Chapter 92

Chapter 92: Zhen Huan Chronicles, An Ling Rong

Shen Mei Zhuang stayed silent for a long while. Then she said, “In that case, don’t bring it up again. I’ll handle my relationship with Attendant Zhen myself.” As she said that, she looked at Cai Yue and Cai Xing.

“You’re both people by my side. I don’t want you interfering in my decisions. Do you understand?”

“Yes, my lady!” “My lady, this servant will remember!” No matter what they were thinking, in that moment, they had to listen obediently.

… Setting aside the past. Right now, the entire palace was watching Jing Ren Palace. When would the Empress’s child finally be born? On this question.

Even the imperial physicians had no answer. Other than kneeling and begging for mercy, the midwives could not give an exact time either. For a while. The emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress were all at their wits’ end.

What could they do? There was no way. They could only wait for the child in her belly to come out on its own. Day after day passed.

As summer approached, the weather grew hotter and hotter. The emperor planned to move to Yuan Ming Yuan to escape the heat. The Empress, of course, could not go. The Empress Dowager had no intention of going to the garden either.

It was unclear whether His Majesty was doing it on purpose, but those left in the palace were the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and Zhen Huan. When the consorts heard, they did not even know whether they should pity her.

“Xiao Hu Zi, what’s going on?” Li Si Qi was a little surprised. “Did the emperor stop liking his little figurine?”

“Master, you definitely don’t know who set Zhen Huan up.” Xiao Hu Zi’s voice carried a hint of laughter. “The emperor hasn’t given up on Zhen Huan. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have kept her status as a consort. This time, he didn’t take her to the garden mainly because the Empress Dowager said a consort had to pray for the child in the Empress’s belly. Every day, she has to kneel in Bao Hua Hall and recite scriptures. When she comes back, she has to copy scriptures too, to bless the Empress’s son and keep him safe. The Empress Dowager keeps saying she wants a blessed consort to do it, but she really wanted to keep you in the palace, Master.”

“Keep me behind?” Li Si Qi laughed. “That depends on whether I agree.”

“Even if you don’t agree, the emperor won’t agree either.” Xiao Hu Zi smiled. “Going to the garden was your suggestion in the first place, for the twins’ sake. His Majesty won’t leave you behind to be bullied by them. Besides, the Empress Dowager has brought up more than once in front of the emperor that she wants the twins raised by the Empress. His Majesty isn’t blind to what she’s thinking.”

“At least he still has a little conscience.” Li Si Qi curled her lip. “If he dares do that, I’ll make sure their mother and son never know peace. If I can’t kill them, that’s fine too-I can still leave them half-dead and half-alive. When the time comes, I won’t mind holding Sixth Prince and taking the throne.”

“Master, that’s a great idea!” Xiao Hu Zi egged her on, his tone full of mischief. “If you become the Empress Dowager, no one would dare mess with you.”

“You think I’m stupid?” Li Si Qi rolled her eyes. “Unless I’m forced into it, who would want to rule? No matter how that dog emperor treats everyone else, at least he’s been decent to me, Sixth Prince, and Princess Wen Ning. I’m not about to take on thankless work that will wear me out.”

“I think Master is just too lazy.” Xiao Hu Zi teased. “You’ve played with power before-why won’t you do it this time?”

“That dog emperor isn’t bad.” Li Si Qi replied. “At least when it comes to governing, he’s actually decent. He can leave the next emperor a solid country. We don’t need to interfere. Isn’t it better to lie back and win?”

“I get it. This time, Master is here to enjoy yourself and watch the show.”

“Is that not allowed?” Li Si Qi raised her brows. “Do you have to work yourself to death for it to count as a mission? From now on, I’m taking missions like this. Less to worry about, an easy win, and I get to watch the drama. I like it.”

“No problem. From now on, Master will pick palace-intrigue stories like this.”

“We’ve drifted off topic!” Li Si Qi asked, “The emperor gave the praying and scripture-copying to Zhen Huan. If I’m not wrong, was that Su Pei Sheng’s idea?”

“Master guessed right.” Xiao Hu Zi laughed. “The Empress Dowager, the emperor, and the Empress all think the child still isn’t being born because of Zhen Huan’s illusion drug. Su Pei Sheng told the emperor that since it was Zhen Huan’s sin, having her pray and copy scriptures would work even better.”

The emperor agreed right away. Master escaped a disaster.

“Su Pei Sheng really lives up to his reputation as ‘Consort Su.’” Li Si Qi laughed. “This time he’s screwing over Zhen Huan, and it has to be revenge for Cui Jin Xi. By the way, does he know who Cui Jin Xi’s real master is?”

“He knows.” Xiao Hu Zi replied. “Su Pei Sheng doesn’t just hate Zhen Huan. He hates Guo Zi Li even more.”

“Good.” Li Si Qi gave a wicked smile. “Xiao Hu Zi, later on, make up a story for Su Pei Sheng. Use dreams to show him all the suffering and punishment Cui Jin Xi endured by Zhen Huan’s side. Let him see how Zhen Huan brought Cui Jin Xi endless disasters, and how every time it was him who saved Cui Jin Xi’s life. And after the new emperor ascends the throne, he and Cui Jin Xi become paired partners, leave the palace, and retire.”

“Master, that’s ruthless!” Xiao Hu Zi laughed. “If you do that, won’t Su Pei Sheng grind Zhen Huan and Guo Zi Li into the dirt?”

“Not ruthless enough.” Li Si Qi’s face stayed calm. “Zhen Huan and Guo Zi Li have a secret affair. Find a chance to let him know.”

“Heh heh, Zhen Huan and Guo Zi Li are finished!” Xiao Hu Zi gloated. “You won’t even need to lift a finger. Su Pei Sheng can deal with them.”

“Some things we don’t want to do, but someone has to do them, right?” “Master speaks wisely.”

… Once the consorts reached the garden. They finally let out a breath. Far away from the Empress, they no longer had to worry about being dragged down. They could live in peace.

Of course, they still kept an eye on what was happening in the palace. As long as the Empress hadn’t given birth to that imperial child, everyone’s heart still hung in the air. They were terrified that one wrong step would get them implicated. Shui Tian Yi Se.

“This servant greets Consort Xian.” A young palace maid, about fifteen or sixteen, knelt before Li Si Qi and bowed. Holding up a box with both hands, she said, “Your Grace, this is something Madam Dong’e is giving you.”

“Madam Dong’e?” Li Si Qi immediately thought of Beauty Nine’s primary consort. His wife was Madam Dong’e.

“Yes, Your Grace.” The maid did not dare lift her head, but she replied steadily. “Madam Dong’e asks that Your Grace accept it.”

“Leave it.” Li Si Qi asked casually, “Where do you serve?” “Replying to Your Grace, this servant sweeps the garden.”

“A palace servant who sweeps the garden comes straight to me.” Li Si Qi hooked her lips in a smile. “Seems I shouldn’t underestimate your master.”

“This servant wouldn’t dare.” The maid replied. “As long as I deliver the thing to Your Grace, it doesn’t matter whether I live or die.”

“I’m not some killing maniac.” Li Si Qi glanced at her. “You have your way to survive. I won’t interfere in your business. In the future, if you have something to deliver to me, you don’t need to come petition me in person. Find someone by my side and hand it over. Do you understand?”

“Yes.” The maid knocked her head hard on the ground. “This servant will remember Your Grace’s teaching.”

“Mm.” Li Si Qi gave an offhand order. “Reward her.”