A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1154: That Is... Witchcraft and Gu...

Even Yue Er couldn’t refrain from persistently requesting Crown Prince Chen to recount tales from the front lines each day.

She found herself listening to the same stories three or five times in a single sitting, yet her engagement never waned.

Just as the Capital City was bathed in joy and prosperity, with a vibrant atmosphere filling the palace and its surroundings.

There was one individual who wished they could weep ceaselessly, consumed by overwhelming grief.

Who could this person be? The answer is: Empress Dowager Zhen.

Though the Fifth Master was not her most cherished son.

He was, nevertheless, her biological child, nurtured within her for ten months before his birth.

Having invested considerable effort in raising him to his twenties, he had already established a family with a wife and children.

Now, facing his loss in her twilight years was a burden almost too heavy to bear.

After her young grandson was brought to her side.

She completely lost interest in food and drink, drowning in tears and frantically seeking remedies, plunging the palace into disarray.

From Empress Dowager Zhen’s perspective, in truth.

Zhao Junyao and Xia Ruqing could empathize with her profound sorrow; the pain of losing a child is truly agonizing.

Furthermore, the Fifth Master was, after all, their half-brother.

Therefore, despite the Fifth Master not having been martyred for the nation but rather tragically killed by his own wife.

Zhao Junyao, overriding all objections, posthumously granted him the title of Prince.

Moreover, he was interred within the Prince’s Mausoleum, a privilege reserved exclusively for those bearing a princely title.

This represented a significant and lofty honor.

Yet, Empress Dowager Zhen remained unsatisfied.

She continued to cling to her young grandson, her lamentations echoing inconsolably through the palace day after day.

Falling unconscious one day.

Suffering chest pains the next.

Complaining of headaches the day after.

Summoning doctors relentlessly, her actions escalated into a disturbance that echoed throughout the city.

It was as if the Royal Family had committed a grave injustice against their kin.

Zhao Junyao found himself in a state of considerable helplessness; dealing with such an unreasonable and unyielding woman left him perplexed.

For a period, he was uncertain of the appropriate course of action.

However, it wasn't precisely that he was clueless.

It was merely that engaging in disputes with his father’s concubine felt utterly undignified, a matter beneath his esteemed status.

Upon grasping the intricacies of the situation, Xia Ruqing stepped forward, volunteering her assistance.

"Emperor, how about... I attempt to handle this?"

Zhao Junyao expressed surprise.

"You?"

He surveyed her from head to toe, a hint of doubt in his gaze.

"Do you possess the capability?"

Xia Ruqing confidently patted her chest.

"Identifying the root cause is paramount to resolving the issue!"

"While I may not ultimately solve the problem, perhaps I can uncover the underlying cause for your Majesty!"

Understanding her true desires would surely facilitate a smoother resolution, wouldn't it?

Zhao Junyao pondered her words and ultimately assented.

The following morning, promptly.

After completing her morning ablutions and adornment, Xia Ruqing proceeded to Ninghe Palace, accompanied by her retinue.

Upon her arrival.

Xia Ruqing could distinctly hear the mournful cries of Empress Dowager Zhen.

From a distance, her wails were interspersed with curses, spoken simultaneously.

It seemed directed at herself, perhaps at Hai Feng, or even… at the Emperor himself?!

The attending palace attendants nearby prepared to announce Xia Ruqing’s presence but were halted by her gesture.

"Hold!"

The palace maids remained frozen, hesitant to proceed.

Xia Ruqing adjusted her robes and advanced with deliberate grace.

Empress Dowager Zhen’s torrent of curses grew more distinct and fervent with each utterance.

"Accursed harlot!"

"You dispatched my son to his death! I shall claim your life!"

"Damn fool Emperor, my son never set foot on the battlefield, yet you dispatched him to such a perilous front!"

"Stab, stab, stab! I will stab you to death!"

"Vile Empress, a fox spirit reborn, you bewitch the Emperor and steal our very souls, perish! I’ll stab you to death!"

"Not one of you shall live!"

Her demeanor was menacing, clutching an object in her hand, which she appeared to be aggressively pricking.

Sunlight streamed from behind her, illuminating her face and lending her an appearance both wild and grotesque.

"What are you doing?"

A clear, resonant voice sliced through the oppressive atmosphere.

