Chapter 240
**Chapter 238: Fish Bait**
Today, upon learning that Sister Le You had mistakenly consumed tainted medicinal soup, Li Chengtai was consumed with anxiety.
The palace was abuzz with rumors that a bug had somehow found its way into the herbs.
Li Chengtai refused to believe it.
He sneaked into the front courtyard and overheard a conversation between his mother, the Empress, and his grandmother, the Empress Dowager. It turned out that not only had Sister Le You nearly been poisoned, but his mother had also fallen victim to a slow-acting poison.
A chill ran through Li Chengtai. His mother had only returned to the palace a month ago, and already, there were malicious people trying to harm her.
The inner palace was terrifying.
Pain, anger, and helplessness surged within the small heart of Li Chengtai. Yet, all he could do was clench his tiny fists, feeling utterly powerless.
Seeing her little grandson's eyes glistening with tears, the Empress Dowager sighed softly and took Li Chengtai's hand. "Good child, don’t think too much. Your mother is not in serious danger."
Li Chengtai lowered his head, feeling wronged. "Grandmother, you don’t have to lie to me. I know everything... I need to go back to my studies. In a few days, Master Yang Xuanji will come to test my knowledge, and I have to prepare in advance."
The Empress Dowager had already issued an edict for the retired Master Yang Xuanji to tutor Li Chengtai.
The old man had repeatedly declined, citing illness as his reason.
The Empress Dowager was not angry; she sent two imperial physicians to treat him. When Master Yang Xuanji realized he could no longer hide, he finally agreed to come to the palace in a few days to assess Li Chengtai’s abilities. If Li Chengtai turned out to be hopeless, Master Yang would rather defy the edict than teach the child.
Li Chengtai took this seriously and worked hard to memorize his lessons in preparation for Master Yang’s assessment.
The Empress Dowager felt comforted and said, "Good child, at such a young age, you are diligent and eager to improve. Your grandmother is very pleased."
After a pause, she gently patted her little grandson’s head, her tone turning wistful. "Your late uncle, when he was young, also studied hard like you, but he overexerted himself and suffered lasting damage, leading to his untimely death... Good child, you must never follow in your uncle’s footsteps."
Li Chengtai nodded, his small face resolute. "Grandmother, you don’t need to worry. I understand."
He properly bowed to the Empress Dowager and turned to head towards the study in the back courtyard.
...
...
Shen Wei left Cining Palace, and the weather of late spring was delightful, with warm sunlight bathing the surroundings. Instead of taking a sedan chair, she chose to walk back to Yongning Palace.
Walking was a good way to stretch her legs and keep fit.
Physician Mo Xun followed closely behind Shen Wei, his demeanor respectful. After this incident, the entire Imperial Medical Bureau would know that the newly appointed Physician Mo was connected to the Consort Chen.
"Your Highness, I still need to return to the Imperial Medical Bureau. I’ll come to Yongning Palace tomorrow to check your pulse," Mo Xun said, cupping his hands in salute.
Shen Wei smiled. "Thank you for your hard work."
Mo Xun waved his hand dismissively. "It’s no trouble at all. Compared to being chased and captured, life in the palace feels like a heavenly existence."
With that, Mo Xun turned leisurely and walked towards another part of the palace. Cai Lian, noticing this, kindly reminded him, "Physician Mo, you’re going the wrong way. The Imperial Medical Bureau is to the east."
Mo Xun was heading towards the southern side of the palace.
Shen Wei raised an eyebrow slightly; Mo Xun had been in the palace for quite some time, so how could he still get lost?
"Ahem..." Mo Xun’s face showed a hint of embarrassment, and he scratched his head awkwardly. "Before heading back to the Imperial Medical Bureau, I wanted to take a stroll around the Southern Courtyard."
The Southern Courtyard of the inner palace was mostly filled with half-abandoned palaces or cold storage rooms, desolate and dilapidated, with the pavement worn and old. What scenery was there to see? What was there to stroll about?
Shen Wei looked at Mo Xun thoughtfully.
