vstars Chapter 488 Production
Chapter 488 Production
After Zhao Wan'er left, Shen Qinghe immediately asked Qing'er to take the sachet to a trusted imperial physician for examination.
The results were alarming: the sachet contained trace amounts of musk and saffron, and prolonged exposure could lead to miscarriage.
Shen Qinghe's expression was solemn.
It seems that no sooner had Liu Rumei fallen than a new enemy appeared.
On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, during the Little New Year's banquet, the palace was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, creating a festive atmosphere.
Shen Qinghe was feeling unwell and did not want to attend, but the Emperor specifically instructed her to go, so she had no choice but to go.
Midway through the banquet, Zhao Wan'er suddenly stood up to offer a toast: "Your Highness is pregnant with the Emperor's child, a matter of great importance to the nation. Your Highness, I offer this toast to wish you a safe and smooth delivery."
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Shen Qinghe could not refuse and had no choice but to raise her glass.
Just as she was about to drink it, she suddenly noticed a fleeting look of anticipation in Zhao Wan'er's eyes.
Her mind raced, and she pretended to slip, dropping the wine glass and spilling the wine on the floor, instantly creating tiny bubbles.
There was an uproar.
The emperor immediately ordered the imperial physicians to examine the wine, and it turned out that an abortifacient had been added to it.
The emperor was furious and launched a thorough investigation, which ultimately led to a concubine who had fallen out of favor.
But Shen Qinghe knew that she was just a scapegoat; the real mastermind was Zhao Wan'er.
After this incident, the Emperor became even more protective of Shen Qinghe, and even granted Shen's mother permission to enter the palace to accompany her.
Before we knew it, the Lantern Festival arrived, and the palace held a lantern festival.
Accompanied by her mother and palace maids, Shen Qinghe also came out to admire the lanterns.
As they approached a less crowded covered bridge, Zhao Wan'er suddenly came up to them: "Your Highness, are you also here to admire the lanterns? There is an enormous Chang'e Flying to the Moon lantern ahead, it is exquisitely beautiful. May I accompany Your Highness to take a look?"
Shen Qinghe was about to refuse, but Zhao Wan'er had already taken her arm in a warm gesture.
Just then, Shen Qinghe slipped and was about to fall.
In the nick of time, she grabbed the railing and barely managed to steady herself, but a sharp pain shot through her abdomen.
"Your Majesty!" Qing'er and Madam Shen rushed forward to support her.
Zhao Wan'er looked panicked: "Your Majesty, please forgive me! I didn't mean to!"
Shen Qinghe looked up at Zhao Wan'er and clearly saw the fleeting smugness in her eyes.
The snow on this covered bridge has been cleared away long ago, so why is this one spot so slippery?
Back at the Huicao Palace, the imperial physician examined her pulse and said with a grave expression, "Your Majesty was frightened just now, and the pregnancy is somewhat unstable. She needs to rest and recuperate to ensure a safe pregnancy."
Upon hearing the news, the Emperor rushed over and, in a fit of rage, ordered Zhao Wan'er to be severely punished.
But Zhao Wan'er cried her eyes out, insisting it was purely an accident, and several palace servants testified that she had indeed made a mistake without thinking.
In the end, the emperor could only punish her as a minor offense, confining her to her quarters for a month.
Shen Qinghe watched the scene with a cold eye, knowing in her heart that Zhao Wan'er was even more cunning and difficult to guard against than Liu Rumei.
Around the time of the Spring Equinox, Shen Qinghe was nearing her due date.
That day, she suddenly received a message from the Cold Palace: Consort Liu was seriously ill and wanted to see her.
Shen Qinghe initially didn't want to go, but after thinking about it again, she decided to go and take a look.
The cold palace was damp and chilly. Liu Rumei lay on a dilapidated bed, her former beauty long gone.
Seeing Shen Qinghe arrive, she forced herself to sit up and sneered, "You've come."
"What do you want to see me about?" Shen Qinghe asked calmly.
After catching her breath, Consort Liu suddenly said, "Be careful of Zhao Wan'er. She is more ruthless than I imagined."
Shen Qinghe raised an eyebrow: "Why are you telling me all this?"
