Red Flower and Arsenic

From each palace, selecting consorts? That was clearly a pretext to take people away from the Empress Dowager. Cui Jie must have spies in Yanshou Palace, learning that Cheng Ying was staying there without being interrogated or confined, seemingly getting along well with Rong Shi. Unable to directly demand her, he devised this roundabout strategy. 

Rong Shi was also astute and understood his intentions. Her eyes flickered, and she smiled, "That's a good idea. Let's do it. Starting with the Queen, each palace should select suitable candidates. As long as they please the Emperor and are capable, that's all that matters." 

Cui Jie felt relieved hearing her agreement and added, "Does Mother have any suitable candidates here? Or shall I see them?" 

Rong Shi laughed, putting down her jade chopsticks, "See them, see them. Your Majesty is eager to take new consorts, aren't you? There aren't many people in Yanshou Palace, and most are older. If you take a few away, who will serve me?" 

"Mother, you make me sound ungrateful," Cui Jie apologized, "If I take anyone from you, I'll replace them with better ones. Age doesn't matter; those around you must be kind and considerate." 

Rong Shi shook her head, "No, no, no. The people around me have served for decades. If you replace them, I won't adapt. I think Wei Xianfei has a couple of good maids. I'll give them to you, and the Imperial Household Department will send new ones to her. Agreed?" 

Cui Jie was clearly dissatisfied but couldn't argue directly. Smiling, he agreed, and they continued their harmonious meal. 

Cheng Ying, listening from the side, felt completely lost. Rong Shi had openly refused to let Cui Jie take anyone from her, indicating that she had no intention of handing Cheng Ying over to him. What was her real purpose? Cheng Ying sensed that the mother-son relationship wasn't as harmonious as it appeared. Rong Shi seemed to have ulterior motives. 

What could they be? Was she planning to help Cui Yan overthrow her son? Unlikely. No mother would betray her son like that, especially since Cui Yan wasn't related to her. What benefit could she gain by making him emperor? 

Unless Cui Yan was her real son, and the brothers were switched as children—Cheng Ying dismissed the absurd idea immediately. If that were true, Rong Shi wouldn't have remained indifferent when Cui Yan was killed in her previous life. Besides, the brothers weren't born in the same year, making such a switch impossible. 

Exhausted from trying to figure it out, Cheng Ying couldn't come up with any other conclusions. 

Cui Jie was somewhat disappointed but hid it well. After chatting with the Empress Dowager for a while, he left around 2 PM. Once he was gone, Cheng Ying felt like a heavy burden had been lifted. 

"Are you tired?" Rong Shi noticed her reaction. 

Cheng Ying quickly removed her hand from her chest, "Not really, just a bit hungry." This was the truth. Other palace maids could probably handle the situation, but Cheng Ying found herself in a particularly difficult position.

Shift change, time to grab a bite. She hadn't left her spot since breakfast and was starving.

Suddenly, it dawned on the Empress Dowager with a chuckle, "Oh my, look at me forgetting you haven't eaten! Quickly, quickly, send some food from the imperial kitchen, hurry!" A matron was dispatched immediately.

When the dishes were brought in, Shiyong was shocked again. This—this was clearly an imperial lunch fit for a queen! An entire table filled with all kinds of delicacies, all things she had grown tired of in her previous life. What exactly did the Empress Dowager want?

The Empress Dowager warmly pulled her into the seat, "You must be famished, eat up. Eat whatever you like, have them bring it closer."

Shiyong was indeed hungry, but seeing the lavish spread actually killed her appetite. Nervously, she only managed to eat half a bowl of rice, leaving most of the dishes untouched. The Empress Dowager sighed upon noticing this, scolding gently, "Why so little? Look at how frail you are, sigh!"

"Your Majesty," Shiyong couldn't hold back any longer and spoke up, "May I request Your Majesty to dismiss your attendants, there is something I wish to discuss with you."

Without hesitation, the Empress Dowager agreed, waving her hand, and everyone in the hall retreated like flowing water.

Wiping her mouth with a handkerchief, Shiyong said solemnly, "Your Majesty, let's not beat around the bush. What exactly do you want me to do? I've been pondering this all day and still can't figure it out. Earlier, when the Emperor tried every means to take me away, you refused. Clearly, you don't intend to harm my life, yet as the wife of Prince Wu, your protection leaves me uneasy. Please tell me what you need from me!"

