Chapter 43

Feng Yuexian had acted on impulse. What the wager should be, she hadn’t really thought about it.

Her fingers unconsciously toyed with the chess pieces, rubbing the side of a chess piece with her fingertip, her gaze falling on Song Pianxian’s smooth forehead.

Feng Yuexian recalled the golden hairpin that had once adorned her forehead.

The glue applied by Song Pianxian, the peach blossoms tinged with fragrance—

She averted her eyes slightly, her voice sounding hoarse:

“Just a bet…”

“Hmm?”

“Just a bet. If you lose, you’ll have to try on all the new clothes sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, including the headwear.”

Feng Yuexian added, “Yin Xue urged me to try on summer clothes. I couldn’t be bothered. If you lose, you can do it for me.”

Song Pianxian was taken aback, then chuckled.

Feng Yuexian didn’t really care much about clothes and accessories, but the foundation was there. Even without much effort, whatever she wore exuded a unique charm.

But no matter how bold Yin Xue was, she wouldn’t dare to urge her mistress to try on new clothes.

Feng Yuexian probably knew that this bet was just a joke, so she came up with a playful wager that suited both parties.

“Alright,” Song Pianxian agreed, smiling brightly.

Feng Yuexian was about to say something else when Yin Xue, who she had used as an excuse, arrived. She was holding a tray adorned with a spiral mother-of-pearl peony, on top of which sat a Ru kiln plate, her voice crisp:

“Master, may you be blessed.”

“The small kitchen made a butterfly noodle dish earlier, and it received praise from the Crown Prince. They were so happy. Today, they’ve brought some snacks as well, hoping for a reward.”

In the Eastern Palace, there had only been one weak Master before, and everything tended towards light and healthy eating. When Feng Yuexian arrived, there was no change at first.

After Feng Yuexian had eaten for a few days, it seemed like her appetite had diminished.

Song Pianxian noticed, so she asked Xue Qing to inform the kitchen and took the opportunity to recall a pastry called “Butterfly Noodles” from her memory and asked them to make it according to the appearance.

When the butterfly noodles were served, the thin noodles were dyed with some vegetable juice, creating delicate green patterns on the wings, exquisite in appearance. Floating in the steaming soup, they fluttered like butterflies.

Feng Yuexian had two bowls that day and didn’t miss half a butterfly, clearly enjoying it very much.

Seeing her delight, Song Pianxian generously rewarded the kitchen staff. It seemed that the kitchen staff had put more effort into developing it, probably guessing the Master’s preferences, which led to today’s presentation.

“What is this?”

Xue Qing placed the plate on the table. Originally, it was a pastry, also shaped like a butterfly, similar in craftsmanship to the butterfly noodles.

The pastry was palm-sized, with layers of flaky pastry stacked on top of each other, emitting a faint scent of milk when approached.

Suddenly, Song Pianxian remembered seeing similar pastries in another world.

There was someone who particularly liked them.

Loved them so much that even fans knew. Manager Luo Chun treated them as a major adversary, and assistants from other companies bought coffee every day, while Liu Lele frequented the bakery—

“Would you like to try it first? I don’t know what it’s called—when I mentioned that you don’t usually like sweet things, the kitchen was afraid you wouldn’t like it, so they didn’t bother naming it.”

Xue Qing’s voice was as clear as a bird’s song, interrupting Song Pianxian’s thoughts.

She lowered her gaze, lashes casting a small shadow on her cheeks.

Suddenly, Song Pianxian felt tired.

Perhaps this body was really prone to fatigue.

She closed the book and got up to rest on the bed.

Meanwhile, Feng Yuexian was already trying the pastry.

“Tastes good,” Feng Yuexian took another bite. Perhaps the pastry was extremely crispy; even Song Pianxian could hear the faint crackle as it crumbled between her teeth.

“Huh? But don’t you dislike overly sweet things?” Xue Qing realized, “Maybe it’s the appearance of this pastry that caught your eye.”

“You always find excuses,” Feng Yuexian didn’t explain anything, just teased with a smile.

The conversation reached Song Pianxian’s ears. Without disturbing Feng Yuexian’s enjoyment of the delicacy, she turned around and quietly left.

“If Your Highness likes it, there’s no need to change the flavor. You can reward them directly.”

“Still no name?” Feng Yuexian’s voice sounded a bit softer, as if it melted with the pastry in her mouth.

