Chapter 288: Secret News
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The head of the Jiang Family arrived at the palace bearing a valuable batch of medicinal herbs. After much persuasion, the Empress Dowager finally accepted the truth that the Jiang Family did not possess the Immortal Pill.
Interestingly, the secret ingredient mentioned by Grandma Qin for the mysterious pill turned out to be ganoderma lucidum.
In a gesture of sincerity to win the Empress Dowager’s trust, the Jiang Family Head even sacrificed the remaining half of a thousand-year-old ganoderma lucidum. The imperial physicians were visibly excited by this precious gift.
Given their willingness to part with such a valuable item, the Empress Dowager decided not to press the Jiang Family Head further.
In response, he promised to keep a close watch on any developments related to the Immortal Pill and promptly inform the imperial hospital of any news.
As he left the palace, the head of the Jiang family breathed a sigh of relief but nursed a deep hatred for Qin Zhenzhen and Grandma Qin. However, he realized that he couldn’t act recklessly; he needed to consider the bigger picture. He would endure for now, knowing that once the Jiang Family gained more power, Qin Zhenzhen would be at his mercy.
Meanwhile, as the Jiang family plotted their next move against Qin Zhenzhen and her grandmother, a secret began to circulate on the capital’s streets. Though it was only whispered in private, the rumor soon spread like a gentle breeze throughout the city, reaching even the suburbs where citizens discussed it discreetly.
This secret revolved around none other than the current Empress Dowager and
Grandma Qin, with the caption: “Unmasking the Intrigues of a Long-Time
Widow.”
It was a story from more than 40 years ago.
The concubine daughter of the Jiang family, Jiang Fenglian, was as beautiful as a flower, but her talent and beauty coexisted. Her culinary skills and medical skills were one of the best among her peers.
At that time, many noble young masters in the capital wanted to marry Jiang Fenglian.
Even the Crown Prince at that time was interested in Jiang Fenglian and wanted to marry her back to the Crown Prince’s residence.
When the Crown Princess Consort found out about this, she came up with a plan and instigated the Empress Dowager to point Jiang Fenglian to the Seventh Prince.
When the Crown Prince learned of the Crown Princess Consort’s good deeds, he hated her in his heart. Because her maternal family was powerful, the Crown Prince did not dare to abandon her, but thanks to this, he neglected her and let her live as a widow.
At that time, the crown prince consort thought that all of this was caused by Jiang Fenglian, so she viciously sent her to abduct Jiang Fenglian, blinded her, and even got her raped.
They forced Jiang Fenglian to marry into a remote village.
Jiang Fenglian thought that from now on, she would have nothing to do with
anyone and everything in the capital.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Fenglian and her granddaughter, Qin Zhenzhen, were suddenly summoned to the palace by the Empress Dowager.
Although it was said that she was treating the empress dowager’s headache, the truth was that the empress dowager hated Jiang Fenglian and wanted to use this opportunity to kill Jiang Fenglian and her granddaughter out of revenge
Ever since the Empress Dowager harmed Jiang Fenglian, she had been a living widow. The Crown Prince had never touched her again until he became the Emperor.
A woman who had been a widow for more than forty years was terrifying. Even though Jiang Fenglian was far away, the Empress Dowager still did not let her off.
Now, Jiang Fenglian and Qin Zhenzhen had not come out since they entered the palace. It was very likely that they had been killed by the Empress Dowager.
Although the main character of the secret was the Empress Dowager, it did not stop the people from talking about it in private.
This was because the term ‘living widow’ had already become a major point of discussion.
These rumors swiftly made their way into the palace’s inner circles.
In response, the emperor, consumed by anger, wasted no time dispatching investigators to ascertain the veracity of these claims.
However, the individual behind the rumor was astute, having long withdrawn from the capital, leaving behind no discernible trace.
The Empress Dowager’s countenance turned as dark as the depths of a cauldron. She harbored a deep suspicion that the dissemination of this secret was linked to Grandma Qin.
Given that these events unfolded four decades in the past, knowledge of them remained confined to a select few..