The Cold Palace confined disgraced or fallen-from-favor concubines. It was nothing like those modern television dramas that portrayed it so pleasantly, where one could even bring palace maids inside to serve them. Dream on! When Shen Hanlu had to fight for food in there, she did everything herself.
“This subject concubine has endured enough torment and finally waited for the day to come out, which made me realize how precious life outside is.” Shen Hanlu’s eyes brimmed with tears as she looked at Shen Guiyan. “This subject concubine does not seek His Majesty’s favor, only wishes for peaceful days and stable contentment.”
One truly doesn’t know sweetness without having suffered bitterness—this was true. But toward someone who had harmed her before, Shen Guiyan had no sympathy. She nodded and said, “It’s good that you’ve come to terms with it. Go back and rest first.”
“Your Highness… will allow this subject concubine to remain in the palace?” Shen Hanlu asked cautiously.
Shen Guiyan laughed lightly. “Though this palace holds the rank of Noble Consort, I have no authority to decide the retention or dismissal of concubines. Your future will depend on your own fortune.”
Shen Hanlu was delighted and rose, saying, “Thank you, Your Highness. Your Highness has been so magnanimous toward Hanlu, Hanlu truly has no way to repay this. In the future, if there’s anything Your Highness needs Hanlu for, just say the word.”
Shen Guiyan stood and walked toward the inner hall. Seeing how Baoshan and the others had tidied up the palace, she hummed in acknowledgment without turning back. Thinking that Shen Hanlu should leave now, she turned to look at the decorations nearby.
She still remembered when she had first visited the Northern Palace, the Grand Empress Dowager had pointed to items and told her, “This was bestowed by the late Emperor, and so was that one.”
“Three thousand favors concentrated on one person”—it must have been like that. Shen Guiyan pressed her lips together. Now, everything on her shelves was also imperially bestowed. Would there come a day when she too would tell a young palace maid, “This is the imperially bestowed lacquered semi-hollowed three-legged koi fish bowl”?
That koi bowl was right beside her hand. As Shen Guiyan was staring at it in fascination, her hand suddenly hurt.
Something cold bit her hand.
“Ah!” Shen Guiyan jumped in fright.
“Noble Consort Your Highness!” Shen Hanlu, who hadn’t left yet, took two steps forward and saw the snake’s head emerging from the koi bowl. Her expression changed drastically as she urgently shouted, “Quickly summon the Imperial Physician! Her Highness has been bitten by a snake!”
Baoshan was startled and hurriedly called for help. Several eunuchs came in, caught the snake, and took it away. Consort Shen supported Shen Guiyan, gripped her wrist, led her to sit down to the side, and without another word opened her mouth to suck on the wound.
“Consort Shen Your Highness?” Baoshan frowned, supporting Shen Guiyan while looking at her strangely.
Xiuping behind them said anxiously, “We don’t know if this snake is poisonous or not. My mistress is helping Noble Consort Your Highness suck out all the venom. Sister Baoshan, don’t speak—if Consort Shen Your Highness swallows the poison, that would be terrible.”
Baoshan quickly fell silent. Shen Guiyan’s body stiffened and she dared not move. She had heard that if one moved after being bitten by a snake, the venom would quickly spread throughout the body.
She still had a child in her belly—there absolutely couldn’t be even the slightest harm!
Shen Hanlu continuously sucked on her wound, sucking and spitting. The blood was actually truly black. Baoshan tremblingly went out to have someone report to the Emperor. The Imperial Physician also arrived quickly.
“Consort Shen Your Highness, you must not!” As soon as the Imperial Physician entered and saw Shen Hanlu spitting blood, he immediately said, “This snake venom entering the mouth—Your Highness will also be affected. Please let this humble physician handle it.”
“What do you know?” Shen Hanlu’s vision darkened. She spat out a mouthful of red blood and said with a smile, pointing, “This palace has watched television. When the blood turns bright red after sucking it out, then… then it will be fine.”
Her tongue was numb, and even speaking a single sentence came out garbled. Shen Hanlu turned her head wanting to say something more, but her entire body had already gone limp.
