https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-209-Your-Son-Has-Had-a-Hard-Life-Empress-/12607020/
Chapter 210: Don't Be Too Greedy
Chapter 210: Don't Be Too Greedy
The Qiwang's cries made the Empress's heart ache.
Gritting her teeth, she said bitterly, "I said earlier that if we couldn't find a suitable lady, we could adopt one from the extended family. If you haven't found anyone to your liking yet, we can take our time. You're still young, and even if you were older, what's the harm in having one more lady in the manor?"
"Why are you so stubborn about this?"
"I believe Xiao Qi is already seven or eight years old, isn't he?"
"You've taken quite a few concubines over the years, and you've frequently visited the side rooms of your wife and concubines, yet there's still no news. You should understand that sometimes things are just not meant to be."
"If you feel that the ladies from the extended family are not worthy of our Qiwang Manor's county princess status, you can directly choose one of the princesses from your imperial brother. At worst, we'll have overstepped our bounds, but she'll still be a princess."
...
Emperor: ???
How did his princesses suddenly become a part of this conversation?
The problem was that he didn't even have that many princesses!
Qiwang's pain was not just about his inability to bear children; it went deeper than that.
The real devastating blow was the prospect of a shortened life.
Seeing that Qiwang's sobs had lessened, the Empress heaved a sigh, "Moreover, hasn't the Queen already brought back a child? I think she's quite lovely, and she has a life-saving grace towards Xiao Liu, indicating a connection to our Qiwang Manor and the Old Feng family. She's meant to be our child, so let's just focus on raising her well instead of creating more turmoil."
"The child is still young, and we'll do our best to raise her. What's there to fear that we won't be able to nurture her properly?"
"If all else fails, we can always rely on our status and position. We'll raise the child with utmost indulgence, and even if others develop ulterior motives in the future, they'll have to consider whether they can provide a better life for her."
...
With the mention of Suishu, Qiwang's sobs quieted even more. He slowly wiped away his tears as he recalled the scenes from yesterday when he had interacted with Suishu, and a belated realization dawned on him, "Mother, Suishu... she's also my lifesaver!"
The Empress was already aware of this matter.
While Qiwangfei was reluctant to speak about it, she didn't hide any crucial details either.
After all, it was better to have this information come from her rather than from someone else.
If the Empress felt that she had been kept in the dark about something, it wouldn't reflect well on Qiwangfei.
Moreover, the more something was concealed, the more it invited suspicion.
By being open and honest, Qiwangfei avoided raising any doubts.
Hearing Qiwang's words, the Empress let out another long sigh, "That's why I say this child is meant to be our Qiwang Manor's county princess. She saved you, and she saved Xiao Liu. She's such a wonderful child! You shouldn't be too greedy."
If it weren't for Suishu's aversion to Qiwang's body odor yesterday, which made her want to vomit, Qiwangfei wouldn't have thought to ask Liu Dafu to examine him.
Initially, she had just wanted to be cautious and take a closer look.
But as they say, once you pop, you can't stop!
And so, when they did...
Lo and behold, they uncovered something amiss!
On top of that, when Suishu mentioned that she didn't like the taste of today's chicken soup and didn't want to drink it, Qiwangfei's suspicions were piqued once more, leading to her decision to bring Suishu into the palace to be examined by the imperial physicians.
And guess what?
Yep, you guessed it...
Once again, they stumbled upon something untoward!
The tonic and ointment that Qiwang had been using in the separate courtyard contained thundervine and mare's tail.
While thundervine was indeed effective in alleviating pain and reducing edema, there was a catch...
If not properly processed, its side effects could be extremely detrimental!
It was evident that the concoctions used by Chayi'niang for Qiwang were either inadequately prepared or completely untreated.
Consequently, the toxicity was amplified!
Thankfully, their discovery had been timely.
Understanding the implications of the tonic and ointment's continued use, the Qi King realized the impact on his health and longevity would only worsen. Fortunately, the short duration of usage meant that with proper care and treatment, his body could still recover from the damage inflicted.
The Empress proceeded to share with the Qi King all the details she had learned from the Queen. Upon hearing that even his chicken soup had been tampered with, the Qi King's confusion turned to anger. "Why would she also give me medicine to drink? This doesn't make sense! She's not only harming others but also implicating herself in this scheme."
He furrowed his brows, perplexed by the motive behind Chayi'niang's actions. "What benefit does she gain by doing this to herself as well?"
If she could bear a son or a daughter, even if her status remained unchanged, she would at least gain some recognition within the manor. But if she couldn't... she would eventually be forgotten among the multitude of women, and the Qi King might not even remember her face after a while.
While the Qi King was puzzled, the Empress, a veteran of palace intrigues, had already seen through the scheme. With a cold laugh, she said, "I suspect that Chayi'niang is also a pawn in this game, manipulated by her own family. Most likely, the Chen family has their own agenda and has entangled her in their plot."
The Qi King finally understood. The Chen family intended to have their own daughter enjoy the privileges of the manor. Taking advantage of Chayi'niang's current favor, they frequently sent Chen Lingzhi to gain his attention and foster a positive impression, anticipating that if Chayi'niang remained childless, his inability to bear children would eventually lead him to acknowledge Chen Lingzhi as his concubine.
As their biological daughter, Chen Lingzhi would become a county princess of the manor, elevating the status of the entire Chen family. While the plan was risky, the potential rewards made it worthwhile. After all, who would suspect that someone would orchestrate such a scheme against him, especially when the pawn in their game was also oblivious to the truth and posed no suspicion?
Furthermore, the daily use of medicine was subtle and inconspicuous. The various medicinal soups and dishes were consumed and then disposed of, leaving no trace. Used plasters were peeled off, washed clean, and left no evidence. Scented pouches were frequently changed, drawing no attention. The subtle flavors of thundervine and mare's tail were easily masked by stronger aromas, and only a seasoned physician would be able to detect their presence.
The Chen family's scheme was rudimentary, but it suited the Qi King's situation perfectly, making it unlikely to be uncovered. If it weren't for Suishu's aversion to his body odor, which prompted the Queen's suspicions, and if it weren't for the chicken soup this morning that Suishu found unpalatable, leading the Queen to bring it to the palace for inspection, this plot might have continued undetected.
With prolonged use of the medicine, not only would the Qi King be unable to bear children, but his lifespan would also be affected. In such a scenario, fulfilling a dying wish by acknowledging a concubine to care for in his final days would seem like a reasonable decision to most.
As these thoughts raced through his mind, the Qi King's anger grew, and he exclaimed through his tears, "Fine, fine, they take advantage of me because they think I'm brainless! Mother, you have to stand up for me!"
After venting his frustration, he turned to the Emperor with a plaintive expression, "Imperial brother, you can't just stand by and watch your younger brother perish! They almost succeeded in harming me!"
Emperor: ...
To be honest, it was only because he was his younger brother. If it had been anyone else, he would have responded with sarcasm and derision.
Who else but you would be so oblivious?
However, as his brother, the Emperor could only smile and reassure him, "Rest assured, I understand the situation, and I'm already looking into it. I'll have them dealt with soon."
The second update will be at 7 PM.
(End of Chapter)
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