Having made her decision and familiarized herself with the route, Consort Xian was still worried.
There was no one she could use in Yuquan Palace.
With morale low in Yuquan Palace, using her few loyal confidants to harm Princess Fuqing would implicate her completely if discovered.
Consort Xian didn’t want to face Emperor Jingming’s wrath.
Although the Empress Dowager said she would still help Zhangr even if Consort Xian was implicated, such a situation would be terrible for Zhangr.
If possible, it was best to avoid that outcome.
She was a desperate gambler, but she still hoped to play her cards as well as she could.
After much deliberation, Consort Xian finally made up her mind. She instructed a trusted palace maid to send a message to an eunuch in Chunhua Palace.
Chunhua Palace was Consort Ning’s residence, but that eunuch was Consort Xian’s loyal agent.
This was a hidden piece she had placed years ago, intending to use it against Consort Ning if they ever came into conflict.
Unexpectedly, Consort Ning had given birth to a useless son, so there had never been a chance to use this piece. Now, however, it provided a convenient opportunity.
Using this hidden agent to deal with Princess Fuqing meant that even if discovered, it would be traced back to Chunhua Palace, with no connection to Yuquan Palace.
Having made her arrangements, Consort Xian waited tensely for the day of action.
As the days grew warmer, the path from Cining Palace to Kunning Palace became lush with fragrant flowers and verdant trees.
Princesses Fuqing and Fourteen had grown accustomed to their daily routine: rising early to pay respects at Cining Palace, having breakfast with the Empress Dowager, spending half the day with her if she had no other engagements, then going to Kunning Palace to pay respects to the Empress.
Afterward, they would either stay for lunch at Kunning Palace or return to rest, finally having some time to themselves.
On this particular day, the weather was beautiful. As they left Cining Palace, the scent of flowers filled the air. Everywhere they looked were colorful blooms and butterflies, a lively summer scene.
Princess Fuqing could never get enough of this beauty, even staring intently at a pink butterfly resting on a flower, its wings gently fluttering.
Princess Fourteen, though reserved in public, had grown more lively around Princess Fuqing after spending so much time together. Seeing her sister’s fascination, she hid a smile behind her fan and said, “Thirteenth Sister, stop staring. That pink butterfly isn’t as pretty as you.”
Princess Fuqing blushed slightly and chided, “Fourteenth Sister, don’t tease. Though I’m not bad-looking, I’m still not as beautiful as a colorful butterfly.”
Princess Fourteen giggled. “Thirteenth Sister, it’s the same scenery every day. How can you never tire of it?”
“Who says it’s always the same?” Princess Fuqing pointed to a cluster of peonies by the path. “Do you see that purple peony?”
Princess Fourteen nodded.
“That purple peony was just a bud yesterday, but today it’s fully bloomed.” Princess Fuqing was excited, delighting in every discovery.
Princess Fourteen smiled warmly, her eyes shining brighter than the summer day. “I was wrong. Indeed, each day is different.”
Princess Fuqing took Princess Fourteen’s hand. “Let’s hurry. Didn’t Mother say we’d have Buddha Jumps Over the Wall for lunch today?”
“Mm-hmm.”
As the two princesses walked hand in hand, they heard hurried footsteps approaching from behind.
“Your Highnesses, please wait—”
Princesses Fuqing and Fourteen turned to see who was catching up to them.
It was an eunuch, slightly out of breath from running. He bowed respectfully and said, “Princess Fuqing, the Empress Dowager requests your return.”
“Grandmother is calling me back?” Though surprised, Princess Fuqing quickly said to Princess Fourteen, “Fourteenth Sister, you go ahead to Mother and let her know. I’ll be there shortly.”
Princess Fourteen glanced at the unfamiliar eunuch and gripped Princess Fuqing’s hand tighter. “Thirteenth Sister, let me go back with you.”
Princess Fuqing was about to nod when the eunuch interjected, “This servant heard that the Empress Dowager wishes to speak to Princess Fuqing alone…”
The princesses exchanged glances.
The eunuch kept his head bowed and urged, “The Empress Dowager is waiting. Your Highnesses—”
“Fourteenth Sister, you should go to Kunning Palace first. I’ll join you after seeing Grandmother,” Princess Fuqing said.
Princess Fourteen reluctantly nodded.
Princess Fuqing parted ways with Princess Fourteen and followed the eunuch back to Cining Palace.
Retracing the path they had just walked, Princess Fuqing lost interest in the scenery, silently wondering why the Empress Dowager had summoned her alone.
What could Grandmother have to say that required Fourteenth Sister’s absence?
If she had something to say, why didn’t she keep her behind earlier and let Fourteenth Sister go ahead?
Was it the forgetfulness of old age, or—
Glancing at the eunuch leading the way on her right, Princess Fuqing’s steps faltered.
Something was off about this eunuch!
Typically, palace servants leading the way would walk on the left, not the right.
Princess Fuqing instinctively looked to her right, where a rockery stood. Beyond it lay Bibo Lake.
“Why has Your Highness stopped?” The eunuch noticed Princess Fuqing’s pause and asked with lowered eyes.
Princess Fuqing took half a step back and said calmly, “I suddenly remembered Mother’s reminder to arrive early. To avoid worrying her, I should go to Kunning Palace first to inform her, then accompany you to Cining Palace—”
The eunuch raised his head, looking troubled. “Does Your Highness wish to keep the Empress Dowager waiting? Princess Fourteen has already gone to Kunning Palace. The Empress will know it’s the Empress Dowager who called for you, so why would she worry?”
“Grandmother’s words can wait a moment. If you’re concerned about the Empress Dowager’s impatience, you can go back and report first.” Princess Fuqing turned to leave as she spoke.
The previously docile eunuch’s expression suddenly changed. His hand, hidden in his sleeve, swiftly covered Princess Fuqing’s mouth.
Though not particularly tall, the eunuch had a cloth in his hand. After covering Princess Fuqing’s mouth, she only struggled for a few moments before losing consciousness, unable to even cry out.
The eunuch sighed in relief, thinking to himself that this pampered princess was quite alert. If not for the drugged cloth, it might have been more troublesome.
Thankfully, Consort Xian had warned him.
The eunuch carried Princess Fuqing around the rockery, dragging her towards the shore of Bibo Lake.
After parting with Princess Fuqing, Princess Fourteen had only walked a short distance towards Kunning Palace before suddenly turning back and running.
As she ran, she berated herself: She had long felt something was off about the Empress Dowager and had resolved to stay by the Thirteenth Sister’s side. How could she have let her go alone with that eunuch?
Even if the Empress Dowager wanted to see Thirteenth Sister alone, requiring her to step away, she could have at least accompanied her and waited outside Cining Palace.
Moreover, that eunuch was unfamiliar. What if he wasn’t from Cining Palace at all?
How foolish of her!
Princess Fourteen, deeply regretting her delayed realization, ran as fast as she could. She caught a glimpse of the eunuch carrying Princess Fuqing disappearing behind the rockery.
Behind the rockery was Bibo Lake…
Princess Fourteen’s face paled dramatically. She sprinted to the rockery, looked around frantically, picked up a stone, and rushed towards the lake shore.