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

Deep within the Yongxiang Palace, Bai Qianrou had been confined there for over a month.

Despite waiting in vain for news from home, she did not lose heart, focusing instead on healing the wounds on her face.

But in such a predicament, how could they possibly summon a royal physician?

By chance, she learned about a strange ointment from the old eunuch in charge, which was said to not only fade scars but also strengthen the body.

For Bai Qianrou, who was on the verge of despair, this was like a drowning person grabbing onto a piece of driftwood.

Once her appearance is restored, her family will see her value and definitely try to get her out of there.

She immediately used all the resources at her disposal to have her trusted palace maid, Yanqiu, secretly find her.

After trying it for a few days, it really worked wonders... The scars on my face gradually faded, and my skin slowly regained its former radiance.

Late at night, Bai Qianrou stared at the blurry, broken bronze mirror, gazing at her face that was faintly regaining its radiance, and a glimmer of hope finally ignited in her eyes.

"It's all that vile woman, Consort Hui, who has brought this upon me," she muttered to herself, stroking her cheek. "Once I get out of here, the first person I'll settle accounts with is her."

She glanced at her maid, who had been an orphan when she rescued her. The maid was helpless, unmanageable, and trustworthy.

She secretly calculated: as long as Chu Nianci is brought down, looking at the harem, Consort Shu is brave but not resourceful, and the Empress is strong on the outside but weak on the inside. There are very few people she can truly regard as her opponents.

She had even devised a way to win in one fell swoop, and her fear gradually subsided.

"Yanqiu," she turned and ordered, her eyes sharpening again, "send out the news that I will recover soon, let the family know that as long as I can get out, there is still a chance to turn things around."

"Yes," Yanqiu replied softly, her eyes lowered, the box of ointment in her hand seeming to weigh a ton.

The ointment itself is not a problem, but if it is used together with another drug containing arsenic, it becomes highly toxic.

Although she was an orphan, she had a child with her childhood sweetheart before entering the mansion.

Not long ago, she received a secret letter and a longevity lock, and if she wanted to keep her child safe, she had to follow the instructions.

She didn't know who was threatening her, but she had to make Bai Qianrou die a horrible death.

Only in this way can the child be safe. My lord, I'm sorry. Once this matter is settled, I will go down to accompany you.

"My lady," Yanqiu said, steadying her voice as she took out paper and pen, "Master also asked you to write down His Majesty's preferences and habits in detail."

"Why?" Bai Qianrou frowned.

"This servant does not know the details, but I have heard... If you still want your aunt to have a good time in the mansion, then you must do as I say."

Bai Qianrou instantly understood the unspoken threat.

It seems the family is sending a new woman to replace her.

Instead, she sneered, spread out a piece of paper, and wrote as she whispered, "Sending people in is easy, but gaining His Majesty's favor is difficult. As long as my face is healed, I'll still be useful."

Yanqiu watched silently as she finished writing, then helped her lie down.

Bai Qianrou has been feeling unwell lately, often feeling weak and dazed, and experiencing a nicotine-like discomfort.

Yanqiu quietly walked to the cabinet, took out another packet of "medicinal powder" that had been prepared beforehand, and lit her pipe.

The night was dark, a single lamp shone dimly, and the room was filled with swirling smoke.

Empress Lin's health gradually improved, and her complexion returned to normal. Now, even with just a light application of makeup, she looked radiant.

She had been in a good mood for days, feeling confident that she could regain the emperor's favor. In addition, after a long period of planning, she was about to close the deal, and she felt much more relaxed.

As expected, a piece of news suddenly shattered the tranquility of the palace...

Bai Qianrou died suddenly in the Cold Palace!

It was her personal maid, Yanqiu, who was the first to discover it, and she was almost scared out of her wits.

This matter was like cold water poured into boiling oil, instantly causing an uproar in the imperial harem.

Empress Lin was alarmed.

If Bai Qianrou had simply died quietly in the Cold Palace, that would have been one thing, but she "died suddenly," not by imperial decree, nor by suicide, which makes the situation entirely different.

Although she was already a cripple, she was still the daughter of the Grand Commandant's household.

Even if he is no longer favored, he still needs to give an explanation to the Grand Commandant's office.

