Chapter 98

Chapter 98: Zhen Huan Chronicles, An Ling Rong

Li Si Qi froze for a moment and asked, “Something happened? Your Majesty, what happened in Song Yang County? Did my father do something negligent in his duties?” The Emperor replied, “No. The county magistrate and county commandant of Song Yang County were escorting the northwest silver and grain supplies with the army when they were unfortunately attacked and lost the shipment.

I have already issued an edict to investigate thoroughly. For now, Song Yang County is being managed by your father as acting head.” Li Si Qi nodded. “Oh, so that’s what it was.

I don’t understand state affairs. Whatever Your Majesty thinks is best for calming things down and arranging it properly is fine.”

“Your father…” The Emperor thought of the intelligence he had. “He truly doesn’t have much talent, but luckily he listens to advice. I plan to send someone to assist at his side, help him handle official matters, and in a couple of years I’ll promote him again.”

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s grace.” Li Si Qi rose to bow. At the Emperor’s gesture, she sat back down and continued, “Your Majesty, in my opinion, Father should just stay in Song Yang County. He has no talent, and pushing him upward will only add trouble for others. I don’t want Father to make another mistake. It’s better to let my little brother hold up the An family’s face.”

“Your little brother is indeed quite good.” The Emperor showed a faint smile. “He already passed as a student candidate, and the next step is the licentiate exam. I heard his studies are solid and he’s obedient. His tutor is very fond of him. He’s still a bit young right now, though. If he were a few years older, it would be more fitting for him to come to the capital to study.”

“I do intend to have my little brother come to the capital.” Li Si Qi spoke up with her plan. “Father isn’t a scholar, and he likes to use his position as a father to point fingers and interfere in other people’s matters. They say you turn red if you stay near cinnabar, and black if you stay near ink. If my little brother stays by Father’s side for too long, he’ll inevitably be influenced. Letting him come to the capital to study is the best way.”

“My beloved is right.” The Emperor looked approving. “In that case, I’ll have people bring your little brother into the capital and get him settled. What do you think?”

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s grace!”

“Alright, stop thanking me over and over.” The Emperor waved his hand, then said, “The An family is truly a bit thin. Your father can’t be relied on. We can only arrange your little brother well. He’s still young, his character is decent, he has some talent for study, and he looks alright too. In a couple of years, I’ll arrange a good marriage for him. With someone supporting him, the An family can finally gain a foothold in the capital.”

“Thank you for taking such care, Your Majesty.” Li Si Qi looked deeply moved. “Your Majesty’s kindness to me-I will never dare to forget it in this lifetime.”

“You silly girl.” The Emperor’s mood lifted even more, and he teased, “I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it so Hong Zhao’s maternal family won’t be too embarrassing, so that when he grows up and wants to look after his mother’s kin, there will at least be someone he can look after.”

“No matter what, the ones who benefit are me and the An family.” Li Si Qi smiled sweetly. “I should accept this favor.”

“If every one of them were as worry-free as you, that would be fine.” The Emperor suddenly sighed. “But some people are never satisfied, like a snake trying to swallow an elephant. They’ve turned the harem into a filthy mess. It truly gives me a headache.”

“Your Majesty, the harem is quite good right now.” Li Si Qi deliberately looked confused. “What is Your Majesty worried about?”

The Emperor choked on his words. Before he could speak, Li Si Qi suddenly showed a look of realization. Then she looked at him carefully and said, “Your Majesty, are you talking about the Empress’s imperial fetus…” The Emperor’s expression visibly darkened.

“Don’t be angry.” Li Si Qi clung to his hand and acted coquettish. “Everyone doesn’t say much to your face, but in their hearts they all know the Empress’s imperial fetus is abnormal. Who carries a child for a full year and still doesn’t give birth? Everyone knows the Empress’s imperial fetus is strange, okay?”

“My beloved is right.” The Emperor said in a low voice. “It’s obvious. It can’t be hidden from anyone. In your view, how did this come about?”

“Your Majesty, I’m not an immortal. How could I possibly know such things?” Li Si Qi couldn’t help laughing. “Even the imperial physicians can’t explain it. I’m just a woman-how would I have that kind of ability?”

“Just say whatever comes to mind.” The Emperor glanced at her and said, “An onlooker sees clearly; those involved are confused. I want to hear your opinion.”

“Oh.” Li Si Qi propped her chin on one hand, looking thoughtful. “If Your Majesty wants me to speak freely, that’s fine. But if I say something Your Majesty doesn’t like, Your Majesty can’t get angry, and you can’t take it out on me.”

“When have I ever taken it out on you?” The Emperor was both annoyed and amused. “You ungrateful girl. Haven’t I treated you well enough?”

“Yes, Your Majesty has treated me very well, and I’m grateful.”

“Enough flattery. Hurry and speak.”

“Alright, then I’ll share my thoughts.” Li Si Qi gave him a big smile. “Your Majesty, let’s start from when the Empress first became pregnant with the imperial fetus. When the Empress became pregnant, because of the Fourth Prince, she nearly miscarried. In the end, the physicians used every method to save the imperial fetus. I think it must have had some effect, more or less. Don’t you think so?”

“Mhm. At that time, the fetus hadn’t even formed yet.” The Emperor followed her reasoning. “She lost a lot of blood, and then there was acupuncture and miscarriage-preventing medicine. If a child is preserved like that, it’s impossible for there to be no effect at all.”

“Exactly.” Li Si Qi continued, “From the beginning, the imperial fetus was already affected. And the Empress is weak-her head ailment flares up often. I also heard she frequently can’t sleep. That kind of condition is hard for a normal person to endure, let alone an Empress carrying the imperial fetus. With her physical state, how could it not affect the imperial fetus? You could say that from the moment it started developing, it never received good nourishment from the mother’s body. Instead, bad things kept happening one after another. Most importantly, the Empress even took a secret medicine like the hallucinatory drug. Your Majesty, after being tossed around like that… if the Empress’s imperial fetus were still normal, that would be the real ghost story.”

The Emperor’s face stiffened, and for a moment he didn’t know what to say. Li Ruo Qi added, “Your Majesty, I think the Empress’s pregnancy is the result of too many accidents. Guilty or not, there are quite a few people who bear responsibility. If you really investigate responsibility, it seems improper no matter who you point to.

But Attendant Zhen knew the Empress was heavily pregnant and close to giving birth, and she still dared to use a secret drug. I have to say, her guts are enormous.” The Emperor slowly rolled the beads in his hand and exhaled two words. “Zhen Huan.”… The next day, the Emperor left.

Li Si Qi returned to her days of eating, drinking, and watching the show. Day by day, time passed. The concubines in the garden lived comfortably, competing for favor here and there and strolling through the grounds. Back in the palace, the Empress Dowager endured the days while waiting for the Empress to recover.

With her appetite back, the Empress gradually regained her energy. Zhen Huan lived on Prince Guo’s sweet words, as if nothing had happened. And yet it also felt like everything had happened. That day, Lu He hurried in.

“Your Highness!” Lu He looked alarmed. “Your Highness, the Fourth Prince has met with trouble.”

“Trouble?” Li Si Qi was surprised. “What happened?”