"Of course I walked in confidently and openly." Li Youlan walked slowly forward, smiling slightly, beautiful and charming.
"The palace maids outside didn't even stop you." Consort Li gritted her teeth. She hadn't even fallen out of favor yet, and those palace maids were already preparing to betray their mistress for personal gain?
Li Youlan smiled and said, "I told them that I could help Your Majesty solve your problems, and they let me in."
Consort Li's gaze sharpened: "Do you know what troubles me?"
"Your Majesty was poisoned, and although you were fortunate enough to be cured, you were left with indelible scars. You must have been troubled by this matter." Under Consort Li's sharp gaze, Li Youlan said slowly.
"So what if it is?" Consort Li looked at the hideous back of her hand, her expression gloomy. Even the imperial physicians in the palace were helpless against the scars on her body. How could Li Youlan, a mere woman, possibly have a way to treat them?
A white jade bottle was handed to her, and Li Youlan's clear voice slowly rang out: "This is a special medicine I formulated for scars. Ordinary scars can be eliminated in ten days to half a month. Although Your Majesty's injury is serious, as long as you apply it on time, your skin can be restored to its original delicate and smooth state in a month at most."
"Is it really that effective?" Consort Li looked at the small porcelain bottle, her beautiful eyes filled with doubt and anticipation.
The inner palace appeared calm on the surface, but undercurrents were always surging. Although she held the rank of concubine, she did not have a powerful family or a prince to protect her. To continue to survive, she had to possess youthful beauty and an enviable figure that could attract the emperor.
Her delicate, smooth skin was ruined, and her body was covered in pits and craters. Even she herself found it disgusting, and the emperor would never be close to her again. Her life was over. But she would not give up as long as there was even the slightest hope of recovery.
Li Youlan smiled and said, "Your Majesty can try it first. After trying it, you will be able to determine whether what I said is true or false."
The imperial physicians unanimously concluded that the scars on Consort Li's body had no chance of healing, which was a source of great distress for her. When Li Youlan brought her some ointment, she decided to give it a try, even if it seemed hopeless.
She took the small porcelain bottle, quickly unscrewed the cap, and immediately a strange fragrance filled the entire room. She scooped out a little ointment and applied it to the back of her hand, spreading it evenly. The cool and refreshing scent seeped into her skin, traveling back and forth between her flesh and blood, bringing indescribable comfort. She couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
Looking down at the back of her hand, she noticed that the crisscrossing scars had indeed faded somewhat. A hint of surprise flashed in her beautiful eyes, which quickly turned into deep joy: "That's great! The ointment really works!"
Her skin will be restored to its original state, and she will regain the Emperor's favor.
Seeing Consort Li holding the ointment, overjoyed, Li Youlan smiled. In the past few days, she had interacted with almost all the favored concubines in the harem. They were all somewhat arrogant due to the Emperor's favor.
Living in the palace for a long time made them shrewd and calculating at a young age. They were polite to everyone on the surface, but no one would do anything for them without some benefit in return.
The palace was filled with gold, silver, and jewels, so simple bribes with gold and silver could no longer sway them. Just then, Consort Li was poisoned and needed a top-quality ointment. So she catered to her tastes, prepared it, and sent it over to relieve her worries and make her owe her a favor. It would be much easier to ask her to do things in the future.
"Does Your Majesty believe me now?"
Consort Li pulled down her robe, dipped her hand in transparent ointment, and gently applied it to the scar on her chest: "Princess Zhan's medical skills are truly superb, far superior to those quacks in the palace. Let's not beat around the bush, Princess Zhan, please just say what you want. As long as it's within my power, I will certainly grant it to you."
There's no such thing as a free lunch. The scars that even the imperial physicians couldn't treat were extremely difficult to remove. Li Youlan must have gone to great lengths to concoct the ointment. She must have had a purpose in going to such lengths to help me.
"Consort Li speaks frankly, so Youlan will no longer beat around the bush. Youlan has two conditions: first, at the appropriate time and place, say a few good words for Prince Zhan in front of the Emperor."
Consort Li was a relatively favored concubine in the harem. She was dignified and gentle and had a certain amount of influence in front of the emperor. Li Youlan planned to place her bet on her.
"It's nothing." Consort Li agreed without even looking up. A few kind words were all she needed to say. The Emperor would probably be happy to hear others praise his son.
Li Youlan nodded in satisfaction. Dongfang Zhan had instructed her to spend more time with the favored concubines so that they would speak well of him indirectly and praise him in front of the emperor at the right time. This would have a multiplier effect, making him the most outstanding prince of Qingyan and bringing him one step closer to the throne.
