Chapter 33

Chapter 33: Zhen Huan Chronicles, An Ling Rong

“Even if he wants to hide, he can’t.”

Li Si Qi did not care. “Unless he doesn’t want to see the dragon-and-phoenix twins in my belly. Besides, that dog of an emperor is so biased. I’m doing this on purpose to make him uncomfortable.”

Little Teapot laughed. “Only you would dare treat the emperor like this.”

“That dog of an emperor is too rotten. I can’t treat him too well.” Li Si Qi sneered. “I’m making him understand that he can dote on Zhen Huan, but he’d better not think of slighting us. If his sweetheart is treasure and the other consorts are grass, he should first ask whether I’m willing to be a blade of grass.”

“As long as Mistress is happy.” Little Teapot added, “Mistress, Zhen Huan has been hanging around with Noble Lady Cao.”

“Oh? They’re walking together now?” Li Si Qi could not help being surprised. “Those two teamed up pretty fast. Are they trying to deal with Consort Hua?”

“Mistress guessed wrong!” Little Teapot explained. “Consort Hua is pregnant right now and didn’t snatch Princess Wen Yi, so Noble Lady Cao doesn’t have that much resentment toward Consort Hua. They’re together because they both want to climb higher. Noble Lady Cao is doing it for her daughter – she wants more benefits for Princess Wen Yi, and she also wants to break free of Consort Hua’s control. She doesn’t want to be a lackey under Consort Hua’s wing anymore. As for Zhen Huan, she naturally wants to become the favored consort, the number one in the harem, someone no one dares to provoke.”

Li Si Qi snorted. “During this time, she and Shen Mei Zhuang have basically taken all of His Majesty’s affection. That’s still not enough?”

“Mistress is joking. What does this little affection count for?” Little Teapot laughed. “Zhen Huan’s goal is to surpass Her Highness Consort Hua – not only to be the most favored consort in the harem, but also a favored consort who holds palace authority. She wants the emperor to obey her in everything. In other words, she wants to stand above all the other consorts and never suffer grievances again.”

“Zhen Huan really is Zhen Huan.” Li Si Qi peeled boiled peanuts. “Such a wildly ambitious person. I wonder if she’ll still fall for Guo Zi Li.”

“Mistress, according to the timeline, Zhen Huan and Guo Zi Li begin their fated entanglement on New Year’s Eve.” “Then this year’s New Year’s Eve should be very exciting!” “With the Empress interfering, everyone will definitely get a surprise.”

… The next day. The Empress sent word: in three days, all the consorts were to go to Jing Ren Palace to pay their respects. Whether they were recovering from injuries or maintaining pregnancies, none of them were allowed to ask for leave.

“Why are we paying respects again?” Xia Dong Chun pouted unhappily. “It’d be great if we could just keep not having to go.”

“New Year’s Eve is in five days.” Noble Lady Fu Cha explained as she ate. “The Empress has to attend the palace banquet, and we have to appear as well. It’s normal to resume paying respects now.”

Xia Dong Chun frowned. “After we attend the New Year’s Eve banquet, will it go back to before, where we have to pay respects to the Empress every day?” “If nothing unexpected happens, it should be like that.” Noble Lady Fu Cha looked helpless.

“Unless something happens and His Majesty or the Empress Dowager exempts us from paying respects.” “Right. Then we just need to find a way to make His Majesty and the Empress Dowager exempt us.” Xia Dong Chun turned her hopeful gaze to Li Si Qi, who had not spoken.

“An Ling Rong, do you have a way?”

“What way would I have?” Li Si Qi rolled her eyes. “I can’t exactly gamble with myself and the children. We can only hope the Empress excuses us for being seven or eight months along. Otherwise, we obediently go pay respects every day.”

“Our bellies are already so big…” Xia Dong Chun started, then her eyes landed on Li Si Qi’s belly, which was a full size larger than hers. “An Ling Rong, you’re about seven months along too, right?”

“Are you stupid? Don’t forget we got pregnant around the same time.” “I know, but isn’t it said that twins can’t be carried full term?”

“Yes!” Noble Lady Fu Cha nodded as well. “Ling Rong, I heard twins come early. You’re already seven months now, so at this rate, you might give birth next month. You should prepare reliable midwives and wet nurses early. Don’t wait until the children are coming and you’re still unprepared.”

“I will.” Li Si Qi shared her plan. “With the New Year coming, the Imperial Household Department is busy. I’ll bring it up to His Majesty after the New Year.”

“Good. At least you didn’t forget.”

Noble Lady Fu Cha frowned, her tone carrying worry. “They say giving birth is like walking through the gates of the underworld. There are tragedies where both mother and child die. Some people even dare to bribe the midwives and strike in secret, killing the mother to steal the child.

Whichever one you run into, the unlucky ones are us pregnant women.”

“Really?” Xia Dong Chun turned pale. “Then what do we do?”

“I’m not even afraid. What are you two afraid of?” Li Si Qi shot them an eye-roll. “Don’t forget you both have your natal families. With your families’ connections, are you afraid they can’t send you midwives and wet nurses? When the time comes, you’ll be surrounded by your own people. If something still happens, then you’re just unlucky.”

“…” The two of them froze. They really had almost forgotten that.

“If you don’t believe me, send word home right now,” Li Si Qi re minded them. “I’m sure your families have already prepared and can slip people into the palace for you to use at any time.”

“Then I’ll send a message back later.” Xia Dong Chun immediately brightened into a radiant smile. “An Ling Rong, you really think things through.”

“My mother must have prepared for me too.” Noble Lady Fu Cha smiled happily as well.

When she looked at Li Si Qi, she could not help saying, “Ling Rong, your natal family isn’t in the capital. I’ll send a message home. If my mother has already prepared midwives for me, we can have them enter the palace early and help you deliver first. Childbirth is too big of a matter – it’s safer to use people you can trust.”

“It’s fine.” Li Si Qi replied, “I’ll ask His Majesty to help find people. The midwives His Majesty sends will be His Majesty’s people. No matter what, His Majesty’s people won’t dare to harm me.”

“That’s true.” Noble Lady Fu Cha nodded, then said, “If you need our help with anything, just say it. Don’t stand on ceremony with us.”

“Alright. We will.”

… Three days later. The three ladies of Yan Xi Palace waddled like little penguins, round as balls, swaying as they walked. If not for the nannies and palace maids supporting them, they probably could not even walk a few steps. Hunched against the wind, the group inched forward through the cold, step by step, toward Jing Ren Palace.

Technically, pregnant consorts could ride in sedan chairs, but they did not dare. In this weather, the ground was icy everywhere, and anyone walking would slip every few steps – if something went wrong, it would be too late for regret. So four eunuchs walked ahead to clear away the ice, four young palace maids went next to scout the path, and only then did the three ladies follow, supported on both sides, with more palace maids and eunuchs close behind in case someone suddenly rushed into them, or some wild cats attacked again. After that difficult walk, they finally arrived safely at Jing Ren Palace.