Shen Guiyan frowned as she looked at her.
Could a person undergo such a drastic change in such a short time? Previously, Shen Hanlu had wished for her death, but now without any hesitation she came to suck out the poison for her. What if this poison was fatal—what then?
“Your Highness!” Xiuping hurriedly supported Shen Hanlu to the side. The Imperial Physician came forward but didn’t examine Consort Shen first—he still checked Noble Consort’s pulse first.
“Does Noble Consort Your Highness feel dizzy?” the Imperial Physician asked.
Shen Guiyan shook her head. “I felt somewhat dizzy just now, but I’m fine now.”
Looking at the blood spat on the ground nearby, the Imperial Physician breathed a sigh of relief. “Noble Consort Your Highness is unharmed. Consort Shen Your Highness’s method was effective—all the poison has been sucked out.”
“What about her?” Shen Guiyan looked toward Shen Hanlu nearby.
Only then did the Imperial Physician go over to check Consort Shen’s pulse. His expression changed slightly as he said, “Consort Shen Your Highness has been poisoned by snake venom. Where is the snake that was just caught? Bring it here and all will be well.”
Baoshan pressed her lips and asked, “What kind of snake is this?”
The Imperial Physician answered, “A cockscomb snake—highly venomous. But as long as we have the snake, there’s still hope for salvation. However, Consort Shen Your Highness will have to endure some suffering.”
“How could there be a venomous snake in a perfectly fine koi bowl?” Baoshan turned to look at her mistress. “This servant came to clean this morning and personally washed this bowl. There was nothing inside it.”
Shen Guiyan leaned back in her chair, still shaken, and said with her eyes closed, “First help Consort Shen onto the couch over there to detoxify her. As for the rest, we’ll discuss it after she’s saved.”
The eunuchs brought the snake, and the Imperial Physician extracted the snake’s venom to prepare an antidote. Shen Guiyan waited beside them.
A highly venomous snake—if not for Shen Hanlu’s quick reaction, it would be her lying there now.
Gu Chaobei rushed over in great haste, his crown and belt askew. As soon as he entered, he tried to rush toward the couch.
“Your Majesty,” Shen Guiyan called to him. “This subject concubine is fine now.”
Gu Chaobei turned around and, seeing her hand already bandaged, frowned and asked, “What happened?”
Shen Guiyan looked toward Shen Hanlu on the couch and recounted what had just occurred. Gu Chaobei’s brow furrowed deeply. “How could a venomous snake enter a perfectly fine palace? Who came here just now? Summon them all back.”
The dragon’s countenance was furious. The palace servants transmitting the decree all ran swiftly. Before long, everyone who had come to pay respects that morning had returned.
Gu Chaobei didn’t even glance at Shen Hanlu. He only repeatedly asked the Imperial Physician whether Noble Consort Yan and the fetus were both unharmed, then with a stern face began searching for whoever had released the snake.
Many in the harem had never seen the Emperor before. Today could be considered their first time. Though very excited, facing the Emperor’s pair of cold, piercing eyes, they all tucked away their extra thoughts.
How favored Noble Consort Yan was didn’t need much explanation. Now, having just moved palaces, a venomous snake appeared in the palace—whoever was caught would certainly face severe punishment. No one dared act rashly, fearing suspicion.
All the palace servants who had helped in the inner hall were kneeling below.
Baoshan said, “The people who tidied various items and wiped vessels were clearly divided. The koi bowl was placed on the eastern shelf. Only three could have passed by and touched it—Huarui from Consort Xi Your Highness’s side, Xiuping from Consort Shen Your Highness’s side, and Qingzhu from Lady Fu’s side. But Xiuping is impossible.”
The Emperor listened and asked, “Why?”
“Because this servant was careless. When I handed the teapot to Xiuping, she didn’t catch it properly and water spilled into her sleeve. When this servant helped wipe it off, I didn’t see anything suspicious, and the bowl at that time should have been empty.” Baoshan said seriously. “As for the other two palace maids, this servant doesn’t know.”