Its clarity ensured it could be heard in every recess of the chamber.

Empress Dowager Zhen’s ears caught the sound, and she abruptly looked up.

"Empress! You..."

Her pupils constricted instantaneously, her hands hastily concealing the object beneath a nearby blanket.

Her expression was one of extreme distress, her body wracked by uncontrollable tremors.

"Why have you graced my presence?"

"And why was there no formal announcement?!" she exclaimed.

She quickly realized the impropriety of her outburst and rose abruptly.

Forcing her rapidly pounding heart into a semblance of calm, she assumed an air of composure, instructing a palace maid to prepare tea and refreshments for the Empress.

However, Xia Ruqing currently had no inclination for tea.

She advanced with a cool demeanor, brazenly lifting the haphazardly draped blanket on the couch.

She inquired with measured calm, "Imperial Noble Consort, precisely what is it you are engaged in?"

Within the hierarchy of the Six Palaces, the Empress held the supreme position.

Even an Imperial Noble Consort, despite potentially greater seniority, was expected to maintain decorum and politeness upon an encounter, thus avoiding any form of contentious interaction.

Nevertheless… Empress Dowager Zhen appeared indifferent to such niceties.

She lunged forward recklessly, attempting to impede Xia Ruqing’s progress.

Frantically snatching a few items from beneath the blanket, she clutched them possessively to her chest.

Her hairpins and jewelry were knocked askew and fell, her hair coming loose and draping over her shoulders.

Resembling a madwoman in the throes of a manic episode.

Xia Ruqing paid her no mind.

Her keen eyes remained fixed on the objects clutched in the other woman's arms.

A flicker of bewilderment crossed her face.

What exactly were those things? Why such an agitated display?

She failed to notice the drastic change in Zi Yue and Zi Su's expressions beside her.

"Go investigate what those things are," Xia Ruqing instructed, her brow furrowed.

Zi Yue stood there, utterly stunned, and Zi Su, after a prolonged moment of shock, finally snapped back to reality.

"I'll go!"

Noticing Zi Yue's fear, Zi Su bravely volunteered.

Empress Dowager Zhen, now thoroughly terrified, continued to back away.

Zi Su gestured to a nearby Palace Attendant for assistance.

Together, they managed to wrest the items from Empress Dowager Zhen's grasp.

Zi Su gave them a cursory inspection and then breathed a sigh of relief.

"Madam, it's nothing, merely three dolls!"

"We assumed it was something significant, but it turns out to be mere children's playthings."

Xia Ruqing took the dolls and examined them closely.

They were indeed three cloth dolls.

However... something felt amiss.

As she casually turned one of the dolls over, she happened upon numerous puncture marks.

"Hmm? What is this?"

"They feel stiff inside, has something been concealed within?"

Zi Su let out a carefree laugh.

"It's just cotton stuffing, Madam!"

Xia Ruqing pondered this.

Abruptly, Zi Yue collapsed to her knees with a heavy thud.

"Madam, please discard them!"

"Huh?"

Xia Ruqing hadn't heard her clearly at first.

Zi Yue repeated, her voice strained, "Throw them away!"

Startled, Xia Ruqing immediately tossed the items aside.

"What is going on?!"

"That... that is... witchcraft and Gu..." Zi Yue stammered, her voice trembling.

Xia Ruqing remained bewildered.

"Innocent? What do you mean, innocent?"

Zi Yue: "..."

Zi Su: "..."

It took Xia Ruqing a considerable moment to grasp the situation.

Wasn't this precisely like those modern dramas where they create a doll, inscribe birth details, and then curse it with needles?

But this particular set... had nothing written on them?

Just as she voiced this thought.

Her gaze landed on a doll that had toppled over.

A small scrap of cloth was affixed to its side, densely covered in writing.

The doll's vacant eyes seemed fixed directly upon her.

Xia Ruqing shivered, goosebumps rising all over her body.

"Heavens above!"

She cried out and leaped back, a cold sweat breaking out across her back.

"Madam, be careful!"

"Madam!"

The two maids exclaimed in unison.

Xia Ruqing felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her.

After all, she was a soul from modern times, and logic should surely triumph over superstitious nonsense!

Yet, the sudden, unexpected terror had undeniably shaken her.