On the stage, the sound of drums and clappers resonated, as an elderly actor, clad in battle robes and stroking his beard, strode forward, his voice resounding: “The grace of the lord must be repaid with loyalty. Filial piety demands utmost devotion and loyalty. Tell the master: No need for beating drums or following generals; as long as General Huang rides alone, he will capture Dingjun Mountain.”
With the drums pounding and the lyrics resonating, it was the scene of the veteran general Huang Zhong once again emerging from retirement, using the stratagem to defeat the Wei general Xiahou Yuan and capturing Dingjun Mountain. However, Xia Mingyuan frowned deeply, gripping the paper note tightly in his hand, almost tearing a hole through it. It wasn’t until the actor finished his performance that he turned to Luo Yuan and asked, “Wenqian, what do you think?”
Luo Yuan’s eyes flickered, but he simply replied, “This student dares not speak.”
Xia Mingyuan snorted coldly. “There are only the two of us here. There’s nothing you cannot say! Speak your mind without reservation.”
Luo Yuan lifted his head, as if making a decision, and said, “Would the Prime Minister be willing to tell this student what his original plan was?”
Xia Mingyuan slammed the teacup lid down on the table, making a loud noise. He looked puzzled, but Luo Yuan suddenly smiled and said, “If the Prime Minister doesn’t want to say, this student won’t force it. Today’s matter was voluntarily undertaken by this student for the Prime Minister. Now that the intended person has been seen and the necessary item obtained, it’s time for this student to withdraw.”
As he was about to get up, Xia Mingyuan made a heavy grunt and finally closed the lid of the cup with a faint “ding” sound. He took a deep breath and finally said, “Well, suspicions about using someone or not using someone. Since it has come to this, there’s no harm in telling you.”
He stood up, drew the curtains facing the stage, and then turned to say, “That day, Xiyi and the princess went to visit the Empress Dowager. However, she didn’t know that the Empress Dowager couldn’t tolerate the scent of orchids, so she applied a scented oil mixed with orchids to her hair. Later, the Empress Dowager fell into a coma, and His Majesty was furious, using this as a reason to keep them in the palace but without letting any news leak out. It was only when I went to visit the Empress Dowager that His Majesty explained the situation to me.”
Luo Yuan remained composed, patiently waiting for him to continue. Xia Mingyuan sat down and continued, “After hearing about this incident, I thought it was the perfect opportunity. Although His Majesty didn’t say it, I understand that he has always been wary of the military power in the hands of the Marquis Xuan. But due to their past brotherly relationship, and considering that if the Xiao family’s army turned against us, there would be no defense at the border. So without a suitable reason, it was difficult for him to decide to deal with Xiaodu. Xiaodu has been very sensible these years, staying in the mansion and not venturing out, especially concerning official matters, because he understands that any action he takes could easily be used against him. However, this time is different. Xiaodu’s mother and wife are both controlled in the palace, their lives hanging in the balance. Even if he can endure, there will come a day when he can’t. As long as he can’t hold back and rushes into the palace, it’s like walking into a dead end.”
Luo Yuan stroked his chin and suddenly smiled, saying, “The Prime Minister indeed has a good plan. If this student guesses correctly, the path into the palace must have been laid with traps by the Prime Minister. If he dares to go, he will be accused of attempting regicide and rebellion. At that time, even if His Majesty doesn’t want to, he will have to push him to his death.”
But his smile gradually faded as he looked at Xia Mingyuan’s increasingly grim expression and continued, “But, Prime Minister, according to this student, this plan is unfeasible! If I’m not mistaken, the Prime Minister and…” He cleared his throat and continued, “The Prime Minister’s plan might have already been anticipated by someone else, and they might have even devised a counterplan!”
Xia Mingyuan’s body trembled, and he quickly asked, “What do you mean by that?”
Luo Yuan picked up the note from the table and said, “May I ask if this handwriting belongs to the Prime Minister’s daughter?”
Xia Mingyuan nodded. “Xi’er is still my daughter after all, and I recognize her handwriting.”
Luo Yuan frowned and said, “If that’s the case, then it’s a big problem.” He stared at Xia Mingyuan and continued, “A few days ago, when I went to find Xiaodu, I overheard the last sentence he said to the guards before entering the door, although I couldn’t hear it clearly, I caught the words: ‘sneak back… come back…’. So I paid special attention, and recently, there have been many suspicious merchant ships outside the capital, filled with men trained in martial arts. They don’t enter the city but linger outside. Can the Prime Minister understand why?”
