This small matter ultimately did not cause any upheaval in the harem.
However, just a few days later, something happened in the palace.
Wan Wanrong of Qixiang Palace suddenly broke out in red spots on her face. The imperial physician examined her and said she had contracted something unclean.
Upon further investigation, it turned out that the problem was with the scented powder she had been using.
This scented powder had been given to her by Yu Baolin, who lived in the same Qixiang Palace.
Wan Wanrong was furious and immediately ordered people to rush into Yu Baolin's west wing to retrieve her box of scented powder, along with her own box, and bring them to Jiuchen Palace.
"Your Majesty, I believe I have had no quarell with Yu Baolin. Yet she has sent me such poisonous scented powder, causing me to break out in red spots, making me unable to show my face. I implore Your Majesty to seek justice for me!"
Ning Chen looked at Wan Wanrong, who was covering her face with a veil.
Although most of her face was obscured, a few swollen red spots could still be seen on her forehead.
"Someone, go bring Yu Baolin here, and invite an imperial physician to take a look at Wan Wanrong's face," Ning Chen said with a furrowed brow.
He had originally planned to go to Zhao Chun Pavilion to have lunch with Ye Yun today, but now this would delay him.
Not long after, the panicked and distressed Yu Baolin was brought in.
The moment she entered the hall, she knelt down in tears.
"Your Majesty, I have been wronged! I did not put anything dirty in Wan Wanrong's face powder. That powder was a gift from the Empress to me, and because Wan Wanrong and I live together, I merely gave her a box of it. I would never dare tamper with it. Please, Your Majesty, see the truth!"
Upon hearing this, Wan Wanrong immediately retorted in anger.
"If it wasn't you who tampered with it, are you saying it was the Empress herself trying to harm me?"
Whether out of extreme anger or on purpose, she brought the Empress into the matter without hesitation.
Yu Baolin was terrified and quickly shook her head. "I wouldn't dare! I didn't mean that. The Empress would never harm Wanrong."
"Well, if it wasn't the Empress, and it wasn't you, are you saying I poisoned myself to ruin my own face?" Wan Wanrong pressed on.
Without giving Yu Baolin a chance to respond, she turned to Ningchen and said, "Your Majesty, I've had more opportunities to see you than Yu Baolin, so she must have grown jealous and intentionally gave me the poisoned powder. Now, she's even trying to drag the Empress into this. How could the Empress, the mother of the nation, ever commit such a vile act against a concubine?"
Emperor Ningchen's cold eyes swept over the two concubines kneeling before him.
Wan Wanrong was filled with fury, while Yu Baolin cried and kept defending herself.
Earlier that day, in the court, Zhasake Grand Prince Ao Qi reported that there had been suspicious movements from the Jurchens at the border.
At a time like this, unrest in the harem was truly vexing to him.
With the situation in the front court uncertain, the inner court could not afford to waver as well.
This matter must not involve the Empress.
YOU ARE READING
The Enchanting Imperial Concubine (Book 2)
Historical FictionNote: This is a translated novel by me (Xiao Bai) Title: 贵妃她千娇百媚 Ye Yun was supposed to be the prince's concubine, but due to the sudden death of the late emperor, her entry into the palace was delayed for over a year. She entered the palace with th...
