Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Zhen Huan Chronicles, An Ling Rong

A while later. Imperial Physician Wen accepted two generous rewards and left Yan Xi Palace. He did not return to the Imperial Medical Bureau at once. Instead, he went to the Imperial Study to request an audience with the Emperor.

When a consort became pregnant, it had to be confirmed, and the imperial physician had to report it….

“I didn’t expect you two to get pregnant as well.”

Noble Lady Fu Cha rushed over as soon as she heard. She wore a happy smile. “Now the three of us all have children. Later, our children can play together.”

“Yes. With more children, it’ll be lively.”

For once, Xia Dong Chun didn’t say something foolish. “If they grow up together, they’ll be closer.”

“Closer? What closeness?”

Li Si Qi poured cold water on them. “Once the babies are born, just wait until you’re surrounded by their crying. All day long, it’ll be ‘waa waa’ in your ears. Then don’t even think about having a single quiet day.”

“Can you talk properly?!”

“An Ling Rong, are you itching for a beating again?”

The two of them glared at her at once, like they wanted to kick her straight out.

“What, you won’t even let people tell the truth now?”

Li Si Qi looked innocent. “Newborns only know how to cry and sleep. Once they grow a little, they’ll start tearing the place apart. Then it’s ‘three days without a beating and they’ll climb onto the roof and rip off the tiles.’

Otherwise why are they called little brats? Just wait until they make you so mad you explode…”

“Shut up!”

“You can get out right now!”

The two of them were grinding their teeth in fury and shouted at the same time again. In the end, Li Si Qi was chased off with her tail between her legs. Imperial Study.

“First Attendant Xia and First Attendant Xin both have good news?”

The Emperor was surprised, with a hint of delight. Although several consorts in the palace were already pregnant, as emperor he still hoped his heirs would be more numerous. Thinking about how there were only a handful so far, he felt a little anxious. Now that more and more consorts were pregnant, he finally felt more at ease.

The smile on his face grew thicker without him noticing. He instructed, “Since you were the one who diagnosed First Attendant Xia and First Attendant Xin, then their pregnancies, along with Noble Lady Fu Cha’s pregnancy, will be entrusted to you. You will care for them.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. This official obeys.”

“You may go.”

“Yes, this humble official takes his leave.”

Imperial Physician Wen kowtowed with a crisp thud, then withdrew from the Imperial Study. After he left. The Emperor was full of joy and instructed the man at his side, “Su Pei Sheng, come. Let’s go to Yan Xi Palace to see First Attendant Xin.”

“Yes!”

Su Pei Sheng immediately shouted outside, “Prepare the imperial carriage to Yan Xi Palace!”… The news that two more consorts were pregnant quickly spread throughout the entire Inner Palace. When the pregnant consorts heard, they did not take it to heart. In their eyes, it did not matter whether others were pregnant. What mattered most was keeping their own children safe.

Yi Kun Palace.

“Oh? All three mistresses in Yan Xi Palace are pregnant?”

Consort Hua lounged lazily against the cushions and smiled. “Looks like Yan Xi Palace has good feng shui. Three mistresses getting pregnant at the same time – that old woman Empress is probably going to die of anger.”

“More and more consorts are getting pregnant now.”

Song Zhi smiled as she answered. “Even if Her Majesty is angry, she won’t be able to stay angry at everyone.”

“Hmph. That old woman is probably going to make a move again.”

A flash of hatred crossed Consort Hua’s eyes. “I want to watch her – watch that old woman who always holds herself up as having the heart of a bodhisattva – and see whether she dares to lay hands on pregnant consorts again and make their children drop.” During this period, things delivered by the Imperial Household Department had been tainted with medicine that caused miscarriages. After investigating, all the evidence pointed at the Empress.

She had been itching to storm into Jing Ren Palace and rip off that old woman’s mask. But before she could act, the Empress Dowager sent Zhu Xi with rewards, and between the lines she spoke up for the Empress. Consort Hua had no choice but to swallow her anger.

“Your Highness, quite a few consorts miscarried before.”

