Chapter 268

After a brief silence in the hall, someone whispered in a low voice,

"She looks innocent, but actually has the dirtiest mind."

That voice was weak, but sharp as a thorn that pierced Consort Hui's ears.

Her pupils shook violently, and the lost look on her face instantly turned to horror.

"Could my sisters suspect me?"

Consort Hui's eyes were wide with fear as she shook her head repeatedly.

"No, I didn't harm anyone! If there was something wrong with the lunch, Imperial Physician Guo would have found traces of that poison in me..."

"Oh my, Consort Hui is so innocent," Noble Consort Chen glanced at her and laughed lightly, "Would the poisoner harm herself?"

"I didn't do it!" Consort Hui argued loudly. Her tearful eyes stared straight at Xiao Jingheng as she bit her lip and shook her head in grievance.

"Your Majesty...I really didn't do it."

Consort Yin said, "If Consort Hui really did such a thing, wouldn't she be too stupid? Who would harm someone so openly and get themselves involved?"

Noble Consort Chen snapped at her, "What would she get involved in? Even Concubine Tong didn't know she was pregnant. How would Consort Hui know today's matter would become so serious?"

She then asked Imperial Physician Guo, "Imperial Physician Guo, what would have happened if Concubine Tong wasn't pregnant and took that poison?"

Imperial Physician Guo respectfully replied, "Replying to Noble Consort, if she wasn't pregnant, taking that would be no different than ordinary contraceptives. Just like Consort Yao now, she wouldn't feel any discomfort."

The previously silent Empress finally spoke up,

"Jiang Deshun, who has the Emperor summoned to serve him these past few days?" Jiang Deshun replied, "The day before yesterday was Consort Yao, yesterday was Consort Yi, and this morning he summoned Concubine Tong to attend to his writing supplies."

Hearing this, the Empress couldn't help but frown slightly. After a moment of contemplation she said,

"It seems someone doesn't want the consorts to conceive an imperial heir, and made a mess of things in their clumsiness."

Although there was no direct evidence that Consort Hui had tampered with the food, she did have the greatest suspicion.

Song Zhao watched this and realized it was the first time she had seen Xiao Jingheng look at someone with such doubt and scrutiny for so long.

Consort Hui was clearly frightened by this situation.

She sobbed and wiped away her tears while choking back sobs to explain to everyone,

"It wasn't me... Dear sisters, believe me, I really didn't do it..."

However, who in this palace could easily believe anyone else?

After arriving from Jiangnan, they had all become somewhat jealous seeing the Weis' wealth.

Now that it concerned the imperial heir, no one dared to defend Consort Hui.

Xiao Jingheng stared at Consort Hui for a long time without speaking, seeming to be lost in thought.

Amidst the tense atmosphere, Song Zhao kept an eye on Xiao Jingheng's actions.

When he was thinking through a problem, he would unconsciously fiddle with the ink jade finger stall he wore on his thumb.

Once he figured out the crux of the issue, he would stop moving his hand, signaling it was time for him to speak.

Song Zhao kept waiting for his hand to stop moving. The moment it did, before Xiao Jingheng could say anything, she stepped out from the crowd, saluted him, and said,

"Your Majesty, I believe this matter is too suspicious to rashly accuse anyone of wrongdoing."

Xiao Jingheng raised his eyebrows at her. "Oh? Why do you say that?"

Song Zhao replied, "Today's meal was prepared by Consort Hui to share with Consort Yao and Concubine Tong. Not to mention we have known Consort Hui for a long time and know in our hearts that she has the innocence of a child without so many crooked schemes. Even if she did harbor ill intent, isn't it strange that she chose this particular moment, when it would be easiest to arouse suspicion, to make her move if she could have done so sooner or later? It makes no sense."

Consort Yao was standing next to Song Zhao. Being the victim of this poisoning plot, Consort Yao cried nonstop in grievance.

Song Zhao took her hand and used a handkerchief to wipe her tears. "Sister, stop crying for now. Consort Hui loves fine cuisine the most. Sister, think carefully - among the dishes today, were there any Consort Hui didn't eat but only you and Concubine Tong ate?"

Consort Yao's eyes moved rapidly in thought. After a long pause, she shook her head and said, "Consort Hui ate...everything sweetly, it seems she ate every dish."

"It really wasn't me! When Concubine Tong and I lived together, I knew she liked Suzhou cuisine, so I specifically wanted to share it with her today!"

Consort Hui strongly proclaimed her innocence. As she spoke, she ran over to stand behind Song Zhao, grabbing her sleeve in fright.

"I ate every dish, so I don't know why there's no trace of the drug in me. Sister Song Zhao, I really didn't..."

Song Zhao turned back to pat Consort Hui's shoulder, gently persuading her, "It's alright, no one suspects you. Besides, His Majesty and Her Majesty are both here. They will stand up for you, don't be scared."

With just a few words, Song Zhao dispelled most of the suspicions about Consort Hui.

Consort Yao had been certain Consort Hui had tampered with the food. Now feeling something was amiss with that theory, she couldn't help carefully recalling if anything else unusual happened today.

After thinking for a bit, she suddenly seemed to remember something. Clutching her chest, she exclaimed in shock,

"Could it be..."

"Be what?" Xiao Jingheng asked sternly.

Consort Yao said, "In reply to Your Majesty, I remember at lunch today, there really was something only I and Concubine Tong consumed that Consort Hui did not touch. It was...plum soup."

"Plum soup?" Consort Yin asked strangely. "As the weather grew hotter, Her Majesty had plum soup prepared and distributed everywhere. Was the plum soup Consort Hui gave you, or was it from Her Majesty?"

Consort Yao fearfully lowered her eyes, not daring to meet the Empress's gloomy gaze.

"It was...it was plum soup bestowed by Her Majesty. Since Consort Hui and Concubine Tong came to have a meal in my palace today, I borrowed flowers to present them. Consort Hui has always disliked sourness, so she didn't drink it..."

"Insolence!"

The Empress suddenly flared with anger, startling Consort Yao.

Pointing at Consort Yao, she said sharply, "Are you suspecting this palace? This palace had that plum soup distributed to everyone on the Dowager Empress's orders to prevent summertime afflictions. How dare you spout empty accusations about this palace's good intentions?"

Consort Yao fearfully said, "This concubine wouldn't dare! But but...as things stand now, that's the only thing I and Concubine Tong both consumed today..."

"You...this palace..."

"Empress," Xiao Jingheng interrupted her with a low call, "Calm down, there's no need to get angry over these baseless accusations."

Only then did the Empress restrain herself and sit down, saying solemnly, "Your Majesty, this matter has nothing to do with this concubine. This concubine did not do it."

Xiao Jingheng nodded in acquiescence and said, "Since that plum soup was distributed everywhere, let Imperial Physician Guo take all the consorts' pulses. That will clarify the Empress's innocence."