LoT Phoenix 1

Chapter 85: Truth Found

The long awaited Mid-Autumn Festival is quickly drawn to a close. Following Consort Zhuang's miscarriage, the Emperor demoted the Noble Consort to the rank of concubine and sentenced her to writing out Buddhist scriptures all day every day for three months.

Thankfully you weren't implicated in her miscarriage... but the Emperor's in a foul mood and you're worried it will affect Shu Xian negatively in some way. You're in luck though - the 14th Prince has returned to the palace after many days away.

14th Prince: I just got back. I missed the Mid-Autumn Festival, but I did hear about Consort Zhuang's miscarriage. Are you okay? Nobody tried to blame you for it did they?

His obvious concern warms your heart. You shake you head and reassure him you are fine.

14th Prince: I found out about those medicines. Unbelievable people still use such strange concoctions! I figured you wouldn't believe me, so I brought someone back from the Goodwill Pharmacy to explain. Save your thanks. I'll add it to your tab.

Everything is in place. The truth will finally come out, but in this matter, you think the Empress Dowager should bear witness. On discovering the truth, the Dowager is enraged, and takes you to the Hall of Mental Cultivation where she invites Consort Zhuang and her retinue to attend her. As soon as she sees you, her eyes frost over. She is about to speak, when Xiao Zhen is dragged into the hall, carrying a packet of medicines she didn't have time to discard.

Xiu Ying: Your Majesty, Empress Dowager - Consort Zhuang has been taking medicine to prevent miscarriage. Its odor is very pungent. I was worried that someone was trying to harm her, so I asked someone to investigate its contents. What they discovered was most unexpected.

Consort Zhuang: [Complexion changes] This must be a joke. You thought to inspect my medicine? As if I wouldn't know what I'm taking!

Xiu Ying: As to what medicine it is, I'll get the pharmacist from the Goodwill Pharmacy to explain. His pharmacy is well-respected. The Emperor and Empress Dowager must know of it. He is a trusted authority.

As the pharmacist from the Goodwill Pharmacy enters, and ugly look passes over Consort Zhuang's face, and she grips the edges of her gown sleeves tightly.

Pharmacist: Your Majesty, Empress Dowager - I have examined the medicines brought to me. The medicine Consort Zhuang has been taking contains two compounds that gradually weaken a fetus over time. The two physician who have been caring for Consort Zhuang said they were acting on her instructions. They were just following orders. It was she who wanted to destroy the fetus.

Consort Zhuang: [Distressed] Your Majesty, why would I do such a thing? Why would I want to hurt your child? It's a conspiracy! They're ganging up on me!

Xiu Ying: You have a motive, Your Grace.

She turns and glares at you, her eyes filled with hatred. You continue, unperturbed. With the Empress Dowager's permission, you summon Physician Wen from the Imperial Infirmary.

Physician Wen: Your Majesty, I have been at loss ever since Consort Zhuang fell pregnant, as I haven't been able to take her pulse or find her medical records pertaining to her pulse. Finally, yesterday I stumbled across her records by accident. To my surprise, her pulse indicates that she is not three months pregnant, but in fact four.

As Physician Wen's word alone was not enough, the Empress Dowager summoned several Physicians from the Imperial Infirmary to take the Consort's pulse. They all concluded that she was one month further along than originally thought.

Emperor: [Hurling his tea bowl] WHO IS HE?!

The bowl glances off her face and smashes on the floor. Consort Zhuang screams in fright, and loudly protests her innocence. Fu Heng hurries into the hall.

Fu Heng: Your Majesty, this morning I intercepted a letter being delivered outside the palace. I thought it looked suspicious, so I opened it... Its contents should be of interest to you.

Emperor: [Glowering] Letter? Go on.

Seeing the letter in Fu Heng's hand, Consort Zhuang remonstrations catch in her throat and she turns ghostly white.

Fu Heng: [Pausing for a moment] It seems Consort Zhuang has a close friend outside the palace, a male. They have a very special relationship.

Quick as a snake, the Emperor grabs the letter, tears it open and reads. His face turns livid. He crunches it up into a ball and throws it at the Consort.

Emperor: Adulterer! ADULTERER! Guards! Bring me this dog and have him quartered!

The truth is out and Consort Zhuang has reached the end of the road. You seize your chance and speak sternly to Xiao Zhen who is still kneeling on the ground.

Xiu Ying: Xiao Zhen, your master can't protect you any more. If there's anything else, you'd better come clean! The Emperor will take you cooperation into account!

Terrified by the Emperor's ire, Xiao Zhen spills the beans in their entirety.

Xiao Zhen: The Consort was pregnant with another man's child. The Physician said the child would be born with a deformity, so she decided to use the child against her enemies. At first she planned to use it against you, but you were too clever, so she changed her target to the Noble Consort. The medicine she took gradually weakened the child, until it miscarried...

You waited patiently for Xiao Zhen to mention the matter of the scented sachet. Sure enough, she spills those beans as well.

Xiao Zhen: It was Consort Zhuang who ordered a slave girl to place the musk scent inside the sachet to frame Shu Xian... She did it because Shu Xian has seen one of her maids bringing her the medicine, and she was afraid she might mention it to someone!

Xiu Ying: Shu Xian wouldn't kill a fly. I knew she wasn't capable of such a thing. Consort Zhuang, your malice knows no bounds!

After listening to Consort Zhuang's litany of crimes, the Emperor closes his eyes for a moment, then walks forward and slaps her hard across the face. She staggers from the blow. She catches your eye, and her face fills with loathing.

Consort Zhuang: You are a crafty one! Who'd thought such a sweet flower would bring me to ruin!

She rushes at you, as if to grab your throat. You stagger backwards, awkwardly. A shadow jumps between you, sending her crashing to the floor. Looking up, you see it is Fu Heng.

Xiu Ying: Consort Zhuang, all these things are of your own doing. Why then do you blame them me?

Consort Zhuang landed heavily after Fu Heng's blow. Blood runs down her face, giving her a monstrous look.

Emperor: Slattern! Unrepentant even in the face of death! Her concubine status will be removed! Lock her up! I never want to see her again!

As Consort Zhuang is dragged away, her eyes never leave your face. Unspeakable curses spill out of her mouth, sending a shiver down your spine. Suddenly your field of view darkens. Fu Heng has stepped between you. He signals the guard, who smothers the Consort's stream of invectives with his hand. The sight of Fu Heng standing there straight as a pine puts you at ease. At long last, you can begin to let your guard down.