The next morning at the crack of dawn was the seventh day since the young prince's passing. All the concubines above the rank of imperial consort followed the Empress to the Dharma Flower Hall to burn incense and pray, while Song Zhao went alone to the secret prison.
When she arrived outside the door, she happened to run into the eunuchs from the Censorate, who were there on imperial orders to send Concubine Li on her way.
Seeing Song Zhao, they bowed with clasped hands in proper etiquette. Song Zhao saw that the one leading the group was holding a tray covered with a black cloth, so she asked, "Are those the things prepared for Concubine Li?"
"Yes, young mistress, they are the three items from the palace."
The eunuch lifted a corner of the black cloth, and Song Zhao saw three things neatly arranged on the tray: a white scarf, a dagger, and a cup of poisoned wine. She said, "His Majesty asked me to see Concubine Li off. Please bring those things inside for me."
"As you wish, young mistress."
The door to the secret prison was opened a crack, and a moldy smell immediately wafted out from the room.
Song Zhao's brows furrowed slightly as she carried the tray calmly inside.
She saw Concubine Li huddled in a corner of the room, disheveled and vacant-eyed. Her feet were shackled to the wall with iron chains.
The moment their eyes met, Concubine Li's emotions changed abruptly to agitation.
"You came! You're unharmed!" She lunged at Song Zhao, but her movements were restricted by the fetters on her feet, so she could only stop a few yards away. "Go and tell His Majesty that I didn't harm you! I really didn't!"
"Shhh." Song Zhao went to place the tray on a nearby table, then turned to face Concubine Li with a faint smile.
"Does it matter if it was you who poisoned me? What's important is that His Majesty believes it was you trying to silence me."
Concubine Li denied hysterically, "It wasn't me! I never liked you, but I would never poison you! Something like this could easily be investigated. Do you take me for a fool?"
Song Zhao nodded lightly. "I know it wasn't you."
Hearing this, Concubine Li's eyes lit up.
She grabbed Song Zhao's arm pleadingly, "Save me! Put in a good word for me with His Majesty. Once I get out of this, I won't forget what you've done!"
Song Zhao looked her up and down with an icy gaze before pushing her hand away. Her rouge lips then curled into a bone-chilling smile.
"Because I was the one who poisoned myself."
Concubine Li froze in shock, staring blankly for a good while before she finally grasped the implications.
"It was you!" Fu'er could never have bought wolfsbane. You framed me to shake off suspicion! Song Zhao, why would you do this!?"
"No reason whatsoever," Song Zhao replied amusedly, smiling coquettishly. "From the moment you put wolfsbane in my room, didn't you already wish for death? Since that's the case, sending you off is simply my duty. Sister needn't thank me."
"I never did that!" Concubine Li shouted angrily. "I had nothing to do with Imperial Consort Shu's miscarriage either!"
Her murky eyes rolled wildly in their sockets. Then she took a deep breath to steady herself and pointed a trembling finger at Song Zhao.
"Fu'er could never have bought any wolfsbane. You made all this up to frame me!"
Song Zhao gave a mocking laugh. "Frame you? Where were you wrongly accused? Dare you say you never thought of harming me?"
Concubine Li fell silent. Song Zhao went on, "Of course you thought about it. You're just stupid and clumsy, bungling even attempted murder. Your current predicament is no one's fault but your own foolishness!"
"Vile woman!" Concubine Li cursed loudly. "You cheap whore born of a concubine, may you meet a nasty end!"
Song Zhao responded calmly, "Whether I come to a good end remains uncertain, but sister, your nasty end is guaranteed."
Concubine Li panted heavily before gathering herself to say, "Don't get complacent! His Majesty sentenced me to death by strangulation. Before the execution, inspectors from the Censorate will come to supervise. I'll tell them everything then. Even in death, I won't let you get your way!"
"Hahahaha!" Song Zhao laughed behind her hand as she returned to the table.
"What are you laughing at, you cheap slut?" Concubine Li shouted.
"Sometimes I really envy sister," Song Zhao sighed. "You were born to the proper wife. Your father dotes on you like a treasure, displaying deep father-daughter affection that others envy. Does sister even know? When your father heard you were sentenced to death for a serious crime, he voluntarily took a pay cut for a year just to leave you an intact corpse. Out of regard for your father's love, His Majesty showed special favor by allowing you to take your own life."
Having said this, she suddenly flipped open the black cloth.
Seeing the items on the tray, Concubine Li turned deathly pale and screamed as she cowered into the corner.
Song Zhao slid her fingers over each of the lethal objects and shook her head with a sigh.
"Tsk, I wonder how these eunuchs keep their jobs. His Majesty clearly said to leave sister an intact corpse, yet this white scarf and dagger would leave marks on sister's body. Born so beautiful, how could I bear to let sister die a hideous death?"
She then picked up the cup of poisoned wine and asked Concubine Li with a smile, "Why not the poison then? Down in one gulp and your intestines will burst, while raging fire burns your heart. It's rather painful, I'll admit, but at least your flesh remains unspoiled. What does sister think?"
"No...I won't drink it! Get away from me!" Concubine Li shrieked in horror, her twisted features making her appear deranged.
Song Zhao closed in step by step until Concubine Li was cornered against the wall with nowhere to retreat. Only then did she slowly bend down, gently caressing Concubine Li's face to wipe away her tears.
"Why is sister shaking so badly? Are you afraid?"
As she spoke, her palm slowly moved to Concubine Li's cheek. Suddenly clenching it in a vicelike grip, she forced open Concubine Li's mouth and poured the entire cup of poisoned wine down her throat, an ephemeral smile on her face all the while.
The moment Song Zhao released her hold, Concubine Li frantically crawled on the floor, shoving her fingers down her throat in an attempt to induce vomiting, coughing violently as large amounts of wine gushed out.
But with palace poisoned wine, merely a sip seals one's doom.
She retched desperately until finally vomiting a mouthful of black blood, then went limp in a puddle of filth on the ground, wailing in despair.
She raised her head to glare at Song Zhao, bloodshot eyes full of hatred that could kill.
"Song Zhao, you murderous femme fatale! May you never know peace! Even as a vengeful ghost I will haunt you!"
"Oh?" Song Zhao shrugged amusedly as she wiped her hands and headed for the cell door.
Pausing at the entrance, she suddenly turned back with a tilt of her head and quirked brow.
"Sister is quite determined. This little sister shall await the day your powers are on full display."
And with that parting taunt, she strode out and slammed the heavy door shut.
