Quick Transmigration Cannon Fodder's Record of Counterattacks

Chapter 3595: The Most Favoured Woman in the Inner Palace (14)

If he admitted that he’d been cuckolded, and that the only two children in the inner palace were not his own, he’d be utterly humiliated.

Therefore, Ao Tianze would only try to kill these two children in secret.

Ning Shu rubbed her temples. You could be a thief for a thousand days, but you could not guard against a thief for a thousand days. If was inattentive for even a moment, someone would seize the opportunity to harm the children.

If she did not help take care of the children, she feared these two babies would not survive for more than two days.

However, Consort Xuan herself did not seem to want her near the children.

Thus, for her own safety and for the sake of the two children, she had to deal with Ao Tianze.

Once Consort Xuan finished her postpartum confinement, Ning Shu would have to return to her own Jiaofang Palace. What would happen to these two babies then?

Consort Xuan did not know that the emperor wanted to kill the two children.

Should she tell Consort Xuan the truth?

But if she did not tell her, Consort Xuan would remain too naive.

Tell her, or not tell her? Tell her, or not tell her?

Ning Shu decided not to tell Consort Xuan for now. She guessed that no woman could accept being inexplicably defiled and then giving birth to the resulting children.

After Consort Xuan finished her confinement, Ning Shu returned to Jiaofang Palace, leaving the female physician and the maid who knew martial arts behind.

It had been a long time since she had the palace to herself. After a period of recuperation, Ning Shu no longer felt chest tightness or shortness of breath. Sleeping soundly until dawn, eating well, and resting well—this was a happy life.

Now that she was free, Ning Shu began to torment Ao Tianze. Whenever she had nothing else to do, she would bring tonic soup to Ao Tianze’s palace, urging him to take care of his health and to stop taking medicinal pills, rambling on about how the pills were harmful to his body.

Ao Tianze looked at her serious expression. She had an air of awe-inspiring righteousness, just like the indignant imperial censors at court. Just looking at her ruined his appetite.

“If the empress is free, you may look after the inner palace more. This emperor knows what this emperor am doing when it comes to my own affairs,” Ao Tianze said indifferently. His entire being seemed to be covered in a layer of frost.

Ning Shu pretended to be unaware of his mood and continued, “Your Majesty, these pill-refining techniques are all a scam. They are definitely bad for your health. If taking these pills could truly grant immortality, why have so many emperors failed to achieve it, and instead lost their lives at an early age?”

Ao Tianze rubbed his temples. Was the empress blind? Could she not see that he was already showing clear signs of anger?

“Enough. This emperor does not want to hear about these things. Do not disturb me unless there is a matter of importance. Stay in the Jiaofang Palace. The inner palace is a complete mess, so why are you coming here to meddle in my affairs?”

She had too much time on her hands.

Ning Shu put on a bitter expression, curtsied, and said, “Even if it upsets Your Majesty, I must still say it. Your Majesty, please do not take those pills anymore. They are truly bad for your health.”

Ao Tianze: …

Was there something wrong with his empress’ brain?

“Fine, you are dismissed.” Ao Tianze waved his hand while speaking with some helplessness. Getting angry at someone who was missing a few screws was pointless.

Ning Shu instantly beamed and asked, “Does this mean Your Majesty will not take the pills anymore?”

When did he agree to that?

Ao Tianze was practically exploding with annoyance. “Go back to Jiaofang Palace.”

“I know you are angry, but even so, I must say it. Your Majesty, take fewer pills, they are truly bad for your health. Your Majesty…”

“What are you wailing about? You do not need to concern yourself with my affairs.” Ao Tianze could not help but touch his forehead. This empress was truly becoming more stupid and pedantic by the day.

“Your Majesty, we are husband and wife. I cannot just watch you take pills that harm your body.”

Damn it.

Ao Tianze: Fuck…

It was hard to describe the frustration of dealing with such an idiot.

“Your Majesty, you have to promise me,” Ning Shu continued to pester him.

Ao Tianze said helplessly, “Alright, alright.”

Ning Shu instantly broke into a joyful smile. “I knew Your Majesty still values me.”

Ao Tianze felt nauseous.

Wearing the satisfied expression of someone who’d successfully persuaded the emperor, Ning Shu left.

Ao Tianze rubbed his temples in exhaustion. He took a box out of his drawer. Inside the open box were perfectly round medicinal pills. Ao Tianze picked one up and swallowed it.

These pills could make a person feel energized. Whenever Ao Tianze felt tired, he would take one out and eat it.

It made him feel quite energetic.

After leaving the palace, Ning Shu ran into an old Daoist priest dressed in Daoist robes. The old priest had white hair but a youthful face, and he appeared to be in glowing spirits.

When they met on a narrow path, the old priest looked Ning Shu up and down. He then flicked his whisk and said, “This humble priest greets Her Highness, the Empress.”

Ning Shu raised an eyebrow and asked, “How did you know I am the empress?”

She was dressed very simply today.

“In my eyes, Your Highness is surrounded by a golden phoenix, and the cry of the phoenix is loud and clear. Under the heavens, only the mother of a nation could possess such destiny,” the old priest said cryptically.

Everyone in the palace knew she was the empress. Ning Shu was not at all curious about how the old priest knew.

Ning Shu nodded. “You really are capable. I previously thought you were a charlatan and even told the emperor not to take your pills. Now, it seems you are someone with real skill, not a half-baked fraud. I will leave the emperor’s health in your hands from now on.”

The old priest: …

Was it really alright to be this blunt?

“I receive a salary from the emperor, so I must be loyal to him. Since I have entered the palace, I will certainly place the emperor’s health above all else.”

Ning Shu nodded. “Could you give me one of your pills? I want to try it and see how effective it is.”

The old priest, acting very reserved, took out a bottle and handed it to Ning Shu. Ning Shu smiled slightly. “Thank you, Daoist Master.”

Ning Shu returned to Jiaofang Palace. She poured out a pill and held it to her nose to smell it. The pill was crimson red, mixed with golden specks. It likely contained cinnabar. Was the gold color actually gold dust?

Ning Shu: …

The scent carried a hint of pine resin. It was probably made from pine branches burned into ash.

Were they really just mixing all sorts of random things together?

“Your Highness, are you going to eat that?” Xi’er, who was standing to the side, saw Ning Shu toying with the pill. “Your Highness, eating this kind of thing can kill a person.”

Look at that. Even Xi’er knew better. Everyone knew that drugs were not a good thing, but once a person started taking them, they could not quit. Even a brief moment of pleasure was enough to hook them.

“I am not going to eat it.” Ning Shu dropped the pill into her teacup. The pill dissolved and turned the water a dark, muddy red.

Ning Shu poured the rest of the pills from the bottle into the teacup and put the empty container away. “Take this and throw it out.”

After being soaked in water, the smell of the pills became even stronger and more pungent.

Xi’er carried the teacup away. Another maid walked in hurriedly, curtsied to Ning Shu, and said, “Your Highness, something has happened at Consort Xuan’s place. Something has happened to the two children.”

Ning Shu rubbed her head. It had only been a few days, and sure enough, something had happened.

Ning Shu rushed to Consort Xuan’s palace. As soon as she walked into the courtyard, she heard Consort Xuan crying.

Ning Shu stepped over the threshold and walked into the room. An imperial physician was currently checking the two children’s pulses.

The two children were lying side by side on the bed. Their faces were flushed red, and they were completely motionless.

Consort Xuan stayed by the bedside, looking completely lost as she continuously wiped away her tears.