“It’s not for you,” a complex look flashed in Consort Liu’s eyes, “I just don’t want to see her so smug. She…she was once my maid, someone I personally trained…”
Shen Qinghe was shocked.
It turns out that Zhao Wan'er was actually a pawn that Consort Liu had already planted!
Consort Liu continued, "She carries a unique fragrance from the Western Regions that can make people lose their senses and obey her wishes. The Emperor's favor towards her is largely due to this..."
At this point, Consort Liu suddenly coughed violently, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth: "I...I'm afraid my days are numbered. Shen Qinghe, you've won, but this war will never end..."
Shen Qinghe left the Cold Palace with a heavy heart.
Three days later, news of Consort Liu's death arrived.
This once powerful imperial concubine passed away quietly.
That night, Shen Qinghe summoned her trusted confidante and whispered, "Investigate Zhao Wan'er's background before she entered the palace, especially her relationship with Consort Liu. Also, find a way to obtain the sachet she carries and find out its ingredients."
After several twists and turns, the truth gradually came to light: Zhao Wan'er was indeed a distant cousin of Consort Liu, and had received a year of secret training from the Liu family before entering the palace.
The sachet she wore contained a drug called "love potion," which could induce infatuation in people.
Shen Qinghe secretly collected all this evidence, but was in no hurry to expose it.
She was waiting for the right opportunity.
On the third day of the third lunar month, the Shangsi Festival, a grand sacrificial ceremony was held in the palace as usual.
Zhao Wan'er, dressed in gorgeous clothes, followed closely by the Emperor, almost overshadowing the pregnant Shen Qinghe.
During the sacrificial ceremony, a sudden gust of wind blew, and Zhao Wan'er's sachet rope broke and fell to the ground.
Shen Qinghe gave a wink, and Qing'er seized the opportunity to pick it up and quickly swap it for a sachet that looked the same.
After the sacrificial ceremony, the emperor suddenly felt empty inside, and his enthusiasm for Zhao Wan'er inexplicably diminished.
For several days in a row, he stayed in Huicao Palace to accompany Shen Qinghe.
Zhao Wan'er sensed something was wrong, but she didn't know what the problem was.
That night, Shen Qinghe suddenly experienced severe abdominal pain—her due date had come early.
The Huicao Palace was immediately thrown into chaos.
Upon hearing the news, the Emperor rushed over and waited anxiously outside the delivery room.
Inside the delivery room, Shen Qinghe was in so much pain that she almost fainted, but she could vaguely smell a strange fragrance.
She forced herself to stay awake and discovered that the fragrance came from the newly changed bed curtains—a "gift" that Zhao Wan'er had sent the day before.
"Qing'er...change...all the bed curtains..." she instructed with difficulty.
After the bed curtains were changed, Shen Qinghe's labor went much more smoothly.
After a grueling night, she finally gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl, at dawn.
The Emperor was overjoyed and immediately promoted Shen Qinghe to Imperial Noble Consort, a rank equivalent to that of the Empress.
When the news spread, Zhao Wan'er smashed everything she could in the palace.
She never imagined that her carefully planned final move—soaking the bed curtains with drugs that would cause a difficult labor—would be seen through by Shen Qinghe.
At the full moon celebration, Shen Qinghe held her two children as she received congratulations from everyone.
Zhao Wan'er forced a smile and stepped forward to offer her congratulations: "Congratulations to Your Highness the Imperial Noble Consort on the birth of your son and daughter. Your humble servant has prepared a small gift, hoping Your Highness will accept it with a smile."
Shen Qinghe smiled slightly: "You're so kind, little sister. But I recently received an even more interesting gift that I'd like to share with you."
She gestured for Qing'er to bring out a brocade box.
When Zhao Wan'er opened the box, her face turned deathly pale—it contained her sachet that had been switched, as well as secret letters between her and Consort Liu.
Zhao Wan'er's hand trembled, and the brocade box almost fell to the ground.
That evening, the Emperor visited Zhao Wan'er's palace, and it is unknown what they discussed.
The next day, Zhao Wan'er claimed to be ill and stayed at home.
A month later, she was granted permission to return home to visit her family because of her "longing for home," and she never returned to the palace again.
Everyone in the harem knew the truth, but no one dared to speak out.