Imprisoned (Part 2)

Han Feiyue had not yet regained consciousness, and the Noble Consort was still standing by the bedside. Imperial Physician Gu stepped forward to check Han Feiyue's pulse and carefully inquired about everything she had consumed recently.

Since Han Feiyue had been under my constant care, I listed every single meal she had eaten throughout the day. Both breakfast and lunch had been completely finished, leaving only the remaining milk-pigeon soup in the pot.

I addressed Imperial Physician Gu, saying, "Imperial Physician, everything was prepared strictly according to your instructions."

"Very well, let me inspect it." Imperial Physician Gu carried the remaining pot of milk-pigeon soup, examined it closely, brought it near his nose to sniff, and even dipped a finger in to taste a drop.

Afterward, he asked me, "You brewed this yourself. Did it pass through anyone else's hands?"

Though somewhat puzzled, I answered truthfully, "Replying to Imperial Physician Gu, in accordance with His Majesty's decree, the Crown Princess's food and provisions have been handled solely by this humble servant. I would never dare entrust them to another. Imperial Physician, is there something wrong with the pigeon soup?"

Instead of answering directly, Imperial Physician Gu said, "This matter is beyond my decision. You must accompany me to see the Empress."

A heavy sense of foreboding gripped my heart, but I had no choice other than to follow Imperial Physician Gu outside. Whatever awaited me next, I had to face it.

I followed Imperial Physician Gu out of the courtyard where the Empress and the others were waiting.

"Imperial Physician Gu, have you discovered anything?" the Empress asked.

Holding the pot of milk-pigeon soup, Imperial Physician Gu bowed to the Empress and said, "Your Majesty, this old minister has uncovered the reason behind the Crown Princess's miscarriage."

"Is it this?" The Empress glanced at the pot in the physician's hands. Minghe, standing nearby, stepped forward to take the pot, presenting it first to the Empress, and then to Gong Wu'e and Jiang Yun.

Gong Wu'e merely wrinkled her nose in disgust, flicked her handkerchief dismissively, and turned her head away without looking closely.

"What is so special about this?" Jiang Yun asked after a glance. "Isn't it just milk-pigeon soup? It should be beneficial for pregnant women, shouldn't it?"

Imperial Physician Gu replied respectfully, "This milk-pigeon soup was indeed ordered by this old minister for little Xiaozi to prepare, and it is indeed nourishing for the Crown Princess's constitution. However, something extra was added to this soup beyond my instructions. That added substance is the exact cause of the Crown Princess's miscarriage."

"What was it?"

"Safflower."

"What?" The Empress gasped in shock. "You are saying Feiyue suffered a miscarriage because she ingested safflower? Who could have added such a thing?"

Hearing this, I immediately dropped to my knees. The Empress looked down at me and said, "Little Xiaozi, I recall that all of the Crown Princess's daily meals and living arrangements are under your care. Can you explain to me how this substance found its way in?"

Before I could reply, Gong Wu'e chimed in, "Little Xiaozi, speak! Was it the Crown Princess herself who specifically ordered you to put the safflower inside?"

I protested, "Replying to Your Majesty, safflower was most certainly not added at the Crown Princess's command. Furthermore, since I prepared it with my own hands, I never let it out of my sight or passed it to anyone else. In this courtyard, there is only this humble servant, the Crown Princess, and Lady Jing'an—no one else."

The Empress remarked coldly, "In that case, if it was not the Crown Princess, it must have been you?"

Though a chill ran down my spine, I replied, "This humble servant harbors no intention of harming the Crown Princess. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly."

"Even if you have no such intent, it does not mean others do not," the Empress said pointedly.

***

Although I understood the Empress's insinuation, I dared not speak the thought aloud.

The Empress continued leisurely, "Speak. Who instigated you? Confess truthfully, and I may deal with you lightly."

"Tell us! Was it because the Crown Princess did not want this child that she made you do this?" Gong Wu'e demanded anxiously. "As long as you confess, the Empress will show mercy."

Before I had even admitted to putting the safflower into the soup, they were already attempting to force a confession out of me regarding who had supposedly ordered it.

The Empress and Gong Wu'e would naturally be overjoyed if I confessed that Han Feiyue had masterminded the plot. Earlier, Han Feiyue had openly admitted to having feelings for another man; although they still did not know the identity of that man, the issue was now being dragged back to light. Once I made this confession, regardless of whose child she was carrying, Han Feiyue would be condemned for a capital offense—either plotting against the Imperial Grandson or committing adultery.

To prevent them from succeeding, and considering the soup had indeed passed through my hands to Han Feiyue, the blame ultimately fell on my carelessness for causing her to lose the child. Even if I could not immediately uncover who truly wished to murder the unborn baby, I had to protect Han Feiyue now, at least preventing them from pinning the crime directly onto her.

I pleaded, "Your Majesty, please examine the facts. This servant has served the Crown Princess for many days and knows all too well how deeply she cherished this child. She had already begun sewing the garments the Imperial Grandson would wear upon birth. I ask you, Your Majesty, why would she ever harm her own flesh and blood? Furthermore, this servant agrees with Her Majesty that this was clearly the work of someone acting with malicious intent. But setting aside the Crown Princess as the biological mother, this servant believes it is entirely possible that others did not wish to see this child born."

Though usually boisterous, Gong Wu'e caught the underlying implication. She pointed a finger at me and shouted, "Little Xiaozi, what do you mean by that? Are you accusing me of harming the child?"

"This servant said no such thing; I am merely stating the truth."

"Minghe," the Empress commanded, "this audacious slave dares to openly slander his superiors. Teach him a lesson on my behalf first."

