Chapter 94

Chapter 94: Zhen Huan Chronicles, An Ling Rong

“What kind of child takes a whole year to carry?” Concubine Tian looked uneasy. “This is too bizarre. We should stay as far away from it as we can.”

“We’ve already hidden out in the garden.” Xia Dong Chun looked unconcerned. “Could it still drag us into it? Besides, we’re definitely staying here three or four months. By the time we go back, there should be an outcome. Your Highness, don’t you think?”

“Hard to say.” Li Si Qi smiled. “Everyone can tell something is wrong with Her Majesty the Empress’s pregnancy. It’s been nearly a year. To put it bluntly, it might be some kind of demon spawn. For the sake of the imperial family’s reputation, the Empress Dowager and His Majesty will definitely resolve it. During this time, compete for favor if you want, but try not to stir up trouble. If you get pushed out to take the blame, it’ll be far too unfair.”

The two of them paled a little at her words.

“Your Highness, do you think it could implicate us?” Concubine Tian asked at once.

“No one knows.” Li Si Qi spoke softly. “After all, Her Majesty the Empress’s pregnancy wasn’t kept secret from everyone. The whole capital knows she’s carrying a child. The abnormality of the imperial fetus can’t be hidden either. This matter will definitely require an explanation to everyone. As for who becomes the fall guy, that’s hard to say!”

“Her Majesty the Empress’s imperial fetus has problems. What does that have to do with all of us?” Xia Dong Chun looked upset. “Why should they use us as the fall guy? We just want to live quietly – even that isn’t allowed?”

“It’s simple.” Li Si Qi smiled. “If the ruler wants you dead, you have no choice but to die. It’s the same in the inner palace. Whether it’s the Empress Dowager or the Empress, if they want someone to take the blame, no one can escape – unless His Majesty is willing to protect them. If, while we’re in the garden, Her Majesty the Empress’s imperial fetus gets dealt with, then it won’t involve us.”

“Right, that’s the best way.” Concubine Tian nodded. “The Empress’s imperial fetus is a disaster. If you’re not careful, it’ll bring disaster to others. If we don’t want to be dragged down, then someone has to handle this scourge early.”

“Handle it how?” Xia Dong Chun blurted out. “Who’s going to handle it? Right now only Zhen Huan is in the palace. You think she’s stupid enough to deal with the Empress’s imperial fetus?”

“Zhen Huan?” Hearing that name, Concubine Tian couldn’t help looking at Li Si Qi.

Seeing Li Si Qi’s expression stay calm, as if she didn’t care at all, Concubine Tian could only think it through herself. She was the legitimate daughter of the Fu Cha family. In the inner palace, she definitely had some people of her own. Of course, she wouldn’t be foolish enough to order her own people to make a move.

Anyone who didn’t want to be implicated should contribute a little.

“Exactly, Zhen Huan is in the palace.” Xia Dong Chun spoke bluntly. “She even drugged the Empress before. Maybe the Empress can’t deliver the imperial fetus because of the evil she brought on herself.”

“Whether it is or not, those words can’t come from us.” Li Si Qi shot her a look. “For Wen Yue’s sake, Noble Lady Jing, you need to watch yourself too. If something happens, the daughter you worked so hard to give birth to might be handed to someone else to raise. By then, it’ll be too late for regret.”

“Your Highness is right.” Concubine Tian glared at her. “You need to be more careful yourself. Lately, you’ve been chatting more and more with Attendant Kang and Attendant Xi. One day they’ll turn around and repeat it, and the one who suffers will still be you.”

Xia Dong Chun’s almond eyes widened. “They’d dare?”

“There’s nothing people won’t dare.” Li Si Qi looked at her and said flatly, “Remember you have a child. Whatever you do, whatever you say, you have to mind your boundaries. Don’t wait until something happens to regret it. There’s no medicine for regret in this world.”

“Then I just won’t associate with them anymore.” Xia Dong Chun glanced at the two of them and muttered, “I’ll only chat and talk with you two. That way there won’t be any more slip-ups, right?”

“No one told you not to associate with other people.” Concubine Tian snapped back. “I’m telling you to mind your boundaries and stop blurting everything out. You might offend someone without even knowing it.”

“Got it!”

… They stayed there for a day. In the evening, they ate dinner together before returning. A few days later, news came that Grand General Nian was going to war. Li Si Qi also saw Noble Consort Hua, her face full of worry.

Even when she played with the little ones, she kept zoning out.

“Your Highness, instead of worrying, you might as well prepare more medicinal supplies for Grand General Nian,” Li Si Qi suggested. “In war, what you need most is all kinds of life-saving medicine. You can have the Imperial Medical Bureau prepare more of what he might need – herbs, pills, ointments, medicated wine. Whatever they can, let them prepare it. When Grand General Nian needs it, he can use it right away. Don’t you agree?”

“Right, right!” Noble Consort Hua stood up as soon as she heard that.

She patted the two little ones’ heads and said gently, “Hong Zhao, Wen Ning, Noble Mother has something to do, so I’m heading back. I’ll come play with you when I have time. Be good, both of you.”

“Your son will see you off, Noble Mother!”

“Noble Mother, don’t go!”

The two little ones reacted differently. One was obedient, the other clingy. Two adorable little faces looked up at Noble Consort Hua.

“Good. Noble Mother still has things to do.” Noble Consort Hua couldn’t bear to leave.

She touched their little faces again, smiling as she coaxed them, “In a bit, Noble Mother will have someone bring you something nice, all right?”

“Okay, thank you, Noble Mother.”

“Noble Mother, come back soon!”

Under the children’s reluctant gazes, Noble Consort Hua hurried away. They felt down for a moment, but the siblings were still young, and they soon recovered. They were already used to it. Other than their own mother, everyone else might leave at any time, or go days without being seen.

The siblings picked up their toys again and kept playing. Li Si Qi kept reading her storybook. After Noble Consort Hua returned to Qing Liang Hall, she started putting the imperial physicians through the wringer. When the Emperor heard, he didn’t bother with it.

The physicians could only follow Noble Consort Hua’s arrangements and orders. Fortunately, Noble Consort Hua was generous, and her rewards to the physicians were not small. So the physicians were also willing to make all kinds of healing medicine she wanted. Not until Grand General Nian set out did the Imperial Medical Bureau finally quiet down….

Qing Yun Chang Le. Consort Jing frowned as she looked at the maid, Ru Yi, who had come in. “Has the Fourth Prince left?”

“Replying to Your Highness, this servant persuaded the Fourth Prince to leave.” Ru Yi bowed as she answered. “This servant re minded the Fourth Prince that the most important thing is to recover his health. There’s no need to come pay respects to Your Highness twice a day. The Fourth Prince only smiled and didn’t agree.”

“It seems he still won’t give up.” Consort Jing gave a bitter smile and shook her head. “I really don’t know why he’s set on me.”

“Your Highness, you are a Consort.” Ru Yi couldn’t help saying, “The Fourth Prince wants an adoptive mother. Your Highness is the most suitable. The Empress and Noble Consort Hua both look down on his birth. Consort Xian has dragon-phoenix twins. Concubine Tian has a daughter. Concubine Li isn’t favored. Only Your Highness is the most suitable. If Your Highness agrees to raise him, the Fourth Prince would become a Consort’s adopted son in one leap. What a wonderful thing.”