Jiang Xinyue could deduce with her little toe that Consort Jin's brother had likely been set up and framed by the Empress or some faction allied with her.
Why was she so certain?
Because she had jumped into the lake herself, and the story about someone grabbing her foot and trying to take her life was a lie she had fabricated deliberately to make the Emperor worry about her.
It was also to muddy the waters in the harem, making those who had schemed against her, or were planning to, think twice. Every time they harmed her, she would gain a promotion, and the Emperor would mobilize forces to find the culprit for her sake.
She was the type of person who would seek revenge a hundred or thousand times over for a single injury.
When Consort Shu hid behind the Dowager Empress to scheme against her, having the Dowager's people slap and warn her, Jiang Xinyue made it so Consort Shu couldn't even stay in the palace, and her own child had to call someone else "mother."
In truth, she could have plotted against Consort Shu's child, but having received a modern education in law and ethics, she had more moral boundaries than these noble ladies raised in grand households.
As long as the women in the harem didn't harm her unborn child, she wouldn't harm their children either.
However, what little kindness she had left also had an edge. If any fool dared to harm the child in her womb while she was pregnant, she would stop at nothing to kill their entire family.
Even if there were young children, she would kill them without hesitation.
"Your Highness, the Imperial Kitchen has prepared a sweet soup with white fungus and lotus seeds today. Imperial Chef Gao specially set aside a bowl for you. It's been simmering on a small stove and has become quite gelatinous. It must be delicious."
Imperial Chef Gao was one of the chefs who had learned cooking from Jiang Xinyue. There was also Imperial Chef Li, who had recently been competing with Gao for the position of head of the Imperial Kitchen. The two were no longer as close as before.
Moreover, Jiang Xinyue knew that Imperial Chef Li had already allied himself with Empress Zhu, probably thinking that Jiang Xinyue had already shown all her culinary tricks, and he could now establish himself independently and climb higher, no longer needing to flatter Jiang Xinyue.
Imperial Chef Gao was still a grateful person. If it weren't for her teaching them how to make roast meat and fried chicken, given their seniority, they might still be just errand boys assisting the older chefs with food preparation.
Last winter, she had originally planned to unveil her secret weapon - hot pot - but at that time she was in the Cold Palace. Fried chicken required simpler ingredients than hot pot, so she changed her plan to fried chicken.
At that time, Imperial Chef Gao and Imperial Chef Li had received rewards for this dish at the New Year's banquet, and their status had risen accordingly.
The old manager of the Imperial Kitchen, who had reached retirement age and was planning to leave the palace, wanted to learn those roast meat and fried chicken recipes to open a small tavern outside. Imperial Chef Gao, knowing these dishes were learned from Jiang Xinyue, said he needed to ask for Concubine Zhen's permission before responding to the old chef.
However, Imperial Chef Li, in order to get ahead, secretly approached the old manager to get the recipes.
Although the old manager had accepted the recipes for the two dishes, he recommended Imperial Chef Gao to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to take over his position.
Because of this, the relationship between Imperial Chef Li and Imperial Chef Gao had become quite ugly.
Jiang Xinyue took the white fungus soup handed to her by Shuang Jiang, sniffed the sweet scent of red dates wafting from it, and set the bowl aside. "Imperial Chef Gao is thoughtful. Go to the Imperial Kitchen and convey my message. Thank him on my behalf and tell him that I very much enjoyed his white fungus and lotus seed soup. Remember to put some gold beans in a pouch for him."
Shuang Jiang nodded and went to the inner chamber.
Jiang Xinyue stirred the soup with one hand while the other rested on her belly, her eyes flickering with alternating light and darkness. "Xiao Xuanzi, follow Shuang Jiang quietly."
Xiao Xuanzi, who had received the order, raised his eyebrows in surprise, but upon seeing her ruthless gaze, he suppressed his feeling of trepidation and bowed his head even more respectfully. "Yes, Your Highness."
Who could it be?
Someone had managed to discover her pregnancy despite her strict precautions, and had even added safflower to her food.
Beneath the sweet soup of white fungus, red dates, and lotus seeds lay a handful of bright red safflower.
Those unfamiliar with the effects of safflower might think it was just a new flavor from the Imperial Kitchen.
Most women in ancient times had only limited education and weren't well-versed in herbs that could both nourish and harm the body.
Jiang Xinyue was fortunate to have been born in a future civilized society. Her basic knowledge was thousands of years ahead of the palace ladies, allowing her to repeatedly escape assassination attempts.
The reason she so readily agreed to the Dowager Empress's confinement, not letting the Emperor argue on her behalf, was to follow Consort Li's method of secluding herself to protect her pregnancy.
Who knew that this black hand would still reach into Hexi Palace?
After Shuang Jiang packed the gold beans, she headed towards the Imperial Kitchen. Xiao Xuanzi, catching Jiang Xinyue's silent gaze, immediately followed her out of Hexi Palace.
Under the moonlight, several people hurried about. Where they were going, and how many eyes were secretly watching them, was unknown to all.
Let's see who would be impatient enough to reveal themselves first.
Shuang Jiang, hearing the cicadas chirping outside the hall, suddenly looked dejected. She tightened the porcelain bottle in her sleeve and, when she reached an inconspicuous rockery, threw a blue bottle into it.
As she left, there were tears on her face.
Xiao Xuanzi, crouching, quietly walked to the rockery and picked up the bottle Shuang Jiang had discarded. He dusted off the dirt and put it into his own sleeve.
The memory of Shuang Jiang delivering coal to Concubine Zhen in the Cold Palace was still fresh in his mind. Xiao Xuanzi really didn't want Shuang Jiang to do anything to betray her mistress.
The people of Hexi Palace were all of one mind, having been through so much together. It shouldn't be like this.
After discarding the bottle, Shuang Jiang hid and cried for a while. After wiping away her tears, she went to the Imperial Kitchen and delivered Jiang Xinyue's message. In front of many imperial chefs, she gave the pouch filled with gold beans to Imperial Chef Gao.
That pouch was naturally not Concubine Zhen's handiwork, but was embroidered by the palace maids of Hexi Palace, specifically for rewarding subordinates.
Afterwards, she returned to Hexi Palace, not interacting with anyone from other palaces along the way.
"Your Highness, I..."
Shuang Jiang's eyes fell on the small blue porcelain bottle on the table, her eyes almost popping out of their sockets.
She fell to her knees with a "thud," and without a word, started kowtowing repeatedly. After about ten times, blood began to flow from her forehead.
Jiang Xinyue tossed the small porcelain vial beside Shuang Jiang's leg, her expression weary. "I dislike those who play dumb when they know the truth. Back then, you let Jiang Yutong into Xihuo Palace, allowing her to hang herself in the side hall. Whose orders were you following? And now you bring saffron to harm me. How should I deal with you?"
Shuang Jiang, disregarding her bleeding forehead, sobbed uncontrollably as she tried to explain herself: "Your Highness, I... I didn't mean to harm you. I... I was indeed planted as a spy in your household, occasionally passing information to the outside. But Your Highness, I swear on my life, apart from Jiang Baolin's suicide in Xihuo Palace at the beginning, which I was involved in, I had nothing to do with anything else."
Jiang Xinyue felt a twinge of sadness in her heart, sighing at the cruelty and heartlessness of the imperial palace, where one could never truly discern people's intentions.
