Kun Ning Palace.
"All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, or shadows; they are like dewdrops, lightning, or a flash of lightning. Thus should you observe them."
The Empress knelt in front of the Buddha shrine, softly chanting scriptures while tightly gripping a string of glossy honey-colored amber prayer beads.
"Creak."
She paused her movements upon hearing the door to her inner chamber being pushed open and casually asked,
"Has the item been delivered to the Empress Dowager?"
Frost Ruol stood behind her and bowed respectfully, saying, "The calming elixir has been delivered to the Empress Dowager. The amulet personally sewn by the Empress has also been given to the princess. The wet nurse said that the princess is doing well and assured the Empress not to worry. However, the Empress Dowager has been adamant about not allowing you to see the princess. Perhaps it would be better if..."
"If she doesn't want to see me, then so be it. Jing and Yang are by the Empress Dowager's side, and no one would dare harbor ill intentions towards the princess," the Empress calmly raised her phoenix eyes and raised her hand, allowing Frost Ruol to support her as she continued, "Have you found out the information I asked for?"
Frost Ruol replied, "I found Ephedra in the medicinal residue used by the Empress Dowager. The palace's Ephedra is refined together with Tian Chuangzi. Those who consume it are advised to avoid drinking alcohol, to the extent that they cannot even tolerate its smell. Otherwise, they would experience symptoms similar to what the Empress Dowager had today, dizziness and weakness in the limbs."
Frost Ruol had served the Empress for many years and was knowledgeable in the field of medicine.
Upon hearing her words, the Empress had a general idea in her mind.
She turned around and sat in the chair, her gaze sinister, and a faint smile on her thin lips.
"Consort Yi thought she was clever. She added realgar in the decoction for the imperial concubines, but it ended up allowing someone with ulterior motives to use the scent of realgar to mask the taste of the realgar wine. The Empress Dowager unknowingly smelled it and suffered from dizziness. She almost fell and endangered the precious 'heir.'"
The Empress's tone was indifferent, but the smile on her lips grew stronger.
"During this period of my recuperation, Consort Yi has gained favor from countless people, to the point where she can stand on equal footing with the Noble Consort. It seems that she has offended quite a few people because of this."
Frost Ruol poured a cup of hot tea for the Empress and asked in a low voice, "Empress, who do you think is behind this?"
"What does it matter who she is? What does it have to do with me? The Emperor ordered me to rest, and regardless of how chaotic the harem becomes, it has nothing to do with me. If they want to fight to the death, let them. I will focus on my Buddhist practice and stay away from those filthy matters that would disturb my peace of mind."
The Empress uncovered the tea cup and gently skimmed off the foam on the surface of the tea.
She fell silent for a moment and instructed Frost Ruol, "Go to the Imperial Study and inform the Emperor that due to the cold winter weather, my health has been affected, and I need to rest. From now until the beginning of spring next year, even if it's the New Year's Eve banquet, I won't be able to leave the palace to attend."
The Empress was unwilling to be sidelined by Xiao Jingheng.
Although recently Xiao Jingheng had reluctantly permitted her to move around outside the palace, at this moment, she voluntarily requested to stay confined. This matter was definitely not as simple as it seemed on the surface.
Therefore, Frost Ruol asked, "Empress, what are you worried about?"
The Empress sneered, "The things we can guess, the Empress Dowager and Yi Concubine may not be unable to guess. Today, during the plum blossom viewing in the Plum Garden, I will be standing beside the Empress Dowager. It's inevitable that someone will suspect me of being behind it. The person who did this also wants to smear me with dirty water..."
Shuangruo immediately said, "So, Your Majesty wants to temporarily avoid suspicion? On one hand, it can avoid blame and prevent retaliation from Yi Concubine. On the other hand, it can also give the real culprit more opportunities to harm Yi Concubine and her child. Or... is it scheming against Noble Consort?"
"The Amitabha Buddha." The Empress devoutly chanted a Buddhist phrase to interrupt Shuangruo's words, and then said sternly,
"I'm just feeling unwell, where do you get such suspicious thoughts? Cheng Yu is the Emperor's own flesh and blood, Noble Consort and Yi Concubine are the Emperor's favored concubines, and I am the Empress, who represents motherhood and the world. Naturally, I hope that everything goes well for them."
