Chapter 116: She's Eager to Be Sent to the Cold Palace!

“Impudent wretch! How dare you slander me!” Consort Shu’s heart skipped a beat, and she immediately retorted angrily, “You keep insisting that I ordered this—do you have any proof?”

“It was the Empress herself who promised me,” the young palace maid kowtowed repeatedly on the ground. “She said that if I sprinkled a little of the Yiqi powder into Consort Xian’s meals every day, I would receive a large sum of money. I even hid some silver notes by my bedside—they were given to me by Consort Shu herself at the time!” She pleaded desperately, “Your Majesty, spare me! Consort Xian, have mercy! If I had known the Yiqi powder could harm someone, I would never have done such a thing! Please forgive me, Your Majesty! I won’t dare do it again!”

Chang Fu caught Qin Zhiyi’s glance and immediately ordered an investigation. Sure enough, not long after, several silver notes were found exactly where the young maid had indicated. Qin Zhiyi took them and said coldly, “Consort Shu, do you have anything to say now?”

The silver notes were flung at Consort Shu’s face. Although they were mere pieces of paper, they shattered everything she held dear. Her trembling hands picked up the notes as she muttered in disbelief, yet the marks of the Lin Family Bank were stamped on them like a branding iron before her eyes.

“It’s not me, it’s not me…” Consort Shu’s mind raced for a strategy. Who exactly was behind this plot against her? “Your Majesty, these notes are suspicious! Look at the date—it’s incorrect!”

She grasped at hope. “These are notes from the late Emperor’s era. They should have been collected and destroyed one by one at the Lin Family Bank. Your Majesty knows me—I have always been dutiful, rarely receiving support from my family. And anyone could get their hands on notes issued by the Lin Family Bank!”

Seeing the notes, Qin Zhiyi immediately sensed something amiss. Consort Shu grew more confident. “Your Majesty, I am being falsely accused by this palace maid. Consider this: if it were truly my doing, I would have had her implicate others to clear my name. There are countless jealous courtiers envying Consort Xian’s pregnancy. If suspicion were warranted, I wouldn’t be the only one under suspicion!”

“Indeed, these are old notes!” Shen Fuyu cheerfully took the silver notes back. “Your Majesty, perhaps you should have someone check where this palace maid served before.”

“What an unfortunate coincidence—it might be revenge for a former mistress,” Shen Fuyu’s bright eyes flickered as she glanced at the trembling maid on the floor. Someone in the palace was truly skillful. Whether it was the deadly Youyin Flower Powder or the Yiqi powder, either one alone would cause a miscarriage sooner or later. Unfortunately, the maid never conceived, and worse, two clever schemes collided, allowing the problem to be resolved effortlessly.

The young maid shivered, kneeling silently.

Shen Fuyu sighed. After all, whether it was the Fertility Goddess’s blessing or the Yiqi powder, any mix-up would be flawless. No wonder the young maid panicked so much—she probably never dreamed her secret would be exposed!

“Ahem… Your Majesty, Consort…”

In the side hall, Shen Tangyu was supported by palace maids, staggering forward like a wisp of smoke, her pale face still showing a stubborn resilience that would move anyone to pity.

“If you’re about to die, then hurry and find a coffin to lie in. Stop wandering around half-dead every day—it’s truly unlucky,” Shen Fuyu said disdainfully. “Stop seeking attention! I’m waiting to go to the Cold Palace after all this to burn paper offerings for Jiang Cairen!”

If she went too late, Jiang Cairen would be dead!

She needed to be there while it was still fresh.

Shen Tangyu coughed violently in anger. That wretched woman couldn’t keep her mouth clean; sooner or later, she vowed to sew it shut! Just to see her smug face!

---

“I have something to report.” Shen Tangyu knelt weakly. “I was poisoned earlier and wasn’t fully conscious, but now I recall some things…”

“That palace maid,” Shen Tangyu feebly pointed at the young maid, “has been responsible for delivering meals to Xianyue Palace recently. Every time she tasted the food, she acted furtively. I never suspected before, but now it seems she planned this all along.”

With those words, Shen Tangyu collapsed completely.

No one caught her.

She hit her head on the ground but stubbornly regained consciousness, clutching her throbbing brow, forced to feign unconsciousness on the floor.

Shen Fuyu chuckled several times. Women like her—why take things so hard? Did she really think Qin Zhiyi would catch her out of pity?

“Alright, carry her away,” Shen Fuyu ordered two young eunuchs.

No sooner had they lifted Shen Tangyu than Chang Fu entered. “Your Majesty, everything has been investigated. This palace maid is called Cui Yu. She used to serve in Jiachen Palace and was once an attendant to Consort Jing.”

“Revenge for Consort Jing?” Shen Fuyu’s sly smile glanced toward Cui Yu.

Sweat dripped from Cui Yu’s brow, but she looked much calmer than before. After hesitation, she said, “Yes, I wanted to avenge Consort Jing! Our lady never provoked you, yet you repeatedly forced her to take her own life! There is no one more despicable under heaven than you!”

Her curses spilled out relentlessly. Qin Zhiyi said nothing, simply ordering, “Take her away and administer corporal punishment.”

The farce finally ended. Consort Shu, supported by Qiu Ying, stood as Qin Zhiyi brushed past her without a word of comfort.

“My love, you were startled today,” Qin Zhiyi said, comforting the uncomforted Shen Fuyu.

“With Your Majesty by my side, I fear nothing,” Shen Fuyu smiled. Enough with the chatter! She was rushing to the Cold Palace!

Jiang Cairen was surely doomed!

“Your Majesty! A messenger from Ninglu Palace reports that Concubine Huizhao has been diagnosed with signs of pregnancy!”

Qin Zhiyi blinked in disbelief.

---

Where on earth did this child come from?!

Shen Fuyu’s eyes sparkled with joy as she bowed deeply. “Congratulations, Your Majesty, on expecting another heir!”

Qin Zhiyi grabbed her roughly, his voice low and gritted with anger: “Tell me, where did this ‘joy’ come from?”

Shen Fuyu blinked innocently, pushing him toward the door. “Oh, Your Majesty, there’s no need to rush here! It’s good news that Sister Hui is expecting. You should go see her at Ninglu Palace. Consort Shu should go with you!”

Leaning close to Qin Zhiyi, she whispered, “You forgot—I told you that medicine has side effects.”

Qin Zhiyi was speechless.

Side effects? Creating a child out of thin air?

Perhaps it was best to strangle Shen Fuyu first.

“It will go away in time,” Shen Fuyu added, “It’s just a false pregnancy for a month or two.”

Well, thanks for that!

The side effects of a false pregnancy were truly eye-opening.

“I’ll handle everything here at Xianyue Palace. Don’t let Sister Hui get anxious waiting!” Hurry up and leave. Once you’re gone, she can deal with the Shen family—and then she’ll head to the Cold Palace.

And so, Qin Zhiyi was ushered out, accompanied by Consort Shu, whose face darkened further. Not only had she nearly been falsely accused, but Jiang Cairen’s scheme was also exposed. Now even that wretched Sun Jingwan was pregnant. Why was heaven so cruel to her?