"Ah! Don't, don't come over!"
Consort Chen was so frightened that her legs turned soft, unable to stand up for the moment,
She could only support herself with both hands on the muddy ground while kicking towards the direction of the snake’s approach, clumsily shifting backwards.
"Be careful, Your Highness!"
In a split second,
Song Zhao almost didn't think at all and rushed forward to grab Consort Chen's arm, forcibly pulling her back.
When he dragged the person to his side, he hurriedly leaned forward to support Consort Chen by the elbows and pulled her up from the ground.
At the same time, the palace maids waiting upon Consort Chen also swarmed around.
The two snakes also crawled to everyone's feet at this moment,
Bending the front half of their bodies, flicking their tongues ‘hiss’ hiss’, not giving people enough time to react, they would strike out.
Song Zhao was supporting Consort Chen and the direction of the snake’s attack was also towards them. It was unclear which of them the two snakes might bite first.
Xiao Fuzi was not too far from Song Zhao, but the speed of the snake’s attack was too fast for him to protect Song Zhao in time,
And at this moment in front of him, blocking his way was a palace maid who was visibly somewhat afraid of snakes.
Xiao Fuzi recognized this palace maid was Bao Xia from Consort Chen’s palace.
He had heard palace women punished to Xinze Prison mention her before when he worked there.
They said she was the most fond of causing trouble in front of the master.
Knowing she was not a good person, Xiao Fuzi simply steeled his heart. Taking the opportunity when everyone was focused on Consort Chen, he pushed Bao Xia forcefully from behind.
"Ah!"
Bao Xia lost her balance and fell face up towards the direction of the two snakes’ attack. The snakes nimbly dodged while also in shock themselves.
The snakes opened their mouths wide, biting Bao Xia’s arm and leg fiercely.
And biting extremely fiercely, like going mad, not letting go no matter how Bao Xia struggled.
Consort Chen and Song Zhao had already been escorted by the palace maids to safety.
The two of them stood with the other consorts, watching with their own eyes as Bao Xia issued screams of pain after being attacked by the snakes.
Yet besides shouting loudly for help, everyone was helpless.
The loud noise attracted the patrolling guards of Plum Garden. Seeing this, they immediately drew their swords out to slash at the snakes’ heads. Their hands rose up then fell down, beheading the snakes.
Yet even so, the snake heads were still tightly biting Bao Xia, the sight sending chills down everyone’s spine.
Bao Xia already had little courage daily. Just now when Duo Xiang and the others were protecting Consort Chen, she happened to have hidden a bit further away.
Being bitten by snakes like this now, she was even more frightened, unable to utter a complete sentence.
From the corner of her eye, Song Zhao caught a glimpse of Xiao Fuzi’s somewhat unnatural complexion. Recalling that he seemed to be standing behind Bao Xia earlier, she guessed that Xiao Fuzi might have pushed Bao Xia out in order to protect her.
If this was truly so, then if Bao Xia were to expose Xiao Fuzi now, Song Zhao would also be implicated.
Thus she immediately said, “Consort Chen, this palace maid just now threw herself forward to protect Your Highness, that's why she got bitten by the snakes. Shouldn't we quickly summon the imperial doctor to treat her?”
Consort Chen had yet to recover from her panic,
Beads of sweat as large as beans rolled down her forehead, soaking the makeup on her face and messing it up.
Hearing Song Zhao say this, she thought back fearfully and said, “Quick, go summon the imperial doctor!”
Seeing the situation under control, the Empress then said,
“This place is not safe. Guards shall escort us out first.”
Today’s incident involved Consort Chen while Plum Garden was also the closest to Consort Chen’s Yonghe Palace, so the Empress led everyone to Yonghe Palace together.
Consort Chen arranged for Doctor Qi, whom she entrusted with her health, to specially come and diagnose Bao Xia.
The consorts sat in the main hall, still somewhat disturbed recalling the earlier events.
Consort Yun said, “Why are there still snakes in the dead of such cold winter?”
