Palace Intrigue?: I Make the Emperor Cry by Rewinding Time!-Chapter 106 - 100: Overt Strategy

Yun Jiao recalled a method of poisoning.

That is to say, all the tea cups present were poisoned, the murderer drank tea together to numb the enemy, but actually had an antidote ready.

Yet her sixth sense told her that the Lady was telling the truth.

Yun Jiao read the file, returning to a moment earlier.

She held up the tea cup, pretended to lightly smell the tea fragrance, and said, "Lady Shufei is truly a refined person; to be able to obtain begonia flowers from Xiangfei Pavilion in this snowy weather, I can even smell it mixed with Xuejin tea."

Concubine Li next to her stared at her as if she had seen a ghost.

After all, when Yun Jiao had freeloaded in her main hall, she drank tea like a cow, adding lethal amounts of white sugar, brown sugar, honey... and so on, giving her anything better than this tea was just a waste. Sweet-flavored seasonings are not cheap, and previously the white sugar from Concubine Li’s quota could be spared, but now it’s all gone into Yun Jiao’s stomach.

Can you actually taste tea?

Deeply hidden indeed!

"I am particularly fond of this fragrance, I didn’t expect Concubine Xi to be a kindred spirit," the Lady also held up the tea, lightly sipping its aroma, "Begonias have no fragrance, but when brewed with Xuejin tea they have an extraordinary scent, which proves there is no truly useless thing in this world, merely whether it can meet a wise master."

The tea set in Yanxi Palace was more elegant and splendid than that of the main hall in Xianfu Palace; the Lady’s fair, slender fingers resting upon it added to the sense of beauty.

After all, it was food from someone else’s palace, Yun Jiao only drank two sips as a formality and then stopped.

One cannot discuss toxicity without considering dosage.

She did not believe that the Lady would dare to bring a poison that would kill with two sips into the palace.

And if there were herbs that silently caused infertility with just two sips... in modern times, what use would birth control devices or surgeries have? Even pharmaceutical companies would bow to our ancestors!

Moreover, with Yun Jiao’s physique boasting a high score of 800, she was a daunting presence in the harem.

In other words, she was hard to kill.

Lady: "Concubine Xi, do you agree?" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Yun Jiao smiled.

Concubine Li knew from this smile that trouble was coming.

She mostly didn’t understand the implied meaning of the Lady’s words.

The Lady inviting Yun Jiao over wasn’t intended to humiliate her, but to win her over!

Yun Jiao: "Lady, you are mistaken."

Is this a rejection?

Concubine Li was apprehensive, yet surprisingly, the Lady’s expression didn’t change: "What insights does Concubine Xi have?"

"There are truly useless things in this world."

The Lady put down her tea cup, quietly awaiting Yun Jiao’s move: "I am curious, what is so useless in Concubine Xi’s view?"

At that moment, many answers flashed through the Lady’s mind.

Such as true feelings, family background, or the sisterly ties within the harem.

"Such completely useless objects, like myself."

"..."

Concubine Li no longer cared whether the tea was poisoned or not; she wished she could bury her face in the tea cup to hide her embarrassment.

Even the Lady’s face showed surprise at this moment.

"Why do you say such a thing about yourself?"

"I fear being useful, as those who can, work harder, but I only wish to gain without effort."

"I think that useless people are more easily eliminated. In the palace, the fate of useful people tends not to be too bad; someone will want to keep them alive."

The Lady’s words were more explicit.

Indeed, her philosophy had some merit.

"Look at my memory, today I’ve only invited Concubine Xi over to sit and chat, why talk about such matters. Since we’ve all been selected into the palace, as long as we do not overstep boundaries, there will surely be enough to eat and drink."

After saying this, the Lady truly had a palace maid bring out the flowers she was cultivating, focusing wholeheartedly on appreciating flowers and drinking tea, without discussing serious matters.

The only awkward presence was Consort Ji, standing by the side throughout.

Pouring tea, serving water, massaging shoulders and legs, all tasks she seemed accustomed to doing.

As the time became appropriate, Concubine Li rose to take her leave, and the Lady did not keep them longer, only as if suddenly remembering the person who had been standing by all along, her jade fingers pointed to Consort Ji: "Look at this sister of mine, although not skilled in arts, she is quite adept in serving people, I find her very useful."

"Sister flatters me; I am overwhelmed with fear."

Consort Ji lowered her head.

Compared to how she appeared in Chuxiu Palace, she was indeed a different person.

A hint of empathy appeared on Yun Jiao’s face.

Some people, upon seeing others living abundantly, wish to see them trampled into the dirt for no reason other than to revel. Yun Jiao thought little of it, as she neither flattered others when they were wealthy nor mocked them when they fell.

"It seems Concubine Xi gets along well with my sister,"

the Lady smiled warmly: "There’s no need to be so nervous next time you come to Yanxi Palace; I won’t bite."

Yun Jiao: "I only fear displeasing the Lady and ruining her good mood."

The Lady escorted Concubine Li and Yun Jiao to the door: "The Emperor fancies clever people, there’s no reason I wouldn’t like them, too."

They got on the sedan chair, went quite a distance until Yanxi Palace was out of sight, and only then did Yun Jiao breathe a sigh of relief: "How did she know about my close relationship with Consort Ji? I clearly hid my emotions well."

Consort Ji risked offending Lady Shufei several times to give her advice, which Yun Jiao kept in mind.

