novelraw Chapter 166 Happened Just in Time
Chapter 166 Happened Just in Time
Only after Xiao Yan had finished dealing with the evening's affairs did Song Shuangning say, "Your Majesty, I had someone brew a calming soup with poria and lily bulbs. It simmered in Yaohua Palace for a full three hours, and it must be perfectly cooked by now. Please come back with me."
So the two of them returned to Yaohua Palace together under the deep moonlight.
It was late at night, so Song Shuangning went to the bathhouse to wash up.
Xiao Yan remained alone in the outer hall, casually picking up a book from the table and slowly flipping through it. There was also a calming soup on the table.
Xiao Yan took a sip every now and then.
The candlelight flickered.
Before long, an inexplicable heat suddenly swept over Xiao Yan's limbs and bones, and his heart became restless.
He impatiently tugged at his tightly buttoned clothes and then loudly ordered the palace servants to open all the windows.
But the heat did not subside at all; instead, it clung to me like a bone-deep sore, becoming increasingly scorching.
It seared my bones inch by inch, and I couldn't shake it off.
This feeling is exactly the same as the lingering scent of the aphrodisiac incense at the Empress Dowager's Shou Kang Palace!
His eyes sharpened, a fierce glint flashing in them.
Is this calming soup?
No, Ningning drank it but was fine.
It's not a calming soup.
Just then, Song Shuangning slowly emerged from the bathhouse, her fair skin accentuated by her plain nightgown.
She glanced at the Emperor's tense expression and sighed softly.
She then casually walked over and, as usual, snuggled into his arms and sat on his lap.
Xiao Yan gently pushed her.
Song Shuangning feigned grievance: "Does Your Majesty dislike me?"
Xiao Yan's breathing was heavy.
Reason was still intact, but the reaction was a beat too slow, and even the gaze unconsciously darkened.
"Stay away from me."
The heat rose up his neck, and an abnormal flush appeared on his face.
Song Shuangning feigned surprise, reaching out to cup Xiao Yan's face. "Your Majesty, what's wrong? Why is your face so hot and red?"
Xiao Yan suddenly pushed her hand away, his breathing becoming heavier.
"Don't come near me, and don't stay inside the palace."
Before he could finish speaking, he rushed into the bathroom in a disheveled state.
Soon after, palace servants brought basins of cold water and ice to the bathing room.
Song Shuangning hesitated for a moment before stepping inside, ultimately feeling somewhat guilty and heartbroken.
Xiao Yan was able to suppress his restlessness by immersing himself in cold water.
Inside the bathroom.
Upon catching a glimpse of her, Xiao Yan's burning desire stirred again.
He gritted his teeth: "What are you doing in here? Get out."
Song Shuangning squatted beside the bathtub, stroking his burning face, "I'll help you."
Xiao Yan swallowed hard, and a vein throbbed on his forehead.
He looked at Song Shuangning's obedient face and said in a hoarse voice, "You're pregnant. I'll just take a cold bath and I'll be fine. Be good, go wait for me in the side hall."
Song Shuangning said aggrievedly, "But I want to help you."
Xiao Yan took a deep breath and tried to keep his voice calm: "It will hurt you."
"Get out of here."
Without saying a word, she grabbed Xiao Yan's hand.
Xiao Yan's breath hitched.
……
An hour later, the two emerged from the bathhouse.
Xiao Yan carried the limp Song Shuangning to the side hall.
Song Shuangning looked down at her trembling hands and thought: For the next ten days or so, meals will be a problem, because she may not even be able to hold chopsticks.
Song Shuangning wanted to cry but had no tears.
Sure enough, feeling sorry for a man will bring you bad luck.
Xiao Yan massaged her wrist and kissed the corner of her lips. "Thank you for your hard work, Ningning."
"Next time, I'll help you too."
Upon hearing this, Song Shuangning turned her head slightly annoyed and said, "No need!"
Xiao Yan chuckled softly.
Stubborn.
After a while, Li Fuquan led a group of eunuchs and imperial physicians in hurriedly.
"Your Majesty, I have had the incense, tea, and every corner of the palace thoroughly inspected, and there is nothing unusual. The problem lies with the jasmine flowers in the palace. Just now, when my young mistress Xue Tuan was playing, she knocked over the flowerpot, and that's when I noticed something was wrong. A large amount of nutmeg juice seeped out of the soil."
Song Shuangning's furrowed brows hadn't yet relaxed when they furrowed slightly again.
She asked, puzzled, "Nutmeg? What is that? Does it have aphrodisiac properties?"
Physician Zhang explained, "Your Majesty, this nutmeg flower is truly peculiar. Your humble servants and others searched through medical books and classics for an hour before finally finding a record of it in an old medical book from the time of Emperor Wencheng."