Xia Mingyuan’s face changed dramatically. “Are you saying that members of the Xiao family’s army may have been secretly recalled by him?”
Luo Yuan tapped his finger lightly on the table and said, “Exactly. I’ve checked the recent reports from the border. Although the fighting has decreased before the new year, the soldiers of the Xiao family’s army have been training day and night, and several generals have disappeared without a trace. I’m afraid, Prime Minister, so everything may have been planned by them. To give Marquis Xuan an excuse to enter the palace.”
Xia Mingyuan felt his palms sweating, but he still couldn’t understand. “But he can’t bring troops. What use would it be for him to enter the palace alone?”
Luo Yuan shook his head. “What if there are people he arranged in the Forbidden Army? If he wants to rebel, with support from both inside and outside, the Imperial City will be in danger. Prime Minister, are you willing to take this risk? Even if he fails, it will undoubtedly cause considerable trouble for His Majesty. Can the Prime Minister bear the responsibility?”
Xia Mingyuan became more and more shocked as he listened. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and hesitated repeatedly for a long time before reluctantly sighing, “Must we give up on such a good opportunity?”
Luo Yuan nodded. “The Prime Minister has waited for these years, so why fear waiting a little longer? In any case, we must not allow him to have an excuse to enter the palace this time, otherwise, if he rebels, I’m afraid the situation will be even more difficult to handle.”
Xia Mingyuan couldn’t believe that his carefully crafted plan had fallen victim to someone else’s scheme. Anger and resentment surged within him as he viciously smashed the teacup to the ground. At that moment, the performance on stage reached its climax:
“This letter arrives just in time, aiding me in Huang Zhong’s successful labor. Standing at the camp gate, I command the three armies, every man and child listens to my orders: first drum, prepare for battle; second drum, tighten your armor; third drum, draw your swords; fourth drum, engage the enemy.”
Meanwhile, in the Yikun Palace, Yuanxi finally found the case she had seen before in a book. Delighted, she read through the case repeatedly, furrowing her brows in contemplation. Finally, she realized something unusual. Hurriedly closing the pages of the book, she went to the princess’s chamber and asked, “Grandmother, do you remember what symptoms the Empress Dowager showed when she was first poisoned by the orchid, and how many days she remained unconscious?”
The princess furrowed her brows, carefully pondering for a moment before replying, “It was similar to this, covered in red rashes all over, unconscious. It seemed she remained unconscious for a full two days before waking up.”
Yuanxi’s eyes sparkled as she asked again, “How did she get poisoned that time?”
The princess replied, “It seemed she accidentally smelled an orchid in the imperial garden, then quickly collapsed. After the imperial physician consulted numerous medical texts, it was discovered that it might have been due to the orchid. Following the prescription in the books, she was treated and recovered. Interestingly, she had never encountered orchids at her family’s home, so she was unaware of her susceptibility to this poison.”
Yuanxi became even more convinced and said, “Last time, the Empress Dowager only smelled the entire orchid and only remained unconscious for two days. This time, she only touched the orchid oil and had the original prescription for treatment, yet she remains unconscious. Grandmother, don’t you find it suspicious?”
The princess also felt uneasy at this point and looked at Yuanxi with probing eyes. Yuanxi, however, wore a confident smile on her face and said, “Please inform His Majesty for me. Tell him that Yuanxi has a way to wake the Empress Dowager immediately to atone for her sins. However, I ask him to summon all the palace maids and courtiers present on the day of the incident to the Empress Dowager’s chamber for us to testify together.”
The princess still felt uncertain and said, “Do you have confidence? If it fails, we will be guilty of deceiving the emperor!”
Yuanxi held her hand reassuringly and said, “Don’t worry, Xia’er will bring you back to the Marquis Mansion!”
The next day, the Empress Dowager’s chamber was filled with palace maids and courtiers. Zhao Yan sat at the head, his expression grim. Yuanxi stood in front of the Empress Dowager’s bed, carefully questioning the physician who had examined her that day. The physician suddenly looked up, seemingly surprised, glanced at Yuanxi, then hurriedly checked the Empress Dowager’s pulse before turning to Zhao Yan and nodding heavily.
