Consort Chen is impulsive and prone to acting on impulse.
Today's situation of countering the Empress is not her own idea.
At that time, Consort Chen naively believed that the Empress was genuinely ill and was eager for Consort Yun to take the qi-regulating medicine, hoping that it would cause the Empress's illness to relapse and ultimately lead to her downfall.
However, her perspective completely changed after a conversation with Song Zhao five days ago.
Five days ago, in Yonghe Palace...
"Do you not find this matter suspicious, Your Majesty?" Song Zhao asked, observing Consort Chen's absent-mindedness from her seat at the top.
"The Empress has a heart condition. She had a premature birth and took inducing medicine, and then she experienced postpartum hemorrhage. Yet she remains unharmed," she continued.
"What are you trying to say?" Consort Chen impatiently rolled her eyes at Song Zhao. "Are you suggesting that she is incredibly lucky?"
Song Zhao shook her head and said, "I believe that the Empress's heart condition is rather peculiar. It seems to flare up suddenly when she needs it, but she always manages to avoid any disasters."
Consort Chen had never considered the possibility that the Empress's heart condition could be fake. After all, they entered the palace together, and not long after, she heard from someone at the Imperial Medical Office that the Empress had been diagnosed with a heart condition.
Initially, the Empress wanted to keep it a secret, but couldn't hide it any longer and had to admit it.
Consort Chen fell silent for a moment before saying, "Are you suggesting that she is pretending? You entered the palace later and didn't know the situation. When the Imperial Medical Office first diagnosed the Empress with a heart condition, she wanted to keep it a secret. It was only when the truth couldn't be concealed any longer that the Emperor found out, and she was upset about it for a long time."
She seemed to think of something amusing and suddenly covered her nose with her handkerchief, chuckling, "Furthermore, what benefits does she gain from pretending to have a heart condition? The Emperor can't fully enjoy their intimate moments because of her supposed illness. Isn't she just sabotaging her own happiness?"
Looking steadily at Consort Chen, Song Zhao casually asked, "Then, Your Majesty, has the Emperor distanced himself from her?"
This question caused the smile on Consort Chen's face to freeze.
Indeed...
Despite her heart condition, the Empress seemed to have gained unexpected fortune and received more attention from Xiao Jingheng.
Seeing Consort Chen lost in thought, Song Zhao continued, "A woman is deemed beautiful when she is submissive. Just like a delicate flower swaying in the wind and rain, it is easier for her to win a man's sympathy. Let's not talk about how much care the Empress has received from the Emperor due to her heart condition. Let's focus on the recent event of giving birth to the crown prince. She risked her life to give birth to the Emperor's heir, and this favor will undoubtedly be remembered by the Emperor, deeply and firmly."
Consort Chen's doubts grew stronger. "But if she's pretending, how come the doctors at the Imperial Medical Office couldn't detect it?"
Song Zhao replied, "Didn't you say that the initial diagnosis of her illness came from the Imperial Medical Office? Judge Chu is highly respected, and he said the Empress has a heart condition. Who would doubt that?"
Consort Chen hurriedly said, "This is deceiving the Emperor! How dare she?"
"If Judge Chu doesn't speak, and the Empress doesn't speak, who in the palace would know that she is faking her illness?"
"Then let the doctors from outside the palace come and treat her! I don't believe she can keep up the act!" Consort Chen exclaimed.
"Noble Consort and I are both forbidden from inviting men from outside into the palace, but the Empress Dowager can." Song Zhao leaned closer to Consort Chen and whispered,
"I know there is a wandering physician outside the palace whom the Empress Dowager reveres as the Divine Doctor Yu. He possesses exceptional medical skills and often visits the palace to diagnose the Empress Dowager's well-being. I want to petition the Empress Dowager to allow Divine Doctor Yu to enter the palace and treat the Empress's infertility. The Empress Dowager has always valued the imperial heir and is unlikely to refuse."
Upon hearing this, Consort Chen raised her eyelids and sneered, "Oh? It seems that you, like me, harbor resentment towards the Empress?"
Song Zhao clenched the handkerchief tightly in her right hand and spoke solemnly, "The incident with Consort Shu last time nearly cost me and my child's lives. Who was behind it, both you and I know best.
