The Girl Who Struggled Through Palace Intrigues to Become the Empress-Chapter 154: How to Steal the Dragon 02

Yun Shan shook his head vigorously,

but the quilt covering his body tightened even more around his feet,

"I-I'm fine."

Xiao Fuzi approached, and only then did she notice the wound on his forehead. She immediately expressed her concern,

"What happened to you? How did you cut your forehead?" 𝐟𝐫eewe𝗯𝐧𝚘ve𝐥.c𝚘𝚖

Xiao Fuzi raised her hand and casually wiped away the blood, saying,

"A small injury is nothing. The most important thing is to make the emperor believe in us and not see any flaws."

Yun Shan wanted to ask further, but Xiao Fuzi had already changed the subject.

He composed himself and said with some seriousness, "You say you're fine? If you were fine, you would have changed your clothes and been serving by the empress's side a long time ago."

His gaze fell on Yun Shan's covered feet, "But did you sprain your foot?"

Out of concern, he reached out to grab the blanket,

but in that instant when he clenched the corner, his movement froze.

How could a woman's delicate feet be exposed in front of a man?

It was about the purity of a woman, so Xiao Fuzi awkwardly withdrew his hand,

"I'll go get some medicinal oil for you to apply to your ankle. If it still hurts badly, we'll have to call the imperial physician to take a look."

"At a time like this, how can we dare to call the physician? Aren't you afraid of causing trouble for the empress?" Yun Shan blushed, lowered his gaze, and weakly said, "Besides, the physician is a man, and you are also a man. Instead of having the physician treat me, it's better for you to..."

Upon hearing these words, Xiao Fuzi's heart trembled.

So... in Yun Shan's eyes, he had always been seen as a man, not a eunuch?

Such respect was extremely rare in the lonely palace.

He stared at Yun Shan with eager eyes, making the young woman feel a little embarrassed,

"What are you looking at? Are you planning to wait for me to become a cripple, so you can carry me everywhere in the future and feel satisfied in your heart?"

"Hahaha~ I'll carry you if I have to. You weigh almost nothing. Carrying you is easier than carrying two little chicks," Xiao Fuzi laughed as usual, provoking Yun Shan to no end with just a few words.

And him?

Perhaps because he laughed too much, he even shed tears from laughing.

*

That night, Xiao Jingheng stayed in Chang Le Palace and accompanied Song Zhao throughout the night, reluctantly parting ways when it was time for court the next day.

Later, Jiang Deshun replied to Xiao Jingheng's inquiry, saying that he had thoroughly investigated but couldn't find the origin of the oil stain.

This raised Xiao Jingheng's suspicion even more.

If it were an accident, they would have been able to trace where the oil stain came from.

But now, it was clear that this matter was not accidental but rather intentional, as it appeared out of thin air without leaving any traces.

The power struggle in the harem never ceased. During the times when Xiao Jingheng couldn't personally intervene, it was the Empress Dowager who established her authority in front of others.

Today, when the consorts went to pay their respects to the empress, the Empress Dowager was also present.

She didn't show any courtesy, and straightforwardly stated,

"Let's get the ugly truth out in the open. If there is another unexpected incident in the harem or if anyone harbors malicious intentions towards the imperial heir, no matter who it is, don't blame me and the emperor for being ruthless!"

Song Zhao, of course, didn't hear the Empress Dowager's admonishment in Kun Ning Palace.

She was frightened yesterday and couldn't sleep well all night, always worrying that someone wanted to harm her child.

Seeing her like this, Xiao Jingheng allowed her to stay in the palace to recuperate for a few days.

In the morning, when Yun Shan was helping her with her morning routine, she noticed that Yun Shan was limping while walking, so she held her hand and asked her, "Did you injure yourself yesterday?"

Yun Shan smiled gently and shook her head, "I just twisted my ankle a bit, it's nothing serious."

Xiao Fuzi chuckled from the side and said, "Niangniang, you don't know, yesterday Yun Shan wore your clothes and styled her hair like yours. She pretended to be you getting into the sedan chair and even imitated your voice. It was so convincing! She truly looked like a proper little master!"