Shuangruo chuckled and slapped her cheek, saying, "Empress, you are full of benevolence. I misspoke."
*
On the other hand,
In the evening, after Xiao Jingheng finished his court affairs, he hurried to the Yonghe Palace to visit Noble Consort Chen.
He was delighted about the news of Noble Consort Chen expecting twins.
As soon as he entered the bedchamber, he saw Noble Consort Chen bowing to pay her respects. Xiao Jingheng quickly helped her up with one hand and held her slightly plump waist with the other, smiling brightly and saying,
"Why bother with all this when you are carrying a child? Please sit."
As they sat side by side on the warm seat, Xiao Jingheng's gaze fell on her small abdomen, filled with joy and emotion.
"You were really clueless. How did you only find out about this after five months?"
He had come in a sedan chair, and although the imperial carriage was warm, Noble Consort Chen felt his palm was cold.
After they sat down, she held Xiao Jingheng's clearly defined hand joints with both hands, warming them for him.
"I, too, couldn't believe it when I first heard. Even Qi, the imperial physician, couldn't detect the signs of twins. His medical skills are top-notch in the palace. It's a surprise even to him."
Xiao Jingheng said, "You probably don't know. Last month, Qi's family had an unfortunate incident. His son passed away. As he was old and had only one child, this blow left him in a daze. It's only natural."
Noble Consort Chen looked surprised and said, "Is that so? No wonder the physician's office said he took a leave... In that case, it's better to let him take care of his family affairs first and then return to serve in the palace."
Xiao Jingheng nodded lightly.
He caressed Noble Consort Chen's swollen belly, and joy of being a father was evident in his eyes and brows.
"Wan'er, it's our blessing that you are expecting twins. I'm overjoyed. Coincidentally, your father will be returning to the capital in a couple of days. I know you miss your family and want to arrange for your parents to enter the palace and meet you."
Upon hearing this, Noble Consort Chen's eyes sparkled, and a sudden warmth emerged from her heart, turning into mist and rising to her eyes.
"I... thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"
In the imperial harem, if the imperial consort is pregnant and favored by the Emperor, when she reaches the eighth month of pregnancy, she can arrange to meet her family:
On one hand, it is to provide comfort and relieve homesickness, which helps with the delivery;
On the other hand...
Giving birth has always been a dangerous endeavor for women, with the saying "the child survives, the mother dies." There is always the fear of unexpected accidents, leaving no chance to bid farewell to loved ones, which is always a regret.
However, at only five months into Noble Consort Chen's pregnancy, Xiao Jingheng arranged for her family to visit the palace, showing just how much he cared for her.
But what touched Noble Consort Chen even more was not just that, but hearing that familiar address from Xiao Jingheng once again.
— Wan'er.
Compared to the title of Noble Consort, which symbolizes supreme honor, Noble Consort Chen preferred to be called Wan'er by Xiao Jingheng.
For her, the warmth contained in that address was more important than anything else.
That night, without any surprise, Xiao Jingheng stayed at Yonghe Palace to accompany Noble Consort Chen.
The next day, on his way to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, Jiang Deshun had already informed him of the danger that occurred in the Plum Garden the day before.
When he saw the Empress Dowager, she had Qingzhu recount the details of the incident to Xiao Jingheng once again.
After Qingzhu finished speaking, the Empress Dowager dismissed the attendants and spoke softly to Xiao Jingheng:
"Noble Consort is pregnant, yet she was willing to risk her own life to protect Cheng Yu. It shows her true nature is not wicked. Now that she has given birth to twins, has the Emperor considered fulfilling her wish to be a mother?"
Xiao Jingheng lowered his eyes, leaned forward slightly with his arms resting on the sandalwood table.
His right index finger occasionally stroked the jade fingerstall on his thumb.
After pondering for a long time, he closed his eyes, and in a calm voice, he said:
"If it's a princess, keeping her by Noble Consort's side is not out of the question. But if it's a prince, then what happened to Yu'er that day..."
He paused for a moment,
Then he suddenly lifted his eyelids, his gaze sharp as a sword, and in a tone devoid of any emotion, he uttered one sentence:
"Today, it remains the same."
[Chapter 149: Yu'er was the child of Noble Consort Chen who was lost after a fall.]
