CHAPTER 36: CHAPTER 35: GRAND CEREMONY OF OFFERING TO THE HEAVEN 2

At Chen Hour, the procession arrived at the Altar of Heaven.

Before the auspicious time, everyone knelt at their assigned places.

Xia Ruqing’s spot was still in the farthest corner, right next to Honored Lady Hu.

The ground was ice-cold; she didn’t want to kneel at all.

After hesitating for a moment, Xia Ruqing knelt obediently.

Luckily, this cloak is thick enough, she thought. Kneeling on it isn’t cold. Otherwise, these hours would cripple my knees!

"My lady, there are still some pastries left. Would you like more?" Zi Yue, kneeling beside Xia Ruqing, whispered.

Xia Ruqing’s face darkened. "I’m so full my stomach could burst! I wouldn’t be hungry even if I didn’t eat for a day."

Earlier, in the carriage, she had eaten many soup dumplings and shrimp shumai. They had all been brought back by Xiao Xizi the previous night and kept warm over a charcoal brazier.

She was full but didn’t dare drink water, fearing the need to urinate. However, she wasn’t thirsty at the moment, so she just remained kneeling.

Bowing her head, Xia Ruqing’s eyelashes drooped, and she began to daydream.

Honored Lady Hu beside her was not so comfortable. Today, she would get to see the Emperor. To maintain her elegant appearance, she had refused to wear an extra layer of clothing. With little in her stomach, she had only knelt for a short while before she could no longer bear it. She was both cold and hungry, and her face had turned white from the chill. In the end, she stared at Xia Ruqing’s thick cloak, her eyes full of envy.

I can’t see anything. I don’t see anything at all!

Xia Ruqing thought.

This kneeling lasted a full three Shi Chens.

Once the sacrificial rites at the front concluded, salute cannons roared, and the Ritual Officer called for everyone to rise, Xia Ruqing’s face had also turned pale.

Kneeling for over six hours in the freezing, snowy weather of the twelfth lunar month—no one could endure that.

The Empress Dowager, due to her age, had only knelt for a while before rising. The Empress accompanied the Emperor, so they didn’t have to kneel much. The other Consorts had all knelt for the prescribed time, but several had fainted.

Fortunately, the South Garden was very close, less than half a Shi Chen away. Everything was well-prepared there, and upon arrival, everyone could properly rest. They could eat hot food or take a hot bath; there were few restraints.

Xia Ruqing and Honored Lady Hu were assigned to a small, extremely secluded courtyard. The carriages at the head of the procession had arrived much earlier; Xia Ruqing and Honored Lady Hu were among the last.

After alighting from the carriage, Honored Lady Hu rushed past Xia Ruqing, aggressively pushing her way forward.

Zi Yue snorted softly. What’s she doing? Does she really think she can catch up with the Emperor’s procession? Unfortunately for her, she’s of too low a rank to succeed. She’d better not overstep her bounds, she thought.

Xia Ruqing just smiled faintly, casually letting it go.

Upon entering the courtyard, Honored Lady Hu had already claimed the main hall, leaving only two side halls.

Zi Yue was outraged. "What’s the meaning of this? No wonder she ran so fast; so that was her plan!"

"Hush... don’t talk nonsense!" Xia Ruqing cautioned. "She was here last year, so she naturally has some experience. Just bear with it; it’s no big deal."

They had to endure. Causing trouble during the worship of Heaven was tantamount to seeking death.

The side hall was small but newly built and clean, so it wasn’t too shabby.

Though it was not yet very dark, Xia Ruqing was frozen through. After eating some food sent from the Imperial Kitchen, she went to sleep.

Having occupied the main hall, Honored Lady Hu felt extremely pleased. But as she waited and waited, there was no stir from Xia Ruqing. Gradually, she lost interest and, after muttering a few curses, dismissed the matter.

After eating some food and resting for a short while, Honored Lady Hu developed a high fever. Palace Maid Rong Qiu was terrified and staggered to the main area to report.

Unexpectedly, there was a commotion at the front, with Palace Attendants kneeling everywhere before a courtyard.

After inquiring, Rong Qiu learned the news: Consort Yun had suffered a miscarriage.

