The Empress Arrives: Rebirth of Concubine Hua

Chapter 175 Cao's surrender
Shu looked at Su Peisheng strangely, and then sneered.

"Bah! Dog slave!"

Seeing that Shu was not moved by any persuasion, Su Peisheng was at his wit's end when Nian Shilan said calmly.

"Eunuch Su, I am waiting here. Please go and report to the Emperor. I think Shu Shi from the cold palace doesn't need to go there. The poisoned wine will come in handy."

When Shu heard this, she became furious and wanted to make a scene, but before she could say anything abusive, Xiao Linzi stuffed a handkerchief into her mouth. The handkerchief was something Xiao Linzi had casually pulled off the eunuch next to her.

Su Peisheng shook his head, left the Yiku Palace, and went to report to Yinzhen.

After a while, Su Peisheng came back sweating profusely and said to Nian Shilan.

"Reporting to Concubine Hua, the emperor heard about what happened today and said that Shu Da Ying, oh no, Shu is already guilty of a capital crime and cannot escape death. You are asked to decide her fate. There is no need to report to the emperor."

Nian Shilan smiled.

"How can I make the decision on such an important matter? I can't come up with any good ideas, so I'll just give her a cup of poisoned wine and leave her body intact. By the way, have you seen the palace maid who follows her around every day?"

Su Peisheng was stunned. Yes, what about Zijing? Su Peisheng immediately sent someone to find Zijing, and also ordered someone to drag Shu away, and finally forced her to drink a cup of poisoned wine in the cold palace.

When Ulanara heard the news of Shu's death, she sighed.

"Amitabha, although her original intention was to harm me, her death was pitiful. Jiang Fuhai, go help Eunuch Su find the palace maid next to her. If you find her, bring her to me."

Jiang Fuhai left immediately.

Xiao Linzi was getting bolder now. He followed Su Peisheng and his group and watched Shu die. He even went closer to feel Shu's breath, not caring how horrible the blood flowing from Shu's seven orifices was.

Xiao Linzi ran back to Yiku Palace to report.

"My Lord, Mrs. Shu is now respectable. I saw with my own eyes how Eunuch Su treated her respectably. Now you can rest assured."

Nian Shilan looked at the snacks in front of her without much appetite and picked up the exquisite fruit and put it down again.

"Let's withdraw. I really can't eat any more."

Song Zhi said.

"Master, don't worry about that kind of filthy stuff. It will turn your stomach."

Nian Shilan smiled indifferently.

"A small Shu family is not enough to worry me. But there must be someone behind Shu family. Judging from her impatient temper in recent days, the person behind her must have put her under great pressure. It's a pity that I didn't have time to ask anything."

Songzhi said worriedly.

"Master means that the person is still in the dark. But, I don't know who it could be."

Xiao Linzi came in and said.

"Master, Cao Changzai is asking for an audience."

Nian Shilan paused and said lightly.

"Well, what is she doing here? Let her in."

In the previous life, Cao Chang gave advice to Nian Shilan, served as a military advisor, and instigated Nian Shilan to do many things. In this life, they have never had any interactions, and no one knows why he suddenly asked for a meeting.

Cao Changzai entered the main hall of Yikun Palace. Nian Shilan was sitting upright in the hall, sipping tea from a cup in her hand.

"I often come to Cao's house to pay my respects to the Empress Hua Fei. I wish the Empress good health and happiness forever."

When Cao Changzai saw Nian Shilan, she bowed down. Nian Shilan watched her kneel on the ground and kowtow, then she put down the teacup with a smile and said.

"Stand up and take a seat. Why do you have to be so polite, Concubine Cao? You suddenly asked to see me today. Is there something?"

Cao Changzai stood up with the help of Yinxiu and sat gently on the footstool beside her.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, I don't have anything serious to say. I just heard that Your Majesty was unhappy last night and was unable to pay her respects to the Queen today. I was thinking about Your Majesty and came to visit her." Nian Shilan looked at Concubine Cao and said with a smile.

"I would like to thank Concubine Cao for her kindness. I caught a cold yesterday, and the imperial physician, the master of medicine, prescribed medicine for me. I am much better now. Concubine Cao doesn't usually come to my Yikun Palace, but she came to visit me suddenly today. She must have something to ask, so why not just tell me."

There was a look of surprise in Cao Chang's eyes, but it returned to normal in an instant.

"I only know that your Majesty is stunningly beautiful. I admire her very much, but there is a difference between the high and the low, so I dare not cross the crowd. Therefore, I dare not come to the Yikun Palace, for fear of disturbing your Majesty's peace."

Nian Shilan said casually.

"Cao Changzai, I like people who are straightforward. I don't like your hesitant nature. You might as well speak directly."

Cao Changzai quickly stood up, bowed and said.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I did not mean to offend you. To be honest, I came to see you today in the hope of asking for your protection."

Nian Shilan sat up straight, looked at Cao Changzai inquiringly, and asked curiously.

"Cao Chang, what are you talking about? I don't know where to start. What? Is someone trying to harm you? How can I protect you?"

Cao Changzai simply knelt down and said.

"I have no one to rely on in this palace. I just wanted to live a peaceful life. But, the concubine Yu who lives with me actually added a lot of safflower to the soup she brought me! Fortunately, I didn't drink it because I smelled something wrong. I escaped this disaster."

Nian Shilan stared at Cao Changzai for a long time before speaking.

"You should ask the Queen for help on this matter. Why did you come to me?"

Cao Changzai said anxiously.

"I know that Yu Changzai is your biological sister, but from what I have observed these days, Yu Changzai is dissatisfied with you, and you have ignored this sister. That is why I have the courage to come to you and ask you for help."

Nian Shilan sneered.

"You are quite smart and good at observing people's words and expressions. But I don't want to form cliques in the palace. Does the emperor know that Cao Changzai is like this? Whether it is the former court or the harem, the emperor has always been most averse to factional disputes. Are you here to test me today?"

Cao Changzai was stunned for a moment, then bowed his head again.

"I dare not! I know that I came too suddenly today, but I dare to guarantee with my life that what I said is from the heart! Also, I know that Yu Changzai is the Queen's person! She gave me soup and drink according to the Queen's order. I don't want to make trouble, but I want to survive in this palace!"

Nian Shilan made a surprised expression at the right time and said.

"Is what Concubine Cao said true? The Queen is fine, why would she drug you?"

Cao Changzai gritted his teeth and whispered.

"I have been lucky enough to be summoned by the Emperor several times, and Yu Changzai is jealous. Your Majesty knows that Yu Changzai has not yet slept with the Emperor, and every time the Emperor summons me, I am mocked by Yu Changzai."

Nian Shilan still pretended to be confused.

"But what does this have to do with the Queen?"

Cao Changzai lowered his head, not knowing what he was thinking about, and spoke after a while.

"I have asked people to pay attention to the fact that Yu Changzai has been sneaking in and out of the Queen's bedroom frequently. I also know that Yu Changzai has been trying to harm the Queen."

Nian Shilan dismissed the servants around her and only left Xiao Linzi and Songzhi by her side.

"Get up now. Think carefully. I will not keep any idle people around me, and I will not keep any traitors."

Cao Changzai sat back in his chair and answered respectfully.

"I am certainly not an idler, nor a traitor. To show my sincerity, I am willing to tell you what I know."

Nian Shilan looked at Cao Changzai quietly, and saw her open her red lips and say something.

(End of this chapter)