Chapter 28: Banished to the Cold Palace

Blood Snow stood silently, saying nothing. There was indeed something peculiar about this matter.

“Your Majesty, we have discovered these items during our search of Yanxi Palace. The imperial physicians have examined them; all are mild poisons, one of which matches the toxin found in the ointment,” a guard reported from outside.

The items seized from Yanxi Palace were brought in as evidence. Upon seeing them, Lady Yan’s expression grew strange. She looked at Blood Snow in disbelief. “Your Majesty, did you actually have my palace searched without my consent?”

“Do I not have the authority to order a search of any palace?” Blood Snow replied coolly. Her natural aura left no room for doubt.

“Perhaps Your Majesty orchestrated this to frame me,” Lady Yan retorted.

“The guards belong to His Majesty. What is Lady Yan so afraid of?” Blood Snow asked pointedly. Was she going to imply that Ji Wuqing himself was plotting against her?

“Lu Xiyan, what have you got to say now?” Concubine Jin glared at Lady Yan, her eyes shining with malicious satisfaction. “Weren’t you always so ethereal and pure? Who would’ve thought a fairy could fall from grace?”

By palace rule, Lady Yan was found guilty of plotting to harm a consort. She was sentenced to half a year’s confinement in the Cold Palace and denied her stipend for a year.

Such a punishment seemed lenient, but the Cold Palace was a desolate place. Once inside, one could only rely on fortune. Moreover, someone like Concubine Jin would not let pass an opportunity to humiliate Lady Yan.

The loss to Lady Yan was significant. Her reputation in the palace had always been excellent; she was considered gentle and easy to serve by the maids. After this incident, her name was utterly ruined.

“Blood Snow, this is your doing, isn’t it? I never possessed such a poison. That wasn’t mine…” Lady Yan was sent to the Cold Palace for reflection, yet never once admitted guilt.

“How shameless to slander Her Majesty the Queen!” Concubine Jin finally felt vindicated, her face regaining its radiance. She would not easily forgive Lu Xiyan for what had happened.

Yet, something about the whole affair felt amiss…

Blood Snow couldn’t shake the feeling that the real culprit was not Lu Xiyan, but someone else entirely.

Still, Lu Xiyan was not completely innocent. The poisonous substances found in her quarters suggested she had indeed planned something against Concubine Jin, though not with the same toxin from the ointment but with another agent.

Perhaps she had been used by the true mastermind.

“Your Majesty, this maid has something to say, though I’m unsure if I should,” Yu Zhi ventured, noticing her mistress seemed lost in thought.

“What is it?”

“Actually, Lady Yan did tamper with the ointment sent to Concubine Jin, but only with a slow-acting agent meant to cause some red spots, nothing serious. At the time, Lady Yan was still the innocent young lady I once knew, merely wanting to teach Concubine Jin a lesson for her arrogance.”

“Why tell me this?” Blood Snow had already deduced much, but Yu Zhi’s words confirmed her suspicions.

“I mean nothing by it, Your Majesty. I just saw you deep in thought and wondered if it was about Concubine Jin.” Yu Zhi’s heart pounded with anxiety; she didn’t want the Queen to think her disloyal.

Though Lady Yan had abandoned her, she couldn’t bear to betray her mistress outright. She’d only confessed to the Queen to avoid hiding the truth.

“You needn’t worry. I understand your intentions,” Blood Snow reassured her.

Though her tone was calm and her face expressionless, Yu Zhi felt comforted and at ease.

That night, as usual, the Anxue Palace had prepared a light meal to suit the Queen’s taste. But since His Majesty was expected, several more elaborate dishes were added.

As expected, Ji Wuqing arrived at dinnertime.

After supper, the palace was quiet as ever. Without Xiaoxi to lighten the atmosphere, the interaction between the two seemed somewhat tepid.

After bathing, Blood Snow sat on the bed, a book in hand, enveloped in tranquility and gentleness. Her long hair was loose, her fringe falling over her eyes, yet it did not hinder her focus or enthusiasm for reading. Clad in a red nightgown, her fair, delicate face seemed like a budding flower.

Ji Wuqing, dressed in a white robe, climbed into bed and naturally sat beside her. His long black hair fell casually over his shoulders and back, accentuating his handsome features.

He seemed wide awake, propping his head to gaze at Blood Snow, who was slightly turned away, holding her book in a most proper posture.

“Your Majesty, aren’t you going to sleep?” she finally set down her book, wondering if she was disturbing his rest.

“How could I sleep if you’re not sleeping, Xue’er?” he replied softly, a hint of mischief and playfulness in his low voice.

“Then I shall go to sleep now.” With that, she lay down, wrapped herself in the brocade quilt, and closed her eyes.

“So soon?” He watched her close her eyes, a hint of helplessness on his lips.

She was truly quiet; once her eyes closed, she seemed to fall asleep immediately.

