Yun Chu Ling

Chapter 359: The Emperor is Poisoned by Gu

Spring flowers bloomed brilliantly.

Those invited to admire the flowers had gradually all arrived.

The Emperor, having concluded his court session, also came to join the excitement.

As soon as he sat down, the Emperor began to cough.

Yun Fei (Consort Yun), who was closest to him, asked with concern, "Your Majesty, have you caught a chill?"

Gao Gonggong, standing behind with his head lowered, replied, "He did catch a chill a few nights ago. The imperial physician has already prescribed medicine, but somehow the coughing has been getting worse."

Yun Fei's eyes were filled with worry. "Have the imperial physician examine you more carefully later."

Li Jingshu lowered her head and took a sip of tea, a faint, ambiguous smile curling on her lips.

When the Emperor began to fall ill, it meant the Gu poison had already taken root in his body.

The day she became Empress would be the day she would detoxify the Emperor. She wanted to stand at the highest point with the Emperor, hand in hand, admiring the vast empire together...

Halfway through the flower-viewing banquet, a young woman among the palace consorts stepped forward.

Yun Chu recognized her as the palace maid who had been greatly favored by the Emperor two years ago. After becoming pregnant, she was granted the title of Lady Wu and had given birth to the Ninth Princess just a few months prior.

"Your Majesty!" Lady Wu spoke in a delicate, aggrieved tone, her voice full of grievance. "This humble one begs Your Majesty to uphold justice..."

The Emperor coughed several times, his expression clearly impatient. "What is the matter?"

Tears streamed down Lady Wu's face. "After giving birth to the Ninth Princess, according to the rules, my palace should receive an additional monthly stipend for the Ninth Princess, along with daily necessities that should be increased according to the princess's status. But, but..."

Hearing this, Yun Fei frowned. "I had the Imperial Household Department register the Ninth Princess's share long ago. It has been delivered every month."

"Before the Imperial Household Department could deliver it to my palace, it was... intercepted," Lady Wu sobbed. "It was Consort Jin... the head maid by Consort Jin's side snatched the Ninth Princess's stipend right in front of me... I know such matters should be brought to Sister Yun Fei, but Sister Yun Fei is not the Empress—how could she possibly manage Consort Jin, who once saved Your Majesty's life? I could only boldly seek Your Majesty's judgment!"

At these words, the expressions of many present changed.

For Consort Jin to reside in the Hall of Mental Cultivation was one thing, but now she was even seizing the stipends of the consorts? Wasn't that too domineering?

Under the unusual gazes of the crowd, Li Jingshu's face also took on a hurt expression. "Your Majesty, it was clearly Yun Fei who withheld my stipend, which is why I..."

Hearing this, Yun Fei couldn't help but laugh in anger. "May I ask, Consort Jin, what status of stipend should I grant you?"

A noblewoman residing in the Hall of Mental Cultivation was already outrageous enough—how could she possibly demand the stipend of a consort? Since when had such a rule existed?

Li Jingshu looked even more wronged. "When I was in the Duke's residence, I never lacked for food, clothing, or daily necessities. Your Majesty, perhaps I should just return..."

Her gaze met the Emperor's.

The Emperor looked into her eyes as if drawn into them, momentarily dazed.

When the Emperor regained his senses, his eyes turned cold as he looked at Yun Fei. "Yun Fei, your audacity grows! How dare you withhold Consort Jin's monthly stipend!"

Yun Fei immediately knelt. "Your servant was temporarily entrusted with managing the rear palace and has never dared to withhold anyone's stipend. Everything is clearly recorded in the registers. If Your Majesty does not believe me, I will have someone bring the accounts for Your Majesty to review!""No matter how you recorded the accounts, Consort Jin should not have been wronged." The Emperor spoke slowly. "Consort Yun has failed to maintain proper order and is unworthy of holding the Phoenix Seal..."

Consort Yun was incredulous.

Without even investigating, the Emperor was directly taking away her Phoenix Seal?

Since the Emperor regarded Consort Jin so highly, why did he allow her to reside in the Hall of Mental Cultivation without proper status, inviting gossip? Why didn't he simply confer upon her the title of consort?

Li Jingshu's fingers paused momentarily.

She had used gu worms to make the Emperor unconditionally take her side, so why was his response merely taking away the Phoenix Seal?

She raised her face to look at the Emperor seated in the highest position.

As if sensing her gaze, the Emperor also looked at her, his mind wandering once more before he declared: "Consort Yun's virtue has fallen to such depths that she shall be confined to the Cold Palace immediately..."

These words caused an uproar among all present.

Though aware this was not the occasion for discussion, some couldn't help but whisper to each other.

"Heavens! Consort Yun is the legitimate eldest daughter of the Yun family! For the sake of an unrelated married woman, the Emperor would actually send Consort Yun to the Cold Palace? This is too absurd!"

"Moreover, Consort Yun hasn't done anything wrong at all! How can this be called loss of virtue? Is offending Consort Jin now considered loss of virtue?"

"Now I understand why the Emperor never granted Consort Jin proper status - he wants to make her Empress!"

"What qualifications does Consort Jin have to become Empress? She entered the palace without the three letters and six etiquettes, completely disregarding ritual propriety! She hasn't borne the Emperor any children and has contributed nothing to the imperial family! How dare she harbor such delusions? Ridiculous!"

"Keep your voice down! Be careful the Emperor charges you with a crime!"

"..."

Consort Yun stood frozen.

Before the banquet began, she had been telling Chu'er that she wanted to contend for the position of Empress.

But before anything could even start, it seemed everything was already ending.

In the Emperor's heart, she wasn't even worth one of Consort Jin's fingers...

The Noble Lady Wu who had first made the accusation stood rigid with shock.

She never imagined the Emperor would send Consort Yun to the Cold Palace without investigating the truth.

Then what would happen to her, the accuser...

A chill slowly spread from Noble Lady Wu's spine.

Li Jingshu's lips curved into a smile.

The more the Emperor cared for her, the stronger the gu worm's effect became. That Western Regions sorceress truly hadn't deceived her.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, suppressing the stirring gu worms within.

She needed to find the right opportunity to have the Emperor make her Empress...

Just as she was lost in these thoughts, a figure rose from the crowd.

It was Yun Chu.

She stepped forward, approaching the steps and kneeling beside Consort Yun: "Your daughter-in-law has a letter to present for His Majesty's review."

Gao Gonggong descended the steps, took the letter, and delivered it to the Emperor.

Those present assumed it must be a personal letter from the Pillar of the Nation Great General and Grand Commandant. Since Consort Yun was the General's own sister, with the General's guarantee, the Emperor probably wouldn't send her to the Cold Palace.

Li Jingshu sneered coldly.

Even if Yun Silin came in person, it would be useless! With the gu worms active, whatever she desired, the Emperor would execute!

Then they saw the Emperor's expression change dramatically as he looked at Yun Chu: "Where did this letter come from?"

Yun Chu spoke slowly: "It was written by a woman who called herself Li Jingshu, given to your daughter-in-law to deliver to her Erlang."

"What?!"

The Emperor shot to his feet.

Li Jingshu's face instantly paled.The real Li Jingshu... went mad over thirty years ago. She was confined to a manor in the outskirts of the capital, locked up every day, and her madness grew increasingly severe. She had imperial physicians examine her, and they said that wretched woman was completely insane, beyond any hope of recovery.

Therefore, she let her guard down. Over a year ago, that wretched woman escaped.

She dispatched people to search everywhere, but no trace was found. She then assumed she must have died—and even if she hadn't, a madwoman couldn't possibly survive for long...