Chapter 83: Cuckoo

Wan Tang's ears twitched, and her previously upright spine suddenly went limp.

She knelt on the ground, her voice trembling: "Empress, as the principal wife, whatever punishment you mete out to me is justified; I dare not utter any grievance."

She clutched the hem of her robe with deadened fingers, tears striking the golden brick: "Even if I were wronged, Empress, you do not listen, I will still accept it."

Suddenly covering her abdomen, sobbing without sound, "I only beg, I only beg that you do not hurt my child; this child has already endured countless misfortunes."

The hall door creaked open.

"The Empress looks so imposing." Empress Dowager, supporting an old matron's hand, entered slowly; her voice was neither light nor heavy, yet caused all the palace staff in the hall to kneel in unison.

Xiao Mingshu's complexion changed abruptly, and she hurriedly rose to salute: "Mother Empress."

She pointed at Wan Tang, shouting, "This wretched woman dares to plot against the Emperor; both eyewitness and physical evidence are complete."

Empress Dowager glanced at the trembling Wan Tang on the ground: "Do you have anything to say?"

Wan Tang lifted her head, tear tracks crossing her face, but only gently shook her head, showing a submissive demeanor.

And this demeanor actually eased the Empress Dowager's angry fire a little.

Since ancient times, legitimate and secondary children, elders and juniors have been distinguished; it was thought that Wan Tang, relying on favor, was arrogant, lawless, and uncultured.

At this moment, she seems rather sensible.

【Be more cautious, the Empress Dowager was the champion of the previous palace intrigue; in front of her, it's best not to show any tail.】

【The champion of palace intrigue is not without a soft spot; you should know, the Empress Dowager's feelings for the former Emperor run deep, a lingering affection.】

【The key is, the Emperor has already awakened. Though his body is weak, his mind is clear; despite the commotion outside, the Emperor does not get up to see. I truly don't know what he's thinking.】

【The Emperor is extremely paranoid, suddenly poisoned; not to mention his wife, he might even suspect his own mother a few points.】

The Emperor has awakened, that's just right.

Wan Tang knelt on the cold floor tiles, her fingertips tightly clenched her palm, tears in her eyes yet stubbornly refusing to fall: "I, your servant, do not know this young eunuch, nor have I ever ordered anyone to poison!"

She looked up at Empress Dowager, "Now the Emperor is gravely ill, my heart is torn like a knife; I only hope the Emperor recovers soon."

"If a penalty must be imposed, I am willing to accept it, but I beg for the Emperor's safety!"

Empress Dowager's Buddhist beads paused, a hint of emotion flashing in her eyes: "You are so sincere toward the Emperor?"

"I have no father nor mother; the Emperor gave me a home." Wan Tang gently stroked her abdomen, a tear finally rolled down, "I dare not call you husband, but the Emperor is my heaven, my destiny."

Several old matrons in the hall already had reddened eyes.

Empress Dowager also showed a slight emotion.

Who has never been young, never has fought for love recklessly?

At this moment, Empress Dowager actually saw her own reflection in Wan Tang.

With innocence and silliness, wholeheartedly believing that an emperor is also a man and can have genuine feelings.

The subtle change on Empress Dowager's face fell entirely into Xiao Mingshu's eyes, making her uneasy.

"Enough!" Xiao Mingshu slammed the table, "Both eyewitness and physical evidence are complete, how dare you still argue?"

She waved her hand, "Bring the poisoned wine and the silver!"

The palace staff immediately presented a wine jar and a bag of silver.

The young eunuch trembled like sifting chaff: "It was Consort Wan who ordered this servant to deliver the poisoned wine to Qiankun Palace! She said she wanted to trap the Empress."

Wan Tang suddenly let out a light laugh: "Oh? Then I ask you."

Her gaze suddenly sharpened, "What poison did you give? How did you administer it?"

"Just, just ordinary arsenic..." The young eunuch's eyes flickered, "The Empress told this servant to sprinkle it into the wine."

