Chapter 106

In the fresh flowers of Song Zhao Palace, there was no trace of the Soul-Depriving Powder. Even the flower buds in the garden were devoid of anything. No one was plotting against her; it was simply her own sense of boredom and desire for amusement that led her to seek some excitement.

After learning about the past of Noble Consort Yang from Noble Consort Xiao, Song Zhao casually mentioned the matter to Xiao Fuzi. Upon hearing this, Xiao Fuzi revealed that he had read several volumes of Miao Territory's witch doctors' prescriptions and knew that the symptoms of the Soul-Depriving Powder poisoning were remarkably similar to those experienced by Noble Consort Yang when she fell ill.

Song Zhao recalled that just before Noble Consort Yang's death, Consort Chen's elder brother had achieved great success in attacking Miao Territory with his troops. This made it entirely possible for Consort Chen to obtain the Soul-Depriving Powder without much difficulty.

Thus, Song Zhao speculated whether it was Consort Chen who secretly administered the Soul-Depriving Powder to Noble Consort Yang, leading to her madness. With this idea in mind, she wasted no time in verifying it. Song Zhao instructed Xi Ying to inform Consort Chen about the Soul-Depriving Powder. When Xi Ying returned with a reply, she reported that both Consort Chen and Ying Xiang had visibly changed upon hearing about the Soul-Depriving Powder.

This confirmed Song Zhao's suspicion. That's why she later appeared before Consort Chen, holding a bouquet of flowers.

And once again, Consort Chen fell into the trap.

On the day when her elder brother triumphantly conquered Miao Territory, he brought back a considerable amount of Soul-Depriving Powder, which was now hidden in the former residence of the Ning family in the capital.

Consort Chen commanded Ying Xiang, saying, "Spread the news and have our trusted contacts in the capital bring the Soul-Depriving Powder to me. If Consort Shu intends to scheme against me, I'll make her face the consequences!"

*

That night, when Song Zhao was about to retire for the night, Xiao Fuzi came to give her a report.

"Young Mistress, as per your instructions, I kept an eye on Consort Chen's actions. Just now, Ying Xiang surreptitiously went to the southwest corner of the estate and imitated a cat's meow a few times. Afterward, someone threw a package over the wall from outside."

"Understood," Song Zhao replied calmly and dismissed Xiao Fuzi.

As Xiao Fuzi walked to the door of the inner chamber, he suddenly stopped and asked anxiously, "Young Mistress, there's something I don't understand. There was no Soul-Depriving Powder in your bedroom, and the flowers in the garden were perfectly clean. Even if Consort Chen managed to hide the powder in Consort Shu's residence, it seems unlikely to incriminate Consort Shu."

Song Zhao chuckled lightly and said, "I don't have that filthy stuff, Consort Shu doesn't have it either. But didn't Consort Chen send someone to retrieve it? Don't worry, I have a way to make it appear out of thin air."

The next morning, before dawn, Song Zhao hurried to Consort Chen's palace. At that moment, Consort Chen was preparing herself, and Song Zhao boldly barged in.

Consort Chen glanced at her with a disdainful look and impatiently asked, "What is it this time?"

Song Zhao, catching her breath, replied, "Noble Consort, it seems that the person who wanted to harm me knows that I discovered something... It was my negligence. After I found out about the issue with the flowers that day, I had all the flowers thrown away." Perhaps because the commotion was too loud and would startle the snake, from yesterday onwards, the concubines were allowed to continue picking flowers in the flower garden just like before. However, the flowers they brought back did not contain any "Soul-Departing Powder." The other flowers in the garden were also clean and untouched. It seems that person has withdrawn...”

"You fool," Consort Chen scolded. Compared to Song Zhao's panic, she appeared notably calm.

"You don't need to worry about anything. Tomorrow, continue sending your people to the flower garden to pick flowers. If the emperor summons you to his bed these two days, perform well in front of him as if you're acting in a play."

Consort Chen motioned with her finger, beckoning Song Zhao to come closer like teasing a cat or calling a dog. She whispered in a low voice:

"When you go to sleep at night, pretend to be suddenly frightened by a nightmare, creating as much commotion as possible. Do you understand?"

Song Zhao quickly replied, "I will follow all of your instructions, Your Majesty."

The next day, Yun Shan went to the flower garden as usual and returned with fresh flowers.

