FBC -Chapter 305 Borrowing a Knife to Kill

After Duan Yu finished discussing government affairs with the court officials, someone beside him reported what had happened that morning in the princess consort’s courtyard.

He was in a good mood, so he stood up. “Let’s go, we’ll have some tea at the princess consort’s place.”

Zhao Luoxuan was chatting casually with Consort Bai over tea when Duan Yu suddenly walked in.

Both women immediately stood to greet him.

“You two beloved consorts, please rise.”

Duan Yu warmly took both of their hands and carefully looked Zhao Luoxuan over.

A hint of surprise flashed through his eyes.

“The princess consort is truly beautiful today.”

Zhao Luoxuan didn’t expect him to praise her in front of Consort Bai. Even if it was just for show, it made her feel embarrassed.

She could only say, “Your Majesty flatters me.”

Consort Bai grew emotional, staring fixedly at the hand Duan Yu held.

She could not remember how long it had been since she last saw Duan Yu—let alone had him hold her hand.

Duan Yu looked at Consort Bai next. “Beloved Consort Bai, you seem to have grown thinner. Are you unwell?”

Consort Bai lifted her head excitedly. “Replying to Your Majesty, this concubine is well. It’s just the summer heat—I haven’t had much appetite.”

Duan Yu’s voice grew especially gentle. “Then have the imperial kitchen prepare dishes suited to your taste. You must not grow too thin.”

Consort Bai’s eyes reddened.

Zhao Luoxuan smiled. “Your Majesty, shall we sit and drink tea?”

“Very well. I have missed the pre-rain Dragon Well tea here.”

The maids immediately brought tea over.

Once the three sat down, Zhao Luoxuan looked at the lovestruck Consort Bai and said, “Consort Bai makes the best pea jelly—sweet and sour, very appetizing.”

Consort Bai quickly said, “This concubine has been lazy lately, so I haven’t made it for a long time. If Your Highness enjoys it, I will make some and send it over later.”

“Will I have the blessing of tasting it as well?” Duan Yu asked.

Consort Bai was ecstatic. “Of course. If Your Majesty wishes to eat it, this concubine will prepare extra.”

Zhao Luoxuan smiled. “Your Majesty has just come from morning court. Why not accompany Consort Bai back and watch her make pea jelly? It would be relaxing.”

Consort Bai looked at Zhao Luoxuan in shock.

Unexpectedly, Duan Yu nodded. “The princess consort makes an excellent suggestion. I truly have never seen how pea jelly is made. Beloved, shall we?”

Consort Bai was overjoyed, her eyes reddening as she cast a grateful glance at Zhao Luoxuan.

Zhao Luoxuan gave her a subtle smile, hinting for her to go.

Watching them walk out hand in hand, Zhao Luoxuan’s smile faded away.

Her personal maid was puzzled and quietly asked, “Your Majesty only just shared the bed with the princess consort last night. Why would Your Highness push him toward Consort Bai?”

Zhao Luoxuan sat before the bronze mirror and began removing her hair ornaments, saying calmly, “The king is not mine alone. Do you think I can simply push him away if I wish?”

Although she had once considered herself noble and never paid attention to her father’s concubines, her mother had always been cautious toward the Emperor and his consorts. Having witnessed that since childhood, she naturally understood such tactics.

By dinnertime, news came from Duan Yu’s attendants that he would spend the night with Consort Bai.

Zhao Luoxuan felt nothing.

Soon, the atmosphere in the harem shifted.

The concubines began visiting Zhao Luoxuan more frequently, hoping to encounter the king there and receive favor.

In the blink of an eye, two months passed.

While Duan Yu was in a council meeting, the chief eunuch hurried over.

“What is it?” Duan Yu asked.

The eunuch leaned close and whispered, “Your Majesty, the princess consort is with child.”

Duan Yu was overjoyed. “Truly?”

The eunuch smiled and nodded. “All the imperial physicians have examined her. They confirmed it.”

The officials hurriedly offered congratulations.

Duan Yu immediately stood. “Continue the discussion. I will go see the princess consort.”

Zhao Luoxuan lay lazily on a chaise as the physician applied acupuncture.

Duan Yu rushed in and panicked at the sight. “What happened?”

Zhao Luoxuan tried to rise, but Duan Yu quickly stepped forward and held her down. “Don’t move.”

He turned to the physician. “What’s wrong? Her complexion doesn’t look good.”

The physician said, “Her Highness has overexerted herself today, and her appetite is poor. She is somewhat deficient, but it is nothing serious. After a few days of tonics and good rest, she will recover quickly.”

Duan Yu held Zhao Luoxuan’s hand. “Beloved, you must take care of yourself. Leave palace affairs to Consort Bai.”

Zhao Luoxuan smiled. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Princess Consort…”

Consort Bai rushed in, seeing Duan Yu present, and quickly bowed.

“Greetings to Your Majesty, greetings to the princess consort.”

Duan Yu smiled. “Rise. You heard the good news as well?”

Consort Bai stood with a smile. “Yes. Once I heard, I hurried over.”