"The evidence is solid, see how you still argue!" Xiao Mingshu's phoenix eyes flashed with lethal light, she barked, "Guards! Take me down!"

Two rough-serving old matrons immediately stepped forward and clamped Wan Tang's arms; as she struggled, a plain white paper packet slipped from her sleeve and "Snap!" fell to the ground.

Xiao Mingshu's eyes flashed a sharp light: "Bai Wei!"

Aunt Bai Wei darted forward, picked up the paper packet; Xiao Mingshu wrapped it in a silk handkerchief, a cold smile curled at the corner of her mouth: "Consort Wan, what else do you have to say?"

She waved the packet before Wan Tang's eyes, "This fell from you!"

Empress Dowager erupted in anger: "Absurd! Plotting against the Emperor is a crime that warrants extermination of the entire clan!"

"I am wronged!" Wan Tang cried plaintively.

"Wronged?" Xiao Mingshu sneered even more, "Both eyewitness and physical evidence are complete, how dare you cry 'wrong'?"

The young eunuch immediately crawled forward: "Yes, yes, yes! This is it! The packet the Empress gave the servant!"

Wan Tang suddenly stopped struggling, a strange smile curled at her lips: "Are you sure... it's this one?"

"Absolutely certain!" the young eunuch declared resolutely.

Wan Tang's gaze grew increasingly odd.

Xiao Mingshu shook her head repeatedly, sighing, "Consort Wan, I thought you were obedient and sensible, that your heart toward the Emperor was truly sincere, that you were a kind person."

"Never expected that the human heart is like a belly, you are also a malicious one."

Xiao Mingshu said, rubbing her temples, her face showing fatigue.

She sighed, "You keep saying it's not you, yet you always carry this thing; is it not a harmful intention, could it even be for yourself?"

"Exactly!" Wan Tang's voice rang strong.

A disdainful laugh echoed in her ears.

Under everyone's gaze, Wan Tang suddenly broke free of her restraints, snatched the paper packet, and poured all the white powder inside into her mouth.

"Audacious!" Xiao Mingshu shouted, "Even if you commit suicide out of guilt, you cannot escape..."

"Poisonous woman!" Empress Dowager rose sharply, "Your death is not a loss, but the royal blood in your womb!" She shouted urgently, "Quickly send the imperial physician!"

The imperial physician hurriedly arrived, picked up the remaining paper packet on the ground and examined it carefully.

He dabbed a pinch of powder, tasted it, and suddenly his face showed oddness:

"This... this is rock sugar powder."

The entire hall roared!

Wan Tang still had her arms restrained, a pale face showing a faint bitter smile: "During my pregnancy I often feel dizzy; Xie Taiyi advised me to keep some sugar on me."

She immediately turned her head toward the young eunuch, speaking softly, "Now say it again… what did I give you?"

The young eunuch's face was ashen, his body limp on the ground.

Xiao Mingshu's fingertips trembled as she clenched the silk handkerchief in her hand into a ball.

The Empress Dowager's gaze flashed like lightning as she scanned back and forth between the Empress and Wan Tang.

In the hall, the charcoal brazier crackled, casting the faces of those present into shifting shades.

Who is the innocent is obvious at a glance.

The Empress Dowager's eyes darkened, and she immediately scolded, "Release your grip!"

"Having harmed the unborn Little Prince, I want to see which of you can bear the responsibility!"

Bai Wei's touch on Wan Tang's hand was like touching a hot yam.

She stared at Wan Tang's swollen belly, her tone softening slightly, "Grant Wan Tang a seat."

Bai Wei hurriedly released her grip, and Wan Tang staggered to sit on the round chair, her fingertips silently brushing over her reddened wrist.

Xiao Mingshu clenched the handkerchief, "Mother Empress, even so, it does not prove Lady Wan's innocence."

"Silence!" the Empress Dowager cut in coldly, her sharp gaze sweeping to the young eunuch, "Full of holes, utterly nonsense!"

She turned to the imperial physician, "Since you're all here, investigate properly why the Emperor was poisoned."