The Empress Dowager laughed, "I thought you were going to say something else. Shiyong, I know you're a smart person, and I genuinely like you. Since you can't guess my intentions, let me give you another hint."

Shiyong replied earnestly, "Please speak, Your Majesty."

"You are the eldest daughter of the Changsun family. Unfortunately, you parted ways with your family and endured much hardship outside. I like you, I pity you, and I want to adopt you as my goddaughter. Are you willing?"

What?!

Life has many shocking moments, but none more terrifying than this. Shiyong even doubted if she heard correctly and repeated, "Goddaughter?"

The Empress Dowager's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, her smile carrying a hint of threat, "Is there a problem? You don't want to? Although the Rong family isn't as prestigious as the Changsun family, our ancestors were founding heroes of Great Chu. As the Empress Dowager, would I disgrace you?"

Shiyong hurriedly responded with a mix of laughter and tears, "Your Majesty misunderstands, I dare not think that way. I'm just surprised... If I become your goddaughter, what will you expect of me?"

"This... you don't need to worry about it now," the Empress Dowager said mysteriously, unwilling to elaborate further, "Just stay by my side obediently. I won't make you do anything dangerous, nor will I harm your family. Just remember one thing: follow my instructions, and the outcome will satisfy both of us."

This explanation was as good as saying nothing. Giving up on extracting more information, Shiyong ate her meal. Afterward, the Empress Dowager made her drink some medicine and then allowed her to rest.

The next two days passed uneventfully. Shiyong could only move within the confines of the Yan Shou Palace. The palace maids and eunuchs treated her very politely, as if they truly regarded her as the Empress Dowager's goddaughter. However, Shiyong herself didn't see this as a good thing. The Empress Dowager's hidden agenda surely involved a more terrifying conspiracy than her parents, sister, or even Cui Jie. And because she couldn't guess it, it was even more frightening.

On the fifth night in the palace, after taking her medicine and lying down, Shiyong heard a faint sound outside her door, followed by the door being silently pushed open. A shadow slipped inside.

Unable to see who it was through the bed curtains, Shiyong was about to sit up when the person rushed straight to her bedside. Another faint sound, and the maid guarding the bed fell to the ground with a thud.

As Shiyong reached to pull the curtain aside, the person moved faster, lifting the curtain and removing the black cloth covering their face, revealing a familiar face, "It's me."

"...How did you get here?" Shiyong was beyond shock.

Cui Yi, dressed in black, his hair dripping wet. Touching his arm, Shiyong realized he was completely soaked and smelled awful, though it wasn't raining outside. Instantly, she understood, "You swam in?"

"Yeah," Cui Yi, ignoring his wet and smelly state, hugged her tightly, "Thank God, you're safe."

These past few days had been nerve-wracking for Shiyong, but seeing him now, her heart finally settled. Hugging him back, her eyes welled up, "I thought I'd never see you again. So much has happened these past few days..."

Cui Yi placed a finger on her lips, "We'll talk later. Zhai Zicheng is waiting outside to assist us. We must leave now."

Shiyong nodded immediately, wiping away the tears that threatened to fall, and followed him out of bed.

The maid by the bed lay unconscious, but Shiyong didn't have time to care. Putting on her shoes, she was about to run out when a sharp voice called from outside, "Oh!"

Shiyong paused, and Cui Yi quickly signaled her to wait, pulling out a small box containing hidden weapons and heading towards the door.

"Changsun, His Majesty requests your presence at the Wan Sheng Palace," came the voice of Fude, the head eunuch of the Wan Sheng Palace, not someone from Yan Shou Palace.

Cui Yi gave a signal—kill him and escape?

Shiyong immediately signaled no—impossible! Fude wouldn't come alone. If the hidden weapon didn't kill everyone instantly, they'd be caught.

Cui Yi frowned, unsure, while Shiyong mouthed, "I'll go and return soon, wait here." Cui Yi frowned deeper but had no other choice, reluctantly nodding.

Shiyong responded, "Understood, allow me to change clothes."

Fude chuckled mockingly. Shiyong signaled Cui Yi to hide under the bed, then adjusted her clothing and opened the door.

Sure enough, Fude and several imperial guards were waiting in the courtyard. Seeing her, he smiled sardonically, "Lady Changsun, why is there no one guarding your door? What if an assassin got in?"

Ignoring his question, Shiyong simply said, "Lead the way, sir."

Fude laughed again, gesturing elegantly, "Please."

