After being reborn, the empress only wanted to seduce the emperor and seize the empress's posit

Chapter 39 Dragon Boat Festival Banquet (Part 3)

Lu Jingning returned to her seat and smiled at Consort Zhen, saying, "Your Highness, you are too kind. I am merely smattering in music; compared to Your Highness's sword dance, it is utterly insignificant."

Consort Zhen's expression was complicated, and she forced a smile: "Noble Lady Lu is truly modest."

At this moment, Madam Lu sat not far away, her eyes fixed on Lu Jingning. Seeing her being rewarded by the Emperor and attracting the attention of everyone, she was filled with rage.

Why is it that she can enjoy the emperor's favor while her own daughter is confined to the palace? But her good days are about to end.

Seeing that the Emperor was in such a good mood, the concubines took turns showing off their talents.

Consort Zhen's gaze inadvertently swept over the eldest princess beside her. She saw that the princess's eyelids were drooping and her head was nodding, clearly indicating that she was getting sleepy.

Consort Zhen smiled gently and said softly to the Imperial Concubine, "Imperial Concubine, look, the eldest princess seems to be sleepy from all this commotion."

Consort Liang looked down at the eldest princess in her arms. Seeing her eyelashes fluttering and her little face flushed with childlike innocence, she gently coaxed, "Our little princess seems tired. Someone, take her to rest."

As she spoke, she gently handed the princess to a palace maid standing nearby. The maid carefully took the princess and led her away.

The Empress, dressed in magnificent robes and holding a wine cup, rose to face the Emperor and said in a gentle voice, "Your Majesty, today we feast and celebrate. I wish to offer this wine to Your Majesty for good health and a long life."

After speaking, she gently lifted the glass, and the wine swayed gently in the glass, reflecting a dazzling light.

Xiao Jingheng smiled faintly, raised his glass and took a sip, the aroma of the wine instantly blooming between his lips and teeth.

Seeing this, everyone in the hall stood up, raising their wine cups high. The wine in the cups gleamed alluringly in the candlelight, like twinkling stars.

The crowd shouted in unison, "Long live the Emperor!"

The sound echoed in the main hall, creating a magnificent atmosphere.

Xiao Jingheng raised his eyebrows high, his brow revealing joy: "Very well! I will drink this cup with all my ministers."

Having said that, he drank the wine in his cup in one gulp, and the ministers below also drank it in one gulp.

Inside the side hall, Consort Liang's maid, Qimeng, was carefully wiping the little princess's cheeks.

Suddenly, I noticed that the little princess's delicate skin was covered with dense red spots, and her lips were a little purple.

Qi Meng's heart tightened suddenly, and the handkerchief in her hand accidentally fell. She hurriedly knelt down and gently lifted the little princess's sleeve, only to see that red spots had spread all over her body, a shocking sight.

Qi Meng's face turned deathly pale instantly, her eyes filled with panic and fear.

The eldest princess is the emperor's only child. If anything happens to her, not only the emperor, but even the imperial concubine would probably skin her alive.

She dared not delay for a moment, and immediately got up and ran to the main hall to find the Imperial Concubine.

Consort Liang was chatting and laughing with Consort Zhen when Qi Meng rushed in, looking flustered, and almost bumped into the maid who was pouring wine.

Consort Liang frowned: "What's the matter that you're in such a panic?"

Qi Meng's legs went weak, and she knelt on the ground, her voice trembling with sobs: "Your Highness, the eldest princess... the eldest princess has been in trouble!"

"What did you say!"

The concubine's hand trembled violently, the wine cup slipped from her grasp and crashed to the ground with a crisp, jarring sound, splashing wine everywhere.

Hearing the noise coming from the Consort's side, Xiao Jingheng asked with concern, "Consort, what's wrong?"

Consort Liang's face turned pale, and a hint of panic flashed in her eyes. She quickly composed herself, rose, and curtsied, saying, "Your Majesty, the little princess is suddenly feeling unwell. Please allow me to leave the table first."

"Okay, go quickly." She turned to leave, her skirt brushing the ground, creating a gust of wind.

"Your Majesty, I will accompany you."

Seeing this, Consort Zhen's eyes flashed with worry, and she followed closely behind.

Lu Jingning sat in his seat, his brows furrowed, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.

Upon hearing this news, the Empress looked at Lu Jingning. Their eyes met, and the Empress gestured for her not to worry. Lu Jingning nodded.

Consort Liang rushed into the side hall in a panic, but the hall was empty except for the faint cries of the little princess echoing in the empty space.

Her face was deathly pale. She rushed to the little princess's side and saw the little princess curled up on the bed, waving her little hands incessantly, tears streaming down her tender cheeks and soaking the pillow.

Consort Liang held the little princess tightly in her arms with heartache, gently comforting her, "Mother is here, Mother is here, don't be afraid, don't be afraid..."

The little princess seemed to sense her mother's presence, and her crying gradually subsided. Her little hands tightly gripped the concubine's robe.

"Didn't you see the princess's condition? Hurry up and call the imperial physician!" Consort Zhen was also in a panic and hurriedly ordered the palace maid beside her.

"Yes, this servant will go right away."

Qi Meng hurriedly ran out to the Imperial Hospital to find the imperial physician.

The imperial physician, carrying his medicine chest, hurried along behind the palace maid, his face grave.

Upon entering the side hall, one could see Consort Liang with her brows furrowed and eyes filled with anxiety. The little princess was sobbing softly in her arms, her face as pale as paper.

"Quick, check what's wrong with the princess!"

The imperial physician hurriedly stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and carefully reached out to gently lift the little princess's eyelids, then carefully examined her lips and nails.

The room was completely silent, with only the faint breathing of the little princess and the rapid breathing of the imperial physician audible.

A moment later, the imperial physician's expression grew increasingly grave. He slowly rose, his voice low and heavy: "Your Highness, the little princess's lips are somewhat bluish, as if she has been poisoned. May I examine her food?"

"Quickly go and bring the princess's food!" Upon hearing this, Consort Liang's expression changed drastically, and she immediately waved to the palace maid beside her to quickly bring the little princess's food.

The palace maid hurriedly entered the main hall, looking nervous, and put all the food in a box.

Xiao Jingheng frowned, his eyes filled with worry, and asked anxiously, "How is the princess?"

The palace maid knelt before the Emperor, her voice trembling, "This servant doesn't know. The imperial physician is still examining the child. Your Highness, please have this servant bring the little princess's food for the physician to examine."

The Empress gently grasped Xiao Jingheng's hand, her voice soft yet strong: "Your Majesty, don't worry too much. The little princess is blessed with good fortune and will surely be alright."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingheng's anxiety lessened slightly. He nodded gently and waved to the palace maid, "Quickly give it to the imperial physician and tell him to make sure he finds out the truth."

"Yes, Your Majesty"

A palace maid rushed in with a food box containing the lotus seed soup the princess had just eaten, a few leftover pastries, and some side dishes.

The imperial physician took the cakes and carefully examined each piece with his old eyes. He then picked up the lotus seed soup and smelled it, his brows furrowing more and more deeply.

He picked up a small piece of pastry, gently crushed it, and sniffed it. Suddenly, his face turned ashen, and his fingers trembled slightly: "Your Highness, this pastry and lotus seed soup contain a deadly poison!"

(End of this chapter)