You know me, Consort Chen. I entered the palace not for favor but to live a good life. I'm truly afraid and don't know what schemes the Empress might come up with in the future to harm me."
Consort Chen lazily leaned back, "Then go ahead and do it. I also want to see whether that despicable woman is a human or a ghost!"
Later on,
Song Zhao privately discussed this matter with the Empress Dowager,
The Empress Dowager praised Song Zhao's kindness and thoughtfulness towards others.
Meanwhile, Consort Chen discussed with Consort Yun how to turn the tables on the Empress.
Thus, the grand drama that unfolded in the Kun Ning Palace today came into being.
*
That night, news spread throughout the six palaces.
Consort Chen was pregnant, and Xiao Jingheng was overjoyed. He entrusted her with the management of the six palaces.
Compared to assisting with the management, this management role was originally the Empress's privilege, revealing Xiao Jingheng's high regard for Consort Chen.
Others were envious of Consort Chen to the point of turning green with jealousy,
But Song Zhao did not think much of it and even felt a hint of pity for her.
The next day, the consorts went to the Yonghe Palace to pay respects to Consort Chen.
Consort Chen, being pregnant, was in a great mood, and her temperament had improved significantly.
She didn't scold anyone for half a day but had people serve her delicious food and drinks,
After a few casual conversations, she said it was hot and let the sisters disperse.
However, she specifically kept Song Zhao behind.
She dismissed the attendants, and when only the two of them remained in the hall,
She scrutinized Song Zhao with sharp eyes and smiled maliciously, saying,
"Do you know why I specifically kept you behind?"
Song Zhao respectfully replied, "I do not know."
"Hmph."
Consort Chen coldly snorted and then took out a slightly yellowed piece of paper from a drawer next to her.
At first glance, Song Zhao recognized it as the confession letter she had written to Consort Chen in the past!
Song Zhao couldn't help but feel flustered,
She didn't understand why Consort Chen would take it out at this moment. What could she possibly want to do with it?
Could it be... she discovered that someone had tampered with the confession letter?
Just as Song Zhao's mind was racing, trying to come up with a plan,
Consort Chen suddenly said,
"This confession letter of yours should go where it belongs now."
After saying that, Consort Chen did something that astonished Song Zhao.
She lifted the lid of the incense burner,
And then gently threw the confession letter into it, smiling as she watched it turn to ashes.
"You don't need to look at me like that, Song Zhao."
Consort Chen put the incense burner lid back on, wearing an expression that showed her disdain for everyone. She casually stroked her temple and lazily said,
"If you hadn't noticed that the empress's illness was a pretense, I'm afraid it would have been me who suffered."
With contempt in her eyes, she glanced at Song Zhao and expressed her disgust,
"I don't like you, but I'm not a fool either. I see through those who support me and those who plot against me. I've burned this confession. As for the little thing that will come out of your belly in the future, you can raise it yourself."
After speaking, Consort Chen gently touched her own belly. The arrogance on her face vanished, replaced by a rare tenderness.
"Why would I need to raise your child when I'm already pregnant with the emperor's child?"
No matter how Song Zhao calculated the situation, she never expected Consort Chen to act this way.
She...
She wasn't the least bit worried that Song Zhao would bear a royal child in the future?
However, Song Zhao's confusion was only momentary, as she quickly understood.
Among all the concubines in the palace, Consort Chen was different.
Because in her eyes, it didn't matter who gave birth to the royal child.
She simply hoped that she and Xiao Jingheng could have a child of their own.
Song Zhao looked at Consort Chen, whose smile was radiant and enchanting, completely different from her usual fierce and domineering demeanor.
At the same time, in Song Zhao's mind, the mixed emotions in Xiao Jingheng's eyes when he learned that Consort Chen was pregnant flashed by...
The two formed a sharp contrast, causing Song Zhao to be momentarily moved.
She wanted to say something, but at that moment, Kang Yubin stumbled in,
"Reporting to Your Highness, Noble Consort... Noble Consort Xiao had an accident."
Consort Chen glanced at him dismissively, "She stays in her own palace all the time. What kind of accident could she have?"
Kang Yubin stuttered,
"Noble Consort Xiao fell into a well... and drowned..."
