Chapter 70

Chapter 70: Zhen Huan Chronicles, An Ling Rong

The Empress was carried back. As the one who caused it, the Fourth Prince looked terrified and uneasy. He knew he had caused a huge disaster. He felt frightened and scared, but even more than that, he was full of regret.

He did not dare to run away. He could only follow them to Peach Blossom Cove…. Something had happened to the Empress. The news quickly spread through the gardens.

When the consorts heard it, they had no choice but to rush to Peach Blossom Cove. She was, after all, the Empress of the realm. No matter what they felt inside, they still had to show the respect she was due. If the Emperor took his anger out on them at a time like this, that would be unfair.

Li Si Qi and Noble Consort Hua were both going to Peach Blossom Cove for the first time. When they saw the Fourth Prince kneeling at the gate, the consorts’ expressions turned complicated. There was pity and sympathy, but also a hint of dislike. Even if they were secretly hoping the Empress would suffer misfortune, they still disliked the Fourth Prince for clinging without knowing his place.

At this moment, all the ladies had arrived. Even the women the Fourth Prince could never manage to see on ordinary days were now here. If it had been before, the Fourth Prince would have been thrilled and would have tried hard to show his best side. Now, he wished he could vanish on the spot.

“The Emperor has arrived!”

Su Pei Sheng’s voice rang out. The consorts immediately saluted. “Your concubines pay their respects to Your Majesty!”

“Rise.”

The Emperor waved a hand and strode inside.

“Your son pays his respects to Imperial Father!”

As he passed the Fourth Prince, the Emperor did not say a word and kicked him. The Fourth Prince’s small body was sent flying. Without sparing him a glance, the Emperor went straight into the main hall. Seeing this, the consorts could only feel deep sympathy for the Fourth Prince sprawled on the ground.

Of course, Li Si Qi was the exception. Her face did not change at all. Others did not know what the Fourth Prince was plotting, but she did. He might be young, but his ambition was not.

Besides scheming for a high-born adoptive mother and wanting to return to the palace to study in the Imperial Study, his eyes were already on the throne. The Fourth Prince’s ambition was something even the Emperor probably did not know. And most importantly… he never should have set his sights on her dragon-phoenix twins. So no matter what happened to him, Li Si Qi would not pity him.

After a while, the Emperor, his face dark, came out with Imperial Physician Zhang and the others.

“Can the child in the Empress’s belly be saved?”

The Emperor’s first words stunned every consort present. The Empress was pregnant? How could the Empress possibly be pregnant! The shocked consorts could not help exchanging looks.

Noble Consort Hua looked utterly disbelieving. “Is the Empress really pregnant? At her age, how could she still conceive? Imperial Physician Zhang, did you get it wrong?”

“Replying to Noble Consort Hua, the Empress is indeed pregnant.” Imperial Physician Zhang clasped his hands and answered. “I can guarantee it is a pregnancy pulse. Her Majesty is nearly two months along.”

Hearing that reply, the consorts immediately thought back to two months ago, when the Emperor had called for water at Jing Ren Palace. One night in bed, and the Empress had become pregnant. They could not help showing envy. Only Noble Consort Hua looked unhappy, and she did not forget to shoot the Emperor a glare….

Sensing Noble Consort Hua’s resentment, the Emperor looked a little awkward. But he knew she liked to be petty. He did not blame her. He cleared his throat softly and looked at the imperial physicians.

“How is the Empress? Can the child be saved?”

“Replying to Your Majesty, for now, it has been kept.” Imperial Physician Zhang replied, “This time, the Empress was injured rather badly. She needs to lie in bed for two or three months and carefully nurture the pregnancy. There must not be another accident, or the imperial fetus will be hard to save.”

“Mm.”

The Emperor nodded calmly. “The Empress must rest and nurture the pregnancy. The consorts are not to disturb her. For the time being, morning greetings are canceled.

If anything comes up, you may go to Noble Consort Hua, Consort Jing, or Consort Xin to handle it.”

“Your concubines obey the decree!”

The consorts all saluted.

“All right, go back.”

