Chapter 80

Chapter 80: Zhen Huan Chronicles, An Ling Rong

After the banquet ended. When she learned that the Emperor had escorted the Empress back to Jing Ren Palace. Noble Consort Hua, with her fiery temper, got so angry she fell ill. After hearing the news.

Many people gloated and felt she had it coming. Li Si Qi sounded a bit helpless. “Come on. Take the children to see their Noble Mother.”

“That wouldn’t be proper!” Senior Maid Ruo Lan jolted in alarm.

She hurriedly stopped her mistress. “Your Highness, Noble Consort Hua is ill. You can’t take the Sixth Prince and Princess Wen Ning over there. Children have weak constitutions.

If they catch something, it’ll be trouble.”

“Don’t worry, they’re sturdy.” Li Si Qi smiled faintly. “Look at the two of them. From the day they were born until now, when have they ever been sick? Besides, Noble Consort Hua doesn’t have a cold. She’s just got pent-up frustration – her liver qi isn’t flowing smoothly, her qi isn’t venting properly, and there’s some weakness in the heart and spleen, with yin deficiency and heat flaring up. In plain words, she got mad enough to make herself sick! As long as she vents properly and loosens the knot in her heart, she’ll be fine. It won’t affect the little ones.” “Really?” Senior Maid Ruo Lan still didn’t quite believe it. “Your Highness, how do you know the Noble Consort’s condition?”

“By looking!” Li Si Qi laughed. “I could tell at the banquet yesterday. Bring the children. We’ll go stir things up with their Noble Consort for a bit. Once someone cheers up, whatever knots and gloom they have will disappear.” “Yes!” Senior Maid Ruo Lan could only obey.

Yi Kun Palace “Why did you bring the children here?” Noble Consort Hua glared at her. “Aren’t you afraid you’ll pass the illness to them?” “Pass what illness?”

Li Si Qi shrugged. “You don’t have a cold, and you don’t have any plague. I don’t believe an ‘I got so mad I collapsed’ illness can be contagious.” “…” Noble Consort Hua couldn’t help rolling her eyes.

“How do you know I got sick from anger?” “I saw it long ago.” Li Si Qi replied with a grin. “I could tell yesterday.

Something this small can’t be hidden from me.” “Hmph!” Noble Consort Hua snorted. “Did you come on purpose to laugh at me?”

“Absolutely not. Noble Consort, don’t wrong me.” Li Si Qi shook her head and looked at her with a straight face. “I was afraid you’d get so mad you’d die on the spot.

So I specially brought two little ones to keep you company and amuse you.”

“Pah. You’re the one trying to anger me to death.” “If you die of anger, what’s the benefit to me?”

“Get lost. Can you talk properly or not!” “Alright then. This concubine will take her leave!”

Li Si Qi didn’t hesitate. Before the other woman could even react, she turned and slipped away. “…” Watching her stride off, Noble Consort Hua froze for a moment. Only when that figure was about to vanish from her sight did she finally shout, “An Ling Rong, get back here right now!”

“Can’t hear you, I can’t hear you!” A loud reply rang out from the courtyard. It made Noble Consort Hua laugh despite herself. Before she could flare up again, the wet nurse came in carrying the little ones.

“Noble… Mo-ther!” “Mo-ther!” The two little ones saw someone familiar and immediately cheered. With the siblings right there, even Noble Consort Hua’s temper vanished.

With two dolls at her side, she seemed to forget every worry. Days passed one after another. The twins’ first-birthday banquet finally arrived. The royal family’s first pair of dragon-and-phoenix twins finally appeared before everyone.

Seeing those chubby little babies who looked like they’d stepped out of a New Year picture, the women in attendance couldn’t help showing their affection. “Mother!”

“Father!” “Noble Mother!” Their milky little voices rang out in the great hall. It instantly softened the Emperor’s heart, and Noble Consort Hua’s as well.

“The Sixth Prince and Princess Wen Ning are too adorable!” “Only one year old, and their speech is so clear. They really are dragon-and-phoenix twins!”

“The Sixth Prince and Princess Wen Ning are smart. You can tell they’re quick children!” “The twins were raised so well. They’re just too lovable!”

… No one could refuse such adorable little human cubs. Even the Empress Dowager, who didn’t like Li Si Qi, couldn’t help softening a little when she saw the pair. If anyone in the palace would bear malice toward the twins. It could only be the Empress.

Even though she hid it well, Li Si Qi could still sense the malice in her gaze. That woman really wouldn’t spare any child in the palace. The first-birthday banquet. Was also the grab-one ceremony.

A pile of little trinkets was prepared. The two babies were set on top. Then they were left to choose as they pleased. With everyone watching, the little ones weren’t afraid at all.

They looked at this, then glanced at that. Luckily, they weren’t foolish little babies, and nothing went wrong. The Sixth Prince grabbed a book and a wooden sword. It drew a chorus of cheers.

Wen Ning grabbed some embroidery and a book. That, too, earned a wave of praise. That day, the twins stole the spotlight. Needless to say, it drew even more envious looks from the palace consorts.

After a lively, bustling day. The twins’ first-birthday banquet ended like that….

“Master!” Li Si Qi had just brought the children back to Yong Shou Palace. When Little Hu Zi’s voice sounded in her mind. “The Fourth Prince has been poisoned. If we don’t step in to help him, he definitely won’t make it through tonight.” “Poisoned?” Li Si Qi frowned and blurted out, “The Empress did it?” “Yes, Master.”

Little Hu Zi quickly told her what it had found. “The Empress wants the Fourth Prince to die suddenly. Today was the twins’ first-birthday banquet. If the Fourth Prince is poisoned to death today.

She’ll have people spread a rumor that the twins bring misfortune to their father and brothers. That way, she can wear down the twins’ halo.” “That’s quite a good idea.” Li Si Qi’s face darkened as she gave an order at once.

“For Hong Zhao’s sake, save his life. But don’t remove the poison in his body. For the rest of his life, he won’t just be a sickly wretch – he’ll also be someone carrying deadly poison. And let him know the truth.

If he doesn’t even know who the real culprit is, that’s just too pitiful.” “Don’t worry, Master.” Little Hu Zi agreed at once. “With me stepping in, the Fourth Prince won’t die!”

“Mm.” Li Si Qi’s gaze went toward Jing Ren Palace, cold light flickering in her eyes. “I was going to leave her a bit of face. Now it seems there’s no need.”

“What are you going to do, Master?”

“The Empress’s body is still in decent shape, right?” “She’s alright. She’s been recovering pretty well.” “Since her body is doing well, let that piece of flesh in her belly stay a while longer.”

“Master, you mean…” Little Hu Zi sounded a bit lost. “Make the Empress carry to full term before giving birth?” “She deserves that kind of treatment?”

Li Si Qi’s smile was like frost. “No. If anything, the Empress deserves even better treatment. We’ll be kind and make sure the Empress carries her ‘child’ for a full year before giving birth!”

“A year later?” Even Little Hu Zi’s voice changed. “Master, you’re playing that big? If the ‘child’ doesn’t come out for a whole year, a lot of rumors will definitely spread.”

“Let them spread. What does that have to do with us?”

Li Si Qi sneered. “It’s not like I’m the one pregnant. If it goes bad, it won’t ruin my reputation.” “That’s true.”

Little Hu Zi nodded. “Master, if we make the Empress give birth to a meatball a year later. I’m not sure her belly can take it. If the meatball gets too big, she probably won’t be able to deliver it.”