She gestured, and her maid stepped forward with an ornate box. “Your Majesty knows this—my father loves collecting rare medicinal herbs. This lingzhi mushroom is one of his prized items. I brought it for elder sister to nourish her body.”

“This is excellent,” Duan Yu said with a nod.

Zhao Luoxuan did not refuse and had her maid take it.

“Sit, have some tea.”

Consort Bai sat and leaned forward, concerned. “Ah? Why is your complexion so pale?”

“It’s nothing. The physician already applied acupuncture. I’ll be fine after some herbal medicine.”

Duan Yu instructed, “Go decoct the medicine.”

“Yes,” the physician answered and left.

“Lingzhi can be brewed as tea—good for strengthening the body and increasing vital energy,” Consort Bai said.

Zhao Luoxuan nodded. “Good. I’ll drink it once the physician advises it.”

Duan Yu added, “Consort Bai, please manage palace affairs for now. Let the princess consort rest.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Consort Bai said sincerely, “This is Your Majesty’s first legitimate heir. Everything must be done with utmost care.”

Duan Yu squeezed Zhao Luoxuan’s hand. “The princess consort has always had good health. She will surely give birth to our heir safely.”

Zhao Luoxuan smiled.

Suddenly, the physician returned—along with a maid.

Their expressions were odd.

Duan Yu sensed something was wrong. “What is it?”

The maid suddenly fell to her knees. “Your Majesty, when this servant took the physician to the small kitchen to prepare the medicine, he discovered poison in the princess consort’s food.”

“What?”

Zhao Luoxuan and Consort Bai both screamed.

The physician held up a just-made white fungus soup. “This was freshly made. I noticed something unusual in the taste and examined it. It contains mishehong.”

“Mishehong?”

Duan Yu frowned. “What is that?”

Zhao Luoxuan said coldly, “A drug that clouds the mind. Long-term use drains vitality, causes loss of appetite, and eventually leads to death.”

The physician nodded quickly. “Her Highness is correct.”

Consort Bai panicked. “What kind of drug is that? I’ve never heard of it!”

As the daughter of the national preceptor, she enjoyed studying medicine and food therapy. She knew many herbs.

“It exists only in Great Liang,” Zhao Luoxuan said.

With that, Duan Yu and Consort Bai immediately understood.

Duan Yu’s face darkened. “Guards.”

The eunuch stepped forward at once.

“Investigate. Thoroughly!”

“Yes!”

Consort Bai turned anxiously to the physician. “Will the princess consort be harmed?”

The physician said, “Fortunately, she has consumed it for only a short time. She can recover.”

Consort Bai exhaled in relief. “Good.”

Zhao Luoxuan glanced at her and suddenly said, “I heard Consort Bai knows some medicine. Could you teach my maids daily?”

Consort Bai was surprised, but she instantly understood the intention. She stood and bowed. “If the princess consort does not mind, this concubine is willing.”

Duan Yu looked at the two of them and nodded. “Then I leave it to Consort Bai.”

“This concubine is honored.” Consort Bai fully understood Zhao Luoxuan’s meaning. First, she would not dare make any moves before Zhao Luoxuan gave birth. Second, it drew her to Zhao Luoxuan’s side.

Working together with the princess consort, no other concubines would dare act recklessly again.

The eunuchs worked swiftly. Soon they discovered that the poison had been added by Consort Yu.

Consort Yu’s maid confessed as well—the poison had been provided by someone from Great Liang.

As for exactly who… that would require interrogating Consort Yu.

When Zhao Luoxuan saw Consort Yu again, she was already imprisoned.

Curled in a damp corner, wearing only a thin robe, she shivered violently.

Seeing Zhao Luoxuan looking at her, she immediately crawled over and grabbed the wooden bars, her bloodshot eyes glaring.

“You framed me! You poisoned yourself!”

Zhao Luoxuan smiled faintly. “How could I poison myself? I finally conceived a child—why would I harm it?”

Consort Yu sneered. “You only gave yourself a tiny dose! You want to kill me using the king’s hand. Do you think killing me will solve everything? That your son will become the heir? Hahaha! My son will avenge me! My son is the true heir! You were cast aside by your mother—what right do you have?”

Zhao Luoxuan suddenly crouched down and leaned closer, speaking in a voice only Consort Yu could hear. “You’re wrong.”

“Duan Qi is not your son. Your real son died long ago. Duan Qi is the biological child of the king’s cousin. In fact… he is half a year older than your dead child.”

Consort Yu’s expression froze.

Zhao Luoxuan slowly stood and looked down at her. “It’s not that you didn’t want to poison me—you simply failed. If you want to live, confess who in Great Liang ordered you to harm me. Otherwise… I can send you to reunite with your son.”

Then she turned and left.

Consort Yu’s eyes bulged with rage as she violently shook the bars, screaming hysterically, “Zhao Luoxuan! You killed my son! You won’t die a good death!”

Zhao Luoxuan’s maid, unable to tolerate it, rushed forward and kicked Consort Yu in the head.

“Pah! My lady wouldn’t waste her time killing your son. Fool!”