Chapter 89

Chapter 89: Zhen Huan Chronicles, An Ling Rong

“Consort Wan really isn’t worth a damn.”

Noble Consort Hua cursed, her face dark with fury. “She knew perfectly well Wen Yi was here, yet she still had Xiao Yun Zi come to Qi Xiang Palace and raise havoc. She truly didn’t take an imperial princess seriously at all.”

“Imperial Physician Zhang, arrange for two imperial physicians to stay behind.”

The Emperor gave that order, then immediately said, “Enough. All of you, disperse. “I’m going to see Wen Yi.” With the Emperor’s command, everyone left one after another.

Before Li Si Qi left, Noble Lady Cao cast her a grateful look. But Li Si Qi didn’t care. Knowing what kind of person she was, she had never planned to befriend her. She had only re minded the Emperor to leave imperial physicians behind because she couldn’t bear the thought of Princess Wen Yi dying because of this.

Even though everyone had left, tonight’s bizarre events made the concubines wary. Back at Yong Shou Palace, Li Si Qi didn’t rest right away. After being tossed around for most of the night, she was hungry. She told Yong Shou Palace’s small kitchen to cook her a bowl of chicken soup noodles.

After eating and drinking her fill, Li Si Qi sent everyone away. “Xiao Hu Zi, where did Zhen Huan’s illusion drug come from?” “Master, take a guess.” From your tone, I already know who it was.”

“Who does Master think it was?”

“Of course it was Guo Zi Li!”

Li Si Qi gave a cold laugh. “Especially with Cui Jin Xi stepping out to take the blame. “It’s not hard to guess whose hands that secret formula came from.

“But the mistresses in the harem don’t know Cui Jin Xi belongs to Guo Zi Li. “No.

“More accurately, she belongs to Dowager Consort Shu. “Dowager Consort Shu is Bai Yi.

“Huan Bi’s mother is Bai Yi too, “and she’s also the descendant of a disgraced official.

“That shows Dowager Consort Shu’s background can’t be much worse. “They say Dowager Consort Shu was extremely favored in the palace during Kang Xi’s later years.

“The Empress Dowager once said Dowager Consort Shu monopolized the harem and was resented for it. “Maybe the Empress Dowager herself was jealous of Dowager Consort Shu back then, too.

“Someone like that having a few secret formulas isn’t strange, is it?”

“Master really is amazing.”

Xiao Hu Zi marveled. “Just as Master said, that formula really was passed to Jin Xi by Guo Zi Li. “Jin Xi used that formula and had Wen Shi Chu prepare it in several batches.

“So there’s no record left at the Imperial Medical Institute. “But with the Emperor’s power, it won’t be hard to dig him out.

“Master, should we protect him? “Next year the plague will break out. With him around, it should be a bit better.” “Do whatever you think.” Li Si Qi curled her lip in disgust. “He’s just like Shen Mei Zhuang.

“He looks smart, but he’s actually a fool. “They all sacrifice themselves, and even their entire families, for the protagonist.

“There’s seriously something wrong with their heads.”

“He’s lucky tonight he and a few other imperial physicians weren’t on duty at the Imperial Medical Institute.”

Xiao Hu Zi said cheerfully, “If he’d been there tonight, he might have taken all the blame on himself to protect Zhen Huan.”

“He couldn’t take it.”

Li Si Qi lightly shook her head. “The Emperor isn’t stupid. “If he dared to take it on himself, he and Zhen Huan would just die even faster.” “That’s true.”

Xiao Hu Zi agreed. “Then we should keep him.

