After removing the calluses from her hands, gaining the favor of Prince Zhan, becoming pregnant, obtaining the Purple Jade Qilin, and rising in status through her son, she will become Prince Zhan's consort. At that time, she will definitely mock Shen Lixue mercilessly, making her feel utterly ashamed.
Shen Yingxue ran very fast and caught up with Shen Lixue in no time. Looking at Shen Lixue's careful way of walking with her hand on her waist, she frowned in displeasure. She was only four months pregnant. Why did she need to be so careful? She was so delicate. When she was four months pregnant, she was still cleaning toilets and doing rough work by the river.
Clearing his throat, just as he was about to call out to Shen Lixue, a graceful figure emerged from the side path: "Are you Princess Consort of An County?"
The soft, gentle voice was so sweet it almost melted one's bones. Shen Yingxue was startled and quickly hid in the holly bushes nearby, making sure no one noticed that she had run away from Yongning Palace.
Clumps of holly bushes, with their lush foliage, completely concealed her. She peered out through the gaps in the branches and leaves.
The newcomer was dressed in a lake-blue palace gown, exuding nobility and elegance. Her beautiful eyes sparkled, and a gentle smile graced her face. It was Consort Li. Her gaze towards Chen Lixue was tender yet held an indescribable sharpness.
Her face was smooth and delicate, with a rosy glow. A faint sweetness, like pomegranate seeds, wafted from the fragrance. She used the perfume balm I gave her every day, so how could she still be unharmed?
"Li Xue greets Consort Li." Shen Li Xue gave a slight curtsy. She hadn't expected to meet Consort Li here. Consort Li was covered in scars and looked extremely ugly. She should be staying in Yonghua Palace and not going out. How could she have the leisure to stroll around the palace?
"Li Xue, there's no need for such formalities." Consort Li raised her hand in a gesture of support, smiling slightly as she subtly probed, "Li Xue's complexion is truly radiant; I'm even a little envious."
"Thanks to Your Majesty's good fortune, Li Xue's complexion is rosy after using that box of perfume." The real perfume had long been thrown into a hidden corner by Shen Li Xue.
On her table was a top-quality perfume balm that Dongfang Heng had found for her. Its effects were no worse than those of Consort Li's balm. Combined with the nourishing diet, her complexion was even better than before she was pregnant.
She used the balm, and instead of miscarrying, her complexion improved!
A nameless rage rose in Consort Li's chest, but this was not her intention.
She personally added the pomegranate seeds to the perfume, so how could it not be effective? Was the amount too small, or was Shen Lixue's resistance too strong? It seems she can no longer rely on that box of perfume and must think of other ways to scheme against Shen Lixue.
"Li Xue went to the palace to visit the Empress Dowager?"
A gentle breeze blew by, ruffling the hair on Consort Li's forehead. She gently smoothed it, revealing her fair, white hands to Shen Lixue. Although there were scars on the back of her hands, they had faded considerably and were almost invisible.
No wonder she dared to stroll around the palace; her injuries were almost healed, and she no longer needed to hide her shame!
"Your Majesty, I remember when the poison was cured, the imperial physician announced that you would have a scar on your hand?" Shen Lixue looked at her fair hand and thought to herself, who was so capable as to remove the scar for her?
"Yes, that's what the imperial physicians said." Consort Li gently stroked the back of her smooth hand, her beautiful eyes filled with coldness. When she heard the imperial physicians' diagnosis, she felt like dying. Covered in scars and utterly ugly, what right did she have to live? Fortunately, she wasn't meant to die.
"The person who poisoned me is vicious. If I find out who she is, I will never let her off." Consort Li cursed through gritted teeth, giving Shen Lixue a meaningful look.
"Didn't Your Highness accidentally touch a poisonous plant while picking flowers?" Shen Lixue's eyes flickered, feigning surprise. Consort Li was implying to her face that she suspected Consort Li of being the one who poisoned the plant.
"Of course not!" Consort Li's gaze darkened. She did indeed love strolling through the Imperial Garden, picking one or two beautiful flowers almost every day. Why was she fine most of the time, but poisoned that day? The problem clearly wasn't with the flowers or plants.
"How were Your Highness's scars removed?" Shen Lixue probed subtly.
Consort Li's lips curled slightly: "In retrospect, I was lucky to have met a mysterious doctor who helped me remove the scars on my body and the back of my hands!"
She wants to live well and make that bitch Shen Lixue, who almost killed her, die.
