roccoschili Chapter 291 Hallucinogen?
Chapter 291 Hallucinogen?
Cen Jiexiao sighed and said, "Your Highness, I've been serving the Empress Dowager lately. Don't blame me for not reminding you. I heard that the Empress Dowager is a little dissatisfied with you recently. She said that you have sided with the Emperor and are a little shaken."
Concubine Shu's face changed, and a sense of unease suddenly rose in her heart. Although she longed for the emperor's favor, she did not dare to offend the empress dowager easily.
"Don't talk nonsense!" Concubine Shu's tone was a little flustered.
Cen Jiexiao quickly said, "This humble servant dares not speak nonsense. I am only kindly reminding Your Majesty that it is better to be safe than sorry."
Concubine Shu was apprehensive and began to wonder if the Empress Dowager was truly displeased with her. After returning to her chambers, she became increasingly uneasy and decided to seek confirmation from the Emperor.
She went to the emperor's bedroom and told him what Cen Jiexiao had said. The emperor was secretly delighted after hearing this, knowing that this was Cen Jiexiao's plan, so he went along with it, pretended to comfort Concubine Shu, and promised to protect her.
After receiving the emperor's assurance, Concubine Shu felt relieved, but her dissatisfaction with the empress dowager grew deeper and deeper. She began to distance herself from the empress dowager and turned to the emperor, becoming an important pawn in the emperor's fight against the empress dowager.
All of this was part of Cen Jiexiao's plan. Like a mastermind, she manipulated everything behind the scenes, pushing Empress Dowager Li into the abyss step by step. She knew that this struggle had just begun...
Concubine Shu trotted all the way to Chai Zhen's bedroom. The pearl hairpins on her embroidered shoes trembled with her steps, making a tiny sound that seemed to echo her frantic heartbeat. As soon as she entered, she threw herself into Chai Zhen's arms, tears rolling down like pearls from a broken string, soaking Chai Zhen's bright yellow dragon robe.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..." She choked and could hardly speak complete words.
Chai Zhen gently patted her back and asked softly, "My beloved, what's wrong? Who made you unhappy?"
Shu Fei sobbed and repeated Cen Jiexiao's words in a halting manner, describing with exaggeration how Cen Jiexiao had "kindly" reminded her of the Queen Mother's dissatisfaction with her, and vividly describing how the Queen Mother treated her coldly and spoke sarcasticly to her.
"Your Majesty, the Queen Mother...does she really want to attack me?" Concubine Shu raised her head and looked at Chai Zhen with tears in her eyes, seeking comfort.
"I have never done anything to offend the Queen Mother, but today she..." As Concubine Shu spoke, she began to cry again.
"She said that I had become arrogant because of my favor and didn't take her seriously. She also said... and also said..."
"What else?" Chai Zhen frowned slightly and asked with pretended concern.
"She said that I...I misled the emperor and brought chaos to the court..." Concubine Shu sobbed softly, her voice as thin as a mosquito.
"How can this be outrageous! How can the Queen Mother slander you like this! You are sincere to me, and heaven and earth can bear witness to it. How can she say such things!" Chai Zhen slammed the table and said angrily on purpose.
"Your Majesty, I... I am so scared..." Concubine Shu grabbed Chai Zhen's sleeve tightly and trembled.
"The Queen Mother is so powerful that sometimes she doesn't even take you, Your Majesty, seriously. If she really wants to deal with me, what should I do?"
A barely perceptible sinister glint flashed across Chai Zhen's eyes, but his face was full of concern.
"Don't worry, my beloved concubine. I will protect you well. You don't have to worry about the Queen Mother."
He gently wiped away the tears on Concubine Shu's face, and his tone was so gentle that it seemed as if honey could drip out.
"The Queen Mother is old and inevitably a little confused. I will try to persuade her."
"Really?" Concubine Shu was skeptical.
"Of course it's true. When have I ever lied to you? I will protect you and won't let anyone hurt you." Chai Zhen hugged her tighter.
Concubine Shu finally felt relieved and snuggled up to Chai Zhen, feeling his warmth. She secretly looked up at Chai Zhen, secretly delighted that the Empress Dowager's displeasure only made her more favored by the Emperor.
On the surface, Chai Zhen pampered Concubine Shu with all kinds of favors, showering her with gifts and gifts. Gold, silver, jewelry, silks, and satins flowed into her chambers, and for a time, Concubine Shu was unrivaled in the limelight. However, Chai Zhen secretly sent people to closely monitor the Empress Dowager's movements, keeping her every move under his thumb.
At the same time, rumors began to spread quietly in the palace about Concubine Shu, dissatisfied with the Empress Dowager's monopoly of power, and secretly complaining to the Emperor. These rumors grew like weeds, spread by word of mouth among the palace maids and eunuchs, and became more and more outrageous as they spread.
"Have you heard? Concubine Shu is complaining to the Emperor about the Empress Dowager's monopoly of power!"
"That's right. They say the Empress Dowager is too controlling. Even the Emperor has to listen to her."
"Alas, this harem is so turbulent, and I don't know who will have the last laugh in the end."
These rumors eventually reached the Queen Mother, who only added fuel to the fire. She was already unhappy with Concubine Shu's growing favor, and now hearing these rumors made her even more furious.
"Bang!" The teacup in her hand fell heavily to the ground, and fragments flew everywhere, just like the empress dowager's broken mood at the moment.
"What a traitorous bitch! I treated her well, yet she dared to betray me!" The Queen Mother's face turned pale, her chest heaving violently, and she almost couldn't breathe.
Cen Jiexiao knew that to bring down Concubine Shu, gossip alone was not enough and a more direct and effective attack was necessary. She decided to take advantage of the Queen Mother's monthly summons to the harem to orchestrate an "accident."
On the surface, this summons was meant to show the Empress Dowager her concern for the concubines, but in reality, it was an opportunity to intimidate and intimidate the Empress Dowager, consolidating her own position. Cen Jiexiao's goal was to completely dethrone Concubine Shu through this summons.
Cen Jiexiao calmly unfolded her plan. First, she needed to find a suitable chess piece, one who was easily manipulated and had access to Concubine Shu's diet. She thought of Xiaomu, who was in charge of preparing tea.
Cen Jiexiao deliberately found the imperial kitchen where Xiao Mu was on duty, pretended to pass by unintentionally, and "met" Xiao Mu by chance.
"Isn't this Xiaomu?" Cen Jiexiao called out to the busy Xiaomu affectionately.
Xiao Mu was flattered and saluted quickly: "President Cen."
Sister Cen asked with concern, "Has the work in the palace been hard lately? You don't look well."
Xiao Mu sighed and whispered, "My mother is seriously ill and needs a lot of money to buy medicine. The salary in the palace is really meager..."
A gleam of light flashed in Cen Jiexiao's eyes. This was exactly the opportunity she wanted. She took Xiaomu's hand and whispered, "I have an opportunity here. You can easily earn a large sum of money, enough for your mother's medical treatment and make your future life easier. Are you willing?"
A glimmer of hope ignited in Xiaomu's eyes, and she nodded quickly: "I am willing!"
Cen Jiexiao led Xiaomu to a secluded corner, pulled a small packet of medicinal powder and a silver ingot from her sleeve, and handed them to Xiaomu. "The Empress Dowager will summon the imperial concubines tomorrow. Mix this packet of medicinal powder into Concubine Shu's tea. Once you're done, I'll transfer you to the Shangfu Bureau. The work there is easy and the salary is generous."