Consort Shu said, “Plum Garden does not have palace maids inspecting and cleaning it daily like the Imperial Garden does. Perhaps it is precisely because of this that it gave those nasty things a chance.”
While discussing, weeping sounds suddenly traveled through the crowd.
Consort Hui curled up in her chair, crying non-stop,
“Wuwuwu, I’m most afraid of snakes! Those two snakes were so frightening, seeming to have enmity with us as they rushed straight at us. Wuwuwu, scared me to death...”
Consort Yao beside her gently patted her back to comfort her, “Sister, don’t be afraid. Fortunately none of us were injured.”
She paused awhile, feeling somewhat strange inwardly, and continued, “Consort Hui has a point too. Snakes all fear humans. Even in the wild, they would not actively attack people if one does not step on them. How could those two snakes today be so bold?”
The Empress tightened her grip on the hot water bottle in her hand, and softly chanted ‘Amitabha’, “Amitabha, hope only that the snakes are not venomous and that the little palace maid is safe and sound.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Doctor Qi entered the main hall and gave the consorts a respectful greeting, though with a heavy tone.
Consort Chen quickly asked, “How about Bao Xia? How is she?”
Doctor Qi shook his head in frustration, “In reply to Your Highness, the snakes that bit Bao Xia were spitting cobras. This snake has extremely potent venom. The bites the palace maid received were truly severe, with fangs penetrating deeply into her bones. This incompetent official is powerless to save her.”
Hearing that, everyone sucked in a breath of cold air.
Though Consort Chen was arrogant and overbearing, her treatment of her own palace maids was not too bad.
She immediately got to her feet and strode off silently towards the sick bay.
The Empress gave a long sigh full of grief for Bao Xia, “Alas...poor child.”
Song Zhao rose to say, “Your Majesty, Bao Xia saved Consort Chen, and also saved this concubine. This concubine also wishes to go take a look at her.”
The Empress nodded her assent. “Just now when you rushed forward without regard for yourself to protect Consort Chen, you also gave Us a fright. In the future when you encounter danger you must not do so again. When attempting to rescue someone, you must first protect yourself. Understood?”
“Many thanks for Your Majesty's concern.”
Song Zhao performed an obeisance then withdrew, quickly following to the sick bay.
By the time she arrived, Consort Chen was sitting at Bao Xia’s sickbed holding her hand, saying:
“You can tell Bengong about anything you have remaining worries about. Bengong will surely help you resolve them.”
Bao Xia’s face was deathly pale, her body shivering unceasingly.
Hearing Consort Chen’s words, she also knew she would not live for long.
She had originally wanted to tell Consort Chen about Xiao Fuzi pushing her,
“Your Highness, actually---”
“If you cannot let go of worries about your family, Consort Chen and I will properly take care of them for you.”
Song Zhao strode forward to stand at Bao Xia’s bedside, her eyes icy cold while looking at Bao Xia.
Consort Chen had her back facing Song Zhao so she could not see the expression on her face.
But Bao Xia could see it very clearly.
Thus she also understood the implications behind Song Zhao's words.
In short, what Song Zhao was saying amounted to two points:
Firstly, if Bao Xia did not mention that Xiao Fuzi had pushed her, then her actions today would be regarded as courageously saving her master. After her death, the court would compensate her family members while Consort Chen would also ensure her family would want for nothing for the rest of their lives.
Secondly, if Bao Xia exposed that Xiao Fuzi had pushed her instead, then behind Song Zhao stood the entire Duke of Protection’s Estate. If Song Zhao did not have good days ahead, logically Bao Xia's family members would surely also die friendless and homeless.
Bao Xia was already a dead woman.
Naturally, she did not wish for anything untoward to happen to her family after her death.
Thus she changed tack and said tearfully to Consort Chen,
“Please Your...Highness...look after...slave's family...”
Consort Chen firmly held her hand, repeatedly nodding her head, “Rest assured, Bengong will properly care for them.”
Upon hearing these words from Consort Chen, Bao Xia seemed to have accomplished her dying wish.
Then after exhaling a long breath, she closed her eyes for eternity.
