Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Zhen Huan Chronicles, An Ling Rong

“Concubine Jing, Noble Lady Wan, Noble Lady Hui, and Noble Lady Xin miscarried at Plum Garden.”

The moment Imperial Physician Zhang finished speaking, the emperor showed surprise. “You mean Concubine Jing and Noble Lady Xin miscarried?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, Concubine Jing and Noble Lady Xin had only been pregnant a little over a month.”

Imperial Physician Zhang explained, “Concubine Jing and Noble Lady Xin likely did not even know they were pregnant. They only found out after they miscarried.”

“They had no fortune.”

The emperor’s voice carried faint displeasure. Then he asked, “And the three in Yan Xi Palace?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, Noble Lady Tian’s right foot bone is slightly out of place. For at least three months, she will not be able to walk normally.”

Imperial Physician Zhang continued, “Attendant Jing is still alright, with only a bruise on her left arm. Only Noble Lady Xin’s cheek injury is a bit more severe, though the bruise on her right elbow is not especially serious. However…” At that, Imperial Physician Zhang stopped. The emperor immediately pressed, “However what?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, according to the pulse record Imperial Physician Wen submitted, Noble Lady Xin is carrying twins.”

“What? Twins?”

“Yes. According to Imperial Physician Wen’s notes, Noble Lady Xin’s children may be a boy-girl pair of twins.”

“A boy-girl pair?”

The emperor was overjoyed. The jade beads spun even faster in his hand. “Good. Noble Lady Xin is truly a good one.

Right-are her children alright?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty,” Imperial Physician Zhang replied, “Noble Lady Xin suffered injuries and was also frightened, so there has been some effect. This official recommends that Noble Lady Xin rest well.”

“Good, good, good!”

The emperor understood. The three pregnant women in Yan Xi Palace had managed to keep their children. As for Noble Lady Yu, who had run off early, the emperor had already forgotten she existed. Then he asked again, “What about the Empress and Consort Qi?

How are they?” Compared to the other consorts’ misery, it seemed the Empress and Consort Qi were not any better. The bloody mess on their faces, necks, and hands was the least of it. Especially the claw marks on the backs of their hands-they were so deep you could almost see bone.

“Reporting to Your Majesty.”

Imperial Physician Zhang lowered his head even further. “The Empress and Consort Qi’s main issue is that the claw wounds are severe. The Empress’s left foot also has a slight fracture and needs careful recuperation.”

“Treat them well.”

The emperor gave the order. After a pause, he added, “Noble Lady Xin’s pregnancy will be handled by you and Imperial Physician Wen. You must keep this pregnancy safe for me. If anything goes wrong, you will answer with your heads!”

After the Plum Garden massacre, the emperor valued the boy-girl twins that could bring him renown more than ever.

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Go.”

“This official takes his leave!”

After Imperial Physician Zhang left, the emperor headed for Kang Shou Palace. When the Empress Dowager heard the emperor was coming, worry flickered in her eyes.

“I wonder if His Majesty has found anything in his investigation.”

“Empress Dowager, rest assured.”

Zhu Xi answered softly. “I heard His Majesty just met with Imperial Physician Zhang. He likely came because of the consorts’ injuries.”

“I hope so.”

The Empress Dowager sighed and instructed, “Have them clean up the tail quickly. This matter absolutely cannot be the Empress’s doing.”

“This servant understands.”

A strange look flashed through Zhu Xi’s eyes. “But someone must take responsibility, or we will have no way to explain it to His Majesty.”

“That’s right.”

The Empress Dowager nodded. Of course she knew they needed a scapegoat. She could not help showing regret. “If it were anything else, pushing Consort Hua out would be best, since she holds palace authority.

But if we point the clues at her now, I fear the emperor won’t believe it. Instead, it will only make him more determined to keep digging.”

“Empress Dowager, you mean…?”

“Since no one else is suitable, then let it be Consort Qi.”