Once the flowers were brought back, Song Zhao instructed Xiao Fuzi to carefully inspect them for anything suspicious.

Xiao Fuzi checked each one and noticed something amiss in the stamens of several winter jasmine flowers.

"Your Majesty, take a look. There are traces of someone deliberately separating the stamens of these winter jasmine flowers. Besides the pollen, there is also some pale white powder mixed in. I have read descriptions of Soul-Departing Powder in the witch doctor's records, and it should be this substance."

Song Zhao nodded indifferently and then ordered someone to place the flower bouquet in her inner chamber, preferably closer to her bed.

Xiao Fuzi expressed concern, "This substance is very dangerous. Shouldn't you avoid risking your life, Your Highness?"

Song Zhao smiled, "I only had it placed in my room; I didn't say I would sleep beside it."

She glanced at Yun Shan and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Back when we were in the mansion, whenever the weather turned cold, we would always squeeze onto one bed. We used to chat endlessly, with never-ending conversations."

Yun Shan immediately understood and hurriedly said, "Then let me prepare the bed for you, Your Highness!"

Now that everything was ready, Song Zhao didn't need to do anything else but wait to see how Consort Chen and Consort Shu would compete.

If Consort Chen could seize the opportunity, Consort Shu would be burdened with the crime of plotting the death of her fellow consorts, including Noble Consort Yang.

If Consort Shu could turn the tide, then it would become Consort Chen's plot to harm Song Zhao and frame Consort Shu, causing Xiao Jingheng to become utterly disappointed in her.

Regardless of who wins or loses,

Song Zhao, the instigator of all this, could stay out of it and watch from the sidelines,

hoping that the fire would burn even brighter.

Song Zhao originally thought that she would have to sleep at Yun Shan's place for two days before Xiao Jingheng summoned her to his bed. After all, as the end of the year approached, the memorials from all over were piling up like a mountain, and Xiao Jingheng had no leisure to do anything else.

However, to her surprise, news came that evening from the court that Xiao Jingheng wanted her to stay by his side at Bitong Academy tonight.

When Song Zhao arrived, Xiao Jingheng was busy reviewing the memorials.

At first, upon hearing that Song Zhao had arrived, he didn't raise his head and simply said, "Come closer to me."

Song Zhao approached and said, "Shall I serve you in grinding the ink, Your Majesty?"

As Song Zhao picked up the ink stick to grind ink in the inkstone, Xiao Jingheng caught a glimpse of her wrist wrapped in white cloth.

Xiao Jingheng set down his brush and took hold of Song Zhao's hand, showing concern. "Are you hurt?"

Song Zhao nodded and replied, "I accidentally knocked over a teacup and got cut by the broken porcelain, but it's nothing serious."

Xiao Jingheng said, "Then rest and don't exert yourself, so the wound doesn't reopen."

He moved the inkstone away from Song Zhao and said, "I didn't summon you here to make you work. You don't need to do anything. Just quietly accompany me by my side, and that's enough."

The more time Song Zhao spent with Xiao Jingheng, the more she could sense that he treated her differently.

In the past, when they met, besides the intimate encounters in bed, there wasn't much to talk about.

But now, Xiao Jingheng carefully considered Song Zhao's feelings.

For example, when he saw Song Zhao's injured wrist today, he not only prevented her from doing any work, but also refrained from forcing her to engage in intimate activities when they rested at night. They simply embraced each other and went to sleep.

In the latter half of the night, Xiao Jingheng was suddenly awakened by some movement beside him.

Rubbing his sleepy eyes, he looked over in the dim moonlight and saw Song Zhao sitting on the bed, holding her head and trembling.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Xiao Jingheng placed his hand on Song Zhao's shoulder to console her, but this simple gesture startled her.

"Ah!!!" she screamed out of nowhere. "No, don't! Don't kill me!"

Saying this, she pushed Xiao Jingheng away and acted like a madwoman, throwing off the covers and running outside without even bothering to put on her shoes and socks.

Faced with this sudden scene, Xiao Jingheng froze for a moment, and a memory from the past flashed through his mind:

Back then, Noble Consort Yang had also acted like this, going crazy in his arms one night without any warning...

Xiao Jingheng dared not think too much and quickly shouted outside the door, "Stop Noble Consort Song, don't hurt her!"

Then, hastily putting on his boots, he rushed out with long strides to chase after her...