Although they were both laughing, one with a bump on the head and the other with a sprained foot, Song Zhao saw it in her eyes and felt uneasy in her heart.

She couldn't laugh anymore, but instead, she looked at the two of them sincerely and said in a deep voice, "This matter is dangerous. If it's ever discovered, it could be a capital offense. You have followed me without complaints or regrets, and this time I'm putting you in a difficult position."

Seeing Song Zhao being courteous with them, they actually felt uncomfortable.

Xiao Fuzi hurriedly said, "This servant's life was saved by Niangniang. This servant is willing to do anything for Niangniang!"

Yun Shan also said, "This humble maid knows she's clumsy and usually can't help Niangniang much. But being able to do this task well makes this humble maid happy!"

It was supposed to be a good thing, but the silly girl started to have a tearful tone as she spoke.

"I've grown up with Niangniang since I was little. If Niangniang lives well, I'm ten thousand times happier! Please don't say such distant and estranged words to me anymore..."

Song Zhao lightly tapped Yun Shan's nose and coaxed her with a smile, "If I were to be estranged from you, there would be no one worth getting close to in this world for me. I've never treated you as my servants. In my heart, I've long regarded you as my closest people."

Yun Shan nodded with a smile and added, "And His Majesty too! His Majesty truly treats Niangniang well."

A frozen smile appeared on Song Zhao's face, and she remained silent.

Is he worthy?

Obviously, he's not.

In fact, yesterday, Song Zhao never left Chang Le Palace at all.

The person carried away in the sedan chair was actually Yun Shan disguised as Song Zhao.

Usually, when the imperial consorts go out, the sedan chair stops at the palace gate.

But yesterday, Xiao Fuzi deliberately had the sedan chair stop outside the sleeping quarters, using Song Zhao's pregnancy as an excuse.

Yun Shan and Song Zhao had similar heights and slender figures.

And the palace attendants who carried the sedan chair couldn't directly look at the emperor's face.

So Yun Shan wore Song Zhao's clothes and styled her hair like hers. Even if the attendants caught a glimpse of her, they wouldn't suspect anything.

As for the oil stains that inexplicably appeared on the corridor, they were undoubtedly the work of Xiao Fuzi.

Jiang Deshun would definitely not be able to investigate it, because even if he searched the harem, he wouldn't be able to find any clues about Xiao Fuzi.

When the sedan chair fell after the sedan bearers slipped on the oil stains, Xiao Yinzi, who was accompanying them, would surely panic.

Although the voice in the sedan chair didn't sound much like Song Zhao's, in a state of fear, one's voice naturally undergoes changes.

Moreover, Xiao Fuzi wouldn't give Xiao Yinzi much time to think.

As soon as something happened, he immediately sent Xiao Yinzi to inform Xiao Jingheng, and then ordered people to carry the sedan chair back to the palace.

Upon returning to the palace, Yun Shan took off her clothes and let down her hair, hiding in the side chamber.

Meanwhile, Song Zhao didn't have to do anything except lie in bed and pretend to have a stomachache.

In fact, this wasn't the first time Song Zhao had used the strategy of pretending to be in pain.

But things were different now.

She was pregnant, and every action she took was constrained. She couldn't behave as recklessly as before.

Later, she heard Xiao Fuzi speak in a low voice, "The Emperor has become suspicious. It's probably time to use the sachet you obtained from Consort Shu to solidify the evidence against her, right?"

"No rush," Song Zhao said coldly, a confident smile on her face, as if victory was already in her grasp.

"When you strike at a snake, you must aim for its weak spot, delivering a fatal blow. Otherwise, if it doesn't die, it might bite you instead, and you will have to pay the price. Since I have chosen to make a move this time, I will ensure that Consort Shu has no chance to escape."

She glanced out the window and instructed, "Close the gates of Chang Le Palace to visitors for the next few days. I don't want to see anyone."