nycdaug Chapter 27 The General's Little Darling
Chapter 27 The General's Little Darling
Seeing this, Ji's mother was extremely anxious and wanted to break free from Ji Xiaosong's protection to speak up for her daughter.
However, Ji Xiaosong held Ji's mother's hand tightly, with a firm and irresistible force.
Ji's mother said anxiously in a low voice, "Song'er, don't be stubborn, let your mother do it."
"Mother, don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Please don't act impulsively." Ji Xiaosong turned her head slightly to look at her mother, her eyes full of determination and reassurance.
Ji's mother wanted to say more, but Ji Xiaosong tightened her grip, making it impossible for her to move. She could only anxiously wait behind Ji Xiaosong.
Seeing Ji Xiaosong's firm stance, Consort Song's face grew even more gloomy. She snorted coldly and said, "What does Madam Xiao mean by this? I am merely concerned for the Empress's safety and want to find the real culprit as soon as possible. Madam Xiao's obstruction suggests that you have something to hide."
Upon hearing Consort Song's words, the Emperor gave her a sharp look.
"Your Highness, please do not speak recklessly. The imperial physicians have not found anything wrong with Lady Ji and Lady Xiao. This matter needs to be discussed carefully and should not be slandered."
At this point, the emperor really wanted to go up and kick the imperial concubine a couple of times.
Even though Liu Zhengdu said that the Empress's pregnancy was almost certain, he wanted the Empress to benefit from Ji Xiaosong's good fortune so that she could give birth to a healthy child.
Unexpectedly, Consort Song was so incompetent, indiscriminately attacking the Xiao and Ji families, as if she wanted everyone to know that Xiao Shen had been targeting the Second Prince since returning from the north and wanted revenge.
Knowing the Emperor's attitude, Consort Song's face turned pale, and she quickly lowered her head and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. I was just worried about the Empress's condition."
At this moment, Liu Zheng stepped forward, knelt down and reported: "Your Majesty, I have just remembered something. The fragrance of the purple nectar flower is incompatible with calming sachets. When the two come together, it can cause pregnant women to miscarry. Moreover, this situation is quite similar to the poison that General Xiao was poisoned before, except that General Xiao's poisoning was more severe at that time."
The emperor immediately ordered an investigation to find out who was carrying the calming sachet. Taking advantage of everyone's inattention, Ji Xiaosong secretly used her spatial powers to switch the contents of the calming sachet that her mother had been wearing with those of Consort Song.
At this moment, the guards began to check the sachets on everyone's bodies one by one, but found nothing.
Consort Song frowned slightly, looking at her mother with a heart full of doubt.
She knew perfectly well that her mother wore those calming sachets every day and had even instructed the informant to make sure to put those spices in, so why were they not here today?
"Has everyone been properly checked?"
The emperor frowned, his sharp gaze sweeping over the crowd. His hands were behind his back, and his tone was full of authority and urgency.
At this moment, Liu Zheng hurriedly stepped forward, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, all have been checked, only Consort Song has not yet been checked."
"Since she was there, she must also be checked."
When the emperor spoke, Consort Song's face turned even paler.
This is utterly shameful!
She had always been a high-ranking imperial concubine, and even in her youth she was the legitimate daughter of a noble family. But whenever she was in front of the emperor and empress, she always had to be inferior!
Liu Zheng walked up to Consort Song and said respectfully, "Your Highness, I apologize for my offense."
He then took the sachet handed to him by the palace maid and examined it carefully.
A moment later, Liu Zheng's expression changed drastically, and he knelt down to report: "Your Majesty, the spices in this sachet are exactly the opposite of the Purple Condensation Flower."
Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked and began whispering among themselves.
The emperor was furious and pointed at Consort Song, roaring, "You, Consort Song, how dare you do such a vicious thing!"
At this moment, Consort Song also realized that those calming spices should have belonged to her mother, so how did they become hers?
Although we don't know which link went wrong, now is not the time to worry about that.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, I am innocent! The Purple Condensation Flower is a tribute from a foreign land. How could I have known that the calming sachet I wear every day would be incompatible with it?"
"Your Majesty and the Empress have long lived in the inner palace, serving them wholeheartedly, and have never harbored any intention to harm anyone. This matter of the sachet must be a deliberate attempt by someone to frame me and sow discord between me and the Empress."
"I have never been knowledgeable about pharmacology, so how could I know the mystery behind it? I wear sachets only to calm my mind and have no other intentions."
"I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly and not be misled by treacherous people and wrongly accuse me. I am willing to swear on my life that this matter was absolutely not my doing."
Consort Song spoke with heartfelt sincerity, but the emperor did not listen at all.
"You'd better pray that the Empress is safe and sound. If anything happens to the child in her womb, I will make sure your family suffers!"
Upon hearing the emperor's words, Consort Song collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down her face, but dared not utter another word.
At this moment, a palace maid rushed over and knelt down, saying, "Your Majesty, the Empress is out of danger. After taking the medicine, her pregnancy is gradually stabilizing."
Upon hearing this, the emperor's expression softened slightly, and he said, "Very good, go quickly and serve them well."
Then, the emperor looked around at everyone and said coldly, "I will thoroughly investigate what happened today. Now go back to your palaces."
Upon hearing this, everyone bowed and took their leave.
Ji Xiaosong and her mother also left surrounded by the crowd.
Throughout the journey, Ji's mother remained shaken and repeatedly reminded Ji Xiaosong to be more careful in the future.
Ji Xiaosong responded softly, but in her heart she was pondering the conspiracy behind today's events.
Back in the palace, the emperor was still furious and ordered those involved to continue investigating the matter.
And so, this originally lively spring banquet ended hastily amidst a gloomy atmosphere.
*
As soon as Ji Xiaosong returned to the mansion, she went to find Xiao Shen. The spring banquet only invited female guests, so Xiao Shen did not go with her.
She walked into the study with a solemn expression. Seeing that she looked unwell, Xiao Shen quickly got up to greet her and asked with concern, "Madam, did something happen at the spring banquet today?"
Ji Xiaosong sat down, took a sip of tea, composed herself, and then told Xiao Shen everything that had happened at the banquet.
Xiao Shen frowned more and more as he listened.
"My lord, Physician Liu said that the poison you suffered from back then is quite similar to the one you suffer from today. Could you tell me about this in detail?"
"Back then, I was ordered by His Majesty to bring the surrounding small border countries into our territory. During the campaign, I fell into the enemy's trap. The wine I drank was poisoned with a main ingredient of purple nectar. At that time, it was Physician Liu and Song Yuxi's grandmother who worked together to develop an antidote for me."
"Song Yuxi's grandmother?"
Ji Xiaosong was somewhat puzzled. When the original owner of this body married into the Song family in her previous life, Song Yuxi's grandmother had already passed away.
She had never heard of her grandmother knowing anything about medicine.
"That's right, she is a disciple of the Divine Doctor Valley, and she even offered to detoxify me."
"This matter is quite strange. The Song family belongs to the Second Prince's faction, while the Xiao family has always only supported His Majesty. Why would she take the initiative to come and save you?"
"It was a bit strange, but she didn't do much at the time; she was just assisting from the sidelines."
Ji Xiaosong frowned slightly, unconsciously twisting the handkerchief in her hand with one hand, while gently supporting her chin with the other, pacing back and forth in the room.