"Secondly, I would like to ask Consort Li to help me deal with Shen Lixue."
Li Youlan and Shen Lixue fought several times, and each time she suffered a crushing defeat. She was no match for Shen Lixue on her own.
As the saying goes, three cobblers are better than one Zhuge Liang. She found a powerful helper, and the two of them worked together to deal with Shen Lixue. Let's see how Shen Lixue's two fists can withstand their four hands.
Consort Li paused abruptly as she applied the ointment, her fingertips trembling slightly. She asked in a deep voice, "Why are you targeting Shen Lixue?"
"Because Shen Lixue has been plotting against me. She has always used underhanded tactics, making it impossible for me to defend against her. If I, the dignified Princess Consort of Zhan, am defeated by her every time, it would not only be shameful but also too cowardly and incompetent. How could I continue to hold the position of Princess Consort of Zhan?"
In fact, what Li Youlan really wanted to say was that Shen Lixue was Dongfang Heng's principal wife, and if she didn't kill Shen Lixue, how could she marry Dongfang Heng?
Dongfang Zhan warned her not to cause trouble for Shen Lixue before he ascended the throne. She originally wanted to live peacefully with Shen Lixue for a while, but Shen Lixue was reckless and arrogant towards her, grabbing Shen Yingxue and throwing her down from mid-air.
This is intolerable! Shen Lixue provoked her first, so why should she be polite to Shen Lixue?
Consort Li lowered her head to apply the medicine, remaining silent. Her petite figure was hidden in the dim light, and her flickering gaze made it impossible to guess what she was thinking.
Li Youlan raised an eyebrow: "Shen Lixue is the Princess Consort of Anjun, and her status is special. It's understandable that Your Highness has concerns. I won't force Your Highness. You can consider it carefully and think it through before giving me an answer."
Consort Li is a concubine in the harem, a cunning woman more shrewd than a fox. She would not easily take risks. Plotting against the Princess Consort of Anjun is a major matter, and she needs to carefully consider it before making a decision. She will not make a decision lightly because she is too hasty.
"No need to consider it anymore, I can give you an answer today." Consort Li suddenly raised her eyelids, her beautiful eyes flashing with two sharp, cold lights that made people's hearts tremble: "I agree to cooperate with you."
Li Youlan was slightly taken aback. Just now, Consort Li was hesitant. Why did she suddenly agree so readily?
Meeting her puzzled gaze, Consort Li unbuttoned her outer garment, and her silk dress slipped down, revealing her slender body. The crisscrossing dark brown scars were shocking to the eye, making Li Youlan feel nauseous.
"These scars on my body are all thanks to Shen Lixue." Consort Li roared angrily through gritted teeth, her beautiful eyes blazing with fury that seemed to want to incinerate Shen Lixue.
Although she didn't have concrete evidence that Shen Lixue was the one who harmed her, she had only been in contact with one outsider, Shen Lixue, that day, besides His Highness. His Highness wouldn't do such a thing to her, leaving Shen Lixue as the most suspicious person.
Li Youlan was stunned again. She only knew that Consort Li was poisoned and had scars all over her body, but she really didn't know that the scars were Shen Lixue's handiwork. The slut who stole her beloved was even more ruthless than she had imagined.
Consort Li is a concubine in the harem. She is clever and shrewd, and Li Youlan is also a clever woman who is skilled in poisons. If the two of them join forces and are careful, they can definitely defeat Shen Lixue and make her flee in disarray.
“Shen Lixue is not easy to deal with; we need to plan this carefully.”
Consort Li slowly dressed, a cold smile playing on her lips: "I have already tampered with Shen Lixue's clothes."
Having lived in the harem for many years, she understood the principle of striking first and was even more adept at killing without leaving a trace. It was precisely because she had so many concerns that she was momentarily careless and fell into Shen Lixue's trap, almost dying at her hands. She was truly despicable.
Li Youlan was taken aback. They'd already tampered with things? Then what about Shen Lixue…?
"I believe that news from the Holy King's Mansion will arrive soon." A sharp glint flashed in Consort Li's clear eyes. Shen Lixue had caused her to be covered in scars, so she would make sure that Shen Lixue and her son both died.
Shen Lixue really liked the box of perfume she had given her. Before long, there would be a bloody disaster at the Holy King's Mansion. She wanted to see just how red the blood would be, how tragic and spectacular the disaster would be.
Li Youlan raised an eyebrow, feeling relieved. It turned out that Consort Li had already made her move; she just needed to wait for the exciting scene to unfold.