Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

Concubine Shu was summoned before the Emperor. As soon as she entered the palace and her eyes fell on Li Ruoyue and the trembling maid, she instantly understood everything—the truth had been revealed. However, having been a seasoned warrior in the palace, she showed no sign of panic. Instead, she cried out in injustice, "Your Majesty, I am truly innocent! Although this maid worked in my palace, I never ordered her to do such evil things. Someone must have deliberately framed me. I hope Your Majesty will see through this and clear my name!"

Li Ruoyue stood aside, watching Concubine Shu's performance with a cold eye, her anger boiling like a volcano. She clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms, forcing herself to stop herself from exploding. After Concubine Shu finished speaking, she took a deep breath, calmed herself down a bit, and then spoke in an orderly manner, "Concubine Shu, at this point, do you still want to quibble? This palace maid admitted in front of everyone that it was your trusted palace maid who coerced and bribed her into adding a forbidden drug to Empress Kun's medicine, which caused Empress Kun's condition to worsen. This is irrefutable evidence, how can you deny it?"

A sneer of disdain played across Concubine Shu's lips, her voice filled with mockery and disdain. "Hmph, it's just a little palace maid's nonsense. How can such one-sided words be used as evidence to convict me? Perhaps someone deliberately bribed her to fabricate these lies to slander me! Your Majesty, you are wise and powerful. You must not be deceived by the slanderous words of such a villain!"

Emperor Qian's expression darkened. His piercing eyes fixed on Concubine Shu, as if to peer through her exterior to see her true inner thoughts. His voice was deep and commanding, "Concubine Shu, this matter concerns the Empress's safety. I will not let this go lightly. I will dispatch a thorough investigation. If, as Li Ruoyue claims, you have acted so recklessly in this palace, daring to frame the Empress, I will not show you any leniency!"

Li Ruoyue's lips curled up slightly, revealing a confident smile. Her voice was clear and firm, "Your Majesty, what I said is absolutely true. Besides the palace maid's confession, there is more solid evidence to prove that the Concubine Shu is involved in this matter."

She paused briefly, then continued, "That day, Concubine Shu personally came to Empress Kun's chambers and made many obstacles in my way of treating her. Furthermore, during her conversation, Concubine Shu's words clearly revealed her concern for Empress Kun's improvement. Could this be just a coincidence?"

Li Ruoyue's eyes were as sharp as torches as she stared directly at Concubine Shu, not giving her any chance to breathe.

"Furthermore, after my in-depth investigation, I discovered that the interactions between Concubine Shu's trusted maids and the maids who prepare medicine have been unusually frequent in recent days. The reason for this is probably only known to Concubine Shu herself."

Li Ruoyue's words were like a sharp sword, piercing Concubine Shu's heart. Her expression changed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure and argued, "Your Majesty, these are just groundless speculations. I have always held Empress Kun in high esteem. How could I possibly do such a vicious thing?"

However, Li Ruoyue remained unfazed by Concubine Shu's defense. Her face sullen, she continued in a resolute tone, "Your Majesty, I have something else to report. According to the maidservants accompanying Empress Kun, her condition worsened after she took that bowl of medicine. Not only that, she even fell into a coma. And this bowl of medicine was brewed by Concubine Shu's trusted maidservant. Such a coincidence, doesn't it speak volumes?"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Qian frowned and fell into deep thought. He wondered if this was true, then Concubine Shu had committed a grave crime. But he couldn't easily conclude a case based solely on Li Ruoyue's testimony. So, he ordered, "Summon Concubine Shu's trusted palace maids for questioning!"

Soon, Concubine Shu's trusted maid was brought before the emperor. She was trembling with fear, her face as pale as paper. When she saw the gloomy faces of Emperor Qian and Concubine Shu, she was so frightened that she collapsed to the ground, trembling all over.

Upon seeing this, Emperor Qian roared angrily, "You lowly servant! Tell the truth now! Did you follow Concubine Shu's orders and instruct the palace maids to tamper with the Empress's medicine? If you tell even a single lie, I will execute your entire clan!"

The trusted maid was so frightened that she trembled all over and kowtowed repeatedly: "Your Majesty, please spare my life! It was indeed Your Majesty who ordered this servant to do this. Your Majesty was worried that Empress Kun would harm her after she recovered from her illness, so she asked this servant to find a way to aggravate the Empress's condition. This servant deserves death, please spare my life!"

When Concubine Shu heard the confession of her trusted palace maid, her face turned pale and she collapsed to the ground. She knew that it was useless to argue at this time.

Emperor Qian looked at Concubine Shu, his eyes filled with anger and disappointment. "Concubine Shu, the evidence is irrefutable. What else do you have to say? As a concubine in the harem, you don't want to live in harmony. Instead, you harbor evil intentions and frame Queen Kun. This is truly a heinous crime. From this day forward, you will be stripped of your position as Concubine Shu and banished to the cold palace. You will never be allowed to leave the cold palace!"

Concubine Shu cried out in despair: "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. Please forgive me..." But Emperor Qian had made up his mind and no longer paid attention to her pleas.

