You take on two husbands, I'll turn around and marry the tyrant and rule the world.

Despite Consort Shu's sarcastic remarks, Chu Shunqing dared not utter a word in response.

She bit her lip hard, her watery almond-shaped eyes showing a wronged expression.

Seeing this, Consort Shu sneered, "Who are you trying to fool with this pitiful act? Hurry up and go and examine me properly. If you're wrong again, you'll be in for a beating."

The palace servants quickly brought a long ladder, climbed onto the roof, and scraped off some red clay.

Chu Shunqing wiped his reddened eyes, stepped forward, brought the red clay to his nose, and took a gentle sniff...

He then sneezed twice, covered his mouth and nose, and said nauseously, "Your Majesty... it is indeed musk."

Chu Nianci's fingers unconsciously clenched the brocade pattern on the hem of her skirt.

The nail guards on my fingertips felt icy cold to the touch.

Pepper mud walls originally had the effect of warming the uterus and aiding fertility, but once mixed with things like musk, they became poisonous substances that harmed the body and made it difficult to conceive.

She had only just moved into Tangdi Palace when someone used such a vicious method to tamper with the walls.

The most suspicious one is naturally the Empress, but Consort Shu may not be innocent either... Maybe she set up the whole thing herself, and then she'll try to play the victim.

"Your Majesty," Chu Nianci slowly knelt down, her voice trembling slightly, "I really don't know who I have offended, that someone would use such a vicious method to harm me. I have only just been granted the title of Noble Lady and I have already suffered such a scheme. In the future... I don't know how many more dangers I will face. Your Majesty must avenge me."

Shen Lanbing, who was beside her, also knelt down, her dignified face shrouded in worry.

The hall was once again deathly silent.

Consort Shu had already covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief.

She felt as if every breath she took was prickly, itchy and irritating, making her restless and unable to sit or stand still.

She didn't want to stay there a moment longer.

They were afraid that even one more breath of the pepper paste mixed with musk on their heads would hurt them.

Consort Shu's expression changed several times before she immediately stood up: "Someone, bring me the person from the Imperial Household Department in charge of purchasing materials!"

The eunuch who was sent returned in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, his face pale, and reported: "Your Majesty... the young eunuch in charge of supplies hanged himself in the side room."

Consort Shu's eyes narrowed, and she immediately stood up, not wanting to stay a moment longer. A hint of schadenfreude even rose in her heart.

The old empress has played a very clever game.

Does anyone know if there are any of these in other halls?

So they let Consort Hui live comfortably in this beautiful trap.

So she squinted and glanced at Chu Nianci kneeling on the ground, and said, "It is clear that someone is deliberately framing me and you. This matter has nothing to do with you. Until the matter is investigated, you should not stay in the main hall. Move to the side hall first."

She then turned to Qin Li: "Since this matter originated from the Imperial Household Department, I entrust it to you to investigate. You must provide me with an explanation within three days!"

Qin Li's face stiffened.

Those in charge are all dead.

How can we investigate this?

In the harem, besides Consort Shu, isn't the only one with the guts and ability to do such a thing the Empress?

But how could a mere servant dare to touch the Empress?

However, Qin Li was a shrewd man, and he quickly came up with a plan. Since he couldn't find the real culprit, he passed the buck to Xia Dong, who was by the Empress's side. After all, it was Xia Dong who had come to him in the first place, so it wouldn't be difficult for her to find a scapegoat. So he respectfully bowed his head and said, "This servant obeys."

Consort Shu glanced at everyone in the hall again: "If anyone dares to gossip about what happened today, don't blame me for being ruthless."

The concubines quickly bowed their heads in response.

Consort Shu said no more and turned to leave.

Seeing this, the other concubines also took their leave as if fleeing a plague.

Qiao stood frozen in place, her face filled with resentment.

She never expected that the Empress had tampered with the pepper paste on the roof of the palace... Why didn't she inform her beforehand about something so important?

Now look what's happened, they've found a weakness in us.

They missed a golden opportunity to bring down Consort Hui and Consort Shu.

She walked at the back, and as she passed Chu Nianci, she sighed softly: "Sister Hui, you've been wronged today... I really didn't expect things to turn out this way."

Chu Nianci raised her head and smiled gently at her: "I will remember your kindness, sister, and I will repay you in the future."

Their eyes met; one seemed genuinely concerned, the other smiled, yet there was no warmth in their eyes… only a silent confrontation and unseen sparks.

Preparing to climb the social ladder and gain wealth and status, she was neither afraid of provoking jealousy nor of open or covert attacks... Even if she tolerated and suffered grievances at every turn, there would still be people stepping on her to climb up.

The concubines departed one by one, and Chu Nianci saw them off to the door. She then had Aunt Lan take return gifts and deliver them to the various palaces.

Only Shen Lanbing and Consort Jia stayed behind and went to the side hall with Chu Nianci.

Although the side hall is not as grand as the main hall, it is exquisitely and comfortably furnished.

Chu Nianci invited the two to sit down, while Shen Lanbing, still with a slight frown, quietly surveyed her surroundings.

"I can finally breathe a sigh of relief." Chu Nianci leaned back into the cushions and said to Tuanyuan, "Quickly help me remove this big hairpin."

As Tuanyuan removed the gold phoenix hairpin from her, she patted her chest and said, "I was really frightened just now. I thought everything would go smoothly today, but who knew this would happen."

"Ha," Jiafei raised an eyebrow, "It's all the show every day. Don't these people get tired? With all this pretentious energy, they might as well put on a mask and go on stage to perform."

Upon hearing this, Chu Nianci couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"You can still laugh?" Shen Lanbing's brows remained furrowed.