Song Zhi replied softly. “Whether it was Noble Lady Fang or First Attendant Xin, they both miscarried only after entering the palace. This servant thinks that with the Empress’s methods, more and more consorts will miscarry in the future. This time, several consorts are pregnant.

Who knows how many will truly be able to keep their children. Your Highness must be careful this time. You absolutely mustn’t let the Empress make you take the blame again.”

“She’d dare?!”

Consort Hua’s almond eyes widened as she snapped, fierce and sharp. “If the Empress dares to push me out as her scapegoat again, don’t blame me for flipping her Jing Ren Palace over and letting everyone see her true face!” Thinking of how she had taken the blame for the Empress more than once, she wanted to bite that woman to death.

“Fortunately, the Great General sent Nanny Jiang to Your Highness this time.”

Song Zhi looked relieved. “Otherwise, we still wouldn’t have known our palace had so many harmful things. If any of those things had hurt Your Highness or the little master, this servant could never atone even with ten thousand deaths.”

“It has nothing to do with you.”

Consort Hua waved her hand. “I didn’t expect that poisonous woman Empress to dare use such methods on me. I couldn’t get pregnant before. Maybe it was that poisonous woman who was secretly harming me.

Now I have Nanny Jiang at my side, and she once served the late emperor’s consorts. She will definitely protect me and help me give birth to an imperial son.” Song Zhi smiled. “When Your Highness gives birth to a healthy young prince, the Empress will die of anger.”

“I’m waiting for that day.”

Consort Hua held out her right hand and admired her gem-studded nail guards, then added, “First Attendant Xin may be a bit simple, but she’s honest at heart. Since she’s pregnant too, have someone send her a congratulatory gift. As long as someone shows goodwill to me, I’m willing to protect them.”

“Yes. This servant will go make arrangements right away.”

“Mm. Go.”

… Jing Ren Palace.

“The news is correct?”

The Empress shrieked in a rage, “Xia Dong Chun and An Ling Rong are both pregnant?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Jian Qiu looked at the furious Empress and could not help feeling heartache. “Your Majesty, please don’t be anxious. Even if they’re pregnant, so what? There are so many pregnant consorts in the palace now.

Why must Your Majesty torment yourself for their sake?”

“Damn it!”

The Empress’s anger did not fade. It only grew worse. In her rage, she swept everything off the table with one arm. The floor was instantly a complete mess.

“Your Majesty, please calm down! Don’t hurt your hand!”

Jian Qiu did not even look at the things on the ground. She gripped the Empress’s hand tightly and said with even more pain, “They’re only two fools. It’s truly not worth Your Majesty getting angry. So what if they’re pregnant?

Later, if they accidentally lose the pregnancy, that’ll be that. Why should Your Majesty injure yourself?”

“Jian Qiu, I hate it!”

The Empress’s face was full of pain. “These vile women – by what right are they pregnant, by what right do they have children? They don’t have that right. They don’t deserve it.

Jian Qiu, I won’t allow them to give birth. I absolutely won’t allow it.”

“This servant understands. This servant remembers.”

Jian Qiu kept soothing her mistress. “Your Majesty can rest assured. This servant has long since made arrangements. This servant just received word that Noble Lady Shen of Cun Ju Hall has started to feel unwell.

Now we’ll see how long her pregnancy can hold on.”

“Good. As long as something is happening.”

Hearing that, the Empress instantly looked as if she had been given a shot of adrenaline. She stopped raging at once. She quickly calmed down again and asked, “What about Noble Lady Fu Cha’s pregnancy? Any news?”

“In reply to Your Majesty, word from Yan Xi Palace says Noble Lady Fu Cha has been staying in the main hall and hasn’t gone out.”

Jian Qiu added, “It seems she has poor appetite, and she doesn’t look very energetic either. In this servant’s view, Noble Lady Fu Cha’s child is probably affected as well.”

“Good. It’s good if it’s affected.”

The Empress rubbed her forehead and continued, “Yan Xi Palace already has a small kitchen. Tell the Imperial Kitchen to send more fresh ingredients. There are three pregnant women in Yan Xi Palace now. They must be well cared for.”

“Your Majesty can rest assured. This servant knows how to arrange it.”