“No.”

“Then let’s call it Butterfly Pastry.”

Song Pianxian’s heart skipped a beat, subconsciously stopped, and suddenly looked back.

In front of the table, Feng Yuexian’s figure was graceful, her fingers delicate. Only half of the pastry remained in her hand, and the crumbs fell like jade between her fingers.

Song Pianxian could only see her beautiful profile, but soon, Feng Yuexian turned her head, her eyes shining:

“Would you like to try it?”

Song Pianxian stood still, lips slightly pursed.

Xue Qing chuckled, “Your Highness, did you name it Butterfly Pastry because of the Butterfly Noodles? It seems to imply a connection.”

“Does the name suit it?” Feng Yuexian lazily responded.

She didn’t know why, but seeing this, she felt it should be called Butterfly Pastry. Maybe it was because of what Xue Qing said; with Butterfly Noodles preceding it, and its resemblance to a butterfly, calling it Butterfly Pastry seemed natural.

Song Pianxian understood.

So it was.

It was just a coincidence.

“I’ll pass, feeling a bit tired. I’ll take a nap,” Song Pianxian said.

Feng Yuexian was about to inquire further when Xue Qing hurried over, indicating progress in the matter.

As the golden gauze curtain was drawn, she remained unable to fall asleep for a long time.

“09.”

“Host,” 09 responded promptly.

Song Pianxian quieted down before asking, “The people from the small world won’t appear in another small world, right?”

“That’s correct,” 09’s voice was decisive. “The small worlds we come to are of the same level, belonging to different time and space. There is no way to open a passage between small worlds.”

“Mm.” Song Pianxian paused, her voice lighter. “Can I check the current status of the mission target from the previous world?”

Isn’t this asking about Lin Qinglu?

Automatically translating it, 09 felt a strange sense of something, like an adult’s sentiment, but unfortunately, she replied dejectedly, “After leaving the world, it’s impossible to check.”

09 waited for a moment, but didn’t hear the host continue speaking. She had a vague feeling that the host wasn’t asleep, so after pondering for a moment, she hurriedly said, “But the previous world is operating very healthily. There have been no subsequent abnormal notifications here. Host can rest assured that Lin— the mission target must be doing well.”

There was another long silence.

“Thank you, 09.”

After leaving Yixi Palace, Song Qu summoned a trusted aide and asked, “Is Feng Yuexian in Qingqing Palace today?”

“Back to Your Highness, she isn’t.”

The aide naturally understood what the Prince was thinking and earnestly advised, “These days, the Crown Prince’s Consort has been appearing in Qingqing Palace every day. Today, the Crown Prince is in the Yangxin Hall, in a hurry to avoid aggravating his condition. Consort is accompanying the Eastern Palace and hasn’t gone to Qingqing Palace to tend to the illness.”

“Today, the Crown Prince’s Consort stumbled and fell. It might be the best opportunity. I hope Your Highness will seize it!”

Song Qu clearly understood this principle, especially after his previous losses in Qingqing Palace, which taught him a painful lesson.

Moreover, the longer the rumors spread, it was detrimental to the Xi Family and to him, a Prince from the Xi Family.

Saving Xi Qingyan was not only for the Xi Family but also for himself.

Song Qu made up his mind. “Prepare to leave for Wude Hall.”

“Your Highness—”

“Still need to make some preparations.” Song Qu’s eyes were dark, like damp and gloomy clouds. “This crisis is serious, and with Feng Yuexian watching closely, we can’t afford to be slow. We must ensure a single decisive strike.”

The aide seemed to understand.

Returning to Wude Hall, Song Qu immediately had a pot of stew brought from the imperial kitchen.

Wude Hall didn’t have a small kitchen, so after a brief pause, he changed into a robe and prepared to leave.

Qi Baozhu personally served him, fastening the jade pendant around him. “Your Highness… Are you going to Qingqing Palace to pay respects?”

“Mm,” Song Qu replied absentmindedly.

“Your Highness, you’ve worked hard,” Qi Baozhu said, but the jade pendant in her hand hadn’t been tied for a long time. Song Qu was a bit impatient, about to wave her away, and even the palm wind brushed against Qi Baozhu’s face. Suddenly, he remembered something and his hand stopped abruptly.

