Gong Fei Ji

Chapter 246

First, the imperial doctor discovered a calligraphy and painting hanging on the wall of the Ganquan Palace. The paint used on it was mixed with some spices such as agarwood, cardamom, and a medicinal material called pinellia.

Pinellia, araceae, perennial herb, is recorded in "Shen Nong's Materia Medica" and "Imperial Hospital Prescription". It can be used as medicine, but it is poisonous. Pregnant women should not use it. It has the effect of moving fetus and abortion.

Then, the imperial doctor found several incense burners with a special structure in the Ganquan Palace bedroom. There was a hidden compartment inside the incense burner, and a mineral called lead sand was put into the compartment.

Lead sand is poisonous and can cause female infertility, miscarriage, premature delivery, and stillbirth.

Lead sand is also a raw material for Taoist alchemy. Taizong was addicted to elixir in his later years, and all the women in the harem followed Taizong to take yellow and white pills.Many concubines later suffered miscarriages, premature births, and even stillbirths.

These poisonous minerals were placed in the incense burner, and were slowly volatilized by the burning of the incense, and then inhaled by Concubine Xian bit by bit through breathing.There is also pinellia mixed in the fuel. When the concubine Xian was pregnant, it was winter, and the concubine was afraid of the cold, so the silver frost charcoal in the Ganquan Palace burned a little more. It is released, like those poisonous minerals, and is sucked into Concubine Xian's body bit by bit. Over time, it is not surprising that Concubine Xian will be poisoned and give birth to a dead baby.

When Concubine Xue Xian listened to the words of the servant in charge of checking the harem, she didn't seem particularly excited, she was just very calm, weeping silently, and then said to the emperor with a shaky body: "Calligraphy and painting, it's my minister." When the concubine was pregnant, it was given by the noble concubine, and the incense burner was presented by Shang Gongju."

The noble concubine is in charge of the harem on behalf of the middle palace, and the six sages and 24 departments of the harem are all within the scope of the noble concubine's control. What this sentence points to is obvious.

Concubine Qi Gui, who was sitting next to the emperor, snorted coldly, and then said: "Concubine Xian, why not just say that it is this palace who harmed you and the little princess."

Concubine Xue Xian didn't respond to her words, but said to the emperor with a pale face and a weak voice: "Your Majesty, have you seen the little princess? Is it good-looking? When the concubine learned that the little princess was born without breathing, she even hugged her to see her." Seeing that she doesn't even have the courage..." She seemed to be unable to continue, her voice was trembling, she paused for a while, and then continued: "Chenqie, this concubine, did not protect her well, Chenqie is sorry for her, Your Majesty It's the little princess's father, please ask the Holy Majesty to make the decision for her."

And Bichi also cried and ran down, knelt down on the ground and said to the emperor: "Your Majesty, please make decisions for the concubine Xian and the little princess. Do you know that when she was born, her whole body was black and purple, almost beyond recognition, and the little princess died like this Poor, I beg you to make the decision for her." Wiping away tears, he continued: "The imperial doctor said that the poison on the empress is not a day's work, at least three or four months, hidden in the incense burner The lead sand needs to be replaced frequently, so there must be a spy in the Ganquan Palace. Your Majesty, I beg you to thoroughly investigate the Ganquan Palace. As long as you find this spy, you will be able to interrogate the instigator behind the scenes."

Concubine Qi Gui didn't speak any more, but just snorted coldly.

The emperor glanced at her with lowered eyebrows, without any expression on his face. No one could have guessed what he was thinking in his heart. He asked, "Who is the maid in charge of the incense burner in Ganquan Palace?"

Bichi replied: "It's a court lady named Qiushi." As she spoke, she was startled as if she suddenly thought of something, opened her eyes wide, and then said to the emperor a little excitedly: "My lord, this servant remembers. Yes, Qiu Shi recognizes Yuan Siji from the Shanggong Bureau as his adoptive mother, and Yuan Siji is the real aunt of Dongzhu, a court lady next to the imperial concubine."

(End of this chapter)