Chapter 97

Chapter 97: Zhen Huan Chronicles, An Ling Rong

“In reply to the Empress Dowager.” Imperial Physician Zhang looked grave. “The Empress’s body is far too weak. Lately, the Empress has barely been eating. For now, her body cannot withstand forced induction. It would be best to let the Empress nourish herself first, to avoid her collapsing.”

“I order you to protect the Empress’s life.” The Empress Dowager spoke sharply. “If anything happens to the Empress, your Zhang family will all be buried with her.” “This subject obeys!”

“For now, this matter cannot be told to the Emperor.” “Empress Dowager, if His Majesty asks about the Empress’s royal pregnancy…” “How you answer the Emperor is your own problem!” “This subject understands!”

… After Imperial Physician Zhang left Kang Shou Palace, it was as if he had swallowed tens of pounds of bitter huanglian. From head to toe, he reeked of misery. Nothing in the palace escaped Xiao Hu Zi’s eyes. Soon, he told Li Si Qi everything.

“So the Empress Dowager wants to hide it from the Emperor?” Li Si Qi raised an eyebrow. “How shameless. The Emperor was the one who sowed the seed. Keeping the truth from him is too much.”

“Xiao Hu Zi, let the Emperor’s spies hear this. As long as the Emperor knows, the Empress Dowager can’t just pick someone to take the blame without seeing whether the Emperor agrees.”

“Master, the Empress Dowager will definitely set her sights on you,” Xiao Hu Zi said. “She has always wanted to kill Master and seize the dragon-phoenix twins. Now the Empress’s ‘pregnancy’ isn’t a legitimate heir, and it might even be a monster. To salvage the Empress’s reputation, the best solution is for the Empress to become the dragon-phoenix twins’ adoptive mother. That makes Master the best scapegoat to take the blame for the Empress’s ‘pregnancy.’”

“If it were any other woman, she’d have been killed long ago.” Li Si Qi’s face twisted with disgust. “Xiao Hu Zi, keep an eye on Kang Shou Palace. If that old witch dares scheme to make me take the blame, then take it out on her precious Fourteenth Prince son. Break an arm, break a leg, turn him into a cripple – any of it works.”

“I want to see whether the Empress Dowager will be distracted because she dotes on her youngest son, or whether she’ll keep plotting everything for that niece of hers who isn’t even blood-related.” “Don’t worry, Master. I know what to do.”

“Good. It’s in your hands.” “Yes!”

Xiao Hu Zi answered, then added, “Master, the Fourth Prince has completely gone dark. Now he doesn’t just hate the Emperor, the Empress, and all the consorts. Even all the princes and princesses are targets of his hatred. Master, he may make a move against the dragon-phoenix twins.”

“Oh.” Li Si Qi wasn’t surprised at all. “So he feels all his effort got him nothing, and now he hates everyone and wants to pull a ‘destroy everything’ move?”

“That’s about it.” Xiao Hu Zi nodded. “I think he’s more like a venomous snake hiding in the shadows. He could lunge out at any time and bite someone. If he can, he wouldn’t mind wiping everyone out – the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, the Empress, all the consorts, all the princes, all the princesses. If you let your guard down, it’ll be easy for him to kill you and you won’t even know how.”

“Walking the path of darkness won’t end well.” Li Si Qi shook her head. “He’s young. He has no strength and no connections. If he really dares to court death, then with that dog Emperor’s temperament, he won’t have a good end.”

… Day by day, time passed. The gardens were lively. The childless consorts put on a fresh show of fighting for favor every day. The Emperor enjoyed it immensely.

After his work each day, he happily watched them compete and scramble. He picked whoever pleased him, and if someone suited his mood, he didn’t mind granting a bit more favor. In those noisy, pleasant days, the Emperor finally heard news he didn’t like. After hearing it, the Emperor sat in silence.

The prayer beads in his hand spun faster and faster. Su Pei Sheng could clearly feel the frustration and rage pressed tight in the Emperor’s chest. No one knew how long it was before the Emperor took a deep breath and forced himself calm.

“The Empress.” When he mentioned her, the Emperor frowned. After a pause, he said, “Looks like I’m not fated to have a legitimate son. What a waste of my joy.”

“…” Su Pei Sheng didn’t speak. He knew there was no need.

“No wonder the Empress has never been able to give birth.” The Emperor’s expression grew heavier. “This cannot be spread. The Empress’s pregnancy must have a reasonable explanation. Su Pei Sheng, do you have any ideas?”

“Your Majesty, please forgive me!” Su Pei Sheng hurriedly replied. “This servant is ignorant and does not know how to resolve such a matter.”

“Not a single idea?” The Emperor frowned again. “As long as we preserve the royal family’s dignity, any means will do.”

“Your Majesty, if that is the case, then only…” Su Pei Sheng hesitated. “Only pin it on some consort. Say she was jealous that Her Majesty the Empress carried a royal child, and secretly drugged Her Majesty, causing the Empress’s royal child… to die in the womb.”

“Yes. That excuse is easy for people to accept.” The Emperor nodded. “It sounds far better than saying the Empress carried a monster. It seems…”

His eyes flashed cold. “I truly underestimated the Empress.” “…” Su Pei Sheng fell silent again, already thinking only about who would be the most suitable scapegoat, and how he could get what he wanted…. A few days later, the Emperor personally arrived at Shui Tian Yi Se.

Li Si Qi treated him as she always did. The Emperor did play with the two children first. Only after the children went to rest did he finally speak with Li Si Qi.

“Hong Zhao is truly clever.” The Emperor looked proud. “Everything I say to him, Hong Zhao understands.”

“The Emperor’s son is bound to be smart,” Li Si Qi said as if it were obvious. “If Your Majesty teaches him more, he’ll be even smarter.”

“Even if you didn’t say it, I would still teach him well.” The Emperor smiled. “From now on, regarding Hong Zhao’s studies, I will make proper arrangements.” “Thank you, Your Majesty,” Li Si Qi said.

Then she added, “Your Majesty, don’t play favorites. Our Wen Ning too. She needs to be raised well as well. I don’t want Wen Ning to grow up soft and weak, like a vine that depends on others for everything.”

The Emperor was a little surprised. “So you have different expectations for Wen Ning?”

“Of course.” Li Si Qi answered calmly. “I want her to be learned and well-traveled like Your Majesty. I also want her to be like Noble Consort Hua – bold in love and hate, able to ride horses and practice martial arts. I want her to be a woman of both talent and beauty.”

“That’s not a low bar,” the Emperor said, surprised, but more pleased than anything. In his heart, his daughter should be a princess who was both literary and martial, and no one would dare slight her.

“It’s a perfectly normal bar.” Li Si Qi stayed composed. “Wen Ning is a princess. She has responsibilities she must bear. As her parents, all we can do is teach her more ways to survive. Whether she’ll ever need them or not, she should at least know how.”

“No matter what environment she faces in the future, she’ll be able to live well and carve out her own path.” “You little…” The Emperor was shaken. He truly hadn’t expected her to have this kind of vision and breadth, yet he agreed with her completely.

“Your Majesty, I knew you would understand my intentions.” Li Si Qi smiled. “From now on, Wen Ning will be in Your Majesty’s hands to cultivate as well.”

“Good. I agree.” The Emperor readily accepted, then looked at her and asked, “Do you know something happened in Song Yang County?”