Chapter 1279: Chapter 1277: Widespread Panic
Time has quickly moved to March.
Another spring has arrived, a season of chirping birds and blooming flowers.
Yet, both inside and outside the palace, people are anxious, and few have the mood to appreciate such beautiful scenery.
In the court, having not seen the Emperor for many days and lacking any news from the palace, civil and military officials naturally harbor suspicions.
In the harem, the Emperor is the common husband of all, and naturally, he receives the full attention of his consorts.
Not seeing the Emperor for ten days or half a month and hearing no news about him, the suspicions within them are inevitable.
Those rumors and news are like fire inside paper, impossible to contain.
Inside and outside the palace, people are restless.
Xia Ruqing is also seldom seen.
Every few days, she would visit Zhaochen Palace, then shut herself in Duanning Palace and refuse to come out.
It was pointless for the consorts to try to gather information.
No matter how the palace was swarmed with various versions of rumors.
Regardless of how everyone engages in wild speculation behind their backs.
The Empress did not speak, thus the palace attendants of Duanning Palace became the new target of the consorts.
Even the lowly palace maids under Qiu Ye became hot commodities, surrounded by people asking them about everything whenever they had spare time.
Unfortunately... the people of Duanning Palace remained tight-lipped, not uttering a single word.
Over time.
The matter concerning the Emperor grew even more mysterious.
...
The harem became increasingly chaotic, and Luo Manman finally found an opportunity to escape.
This was the chance she had waited day after day and night after night to come.
One morning at the beginning of March, she took advantage of the early morning light, while the palace maid guarding her was sleeping, when everyone let down their guard.
She dressed as a palace maid, and stealthily sneaked out.
She left Xifu Palace.
She followed the cobblestone path through the Imperial Garden, reaching the route Xia Ruqing often took to Zhaochen Palace.
On a March day, at Shi Chen hour.
The chill of the night had just receded, and the warm and gentle sunlight had yet to appear, precisely the coldest time of the day.
She wore a thin palace maid’s attire, huddled in the hollow of a fake mountain beside the path.
She waited quietly, waiting for the person who could ensure her survival, waiting for the chance to save her own life.
Grey skies before her eyes, cold stones beside her.
Her body, long accustomed to the soft silk quilt, was difficult to adapt to such coldness.
Luo Manman felt ice-cold all over, full of despair.
Time ticked away, and the overwhelming cold slowly encroached upon her body.
Unknowingly, just as she felt she was about to pass out from the cold.
A sudden sound of footsteps came from the end of the path.
She mustered her courage and peeked out with all her strength, her eyes instantly brightening.
’It is indeed the Empress!’
Her heart raced, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Finally, she could meet the Empress!
Squelching her inner excitement, she rushed out as the footsteps neared.
"Greetings to the Empress!"
Xia Ruqing was scared out of her wits.
Walking along the path, who would have expected someone to suddenly appear in front of her.
Her face pale, she patted her chest and looked carefully.
"Who? Who are you?"
Zi Yue stood protectively in front of Xia Ruqing, stepping forward to examine carefully.
"To report to the Empress, it is Noble Consort Luo!"
Xia Ruqing sighed deeply in relief.
"So it’s Noble Consort Luo!"
"Why aren’t you staying put in your palace early in the morning, why are you here?"
Luo Manman wasted no words, directly stating her intentions.
"To report to the Empress, I have important matters to convey, I..."
She glanced around, her eyes wary.
Xia Ruqing waved her hand.
"Speak without fear!"
Luo Manman then continued.
"I have the antidote that can cure the Emperor’s poisoning!"
"I beg the Empress to allow me to meet the Emperor!"
She wished to see the Emperor.
She wished to tell him she was not intentionally trying to poison him, that she had been deceived.
Once the Emperor awakened, he would surely forgive her.
By then, she would still be a Noble Consort, the Emperor would be safe, and her life could continue.
Emperor, I truly did not mean it!
Luo Manman thought pitifully.
Xia Ruqing expressionlessly watched the woman crying tears of pain before her, pondering for a moment.
"Are you sure?"
"Are you sure you can cure the Emperor’s poisoning?"
Her eyes slightly reddened, a trace of anxiety faintly visible at the bottom.
Luo Manman nodded assuredly.
"Yes!"
"I can definitely do it!"
"Empress, I beg you to let me see the Emperor!"
Xia Ruqing almost immediately agreed.
"Alright then!"
"Zi Yue, have someone take her away to tidy up, and lead her to Zhaochen Palace!"
"Yes!"
Zi Yue responded affirmatively and led Luo Manman away.
...
Zhaochen Palace.
Zhao Junyao had just finished breakfast and was reading in the inner chambers.
Xia Ruqing entered alone first.
"Emperor, the person has arrived!"
Zhao Junyao kept his eyes on the book, responding without lifting his head.
"Oh? Where is she now?"
Xia Ruqing sat beside him, picked up the warm porridge he’d saved for her from the table.
Smiling as she ate.
"She’s kneeling outside, Eunuch Li has called someone to watch over her!"
Zhao Junyao nodded without speaking.
Xia Ruqing took a bite of porridge and chuckled.
"Emperor, isn’t this the right time now? Chaos has erupted both inside and outside the palace!"
Zhao Junyao narrowed his eyes slightly, suddenly closing the book with a faint smile.
"Of course!"
"The time has indeed come, this is exactly what I’ve been waiting for!"
Without waiting for Xia Ruqing to speak further, he waved his hand.
"Someone, please bring the Noble Consort in!"
Xia Ruqing remained silent, contentedly continued eating the porridge, seemingly unaffected by the situation.
Indeed.
She came with the intent to witness a good show, feeling that this scene was so dramatic that not even novelists would dare write it.
Simply too thrilling and exciting.
Art indeed comes from life, this saying is true.
...
Luo Manman was brought in by the disciples of Li Shengan.
Not daring to raise her head, she was kicked the moment she entered, her face nearly touching the ground.
Upon entering, she began to plead loudly for forgiveness, crying and admitting her mistakes.
"Emperor, I confess my guilt!"
"I should not have listened to the slander of vile people!"
"I am guilty and deserve to die, please, Emperor, forgive me! Grant me an opportunity to make amends!"
After her words fell.
The room fell into prolonged silence, even Xia Ruqing stood there stunned without speaking.
Inside, she thought:
This woman, dare plead forgiveness from the Emperor whom she poisoned? And ask for another chance!
Haha, where does she get her confidence?
Although she didn’t actually poison the Emperor, the fact remains that she attempted it.
After some time Zhao Junyao lightly coughed.
"Stand up first!"
This time Luo Manman was dumbfounded, she quickly raised her head.
"Emperor? You..."
She looked at Xia Ruqing as well, but couldn’t fathom the situation.
"Emperor, what’s happening?"
Zhao Junyao smiled indifferently.
"As the saying goes... hearing is not believing, seeing is believing!"
"I still think, you should trust what you see!"
Luo Manman was even more perplexed.
"Emperor, you were not poisoned after all?"
Zhao Junyao replied with a mock smile.
"With just you? Do you think my position as Emperor is merely ceremonial?"