He caressed Qi Baozhu’s cheek, lifted her chin forcefully to make her look at him, and scrutinized her for a moment.

“Your Highness…” Qi Baozhu stared at him without blinking.

“You accompany this palace to Qingqing Palace,” Song Qu smiled gently, “to show filial piety before His Majesty’s bed.”

“Yes.” Qi Baozhu pretended to hesitate, paused for a moment, then agreed.

Song Qu released her satisfactorily and turned to leave first.

Qi Baozhu’s palms were sweaty, and only now did she take a light breath.

Song Qu actually let her go with him!

A hint of madness flashed in Qi Baozhu’s eyes, her lips silently curling up. She wanted to thank Song Qu for giving her this opportunity; she was truly looking forward to it—

Looking forward to seeing Song Qu’s fate with her own eyes.

The trusted aide was puzzled when he saw Qi Baozhu getting into the carriage with Song Qu.

But Song Qu had his own ideas.

Although he had done this many times before without anyone noticing anything unusual, with Feng Yuexian entering the palace, it was like another pack of wolves, tigers, and leopards entering the fray, making the situation quite different from before.

By bringing Qi Baozhu along, he could add another layer of security.

In case Feng Yuexian caused trouble or any other unexpected situation arose, as long as he gently pushed Qi Baozhu out—

Thinking of this, Song Qu glanced at Qi Baozhu, his eyes filled with false pity and tenderness.

Qi Baozhu seemed oblivious, sitting obediently by his side.

How pitiful, Song Qu thought with amusement.

When they arrived at Qingqing Palace, Feng Yuexian was indeed not there. Song Qu took Qi Baozhu with him and entered, where He Jieyu was tending to the illness.

Seeing the Prince, He Jieyu quickly vacated the spot by the bed.

He Jieyu had always been weak, and Song Qu didn’t pay her much attention. With just a glance, he shifted his focus to the Emperor.

“Is Your Majesty well? Your son has brought Consort Qi to serve you,” Song Qu said.

“Still acceptable,” the Emperor struggled to speak.

Beside him, He Jieyu spoke softly, “Earlier, it was said that the Eastern Palace intends to celebrate Your Majesty’s birthday and add some joyous atmosphere. His Majesty’s health is bound to improve.”

Once again, the Eastern Palace.

“Brother and sister-in-law have good intentions,” Song Qu remarked, “Although I don’t have a virtuous wife to take care of me, Consort Qi is quite thoughtful. She is good at making soup and personally cooked for Your Majesty.”

The Emperor glanced at Qi Baozhu and twitched his facial muscles a few times. “Mm, not bad.”

Song Qu’s eyes flickered, and he ordered, “Miss Qi, hurry and serve the Emperor the soup yourself.”

Qi Baozhu complied obediently, ladling a bowl of soup and sitting by the bedside.

The rich aroma of chicken soup filled the Qingqing Palace, and the Emperor seemed somewhat interested, his gaze falling on the bowl of soup.

However, Miss Qi only stirred the chicken soup and did not feed it to the emperor.

Song Qu urged, “Don’t let it cool down, be careful not to upset the Emperor’s stomach.”

Qi Baozhu’s hand paused with the porcelain spoon, and she turned to look at Song Qu. Her lips moved slightly, and her eyes contained various emotions, seeming to harbor deep-seated resentment yet also anticipation.

Something was amiss with Qi Baozhu!

Almost immediately, Song Qu noticed it. In the blink of an eye, before he could understand what was happening, Qi Baozhu trembled violently and knelt down beside the bed, banging her knees forcefully against the ground, her cries more piercing than the impact.

“No… I can’t do it… Your Majesty, the Second Prince used poison to harm your health! Please see through his true face!”

Song Qu’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Miss Qi! What nonsense are you spouting!”

With tears streaming down her face, Qi Baozhu didn’t look back. She looked up at the old Emperor’s face urgently and exclaimed, “The Second Prince is my husband, my heaven. If he commands, I dare not disobey. But Your Majesty is the true ruler, the heaven of all. I come from the Qi Family and have been taught by my father since childhood. My husband ordered me to poison you, but I can’t do it!”

As soon as these words were spoken, all the palace attendants in the Qingqing Palace knelt down, including He Jieyu.

The hall fell into dead silence.

