Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved
Chapter 344 The Women in the Palace are Really Fickle

Chapter 344: Chapter 344 The Women in the Palace are Really Fickle

The Imperial Physician examined Consort Qi’s body, but found no issues and simply prescribed some calming medicine.

After the Imperial Physician had left, Hua Ping said, "Your Majesty, shall I inform the Prince about this? You have always been in good health, how could you suddenly faint like this?"

"Didn’t the Imperial Physician say that it could be due to a fit of anger? It was just a fainting spell, a minor incident, there’s no need to tell them."

Consort Qi didn’t take the fainting to heart because she was indeed very angry. In the morning, Imperial Noble Consort Qin had a premature birth of a prince, and then her own concubine’s position was demoted as a penalty. How could she not be angry?

She was angry at herself for being so foolish as to fall into a trap despite knowing there was something wrong with that palace maid.

As for the Emperor’s favor, she had stopped caring about it long ago.

After serving as Noble Consort for so many years, she was suddenly demoted to a mere consort, which was hard to accept in her heart.

Upon realizing that Consort Jing was the woman whom the Emperor loved most, the desire to compete for his affection had died in her.

"Your Majesty, don’t let your anger harm your health. It’s just that we have ungrateful wretches in this palace who let that palace maid go!"

Hua Ping said angrily.

In fact, the people in Consort Qi’s service were all arranged by the Prince, and the ones who let the palace maid go were two insignificant, low-ranking maids. They knocked out the guard at the gate when no one was watching. But even as low-ranking maids, they had never been treated harshly by Consort Qi, who often gave them gifts.

If this wasn’t ingratitude, what was?

Consort Qi said not to tell the Prince, but Hua Ping still sent word to him afterwards.

The next day, Jun Yuyan, along with Murong Jiu, entered the palace.

After the Emperor took the "Immortal Pill," he began to sleep more, so when they went to pay their respects, they didn’t see the Emperor because he didn’t want to be disturbed during his rest.

They also failed to see True Person Zi Chen, as his attendant said he was busy preparing the Immortal Pill for the Emperor and could not be disturbed.

The Phoenix Seal had been passed by the Emperor to Consort Jing the day the incident happened. The two of them went to pay respects and also requested to see Consort Qi.

Since Consort Qi was confined, they couldn’t see the Emperor without Consort Jing’s consent.

Consort Jing had initially been disfigured by two eunuchs with a porcelain vase, and although she had largely recovered, the scars remained.

Consort Jing had a veil on her face, and the hideous scars could be seen underneath.

Hearing that Prince Ling and Princess Consort Ling wished to see Consort Qi, she said indifferently,

"It’s not that I refuse to let you see her, but Consort Qi has made a grave error, and His Majesty has punished her by confining her. I cannot disobey His Majesty’s orders."

Neither Murong Jiu nor Jun Yuyan were surprised.

After Consort Jing was disfigured, her favor had greatly diminished, and her temperament had significantly changed. Besides, with Jun Yuyan being the Eldest Prince, he was a competitor to her son, The Third Prince, for the throne, so naturally, she wouldn’t easily acquiesce to their wishes.

Jun Yuyan said, "We don’t wish to trouble Your Majesty; we’re simply concerned about our mother’s health since she fainted yesterday."

Consort Jing’s brow furrowed, and right as she was about to refuse again, she saw Murong Jiu take out a porcelain vase.

"Your Majesty, this is star snow jade cream made by my master over a year using the extremely rare Star Snow Grass found in high-altitude marshes; it is excellent for scar removal, and you can see results within half a month. We specifically brought this as a gesture of respect for you. There’s only this small porcelain vase, and we’ve brought it all for you."

In reality, of course, there was more. The Star Snow Grass was what Imperial Noble Consort Qin had earlier presented as "bait," according to the Prince.

Nonetheless, taking some out wouldn’t matter because whether Consort Jing’s face was scarred or not didn’t affect them; rather, it might pose a threat to Imperial Noble Consort Qin.

