Seizing the throne, abolishing the adopted son, the imperial concubine rose to prominence

"I believe that Imperial Physician Yuan is a smart man and will naturally know how to avoid disaster."

"Physician Yuan, please continue. The Empress Dowager should not be exposed to this mandrake for more than five days. If she stops using it, will it harm her health?"

This Datura is a banned drug in the palace, but he is familiar with its medicinal properties. Thinking of the fast-acting painkiller pills that Lin Yu took last time, Gu Youning knew that Yuan Cai must be using this medicinal material in private.

However, she valued Yuan Cai not only because of his intelligence, but more importantly, because of his medical skills.

Yuan Cai is different from the ordinary imperial doctors in the Imperial Medical Bureau. He knows many peculiar prescriptions. She needs such a person to take her by surprise when necessary.

"Yes."

Yuan Cai showed gratitude on his face. He had been obsessed with medicine since he was a child and liked to study rare medicinal herbs.

Now that he had a clear path ahead in front of Concubine Gu, he felt much more at ease.

"The amount of Datura on the fourth young lady's clothes was small, and the amount the empress dowager inhaled was even smaller. After a few days of stopping use, even the imperial doctors wouldn't be able to detect anything, but there will be some hidden injuries to the empress dowager's body."

Yuan Cai continued.

"I understand. Thank you, Imperial Physician Yuan, for coming."

Gu Youning winked at Tan Yin who was standing beside him.

Tan Yin handed over the purse that she had prepared long ago.

"Thank you, Concubine, for the reward!"

Yuan Cai did not refuse and took it with thanks.

After this period of contact, he also understood Concubine Gu's temperament. As long as he did his job well, she would never be stingy with rewards.

With this money, not only will his family live a much better life, but he will also be able to obtain more rare medicinal herbs for research.

Although he knew that his wealth and background had been thoroughly investigated, and even his cousin's young son, whom he had quietly placed in the outer house, had been discovered, his master had means, and his future prospects would only be greater.

And as long as he is loyal to his master, those things will never become a handle.

He was very glad about his decision that day.

"Master, I'm afraid this Cai Yuan needs to be dealt with?"

Tan Yin said that there was nothing wrong with the camphor originally, but it was mixed with datura later, which must have been Cai Yuan's doing.

"No, you can't touch her for now."

The peony flowers in Ci'an Palace are still there. Concubine Zheng is willing to keep her troops in place for now, waiting for Gu Youxin to get rid of Zheng'er. If she touches Caiyuan, it will definitely alert the enemy and force Concubine Zheng to take action in advance.

"Caiyuan should still have Mandragora in her hands. Go to Yuancai and get a powder of similar color to replace it."

Gu Youning said after pondering for a moment.

As for the clothes stained with Datura, Gu Youning was not worried. Yuan Cai had just mentioned that in just two days, no trace of Datura would be found on the clothes, so they had to be fumigated every day.

That was why she was sure that Cai Yuan still had Datura powder in her hands.

"Also, since Cai Yuan has openly joined Gu Youxin, then let the other palace servants give her a hard time from time to time. It doesn't have to be too extreme, just show your discontent and exclusion."

There must be no mistakes in Ci'an Palace.

Before getting rid of those peonies, she couldn't let Concubine Zheng have any suspicion.

In the eyes of others, she would definitely not care about anything else now, and would only hate Gu Youxin who instigated this incident. She would certainly not let go of Cai Yuan who aided and abetted the evil.

"Master, Lady Wen requests to see you."

At this time, Xiao Zuozi suddenly came in and reported.

"Invite someone in."

Gu Youxin asked Tan Yin to go and do the work first.

"Gu Jieyu."

When Lady Wen saw Gu Youning lying on the couch with red and lifeless eyes, she put away most of the arrogance on her face and rarely performed the ceremony according to the palace rules.

"Please take a seat, Miss Wen."

Gu Youning straightened up, his voice hoarse.

"I know you're not in the mood to talk to me right now, but this is so important that I had to come and talk to you."

Seeing Gu Youning looking up at her blankly, without the calmness and composure he had that day at Jifang Pavilion, Lady Wen couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness in her heart.

Gu Youning's current appearance is no different from the distraught look she had on the day she lost her child.

Thinking of this, Lady Wen deliberately softened her tone, "It was your younger sister who instructed Qin Tinglu of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to advise the Queen Mother to allow the eldest prince to live in Ci'an Palace."

Gu Youning showed a look of surprise and doubt on his face at the right time.

"So this Qin Tinglu is from the Wen family?"

Gu Youning asked what she had already known for a long time, but to her surprise, Lady Wen denied it: "He is not, but he has a palace maid who is from the Wen family. However, this palace maid obeys my uncle's orders."

Gu Youning's eyes narrowed. It was a capital crime for an official to have an affair with a palace maid. No wonder Qin Tinglu was willing to follow Gu Youxin's orders.

"As long as we capture this palace maid and bring her before the Emperor, and she betrays Qin Tinglu, the eldest prince won't have to go to Ci'an Palace anymore."

Lady Wen said urgently.

"I'm afraid not."

Gu Youning pressed his forehead and frowned fiercely.

If I had known this earlier, I would have had room for planning, but now Qin Tinglu has already said it.

The Empress Dowager was not a reasonable person to begin with, and with Gu Youxin whispering in her ear, if she reported the matter at this time, it would only make the Empress Dowager think that she did not want her son to enter Ci'an Palace, and deliberately found a palace maid to frame the Junior Eunuch of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.

Not only would she not be able to keep Zheng'er as she wished, but the emperor would also think she was scheming.

She naturally couldn't do something that would not be worth the loss.

"Why do not you believe me?"

Lady Wen was a little annoyed. She came here today with full sincerity, and just now she had truly sympathized with the other person.

"I know you have no intention of harming me and you really want to help me."

Gu Youning looked straight at Lady Wen with a sincere gaze.

"But matters concerning celestial phenomena are inherently difficult to predict. If Young Supervisor Qin insists that it is true, the Queen Mother will prefer to believe it. Then not only will Zheng'er still have to go to Ci'an Palace, but we, mother and son, will also be accused of being unfilial to the Queen Mother."

"But the information you brought is indeed useful. It's just that now is not the time to disclose it."

She could see that Lady Wen was just being concerned and anxious, so she naturally wouldn't get angry at her rude questioning.

Moreover, Concubine Wen was able to investigate the matter right after the incident at Ci'an Palace happened, which shows that the two factions within the Wen family were fighting each other within the palace, and the connections of the head of the Wen family may have gained the upper hand.

This is indeed good news for Gu Youning.

"What you said does make sense. In the eyes of the Queen Mother, apart from Prince Liang and Prince Rong, there is only herself. The Emperor and his offspring are nothing in her eyes."