Inside the hall, the other consorts dared not even breathe too loudly after witnessing the scene, for the emperor's icy gaze kept sweeping over everyone.
Eunuch Yuan rushed in at once, dropped to his knees with a loud thud, and reported in terror:
"Your Majesty, the imperial physician has confirmed—the last course of medicinal soup served at the banquet was tainted. The spoons had been soaked in abortifacient medicine."
The emperor sneered coldly:
"Well, someone's claws have grown far too long. Xiao Yuanzi, seize the cooks who prepared this dish. Also, have the Imperial Guards comb through all recent palace procurement records."
Zheng Qingling knew the emperor was truly determined to catch the culprit. But she had little hope—if someone dared to act so brazenly, they had surely prepared their cover-up long ago.
She immediately checked Concubine An's memories with her ability but found no connection to the incident.
To conserve her strength, Zheng Qingling only probed the memories of consorts ranked pin and above. Still, she found nothing.
Her purpose was clear: she feared she might also be targeted someday, so she wanted to know her enemies better. But it seemed the real mastermind was hidden very deeply.
As expected, Eunuch Yuan soon returned, empty-handed.
"Your Majesty, by the time this servant arrived, the chef responsible had already committed suicide by poison."
Hearing this, Xiao Qianming crushed the teacup in his hand, his expression dark as iron.
Soon after, the commander of the Imperial Guards also reported:
"Your Majesty, the palace procurement records only go back six months. I have reviewed them all—nothing unusual."
With that, the trail had gone completely cold.
In the end, Xiao Qianming could only wrap up the case half-heartedly. The Noble Consort, as the banquet's hostess, was fined six months' allowance, and several eunuchs and palace maids were executed.
The emperor knew full well—his Noble Consort neither had the brains nor the means to orchestrate such a plot. But had she not insisted on hosting the banquet, the conspirators wouldn't have had the chance. She was unlucky, dragged into trouble by the real schemers.
The other consorts, including the Noble Consort herself, all thought the emperor was showing leniency out of affection.
To appease the harem, Xiao Qianming issued a decree:
"Wu Changzai has suffered at the hands of villains. She is hereby promoted to Wu Guiren. Thus decreed."
Lying pale on her bed, Wu Guiren accepted the decree with numb resignation.
If she could, she would never have traded her unborn child's life for this cold title of "Guiren."
The banquet ended in chaos. After checking on Wu Guiren, Xiao Qianming left in a storm of fury, returning to his Qingyu Hall.
Once back, he dismissed all attendants, sat alone in his chair, and pondered. Tonight's case, just like the others, was too strange. He did have someone in mind.
Finally, he issued a quiet order to the air:
"An Yi, go search the Empress Dowager's palace. Look for any forbidden medicines."
Indeed—who in the palace had more power than the Empress Dowager, who had overseen its affairs for decades?
Xiao Qianming was deeply wary of her. But she was also his legal mother. Without proof, he could not act, for filial piety was a burden that crushed all men of this era.
It was precisely because of her torment during his youth that Xiao Qianming had left the position of empress vacant all these years.
Back then, he had been too consumed with fighting for the throne to care about heirs.
But now that he was emperor, the absence of royal sons could easily cause unrest in court.
Through tonight's events, Zheng Qingling realized—although Xiao Qianming was a scoundrel, he was generous to women who had borne him children. Even if they lost the child, he would still grant them a higher rank.
This was something she could exploit for her own benefit in the future.
She also discovered that while her psychic powers could easily read the memories of most people, they had no effect on Xiao Qianming.
She guessed it was because her power level was too low—she could not penetrate the mind of someone with a strong will.
In the following days, the emperor clearly visited the harem more often.
Before long, good news came from Jiang Daying—she was one month pregnant. Overjoyed, Xiao Qianming immediately promoted her to Guiren.
The emperor valued Jiang Guiren's pregnancy greatly. He exempted her from paying respects to the Noble Consort and assigned senior matrons to care for her.
Secretly, he also stationed two shadow guards at her palace, one visible and one hidden. His efforts were meticulous.
Naturally, this made the other consorts burn with jealousy. Soon, palace porcelain was smashed by the dozens.
During one morning greeting, Li Guiren suddenly spoke with biting sarcasm:
"Rou Changzai, you've served His Majesty for quite some time. Yet the others who entered with you are all with child, while you're still useless."
Zheng Qingling was not the type to swallow insults. If she endured this, anyone would dare trample on her later.
"Li Guiren jests. When it comes to favor, I cannot compare with you. Since even you have not conceived, how could a lowly one like me possibly hope to?"
At once, all gazes turned to Li Guiren. Indeed, in recent months, the emperor had gone to her palace most often. Music for her dances was heard nightly.
Li Guiren choked on her words. She had not expected this sharp-tongued Rou Changzai to throw the matter back at her.
Defei's face soured as well. Whenever the emperor visited her palace, she had pushed Li Guiren forward to serve him. Yet this woman was a useless hen that laid no eggs.
And now, she had foolishly insulted Rou Changzai, only to shame all the women who had long attended the emperor.
Sure enough, Defei noticed that both Shufei and the Noble Consort were glaring daggers at Li Guiren.
The Noble Consort slammed the table in fury:
"Li Guiren! Copy ten scrolls of scripture. Perhaps then you'll clear your muddled head! How dare you speak of His Majesty's heirs!"
Li Guiren finally realized what a blunder she had made. Not only had she failed to humiliate that wretched Rou Changzai, she had offended the chief consort herself.
Thus, this round of mockery ended with Li Guiren's defeat.
But in the palace, the undercurrents only grew darker.
Ever since Jiang Guiren's pregnancy, Zheng Qingling noticed the palace servants becoming increasingly restless—especially Chunxiu.