A miscarriage?

"Where is the Imperial Physician?" Rong Qiu asked urgently.

"Heavens! Miss, are you confused? Where could the Imperial Physician possibly be at this hour?" the Little Eunuch said with some impatience.

"Thank you, Eunuch!" Rong Qiu replied, her face pale, and returned.

She was powerless to help her mistress with the high fever, and she dared not go to request an Imperial Physician at such a time.

Inside the courtyard, Consort Yun was crying her heart out, while several Imperial Physicians knelt on the ground, silent. The Empress Dowager sat nearby, sighing heavily. The Empress, Noble Consort Shih, and others wore complex expressions, remaining silent as if chilled by frost.

"Emperor, your consort failed to protect our child! Your consort is guilty!"

Zhao Junyao sat on a stool beside the bed, his expression grim. Consort Yun’s weeping grated on him, but he maintained his patience. "It seems We and the child were not fated. My consort, do not grieve excessively."

The Empress Dowager also spoke. "How long has it been since the Imperial Physicians last came to check her Peaceful Pulse? Such a momentous matter, and no one knew!"

Indeed, Consort Yun had no idea she was pregnant. Kneeling for so long in the ice and snow, naturally, the miscarriage had occurred. This, truly, could not be blamed on anyone else.

Zhao Junyao’s face darkened. "The entire Imperial Medical Bureau will forfeit half a year’s salary. Let this not happen again!"

The continuation of the imperial line was a paramount concern, admitting no negligence. It mattered little whether there were a few more or fewer women, but children were different. To properly protect the Zhao Family’s realm, he alone could not accomplish it; he needed many outstanding children.

Seeing that the Emperor was not pursuing the matter further, the Imperial Physicians were moved to tears. They thanked him for his mercy and hurried off to write prescriptions.

The Empress stepped forward, the very picture of virtue and grace. "Sister, don’t be too heartbroken. You are still young; you will have children eventually. Please don’t harm your health."

Noble Consort Shih glanced over coldly with a sneer but said nothing.

Consort Yun was fuming, but with the Emperor present, she dared not say anything and could only grit her teeth. "Thank you for your concern, Empress. Your consort will remember."

Zhao Junyao looked at the Empress with satisfaction and instructed, "It is cold, and Consort Yun is weak. I will trouble the Empress to take good care of her."

The Empress quickly knelt. "Rest assured, Your Majesty, your consort will definitely take good care of Sister Yun."

Zhao Junyao nodded, gave a few more instructions, and then left with his entourage. The child was already gone; what else could he do?

The Empress sat by the bed, offered some feigned comfort for a while, and then gracefully departed with her attendants.

Noble Consort Shih let out a cold laugh. "She must be pleased with herself!"

"A weasel paying a New Year’s call to a chicken—it harbors no good intentions," Consort Yun muttered bitterly through her tears.

"Stop crying. If even you didn’t know you were pregnant, who can you blame?" Noble Consort Shih said, frowning.

Although a part of me felt it was a pity, I also secretly felt somewhat relieved, Noble Consort Shih thought. Thankfully, she miscarried; otherwise... Consort Yun is capable of raising sons. If she had given birth to a son, he wouldn’t have been given to me! If she had the Crown Prince, who knew what the future would hold? It’s better she didn’t give birth at all...

Ying Yue entered from outside, curtsied, and said, "Your Highness, the Emperor has gone to Yuhua Pavilion."

Yuhua Pavilion was where Noble Consort Shih resided, a large and beautiful compound second only to the Empress’s quarters.

"This Consort understands. You may leave," Noble Consort Shih replied.

"Yes."

Noble Consort Shih looked at Consort Yun and sighed. "Enough. Rest well. If you need anything, just have Cai Die come to me."

Although she looked down on Consort Yun’s foolishness, Consort Yun was, after all, one of her own. She understood the proverb ’when the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.’ In this Harem, the Empress couldn’t be the only one with allies.

After Noble Consort Shih left, Consort Yun stared blankly at the doorway. In an instant, tears welled up and streamed down her face again.

Since when did the Emperor stop adoring me?