Chapter 1048 - 1050 Drug Conflict_1
"Your Majesty, there is nothing wrong with the vase," Bai Ruozhu sighed silently.
"Is it the chrysanthemum that is problematic?" the Empress Dowager asked anxiously.
Bai Ruozhu shook her head again. The Empress Dowager, looking worried, said, "Don’t worry, I won’t let any trouble come to you."
"I can’t escape this matter either; it’s nothing, really. The main issue is that the chrysanthemums conflicted with the medicinal materials in Noble Lady Le’s incense sachet, which affected her Qi Blood, resulting in her bleeding," she explained as she saw the shock on the Empress Dowager’s face and continued, "That sachet was given to Noble Lady Le by you, wasn’t it? It has the effect of protecting the fetus."
"Yes, I made sure to select a reliable Imperial Physician to create the formulas. How could there be a problem?" The Empress Dowager’s face grew pale. If she were to blame for the death of her unborn grandchild, she would live in regret forever.
"The incense sachet indeed has the effect of protecting the fetus and is entirely without issue, but once the medicinal materials conflict, the resulting effects change. Moreover, the chrysanthemums in the vase are not ordinary yellow chrysanthemums but Green Stamen Yellow Chrysanthemums. Although they appear identical to the ordinary ones and are harmless on their own, they can conflict with the medicinal materials in the sachet and disrupt Noble Lady Le’s Qi Blood," Bai Ruozhu clarified.
The Empress Dowager covered her mouth in surprise and after a moment’s pause, said, "No wonder Noble Lady Le complained about feeling stifled a few days ago. I thought it was a normal reaction to pregnancy. Thank goodness you entered the Palace today and visited; otherwise..."
Otherwise, even if she stopped bleeding today and saved the fetus, there would still be problems before long. If the bleeding happened again, even Bai Ruozhu present would struggle to protect the child.
"Your Majesty, have someone watch carefully these next few days. Once Noble Lady Le has been moved to the Cining Palace, I’ll come to visit often. She is a blessed person; surely, she and the child will be safe," Bai Ruozhu said.
The Empress Dowager’s eyes grew moist, and grasping Bai Ruozhu’s hand, she said, "Good child, thank you. But I’m afraid this incident might cause trouble for you."
Bai Ruozhu smiled and replied, "Actually, I prefer to avoid trouble, which is why I didn’t speak out on the spot. It would have allowed you to investigate further and vindicate Noble Lady Le. I am already grateful that you don’t blame me."
"How could I blame you? There are many in this Palace who only look out for themselves. You have saved Noble Lady Le twice now," the Empress Dowager said with emotion.
"Let’s not tell Noble Lady Le about this just yet; her current state can’t handle too much worry," Bai Ruozhu reminded.
The Empress Dowager nodded in agreement with Bai Ruozhu’s suggestion.
As they approached Cining Palace, Bai Ruozhu did not follow inside. She explained that she had matters to attend to at home and took her leave. She knew the Empress Dowager, upon returning to Cining Palace, had much to discuss with Princess Diao Bin, and it was better for her not to be there.
The Empress Dowager had indeed had enough for one day, with the matters of Princess Diao Bin and Noble Lady Le occurring simultaneously.
No sooner had Bai Ruozhu left than the Emperor himself rushed to the Cining Palace. Having received a report from a eunuch, he went to see Noble Lady Le, whose condition had already stabilized, and she was asleep. After learning the details, the Emperor planned to visit the Empress Dowager in the Cining Palace and intended to reward Bai Ruozhu for her actions in saving the royal heir.
"She left in such a hurry; later, I will decree some rewards for the Bai Family," the Emperor said upon learning that Bai Ruozhu had departed.
The Empress Dowager wiped the corners of her eyes and dismissed the palace maids, leaving only her trusted palace maid beside her as she recounted Bai Ruozhu’s findings to the Emperor.