"Understood!"

Minghe stepped forward and struck me across the face repeatedly, back and forth, until her palm turned bright red and she finally stopped. My cheeks burned with a fiery pain, and a trickle of blood spilled from the corner of my mouth.

"Hmph! That will teach you to babble nonsense. Will you confess the truth now?" Gong Wu'e sneered triumphantly.

"Mother," Jiang Yun interjected, "in this son's view, I do not believe Feiyue would ever cause her own child's miscarriage."

Gong Wu'e retorted, "Your Highness, surely you aren't believing little Xiaozi's words? This servant is blatantly trying to shield—"

"And what evidence do you have that it was Feiyue's own doing?" Jiang Yun interrupted, casting a cold gaze at her. "You are stubbornly trying to force little Xiaozi to pin the blame on Feiyue. Do not think I am unaware of what you are scheming!"

With her intentions exposed by Jiang Yun, Gong Wu'e flushed with embarrassment. Stamping her foot in frustration, she turned to the Empress and cried, "Aunt, look at how the Crown Prince speaks to me! I am only standing up for him, I have his best interests at heart!"

"Enough, enough. I know your good intentions," the Empress placated. "Since this matter is not yet fully investigated, do not jump to conclusions. All the key evidence points to this slave; it is an undeniable fact that he added the safflower which caused the miscarriage. Now we need only force him to confess who instigated him. This cunning dog of a slave has managed to slip away through sheer luck on previous occasions, but I will not lower my guard this time. This matter is of grave importance, and I must investigate it thoroughly. Guards! Give this slave fifty strokes of the cane first. Let us see just how stubborn his bones truly are."

"Wait!" Jiang Chen stepped forward. "Mother, this is an area where Imperial Mother practices asceticism, as well as my personal residence. It is entirely inappropriate to administer corporal punishment here. Furthermore, given my observations of little Xiaozi over these past days, I firmly believe he lacks both the motive and the inclination to harm the Third Sister-in-law."

I was grateful that Jiang Chen was still willing to speak up for me, though his words would likely be in vain.

"Jiang Chen," the Empress adopted a gentler, more persuasive tone, "both the Crown Prince and I initially insisted that Feiyue return to the Eastern Palace to recuperate, but she refused, and His Majesty and the Empress Dowager consented. You yourself gave assurances at the time that you would take good care of her. Now that the child is gone—lost right here in your Huayang Palace—any thorough investigation is inevitably tied to this place. Since you object to executing punishment here, where do you propose I conduct my inquiry?"

The Empress's words, neither harsh nor soft, left Jiang Chen with no room for rebuttal.

After all, she was the Empress; Jiang Chen could not openly defy her.

Seeing Jiang Chen fall silent, the Empress commanded, "What are you all standing around for? Do it!"

***

At the Empress's command, two eunuchs stepped forward and seized me by the arms.

"Amitabha," the Noble Consort suddenly murmured as she walked out from the inner room, holding a string of Buddhist prayer beads.

"Imperial Mother," Jiang Chen bowed respectfully, "this son and the others have disturbed your peace."

Seeing the Noble Consort emerge, the Empress stepped forward with a smile and said, "Sister, it has been quite a few years since we last met, hasn't it?" Then, feigning concern, she asked, "Goodness, what happened to the scar on your face?"

"This old nun dares not accept being called 'sister' by Your Majesty," the Noble Consort replied coldly. "This is a place of quiet cultivation, decreed by His Majesty himself. I have severed ties with the mortal world and pray only that its turmoil does not reach my doors. Amitabha!"

The Noble Consort's meaning was unmistakable: the Empress had no jurisdiction to mete out punishment here.

I could not be certain whether the Empress would grant the Noble Consort this courtesy. Strictly speaking, since I was to be beaten outside the courtyard, if the Empress insisted, there was little the Noble Consort could do.

Before the Empress could reply, Gong Wu'e snapped, "How insolent! You are nothing more than a neglected consort. The Empress is currently investigating a matter concerning the Imperial Grandson. Not only can she punish people outside, but she has every right to do so inside this courtyard as well!"

The Noble Consort did not even glance at Gong Wu'e; her expression remained utterly serene.

"Wu'e, hold your tongue," the Empress chided. "Since sister is practicing her devotions here, I must certainly grant her this respect. Sister, I will handle the matter of the Crown Princess back at Kunning Palace so as not to disturb your tranquility."

"Many thanks to the Empress," the Noble Consort chanted a quiet Amitabha and turned to re-enter her room. Just before crossing the threshold, she heard the Empress ask, "Pardon me, Imperial Physician Gu, is it permissible to move the Crown Princess back to the Eastern Palace at this hour?"

Looking hesitant, Imperial Physician Gu heard the Noble Consort reply without turning back, "The Crown Princess is extremely weak and must not be moved right now. Imperial Physician, trouble yourself to prepare the medicine, and I shall—"

"This son will order servants to brew the medicine; there is no need to trouble Imperial Mother," Jiang Chen hastily interrupted.

"Hmph," the Noble Consort did not even look at Jiang Chen as she stepped inside and shut the door behind her.

For the Empress to force her way in now would be entirely unseemly.

"Aunt, what should we do with this dog of a slave?" Gong Wu'e pointed at me.

"Take him back to Kunning Palace!"

"Imperial Mother, I consider this unwise," Jiang Yun protested. "I believe this matter should be handled within the Eastern Palace, especially since it concerns Feiyue."

"Very well," the Empress did not object to Jiang Yun's suggestion and added, "It is getting late. Have someone teach this slave a lesson tonight, and we shall interrogate him thoroughly tomorrow morning."

"Understood, Your Majesty."