Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

Chapter 3: Poisoning Occurs in the Dead of Night! Can a Fetus Absorb Deadly Toxins?

For the next few days, Shen Qingci observed silently.

During the day, she would walk slowly in the small courtyard of the Cold Palace, supported by Jinshu.

They called it "getting some fresh air," but in reality, they were surveying the environment.

The Cold Palace was located in a very remote area, backed by the palace wall and surrounded by high walls on three sides.

The yard was small, overgrown with weeds, and some broken and junk items were piled up in the corner.

The only tree was dead, its bare branches reaching towards the sky like desperate hands.

Shen Qingci's gaze swept over the wall.

The wall is very high, but it has been in disrepair for many years. Several bricks and stones are loose, and weeds are growing in the cracks.

With her current physical condition, she definitely couldn't get out, but if it were Ling Ye in her prime...

You can climb a wall of this height using three leverage points.

She counted and found three suitable places to climb:

Next to the crooked tree in the southeast corner, at the crack in the west wall, and in the depression behind the woodpile in the backyard.

Unfortunately, guards patrol by every half hour.

Four people in a team, carrying swords, their footsteps in unison.

The defenses weren't particularly strong, but for someone as defenseless as her, it was an insurmountable barrier.

"Your Highness, it's windy, shall we go back inside?" Jinshu said worriedly, draping a worn-out cloak over her shoulders.

Shen Qingci nodded and turned to walk into the house.

As soon as I reached the door, I saw that hunched figure.

Eunuch Li.

He was wearing a faded eunuch's robe, his back was hunched, and he was slowly sweeping the fallen leaves in the yard with a broken broom in his hand.

His movements were slow, like those of a truly frail old man.

But when Shen Qingci passed by him, she paused slightly.

Just a moment ago, she felt a gaze.

It wasn't the old man's cloudiness, but rather...sharpness.

Like a blade slicing through skin, though it was only for a fleeting moment, Shen Qingci would never be mistaken.

She turned her head to look.

Eunuch Li also raised his head.

Eyes facing each other.

His wrinkled face was expressionless, and his eyes were cloudy.

But Shen Qingci just felt that this old man was not simple.

He glanced at her, then lowered his head and continued sweeping.

It was as if the eye contact they had just made had never happened.

"Your Majesty?" Jinshu called softly.

Shen Qingci withdrew her gaze and went inside.

After the door closed, she asked in a low voice, "Jinshu, how long has Eunuch Li been in the Cold Palace?"

"This servant is not quite sure either..." Jinshu thought for a moment, "It seems that he was sent here after the late Empress Dowager passed away."

It must have been... five or six years, right? It's been like this the whole time, no talking, no interacting with anyone."

Five or six years.

Shen Qingci seemed to be deep in thought.

The late Empress Dowager was Nangong Ye's biological mother, and she passed away shortly after Nangong Ye ascended the throne.

If this old eunuch really was the late Empress Dowager's man, then being banished to a place like the Cold Palace...

Is it a loss of power, or is there a deeper meaning?

As she was thinking, she suddenly heard footsteps outside the door.

It wasn't the orderly pace of a patrol guard, but a light, somewhat arrogant stride.

Jinshu's expression changed, and she subconsciously stepped in front of Shen Qingci.

The door was pushed open.

The girl who entered was dressed in a pink palace maid's dress. She was young, had a pretty face, and wore a fresh silk flower in her hair.

Two eunuchs followed behind her, carrying a mahogany tray.

"Oh, it's Lady Shen here."

The palace maid addressed her as "Your Highness," but her tone lacked any respect whatsoever.

His eyes swept over Shen Qingci, revealing undisguised disdain.

Shen Qingci didn't speak, she just stared at her coldly.

The palace maid didn't seem to care and said to herself, "This servant, Chunxing, has come on the orders of Consort Rou to deliver something to Consort Shen."

She gestured to the eunuch behind her to bring up the tray.

A red cloth was covering the tray.

Chunxing reached out and uncovered—

Jinshu gasped.

Shen Qingci's eyes instantly turned extremely cold.

On the tray was a white undergarment.

A woman's undergarment.

And on the chest area of ​​the inner garment, there was a patch of dried and blackened blood...

"Her Highness the Imperial Concubine said," Chunxing's voice was sickeningly sweet.

"This dress was left behind by Consort Shen when she was banished to the Cold Palace."

Now that it has been returned to its rightful owner, it will allow the Empress to... have something to remember her by.

