At first, Concubine Li was full of excuses,
Saying that such words were disrespectful, she dared not speak them aloud,
And they were all vulgar and offensive, not suitable for Zhao Hua to hear and feel upset.
She was just waiting for Zhao Hua to say,
"Younger sister, just speak the truth, this palace won't blame you."
Then she opened her mouth and started talking non-stop,
"Consort Yao said... that you, my lady, are the daughter of a traitor, unworthy of your position. The Emperor's favor towards you is solely because of your beauty. Sooner or later, your beauty will fade and his love will wane. You will end up like her, losing the Emperor's affection. She also said that even if you become the Empress, you will only be a secondary concubine. In commoner's terms, you will be nothing more than a bed filler. Furthermore..."
Before she could finish speaking, Concubine Li suddenly noticed that Zhao Hua's expression seemed off.
Her brows furrowed, her complexion visibly paled, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead.
"What... What's wrong, Noble Consort?"
Zhao Hua pursed her lips and shook her head, but anyone could see that she was enduring the discomfort caused by abdominal pain.
Yun Shan supported her, clearly feeling her body trembling, and also panicked for a moment.
"My lady, are you alright? My lady!?"
She called Zhao Hua twice, but Zhao Hua leaned back against the chair, responding with a sudden fainting spell.
"My lady! Someone come! Fetch the imperial physician and summon the Emperor!"
Chang Le Palace was thrown into chaos,
Concubine Li was stunned and stood frozen in place, unable to regain her senses for a while.
The words she had just spoken were clearly prompted by Zhao Hua, and she hadn't even uttered the most offensive parts yet.
How could Zhao Hua be so fragile that she couldn't withstand just two sentences?
By the time Xiao Jingheng and Guo Imperial Physician arrived, Zhao Hua had already been carried back to her chambers.
Although she was awake at the moment, her face still exhibited signs of fatigue and illness.
Xiao Jingheng sat at the edge of the bed, keeping watch over her, urging Guo Imperial Physician to diagnose Zhao Hua's pulse quickly.
After a while, Guo Imperial Physician responded, "Your Majesty and my lady can rest assured. This is just a normal fetal movement, and it doesn't have much impact."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but he noticed that Zhao Hua still had a worried expression, seemingly unaware of or unresponsive to Guo Imperial Physician's words.
Just as he was about to comfort Zhao Hua, Yun Shan entered with a basin of hot water and respectfully said,
"Your Majesty, Noble Consort perspired a lot just now. Guo Imperial Physician instructed this servant to help her freshen up. Would you please step aside for a moment?"
After Xiao Jingheng and Guo Imperial Physician exited the chambers together, Guo quietly said to him,
"Your Majesty, Noble Consort Yì's current fetal movements are due to her unsettled emotions. Originally, the fetus was stable, and we were only waiting for the auspicious time on the sixth day of the third month to administer medication to induce labor, ensuring the safety of both mother and child.
However, now that Noble Consort's emotions are unstable and burdened with worries, if this continues for several days, she will likely give birth prematurely. But Your Majesty need not worry too much. The imperial heir has reached full term, so even if there is an early birth, it will surely be safe and healthy."
Guo's words didn't quite reach the depths of Xiao Jingheng's heart.
How could he not know that the imperial heir was due soon and that even if childbirth were to happen now, both mother and child would be safe?
However, he didn't want Zhao Hua to give birth right now.
After all, a good day like the sixth day of the third month would benefit him, the prince, and the entire imperial family.
As long as Zhao Hua's safety could be ensured, he definitely hoped that she would wait until that auspicious day to give birth.
Xiao Jingheng already knew when he arrived that Zhao Hua's sudden labor was because of Concubine Li.
At this moment, Concubine Li was kneeling outside the palace, begging for forgiveness.
Through the three layers of doors, Xiao Jingheng could faintly hear her crying, finding it increasingly annoying.
Xiao Fuzi, worried about his mistress's safety, had already offered several incense sticks in front of the Buddha's shrine in just a short while.
Xiao Jingheng called him forward to speak.
"While you were serving Noble Consort Yi, what audacious words did Li Constantly Speak today that angered Noble Consort Yi to such an extent?" he asked solemnly.
Xiao Fuzi whispered, "It was not Li Constantly's audacity. It was Noble Consort Yao, who often insults Noble Consort Yi. Today, Li Constantly came to inform Noble Consort Yi about this matter, and Noble Consort Yi couldn't bear to hear a few words, so she became angry."
Xiao Jingheng's eyes darkened, and he asked in a stern voice, "What exactly did she say?"
Xiao Fuzi shrank back and said, trembling, "Those words were truly unbearable. This servant dares not repeat them."
Xiao Jingheng's anger flared, "You tell me every detail, no matter how small, or I'll take your head!"
"May the Emperor show mercy!" Xiao Fuzi was frightened and fell to his knees, his voice trembling, "Li Constantly said that after Consort Yao learned of Noble Consort Yi's impending elevation to the position of Empress, she has been insulting her in the palace every day.
She called Noble Consort Yi a 'filler,' saying that the Emperor dotes on her because of her beauty, and she cursed that Noble Consort Yi would eventually fade and lose the Emperor's love just like her.
Furthermore... she also said that even if Noble Consort Yi gives birth to the prince, the prince would still be considered the child of a concubine after being conferred the title of Empress. In the future, even if Noble Consort Yi becomes the Empress, the prince would only be called the 'successor heir' and would still have the status of an illegitimate child..."