When Gu Chaobei heard about this matter, the person he suspected most was Shen Hanlu—he didn’t rule out the possibility that she used this incident to gain Yan’er’s sympathy. But Baoshan testified and actually ruled out Xiuping.
Then of the remaining two, one belonged to Consort Xi and one to Lady Fu. Without needing to think, the Emperor waved his hand and said, “Drag Qingzhu down for palace rule punishment. Confine Lady Fu to the Imperial Clan Court.”
Fu Youyi was shocked, her face turning deathly pale. “Your Majesty?”
Consort Xi was also somewhat surprised and turned her head. “How does Your Majesty know it was her doing?”
If it wasn’t her, then was it you? Gu Chaobei sighed inwardly. This Narcissus was too foolish—he had so obviously shown his trust in her, yet she still asked this question.
“This subject concubine is wronged!” Lady Fu knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly. “Noble Consort Yan Your Highness can testify—the one who first asked palace servants to help tidy Yonghe Palace was Consort Xi Your Highness. This subject concubine even tried to dissuade her. How could I have Qingzhu throw a venomous snake into that bowl? This subject concubine had no idea that palace servants could enter Noble Consort Your Highness’s inner hall!”
Consort Xi came out and knelt, very displeased, saying, “This subject concubine has no reason to harm Noble Consort Your Highness.”
“Mm, we know.” Gu Chaobei waved his hand. “Lady Fu need not make excuses. Take her away.”
“Your Majesty!” Fu Youyi struggled and refused to go. “This subject concubine’s grandfather has at least devoted himself loyally to the imperial house for so many years. Will Your Majesty determine this subject concubine’s guilt without even investigating? This subject concubine will not confess!”
Noble Consort Hua frowned slightly and turned to look at the Emperor. “Your Majesty, this Lady Fu is Scholar Fu’s…”
“We know.” Gu Chaobei laughed lightly. “Have we said we’re determining her guilt? First confine her to the Imperial Clan Court. If you want us to investigate this matter, we will send someone to investigate. If we’ve wronged you, we’ll apologize. Is that acceptable?”
Lady Fu felt extremely aggrieved, tears streaming down her face. She glared hatefully at Consort Xi. “Your Majesty must not trust the wrong person.”
Consort Xi frowned and was about to speak when Shen Guiyan, who had remained silent all this time, pressed her hand.
Lady Fu was taken away, and the great hall fell silent.
“Noble Consort Yan is still carrying the dragon heir and needs rest. Unless necessary, it’s best if you don’t come to disturb her in the future.” Gu Chaobei swept his gaze over everyone and said softly, “We will investigate today’s matter thoroughly. Any woman who dares harm others in the harem—no matter how beautiful—we will not keep.”
All the concubines bowed their heads in silence.
“As for Consort Shen, she has merit for protecting us. We will reward her. Once she’s somewhat recovered, have someone send her back to her Luhua Palace. We still have matters to attend to and will return to the Imperial Study first.”
He had originally been in the study discussing matters and left midway—who knows if anyone would be dissatisfied.
“Respectfully sending off Your Majesty.” Shen Guiyan rose and curtsied. Only after the Emperor had gone far did she sit back down in the main seat.
Lady Fu had been dragged away. Because further investigation was needed, Qingzhu hadn’t actually been sent out for palace punishment.
The poor little palace maid trembled all over, as if she’d just escaped from death’s door, her forehead damp with sweat.
“Your Highness, shouldn’t Qingzhu also be sent to prison together?” Noble Consort Hua said quietly. “Wait until the investigation is clear before dealing with her.”
Shen Guiyan shook her head and looked at Qingzhu. “She’ll stay at Yonghe Palace to serve.”
Everyone was shocked. Consort Xi also frowned. “How can Your Highness still keep her? What if she releases more venomous snakes?”
“There’s no evidence that she was the one who released it.” Shen Guiyan smiled slightly. “Just now was merely His Majesty’s speculation, wasn’t it?”