The Empress thus activated the hidden agents scattered throughout the palaces years ago, including the maid who poisoned Consort Liu, and the one who was meant to drive Noble Consort Wei insane.
These individuals were all under her thumb, ensuring that even if their actions were exposed, she would remain unscathed.
Therefore, this scheme involving the Furong Cake was orchestrated through Noble Consort Wei.
The trouble Noble Consort Wei had been causing recently was also a symptom of her subtle poisoning.
Her capriciousness, her sharp tongue, these vices that had once been hers were now amplified, making Noble Consort Wei so volatile and unwilling to listen.
Not only was her behavior erratic, but she also repeatedly challenged the boundaries of palace rules.
This led to His Majesty's disgust towards her today.
Consort Shu also played a significant role in all of this.
"Alright, give the order. We can't let her go mad just yet. At least we need a scapegoat."
And so, not long after, Consort Zhen was apprehended.
The evidence was conclusive, leaving no room for denial. She had arranged the poisoning of Consort Liu and used the opportunity to frame Noble Consort Wei.
She had always been close to Noble Consort Wei, making it easy for her to tamper with the Furong Cake.
Thus, after Emperor Qi's furious outburst, he ordered her title to be stripped and her confinement to the cold palace. If not for the slight utility of her family in the court, she might have been granted a silken noose to end her life.
Before Consort Zhen was sent to the cold palace, she was also drugged into silence, and her close confidantes were ordered to be beaten to death.
Therefore, she truly had nowhere to appeal her grievances.
Upon receiving this news, Noble Consort Wei showed no sign of emotion.
"Using my hands to retaliate against Consort Xian, killing two birds with one stone. How did I not realize that foolish Consort Zhen had such schemes?"
"Your Ladyship is brilliant, seeing through the deception at a glance."
Everyone knew that Consort Zhen was a scapegoat.
Emperor Qi did not mention it because a conclusion had to be reached. Consort Zhen poisoning was better than Noble Consort Wei poisoning.
After all, he had little affection for Consort Zhen, and her family was easily manipulated in court.
The Empress did not mention it because this was her objective: to show those who intended to align with Noble Consort Wei the consequences of being abandoned, and to isolate Noble Consort Wei.
Noble Consort Wei did not mention it because she needed to be cleared of suspicion legitimately.
She had not poisoned anyone, and those who intended to harm her behind the scenes, failing in their attempt, shifted the blame to Consort Zhen.
It seemed the Empress was the most likely suspect.
While everyone harbored their own hidden agendas, only Consort Liu sighed mournfully in her palace.
Unfortunately, despite her rank as a consort, she held no real power. Even if she wished to speak in defense of Consort Zhen, no one would listen.
Thus, the incident of poisoning involving the Furong Cake, under the deliberate cover-up by the Emperor and Empress, was quickly concluded, becoming mere gossip in the harem.
Consort Liu, however, benefited from this misfortune. To appease her, or rather, to appease the Sixth Prince who was handling affairs outside, Emperor Qi specifically granted her the authority to oversee the affairs of the six palaces.
Unable to refuse, she reluctantly accepted.
The Empress was pleased to see this turn of events, as Consort Liu's performance over the years had given her ample reassurance.
A timid and weak woman could not stir up much trouble in the harem.
Noble Consort Wei, stripped of her authority to oversee the palaces, threw another tantrum in the Hall of Radiant Splendor, killing several maids. Furthermore, under the Empress's deliberate arrangement, this news was leaked out of the palace.
In an instant, news of Noble Consort Wei's lack of virtue and her arbitrary killing of palace maids spread throughout the capital.
Everyone gossiped behind her back, almost labeling Noble Consort Wei a vixen. Even the reputation of the Wei family and Prince Li suffered considerably.
For this reason, Prince Li lost an opportunity to gain favor.
The Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching, and the harem banquet would naturally be presided over by the Empress, while the court banquet would once again be entrusted to Prince Ke.
The Emperor's actions were the direction for the officials to curry favor, so Prince Ke's residence had been bustling with visitors these days.
The Ninth Prince, wanting to vent his anger, inexplicably thought of Liang Luo first.
He stormed into her courtyard and caused another disturbance. After he left, Liang Luo was left with several bruises and injuries.
"Where is the medicine for conception?"
"Your servant has prepared it."
She handed over the medicinal bowl, and Liang Luo drank it without any emotion, then lay down to rest.
Her affection for the Ninth Prince completely vanished, replaced by hatred.
She, a legitimate daughter of a noble family, had now become a plaything for the Ninth Prince to vent his emotions. She had seen that favored male concubine a few times, and each time she looked radiant, far better than herself.
He was indeed cunning, doting on his beloved male concubine while treating her like an animal. After every encounter, she felt her dignity trampled into the ground.
She wondered how he behaved in the rooms of his other side consorts and concubines, but in her case, he had never shown her a good face.
Therefore, she now wanted nothing more than to conceive quickly and escape this nightmarish Ninth Prince.
In a nondescript courtyard in Jinling City, Liang Quanbin had been recuperating from his injuries for some time.
Under the careful care of Cai Ju, he recovered quickly.
Although the stab wound to his chest was recent, it was much better than his previous broken leg and shoulder injury.
When Feng Jinlin came to visit, she happened to witness Liang Quanbin and Cai Ju in an intimate embrace. Although she knew that the hidden agents of Prince Ding's mansion would not be incompetent, it was truly remarkable how quickly he had captivated the woman in such a short time!
"Uncle Liang."
"Jinlin has arrived."
"Yes, I've brought you some medicinal herbs. How is your injury these days?"
"Much better, much better. Thanks to Cai Ju's care, the maid you found is excellent. She tends to me very meticulously."
"That's good."
Cai Ju blushed upon hearing them discuss her.
Last night, Liang Quanbin had privately told her that he would take her as a concubine after everything was settled. Cai Ju had naturally responded with feigned delight, and today she shyly excused herself to make tea.
Liang Quanbin's gaze was lingering, and if he were not immobile, he would likely have been intimate with Cai Ju.
"Uncle Liang, have you fallen for her?"
Hearing Feng Jinlin's words, Liang Quanbin did not hide anything.
"To be honest, nephew, I haven't sought anyone since my wife passed away. My two concubines at home are merely for show. But Cai Ju has caught my eye, and it's hard to let her go."
"Heroes cannot resist the allure of beauty. The old saying is indeed true."
Listening to Feng Jinlin's teasing, Liang Quanbin also burst into laughter.
"You, when you get married, you'll understand what it means to die under the peony and be a romantic ghost."
His eyes, usually so calculating, now held a lecherous glint that made Feng Jinlin feel nauseous.