Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Zhen Huan Chronicles, An Ling Rong

“I hope so.” Still unsettled, Zhen Huan forced herself to make small talk. “Sister Mei finally received a title, but she’s still the same rank as An Ling Rong…”

Liu Zhu replied with a smile, “My Lady, there are quite a few Noble Ladies with titles in the palace now.”

“Yes, because everyone is pregnant.” Zhen Huan nodded. “Only Xia Dong Chun received a title without being promoted in rank. She’s the daughter of a fourth-rank official, yet she’s being pressed down by An Ling Rong, an eighth-rank official’s daughter. I wonder if she can accept it.”

“So what if she can’t?” Liu Zhu said. “In the palace, only the Emperor’s favor is real. Noble Lady Xin is more favored than Second Attendant Jing, so her rank is naturally higher.”

“You’re right. In the end, the Emperor’s favor is what matters most.”

Zhen Huan made up her mind. In this life, she would seize the Emperor’s favor. She would become the beloved consort in the Emperor’s heart. No one would be allowed to surpass her.

Imperial Physician Wen was quickly brought over by Huan Bi. Thinking something had happened to Zhen Huan, he rushed over in a panic. But the moment he entered, he saw her chatting and laughing with her maids as if nothing were wrong. His heart settled at once.

He could not help wiping the fine sweat from his forehead. After drawing a quiet breath, he forced up a smile and saluted the person on the couch. “This humble subject pays respects to Noble Lady Wan.”

“Brother Shi Chu is here.” Zhen Huan smiled at him. “Please trouble you to take my pulse. Lately I’ve been anxious, and I’m worried it will be bad for my health.”

“My Lady, please rest assured.” Imperial Physician Wen replied respectfully. “This subject will take your pulse carefully.”

In truth, even without taking her pulse, Wen Shi Chu could more or less guess why Zhen Huan was anxious. Most of the newly entered consorts had confirmed their pregnancies. Yet she, the most favored of all, still had no news – it would have been strange if she were not anxious.

“Thank you, Brother Shi Chu.” Zhen Huan thanked him with a smile and held out her hand for him.

Wen Shi Chu did not dare look at her. He took out a handkerchief to cover her wrist, then began to take her pulse. After a moment, he immediately stepped back a few paces and cupped his hands. “Congratulations, Noble Lady Wan.

You are already more than a month pregnant.”

“Truly?”

Zhen Huan was overjoyed. She stood up at once and pressed, “Brother Shi Chu, am I really pregnant?”

“Yes, My Lady.” Wen Shi Chu nodded seriously. “This humble subject has confirmed it. Noble Lady Wan is with child.”

“Wonderful!”

No matter how steady Zhen Huan usually was, hearing the news she had longed for, she could not help cheering. “I finally have a child!”

“Congratulations, My Lady!”

“My Lady truly is pregnant!”

Liu Zhu and the returning Huan Bi heard the news and could not help bursting with excitement. They understood their mistress’s worries too well. They had been waiting for this day.

“Brother Shi Chu, please make a trip to the Imperial Study and report the good news to His Majesty.” Zhen Huan gave the instruction with a smile.

Yet without realizing it, she began to anticipate it. She anticipated the Emperor’s arrival, and she anticipated the Emperor promoting her rank again. Since she was the favored consort, her rank should naturally be a level above the other newly entered consorts. More importantly, she wanted to move back into the main hall.

Crowded into this small side hall, she did not look like a favored consort at all.

“Yes. This humble subject will go to the Imperial Study at once.” With his task completed, he naturally took his leave.

After he left, Zhen Huan’s face glowed with joy as she instructed the people beside her, “Quickly go to the Imperial Kitchen and bring back several kinds of pastries.”

“Yes, My Lady.” Liu Zhu understood at once and happily turned to go.

Huan Bi was just as excited. “My Lady, now that you’re with child, this servant wants to see who dares speak nonsense again.”

“Enough. A few unpleasant remarks aren’t worth taking to heart.” Zhen Huan was brimming with delight and did not want to fuss over a few bits of gossip from maids and eunuchs.

She gave another order. “Go watch the tea room and prepare the tea His Majesty likes.”

“Yes. This servant will go at once.” Huan Bi left in light, happy steps.

All of Sui Yu Pavilion became busy…. Imperial Study. When he heard that Noble Lady Wan was also with child, the Emperor tossed aside the memorials in his hands and rushed to Sui Yu Pavilion at once. Soon, the entire inner palace knew the news.

The Empress did not get to wait for the Emperor to come to Jing Ren Palace and explain himself. Instead, she heard that Noble Lady Wan was pregnant, and that the Emperor had gone to Sui Yu Pavilion.

“Good. So every one of them is pregnant. Their good fortune really isn’t bad.”

This time, the Empress was very calm. So calm it was abnormal. An eerie chill seemed to pour off her as she wore a radiant smile. “A pity.

So what if they’re pregnant? Only keeping the child is real ability. When the time comes and they watch helplessly as the child in their belly slips out… I wonder how many of them, as mothers, can bear it. Jian Qiu, isn’t that right?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Jian Qiu took a fruit plate from a maid and set it on the small table. “Watching them rejoice, and watching them grieve – life is supposed to go through hardship. That is normal.”

“Good, good.” The Empress clapped as she praised her. “Jian Qiu spoke exactly what was in my heart.”

Jian Qiu replied respectfully, “This servant only spoke the truth.”

“In another month, it will be winter.” The Empress looked out at the scenery. “When the snow falls, the plum blossoms will bloom as well. By then, the consorts’ pregnancies will have settled, and they can come out to admire the flowers…”

“Please rest assured, Your Majesty. This servant has already arranged it.”

“Remember this.” The Empress’s eyes flashed with vicious light. “As for the children in the other consorts’ bellies, get rid of as many as you can. No matter what method you use, Noble Lady Wan’s pregnancy must be made to miscarry. She absolutely cannot be allowed the chance to give birth.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

… Yan Xi Palace. Li Si Qi leaned against a cushion with her eyes closed, resting. In fact, she was chatting with Little Teapot.

“Other than Zhen Huan, who else is pregnant but hasn’t revealed it yet?”

“No one.” Little Teapot replied. “Second Attendant Fang, First Attendant Kang, and First Attendant Xi still haven’t served the Emperor, so they definitely can’t be pregnant.”

“Oh.” Li Si Qi did not care. “Second Attendant Fang is still young, and the Emperor definitely won’t summon her. With so many pregnant women in the palace, aside from favoring the older consorts, that leaves First Attendant Kang and First Attendant Xi. Looks like their good luck has arrived. Too bad the Emperor is already using contraception – they won’t have a chance to get pregnant for now.”

“Not getting pregnant might be a good thing for them.” Little Teapot said. “You know the Empress is spending all day in Jing Ren Palace thinking about how to make the consorts miscarry. With their abilities and methods, they definitely wouldn’t be able to keep a child. Better not to get pregnant than to get pregnant and lose it.”

“No matter what, they should still be given a chance.” Li Si Qi smiled. “Three years from now, we’ll see if they have a chance to conceive. As for whether they can keep it under the Empress’s hand, that depends on them.”

“In the original drama, they’re nothing but background roles. Mistress doesn’t need to worry about them.”

“You’re right.” Li Si Qi suddenly thought of two people. “Right – Wen Shi Chu’s medical skill is good, but he’s also Zhen Huan’s total simp. To avoid any accidents, have him and Sun Zhu Xi at the Empress Dowager’s side take the Puppet Pill as well. These two still carry some weight in this story. It’s safer to bring them onto our side.”

“Don’t worry, Mistress. I’ll have both of them take it tonight.”