Concubine Li coughed: "You might as well write it on your face."

Yun Jiao looked away.

Seeing her play dumb, Concubine Li continued discussing the most important issue: "It seems Lady Shufei wants to win you over."

Concubine Li explained the situation in the palace.

The alliance of Concubine Wei and Consort Xu was tied to Lady Shufei, but Lady Shufei didn’t often summon them, nor had she openly formed cliques, making it a low-key alliance. Previously, when Concubine Wei offended Yun Jiao, she tried to seek aid from Lady Shufei, but to no avail: "I must say, you refused quite decisively. Didn’t you even consider it? If it were me... if it were me..."

At this point, Concubine Li suddenly came to her senses: "It seems she hasn’t asked me even once, has she?"

She looked uncertainly at Yun Jiao.

"Yes."

"I am at least a concubine with a title, yet I can’t catch Lady Shufei’s eye. Her eyes are up on top of her head. They say she has high standards, yet she takes a fancy to you... You’re so foolish, Lady Shufei isn’t even worried you’ll cause trouble for her!"

Concubine Li was furious.

After a while, Concubine Li asked her: "So, how do you plan to politely refuse? Playing dumb got you through today, but Lady Shufei might not be willing to let you off."

"Don’t worry, I’m thinking."

As the sedan chair carried them all the way to Xianfu Palace, only then did Concubine Li urge her.

"I’ve got it,"

Yun Jiao pondered: "I’ll just say that one shouldn’t serve two masters. I’m already Concubine Li’s lackey, so I won’t go and be your minion."

...

Life-loving Concubine Li felt she couldn’t keep her at Xianfu Palace.

-------------------------------------

Just as Concubine Li thought, Yanxi Palace didn’t give up easily.

Lady Shufei did not invite her as a guest again but instead gifted Xianfu Palace with some top-quality supplements and exotic delicacies. All had first been tested by the Imperial Hospital before being sent to Yun Jiao’s hands, sealed to ensure safety.

She gave the supplements to Concubine Li.

As for the snacks, Yun Jiao nervously ate them for three days.

Concubine Li was puzzled: "Do you really have to eat these snacks?"

"I don’t believe Lady Shufei can poison me to death; I’m hard to kill."

It wouldn’t matter if it rendered her infertile.

Firstly, in ancient times, medical conditions were poor; childbirth was like stepping into the ghost gate. She had no means of contraception; if Lady Shufei was willing to take care of it, she wouldn’t mind going along with it.

Secondly, they were really delicious.

During this time, Changle Palace announced the Empress Dowager’s recovery, and the Emperor favored Yun Jiao again, and she seized the opportunity to express her doubts to the Emperor. She found that besides teasing her, the Emperor was a wise ruler who understood matters clearly, and seeking help from him was much better than worrying on her own.

Xie Zhixing listened and said, "Eat with peace of mind."

He paused, explaining the reasons to her in detail: "Lady Shufei publicly extending an olive branch to you in front of the entire harem, gifting edible supplements and food, would be too foolish to tamper with them; no one would do it."

Ying Lu thought to himself that the Emperor really had double standards.

Last time, when Consort Jiang cried and pleaded with him, he complained she was hopelessly stupid.

When it came to Concubine Xi, the Emperor took the initiative to explain these palace intrigues to her.

"Did you understand?"

Xie Zhixing patiently asked her.

Yun Jiao understood but had a new question: "Why does Lady Shufei want to befriend me? I’m already a concubine; even if I give birth to a royal prince, I can raise him myself."

Oh dear...

Xie Zhixing couldn’t help pinching her cheek: "Lady Shufei won’t take children from other concubines. If she wanted, she would have long ago. The Ji Family sent a second daughter to the palace so that the Ji Family can have at least one prince."

Beneath the Empress in the palace, Lady Shufei is the most esteemed.

If she wanted a child, it wouldn’t be difficult from anyone below the concubine rank.

His trust in Lady Shufei wasn’t based on her character or morals but on her intelligence—poisoning Concubine Xi openly would not benefit her, and she wouldn’t do it.

"As for why, I don’t know, let’s wait and see. As long as it’s not intentionally harmful to you, you don’t have to worry too much. Just face challenges as they come, don’t mess up your own plans."

The Emperor’s analysis was listened to intently by Yun Jiao.

Xie Zhixing thought that if she could use this opportunity to become more vigilant, it would be a good thing. He looked down to see the young girl in his arms clutching his clothes with one hand, falling asleep with her eyes closed, unexpectedly sleeping soundly in his palace intrigue lesson.

When it was her turn to be favored, she got sleepy at the mention of serious matters.

He couldn’t help but laugh, his face, once tense due to state affairs, relaxed, and he too felt a bit sleepy.

"Never mind, let’s rest then."

Xie Zhixing made a gesture, and all the lamps in the room went out at once, leaving only one eunuch to keep watch and serve.

This matter was noted in the Emperor’s heart, listing the supplements Lady Shufei sent to Xianfu Palace to have Director Li see what they primarily targeted.

As expected, Lady Shufei wouldn’t act without purpose.

Soon, Director Li sent back the answer.

The supplements were all specifically to nurture women’s bodies, making them more fertile—of course, there was no miraculous formula that would easily lead to pregnancy. It merely made a woman’s constitution more suitable for conception. Lady Shufei herself was also using a similar prescription, just a lower version sent to Yun Jiao.