A gaping hole was suddenly torn open in Shen Qingci's memory—

Three months ago, on the morning of the day the witchcraft case occurred.

She remembered that she was wearing this inner garment.

As she was being dragged away, her clothes were torn open during the struggle, and in her panic, she grabbed an outer robe to cover herself.

And this blood-stained undergarment... was taken away as "evidence" of the crime.

It is said that ash from talismans used in witchcraft was found on the premises.

Now, Consort Rou has returned the "evidence".

It was called "returning the item to its rightful owner," but it was actually a protest.

It's a reminder to her: Look, I can send your things up as evidence, or I can throw them back as trash.

If you were in my hands, I couldn't even protect a piece of clothing.

Jinshu trembled with rage: "You...you've gone too far!"

Chunxing glanced at her and sneered, "A lowly servant girl like you dares to shout? If you keep making a fuss, believe me, I'll have Eunuch Wang 'take good care' of you!"

Jinshu's face turned pale. Remembering Wang Fu's lewd face, she dared not speak.

Chunxing was very satisfied with the effect, and then turned to Shen Qingci, saying insincerely, "Your Highness Shen, the Imperial Concubine also asked me to pass on a message."

Shen Qingci looked up.

"Her Majesty said that the Cold Palace is a harsh place, and if you can't endure it... it would be a blessing to be freed sooner."

After saying that, she curtsied and, without waiting for Shen Qingci's reaction, turned and left with her entourage.

The door closed again.

Jinshu rushed to the tray, looking at the blood-stained undergarment, tears streaming down her face: "They...how dare they...Your Majesty, this garment was clearly your favorite..."

Shen Qingci did not cry.

She didn't even show any expression.

He simply walked over, picked up the undergarment, and ran his fingertips over the dried bloodstains.

Then, she suddenly laughed.

The laughter was low and echoed in the empty room, sending chills down Jinshu's spine.

"Your Majesty..."

"Consort Rou, Liu Ruyan." Shen Qingci uttered the name, each word like an ice bead hitting the ground.

Memories surged again—

Three years ago, Nangong Ye was on a southern tour of Jiangnan. He was assassinated at the imperial palace, and a cold arrow pierced his heart.

It was Liu Ruyan, who was still a noblewoman at the time, who rushed forward and blocked the arrow with her body.

The arrow wound was in the shoulder blade, only three inches from the heart.

Nangong Ye held her, who was covered in blood, and stayed by her side at the palace all night.

The imperial physician said that if the position had been any more off, the person would have died.

From then on, Liu Ruyan became the most special person in the harem.

From Noble Lady to Consort, then to Imperial Concubine, and finally to Imperial Noble Consort. She enjoyed continuous favor and boundless glory.

Everyone says that Consort Rou is His Majesty's savior and the white moonlight in his heart.

The key evidence in the witchcraft case—those little figures with Nangong Ye and Liu Ruyan's birth dates written on them and covered in silver needles—

It was found at the bottom of Shen Qingci's dressing case.

The person who found the evidence was a eunuch from Liu Ruyan's palace.

The person who identified the item as Shen Qingci's personal maid later "died suddenly".

One pile, one piece.

Looking back now, it's full of flaws.

Shen Qingci was too naive at the time, thinking that sincerity could be reciprocated and that the man would at least give her a chance to explain herself.

The results of it?

He didn't even listen to her before condemning her.

"Liu Ruyan..." Shen Qingci gripped the undergarment in her hand tightly, the fabric crumpled into a ball in her palm.

Do you think sending me this garment is an attempt to humiliate me?

No.

You are reminding me, reminding me not to forget—who pushed me into this hell.

I've remembered this "generous gift".

"Jinshu." Shen Qingci released his grip, tossed the undergarment back onto the tray, and said, "Burn it."

Jinshu was stunned: "Burned...burned?"

"It's an eyesore."

Shen Qingci turned and walked to the table, picking up the half-burnt charcoal pencil next to the broken bronze mirror.

I found another piece of torn paper—I don't know where it was torn from, the edges were jagged.

She sat down and began to write.

Jinshu leaned closer to look and discovered that the Empress had written down the names of some medicinal herbs.

"Angelica sinensis, astragalus membranaceus, honeysuckle, forsythia..." Jinshu read aloud softly, somewhat bewildered. "Your Majesty, what are these...?"

"It's needed for the antidote." Shen Qingci didn't even look up and continued writing.