Thinking so, he leaned over, embraced her through the quilt, pressing his chin to her soft hair, breathing in the faint, pleasant fragrance that was uniquely hers.

Blood Snow was startled by his sudden embrace, held firmly in his arms. She wasn’t uncomfortable—just surprised. Their warmth mingled, and being held by him was surprisingly… comforting.

Her heart fluttered uncontrollably.

“Your Majesty…” she whispered.

“Hm?” Ji Wuqing murmured, his eyes half-open, gazing lazily at the gauzy canopy above.

“Have you heard about what happened between Lady Yan and Concubine Jin?”

“Haven’t you already dealt with it? Why ask me?” His hand found her waist beneath the quilt, his thumb idly caressing, clearly entertained.

“I just find it strange. Lady Yan doesn’t seem to be the real culprit.” She shifted slightly, trying to evade his touch.

But Ji Wuqing was assertive, tightening his embrace and preventing her from moving. “How so?”

“Lady Yan did act against Concubine Jin, but someone else swapped the ointment and used her as a pawn,” she said softly. She wasn’t trying to defend Lady Yan or display magnanimity.

She was simply perplexed—who was truly behind it?

“Even if Lady Yan isn’t the main culprit, she’s hardly innocent,” Ji Wuqing replied lazily.

He turned slightly, revealing only half his face—his perfect profile, captivating as a brushstroke in a monochrome landscape painting, black and white merging seamlessly.

He was so indifferent, as if Lady Yan’s grievances couldn’t spark even the slightest interest in him.

Blood Snow felt his chin pressed gently atop her head and her thoughts stirred. Why had she never considered the possibility that the person behind it all… might be Ji Wuqing himself?

The next day brought ill tidings from the Cold Palace.

Lady Yan, confined for reflection, had suddenly attempted to hang herself. She left behind a blood-written letter, solemnly declaring her innocence. When rescued, she was barely alive—it did not appear to be a feigned attempt.

Upon hearing the news, Blood Snow was in her courtyard, pruning a rare bamboo pine atop her table. The plant, resembling both bamboo and pine, was lush and beautifully shaped.

“How is Lady Yan now? What do the imperial physicians say?” she asked calmly, her hands moving deftly over the bamboo pine.

“Your Majesty, Lady Yan is out of immediate danger, but the physicians say her melancholia is grave. The Cold Palace is ill-suited for her recovery,” the young eunuch answered, head lowered, fearful of provoking the Queen’s ire.

“I see. Not suitable for recuperation…” she mused, her face thoughtful.

Though Lady Yan was not the mastermind, she was not blameless either. Such deep melancholy could hardly be justified; she simply wished for a way out of the Cold Palace.

“Your Majesty, Concubine Jin requests an audience,” announced another eunuch at the door.

Concubine Jin? Was she rushing over in fear that Lady Yan’s punishment might be lifted?

“By the way, I heard Concubine Jin visited the Cold Palace this morning?” Blood Snow continued trimming her bonsai, addressing the eunuch by the imperial physician.

“Yes, Your Majesty, that is true,” he replied.

No wonder. On the surface, Lady Yan seemed naive and innocent, but she was shrewd. How could she endure Concubine Jin’s humiliation? Thus, she took desperate measures, striking first.

“So, your master believes the Cold Palace is unsuitable for Lady Yan’s recovery—is he implying her melancholy can’t be cured?” Though neither Lady Yan nor Concubine Jin were easy to deal with, Blood Snow wouldn’t be so easily persuaded to relent.

“My master means only that the environment of the Cold Palace—” The eunuch hesitated.

“In that case, return and tell your master that if he cannot cure her, another physician will be sent. There is no need for him to feel pressured,” she said coolly.

But the eunuch understood—this Queen was not to be trifled with. He hurriedly took his leave.

“As for Concubine Jin, have her return. Ask the imperial physicians to treat her facial scars properly; perhaps there is still hope. Dwelling on Lady Yan is pointless, and it does her scars no good.”

With both parties dismissed, Blood Snow turned to her chief maid, Peach Heart. “Since Lady Yan is ill, I cannot continue to be harsh. Send two maids from her palace to attend her in the Cold Palace. Once her six months are over, she will be allowed to leave.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Peach Heart replied, bowing before leaving to deliver the order.

At last, things quieted down at the Cold Palace and the Palace of Jin. Lady Yan would no longer suffer Concubine Jin’s insults, and Concubine Jin needn’t worry about Lady Yan’s release or endure further hardship.

In Huizhai, the Empress Dowager heard of the Queen’s handling and made no comment.

“This Queen is quite capable—she resolved a crisis with just a few words,” she murmured, rolling the prayer beads in her hand. “It is a blessing for our Ji Kingdom.” A faint smile curved her lips.

How unfortunate, then, that it was also a blessing for her son, Ji Wuqing. That, she did not welcome.

After all, she had always hoped Yuxiao would become Queen.