The Second World in Ancient Times

Within the palace, the situation is ever-changing. Concubine Li's jealousy and hatred, like an inextinguishable flame, drive her further and further down the path of evil. After learning that their previous plot at the palace banquet had failed, she and the Empress secretly hatched an even more sinister plan, this time targeting the upcoming palace sacrificial ceremony.

On the eve of the sacrifice, Concubine Li dispatched her most trusted maid, Cuiyu, to stealthily infiltrate the storeroom where the sacrificial supplies were stored. With her nimble figure and light movements, Cuiyu, under cover of darkness, evaded patrolling guards. Crouching low, she navigated the shadows of the storeroom and quickly located an exquisite jade incense burner intended for the sacrifice. This incense burner, used exclusively by the royal family, was flawless white and intricately carved with auspicious patterns. It was a crucial instrument for offering incense to the gods during the sacrifice. Cuiyu carefully swapped it with a nearly identical, though flawed, one she had prepared beforehand. She then tucked the real one away in her arms and quietly departed.

Meanwhile, Concubine Li bribed the Imperial Physician, Li Taiyi, from the Imperial Hospital. One gloomy afternoon, Li arrived at the Imperial Kitchen in a panic, carrying a small packet of slow-acting poison. He dismissed the other cooks and servants, using the excuse of preparing a nourishing herbal remedy for me. In a secluded corner, he quickly poured the poison into a serving of bird's nest soup I had prepared, stirring it gently with a spoon to ensure it was evenly distributed, leaving no trace. He then pretended nothing had happened, secretly praying that his scheme would go smoothly.

The day of the palace sacrifice finally arrived. Sunlight streamed down the magnificent sacrificial hall, wisps of incense rose, and a solemn atmosphere permeated every corner. The concubines, adorned in magnificent sacrificial garments and exquisite headdresses, lined the hall. I stood among them, filled with reverence for the gods, oblivious to the impending doom.

The sacrificial ceremony began, presided over by the king himself. His expression was solemn, and he chanted a prayer to the gods. When it was my turn to offer incense, I gently picked up the replaced incense burner. Just as I inserted the lit incense stick into the burner, there was a crack. A crack appeared at the bottom, and the ashes spilled onto the ground. Everyone gasped in shock.

Upon seeing this, Lipin feigned extreme fear and shouted, "Concubine Yu, what do you mean by this? You are blasphemous! This sacrificial offering is sacred and inviolable. Are you trying to bring disaster to the palace by doing this?"

I was horrified and quickly knelt down to explain, "Your Majesty, I am innocent! This incense burner must have been tampered with. I have no intention of blaspheming the gods."

The king's expression darkened. He glared at me, "Concubine Yu, this matter is of grave importance. These sacrificial supplies were rigorously inspected before use. How could such a problem suddenly arise? You must give me a reasonable explanation."

I knew I was caught up in a vast conspiracy, yet it was difficult to prove my innocence. At this point, Doctor Li from the Imperial Hospital stepped forward. He feigned deep sorrow and said, "Your Majesty, I have recently been treating Concubine Yu and have noticed something unusual in her pulse. I suspect she may be possessed by an evil spirit, which is why she has committed such an offensive act."

His words undoubtedly added fuel to the fire, deepening everyone's suspicion of me. Upon hearing this, the king grew even more furious: "Concubine Yu, if you are truly possessed by an evil spirit, I will not let you off lightly."

I was terribly anxious, yet I managed to remain calm. "Your Majesty, I implore you to thoroughly investigate this matter. Someone must have deliberately framed me and intended to disrupt the peace of the palace."

The king pondered for a moment and ordered the arrest and severe interrogation of the eunuchs and palace maids responsible for managing the sacrificial supplies. As the poor servants were dragged away, their cries and pleas for mercy were endless. However, they knew nothing about the sacrificial supplies being swapped, and their confessions, spouted under torture, were incapable of providing any valuable clues.

On my side, Wanqing, upon learning I was under suspicion, frantically rushed around, trying to find evidence to clear my name. She snuck into the imperial kitchen to see if anyone had poisoned my food. Fortunately, she found some residual medicinal powder in a secluded corner, suspecting it was poison. She dared not speak out, and hurriedly collected the powder, intending to take it to a trusted imperial physician for identification.

Amidst this chaos, Concubine Li sat quietly gloating. She believed her scheme was flawless; if only I were convicted, she could regain the King's favor and avenge the Queen. Little did she know, however, that Wanqing's discovery would be the key to unraveling her scheme. Though she had successfully evaded suspicion for now, the dawn of truth would soon pierce the darkness of the conspiracy, exposing her crimes.