questions, but I just didn't understand why Jie'er would want to kill me; she had no motive. But I still believed that Jie'er wouldn't do that.
"Xiao Wu, come here. Jie'er wouldn't do that. Go and find out who touched this plate along the way."
At this moment, the palace maid next to Jie'er knelt down in fear, "It wasn't me, please, Madam Jue, investigate thoroughly!"
"Get up." Looking at the palace maid on the ground, I had a headache. I didn't say it was her, so why did she kneel down?
I left this matter to Xiaowu and Xiaoqing to investigate. I didn't hold Jie'er accountable; I just comforted her, told her I would get justice for her, and then had someone send her home.
What I thought was a minor matter has escalated to the point that the Empress Dowager and Xingyi arrived, and very quickly at that. This makes me wonder if they have planted a lot of spies around me!
I thought I could quietly wait for him to come back while he was still gone, but I never expected that God would give me such a brain-taxing task.
(Dear readers, Xue'er knows I update relatively slowly, please understand and support Xue'er. Xue'er will try harder to update faster! ~)
Chapter Forty
The next day, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has arrived..." the eunuch's drawn-out voice echoed outside my palace.
Because Xiao Wu had foresight, she told me in advance that they would come to inquire the next day, so she told me to get up early. I was drowsy when Xiao Wu pulled me up, but the eunuch's shout scared away all my desire to sleep. Sometimes I had to go and mess with those eunuchs to vent my anger. They're here, so what? Why shout so loudly?
I wore a light purple dress embroidered with small, pale pink gardenias. My hair was casually tied in a loose bun, adorned with a pale purple hairpin, giving me a relaxed yet elegant look. I wore minimal makeup, with no lipstick on my lips.
I slowly walked to the seat of honor and sat down, waiting for their arrival. I wasn't going to be foolish enough to stand there and wait; that's the advantage of having status.
I saw Xingyi and the Empress Dowager enter, supported by eunuchs. Xingyi winked at me and greeted me. The Empress Dowager looked stern, and her expression darkened further when she saw that I did not stand up to greet her.
I asked Xiaowu to get another chair. I didn't want them to think I was sitting down and they were sitting down!
The Empress Dowager glanced at me disdainfully, then arrogantly walked to the chair Xiao Wu had brought and sat down. Xingyi also sat down in the chair next to me with a wicked smile.
I stood up and bowed slightly to them, and the Empress Dowager's expression softened a little.
What a troublesome old woman! She insists that people bow to her, and if they don't, she gets angry at me. If it weren't for the fact that you're an elderly person and our teacher taught us to 'respect the elderly and care for the young,' I wouldn't bother with you at all.
He casually sat down in the chair, picked up the tea that Xiao Wu had helped him up, took a sip, and put it down with satisfaction. "I wonder what brings the Empress Dowager and the Emperor to visit Zixue?"
The Empress Dowager didn't speak, but gave me a disapproving look. I looked at Wang Xingyi, who had also taken a sip of tea. Seeing me looking at him, he smiled and said, "We heard that something terrible has happened to Consort Jue, so the Empress Dowager and I have come to inquire."
"Oh, I wonder which matter Your Majesty is referring to? There have been quite a few extraordinary things happening here at Zixue lately." Hmph, I'll just play dumb and see what you do. I won't say anything, I'll let you suffer in silence.
The Empress Dowager slammed down her teacup, her sharp gaze fixed on me. "Madam Jue is trying to fool me."
"Oh, look at what the Empress Dowager is saying, how could Zixue dare? But Zixue really doesn't know what the Empress Dowager and the Emperor were talking about," I said with a grin, meeting the Empress Dowager's eyes without fear.
"It concerns Consort Ye and Consort Jie of the Palace," the Empress Dowager's face darkened further. Seeing this, the eunuch beside her quickly told me...
I already disliked eunuchs, and seeing him like this, I looked at him with very unfriendly eyes.
The eunuch quickly lowered his head, cursing himself for courting death.
"Honestly, how can servants these days be so ill-mannered?" Duanzhuang picked up a handkerchief to wipe her mouth.
"Zixue, this is the matter. Don't you want to give me and the Empress Dowager an explanation?" Xingyi interrupted my attempt to make things difficult for the eunuch, a smile playing on her lips. Her eyes, which looked at me, were unusually calm, as unfathomable as a bottomless pit.
That look again, it's so uncomfortable. Why can't he just look at people normally? Why does he have to look at me with those "I can see right through you" eyes? It's so annoying.
Avoiding his gaze, I smiled slightly and said, "What's there to explain?"
"What Lady Jue says is wrong. As the head of the harem, I should be involved in this matter," the Empress Dowager said with a sneer.
"Guards, bring Murong Jie to see me!" The Empress Dowager disregarded the fact that I was the master of this place and rashly issued the order.
I won't argue with her about these things. Since she wants to make a scene, fine, I'll play along to the end.