"Which divine doctor is so amazing?" Shen Lixue blinked, her clear, doe-like eyes igniting Li Fei's fury. She was still pretending to be innocent! What a despicable bitch!
"Well... I promised not to reveal his name, so please don't take offense, Li Xue."
Consort Li would never tell a third person about her collaboration with Li Youlan. Revealing that she had a mysterious doctor by her side was intended to pique Shen Lixue's curiosity. Given Shen Lixue's personality, she would definitely send someone to investigate the mysterious doctor. If Shen Lixue made any moves, there would be flaws, and once Consort Lixue seized on them, she would strike her hard.
“A reclusive master is bound to have a somewhat eccentric personality, Li Xue understands.” Shen Li Xue smiled gently and did not press further.
Now it was Consort Li's turn to be surprised. Shouldn't Shen Lixue be digging deep and subtly probing into the background of that divine doctor? She could then subtly reveal some information to her, indirectly setting a trap to ensnare Shen Lixue, seize her weakness, and strike her hard. Why does she seem so uninterested in that divine doctor? Something's not right.
Shen Lixue smiled gently, seemingly no different from usual. But if you looked closely, you would notice that the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, and her smile was... eerie!
Yes, it was indeed strange, as if she knew something very secret but deliberately kept it from Consort Li.
Why does Shen Lixue have such an unfathomable smile? What does she know?
"Your Highness, Li Xue's back aches from standing for so long. I must go now and can no longer chat with you." Shen Li Xue held her lower back, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears, her expression slightly weary, as if she had truly grown tired from standing for so long.
"You're pregnant, and you should definitely go back to your residence to rest if you're tired." Consort Li was upset and guessing the deeper meaning behind Shen Lixue's smile. She had no intention of plotting against her anymore and casually agreed to let her go back to her residence.
"Li Xue takes her leave." Shen Li Xue gracefully bowed, took Qiu He's hand, and slowly walked forward. Her cool gaze swept lightly over the direction where Shen Ying Xue was hiding, and a deep smile appeared on her lips. The one behind Dong Qing should no longer bother her.
Through the gaps in the holly branches, Shen Yingxue watched Shen Lixue's receding figure. She had no intention of chasing after her. She had heard the entire conversation between Consort Li and Shen Lixue. Consort Li had a mysterious doctor who helped remove scars that the imperial physicians couldn't treat. If she could find that doctor and have him prescribe a medicine for her, wouldn't she be able to quickly remove the calluses on her hands as well?
Shen Lixue was not interested in the divine doctor and did not ask any questions. She did not know the doctor's name, appearance, address, or where to find him.
Should we ask Consort Li directly?
She was a noble lady, while I was just a lowly concubine. If I suddenly appeared in front of her, she would despise me and might even have me beaten and driven away, let alone tell me the whereabouts of the divine doctor.
Judging from Consort Li's expression, she seemed very unhappy. Going forward at this time would be tantamount to courting death. What should I do? How can I find that divine doctor?
Shen Yingxue was right. Consort Li was completely absorbed in Shen Lixue's unfathomable smile, trying to guess her intentions, but she couldn't figure it out. Her mind was in turmoil, and she was very irritable.
Light footsteps sounded, and two palace maids in green came along the path. Perhaps because of the holly bushes, they did not see Consort Li. As they walked, they chatted: "Is the jujube paste cake you are carrying, or the red bean cake?"
"Of course it's jujube paste cake. Consort Yu is allergic to red bean cake. If I serve her red bean cake, wouldn't I be courting death?" a palace maid joked.
“Jujube paste cake and red bean cake look very similar, and neither of them are steaming hot. You haven’t even tasted them, so how do you know this is jujube paste cake and not red bean cake?” Another palace maid looked puzzled. “It looks like red bean cake to me. You should be more careful and make sure you don’t get it wrong.”
"Don't worry, Chef Zhao personally told me this is jujube paste cake, it can't be wrong." The palace maid said confidently.
Another palace maid curled her lip: "He has no relation to you, yet you trust him so much?"
"He specializes in making pastries in the imperial kitchen. Osmanthus cake, lotus cake, they're all made by him. He can tell what kind of pastry it is just by glancing at it, he'll never make a mistake..."
The palace maid's clear voice was full of admiration: "Just like what Xiao Dezi and the others said about that Tang Clan, they have their own secret poisons that outsiders can't distinguish or cure, only their own people know the truth..."
"That's true. You know best what you made yourself..."