in2ebook Chapter 189 The Empress Dowager is Poisoned
Chapter 189 The Empress Dowager is Poisoned
The spring banquet ended in a very rushed manner, for no other reason than that all the ladies-in-waiting present were anxious to return to their residences to discuss with their husbands the matter of His Majesty's upcoming selection of concubines.
Just as the spring banquet was being held in the Imperial Garden, back in the capital, the Emperor had already spoken with his ministers about the selection of concubines. As before, some were happy while others were worried.
After Su Nuannuan returned to Cuiwei Palace, she hurriedly instructed Jinse to escort His Highness the Crown Prince back to the palace and informed him that classes were suspended for the day. Only after His Highness the Crown Prince left did Su Nuannuan finally breathe a sigh of relief, and then she summoned Yaoqin to massage her shoulders.
"I have never been interested in any kind of banquet; they are just too tiring and exhausting." Su Nuannuan closed her eyes tightly, enjoying Yaoqin's just-right massage techniques, while muttering complaints incessantly.
Just then, a series of hurried footsteps approached from afar, followed by Li Quan's panicked shouts: "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!"
Su Nuannuan opened her eyes abruptly upon hearing the sound, turned to look at Li Quan, who was running towards her and was still panting. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly, and she looked displeased. She gently scolded him, "What kind of manners are you in such a panic? Shouting like this, aren't you breaking the rules?"
Li Quanqiang swallowed hard, calmed his breathing, and then replied tremblingly, "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! The Empress Dowager has suddenly fallen ill!"
Upon hearing this, Su Nuannuan was startled and instantly jumped up from her seat, her eyes widening in disbelief, her voice rising eight octaves involuntarily: "What exactly did you mean by that?"
"Your Majesty, this servant has just received definite news that the Empress Dowager has suddenly fallen ill!" Li Quanyou repeated this sentence anxiously, with a layer of fine sweat even appearing on his forehead.
Upon hearing this news, Su Nuannuan's expression instantly turned serious. Without hesitation, she stood up and declared loudly, "Let's proceed to Cining Palace!" With that, she strode resolutely towards the door.
As Su Nuannuan sat in the sedan chair, Jinse rushed back from afar. When she saw that her mistress was already steadily seated in the sedan chair, she understood that her mistress had obviously learned of the Empress Dowager's illness.
Jinse dared not delay and quickly walked up to Su Nuannuan, bowed respectfully, and then turned to Yaoqin, who was standing to the side, and instructed her: "Yaoqin, you and Tingxue stay in the palace and must take good care of the Fifth Prince and the Little Princess. Under no circumstances should anything go wrong. I will accompany Her Majesty to Cixi Palace now."
Upon hearing this, Yaoqin nodded gently and obediently replied, "Okay, Sister Jinse, don't worry, Tingxue and I will definitely take good care of the little prince and the little princess." Then, she silently stepped aside, preparing to watch Su Nuannuan and the others leave.
After everything was arranged, Jinse returned to Su Nuannuan's side. At this moment, Su Nuannuan was sitting in a sedan chair, her brows slightly furrowed, and asked with a worried expression, "Jinse, what is the situation with the Empress Dowager?"
"Your Majesty, this servant does not know the specifics. When we escorted the Crown Prince back to Anning Palace, we heard someone report to the Empress that the Empress Dowager had fallen ill."
Then I saw Her Majesty the Empress hurriedly depart for Cixi Palace, not even paying attention to the Crown Prince. I was afraid someone would plot against the Crown Prince, so I had Yingchun stay close to him. "Jinse reported as she walked beside the sedan chair.
"How could she suddenly fall ill like this!" Su Nuannuan muttered to herself, frowning as she did so.
Just as the date for the talent selection was about to be set, the Empress Dowager suddenly fell ill, which meant the selection would have to be canceled! Thinking of this, Su Nuannuan couldn't help but feel annoyed, thinking that the Empress Dowager's illness was really untimely.
However, the moment this thought crossed her mind, Su Nuannuan immediately began to bitterly despise herself. After all, the Empress Dowager had always treated her well and taken good care of her.
Besides, who wants to be sick? Let alone have to drink those bitter medicines again and again. Thinking this, Su Nuannuan took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down.
Before long, the sedan chair came to a smooth stop outside Cixi Palace. Su Nuannuan hurriedly got out of the sedan chair and walked quickly into the palace, ignoring the palace maids who bowed and greeted her.
As soon as she entered the Empress Dowager's palace, she immediately saw the Emperor and Empress sitting upright in the hall. So, she quickly stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said, "Your Majesty, I greet you."
When the Emperor saw Su Nuannuan arrive suddenly, a look of surprise appeared on his face, and he asked, "Why have you come here?"
Su Nuannuan lowered her head slightly and answered softly, "Your Majesty, when Jinse was escorting the Crown Prince back to the palace, she overheard that the Empress Dowager had fallen ill and saw the Empress leaving Anning Palace in a hurry."
After Jinse returned, she told me about this matter. I was worried about the Empress Dowager's condition, so I rushed over. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me.
"May I ask Your Majesty, how is the Empress Dowager's health these days?" After saying this, Su Nuannuan bowed deeply to the Emperor and Empress again, waiting for their reply with a concerned expression.
Upon hearing Su Nuannuan's words, the Empress suddenly realized what was happening, stood up, bowed to the Emperor, and nodded, saying, "Indeed, there was such a thing. When I first heard the news, I was greatly alarmed and rushed to Cixi Palace to visit the Empress Dowager."
"I understand." The Emperor frowned slightly and replied wearily, "The imperial physician is currently inside taking the Empress Dowager's pulse."
Who could have imagined that the Empress Dowager's illness would come so suddenly? She was perfectly fine yesterday, but today she fell ill without any warning.
Time ticked by, and just as everyone was anxiously waiting, Consort Qin and Consort Li hurried over. As for how they had learned of the Empress Dowager's illness, the Emperor had no interest in asking. He simply waved for them to stand aside with Su Nuannuan and wait for the imperial physician to come out.
Not long after, Imperial Physician Zhang, who had examined the Empress Dowager's pulse, finally bowed and came out. He looked nervous and staggered as he approached the Emperor, then knelt down with a thud, kowtowed heavily, and reported in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager...she has been poisoned!"