Chapter 1979: They Were Giving It Their Best Shot Too
Qiu Ling helped Ning Shu briefly freshen up before heading over to the Jade Court.
“What’s the situation?” Ning Shu asked Qiu Ling on the way to Jade Court.
“This servant is also unclear on the specifics. I heard the maid report that Noble Lady Zhou had offended His Majesty,” Qiu Ling said from beside her.
Ning Shu rolled her eyes. According to the daily routine in ancient times, they should all be asleep. Why were they causing a disturbance at this time? It couldn’t be that they had been ‘papapa’-ing all night right?
They were giving it their best shot too.
Ning Shu smoothed out her clothes. When she arrived at the Palace of Moonlight, Consort Zhuang was standing at the Jade Court’s gate. Seeing Ning Shu, she promptly curtsied. “Your Majesty…”
“What’s going on?” Ning Shu asked.
Consort Zhuang shook her head. In a bewildered tone, she said, “This concubine also doesn’t know what happened. There was a huge commotion here.”
Consort Zhuang had been next door and had come over when she heard the commotion coming from the other side.
From the room came Zhao Xu’s roar. “Noble Lady Zhou, you have the audacity to plot against me!?”
“I didn’t! Your Majesty, this concubine is wrongly accused! This concubine never wanted to harm Your Majesty!” Noble Lady Zhou cried, in tears.
Ning Shu narrowed her eyes as she entered the Jade Court. Consort Zhuang rushed to follow.
When Ning Shu stepped into the room, she saw Zhao Xu: clothed and sitting beside the bed. Meanwhile, Noble Lady Zhou knelt on the ground. Her hair was loose and scattered and she wore a flimsy garment.
It was already after the Mid-Autumn Festival. Although the autumn weather was clear and refreshing, the nights became rather cold. As Noble Lady Zhou knelt on the ground, her body trembled.
“This subject wife pays respect to His Majesty.” Ning Shu curtsied towards Zhao Xu, glanced at Noble Lady Zhou, and asked, “What is going on?”
Zhao Xu sneered and pointed at a pouch on the ground. The fragrant sachet was damaged, revealing a few flowers and plants within.
“Its contents were soaked in poison ivy extract.” Zhao Xu leveled a penetrating stare at Noble Lady Zhou.
Noble Lady Zhou shook her head vehemently and tried to defend herself. “This concubine really didn’t poison it! This concubine had absolutely no idea about the poison ivy. Your Majesty, you must believe this concubine! This concubine is being wrongly accused and was framed by someone…”
Ning Shu glanced at the sachet. She knew poison ivy was a kind of plant with three leaves on its stem. Once a person comes into contact with it, even indirectly, their skin becomes irritated, causing itching and allergic symptoms.
“Your Majesty, are you alright?” Ning Shu asked Zhao Xu.
Zhao Xu sneered. “No wonder I wasn’t feeling well today. As it turns out, the root of this disaster is the fragrant sachet you gave me.”
Ning Shu was skeptical. Why did he find out that there was an issue with the pouch in the middle of the night? Was he playing with it instead of sleeping? →_→
She stood off to the side, silently observing the situation as it developed. This was a thoroughly strange turn of events.
“Your Majesty, do you want the imperial physician to take a look?” Ning Shu asked. “How did Your Majesty know that the sachet’s contents were soaked in a poisonous weed’s oil?”
“I came in contact with it when I was a child. As a result, my skin festered for a long time and the smell is deeply ingrained in my mind.” Zhao Xu continued to glare at Noble Lady Zhou.
“Noble Lady Zhou said that the pouch contained herbs to aid in calming and focusing the mind. I placed it at the head of the bed and my face started itching,” Zhao Xu said.
Ning Shu: →_→
So he found that out in the middle of the night? Could they have been ‘papapa’-ing continuously before that?
Noble Lady Zhou’s face was deathly pale. She looked helpless and at a loss. “Your Majesty, you have to believe in this concubine. This concubine had nothing to do with this!”
Translator: Kiara