That spring in the Capital City, it seemed like the sky had collapsed,
The rain kept falling ceaselessly, often not stopping for three to five days.
The air was infused with damp moisture, and newly changed clothes soon became sticky against the skin, making one feel uncomfortable.
As Zhao Hua's due date approached, her feet were also badly swollen, to the point that she could no longer walk around freely now.
Some days ago, Madam Marquis Jing'an had been critically ill, so Xiao Fengheng had sent Zhang Imperial Physician out of the palace to treat her, which had already been seven or eight days now.
Therefore, these past few days, it was Gao Yuanpan who had been looking after Zhao Hua's pregnancy.
Today, after he came to check Zhao Hua's pulse and confirmed her wellbeing, he said:
"Your Highness, everything is fine, it's just that the weather has been exceptionally humid recently, inevitably some dampness has entered Your Highness's body, which led to Your Highness's lower limb swelling looking a bit severe. But Your Highness is nearing your due date, once the imperial heir is safely delivered, all the discomforts will be alleviated."
Zhao Hua nodded gently, and asked with concern:
"Counting it out, Consort Hui is almost seven months along, how has she been recently?"
Gao Yuanpan was taken aback for a moment, stammering: "It should be...fine."
"It should be?" Zhao Hua asked curiously, "What does this mean?"
Gao Yuanpan helplessly sighed: "What Your Highness doesn't know is that Consort Hui has found it troublesome to check her pulse daily, so she stopped me from attending to her regularly for over half a month now. However, the Imperial Pharmacy still delivers the pregnancy tonics to Zhaochun Palace every day, and Consort Hui has not summoned the imperial doctors either, so it seems there should be no issues."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Hua immediately sensed something amiss.
Consort Hui's fetal pulse had always been maintained by a medicinal herb that Zhang Imperial Physician secretly added to her pregnancy tonics.
Now with Zhang Imperial Physician not in the palace, even if those tonics were still being delivered to Consort Hui daily, if she had suspicions and refused to take them, no one else would know.
To prevent Consort Hui from noticing anything, the doses that Zhang Imperial Physician secretly added to the tonics each time were very light.
This made it difficult to detect any clues from the dregs, but if the medicine was stopped, the original pulse would return after three to five days.
Zhao Hua thought to herself:
Consort Hui herself has some medical knowledge, now that she has even stopped Gao Yuanpan from checking her pulse, it's hard to say whether she has discovered some abnormality with her fetus...
Zhao Hua's scheming all hinged on Consort Hui using her female fetus to frame her.
If Consort Hui knew she was carrying a male heir, she certainly wouldn't use this prince who could help her rise in status to scheme against Zhao Hua anymore.
By February 25th, there were three days until Consort Hui's birthday, but she had declined the preparations for her birthday banquet on the grounds of needing peace and rest to nurture the fetus, and was still hiding away in her palace, refusing to see anyone.
This confirmed Zhao Hua's suspicions,
it seemed her scheme had likely been seen through by Consort Hui.
Yun Shan worriedly said: "Miss...Has Consort Hui discovered something wrong with the medicine? If she knows she's carrying a male heir, hoping to advance herself with this child, she would be even less willing to easily see any of the consorts..."
But this wasn't even Zhao Hua's biggest worry,
What she was worried about was Zhang Imperial Physician's safety right now.
After thinking for a while, she instructed Xiao Fuzi:
"Find a way to send word to your brother, tell him to slowly treat Madam Marquis Jing'an's illness, don't rush. As long as Madam Marquis Jing'an's illness is not cured, your brother won't need to return to the palace. Even if Consort Hui wants to investigate something through your brother, she will be powerless."
Xiao Fuzi was also worried about his elder brother, hearing Zhao Hua's words, he immediately went to arrange it.
After he left, Zhao Hua secluded herself in the inner chamber for the entire afternoon, quietly thinking of countermeasures.
She had experienced Consort Hui's craftiness before, if she couldn't thoroughly defeat her this time, then once Consort Hui rose up again, it would be endless trouble.
About half a shichen later, Yun Shan brought in today's pregnancy tonic for Zhao Hua to take.
She knew Zhao Hua's thoughts were in turmoil, and didn't want to add to it, but still couldn't help saying:
"Miss, Imperial Physician Zhang can't keep hiding at the Marquis Jing'an Estate forever. I'm worried that when he returns to the palace in the future, Consort Hui may discern the relationship between us and him from him, and even make His Majesty suspicious about the incident of your amnesia that day..."
Zhao Hua's gaze darkened as she silently looked at the welcome blossoms on the table.
Her fingertips kept tapping the yellow pear wood table, her mind also momentarily blank.
Just then, Xiao Fuzi returned to report:
"Replying to Your Highness, the message has been sent out. Also, per Your Highness's instructions, Tian Ji's people deliberately revealed themselves, which has already alerted Prince Qi to someone secretly investigating him."
Xiao Fuzi's words were like rays of golden light penetrating the dark clouds,
instantly dispersing the gloom that had been lingering in Zhao Hua's heart.
She smiled calmly, and suddenly changed the topic, saying to Yun Shan:
"Didn't you mention to me a few days ago that Li Changzai who lives with Consort Yao came looking for you, saying Consort Yao often verbally abused me in her own palace? Previously you stopped her from seeing me, today since we have time, go call her over."
"Call her over?" Yun Shan said in puzzlement: "Miss is pregnant, how can you bear to hear such foul words?"
"It's fine. I'm in a good mood today, I actually want to hear what kind of lotus words can come out of Consort Yao's slick mouth."
Li Changzai was best at flattering those in power.
Seeing Zhao Hua's rising prestige in the harem now, soon to stand alone at the top, she had wanted to pledge allegiance to Zhao Hua early on.
Summoned today, she scurried over even faster.
"This concubine pays her respects to Esteemed Consort Zhao, may the consort have eternal blessings!"
She bowed down to Zhao Hua in salutation, indicating her respect and allegiance.
Zhao Hua smiled and bade her rise, after inviting her to sit and drink tea, she said:
"The past few days this palace had discomfort due to the pregnancy, and had to decline your wish to chat a number of times. Today I finally have time, you were the first one I thought of."
Li Changzai quickly placated her with a smile: "To be remembered by Esteemed Consort brings great fortune to this concubine."
Glancing around, she couldn't help sighing: "In the end, it's still peaceful in consort's palace. This concubine lives in Yaohua Palace, having to hear such foul language every day, it's truly headache-inducing."
"Foul language?" Zhao Hua asked curiously: "Who said what?"
Li Changzai had a conspiratorial look:
"This concubine really couldn't stand to keep listening, that's why I wanted to report the matter to Esteemed Consort so many times. Ever since Consort Yao was crippled and paralyzed in bed, she has held much resentment toward you, often cursing ill words, not wishing consort well at all. Just now, upon hearing of consort's impending coronation as Empress, she has been insulting consort even more vulgarity every day..."
This Li Changzai was accustomed to flattering those above and trampling those below.
When Consort Yao had been in power, she lingered around her daily, eager to even help her with her shoes if needed.
Now that Consort Yao had fallen from grace, she wished for nothing more than Consort Yao's death.
Of course Zhao Hua also disliked such a fickle opportunist, but she was very useful nonetheless.
So she smiled and asked Li Changzai, "Oh? Go ahead and tell me what Consort Yao has been cursing about me in private."