"Nutmeg was originally a flower that was introduced into the palace during the reign of Emperor Wencheng. However, due to its difficulty in cultivation and its strange effects, it was soon listed as a forbidden plant in the palace. This flower has a mild aphrodisiac effect and can also cause irritability and dizziness."
Song Shuangning turned pale, her face filled with shock and lingering fear.
"So, the reason I've been inexplicably irritable and dizzy lately is because of this... nutmeg?"
Physician Zhang nodded.
Song Shuangning looked at Xiao Yan with tears in her eyes, her voice trembling: "Your Majesty, I am afraid."
Xiao Yan grasped her hand in return, his brows furrowed, and turned to look at Physician Zhang, who was standing nearby. "Why didn't you detect anything unusual when you took her pulse earlier?"
Physician Zhang immediately knelt down and begged for forgiveness: "Your Majesty, this nutmeg is truly rare. The pulse was normal. I only learned of its extraordinary effects after consulting the medical books of Emperor Chengzu. Furthermore, the nutmeg juice was mixed with mud and difficult to distinguish. I have failed in my duty and deserve to die. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Xiao Yan sneered: "Your Imperial Hospital has all failed in your duties."
Fortunately, Ningning stayed in the Qinzheng Hall from today until nightfall before returning to Yaohua Palace.
If they had spent the whole day in Yaohua Palace, and with such a large amount being used today, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
The dosage was still low a while ago.
Today's dose is so strong, it's meant to endanger the imperial heir in Ningning's womb!
Xiao Yan said angrily, "Fine."
"Li Fuquan, thoroughly investigate the six palaces."
Upon receiving the order to thoroughly investigate the six palaces, Li Fuquan led a large group of palace servants to each palace in a grand procession. For a time, the palace roads were filled with the sound of footsteps, and the entire harem was filled with unease.
Upon arriving at Jingren Palace, Consort Qingxiu came out after hearing the news. Seeing the scene, a hint of panic flashed in her eyes.
"Steward Li, what are you doing?"
Li Fuquan replied in a calm and steady tone: "In response to Consort Qingxiu, your servants have been ordered to thoroughly investigate the six palaces."
Qing Xiuyi suppressed her excitement.
With such a large commotion, Consort Yuan must have encountered some trouble.
She suppressed her excitement. "Has something happened in the palace?"
Li Fuquan gave an awkward smile but didn't reply. He simply raised his hand to signal, and the palace servants behind him filed in and quickly began searching the hall.
Qing Xiuyi's gaze was fixed on the hall, and she remained remarkably calm.
Several others went around to the outside of the hall to take a look.
Beneath the plum tree in the corner of the wall, there is a lot of fertilizer buried, which is the most hidden spot.
Before long, a young eunuch came out quickly, carrying a bottle covered in wet mud.
"Steward Li, this servant dug up this bottle, and it looks rather strange."
Qing Xiuyi's eyes widened instantly.
She had clearly already taken care of it, and the bottle looked unfamiliar; it wasn't hers.
Li Fuquan slowly straightened up, his tone still respectful, "Your Majesty, things have come to this point, please come with me."
"This is not mine," she argued.
Li Fuquan said, "But this was found in Jingyang Palace. Regardless of whether it belongs to Your Highness or not, please, Your Highness, come with me."
This commotion had already alarmed the entire imperial harem.
When Consort Qing was "invited" to Yaohua Palace by Li Fuquan, the Empress, as the head of the harem, and Consort Shao and others also rushed to Yaohua Palace.
The Emperor sat in the main seat with a cold expression, while the Empress and Consort Shao sat to his right, and Song Shuangning sat directly opposite the Empress.
Qing Xiuyi looked at Song Shuangning, who was sitting calmly in the chair, her face rosy and showing no signs of illness.
She glanced at it and felt a chill creep up from her feet to her heart.
Since Consort Yuan is unharmed, where did she slip up?
"Since you entered the palace, I have been very lenient with you because you are far from your homeland. But you are wicked and have committed such a vicious act, plotting to harm the imperial heir. I will never forgive you."
Consort Qing realized that the Emperor was truly angry.
She was so frightened that her body went limp, and her knees throbbed painfully as she knelt on the ground, but she ignored the pain, only focusing on the tears streaming down her face. She incoherently tried to explain herself.
"Your Majesty! I am innocent! I have never seen this thing before, nor do I know its purpose. This is absolutely a frame-up!"
Xiao Yan said, "Nutmeg, you don't recognize it?"
"This flower is a rare and precious flower that was introduced from your Yunshuo Kingdom during the reign of Emperor Wencheng. As a princess of Yunshuo, how could you not recognize it? You have used this to harm Consort Xian for many days. If it weren't for Consort Xian's great fortune, how could she be sitting here unharmed?"
After saying this, Xiao Yan suddenly paused for a moment.
The more he thought about it, the more something seemed off. Today's events were too predictable, as if everything was happening at the perfect moment.
His expression remained unchanged, but his gaze subtly swept over Song Shuangning.