Chapter 140: Volume One – Chapter 140 Poisoning

Volume One – Chapter 140 Poisoning

Consort Ming thought more and felt her heart grow heavy; she called Bai Zhuo, "The informant in Dong Gong can be set in motion now."

Bai Zhuo felt a chill, "Your Highness, shall we act now?"

"Give the order; isn't the Crown Prince chronically frail? I've seen him lately leaping about, healthy as ever, so let him live up to his title." Consort Ming said through clenched teeth; now that it had come to this, she had no way out.

"Your Highness, we have only one piece in Dong Gong; if we move it this time, it may be lost." Bai Zhuo whispered, "Unless absolutely necessary, that piece cannot be moved."

Consort Ming lowered her eyes slightly; she could no longer care. As long as the Crown Prince's health declines, His Majesty's proposal to appoint another Crown Prince will face far less resistance, since they cannot truly let a short‑lived man remain Crown Prince.

Only if the son is made Crown Prince will many matters be legitimate, and mother and son can sit without hesitation.

Moreover, His Majesty has lately favored Liu Yingying, giving Consort Ming a sense of danger; this time Liu Yingying's favor differs from before.

Last time she only needed a slight maneuver to have her fall out of favor and be sidelined, but now His Majesty seems truly taken with her; she can no longer stay overnight at the Daoist temple, which makes Consort Ming very anxious.

So it cannot be delayed, and Liu Yingying is the Empress's person!

"I have decided, do it this way; you arrange it." Consort Ming resolved to burn the boats; further delay would only harm mother and son more.

"Understood." Bai Zhuo, realizing he could not persuade her, stopped urging and immediately set about arranging it.

Consort Ming paused for a moment, steadied herself, sent someone in to change clothes and groom; her brother had broken his leg, and she naturally needed to go before His Majesty to lament.

She could not let her brother's leg be broken for nothing!

In Fengyi Palace, the Empress also learned of Ming Zan's broken leg, her mood instantly brightened, and she said to Yan Yin, "What good news; now Ming Zan cannot patrol the borders, so he cannot command the frontier troops."

Yan Yin smiled, "Your Highness is right; on my way back I saw Consort Ming heading to the Daoist temple, probably to complain to His Majesty."

The Empress sneered, "Besides this skill, what else can she do? Have you asked Liu Yingying? Does she know what Consort Ming did while accompanying His Majesty at the temple?"

Yan Yin shook her head, "Liu Guipin says she doesn't know; His Majesty's temperament is unpredictable now, she dares not inquire lightly, fearing His Majesty would blame her for ruining the Highness's affairs."

The Empress was slightly displeased, "What a useless person, can't even handle this."

Yan Yin, seeing the Empress's angry expression, gently advised, "Liu Guipin comes from a small place; even if she's a bit clever, facing His Majesty she'll inevitably be cautious and indecisive. Your Highness, relax; after a few days Liu Guipin will adapt."

The Empress's face grew even sicker; His Majesty's health now declines like a river receding, who knows how long they can wait?

"Regarding the military exercises, what information has Liu Guipin gathered?" the Empress asked patiently.

Yan Yin shook her head, "Liu Guipin's attendant returned saying His Majesty has only met Commander Xiao once, but she doesn't know what was said; when His Majesty met the person, she withdrew to a side hall. However, Liu Guipin also said His Majesty was in a good mood after seeing Commander Xiao and asked her whether she wanted to watch the exercises."

The Empress's expression grew even darker; His Majesty hasn't sent anyone to ask whether the Empress will go, yet he keeps Liu Yingying on his mind.

Yan Yin, seeing the Empress's displeased look, sighed, but at this moment she said little, lest the Empress become even more dissatisfied with Liu Guipin.

Meanwhile, Rong Luoge received a detailed report from Liu Yingying, which also included Consort Ming meeting His Majesty to lament Ming Zan's broken leg, and Consort Ming subtly trying to get Prince Qi to assist Ming Zan.

Rong Luoge, thoughtful, looked at the small note Liu Guipin wrote her; due to haste the handwriting was messy, but the words were alarming.

If the Emperor consents to Prince Qi taking over Ming Zan's affairs, that amounts to approving Prince Qi's formal involvement in power, which is not good news for Han Xinglan.

She lowered her head, kept reading, and almost couldn't catch her breath: the Emperor had agreed!

Although Ming Zan does not command any of the three major camps, he oversees the Fifty‑Percent Military Office, which is equivalent to a future capital police chief.

It's like Xiao Shen managing palace guards, while Prince Qi commands the capital's guards; a big circle envelops a small one, and Xiao Shen, being in the small circle, inevitably loses out in some respects.

Rong Luoge knows the Emperor has been pondering the timing to bring Prince Qi forward, never expecting that the timing was actually fabricated by them.

Preventing Ming Zan from patrolling the borders was their carefully considered scheme, but they didn't expect Consort Ming and her son to react quickly, turning the situation to their advantage.

This is not good news.

At this moment, in the Dong Gong kitchen, a fire‑tending maid dutifully carried firewood to the corner, stacking it neatly by the stove.

The vegetable‑washing woman shouted loudly, "Be quicker, we must prepare the evening meal; we cannot delay the noble's dining."

The fire‑tending maid answered crisply, and her movements quickened.

When they finished these chores of washing vegetables and hauling firewood, the head chef finally arrived at a leisurely pace.

He opened the furnace, the hot stove lit, and the kitchen instantly buzzed with activity.

The unnoticed fire‑tending maid still sat in the corner watching the stove, year after year, day after day doing this job; to everyone in the royal kitchen she was like a transparent speck, and no one paid her any attention.

When the meal was ready, the head chef tossed the ladle aside, gave it to his apprentice to watch, and went outside to rest and drink tea; only after the dishes were served did they consider the work finished.

While waiting for the meal call, the royal kitchen staff finally had a rare break, gathering in small groups to chat; the fire‑tending maid, always taciturn, had no one to keep her company.

She still cleaned the dirty floor, swept the stove clean, washed the chaotic pots and bowls and put them back; she was the only one bustling about.

No one lent her a hand, nor did anyone supervise her.

While the others were away, the maid pretended to clear the table, swiftly opened the soup pot lid with her left hand, immediately sprinkled a small packet of white powder in, watched the boiling soup swirl the powder down, then covered it and resumed tidying the table.

No one noticed that moment.

At that moment, a maid ran over, shouting, "Changxin Palace is calling for the meal, for the two masters, quickly!"