The old man on the dragon bed had a stiff expression, but his eyes still conveyed emotions. His cloudy pupils revealed disbelief, anger, and pain, along with a hint of doubt—

But regardless, his son and daughter-in-law had caused such a disturbance while he was ill, challenging his authority, an unforgivable offense!

The old Emperor’s gaze fixated on Song Qu.

Song Qu shouted angrily, “Guards, Consort Qi has gone mad, take her away for treatment!”

Struggling, the Emperor raised his hand, which fell heavily due to weakness, making a dull sound. His voice was like distant thunder, short but powerful:

“Guards, summon, summon the imperial physician.”

“Yes.”

The eunuch leader rose unsteadily and separated Song Qu and Qi Baozhu from the dragon bed. His gaze was no longer friendly; it was clearly wary and alert:

“The truth needs to be determined by the imperial physician after examining the medicine.”

Song Qu was in chaos, he didn’t even have time to think about how Qi Baozhu learned his secrets. The current predicament occupied all his thoughts—

Destroy the evidence!

He turned his head and saw the eunuch leader taking the soup bowl from Qi Baozhu, while on the other side, the soup pot filled with incriminating evidence was tightly guarded by palace attendants.

A chill rose from Song Qu’s feet.

The situation was already set, and he was trapped like a turtle in a jar.

Finally, his gaze fell on Qi Baozhu’s face.

The gaze she directed at him was so similar to his own. It was truly pitiful; her eyes expressed not only profound hatred but also intense resentment.

He had thought Qi Baozhu would be useful to him, but in the end, she pushed him into the abyss.

Song Qu swallowed hard, his abdomen burning with turmoil and torment.

All he could do now was hope that the physicians of the Imperial Hospital wouldn’t be able to detect the poison—

There had been a previous instance when he overdosed the Emperor, causing some anomalies, but secret medicine was not easy to detect. Many court physicians had never seen it before, and they attributed the Emperor’s condition to worries about state affairs and excessive fatigue.

Afterwards, the Emperor’s condition gradually improved, and the matter was dropped.

This time, he prayed for divine intervention once again—

The imperial physicians arrived unusually quickly, and surprisingly, the head physician from the Imperial Hospital came.

Song Qu felt a moment of dizziness, his mind clouded.

The head physician said, “May the Emperor be blessed. I was originally going to the Eastern Palace to check the pulse, but upon hearing of the Emperor’s illness, I came here instead.”

The eunuch leader hurriedly led him to inspect the soup pot. The head physician meticulously examined it, using various methods to make Song Qu’s heart race with each passing moment.

At last, it had reached his throat, hanging high.

Finally, the head physician closed the lid of the soup pot and bowed deeply to the emperor on the dragon bed:

“Reporting to Your Majesty, this soup contains Zuo Lin seeds, a secret medicine from the previous dynasty. It can cloud one’s mind and cause dizziness, fulfilling the desires of those around them.”

“This secret medicine harms the internal organs. Your Majesty, since you are currently bedridden, if you were to consume this medicine again, the consequences would be unimaginable. Fortunately, it was not ingested, which is a blessing for Great Li!”

Song Qu’s heart, which had been hanging high, plummeted, shattered into pieces, his blood turning icy cold.

In his final struggle, he exclaimed desperately:

“How can you claim it’s a secret medicine from the previous dynasty just like that? Few people are aware of such things. How can you make such a conclusion out of thin air?”

He looked towards the old Emperor with a pleading and appeasing gaze:

“Father, how could your son harm you!”

The Emperor didn’t even look at him.

He stared fixedly at the soup pot, his voice hoarse:

“How did you recognize it?”

The head physician replied solemnly and resolutely:

“I wouldn’t have known if it weren’t for a chance encounter a fortnight ago in the Western Hills, where I met the great scholar Sun Qing. Through a coincidence, we discussed matters related to medicine, and he gave me the notes of a physician from the previous dynasty.”

“Everything in it corresponds exactly to our current understanding. I believe Zuo Lin seeds are no exception.”

The head physician’s voice was firm:

“If the Second Prince doubts it, we can test the medicine on death row prisoners from the dungeons to reach a conclusion.”

Sun Qing…

Sun Qing was Feng Yuexian’s master!

Song Qu felt as if he had been struck by a heavy blow, his expression no longer calm. His body swayed violently, almost vomiting blood.

In the end, everything was a scheme laid out by Feng Yuexian!

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu

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