Before long, we saw Jie'er being escorted to us by the guards. She looked at me and Xingyi in a panic, clearly frightened.
"How dare you, Murong Jie! How dare you not bow before me and the Emperor!" Jie'er, still reeling from the scene, immediately knelt upon hearing the Empress Dowager's angry rebuke, saying, "Jie'er greets the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and Lady Jue."
"Murong Jie, do you know your crime?" the Empress Dowager shouted.
"Jie'er doesn't know what crime she has committed." Jie'er knelt on the ground, and I couldn't see her expression, but she must have been very scared!
"How dare you! You dare to call yourself by your own name and poison Lady Jue! You still don't know your crime? Guards, drag Murong Jie out and lock her in the dungeon!" The Empress Dowager gripped the chair handle tightly, her eyes sharply fixed on Jie'er on the ground.
The guards outside came in to arrest her, but Jie'er cried out, "No, it wasn't me! I didn't do it! Your Majesty, please investigate! Your Majesty, please investigate!"
I picked at my ear, saw that it was about time, and said casually, "Wait, Your Majesty, we cannot draw conclusions without evidence."
"With witnesses and physical evidence, what else does Madam Jue want to say?" The Empress Dowager shifted her disgusted gaze from Jie'er to me.
"But, Your Majesty, Zixue has already sent people to investigate this matter. Besides, this is Zixue's business, so Your Majesty need not trouble yourself."
"How dare you, Madam Jue! I respect you as the wife of Young Master Jue and have treated you with great hospitality. I never expected you to be so ungrateful as to speak to me like that!" The Empress Dowager stood up angrily, her eyes like sharp swords, as if she wanted to kill me. Xiao Wu tried to protect me in front of me, but I immediately grabbed her hand to prevent her from going forward.
"Your Majesty, you've gone too far with those words. Zixue knows her own status. Zixue has never crossed the line. May I ask Your Majesty, where does this 'ungrateful' accusation come from? Has Zixue ever contradicted Your Majesty or the Emperor? Has Zixue ever shown disrespect to Your Majesty or the Emperor? Has Zixue ever failed to bow to the Emperor or the Empress Dowager?" I also stood up and approached the Empress Dowager step by step. Although I was smiling, my eyes were icy cold.
"You...you...you've rebelled! Rebellion! Guards!" The Empress Dowager, forced into a chair by me, frantically shouted to those behind her.
"Get down. It seems Zixue and the Empress Dowager don't take me seriously. I'm still here!" Xingyi's cold voice came from behind, carrying an undeniable tone. Sure enough, I knew it. This guy was clearly here to watch the show. If I didn't force him, he might just sit there and watch me and the Empress Dowager fight! What a treacherous fellow!
I sat back down in my original spot, feeling bored, and sipped my tea.
"Zixue, this matter concerns the imperial palace and the harem, and should be handled by me and the Empress Dowager," Xingyi said to me in a gentle tone, knowing I couldn't be forceful.
When the Empress Dowager heard Xingyi say this, she looked at him with satisfaction.
"Your Majesty, you are mistaken. This is a matter of the inner palace, but it concerns my life and fortune. How can I, Zixue, sit idly by?" I will not compromise.
“This…” Xingyi pondered deeply.
What a show-off! What a show-off! This guy clearly already agreed in his heart, but he's still pretending to be considering it. Look at how nervous the Empress Dowager and Jie'er are; you can tell how wicked this guy is.
I had no qualms and continued doing my own thing.
“Zixue, aren’t you worried that I won’t agree?” Xingyi raised an eyebrow at me, seeing my nonchalant expression.
"Yes, I'm scared, but Zixue believes the Emperor has no reason to refuse."
"Hahahaha, as expected. Alright, Mother, leave this matter to Zixue alone!" Xingyi looked at me inscrutably, then said to the Empress Dowager.
"This..." The Empress Dowager was still very unwilling, feeling that her dignity had been attacked.
"Mother, let me help you back to the palace." He didn't give the Empress Dowager any reason to refuse, making me feel that he was forcibly helping her away, and the Empress Dowager could only leave in annoyance.
It seems that this star-patterned robe still has a certain impact on the Empress Dowager.
Chapter 41
I really don't understand why there are so many things going on in the palace. It's not easy to stay safe here!
Tilting my head, I watched with amusement as the group of people left, seemingly just there for a game. I genuinely admired their interest and also felt a sense of awe at how 'important' I was in their eyes.
She looked down at Jie'er, who was paralyzed and trembling on the ground, pursed her lips, stood up gracefully, walked slowly to her side, and gently helped her weak body to sit down in a chair.
"It's alright, Jie'er," I said softly, not wanting to frighten her.
Finally, Jie'er started crying in my arms, "Waaaaah!" It seemed like she had been holding it in for a long time. She held my shoulders tightly, trying to let out all the grievances she had just vented.
"Okay, okay, it's alright now," he said, enduring the pain in his shoulder, gently patting her back with a soothing tone.