Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Zhen Huan Chronicles, An Ling Rong

“It’s not easy for anyone in the rear palace.” Zhen Huan lowered her eyes and said softly. “Don’t say things like that again in the future.”

“My lady is kind, but they don’t take My Lady seriously at all!” Huan Bi was still resentful. “I think My Lady should make an example of someone-kill the chicken to scare the monkeys. Let the palace know My Lady isn’t someone anyone can bully, and let them know what happens when they offend My Lady.”

“I know what I’m doing.” A sharp glint flashed in Zhen Huan’s eyes, yet she still spoke softly and gently. “I won’t give anyone another chance to bully me. Those people are being so arrogant-they’ll pay the price sooner or later.”

“In this servant’s view, the best thing would be for My Lady to be pregnant.” Huan Bi’s gaze could not help falling on Zhen Huan’s belly. “With how much the emperor favors My Lady, if My Lady becomes pregnant, you’ll surely be promoted to Concubine. Then My Lady will not only be able to live in the main hall, you’ll also be able to keep the child by your side.”

“It’s not that easy.” Zhen Huan froze for a moment, then touched her lower belly again, her tone turning a little dejected. “I don’t know when I’ll have that kind of fate.”

… Yan Xi Palace.

“My lady, that Huan Bi by Noble Lady Wan’s side really acts even more like a consort than her own mistress.” Lv He could not help complaining. “People who don’t know would think she’s the Noble Lady. She’s always looking down at people with her chin. I really don’t know how the people in Sui Yu Pavilion can put up with her.”

“It’s simple. She relies on her status, so of course she dares to throw her weight around at Noble Lady Wan’s side.” Li Si Qi replied casually. “And Noble Lady Wan is willing to protect her-and also has to protect her. After all, this is the disaster their family created. Naturally she has to bear it.”

“Why?” Lv He was extremely curious. “Did they really switch identities? Is Huan Bi the real young miss?”

“What nonsense are you thinking?” Li Si Qi laughed, amused. “They’re biological sisters. Huan Bi is Noble Lady Wan’s concubine-born younger sister.”

“That… how is that possible!” Lv He cried out in shock. “Who treats their own sister as a maid? Has Noble Lady Wan gone mad?”

“She didn’t go mad. Her father did.” Li Si Qi pressed her lips into a smile. “Her father secretly sheltered the daughter of a disgraced official and took her as a kept woman. He had a daughter with her, refused to acknowledge her, and even put that daughter into the slave registry-then brought her home to serve his legitimate eldest daughter. Don’t you think that kind of father is ridiculous?”

“This…” Lv He was completely stunned by the news.

After a long while, she finally found her voice again. “My lady, is Noble Lady Wan’s father crazy? Taking the daughter of a disgraced official as a concubine is already a crime, and he even put his own daughter into the slave registry. Wouldn’t that make Huan Bi a servant for life?”

“Of course not.” Li Si Qi lifted her brows. “His abacus beads are clicking loudly. As long as his eldest daughter becomes a favored consort, she can help him find an imperial prince or royal grandson to marry this concubine-born daughter off to.”

“Daydreaming!” Lv He blurted out what was on her mind. “A disgraced official’s daughter, an illegitimate child, a palace maid in the slave registry-she wants to marry an imperial prince or royal grandson? The emperor would have to be insane to agree to that.”

“Exactly, exactly. The emperor would have to be insane to agree-hahaha…” By the end, Li Si Qi could not help laughing out loud.

At that moment, Lv Xiang walked in quickly and bowed. “My lady, Attendant Xia in the left side hall feels unwell. She has already sent someone to summon an imperial physician.”

“Unwell?” Li Si Qi stood up at once. “Come. I’ll go with you to take a look.”

As she spoke, she walked out. Lv He and He Xiang immediately followed.

“What’s wrong?” The moment Li Si Qi entered the main hall and saw Xia Dong Chun’s pale face, she could not help asking. “Were you sick?”