Mo Xun cleared his throat, knowing Shen Wei was perceptive, and decided to come clean. "To be honest, Your Highness, I plan to visit Qiuliang Palace. A few days ago, I passed by and saw the crumbling palace walls and the flourishing hundred-year-old silk trees in full bloom. It was truly beautiful, and I thought I’d go admire the flowers every day."
Qiuliang Palace was the residence of Princess Taihua a century ago.
It was now in ruins.
Only the tall silk tree in the courtyard stood lush and green, blooming with clouds of pink flowers every year.
Mo Xun had stumbled upon this palace by chance, and when he looked up, the pink blossoms caught his eye.
He had sneaked into Qiuliang Palace, and as time passed, he found the overgrown grass and the dilapidated beams and tiles. Yet, the entrance, the steps, and that towering silk tree gave him a sense of déjà vu, as if he had been there long ago.
"Those silk flowers are indeed beautiful," Shen Wei nodded lightly. "Just be careful when you go to admire them. Don’t let anyone see you."
After all, it was the site of Princess Taihua. Li Qingxun, the princess, had single-handedly established the Southern Chu and was greatly revered by its people. Every year, envoys from Southern Chu would come to Qiuliang Palace to pay their respects.
Mo Xun cupped his hands. "I’ll take my leave now."
He turned to leave, his figure tall and straight like a green pine, exuding a somewhat ethereal beauty.
Cai Lian frowned secretly and couldn’t help but remind Shen Wei, "Your Highness, Physician Mo is skilled and has earned your trust—yet, after all, there are differences between men and women. If word gets out in the palace, it might not reflect well on your reputation."
Shen Wei’s eyes curved into a smile. "I know how to handle it. Physician Mo is a good bait."
In the entire palace, only Shen Wei and Li Yuanjing knew that Mo Xun was a woman.
To Li Yuanjing, Shen Wei and Mo Xun were close friends, like sisters.
If someone were to use Mo Xun to bring Shen Wei down, it would play right into Shen Wei’s hands.
...
...
Changxin Palace.
The roses in the courtyard bloomed profusely, their petals like red clouds. A palace maid held a water bottle, while Lu Xuan used a bamboo scoop with a long handle to personally water the roses.
As the clear water fell, the petals glistened with droplets.
The head maid of Changxin Palace, Xiao Qin, approached with light steps. Lu Xuan set down the scoop and took the handkerchief Xiao Qin offered to wipe her palms. "How are things over at Cining Palace?"
Xiao Qin replied, "The Empress’s little tricks really can’t escape the Empress Dowager’s eyes. Princess Wan has been brought back to Cining Palace. Consort Chen was also summoned there, and I heard she was punished to kneel."
Lu Xuan frowned slightly. "Punished to kneel?"
Xiao Qin nodded, a hint of disdain crossing her lips. "The Empress Dowager took away Consort Chen’s custody of her children and punishes her to kneel at every turn. It seems the Empress Dowager doesn’t consider Consort Chen one of her own."
Lu Xuan shook her head slowly. "One must not judge solely by appearances. The Empress Dowager personally raises Consort Chen’s three children, yet she hasn’t stopped them from visiting their birth mother in Yongning Palace. Clearly, the Empress Dowager is protecting Consort Chen’s children."
It was precisely because of the Empress Dowager’s protection that the other palace consorts dared not lay a hand on Consort Chen’s children.
Xiao Qin pondered, "Could it be that the Empress Dowager truly cares for Consort Chen?"
Lu Xuan pressed her lips together, delicately plucking a beautiful rose, and said slowly, "The Empress Dowager comes from a prestigious family, while the Shen family behind Consort Chen is a new power. The Empress Dowager’s treatment of Consort Chen is likely more about utility."
On the surface, the Empress Dowager had always kept her distance from the Xie family, but she still carried their blood.
When it came to core family interests, the Empress Dowager would undoubtedly side with her own family.
Xiao Qin thought carefully and nodded. "Your Highness is wise."
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