The auspicious day for the conferment of titles to Consort Hui and Rongyue was set on the first day of the second month in the seventh year of the Qiyuan Era.
Although the coronation ceremony could not take place due to the mourning period for Empress Jia Rui, a decree was issued granting them court attire and official seals, which made the event legitimate.
Since Consort Hui was promoted to the position of Consort, her demeanor and behavior had changed significantly compared to before.
The superficial immaturity gradually faded away, and she became more tactful in her speech and actions, rarely causing any embarrassing incidents.
People speculated privately that it might be because she had become a mother that she underwent these changes.
After all, she had turned seventeen, and it was time to shed the image of someone ignorant of the world and focused solely on eating.
The pregnancy of Consort Hui and Rongyue went smoothly.
However, a few days ago, Xiao Jingheng received a suggestion from Concubine Li, who said, "The divination I performed revealed an unusual hexagram, indicating that there will be many obstacles and difficulties for the pregnant consorts in the imperial harem. We must be cautious and avoid certain things."
Xiao Jingheng hurriedly asked, "Please tell me what precautions to take to ensure the safety of the dragon seed."
"The consorts and Concubine Shun are not living in seclusion. It's inevitable that there will be conflicts when people come and go. It would be better if Your Majesty allows the two consorts to live separately. Perhaps this can avert the disaster," Concubine Li suggested.
"Is living separately sufficient?" Xiao Jingheng pondered for a moment and nodded, saying, "Concubine Shun already holds a high position in one palace, so it's not appropriate for her to continue residing in the Noble Consort's palace. Originally, I planned to grant her a palace after she gives birth. Since you have raised this point, I will expedite the matter."
On that day, Li Changzai, who used to live with Consort Hui, moved to Consort Yao's Yao Hua Palace.
Rongyue was granted the newly renovated Zhuixia Palace to live alone, as a sign of favor.
Concubine Li's suggestion to Xiao Jingheng was entirely based on Consort Hui's instructions.
Firstly, it drove Li Changzai out of Zhaochun Palace, ensuring that Consort Hui's secret plans would not be overheard.
Secondly, it made it more convenient for Consort Hui to harm Rongyue by moving her out of Ning Wanshuang's Palace.
After Rongyue moved out of Yonghe Palace, her private interactions with Consort Hui became even closer.
Rongyue trusted Consort Hui completely and regarded her as a younger sister, often making exquisite and delicious snacks to share with her.
On this day, Rongyue brought freshly made osmanthus cake to Consort Hui's palace.
They greeted each other affectionately and sat down. As they enjoyed the pastries, Rongyue suddenly caught a whiff of a faint fragrance of gardenia, which seemed to be emanating from the empty cup that Consort Hui had already finished drinking from. Curious, she asked, "Sister, what are you drinking? It smells so refreshing."
Consort Hui smiled and replied, "The Emperor knows that I like gardenia, so he had the kitchen prepare some gardenia nectar for me. Would you like to try it, sister?"
As she spoke, Chan Er brought a new teapot.
Rongyue naturally took the teapot from her hand.
She lifted the lid and leaned in to sniff it, pleasantly exclaiming, "Mmm, indeed a good thing."
Afterward, as they sipped the fragrant osmanthus dew and enjoyed pastries, they chatted about trivial matters during pregnancy.
Everything was going well in their conversation, but suddenly, Rongyue clutched her abdomen without warning, crying out in pain.
Consort Hui was taken aback and hurriedly approached Rongyue, concerned. However, as she got closer, she saw that Rongyue's lower body was covered in bright red...
"Oh... what's happened to Sister Tong?" Consort Hui exclaimed, taking two steps back in shock.
Rongyue's face turned pale for a moment, and she bit her lip, enduring the pain. "I have severe abdominal pain..."
Consort Hui sensed something was wrong and urged the palace maid, saying, "Quickly, go and fetch the imperial physician! Also, call for assistance to help carry Shun Consort to the side hall to rest!"
Chaos erupted in Zhaochun Palace in an instant.
Consort Hui busied herself, showing more concern for Rongyue than anyone else.
While it was true that she had plotted against Rongyue, she would not be foolish enough to harm her while she was in her own palace.