“Ugh!”

Xia Dong Chun did not have time to speak. She bent over and vomited.

“Isn’t this morning sickness?” Seeing her like this, it was clearly pregnancy nausea. Li Si Qi could not help asking again, “Any other symptoms?”

“Replying to Attendant Xin!” Xia Dong Chun’s maid, Xing’er, bowed and answered. “During this time, my mistress has been dizzy, tired, and sleepy.”

As she spoke, worry showed in her eyes. “We thought my mistress wasn’t resting well. We didn’t expect that in the last two days, my mistress would lose her appetite, dislike greasy foods, feel nauseated, and vomit. Seeing my mistress suffer like this, this servant could only send someone to summon an imperial physician.”

“Alright, don’t worry.” Li Si Qi already knew Xia Dong Chun was pregnant, so she was not concerned.

She walked over and sat beside Xia Dong Chun, smiling. “Attendant Xia, it looks like you’ll have to suffer for a few months.”

“What do you mean?” Xia Dong Chun wiped the corner of her mouth. Weak as she was, she leaned against a cushion, yet still glared at Li Si Qi and snapped fiercely, “An Ling Rong, I think you’re gloating.”

“Yeah, I am gloating!” Li Si Qi nodded with a bright smile. “Besides, this is the good thing you begged for.”

“You bad person!” Xia Dong Chun was so angry she sat up, snapping, “If you don’t explain it clearly, don’t blame me for having someone throw you out!”

“Calling you stupid is right-you really are stupid.” Li Si Qi rolled her eyes. “The signs are this obvious and you still don’t know what it is? Of course you’re pregnant. This is pregnancy vomiting. Some people get like this early on-can’t eat, can’t sleep, dizzy, vomiting nonstop, enjoying that feeling of being worse than dead.”

“You’re saying I’m pregnant?” Xia Dong Chun froze at once.

She looked like she could not believe it. “An Ling Rong, are you joking?”

“Why would I joke with you?” Li Si Qi rolled her eyes again. “Wait until the imperial physician gets here, and you’ll know whether I lied.”

“S-So I’m pregnant!” Xia Dong Chun said she did not believe it, but in her heart, she already believed it.

Sure enough. After the imperial physician examined her, Xia Dong Chun was already nearly two months pregnant. Xia Dong Chun was thrilled. She carefully touched her belly and grinned like a fool.

For a moment, she seemed to forget the pain of the nausea.

“Imperial Physician, take my pulse too.” Li Si Qi decided to expose her own pregnancy as well.

Imperial Physician Wen stepped forward and immediately took her pulse. That physician who came to Yan Xi Palace this time was Zhen Huan’s childhood friend, Imperial Physician Wen.

“Congratulations, Attendant Xin. You are two months pregnant as well.” As soon as Imperial Physician Wen finished speaking, Xia Dong Chun cried out, “She’s pregnant too?”

“Replying to Attendant Xia, Attendant Xin is indeed pregnant.” Imperial Physician Wen still answered unhurriedly. “It’s about the same as yours-around two months.”

“Pregnant is pregnant. Do you need to be so shocked?” Li Si Qi shot her a look of disdain. “Don’t forget, we served in bed around the same time. Getting pregnant around the same time is normal, isn’t it?”

“Oh, you’re right.” Xia Dong Chun nodded dumbly, immediately accepting the surprise.

“Imperial Physician Wen.” Li Si Qi looked at him and gestured toward the fool beside her. “Attendant Xia has nausea, dizziness, sleepiness, poor appetite, and vomiting. It’s tormenting her so badly she’s half-dead. Is there a way to help her regulate it?”

“Replying to Attendant Xin, pregnancy vomiting is very normal.” Imperial Physician Wen looked troubled. “Attendant Xia’s constitution is still pretty good. In my humble opinion, it’s best not to take medicine. If her appetite is poor and she dislikes greasy foods, she can eat lighter dishes, and also eat more of the foods Attendant Xia likes…”