The Emperor’s eyes narrowed slightly upon hearing the story, a storm brewing in his dark pupils, well-concealed, unbeknownst even to the Empress Dowager standing closest to him.
Princess Diao Bin had been sheltered by her mother and brother from the plots and schemes of the Palace since childhood. Now, hearing all this, she was so shocked she couldn’t close her mouth. Suddenly, she felt afraid. If she were to marry off to the Turkic Country, where there were as many intrigues, could she fall victim like Noble Lady Le?
Noble Lady Le had her mother to protect her, but who would protect her in the Turkic Country?
The Emperor’s slender fingers tapped lightly on the table before he suddenly asked, "Mother, do you have any suspects in mind?"
"You know my nature, without evidence I wouldn’t casually suspect anyone. I have already sent people to investigate the palace maids of Fuyun Court," the Empress Dowager said with a sigh.
"Good, in two days have Consort Yue move to the Cining Palace temporarily. It will be hard on you after that, Mother," the Emperor said as he turned to look at Princess Diao Bin, "I heard that Ning Yu visited today. How did it go?"
"It’s indeed witchcraft, and furthermore..." the Empress Dowager began to speak, but she was interrupted by Princess Diao Bin.
"Plus, it’s not easy to break the curse. Mother is overly worried, but I think we should take one step at a time; who knows, the National Master might think of a solution," Princess Diao Bin said with a composed smile on her face as if she truly wasn’t bothered at all.
The Empress Dowager was taken aback, but she quickly suppressed the doubts in her heart. The Emperor didn’t think much of it either, he reassured them with a few words and left for Fuyun Court to visit Consort Yue.
Once the Emperor had left, Princess Diao Bin gave the Empress Dowager a bitter smile and said, "Mother, no matter who transferred this curse onto me, I’d rather the Emperor—my brother—not know about it for now. I don’t want him to..."
She didn’t finish saying that she didn’t want him to have a bad impression of their father. Princess Diao Bin didn’t say it, but her thoughts had already turned to her father. If it truly had nothing to do with their father, why had he given her a pill before his death? At the very least, her father knew about her condition.
But the Empress Dowager was completely unaware, which meant their father had kept it from her.
Princess Diao Bin felt a bitterness in her heart, and her mouth tasted bitter as well. She didn’t want to talk anymore. Even if it were true, she wouldn’t harbor the slightest resentment towards her father. Even if he had told her at the time, she would have been willing to give up her life.
Without her father and mother, there would be no Princess Diao Bin.
Yet, her heart was still filled with bitterness.
...
The next day, Princess Huilan was invited to the Cining Palace by the Empress Dowager. After a round of cordial greetings, the Empress Dowager said with a smile, "Huilan, you’re aware that I have some properties in the capital, although it’s not appropriate to discuss them openly."
Princess Huilan was somewhat perplexed, unsure of the purpose behind the Empress Dowager’s invitation.
"I seem to have heard something about it, like ’Welcoming Guests,’" she said.
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Not just that, Hua Xiangrong, which is beloved by the women of the capital, is also run by the Bai Family under my command. She has done a good job working for me."
Princess Huilan’s expression changed drastically, "Bai Ruozhu hasn’t made herself clear, what on earth is she planning?"
"Don’t overthink it. Because I do not like too many people knowing, I especially emphasized to her not to tell anyone. She’s smart, and for that, I awarded her ten percent shareholdings in ’Welcoming Guests,’" the Empress Dowager said with twinkling eyes.
Many people outside already knew Bai Ruozhu owned shares in ’Welcoming Guests.’ With the Empress Dowager’s words, Princess Huilan felt that things started to make sense, but she couldn’t completely accept it, considering Bai Ruozhu hadn’t been in the capital for long.
"The Empress Dowager really supports the Bai Family," Princess Huilan said tentatively.
The Empress Dowager chuckled and replied, "I was very impressed by her skills at my birthday banquet, so I decided to have her work for me from then on."