tallest building

Chapter 311 Setting a Treachery

Dong Gang ate a meal in the Empress's palace before leaving, and the Empress bestowed many gifts upon him as he departed.

The Empress then took a nap. After waking up, she drank half a cup of honey tea, which made her feel a little more refreshed.

“Your Majesty, Consort Hui just sent someone to deliver a message saying that she is ill on the mountain,” Yu Lu said as he entered. “She has taken medicine but is not feeling better.”

"What exactly is wrong with her? Is it serious? If it's really bad, let her go back to the palace to recuperate! There's a princess on the mountain, that's enough." The Empress said after hearing this.

"Then this servant will send someone up the mountain to inform Consort Hui, and she can decide for herself whether to return to the palace," Yu Lu said.

"By the way, is the Dragon Boat Festival banquet all prepared? Have your people double-check everything to make sure there are no oversights," the Empress instructed again.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, Consort Jing and I just checked it again, and so far there seems to be no problem," Yu Lu quickly said.

"The weather is so hot, I'm afraid it will be even hotter by the Dragon Boat Festival. There must be plenty of ice at the banquet," the Empress said. "The dishes should also be light and refreshing."

Consort Hui was feigning illness on the mountain, but the eldest princess was unaware of the truth and was inevitably worried.

When someone from the Empress's palace arrived, they conveyed the Empress's message: "Her Majesty the Empress said that if it is inconvenient for you, Consort, to stay on the mountain, you may return to the palace to recuperate. The matter of praying for blessings is not a concern; someone will take care of it."

"Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty," Consort Hui said, feigning weakness. "I don't know what's wrong, but my heart is pounding so badly."

After seeing off the people from the Empress's palace, Consort Hui ordered her attendants to pack their things and prepare to return to the palace.

Before leaving, he instructed his daughter, "Be patient on the mountain and try to finish the ritual. I'm going back to the palace first. Don't worry too much, it's nothing serious."

"Mother, please ask Physician Wu to take a good look at you after you return to the palace," the eldest princess said. "I'll take care of everything on the mountain."

The next day, Consort Hui returned to the palace. Princess Duanmin couldn't help but sneer, "Consort Hui is back really quickly. It seems she was in a hurry."

Consort Hui returned to the palace and, without even changing her clothes, came to pay her respects to the Empress.

Seeing her weak and listless appearance, the Empress assumed she was seriously ill and said, "There's no need for such formalities with me. Since you're not feeling well, quickly call the imperial physician to take a look!"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I feel truly guilty. I had already planned to finish the ritual no matter what..." Consort Hui said apologetically.

"It's alright. The temple will continue as usual. Whether you are here or not is not very important. Your health is more important." The Empress did not suspect that Consort Hui was faking illness, after all, Consort Hui had been very cautious and respectful by his side for many years.

Consort Hui did not stay in the Empress's palace for long. After saying a few words, she returned to her own palace. Her clothes were soaked through; the palace was much hotter than the mountain.

Ironically, Consort Hui feigned illness on the mountain in order to return to the palace as soon as possible, but she actually fell ill the day after returning to the palace.

Dizziness, vomiting, and diarrhea are typical symptoms of heatstroke.

While she was ill, Dong Gang didn't rest.

Xiao Shunzi works for the Imperial Carriage Bureau, in charge of the carriages and horses leaving the palace, so leaving the palace is not difficult for him.

That day, he came to find Dong Gang specifically: "Steward Liu said that the Prince Consort wants to speak with me. What are his instructions?"

"What else could it be? It's naturally about that woman surnamed Wen." Dong Gang said, waving his fan. "This woman has really piqued my interest, making me anxious every day." "Then what does the Prince Consort plan to do? This Lady Wen is not someone who gives in easily!" Xiao Shunzi felt troubled.

"Let me tell you, she has feelings for me too," Dong Gang said with a wicked grin. "She's just afraid of making things difficult for Consort Hui, but she can't bring herself to do it."

"So what does the Prince Consort plan to do?" Xiao Shunzi was completely baffled.

“You spineless little eunuch, of course you wouldn’t know how to tame a woman like this.” Dong Gang reached out and gave Xiao Shunzi a flick on the forehead. “Let me tell you the truth! She’s just putting on airs. Logically speaking, how could a divorced woman not miss a man? Especially with her delicate appearance.”

There's a saying, "half push, half yield," meaning you have to push her a little for her to agree...

"But I wonder how the Prince Consort will refuse?" Xiao Shunzi chuckled, eager to find out.

Although he was a eunuch, his heart was not dead. He couldn't do anything himself, but listening to other people's stories was enough to satisfy him.

"It's very simple. She's not some virgin, so she naturally understands those things between men and women." Dong Gang smiled lewdly. "All I have to do is sleep with her, and she'll obediently follow me."

"Hehe..." Xiao Shunzi couldn't help but chuckle mischievously after hearing this, but he also had some concerns. "You said you want to sleep with her, but that might not be easy, right? After all, it's in the palace, and it wouldn't be good if it caused a commotion."

"What's going on in the palace? As long as the timing is right, we can still sleep around without a care in the world." Dong Gang laughed contemptuously. "The Dragon Boat Festival banquet is coming up in a few days. The palace will be in chaos, which will be a good opportunity to fish in troubled waters."

During palace banquets, many palace maids and eunuchs would come forward to serve, so apart from the banquet hall being lively, other parts of the palace were indeed more deserted than usual.

"We'll have to lure Lady Wen to a secluded place first," Xiao Shunzi said. "That might not be easy."

"You idiot! Doesn't she have a maidservant by her side?" Dong Gang asked Xiao Shunzi.

"Yes, her name is Xiaoyue," Xiao Shunzi replied immediately. "What does the Prince Consort want her for?"

“Since she serves Wen Mingqian, it’s easy to take advantage of her. You can bribe her with money. If she doesn’t dare to take the money, you can threaten her by saying that you will transfer her away from Wen Mingqian and make her do hard labor in Xixin Division. She will agree to both of these.” Dong Gang thought that dealing with Xiaoyue was the easiest thing in the world.

Xiao Shunzi agreed wholeheartedly: "How dare she disobey the Prince Consort's orders? Unless she's got a death wish. Xiao Yue's family is dirt poor. Give her some more money, and I don't believe it won't buy her conscience."

“That’s right! As the saying goes, poverty makes people lose their ambition, and besides, we have plenty of ways to manipulate her.” Dong Gang said, “You should also tell her that Wen Mingqian is also interested in me. It’s just a matter of getting her to make things happen, and she’ll get her share of the benefits in the end.”

"That's true, but it's just asking her to do a favor." Xiao Shunzi nodded haphazardly.

“If she agrees, give her this packet of medicine.” Dong Gang said, handing a paper packet to Xiao Shunzi. “This contains a sleeping pill. Have her put it in Wen Mingqian’s water…”

"This servant understands!" Xiao Shunzi exclaimed, beaming. "When Lady Wen falls asleep, Your Highness, you will..."

The Dragon Boat Festival banquets are held in the evening because it's too hot during the day.

Once Wen Mingqian is drugged, Dong Gang can do whatever he wants to her.

By the time she woke up, the deed was already done.

She naturally couldn't escape Dong Gang's grasp.