Chapter 331 - 331: Something Happened to the Empress

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Second Miss Li lay in bed, incessantly coughing up blood. Her face was a gruesome shade of pale.

Seeing this, Madam Li felt as if her soul was about to be snatched away in fear.

“Where’s the doctor? Quickly, fetch the doctor!”

“Madam, Second Young Miss seems to have been poisoned. But 1 do not know what poison she has ingested. It seems as though she’s been affected by multiple toxins,” a servant reported.

Before Madam Li could respond, the doctor nearby quickly chimed in. But just by hearing the mention of poison, her eyes were filled with terror.

At this moment, Lu Yun, Second Miss Li’s state, suddenly froze.

“Madam?”

Madam Li, her eyes filled with anxiety, heard Lu Yun’s voice and impatiently asked, “What is it?”

“My lady, it seems that Second Young Miss might have…”

Lu Yun lowered her voice, whispering a few words into Madam Li’s ear. Whatever she said, upon hearing it and then looking back at Second Young Miss, Madam Li’s eyes were filled with renewed horror.

That night, the Li Mansion was in utter chaos.

Yet throughout, they dared not seek the imperial doctor’s help from the palace.

Regarding the affairs of the Li Mansion, Jiang Peihuan did not pry into the details, for she believed that Xiao Nanye had things under control.

He wouldn’t actually let someone die.

Thus, in about half a month’s time, Second Miss Li recovered.

However, that very night, someone from the imperial palace knocked on the door of the general’s mansion.

The visitor was Wang Kun. So even though it was the middle of the night, Jiang Peihuan immediately got out of bed.

As Jiang Peihuan was rising, Xiao Nanye also quickly got up.

“Chief Wang, what’s the matter that you’ve come at such a late hour?”

“Queen Cheng, you must quickly come see the Empress.”

Wang Kun, usually calm, looked visibly distressed. Noticing the urgency in his eyes, Jiang Peihuan asked, “What has happened to the Empress?”

“The Empress suffers from unbearable abdominal pain. The imperial doctor are clueless. She insisted on seeing you, and His Majesty had no choice but to send me to fetch you.”

“Alright, I’ll accompany you to the palace immediately.”

Hearing about the Empress’s severe pain, Jiang Peihuan didn’t even bother to change her attire. She left in her casual clothes with Wang Kun.

Xiao Nanye followed, draping a cloak over her, “Beware of the cold.”

He carefully placed the cloak around Jiang Peihuan and made sure it was fastened.

Sitting in the carriage, Jiang Peihuan couldn’t help but ask Xiao Nanye, “Do you think this has anything to do with the Li family?”

Hearing the mention of the Li family, a shadow passed over Xiao Nanye’s eyes.

“If it truly is the doing of the Li family, then I’m afraid their end is near.”

Jiang Peihuan’s first instinct was to associate the incident with the Li family. However, upon entering the Kun Ning Palace, she began to doubt that theory.

The Empress was resting in her inner chamber, which Jiang Peihuan had no choice but to enter. This was her first time visiting the Empress’s sleeping quarters. However, as soon as she entered the room, she detected an array of unsettling scents.

“Queen Cheng, you’ve arrived.”

Seeing Jiang Peihuan, the old nanny by the Empress’s side seemed to regard her as a savior.

“Nanny, you personally bring the people to…”

Listening to Jiang Peihuan’s arrangement, the nanny had coldness in her eyes, but she responded to Jiang Peihuan with great respect, “Rest assured, Queen Cheng, I will handle this.”

The Empress lay in bed, her body drenched in cold sweat. She held her stomach tightly, her eyes filled with fear.

Seeing Jiang Peihuan, the Empress’s eyes lit up, “Huan Er, you’re here.”

“Don’t be afraid, Your Royal Majesty.”

After paying her respects to the Empress, Jiang Peihuan held the Empress’s hand. Once the Empress calmed down, Jiang Peihuan then took her pulse.

“Queen Cheng, how is the Empress?”

Emperor Qi Ming and Xiao Nanye waited outside. As Jiang Peihuan emerged, the emperor immediately inquired.

“Your Majesty, the Her Royal Majesty has been poisoned.”

“I’ve prescribed a remedy, but perhaps 1 should have my nanny prepare it.”

After saying this, Jiang Peihuan directed Ye Xiao, “You go and prepare the medicine.”

“Yes.”

Seeing this, Emperor Qi Ming’s eyes displayed a hint of anger. Turning his anger aside, he told Wang Kun, “Wang Kun, watch closely. I want to see who dares to harm the Empress and the Prince.”

“Yes.”

After Wang Kun and Ye Xiao left, Emperor Qi Ming looked at Jiang Peihuan, “When you checked the Empress, did you discover anything?”

“She has musk poisoning. Fortunately, she consumed a small amount, so there’s still time.”

“I noticed some things were tampered with in the Empress’s quarters.”

By this time, the Empress’s nanny had brought forward evidence.

Furthermore, behind the nanny were several maids and eunuchs, all bound.

Seeing this, Emperor Qi Ming’s already stern expression darkened further.

The Empress nanny nurse knelt, tears in her eyes, “Your Majesty, you must seek justice for the Empress! They wanted to kill both her and the unborn Prince!”

“Explain everything.”

Hearing the Emperor, the nanny directed her words at the bound eunuchs and maids, “Speak the truth before His Majesty!”

“Your Majesty, we’re innocent! We did nothing, 1…”

“Innocent? Didn’t you care for the orchids in the Empress’s room? Why is there musk in the flower pot? Claiming ignorance?”

“I…”

“Rebels, drag them out and execute them!” Emperor Qi Ming commanded, eyes blazing with fury.

But Xiao Nanye calmly interjected, “Wait.”

Meeting the Emperor’s gaze, he sneered, “If we execute them now, we’d let their masters go unpunished.”

“Let me handle them. I’m sure they won’t withstand the tortures of the Ministry of Justice.”

“Han Feng, take them away.”

However, someone then spoke, “Your Majesty, it’s Consort Shu…”

Once one person spoke, others followed suit.

“Consort Shu, Consort Xian, and Consort Meng. None were left out.”

“Consort Shu, Consort Xian, Noble Consort Meng, none of them were left behind.”

Hearing this, Emperor Qi Ming’s face turned dark as coal.

Jiang Peihuan watched with mocking eyes. When the Empress was childless, the side consosrt kept the peace. But with news of the Empress’s pregnancy, they couldn’t stay calm.

“My Queen, the medicine is ready.”

Ye Xiao entered with the medicine..