The Empress Dowager named her directly. “She happens to have a son, and she is rash and reckless. In the emperor’s eyes, she’s also a fool.”

“Empress Dowager, this servant feels Consort Qi does have the motive, but…”

Zhu Xi hesitated, then continued, “Consort Qi truly is not very clever. If we really push the Plum Garden massacre onto her, His Majesty likely will not believe she has the ability to plan something that big.”

“That is true.”

The Empress Dowager froze for a moment, then immediately reacted. Her son was no fool. He would not believe anything so easily. Clearly, letting Consort Qi take the blame alone was not appropriate.

The entire harem knew what kind of person Consort Qi was. Who would believe she had the brains to plan a massacre meant to ‘wipe them all out in one go’? The Empress Dowager thought for a moment, then said, “If Consort Qi alone won’t do, then add Consort Duan as well. As for Consort Duan…” The Empress Dowager did not finish her sentence.

Zhu Xi, as her personal head nanny, understood what she meant. Though Consort Duan could serve as a scapegoat, she was not someone who simply kept her head down. Her little moves in the harem could fool others, but they could not fool the Empress Dowager. Now that the Empress Dowager was pushing her out again, it was likely the reason Consort Duan had placed watchers inside Jing Ren Palace.

Master and servant said nothing more. They waited for the emperor to arrive. After a while, the imperial retinue arrived at Kang Shou Palace. The emperor came in quickly and saluted.

“Your son pays his respects to Imperial Mother!”

“The emperor is here. Sit, quickly.”

The Empress Dowager motioned for him to rise. “Why did you come at this hour? Have you eaten yet?”

“I’m not hungry. There’s no rush to eat.”

The emperor sat down and got straight to the point. “The Empress and the consorts in the harem are all injured. I want to trouble Imperial Mother to help manage the harem. Right now I can’t find a suitable choice, so I can only trouble Imperial Mother.”

“It’s fine.”

The Empress Dowager did not refuse a benefit delivered to her doorstep. Ever since the Empress entered the palace, palace authority had basically been in Consort Hua’s hands. The Empress Dowager had tried several times to help the Empress take it back, but the emperor had blocked her. Now that she had this chance, of course she would not let it slip.

In a better mood, the Empress Dowager’s tone grew even gentler. “This old body can still hold on. I’ll help you watch over it for two months first, then return it to the Empress by New Year’s Eve.”

“We’ll talk about that then.”

The emperor neither refused nor agreed, and simply changed the topic. “Imperial Mother, Noble Lady Xin is carrying a boy-girl pair of twins and must be cared for properly-” “What?” The Empress Dowager interrupted him for once. “Emperor, you’re saying Noble Lady Xin is carrying twins?

A boy-girl pair of twins? Has it been confirmed?”

“It’s almost certain.”

The emperor smiled happily. “Noble Lady Xin is blessed. This time she was frightened, but thankfully the children are fine. Now she only needs to rest and nourish the pregnancy.

Imperial Mother, the Plum Garden case still hasn’t been fully investigated. Nothing else can happen in the harem. Especially Noble Lady Xin’s pregnancy-absolutely nothing can go wrong again.”

“This old one understands.”

The Empress Dowager nodded. She also understood how important boy-girl twins were to the imperial family. … After the emperor left, the Empress Dowager could not help sighing. “This An Ling Rong truly has good luck! She’s only the daughter of an eighth-rank county assistant magistrate.

Being able to enter the palace and serve His Majesty is already her ancestors’ graves smoking. Now she’s even pregnant with a boy-girl pair of twins. This person’s luck really is astonishing!”

“Among the daughters of officials under heaven, as long as His Majesty likes them, they have the right to serve His Majesty.”

Zhu Xi said with a smile. “A boy-girl pair of twins is the imperial family’s boy-girl pair of twins, and it is also the imperial family’s blessing bestowed on her. Now she only needs to give birth safely.”