During the days that Song Zhao was under house arrest, Xiao Jingheng did not come to see her even once.
She still had no appetite and had lost weight from starving herself.
On the sixth night of her house arrest, right before going to sleep, Song Zhao heard a knock on her door.
"Who is it?"
"Lady Song, it's your servant."
Song Zhao recognized Jiang Deshun's voice and felt relieved, "Master Jiang, why have you come? Please come in."
Jiang Deshun entered with a food container that he placed on the table.
He originally had a smile on his face, but upon seeing how frail and weak Song Zhao looked, his smile instantly froze.
"My lady, why torture yourself like this? In just a few days you've wasted away. If His Majesty sees you like this, his heart will ache!"
Song Zhao said anxiously, "I'm worried sick about Consort Shu. Now that she has suffered such a thing, I have no appetite. How is Consort Shu?"
Jiang Deshun said, "After this calamity, Consort Shu's body will need at least three to five months to fully recover. Although His Majesty has been at Consort Shu's side these past few days, he is still thinking about My Lady. When he heard you weren't eating, he specifically told me to bring you some food."
He opened the container. Song Zhao saw the exquisitely prepared, aromatic dishes inside, very different from the congee and steamed buns brought to her these past few days.
Jiang Deshun took out each dish and said with a smile, "These are all My Lady's favorites. His Majesty ordered the imperial kitchens to make them as delicious as possible to stimulate your appetite."
Seeing the table full of tantalizing dishes, Song Zhao's eyes instantly reddened and she had an pitiable look as if she was about to cry.
Jiang Dehun lowered his voice and continued, "Regarding Consort Shu's miscarriage, His Majesty never doubted My Lady. To restore your reputation as soon as posssible, His Majesty ordered the Court of Judicial Review and Ministry of Justice to jointly investigate the miscarriage. They already have clues. The poisoner is someone else, you have been exonerated, My Lady. But they still need to confirm, lest they startle the snake in the grass. Please bear with it a little longer, My Lady."
Song Zhao silently nodded, but she found it laughable in her heart:
The Emperor's words are just niceties.
Xiao Jingheng is investigating because he wants vengeance for the unjust death of the crown prince and to restore Consort Shu's reputation.
How could he shamelessly claim through Jiang Deshun that he did all this for her reputation?
Furthermore, if Xiao Jingheng never doubted her, he would have ordered the palace servants to serve and feed her properly from the very first day of her confinement. Why put on this show of concern only after the "truth" comes out to exonerate her after starving herself for so long?
But Song Zhao didn't take it to heart. After all she didn't take Xiao Jingheng seriously. If he wants to act, she'll act along.
"I know His Majesty will give me justice. I trust him. So I've never worried about my own circumstances. I'm just devastated about Consort Shu and the little prince..." Song Zhao said.
Seeing that she was about to cry again, Jiang Deshun quickly said, "You have a kind heart, no wonder His Majesty loves and pities you so. From now on, His Majesty will have the imperial kitchen carefully prepare your meals during your confinement. Don't keep punishing yourself, My Lady. His Majesty would be heartbroken to see you so haggard when your confinement ends."
Song Zhao pursed her lips and nodded, gently saying, "Thank you for taking care of His Majesty as well. Although he doesn't say it, the prince's death must sadden him deeply."
"This servant understands. Rest early after your meal, My Lady. This servant shall take his leave."
That night, Song Zhao only ate a few bites from some appetizing dishes instead of indulging herself. After all, she hadn't eaten properly for days and was quite hungry.
But she starved herself thin deliberately for Xiao Jingheng to see.
In a day or two when the "truth" comes out, proving she wasn't the one who harmed Consort Shu, and considering she had been confined for so long and wasted away...what man wouldn't feel distressed seeing her like that?
The next day at noon, Song Zhao was sitting on a heated cushion reading when she suddenly heard Li Changzai shouting loudly in the courtyard,
"Missing a meal or two won't starve her to death! Why's this criminal woman putting on an act?"
Song Zhao only heard that sentence. Clearly Li Changzai was deliberately letting her hear those insulting words.
Moreover, today's lunch arrived half an hour late.
The palace maid who delivered the food immediately apologized profusely upon entering,
"So sorry, My Lady. Just now Li Changzai summoned me to help her move furniture in her palace, that's why I'm late..."
Song Zhao didn't blame her and smiled, "That's okay. Sister Li's matters come first. And I was so troubled those days, I'm afraid I gave you a hard time when you delivered my meals."
"Serving you is this servant's duty, how could that be a hardship?"
She neatly arranged the dishes on the table and respectfully said, "Please enjoy your meal, My Lady."
Song Zhao glanced at the now lukewarm dishes, calmly picked up her chopsticks, and heartily ate.
*
In the Chanfu Palace
Xiao Jingheng, seated on the dragon throne, leaned forward with anger etched into his brow and eyes.
"Keep going," he ordered.
Standing below, the Supreme Court Justice said,
"This servant visited all the pharmacies in the capital and discovered only the Life-giver Hall sold mugwort in the past two months. Using that lead, I showed pictures of the four new concubines and their personal palace maids to the pharmacist and his helpers, and they recognized one of them."
He handed a portrait to Jiang Deshun, who solemnly presented it to Xiao Jinheng while announcing, "Your Majesty, she is Concubine Li Changzai's personal maid, Fu'er."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingheng tightly clutched the painting as his hands curled into fists.
"Li Changzai! How dare she!" He furiously flung the paper wad to the ground, scaring all the attendants to their knees begging him to quell his anger.
"Your Majesty! Emergency, Your Majesty!" A eunuch barged in, further infuriating Xiao Jingheng, "Cease your clamor!"
"Your—Your Majesty! Concubine Song in the West Chamber...she's been poisoned!"
"What did you say!?" Shocked and dumbfounded, Xiao Jingheng immediately stood up and shouted, "Speak clearly!"
"Your servant doesn't know the details, the imperial physician has rushed over. Just now the maid from the Jade Flower Palace reported she seemed to have ingested arsenic!"
Upon hearing "arsenic", it felt like a heavy hammer struck Xiao Jingheng's heart.
His heart raced faster and he rushed towards the Jade Flower Palace...
