The Enchanting Imperial Concubine (Book 1)

Chapter 119 - It ends in vain

"Hasn't it only been three or five days of illness? How is it that she's already on the verge of death?" The Empress asked casually.

Sun Xiuyi, who had once been favored, caused the Empress quite a bit of trouble. Now that she was about to die of illness, the Empress had no intention of paying her any mind.

"The concubines in the palace are naturally more delicate. Now that she's fallen out of favor, those attending to her aren't as diligent. With this scorching summer heat and not even enough ice to cool her, she's covered in sweat and unable to move. The sores on her body have worsened," Ding Momo explained.

The Empress scoffed. "She thought no one knew what she did to the Xia family, but when something went wrong during Xia Wanrong's childbirth and the imperial heir was lost, the Emperor was bound to investigate thoroughly. Didn't her misdeeds just come to light?"

"Indeed. If Sun Xiuyi hadn't been so greedy, scheming to stay as the mother and rid herself of Xia Wanrong, there wouldn't have been a chance for anyone to make their move," Ding Momo sneered.

Although the one who poisoned Xia Wanrong was still unknown, it was clear that someone had noticed Xia Wanrong's baby was too large, making difficult labor inevitable. Once the baby was born, it was either both mother and child would die, or only the imperial heir. But as soon as the heir was lost, the Emperor was sure to be furious, and in his investigation, Sun Xiuyi would not be able to escape.

"The imperial physicians still haven't found a cure for the plague. If she's going to die from illness, what can I do?" The Empress smiled faintly.

Her words clearly meant she wouldn't intervene. Ding Momo understood and immediately went off to pass the message.

But the eyes watching Hanlu Pavilion weren't just in one place—Xia Wanrong in Yunqi Pavilion was keeping an eye on things as well.

"Now that the palace has restricted movement, the servants have become lazy and inattentive. Only Yichun and Danruo, the two senior maids, are still diligent. But since they are directly attending Sun Xiuyi, they can't leave that room, and everything has to be brought in by the outside servants, which leads to shortages," Lianqiao reported while massaging Xia Wanrong's shoulders.

For someone who is sick, it's hard to sleep well, eat well, or receive proper care. When their status falls drastically, their heart fills with frustration. Add to that their illness, and it's no wonder they can't survive.

Xia Wanrong raised her chin slightly, her eyes cold and sharp. "Does she think she can die so easily? The suffering I've endured was far more than this."

"What does Wanrong intend to do?" Lianqiao squinted, already having a good idea of what was coming.

"Heh, didn't she once pride herself on her beauty and dancing skills? If she wants to live, she'll have to give those up. Don't you agree?"

Xia Wanrong's lips curled into a cold smile. "Find a way to send the message. I want her carefully attended to, and I want her to last as long as possible. And make sure she takes every bit of the medicine from the imperial physicians!"

Lianqiao nodded and immediately went to handle it herself.

Using a good deal of silver behind the scenes, the food and care at Hanlu Pavilion were soon restored to what they should have been.

Not only that, but everything that should have been part of the provisions, including the medicines prescribed by the imperial physicians, was delivered promptly as well.

Sun Xiuyi, still delirious from her illness, only felt much more comfortable and didn't think much of it. Danruo and Yichun, her two close maids, assumed it was because of Ming Jieyu's recent ordeal that the Empress didn't dare let another concubine die in the harem, and thus paid her a bit more attention.