In the western chamber of the Great Peace Hall, a foul stench reminiscent of pigsties and latrines permeated the air, forcing the palace maids serving inside to frown and hold their breath. Consort Yin pinched her nose with one hand while continuously fanning the air with the other:
"Where is this stench coming from?"
Wei Shufen stood up and walked to a spot on the carpet stained with yellowish-brown powder. Squatting down and leaning closer, an overpowering stench "buzzed" into her nostrils and brain, nearly making her vomit on the spot.
"Here... right here..." Wei Shufen also pinched her nose while covering her mouth, pointing at the ground with her left hand, "Stinking... stinking medicinal powder..."
Earlier that evening, Consort Yin had randomly picked up a celadon medicine bottle from the case Wei Shufen was holding for Chai Yingluo, poured its powder onto the carpet, and then inserted poison pills. At first, the discarded powder showed no unusual signs, but after some time, it began emitting an increasingly intense foul odor.
Consort Yin seemed to recall the origin of this powder and frowned, signaling the servants to come clean it. Wei Shufen stepped back to her side, shaking her head:
"It's useless. The High Truth Master once told me about this stinking powder. She said she was refining pills following the recipe of the 'Nine Transformations Marvelous Fragrance Pills,' using expensive ingredients like ambergris and musk bone. But when she opened the cauldron, the medicine hadn't solidified, and the scent was off. After a while, it grew increasingly foul, making people want to jump into a river or hang themselves! Moreover, once this powder contaminates a room, the stench lingers for at least a full day and night. No amount of cleaning or deodorizing helps... I truly didn't know she had filled that bottle with this stinking powder."
"This proves that wretched Chai woman harbors malicious intent, determined to poison the Supreme Emperor," Consort Yin snorted.
Wei Shufen paused, thought carefully, and spoke more solemnly:
"If not for your reminder, I might have forgotten—the High Truth... Chai Yingluo also mentioned that prolonged exposure to this stench is extremely harmful to the body, especially causing coughing and phlegm! My lady, the Supreme Emperor must not remain in this room!"
"Good heavens, why didn't you say so earlier!" Consort Yin first pulled out a handkerchief to cover her nose and mouth, hesitated for a moment, then called for attendants loudly. She ordered them to prepare thick bedding, felt enclosures, and a palanquin to relocate the Supreme Emperor.
The Supreme Emperor had been bedridden for a long time, his body frail and unable to withstand cold. As it was already night and chilly outside, moving him required extreme care. Wei Shufen helped the servants hastily assemble the long palanquin, ensuring it was tightly enclosed and padded with multiple layers of thick felt bedding. Three serving girls and Consort Yin worked together to lift the Supreme Emperor's blanket-wrapped body from the bed and carefully place him into the palanquin.
By now, the stench in the room had left everyone dizzy, with coughs and dry heaves echoing around. Consort Yin could endure no longer and rushed out the door in quick strides, taking deep breaths on the corridor. Wei Shufen followed her out, leaning against a pillar and coughing violently for a while before hoarsely saying, "Lady Chai's medicine... is truly vicious..."
"That wretched woman... hmph..." Consort Yin couldn't hold back and vomited into the plants outside the corridor.
Wei Shufen moved to pat her back and soothe her, saying bitterly, "This stench... who knows if it'll fade by dawn... It's clinging to our clothes—how are we supposed to face anyone? I wish Chai Yingluo could experience this herself!"
Her words struck a chord with Consort Yin. After finishing her retching, she straightened up and watched as the serving girls carried the Supreme Emperor out of the western chamber onto the corridor. She then turned to address the palace maids accompanying her:"Go summon Chai Yingluo and have her dragged into the western pavilion! Remember to double-check that she's properly bound and gagged! Once she's inside, lock the door and stand guard outside. If she escapes, you'll pay dearly for it!"
The palace maid acknowledged the order and went to relay the command. Consort Yin turned to Wei Shufen with a cold laugh. "Tomorrow at the Hall of Established Governance, we'll let that Chai wretch humiliate her aunt first! That little bitch thinks her noble birth makes her superior, looking down on everyone. Let her stink to high heaven so everyone avoids her!"
"Consort Yin's strategy is brilliant!" Wei Shufen flattered with a smile.
The residence Consort Yin had arranged for the Supreme Emperor was a side hall not far from the western pavilion. After being carried north along the corridor for a short while, they arrived. She explained this had originally been the Seventeenth Princess's quarters. The side hall was cramped and simply decorated, but serving girls had already brought in a large heating stove, making it reasonably warm inside. The attendants carefully lifted the Supreme Emperor from the palanquin and placed him on the bed, with Consort Yin personally adjusting the bedding while Wei Shufen assisted.
During the transfer, the Supreme Emperor groaned unconsciously but never woke. Wei Shufen felt a pang of guilt—this seventy-year-old man was genuinely ill, and this ordeal posed real risks. But then again, who asked him to be so proficient at siring such "fine sons"...
After the palanquin bearers withdrew, servants brought in a small couch near the heating stove beside the bed—this would be Consort Yin's resting place for the night. With everything settled, Consort Yin addressed Wei Shufen:
"It's the middle of the night, and we both need rest. Tomorrow at dawn, we have important matters to attend to. Wei Niangzi, I'm afraid you'll have to make do sharing the outer chamber with the maids for half the night."
Wei Shufen readily agreed, bowing respectfully before withdrawing with two or three palace maids and serving girls.
The outer chamber of this side hall had likely once housed the Seventeenth Princess's attendants, featuring a long heated kang along the wall that could sleep four or five people side by side. Exhausted, they spread bedding, removed their shoes, and climbed onto the kang without conversation, extinguishing the lamp to sleep.
Wei Shufen didn't expect to sleep. Lying in darkness with closed eyes, she mentally reviewed her plans repeatedly. Just as drowsiness began to creep in, the anticipated sounds erupted—shouts of alarm, terrified screams, cries of "Assassins!" and the clashing of weapons outside the hall.
Some of the more alert women sharing the kang sat up in panic, asking what was happening. Wei Shufen threw on her outer robe, searching for her shoes as she responded, "I'll go see."
She already knew what was happening. Rushing past the outer chamber straight into the Supreme Emperor's quarters, she found Consort Yin and the attending maids already awake, with Consort Yin donning her outer garment as lamps were lit. Spotting Wei Shufen's entrance, Consort Yin demanded immediately, "What's happening outside?"
"I heard the guards shouting—assassins have entered, heading toward the main hall and western pavilion! It seems they're after the Supreme Emperor!" Wei Shufen feigned panic. "Consort Yin, what should we do?"
"What should we do? The Supreme Emperor isn't in the main hall or western pavilion," Consort Yin glanced at the bed. "Heaven truly protects us, thanks be to the gods!"
"But this place isn't far from the western pavilion. If the assassins capture a palace maid or eunuch for questioning, they'll easily learn the Supreme Emperor is here!" Wei Shufen warned.Two sentences made Consort Yin frown, leaving her at a loss. "Yes, what should we do? Perhaps... we should move the Supreme Emperor further back to a more remote and secluded place?"
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