Yuanxi then turned to Zhao Yan and knelt, saying, “I didn’t dare trouble Your Majesty originally, but it concerns the Empress Dowager’s life. I dare not be negligent and must ask Your Majesty to make a judgment!” Zhao Yan waved his hand, motioning for her to rise, and said, “You said you found a way to wake the Empress Dowager. I want to know, what is this method?”
Yuanxi turned to the physician again and asked, “May I ask, Doctor Liu, has Empress Dowager’s condition worsened these past few days?”
The physician nodded with shame, then tremblingly said to Zhao Yan, “Your Majesty, forgive me. I have used medical records and the prescription that cured the Empress Dowager in the past, but the effect was minimal. Today, it seems even more severe.”
Yuanxi walked over slowly and said, “Doctor Liu, don’t blame yourself. The Empress Dowager’s condition not improving is not your fault.” She paused, her gaze sweeping coldly across the room, and said, “Because someone doesn’t want her to wake up, they deliberately added orchids to the incense. If this continues, not only will the Empress Dowager not recover, but her life will also be in danger.”
With these words, the room was shocked, and Zhao Yan stood up angrily, “You say someone deliberately added orchids to the incense to harm the Empress Dowager?”
Yuanxi nodded and said, “I once read about a similar case in a book. In that case, a farmer’s wife couldn’t smell ginger flowers, but her husband deliberately mixed ginger pollen into her porridge. After she fainted, he secretly made ginger into a pillow for her to lie on every day, and the farmer’s wife eventually died from the cumulative effects of ginger poison. I got a hint from this case. The Empress Dowager woke up after only two days of poisoning last time, but this time, she hasn’t woken up yet. I’m afraid someone is up to no good.”
She walked to the incense burner, flicking some ashes out, and continued, “I suspect that someone among those close to the Empress Dowager has harbored resentment. It just so happened that I inadvertently wiped orchid oil into the palace, which the Empress Dowager then touched, causing her to faint. This person seized this opportunity to secretly allow the unconscious Empress Dowager to touch orchids again every day.
If anything happened to the Empress Dowager, it would be blamed on me, while they could escape unscathed. I’ve thought about it for a long time. The Empress Dowager’s daily intake of medicine undergoes rigorous inspection. The only thing the culprit can use is this incense. And since the Empress Dowager is already poisoned, she doesn’t need a large dose. A small amount of orchid scent mixed with lily incense wouldn’t be noticed.” She handed the ashes to Doctor Liu and said, “As for whether my speculation is correct, please have Doctor Liu investigate to confirm.”
Doctor Liu hurriedly took the ashes and examined them carefully, then said to Zhao Yan, “Your Majesty, indeed, there is the smell of orchids mixed in.”
Zhao Yan was shaking with anger. With a loud slap on the table, he startled all the palace maids and courtiers in the room. His eyes swept across them coldly as he shouted, “Who! Who dares to do such a thing? Step forward!”
The palace attendants trembled in fear, kneeling all over the floor, but none dared to speak up. Yuanxi, however, walked calmly to the front of the crowd and said, “If you want to know who it is, it’s not difficult. The person who needs to add orchids to the incense every day will surely have traces of smoke on their fingers. Your Majesty, you can investigate one by one to find out.”
Before she finished speaking, one of the palace maids collapsed to the ground, trembling uncontrollably, her eyes rolling back, and then she fainted…
On the third day of the first month, after being unconscious for a full six days, the Empress Dowager finally woke up. The palace maid Shaoyao, who had harbored resentment due to her punishment by the Empress Dowager, secretly plotted to harm her and the Marquis’s wife had been thrown into the prison, awaiting execution. On the fourth day of the first month, the Marquis’s wife and Princess Ruian sat in the palanquin bestowed upon them, finally leaving the heavily guarded palace and entering the streets.
On this day, as the winter snow began to melt and the willows started to bud, a man stood straight in front of the Marquis’s Mansion. Clad in a crimson cloak and soft boots with a jade belt, the wind made the cloak rustle, but he remained steadfast like a jade tree standing proudly in the wind, stubbornly watching the end of the street. Finally, a yellow palanquin top appeared in his sight, getting closer and closer. The cold wind made his eyes somewhat misty, and he gradually lifted the corners of his lips, whispering, “Yue’er, you’re finally back.”