Chu Nianci hugged the pillow, reclined on the warm couch, and asked Tuanyuan to prepare tea before leisurely saying, "Why shouldn't I be happy? I have nothing else to do anyway, and since they're willing to put on an act, I'll just join in the fun."

Tuanyuan brought in tea and poured it for everyone.

At this moment, Hongying also entered the room and said with a smile, "You don't know, our young mistress is just like this at home. She doesn't take even the biggest things to heart."

"This is quite something," Shen Lanbing smiled slightly, "You should take this girl back quickly, she misses her former master all the time."

"You're teasing me again," Hongying said playfully. "Don't I serve you well? Miss Hui, you don't know, but my uncle was overjoyed to learn that you've been promoted to Noble Lady after being appointed as a counselor in the Imperial Household Department."

"Tongluo Lane?" Chu Nianci was slightly taken aback, remembering that her eldest uncle should have lived in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

"Oh, I forgot to mention," Hongying explained, "My maternal uncle has already bought all the houses in Tongluo Lane."

"Thank you for taking care of me these past few days, Sister Jia." Chu Nianci turned to Consort Jia.

"Why are you being so polite?" Consort Jia waved her hand and sighed, "It's so boring to be stuck in this palace. It's a pity that I've been learning martial arts since I was a child, but now I can only waste my time here. When will I be able to fight on the battlefield like my brothers? That would be so much fun."

Hearing her say this, Chu Nianci secretly admired her.

I originally thought she entered the palace to compete for the emperor's favor, but I never expected her to have such ambition.

Unfortunately, he will likely spend most of his life confined to the inner palace.

Thinking of this, she said gently, "Sister Jia, who says one cannot be loyal to the country while in the palace?"

"How can one be loyal within these four walls?"

"As long as you, sister, remain firmly in your position as a concubine, the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion will be as secure as Mount Tai. With the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion secure, His Majesty's throne will be stable, which is to be loyal to the country," Chu Nianci said solemnly and slowly.

Upon hearing this, Consort Jia couldn't help but look at her with higher regard.

I thought she was just like everyone else, only knowing how to compete for favor and scheme, but I didn't expect her to have such insight.

In that sense, she could be considered a heroine among women.

"I've learned a lot," Consort Jia said, her tone tinged with admiration.

"Now that she has just been granted the title of Noble Lady, someone is already using such methods," Shen Lanbing said with a worried expression. "Who knows how many more dangers await her in the future."

"Bing'er," Chu Nianci said lazily, but her voice was clear, "worrying is one day, and fighting is another. Since they refuse to give up, I'll just stay here and take their place."

She spoke lightly, but her fingers secretly clenched tightly inside her sleeve.

Only after everyone had left did Tuanyuan dare to step forward and help her up.

"My lady..." Tuanyuan pouted her chubby little face in anger, "This is clearly someone deliberately trying to make you infertile."

Chu Nianci looked at the main hall where the aroma of pepper still lingered and said softly, "Yes, someone doesn't want me to get pregnant."

Actually, she didn't want to get pregnant.

Now that she holds the rank of a noblewoman, even if she becomes pregnant and gives birth to a prince...

She was only a concubine, and although she was the head of a palace, her family was too weak. With just a flick of her finger, the Empress and Consort Shu might be able to take away her child to raise... or even leave the child and abandon the mother.

Given her circumstances, she would need at least the rank of concubine, and even then, she would need to have someone in the court to rely on before she could have children.

In the middle of the night, just as Chu Nianci was about to rest, Tuanyuan hurriedly led Manbao into the house.

The young eunuch, soaking wet, didn't bother to wipe himself off. As soon as he entered, he knelt down on the ground: "My lord, there's been some movement regarding the matter you instructed us to keep an eye on. At first, there was nothing wrong with me sharing a room with the new concubine... but tonight, when I went to the outhouse, I discovered someone sneaking out of the side room in the middle of the night. I followed him and found a dark figure burying this package in the corner of the back garden wall."

"Who is it?" Chu Nianci asked.

"It was too dark, and his face was covered, so I didn't dare get too close. I could only tell that he was a eunuch, but I couldn't see his face clearly," Manbao said.

"What's inside?" Tuanyuan asked curiously.

"This servant doesn't know, it just smells wonderful and very pleasant."

Chu Nianci took it and glanced at it; her expression suddenly turned cold: "Cold Food Festival Powder!"

This Cold Food Powder was a forbidden medicine that flowed into the Great Xia from overseas during the previous dynasty.

It is highly addictive after use.

Duanmu Qingyu had long ago issued a clear order prohibiting it, with those who sold it to be executed and those who used it exiled to distant lands.

I never imagined that such filthy things would infiltrate the palace.

Tuanyuan was startled. Chu Nianci dipped her finger in the powder, smelled it, and a cold glint flashed in her eyes. The powder contained a small amount of arsenic. If one inhaled too much of this, one would surely die within a few days.

Moreover, arsenic cannot be detected, and even if it is tested, it will only be considered as addiction and poisoning.

She leaned back on the tatami mat, sneering inwardly: Sure enough, the pepper mud incident was just the beginning; these people really think highly of themselves.

Chu Nianci asked Tuanyuan to wrap some white flour and handed it to Manbao.

"Rebury this thing back in," Chu Nianci said. "Keep an eye on them."

She wanted to see... exactly what the other party wanted to do.

However, given how important this matter was... she decided not to hide it from Aunt Lan anymore, since she had been sent to her by Duanmu Qingyu.

It still has some credibility, she said to Tuanyuan, "Go and invite Aunt Lan here."