Li Ruoyue watched the Shufei being led away, filled with emotion. With her wisdom and courage, she successfully resolved this palace crisis. But she knew the harem struggle would not subside, and more challenges awaited her. As Li Jing's legitimate daughter, she must act with caution and protect herself and those around her. What will she face next in this turbulent palace?

With Concubine Shu banished to the cold palace, the gloom in Empress Kun's chamber gradually dissipated. Li Ruoyue continued to treat the Empress with great care. Under her meticulous care, Empress Kun's condition gradually improved and her health gradually recovered.

Queen Kun was extremely grateful to Li Ruoyue and would often hold her hand and say, "Ruoyue, this time, thanks to you, you not only saw through Concubine Shu's plot, but also saved me from my illness. I will always remember your kindness."

Li Ruoyue said respectfully, "Your Majesty, you are too kind. It is my duty to cure the people's illnesses and share your worries. I am deeply relieved to see that your Majesty is gradually recovering."

Emperor Qian was delighted to see that Queen Kun's condition had improved, and he praised Li Ruoyue highly. In the court, he said to Li Jing, "Li Jing, your daughter is truly a woman of both talent and virtue. Not only is she a skilled doctor, she's also incredibly intelligent. She's helped me resolve a major threat in my harem. I must reward her handsomely."

Li Jing quickly knelt down to express his gratitude, "Your Majesty, thank you for your praise. It is my honor to serve you and your Majesty."

Soon after, Emperor Qian issued an edict, appointing Li Ruoyue as the Chief Physician of the Imperial Hospital, specifically responsible for the medical care of the imperial concubines and relatives. This appointment greatly elevated Li Ruoyue's status within the palace, but also aroused the jealousy and dissatisfaction of some.

She deeply understood that this was not only the Emperor Qian's trust in her, but also a heavy responsibility on her shoulders. This trust made her feel extremely honored, but at the same time, she also realized the importance of the mission she shouldered.

From that moment on, she resolved to delve even deeper into her medical studies, constantly improving her expertise. She consulted numerous medical texts, consulted experienced court physicians, and even experimented with new treatments herself. She hoped to use her skills to improve the health and well-being of Emperor Qian and the rest of the court.

At the same time, she remained vigilant, keeping a close eye on the situation within the palace. She knew the court was rife with intrigue and conspiracy, and the slightest misstep could lead to treachery. Therefore, she learned to read people's expressions, maintain good relationships with other palace officials, and protect her own safety.

For her, all of this was to realize her next plan. She believed that as long as she worked hard and was careful enough, she would be able to gain a foothold in the court and gradually achieve her goals.

After Queen Kun recovered, all the concubines gathered at a flower viewing banquet. The banquet was ostensibly to celebrate Queen Kun's recovery, but in reality it was a social occasion with hidden undercurrents.

Everyone smiled and exchanged pleasantries, but secretly, they each had their own thoughts. Some concubines were secretly observing their rivals, some were plotting how to please the Emperor, and still others were thinking about how to expand their influence within the palace.

Li Ruoyue, the newly appointed Chief Medical Officer, was also invited to the banquet. Dressed in a pale blue palace dress, she looked elegant and refined, like a fairy descending from the heavens. Her presence attracted considerable attention, especially from the concubines who were interested in medicine, who flocked to chat with her.

Concubine Yu looked at Li Ruoyue, a complex expression flashing in her eyes. Although she was grateful to Li Ruoyue for curing the empress and restoring peace to the harem, she was also worried that Li Ruoyue's influence in the palace would gradually increase and affect the future of her son, the emperor.

"Doctor Li, I heard that you have superb medical skills and can even cure Empress Kun's difficult and complicated illnesses. We will have to rely on you to take care of us in the future." Concubine Kun said with a smile, but the smile did not reach her eyes.

Upon hearing this, Li Ruoyue quickly bowed and said softly, "Your Highness, I appreciate your kind words. I can only offer my humble assistance. It is my honor to be able to help you. If you need anything in the future, please feel free to use me. I will do my utmost to help you without hesitation."

As soon as she finished speaking, the other concubines all echoed her words, and for a moment, praises rose one after another, pouring in like a tide. However, Li Ruoyue's heart was as clear as a mirror. She knew that behind these seemingly sincere praises, there were probably countless calculations and conspiracies hidden.

Faced with this sugar-coated flattery, Li Ruoyue didn't show the slightest bit of smugness. Instead, she remained humble and polite, responding to each one with a smile. Her manners were elegant and generous, her words were well-spoken, and there was nothing to fault with her.

Yet, beneath this surface of calm, Li Ruoyue's heart was like a turbulent sea, restless and turbulent. She wondered, how could she gain a firm foothold in this palace rife with intrigue and deception? And how could she secure greater benefits and stability for herself and her family without alerting others?

On the surface, this flower-viewing banquet was a scene of joy and laughter, but in reality, it was full of undercurrents and dangers. Li Ruoyue couldn't help but feel a surge of pressure. She took a deep breath and told herself to remain calm and not be deceived by the superficial prosperity.

So, in the days ahead, how will Li Ruoyue skillfully navigate the complexities that arise? Can she forge her own path through this thorny palace? Everything remains uncertain, and we must wait and see.