If Rongyue truly lost her child in Consort Hui's palace, she would naturally be suspected.
As Consort Hui grew nervous, she also felt sharp pains in her lower abdomen.
She had intended to sit down and rest, but then she heard Chan Er, who was supporting her, suddenly gasp, "Empress... you, you're also bleeding!"
Consort Hui turned pale and instinctively reached out to touch her skirt.
When she saw her hand covered in crimson, she was even more astonished, staring dumbfoundedly and murmuring, "How... how is this possible? Ah!"
The stabbing pain in her abdomen instantly turned into excruciating agony, causing Consort Hui to cry out in pain before fainting.
Since both of them were under the care of Imperial Physician Zhang for this pregnancy, and both were in a dire state, Zhang hurriedly rushed to Zhaochun Palace to treat them.
Following the order, he first went to see Consort Hui.
At this moment, Consort Hui was still unconscious.
The uncontrollable bleeding from her lower body meant that the imperial heir was surely lost.
Zhang Imperial Physician had no choice but to prescribe medicine first to cleanse Consort Hui's body as soon as possible.
While he was treating Consort Hui, he occasionally faintly heard Rongyue's hysterical cries coming from the side hall.
As he was about to go there, he happened to encounter Xiao Jingheng, who had rushed over upon hearing the news.
"Your Majesty, greetings," Xiao Jingheng urgently said. "How is the imperial heir?"
Zhang Imperial Physician's face was filled with sorrow. "Consort Hui's pregnancy cannot be saved. I was about to go and see Consort Shun after treating her. If Your Majesty wishes to take action, please wait until I have finished treating Consort Shun. It won't be long."
Rongyue's agonizing cries continued to echo, and Xiao Jingheng urged Zhang Imperial Physician to hurry and go inside to treat her.
However, when Zhang Imperial Physician entered, he found Rongyue sitting on the couch, seemingly unharmed.
Aside from occasionally pretending to cry out in pain, she appeared no different from an ordinary person.
Xiao Fuzi placed a freshly brewed medicine on a small table in front of Rongyue's couch.
Rongyue glanced at it lightly, reached out her hand, and prepared to drink it down.
Zhang Imperial Physician hurriedly advised, "Your Majesty, please reconsider. If you drink this medicine, you will lose all hope of conceiving in this lifetime..."
Rongyue paused for a moment and smiled, saying,
"If I don't drink it, then if we simply replace the imperial physician and have another pulse diagnosis, they will discover that my current pregnancy is false. I must completely ruin my health to prevent others from detecting any clues. Simulating a false pregnancy to vie for favor among the concubines is a crime of deceiving the emperor. Zhang Imperial Physician, by not allowing me to drink this medicine, are you trying to deny me any chance of survival?"
"Well..."
Zhang Imperial Physician looked troubled, while Xiao Fuzi pulled him aside and shook his head with a bitter face, whispering,
"Brother, Tong Zhu'er's intentions are resolute. Let's not try to persuade her."
With determined eyes, Rongyue then drank the bowl of medicinal soup.
After finishing the medicine, she felt relieved.
She smiled, wiping away the traces of medicine from the corners of her lips, and took a deep breath, saying,
"By drinking this medicine, I will find peace in the future. I also want the Emperor to know just how malicious the person scheming against me is!"
Fifteen minutes later,
Zhang Imperial Physician rushed out of the side hall in panic and kowtowed repeatedly before Xiao Jingheng,
"Your Majesty, please forgive me... I am incompetent and failed to protect the heir's life. Moreover... this is the second time that Concubine Shun has suffered a miscarriage due to someone's actions, causing harm to her body. It is feared that she will no longer have any hope of conceiving!"
"You worthless fool!"
Xiao Jingheng angrily kicked Zhang Imperial Physician aside,
"Someone dared to administer medicine to Concubine Shun!? Who was it!?"
In the midst of his furious anger, Xiao Yinzi approached tremblingly, holding a teapot, and weakly replied,
"Reporting to Your Majesty... the servants and the internal supervisors who taste the palace meals have carefully inspected all the items consumed by the two consorts today. They found something suspicious only in this pot of osmanthus nectar in Consort Hui's palace..."