The handwriting was somewhat weak, but this body was, after all, the daughter of the Grand Tutor, and had studied and practiced calligraphy since childhood, so the foundation was still there.

Based on the toxic characteristics of "Zhu Yan Mo" and combined with modern medical knowledge, she listed more than a dozen medicinal materials.

Some are for detoxification, some are for strengthening the body, and some are for protecting the fetus.

The fetus is absorbing toxins, which gives her time to recover, but the harm of the toxins to the fetus still exists.

She must detoxify as soon as possible, otherwise even if the child is born, it may be born with congenital defects, or... die in the womb.

After finishing the list, Shen Qingci looked at it and crossed out a few more items.

Due to limited resources in the Cold Palace, it was impossible to obtain very precious medicinal herbs.

She had no choice but to settle for second best, selecting some relatively common ingredients that, when combined, could still be effective.

"Jinshu," she said, handing over the list, "can you get these?"

Jinshu took the paper, read it carefully, and frowned: "Some... this servant can go and rummage through the pile of dregs behind the Imperial Hospital."

But things like ginseng and lingzhi mushrooms are definitely not available.

"We don't need those," Shen Qingci shook her head. "Let's find these basics first. Also..."

She paused, then lowered her voice: "Try to contact Physician Chen."

"Physician Chen?" Jinshu's eyes lit up. "That's right! Physician Chen received favors from the master before; perhaps he'd be willing to help!"

"Be careful," Shen Qingci cautioned. "Don't let anyone see you."

"This servant understands!"

Jinshu carefully folded the list and tucked it into her bosom.

Then she picked up the tray containing the blood-stained undergarment: "So... I really burned this?"

"Burn it clean." Shen Qingci closed her eyes. "Don't leave any ashes either."

"Yes."

Jinshu carried the tray out.

Shen Qingci was the only one left in the room.

She leaned against the cold wall, feeling her strength starting to drain away again.

The toxins, like countless tiny insects, crawled in her blood vessels, gnawing away at her life.

And in my lower abdomen, I could feel a faint fetal movement every now and then.

It was as if it were reminding her: I am still alive, and you must live on too.

Shen Qingci gently placed her hand on it.

"Little one..." she murmured, "you're quite tenacious."

The fetus moved again, as if in response.

Shen Qingci forced a smile, but couldn't manage it.

Being tenacious is a good thing.

But in this cannibalistic palace, revealing one's special abilities too early may not be a blessing.

Night falls.

Jinshu hasn't returned yet.

Shen Qingci lay on the bed, looking at the moonlight filtering through the roof, her mind racing.

Detoxification is the top priority.

But detoxification requires medicinal herbs, time, and... a relatively safe environment.

Wang Fu suffered a loss today and dares not come for the time being. But given his vengeful nature, he certainly won't let this go easily.

After sending the "gift," Consort Rou will probably observe the situation for a while.

Let's see if she really "can't take it anymore".

And Nangong Ye...

Shen Qingci's eyes turned cold.

That man has probably long forgotten that there's a deposed empress waiting to die in the cold palace.

Yeah.

Forgetting is the best cover.

Just as I was thinking this, a sharp, cramping pain suddenly shot through my lower abdomen!

Shen Qingci froze.

It wasn't fetal movement.

It's... the toxin is retaliating!

"Ugh..." she groaned and curled up.

Cold sweat instantly soaked through my thin clothes. The pain felt like it was seeping out from between my bones, dense and relentless, engulfing every nerve.

My vision blurred and my ears were ringing.

The fetus in her lower abdomen seemed to sense the danger and began to move violently!

One, two, three...

It's like a struggle, or perhaps... a resistance.

Shen Qingci gritted her teeth, her fingers gripping the tattered straw mat beneath her so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, drawing blood.

She could feel the toxins in her body rushing wildly towards her lower abdomen!

And the fetus was actually absorbing it!

Absorb like crazy!

Like a young animal that has been starving for a long time, it desperately devours those deadly poisons!

"No...no..." Shen Qingci's consciousness began to blur.

When a fetus absorbs toxins, it's saving the fetus, but it's also harming itself!

If this continues, the child won't be able to hold on!

She tried to stop it, but her body wouldn't obey her commands.

The toxins and pain had drained all her strength; she couldn't even move a finger.

She could only watch helplessly as the toxins were slowly absorbed by the little life inside her.

Then--

The excruciating pain reached its peak.

Shen Qingci's vision went black, and she completely lost consciousness.