The physicians immediately set to work, testing poison with silver needles, tasting food and inspecting vegetables; after a while they all shook their heads, "Report to the Empress Dowager, the meals and wine contain no poison."

Wan Tang sat quietly, her gaze fixed on the rhododendron in full bloom by the window.

In the cold winter month, the palace's flora withered, yet the Empress's Sleeping Hall remained warm as spring, causing this rhododendron to bloom with a luscious, dripping beauty.

On the tea table, two blue‑glazed tea cups stood side by side.

A scarlet petal drifted down, creating a faint ripple in the tea.

"May I dare ask," Wan Tang whispered, "has the Emperor ever used anything else?"

Xiao Mingshu spun around sharply, "Lady Wan! After entering the hall the Emperor only drank tea before the meal; what do you mean by that?"

The Empress Dowager suddenly raised her hand, "Test the tea."

The physician hurriedly lifted the tea cup, and the silver needle turned black the moment it entered.

He trembled as he dipped the tea and tasted it, then fell to his knees, "Your Majesty, the poison is in the tea!"

The entire hall fell deathly silent.

Xiao Mingshu's face turned deathly pale, "Impossible! I also drank this tea, why am I fine?"

No one answered; even the Empress Dowager merely turned her prayer beads gently.

Not to mention the Emperor, who was already lying on the bed, feigning unconsciousness.

Xiao Mingshu's expression shifted slightly, yet she kept her back straight, tears in her eyes, "Your Majesty, I and the Emperor are united as husband and wife; how could I commit such a heinous betrayal?"

She raised her hand toward the rhododendron, "It must be that someone plotted this!"

The Empress Dowager's cold gaze swept over her, "Then how do you explain this tea?"

Xiao Mingshu gave a bitter smile, her voice choked, "I do not know."

She suddenly knelt, "Empress Dowager, please see clearly; my heart toward the Emperor is as evident as heaven and earth; even if I die, I would not spare a single harm to the Emperor."

At this point, Xiao Mingshu's eyes reddened heavily.

Her voice kept choking, "I have known the Empress since childhood. From the first time I saw the Emperor at thirteen, I silently vowed that I would not marry anyone but him in this life."

"Although the Empress has endured hardships, I ultimately married the Emperor at his most difficult moment."

Xiao Mingshu suddenly looked up at the Empress Dowager, "Mother Empress, you know this!"

"Even if the whole world tries to block us, my love for the Emperor is unwavering."

Mentioning this, the Empress Dowager's expression softened slightly, "I understand."

The Empress, choking, "The palace is treacherous; when I was born, the Emperor was not yet the Emperor. Even so, there are those with malicious hearts who harmed our child…"

At this point, Xiao Mingshu was already in utter grief.

Wan Tang watched with cold eyes, taking everything in.

The Empress Dowager sat beside her, sighing repeatedly.

"Your Majesty, Empress," the imperial physician interrupted awkwardly, "the Emperor's poisoning this time was not due to anyone's poison, but an accident."

The hall fell silent abruptly.

The Empress Dowager slammed the table, "Explain clearly!"

The physician knelt on the ground, sweat beading on his forehead, "It is rhododendron poison. The Emperor must have mistakenly drunk tea contaminated with rhododendron pollen."

"Absurd!" Xiao Mingshu exclaimed, "I have tended these plants meticulously, and there has never been any problem."

"Because of the wine," the physician forced an explanation, "I can discern that the Emperor drank deer‑blood wine. Its strong nature clashes with rhododendron pollen, causing this."

"Fabrication!" the Empress Dowager slapped the table, the tea cup rattling with a clink.

Xiao Mingshu immediately bowed and knelt, and Wan Tang silently followed suit.

The Empress Dowager's sharp gaze lingered on the Empress for a long while, yet she never mentioned the young eunuch's false testimony.

From the inner chambers came two light coughs, Chu Yunzheng's weak voice saying, "Tangtang, you have been wronged."

"I have no objection, first send Lady Wan back."