Changsheng: Peak at the Beginning

Chapter 1118 Zhen Huan Enlarged to 44

Nian Xiyao is also dead. The Nian family has no hope of revival, at least in this dynasty. But for Concubine Cao, who loves Princess Wen Yi to the core, this is not enough. Even if she is canonized as a concubine, she still wants Concubine Nian to die, and the child in Concubine Nian's belly must not be kept!

The more bleak Princess Wen Yi's future became, the calmer Concubine Cao became. She cherished herself and knew that her kneeling in front of the Yangxin Palace must have attracted the attention of Big Fat Orange, so she could no longer use any means against Concubine Nian. But it didn't matter, there was another Concubine Wan in the harem who hated Concubine Nian to the core. She knew that Concubine Wan was not so easy to use, so she borrowed the last bit of connections of the former Concubine Duan.

No one paid attention to the palace maid named Jixiang beside Concubine Duan at first, but Concubine Cao had been paying attention to Concubine Nian's Yikun Palace, and she accidentally discovered Jixiang's trace.

She recognized Jixiang, who had fallen into a state of desolation, and after learning that Jixiang wanted to attack Concubine Nian to avenge Concubine Duan, she took the initiative to find Jixiang.

Jixiang certainly didn't believe Concubine Cao. After all, Concubine Cao and Fei were both die-hard supporters of Concubine Nian in the past. After losing Concubine Duan, Jixiang was not so well-informed about the news in the harem. She only knew that Concubine Cao went to the Yangxin Palace with Princess Wen Yi a few days ago. She didn't know what exactly happened, but she could see that Concubine Cao was promoted to concubine in one fell swoop.

Concubine Cao was anxious to gain Jixiang's trust, so she told him everything about the Yangxin Palace: "I was so worried that I took Princess Wen Yi to the Yangxin Palace to ask the emperor for help because the imperial physician found that she was weak due to taking tranquilizing decoction for a long time, and that she was at high risk of having children."

"And the tranquilizing soup was the work of Concubine Nian. She brought Princess Wen Yi to her to win her favor, but she didn't treat the princess well at all. The news I received that day was of no avail. Later, it was thanks to the emperor's sympathy that the princess was rescued. But who would have thought that the princess would be persecuted to this extent!"

Concubine Cao really hated Concubine Nian to the core. Jixiang could see it and was sure that Concubine Cao was not pretending, so she asked directly: "So what purpose does Concubine Cao want to achieve through me?"

Concubine Cao said bluntly: "I want you to use your means to tell Concubine Wan all the fate of the Nian family, and then encourage Concubine Wan to kill people in front of Concubine last year!"

Jixiang was stunned by Concubine Cao's shamelessness. "So from the beginning to the end, Concubine Cao, you were unwilling to contribute even a little bit!"

Concubine Cao sighed softly, "It's not that I don't want to help, but the emperor has already set his sights on me. If I make any unusual moves, the emperor will investigate the death of Concubine Nian in the future, and I will definitely not be able to escape."

"My Princess Wen Yi is now useless, and I can't bear to die early."

As she spoke, Concubine Cao shed two lines of tears, but this emotion came too suddenly, so she quickly turned her head and quietly wiped it away. When she looked at Jixiang again, she couldn't even hear any difference in her voice, "A princess who is weak and very likely to be unable to give birth to an heir has only one way to go, and that is to be fostered..."

Jixiang therefore concluded that it was true that Concubine Cao wanted to stay out of the matter, but it was also true that she wanted to kill Concubine Nian and even the child in her belly with one strike. Now, no matter how Concubine Cao benefits, her goal is the same as Concubine Cao's.

Jixiang didn't say anything, but Concubine Cao knew from the look in her eyes that she would definitely try what she said.

As for Concubine Wan, Jixiang also soon arrived. Unlike what Concubine Cao hoped, that Concubine Wan would take the lead, Jixiang revealed her identity as the chief maid of the deceased Concubine Duan, in order to borrow Concubine Wan's help and go to Yiku Palace to meet Concubine Nian in person.

"Over the years, I have watched Concubine Duan being tortured by Nian. But the bowl of safflower soup that Concubine Duan brought over was also framed. But Concubine Duan could not reveal the mastermind! Even when Nian found out that musk was added to the unique Huanyi incense in her palace, Concubine Duan, who knew the truth, was killed by the mastermind!"

"Now the mastermind behind this is living a fate worse than death, but I feel that I must not let Nian go, so I risked my life to come and ask for help from Lady Wan today, hoping that you can use me to send me to the Yikun Palace. I want Nian Shilan to die a miserable death!"

Jixiang's voice sounded a little vague, but looking at her stubbornness, Wan Guiren felt that every word she said was full of tears.

From Jixiang's narration, Concubine Wan's clever little brain instantly locked on the culprit behind the incident to the Empress Dowager of Shoukang Palace.

Although no one in the harem dared to discuss anything openly because of the empress dowager's status, it was common knowledge that the empress dowager's Shoukang Palace was not simply closed, but that there were a large number of guards on duty.

Concubine Wan would not ask Queen Mother Jixiang why she would harm her own grandson. She had some guesses. The first was that even in the palace, Nian Shilan was very aggressive and had no respect for the Queen, who was the second wife at the time. She even provoked her many times. So in order to consolidate the status of her niece, the Queen Mother was willing to sacrifice the unknown fetus in Nian Shilan's belly.

For the second one, Concubine Wan also thought of the late emperor's fourteenth prince, who was Dapangju's biological brother and the youngest son of the Empress Dowager.

The Manchus had the custom of the younger brother succeeding the elder brother. Even after going through decades of sinicization after entering the Western Han Dynasty, some concepts were still deeply rooted. In other words, as long as it was beneficial to people, any custom could be picked up and used.

Wan Guiren thought a lot and finally agreed to Jixiang, "I do have a way to send you to Yikun Palace without alerting anyone. But I will only do it once, and I must see Nian Shilan dead and two lives!"

Jixiang bowed down and said, "Don't worry, my lady, I will succeed!"

"Oh, by the way, I heard that your maidservant Huanbi died in the Ministry of Punishment. I am sure that it was done by someone close to Nian. As for whether it was Nian's order personally, I am not sure. However, I believe that Lady Wan has already concluded the truth of the matter."

Hearing people talking about Huanbi's death again, Wan Guiren was filled with sadness about her adopted sister's miserable death and anger towards Nian Shilan and her gang. However, she would not tell others about her own affairs. The nearly one year of calm time finally made her realize many facts.

For example, it is very likely that Da Pangju already knew Huanbi's true identity through Nian Shilan, so when the Queen sent people to reprimand the Zhen family, Da Pangju did not stop them at all. Therefore, when she gave birth to a princess, she was only rewarded with the rank of noble lady, and no more gifts. Her daughter was even taken to Ningshou Palace to be raised by the Imperial Noble Consort.

Wan Guiren was secretly relieved that Big Fat Ju did not continue to vent his anger on her and the Zhen family, but she would not tell anyone the inside story. She even wanted to eliminate the culprit, Nian Shilan, to silence him and avenge Huanbi.