Considering that Imperial Noble Consort Qin, having just given birth to the Young Prince, was currently the most favored.

Upon hearing this, Consort Jing stood up from her chair.

She stared at the porcelain vase in Murong Jiu’s hand, "Is this really scar removal ointment made from Star Snow Grass?"

She had heard of Star Snow Grass from several old Imperial Doctors and was aware of the rarity of this medicinal herb; even as a favored consort of the Emperor, she could not obtain Star Snow Grass.

"There’s no deception in age; you can have the Imperial Physician test it first,"

Murong Jiu said.

Consort Jing nodded, smiled, and her tone became much warmer, "Consort Qi is in poor health, and your visit will surely earn you praise from your imperial father for your filial piety. Go ahead, and if Consort Qi is in need of anything, feel free to inform this palace."

The women of the palace really knew how to change their faces.

Jun Yuyan and Murong Jiu took their leave and then successfully met with Consort Qi.

She looked somewhat haggard, not as imposing as usual, but her skin was rosy, and she seemed to be in a fairly good state.

"Why have you come?"

Consort Qi’s eyes couldn’t hide her astonishment when she saw them.

During her confinement, how could Consort Jing allow them to see her?

Consort Jing was no easy person to deal with nowadays.

"Hua Ping said you fainted yesterday, and Ah Jiu specially brought Star Snow Grass-made Scar Removal Ointment as a gift for Consort Jing, who then permitted us to visit you,"

Jun Yuyan said indifferently.

Although he didn’t like Consort Qi’s way of interacting with others, she was after all the mother who had given birth to him, and he couldn’t neglect her.

But he had to make Consort Qi recognize Ah Jiu’s merit, otherwise she would never be aware of what Ah Jiu had done.

Murong Jiu, due to her amnesia, had actually forgotten how Consort Qi had ignored Jun Yuyan in his early years and had used him as a tool to compete for favor.

However, she also knew that Consort Qi didn’t like her, and she had no desire to chase after someone who wasn’t interested in her; she just didn’t want Consort Qi’s trouble to affect the overall situation.

Consort Qi certainly knew how rare Star Snow Grass was and said it was a bargain for Consort Jing; why not use it on Jun Yuyan.

"Your son has already used it,"

"Really? Let this palace have a look!"

With an expressionless face, Jun Yuyan removed his mask, and Consort Qi saw that only a faint scar remained, much better looking than before, and she couldn’t help but be happy.

"That’s wonderful, wonderful, now no one can call you ugly anymore. Why are you still wearing a mask? You need to let your imperial father see you properly too, you are the most handsome among all his sons!"

Jun Yuyan put the mask back on: "The time is not yet right. Let Ah Jiu take your pulse first."

Consort Qi was still somewhat reluctant. She didn’t believe there was anything wrong with her body as she had always taken good care of her health.

After Murong Jiu took her pulse, her brow furrowed, saying she was poisoned.

It was a rare poison from the Western Regions, but fortunately, Murong Jiu had visited General’s Mansion before coming here and had asked Ya Fu about poisons from the Western Regions and obtained some antidotes.

However, she didn’t plan to give Consort Qi the antidote because this poison only caused occasional fainting and drowsiness, which wouldn’t have much impact in the short term; it was likely a test by The Fourth Prince.

He probably suspected that Ya Fu had been saved by them, and if Consort Qi’s poison were cured, this suspicion would be confirmed, and other plans could proceed.

Without the antidote, The Fourth Prince’s suspicion would remain just that, suspicion.

Murong Jiu didn’t inform Consort Qi about the antidote but said:

"Mother, the poison in your body is from the Western Regions; it may be related to Imperial Noble Consort Qin. Your son doesn’t have the antidote either, we might as well report to the Emperor."

Consort Qi’s brow was tightly furrowed, "Aren’t you very capable? Why don’t you have the antidote? The Emperor now favors Imperial Noble Consort Qin greatly, how would he believe me?"

With her attitude, Murong Jiu was even more glad she hadn’t given Consort Qi the antidote.