“Master happens to like watching drama. “Keeping him might lead to even more good shows.” “Do whatever you think.”… Something had happened in the palace, and the Empress still hadn’t said she would resume the morning greetings. The concubines in every palace obediently stayed tucked away in their own quarters. Everyone knew this matter wasn’t simple. Whether it was Zhen Huan making a eunuch pretend to be a ghost to scare people, or the Empress’s imperial fetus, both carried something eerie. No one wanted to get involved in this kind of thing. Staying in their own palaces was the best option. In the next half month, the entire harem was silent and solemn, like a calm lake without a ripple. And yet, it was as if some people could feel the stillness before a storm. It felt like a tempest was about to arrive. The Emperor, who hadn’t entered the harem for a long time, finally did. His first stop was Jing Ren Palace. The Empress had grown incredibly thin. Tormented every night, she looked a little sinister. And with her belly raised so high, it gave off an eerie feeling for no reason. She looked deathly ill, yet the child in her belly was still safe and sound. “Empress, if I remember correctly, your due date is here.” Staring at her belly, the Emperor asked, “What did the imperial physicians and the midwives say?” “Replying to Your Majesty.” The Empress forced out a smile. “They all say the child is doing well, and everything is normal.” In truth, the imperial physicians and the midwives had already prepared themselves to die. They had seen countless pregnancies. With their experience, how could they not know how strange the Empress’s pregnancy was? But… No one had the courage to expose the truth. Everyone who felt something was wrong did their utmost to hide it. They all thought, if they could delay one more day, they would. Maybe, in the end, they might still survive. “Watch yourself.” The Emperor wasn’t some clueless fool. He also knew that pregnant women didn’t necessarily give birth the moment they reached full term. Going past the due date by a few days, even ten days or so, could still be within the normal range. After speaking with the Empress for a while longer, he truly couldn’t stay. He didn’t want to look at the Empress’s face and aura, like a vicious ghost. The next day, the Emperor went to Yi Kun Palace. He stayed there for five days. On the sixth day, he came to Yong Shou Palace. He played with the dragon-and-phoenix twins for most of the day. Only after he’d had his fill did he send the children off to rest. “Your Majesty, summer is coming again.” Li Si Qi asked on her own initiative, “Are we going to Yuan Ming Garden this year or not?” “What, it’s not even officially summer yet, and you’re already thinking about going to the garden?” “Of course.” Li Si Qi nodded without hesitation. “Living in the garden is much cooler than the palace.

“Besides, those two little ones are especially afraid of heat. “This concubine is also afraid they’ll fall ill from being cooped up in the stuffiness.” “Fine. I’ll arrange it later.” The Emperor was also the type who feared heat. Even though it had gotten a bit better now that he was older, he still couldn’t stand the muggy heat in the palace. Dropping that topic, the Emperor looked at the person in front of him and casually asked, “What kind of person do you think Consort Wan is?” “Consort Wan?” Li Si Qi froze for a moment. She hadn’t expected him to bring up someone like Zhen Huan. “That’s right. I want to hear what you think of her.” The Emperor nodded, then said, “Say whatever you want. No matter what you say, I won’t blame you.” “If Your Majesty really blamed this concubine, that would be unreasonable, wouldn’t it?” Li Si Qi didn’t indulge him. “It’s clearly Your Majesty who asked this concubine to speak. If you don’t like it afterward, and you blame this concubine instead, wouldn’t this concubine be wronged to death!” “Shut up. You girl, you dare to say anything.” The Emperor glared at her. “In the future, you’re not allowed to talk about taboo things again.” “It’s just the word ‘death,’ isn’t it?” Li Si Qi didn’t care. “Everyone dies. What’s there to treat as taboo?” “You…” The Emperor knew her temperament was simple, and her words were blunt. He couldn’t be bothered to argue with her about it, so he said again, “Hurry up and speak.

“I want to hear what you think of Consort Wan.”

“The truth, then?”

“Yes!”

“Even if it sounds bad, Your Majesty won’t get angry?”

“I won’t!”

“This concubine will say it, but Your Majesty can’t tell Consort Wan.”

“Fine. I won’t tell her.”

“Alright, then.”

Li Si Qi nodded. “In this concubine’s eyes, Consort Wan is smart but stubborn. “Proud, and a bit arrogant.

“And also… a bit vicious.”

“…”

Hearing that, the Emperor went blank. He simply stared at the girl in front of him.