It's different to neglect her and let her fend for herself than to have someone in the harem so blatantly murder her.

The Empress rushed to the Yongxiang Cold Palace.

Upon inspection, a suicide note was found on the ground, which contained only one sentence: "Consort Shu, Noble Lady Hui, I will haunt you even as a ghost."

Yanqiu, who was kneeling and trembling, also said that the young master's death was suspicious.

Empress Lin's face was solemn, her eyes filled with coldness, and she revealed a hint of smugness. After a moment of silence, she turned around and said, "Prepare the carriage for Tangdi Palace, summon all the concubines, and send someone to invite the Emperor."

When the Empress's carriage arrived at Tangdi Palace, the concubines from all the palaces rushed over upon hearing the news, crowding the area in front of the palace gates.

Chu Nianci saw the imperial carriage arrive.

Quietly leading all the palace servants to greet them, with just the right amount of surprise on her face, she led everyone into the side hall and had Tuanyuan serve tea to everyone.

No one spoke, nor did they have any interest in drinking tea. Only Consort Jia picked up her teacup and silently sipped it.

After waiting a while, Duanmu Qingyu arrived.

Everyone knelt down.

Duanmu Qingyu's gaze swept through the crowd. Despite the variety of figures around her, her striking beauty and intelligence made her stand out at a glance.

His gaze lingered on her for a moment before he strode into the palace.

Chu Nianci kept her eyes down, as if she hadn't noticed the brief gaze.

The group entered the main hall one after another.

This place was recently renovated and the furnishings are much more elegant now.

Duanmu Qingyu, with a solemn expression, slowly sat down in the main seat in the center.

He had just come from court, dressed in a black formal robe, his dark hair tied up with a dragon hairpin. His profile was as elegant as a winter chrysanthemum, and the noble air he exuded, built up from fine clothes and sumptuous food, was veiled with a layer of frost.

The sudden death of Bai Shuren caused Grand Commandant Bai Zhanling, who was attending court, to faint.

He had to give the Grand Commandant's office an explanation.

Then he heard about the Cold Food Powder, which made him even more furious.

He was not unaware of the open and covert struggles among the concubines in the harem, and often turned a blind eye. But the blatant use of poison to kill people was a bottom line that he could not tolerate.

Chu Nianci knelt down and bowed along with everyone else.

I haven't seen him for more than ten days.

She looked up and saw that his features were still incredibly beautiful, but his jaw was taut, his eyes were colder than usual, and his fists were clenched so tightly they turned white... Anyone could see that he was furious.

The atmosphere inside the hall became oppressive, and no one dared to utter a sound.

He gestured with his hand as if to say, "Get up, all of you,."

Consort Shu only knew that Bai Shuren was dead, but did not know what had happened. She stepped forward first, with a gentle and concerned smile on her face: "Your Majesty, you are busy with state affairs, so please leave this matter to us concubines."

Duanmu Qingyu did not answer, but waved his hand to allow the Empress and Consort Shu to sit down.

He had just heard the report from the Empress's messenger and learned the contents of the note.

He absolutely refused to believe that she had never committed any evil deeds since entering the palace, yet now she was implicated in a murder case and had come into contact with such a poison.

But now that everyone is watching and there is so-called "evidence," if he shows too much favoritism, he will put her in an even more dangerous situation.

The most urgent task is to find out the real cause of Qianrou's death and find out who is behind it.

Duanmu Qingyu turned to Yanqiu, a palace maid kneeling in the center of the hall, trembling, and said in a cold voice: "You have been secretly leading your master to inhale the Cold Food Powder. Drag her out and give her twenty lashes."

Everyone was so frightened that they didn't dare to breathe.

Unexpectedly, His Majesty was so furious with the Cold Food Powder that he dragged it out and whipped it twenty times without asking any questions.

No one dared to plead for her. It wasn't until an incense stick had burned that Yan Qiu, who had been beaten until she looked like a bloody gourd, was dragged back and thrown to the ground.

Duanmu Qingyu frowned slightly, suppressing the nausea rising in his throat.

He said coldly, "I will ask you questions, but if you utter even the slightest lie, the lives of your entire clan will be forfeited. How exactly did your young master die?"