Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne Chapter 1084 - 124: Empress Xie Takes the Divine Pill (2)

Once she fell sick, observing her own rapid aging and vanishing allure filled her with fury and distress. She loathed gazing at her frail, withered visage, and could scarcely imagine the Emperor enduring it. Through the years, visits from the Emperor to Zhao Yang Palace dwindled steadily. Desperate to reclaim her youth, she experimented with countless remedies and ingested all sorts of substances, yet the results proved disappointingly scant.

Hearing rumors of the Divine Pill's power to restore vitality and even turn back the clock on age, she promptly urged Xie Shi to obtain it for her. Miracle or not, she was determined to give it a shot. Astonishingly, the Divine Pill lived up to its legendary status; after swallowing it, her migraines vanished, her vigor surged dramatically, and above all, her youth returned in full bloom.

"Thank heavens Your Majesty insisted on the Divine Pill." Seeing Empress Xie rejuvenated, Jiang Chuan brimmed with joy. "This Divine Pill is indeed a wondrous cure." Regrettably, its steep price prevented her from acquiring one for herself.

"Speak of the Divine Pill to no one." Empress Xie cautioned Jiang Chuan yet again, "Not a soul must learn I've been using the Divine Pill." Given its astonishing benefits, Empress Xie had no intention of letting the harem's other women partake, particularly Noble Princess Consort Rong.

"Fear not, Your Majesty, this servant has breathed not a word to anyone."

Empress Xie placed her faith in Jiang Chuan still.

"In a bit more time, my face will be free of every wrinkle."

"Your Majesty, did you realize that since taking the Divine Pill, a subtle aroma clings to your skin?"

"Really?" Empress Xie hadn't picked up on it, "I figured it was from the petals."

Empress Xie favored petal-infused water for washing her face, hands, and bathing, so a light floral note always lingered on her.

"No, not petals at all. It's..." Jiang Chuan thought briefly before adding, "More like a spice fragrance, so subtle yet delightful." Ever since her illness, the Empress had taken Purple River Car every day, and despite regular petal baths, the faint bloody tang of Purple River Car persisted, mingled with the acrid bitterness of her daily herbal tonics into an off-putting blend of scents.

Empress Xie lifted her arm for a close whiff and caught a barely-there perfume.

"Your nose is sharp; it does evoke agarwood, exceedingly faint." Without leaning in for a deliberate sniff, no one would detect it.

"Who knew the Divine Pill could even bestow a pleasing scent—truly remarkable."

"I never imagined it." Empress Xie's affection for the Divine Pill deepened further.

At that moment, a palace maid stepped in to announce that every concubine save Noble Princess Consort Rong had gathered.

Empress Xie felt no shock upon hearing Noble Princess Consort Rong's absence. Whenever summoned for greetings, she always dragged her feet arriving and bolted first to depart.

"Since reclaiming the Emperor's favor, Noble Princess Consort Rong has turned haughtier and bolder; the Emperor..."

Empress Xie cut off Jiang Chuan, "The Emperor is no topic for you."

"Your Majesty, this servant simply believes the Emperor pampers Noble Princess Consort Rong excessively." Jiang Chuan fumed for Empress Xie's sake, "After all, you are the true Empress."

Empress Xie toyed gently with her earring and smiled, "No matter her level of favor, that woman remains merely a concubine, whereas I shall forever be the Emperor’s principal wife." So long as she thrived, Noble Princess Consort Rong stayed confined to concubine status.

"Your Majesty is absolutely right."

"Come, let’s go greet them."

Supported by Jiang Chuan, Empress Xie made her unhurried way before the assembled concubines.

The sight of the revitalized, radiant Empress Xie left the concubines utterly stunned. They struggled to accept this vibrant woman as the same Empress teetering on death's door mere days prior?!

Noble Princess Consort Ying paused in shock only briefly before grasping the reason for Empress Xie's glow, a flicker of scorn in her gaze.

Empress Xie savored their reactions immensely. She took her seat, beaming as she watched the concubines' bewilderment.

"Why the stares, as if you’ve never laid eyes on me before?" Since her illness struck, Empress Xie had secluded herself for recovery, waiving the concubines' monthly greetings on the first and fifteenth, so months had passed without sightings. They remembered her as withered and frail from before her condition spiraled. Little did they expect, after this brief interval, her ailment vanished and youth reclaimed her—appearing not a day over thirty. What marvel of medicine had she partaken during seclusion?

The concubines recovered and hastened to bow one by one, offering respects to Empress Xie.

No sooner had Empress Xie bid them rise than the Chief Eunuch of Zhao Yang Palace arrived to relay that Noble Princess Consort Rong felt poorly and sought exemption from the greeting.

She'd been spotted strolling the Imperial Garden lake only yesterday—how suddenly ill today? Plainly, she scorned the Empress and spurned the summons.

The concubines pretended ignorance, heads bowed low.

Empress Xie grasped full well Noble Princess Consort Rong aimed to humiliate her; such slights were hardly novel. Since recapturing imperial favor amid Empress Xie's sickness, Noble Princess Consort Rong paid her scant heed.

To Noble Princess Consort Rong, Empress Xie might as well be buried. Why waste effort on a dying shell?

"With Noble Princess Consort Rong unwell, it befits me as Empress to pay her a visit."

Empress Xie's declaration stunned Noble Princess Consort Ying and the rest, then she added, "You will all join me in visiting Noble Princess Consort Rong."

The Empress's intent was no mere wellness check but a bold assertion of authority.

This drama was bound to entertain.

The concubines trailed the Empress to Yongxin Palace.

Noble Princess Consort Rong was midway through breakfast when word came of Empress Xie and the concubines' arrival; her face soured instantly. Spotting the youthful, stunning Empress Xie, disbelief twisted her features.

As Empress Xie called upon Noble Princess Consort Rong, the Emperor had concluded morning court and just received an urgent secret missive from Swamp Prefecture.

Upon scanning the letter, the Emperor's countenance darkened sharply, ordering Sun Kui to fetch Prime Minister He, Grandmaster Liu, and the Court Martial officials.

Prime Minister He and companions soon reached the Imperial Study; perusing Zhao Yao's confidential dispatch to the Emperor left them all somber.

"Your Majesty, Prince Han urges a thorough probe and ban on the Divine Pill."

The Emperor commanded the Imperial Court of Judicial Review to delve deeply into the affair. All caught selling or buying the Divine Pill faced arrest and harsh questioning to expose its prevalence in the capital, circulation volume, and crucially, the scheme's true orchestrator.

In mere hours, the decree banning and scrutinizing the Divine Pill swept through the court, racing outward to engulf the capital.

Empress Xie had barely settled back in Zhao Yang Palace when the decree reached her ears, leaving her dumbfounded.

Wasn’t the Divine Pill hailed as a miracle cure? Why this imperial edict for such ruthless investigation and outright prohibition?