NFBE Chapter 170 Consort Su is Dead
Chapter 170 Consort Su is Dead
As everyone waited with their own hidden agendas and differing thoughts, the imposing Imperial Guard Commander Zhang Quan led a flustered palace maid into the room with steady steps.
"Your Majesty, when I had Granny Su search the palace maid, we found a suspicious packet of white powder on her." Zhang Quan knelt on one knee, respectfully presenting a small medicine packet wrapped tightly in paper to the emperor.
Granny Su was the nanny responsible for serving the Emperor tea.
The Emperor's gaze was sharp as he looked at Physician Zhang, who was standing to one side, and said, "Minister Zhang, step forward and examine what this is."
"Your Majesty, I obey the decree." Imperial Physician Zhang dared not delay, and hurriedly bowed before walking quickly to Zhang Quan. He carefully took the mysterious little paper package from Zhang Quan's hand. After the package settled steadily in his palm, Imperial Physician Zhang examined it carefully for a moment before slowly unfolding it.
As the paper package was slowly unwrapped, Physician Zhang frowned, leaned closer to the package, and gently brought his nose to it, carefully sniffing it.
A moment later, Physician Zhang wrapped the paper package again and replied to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, it is indeed datura pollen."
Previously, the datura pollen had been sprinkled on the mooncakes, and the rich aroma of the mooncakes masked its original flavor. Now, accurately judging its taste was extremely difficult. However, the matter was of utmost importance and allowed no room for carelessness. Physician Zhang gritted his teeth and decided to take the risk, gently tasting a small amount of the powder.
Fortunately, after tasting and identifying it, Physician Zhang finally confirmed that it was indeed datura pollen. Thankfully, it wasn't a deadly poison; otherwise, Physician Zhang's actions could easily have killed him.
"Guards, take this person to the Punishment Department immediately and interrogate her severely. Make sure she tells the truth about who instructed her!" The Emperor glared angrily at the trembling palace maid who was being held captive and kneeling in the center of the hall, and shouted sternly.
After this commotion, the originally lively banquet atmosphere instantly plummeted to freezing point, making it impossible to continue.
With the careful assistance of her personal maid, Song, the Empress Dowager stood up, looking slightly tired, and waved her hand, saying, "I am a little tired, so I will go back to the palace to rest first." After saying this, she slowly left amidst the respectful farewell of the palace maids, eunuchs, and everyone present.
Afterwards, the Emperor and Empress exchanged a glance, then rose and left together with the Crown Prince. Following them, the four Consorts and numerous other concubines filed out.
The ministers and their families who had come to attend the banquet, seeing that the Emperor had already left, dared not linger. They bowed to the left and right and took their leave in haste. For a time, the Jiaohua Hall was filled with people and the sound of footsteps.
Before long, Jiaohua Palace gradually returned to calm, and the noise subsided. Only the palace servants of Jiaohua Palace were left busily cleaning up the messy scene.
After Su Nuannuan and her group returned to Cuiwei Palace, the two little ones were immediately taken back by the two nannies to prepare for bathing and changing, and then coaxed to bed to sleep.
Su Nuannuan was sitting in front of her dressing table, her eyes slightly closed, letting Yaoqin gently remove her makeup.
"Your Majesty, who is behind all these events tonight?" Yaoqin asked softly, carefully wiping away the remaining makeup from Su Nuannuan's eyes with a makeup remover handkerchief.
Su Nuannuan closed her eyes and replied calmly, "It doesn't matter who it is. Let's see what the Emperor can find out."
Yaoqin paused in her movements, looking at Su Nuannuan with a puzzled expression, and asked, "Does Your Highness already know who the mastermind is?"
Su Nuannuan raised the corners of her mouth slightly, revealing a smile that was hard to detect: "Even if I know, so what? This person is extremely good at hiding it. If I hadn't been paying attention from the beginning, it would have been difficult to find any clues. Without evidence, I can't convict her."
Just as the two were talking, a soft footstep sound came from outside the door. Then, Li Quan walked in with a limp, his face solemn, and he reported to Su Nuannuan in a low voice: "Your Majesty, Consort Su has passed away."
Upon hearing this news, Su Nuannuan was shocked and asked incredulously, "Consort Su is dead? How could it be so soon?"
Li Quan took a deep breath and continued, "According to the confession of the palace maid interrogated by the Punishment Department, this matter was instigated by Consort Su. Subsequently, the Emperor issued an edict to execute Consort Su and ordered the confiscation of the Su family's property and extermination of their clan."
Su Nuannuan frowned and asked in confusion, "Didn't Consort Su try to defend herself? You know, she's pregnant."
Although the child is not the emperor's biological son, the truth has not yet been revealed.
“There was an explanation, but it was Chief Steward Li who went to carry it out. I don’t know what he whispered in Consort Su’s ear, but Consort Su stopped struggling.”
Upon hearing this, Su Nuannuan's heart sank. She instantly realized that the Emperor already knew that the child in Consort Su's womb was not his biological child.
After all, how could someone who ascends the throne be a fool? Moreover, the emperor is surrounded by the mysterious and powerful Dark Dragon Guards, making it virtually impossible to hide anything from them.
At this moment, the Su family had become a living hell. Although they did not suffer the severe punishment of being executed along with nine generations of their family, all three generations were implicated and suffered the calamity of extermination. This was known as the extermination of three generations (the father's family, the mother's family, and the wife's family).
Those clansmen who had once been obsessed with wealth and power were now filled with remorse, their hearts pounding with regret. At the same time, they were filled with envy for those clansmen who had left with the Duke of Zhenguo.
However, it was all too late. All the children over the age of two were killed without mercy; while the toddlers under the age of two were all taken to the Dark Dragon Guard's nursery, thus beginning their destined dark and hopeless future.
When the clansmen who had left with the Duke of Zhenguo learned of this devastating news the next day, they were all deeply grateful for the decisive decision their second grandfather had made.
None of the palace servants who had served Consort Su diligently could escape their fate; they were all executed. Prince Chen, who had adopted Su Nuannuan as his goddaughter, was also severely reprimanded by the Emperor for this incident, punished with confinement and a year's salary deduction.
Upon hearing this news, Su Nuannuan sighed silently. After all, they were brothers. As long as they didn't plot to seize power, the emperor wouldn't do anything to them. That was the privilege of the royal family.