From Nongdieju to Wan Sheng Palace, they encountered no servants from Yan Shou Palace. Shiyong felt uneasy but had no choice but to follow Fude to the Wan Sheng Palace.

It was already the eleventh hour of the night, yet the Imperial Study was brightly lit. It seemed Cui Jie, like before, was a diligent emperor.

If only he weren't so cunning, suspicious, and ruthless, he could have become a wise ruler. Shiyong thought regretfully. Cui Jie valued power too much, neglecting the fundamental aspect of a monarch—reputation. Having executed countless people since ascending the throne, perhaps she might witness his downfall if she lived long enough.

Fude announced, "Your Majesty, Lady Changsun, wife of Prince Wu, is here."

Seated at his desk reviewing documents, Cui Jie didn't look up, "Bring her in."

Fude bowed and stepped aside, "Lady Changsun, please."

Entering the study, Shiyong felt a chill as Fude closed the door behind her. This was her first time stepping into the Imperial Study, albeit not as a queen but as a sister-in-law.

Cui Jie trusted no one; even the Imperial Study had no attendants. Shiyong wondered absurdly if he intended to make her serve tea or feed him ginseng slices. Adjusting her sleeves, she knelt and paid her respects, "Your humble servant pays her respects, Your Majesty."

"Do you know why I summoned you?" Cui Jie asked indifferently, without looking at her.

"If Your Majesty worries about me revealing what happened that night, you needn't. No matter how estranged we are, as Queen, my younger sister, exposing such dishonor would mean her death and the extermination of the Changsun family for deceiving the throne. How could I escape responsibility as her elder sister?"

Putting down his vermilion pen, Cui Jie closed the document and picked up his tea cup, "Good to know."

Shiyong thought, I know far more than you ever will.

Taking a sip of ginseng tea, Cui Jie continued, "But since I intend to suppress this matter, even if you reveal it, it won't matter. Now that you're under the Empress Dowager's protection, it's difficult to remove you from Yan Shou Palace. I wouldn't summon you for such trivial matters."

"Then...?"

Cui Jie glanced at her from afar, making Shiyong shiver. Not wanting to appear guilty, she forced herself to meet his gaze.

"Why does the Empress Dowager protect you?" Cui Jie asked.

Shiyong shook her head honestly. She had pondered this for days without any clues.

"The Rong family produced many valiant generals in the past. Their women are equally formidable, sometimes even more ruthless than men. To survive, they abandon their parents, siblings, even husbands, and even their own children," Cui Jie pointed to his chest, "Their hearts belong only to themselves."

Shiyong frowned, and Cui Jie continued, "General Rong Qingxue, who aided the founding emperor in expanding the empire, was poisoned by his own daughter merely because he wanted to marry her off to a political rival. Later, her son, my maternal grandfather, was killed by his own sister over a dispute over inheritance. A weak woman used a kitchen knife to murder her brother whom she watched grow up."

With a mocking smile, Cui Jie added, "Believe it or not, facts are facts. Women from the Rong family are more terrifying than ghosts."

"How dare you speak of your mother like that?" Shiyong interrupted coldly.

Cui Jie laughed, "Changsun Shiyong, you're intelligent but too kind-hearted. Your kindness overshadows your wisdom. When it comes to family, you can't make rational decisions, no matter how deeply they hurt you."

Suppressing her anger, Shiyong retorted, "This is basic filial piety."

"No! That's stupidity!" Cui Jie stood up, shouting, "True filial piety exists only when your parents love you. They don't care about your survival; they only see wealth and status. Even so, you still consider them family. Isn't that foolish?"

Shiyong wanted to argue but found herself speechless.

"Do you know you're pregnant?" Cui Jie suddenly asked.

Shiyong was stunned, "What?"

Laughing loudly, Cui Jie mocked, "You're usually so clever, yet you didn't realize you were pregnant?"

Still in shock, Shiyong remained silent.

Cui Jie clapped his hands, and Fude entered with two cups of tea. Pointing to them, Cui Jie commanded, "One contains abortifacient safflower, the other arsenic. Choose wisely."

Shiyong's lip twitched, but after a moment, she picked up the safflower cup. Cui Jie nodded approvingly, "A wise decision. Fude, escort her back and ensure she drinks it."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Back at Yan Shou Palace, Shiyong drank the safflower under Fude's watchful eye. He mocked sarcastically, "A wise decision, hahaha..." Ignoring him, Shiyong slammed the door shut.

Once alone, Cui Yi emerged from the bed curtains, "Are you alright? What did they make you drink?"