Chapter 111

Afterward, there is no need for Xiaoyinzi to continue speaking.

Musk, when used alone, can invigorate the blood and dispel stasis, but it is highly taboo for pregnant women.

In the previous dynasty, the Imperial Concubine Jing once used this substance to plot against Consort Nalan, who was carrying the heir to the throne.

If unmarried women wear this substance for an extended period, it is highly likely to cause infertility. Even if they are already pregnant, it may lead to miscarriage.

This powder bead was a gift from Consort Ning to Song Zhao, so it is evident who put the musk inside.

Xiao Jingheng looked at the red powder in front of him and felt that it was glaring, piercing his heart.

His disappointment towards Consort Ning deepened even more.

He ordered someone to remove the musk from the powder bead, seal it again with beeswax, and have it returned to Song Zhao.

When the item was returned to Song Zhao, she didn't even bother to look at it. She instructed Xiaofuzi to open the powder bead.

She saw that the musk originally filled in the powder bead had been replaced with white pearl powder.

She remained calm and smiled without saying anything.

As Xiaofuzi restored the powder bead, she explained, "Originally, Consort Ning added benzoin to this bead. It is harmless and calming, but it needs to be mixed with the patchouli from the Morning Dew Fragrance that Consort Yun sent. Only then will it have the effect of damaging a woman's complexion, causing infertility, and harming pregnancy.

The young mistress took out the benzoin from the powder bead and added musk to it. Now that the Emperor has seen it and the musk inside has been replaced with pearl powder, it indicates that he has discovered the problem. The young mistress wonders how the Emperor will deal with Consort Ning."

Song Zhao leisurely took a sip of porridge before saying, "The Emperor won't do anything. Both emotionally and logically, now is not the time for him to move against Consort Ning. I made the Emperor believe that it was Consort Ning who added musk to the powder bead, just to make him further alienate her. As long as Consort Ning loses favor, she will go to great lengths to regain the Emperor's love. In this way, she won't have the leisure to deal with me."

Xiaofuzi bowed and exclaimed, "The young mistress is wise!" Then, she lowered her voice and asked cautiously, "May I ask how we should deal with that wretched servant?"

Song Zhao wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and said in a cold voice, "Keep an eye on her. Don't startle the snake. We'll discuss everything when I return."

After finishing breakfast, Song Zhao went alone to Consort Shu's residence.

She went to pay her respects, but as soon as she entered, Consort Shu hurriedly dismissed the attendants. After all the palace maids had left, Consort Shu personally helped Song Zhao up and smiled, saying, "There's no need for excessive formalities between you and this palace. If it weren't for you informing this palace about Consort Ning's plot to harm this palace, it might have been this palace who was sent back to the palace... Thinking about it, you saved this palace."

Song Zhao anxiously said, "I was also saving myself. Consort Ning forced me to use the Soul-Departing Powder and secretly threw the bag containing the powder into the Empress's palace, intending to frame the Empress.

If anything had really happened to the Empress, I couldn't imagine what means Consort Ning would use in the future to force me to harm others. I don't want to engage in immoral acts, nor do I want to be her pawn. That's why I decided to inform the Empress about this matter."

Consort Shu said, "To sum it up, I will remember your favor this time."

Song Zhao never expected Consort Shu to remember any favor.

In fact, Consort Ning's recent blunder was not due to Consort Shu's foreknowledge but because Song Zhao had informed Consort Shu about Consort Ning and her entire plan in advance.

Initially, Song Zhao and Consort Ning had joined forces to deal with Consort Shu.

However, at the last moment, Song Zhao changed her mind.

The reason was:

Ever since Song Zhao found out that Xi Ying was a minion of Consort Ning, she had never fully trusted her.

She had always had Xiao Fuzi secretly monitor everything Xi Ying did.

On the day Song Zhao was preparing to go to the Bitong Academy, Xiao Fuzi informed her that she had seen Xi Ying surreptitiously putting something in her food.

Later, after investigation, Xiao Fuzi confirmed that the substance Xi Ying had put in was Dispersing Soul Powder!

The effects of ingesting Dispersing Soul Powder were drastically different from merely inhaling it.

If Song Zhao hadn't had someone keep an eye on Xi Ying and had unknowingly consumed those Dispersing Soul Powders, she would have likely ended up like Yang Guifei, a deranged and pitiful woman.

Song Zhao quickly understood that Consort Ning wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to stage a real drama, making Song Zhao go completely insane and eliminating someone who could compete with her for favor. At the same time, Consort Ning could shift all the blame onto Consort Shu, killing two birds with one stone.

Xi Ying had always obeyed Song Zhao's orders because Song Zhao had used her family as leverage.

Now that Consort Ning ordered Xi Ying to poison Song Zhao, if Song Zhao truly became a lunatic, she would no longer be able to threaten Xi Ying.

That's why Xi Ying agreed to carry out this task for Consort Ning.

Upon learning of this, Song Zhao decided to turn the tables.

She was always a meticulous woman.

She still remembered the humiliation when Consort Ning made her kneel at the Lianxin Terrace, treated her like a dog, and shattered a teacup, cutting her wrist.

Given that she had given Consort Ning face, but Consort Ning rejected it, the best way to deal with someone who didn't appreciate her kindness was to withhold it.

So Song Zhao turned around and sold that face to Consort Shu. In this way, yesterday's play at the Bitong Academy, where she turned the tables, came to fruition!

After leaving Consort Shu's place, Song Zhao went to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager and spent the whole afternoon in prayer. By the time she returned to her residence, it was already dark outside. She reclined on a warm seat, playing with a piece of mossy stone she had picked up from who knows where, and instructed someone to bring Xi Ying in.

As soon as Xi Ying saw her, her expression visibly turned anxious.

Song Zhao lifted her gaze and examined her for a moment before smiling and saying,

"Did I ever tell you what fate awaits those who betray me?"

Song Zhao wasn't insane,

So Xi Ying also knew that her attempt to poison Song Zhao must have been exposed by now.

Now that Consort Ning had been demoted back to the palace and no one could save her, Xi Ying could only kneel on the ground, crying and pleading with Song Zhao,

"Please spare me, my lady! I was foolish for a moment! I won't dare anymore. I realize my mistake, my lady!"

Song Zhao casually tossed the piece of mossy stone in his hand, skillfully catching it again. He then stood up with a smile and approached Xi Ying, looking down at her from a higher position.

"I gave you a chance, but you proved to be useless."

"Master! This servant truly realizes her mistake, this servant..."

"Bang!"

Before Xi Ying could finish her words, Song Zhao raised the stubborn stone high in the air and ruthlessly smashed it towards her temple.

The temple is the weakest part of the skull.

With just one blow, Xi Ying fell to the ground, lifeless.

Song Zhao lowered his gaze and calmly watched Xi Ying's lifeless body. Then, he casually picked up a bouquet of flowers from the table and placed it tightly in Xi Ying's hand.

After completing these actions, she coldly chuckled and brushed off the dirt from her palm.

"Creak."

Xiao Fuzi entered the room and heard Song Zhao say with a hint of sorrow, "While Xi Ying was gathering flowers for me, she accidentally slipped and fell from the slope, hitting her head on a stubborn stone. She couldn't be saved."

Xiao Fuzi hurriedly said, "Xi Ying was truly loyal. This servant knows what to do."

As he spoke, he spat on Xi Ying's lifeless body.

Then, under the cover of darkness, Xiao Fuzi discreetly disposed of Xi Ying's body by tossing it down the slope in the flower garden...