The Emperor waved a hand. “Behave yourselves. I do not want to hear any more nonsense.”

“Yes!”

The consorts saluted again. “Your concubines take their leave!” For the first time, Noble Consort Hua stormed off and left the Emperor behind, running away in a fit of willfulness…. Water and Sky as One.

“That old hag Empress!”

Noble Consort Hua’s eyes were red as she cursed through gritted teeth, “That shameless woman. How does she deserve a child? A poisonous woman like her, with hands stained with the blood of children-how could Heaven still give her a child? Is Heaven blind?”

Blind-eyed Li Si Qi:… Little Hu Zi laughed itself crazy inside her head. Li Si Qi decided she would settle the score with it later. Li Si Qi handed her a bowl of fruit salad. “Your Highness, don’t be angry.

It’s not worth ruining your health over her. Just like you said, she doesn’t deserve a child. So sooner or later, retribution will come. Look at her now-how well can she possibly be?

She still has a long ten months ahead of her.”

“You’re right.”

Noble Consort Hua barely forced down the fire in her chest. Her gaze fell on the colorful fruit salad before her. The fruity scent stirred her appetite. After a few bites, her mood improved without her noticing.

Then she looked up at the fool in front of her, who only thought about eating and drinking, and she grew annoyed again. “The Empress has no child, and she can’t stand seeing other consorts have children either. If she gives birth to a son, the one in the greatest danger will be the Sixth Prince. If you keep being so careless, sooner or later you’ll drag the Sixth Prince down with you.”

“Your Highness, I will protect the Sixth Prince.” Feeling her goodwill, Li Si Qi smiled faintly. “She’s only just pregnant. Not to mention whether she can even carry it to term. Even if she does, it may not be a son. Besides, raising a child to adulthood is not that easy. Especially when the mother has angered everyone-then it’s even harder to keep the child alive.”

“Watch yourself.”

Noble Consort Hua rolled her eyes, knowing she was right. Then she thought of something and glared at her. “You are not allowed to make a move. You have to build virtue for the children.”

“Your Highness is joking.” Li Si Qi laughed helplessly. “I have no people and no power. How could I have that kind of ability?”

“That’s because your natal family is useless.” Noble Consort Hua looked disgusted. “Do you want me to have my brother give your father a hand?”

“No need.” Li Si Qi shook her head. “My father is just an ordinary commoner. He bought an eighth-rank post, and his ability is limited. He isn’t worth cultivating. My little brother is already studying and has some talent. I plan to raise him to become the pillar of the An family.”

“Your background is too poor.” Noble Consort Hua could not help shaking her head. “The Sixth Prince doesn’t have a respectable maternal clan. He’ll suffer for it in the future.”

“Isn’t Your Highness here?” Li Si Qi grinned from ear to ear. “Your Highness definitely won’t let the Sixth Prince and Wen Ning suffer.”

“You sure think big!” Noble Consort Hua laughed in spite of herself. She stopped eating the fruit salad. “Do I owe you and you three-mother and children-or what?”

“Your Highness can’t say that.” Li Si Qi smiled. “You are the Sixth Prince and Wen Ning’s Honored Mother. Maybe one day, the Sixth Prince will even call you Empress Mother.”

… Noble Consort Hua fell silent! After a moment, she stood up. Her sharp gaze fixed on Li Si Qi. “You have a lot of nerve, saying something like that out loud.”

“Yes!” Li Si Qi nodded with a smile. “People have to have dreams. If you don’t have dreams, what’s the difference between you and a salted fish?”

… Noble Consort Hua withdrew her gaze. She turned around and left Water and Sky as One. Not long after she left, the two little ones rubbed their sleepy eyes and were carried out by the nursemaids.

“Ruo Lan, Noble Consort Hua didn’t get to see the Sixth Prince and Wen Ning just now.”

Li Si Qi instructed, “Go. Take the siblings to Qing Liang Hall.”

“Yes!”

Senior Maid Ruo Lan smiled helplessly. She could only personally escort the dragon-phoenix twins to Qing Liang Hall.