CHAPTER 37: CHAPTER 36: ABOUT HAVING A BABY

If it were before, the Emperor would surely have accompanied me. But now... Ah, Noble Concubine Shih is still the favored one. A bond from childhood truly is different.

"Your Highness, it’s time for your medicine!" Cai Die said, carrying in a bowl of medicine.

Consort Yun looked at it, held back her tears, tilted her head back, and drank it all.

The bitterness in her heart intensified.

"Your Highness, please get some rest..." Cai Die took the empty bowl and tucked her in.

"Cai Die, how long has it been since the Emperor last spent the night here?"

Cai Die replied, her own heart heavy, "Not since you brought ginseng soup to the Imperial Study Room and angered the Emperor. He hasn’t come back since..."

Consort Yun narrowed her eyes in thought, then slowly uttered the name: "Lady Xia..."

That cheap vixen! She has the Emperor wrapped around her little finger. It’s one thing for Noble Concubine Shih to be favored, but what is that Lady Xia, that nobody! I’ve finally found someone to vent this anger on!

「」

The Empress returned to her courtyard and dismissed the servants. Only then did she allow a smile to grace her face. A miscarriage is good. Now that she’s miscarried, I won’t have to trouble myself anymore...

She had always maintained that the legitimate eldest son of the Royal Family must come from her womb. If anyone dared to block her path, she wouldn’t mind staining her hands with blood.

"Congratulations, Your Highness," Yu Lan also smiled.

Then she asked, "The Emperor has instructed you to look after Consort Yun. How do you plan to arrange things, Your Highness?"

The Empress pondered for a moment before speaking.

"How to arrange it? Instruct the Imperial Medical Bureau to take good care of her. If they dare to make any mistake, I will hold them personally responsible!

"Moreover, Consort Yun has just miscarried and needs to observe her ’sitting month.’ She doesn’t have any capable attendants there. You see to it and choose an Experienced Sister to go and serve her.

"Remember, it is imperative that Consort Yun recovers quickly!"

"Yes, Your Highness!" Yu Lan noted everything down.

The Empress picked up her teacup, sipped lightly, and a satisfied smile spread across her face. If the Emperor asked me to take care of her, then of course I will look after her well. He will surely take note of my good deeds. Besides, who else is the Empress but me? I must display compassion, generosity, and understanding, mustn’t I? No matter how much favor Noble Concubine Shih gains, she is still just a high-ranking concubine. During today’s Rite to Heaven, who else was by the Emperor’s side, moving with him, bowing with him? It was still me, Fan Mengzhen! That is enough...

"Your Highness is truly compassionate and generous!"

Yu Lan brought out a bowl of rich, stewed bird’s nest with milk from the food container and placed it before the Empress.

The Empress picked up the small jade spoon, stirring gently, in no hurry to take a sip.

She smiled and said, "The beauties in this palace are just like the flowers in the Imperial Garden—season after season, they come and go.

"Those fresh and delicate flower buds, even I delight in seeing them...

"Whichever one the Emperor fancies, we simply need to care for it diligently on his behalf—fertilizing, watering, pruning its branches and leaves.

"Once this season passes, new buds will naturally be ready to bloom. As for those that have withered and faded, who cares if they live or die..."

This analogy was, it could be said, quite apt.

Yu Lan said, "Your Highness is wise!"

「」

Xia Ruqing received the news when she woke up the next morning.

"A miscarriage?"

She was somewhat surprised. I hadn’t even heard she was pregnant!

"Indeed. Consort Yun herself didn’t even know. They say it’s because she knelt for too long yesterday that..." Zi Yue explained.

"Oh..."

Xia Ruqing nodded, not finding it strange in the slightest. In this freezing weather, several healthy people fainted. It’s hardly surprising for someone newly pregnant. Our courtyard is too remote, so no one informed us yesterday.

"It’s cold today; I’ll need to dress warmly to go pay my respects to the Empress!" Xia Ruqing said, dismissing the gossip and starting to plan.

Zi Yue acknowledged and fetched her thickest cloak, all the while musing to herself: While the other consorts are all astir with gossip, my own mistress is so calm!

After leaving their courtyard, the master and servant pair followed a small path to the Empress’s courtyard.

Xia Ruqing arrived neither too early nor too late. After performing the necessary courtesies, she took her designated seat.

Noble Concubine Shih had not yet arrived, and Consort Yun’s place was also empty.

As for Honored Lady Hu, the Empress had only learned that morning that she was ill and had already summoned an Imperial Physician for her.

After a short wait, everyone had assembled.

Noble Concubine Shih was the last to arrive, dressed in a resplendent rose-colored palace gown, her appearance strikingly vibrant and beautiful.

With evident reluctance, she performed the courtesies and sat down in her place.

The Empress began to speak. First, she expressed her deep concern for everyone, then shed a few artful tears. The gist of her message was that Consort Yun’s child was gone, and she, the Empress, was deeply saddened; she hoped they would all bear more sons for the Emperor, allowing the Imperial family to flourish...

Although the Empress’s sympathy was clearly feigned, there were still those who eagerly flattered her.

"The Empress is truly benevolent and magnanimous..."

"What’s done is done and cannot be undone. Your Highness, please do not grieve too much..."

One after another, they chimed in, painting a picture of perfect harmony among the Emperor’s wives and concubines.

Noble Concubine Shih merely gave a cold smile, keeping her head down and saying nothing.

Xia Ruqing also kept her head lowered, intently studying the embroidery on her clothes. She didn’t believe a single punctuation mark of the Empress’s words; it was better not to listen at all.

「」

After the gathering dispersed, Xia Ruqing left the Empress’s courtyard and took a small path toward the garden.

"It’s stifling. I need a walk!"

"Honored Lady, at a time like this, you still have the heart to stroll through the gardens..." Zi Yue fretted.

"What’s wrong with this time?" Xia Ruqing retorted. The South Garden is a newly built imperial retreat. This is my first visit, so why shouldn’t I explore it?

"Uh..." Zi Yue thought: What Your Ladyship says is so reasonable, this servant is speechless.

As they walked, Zi Yue said no more, quietly accompanying her.

Xia Ruqing ambled slowly along the cobblestone path, musing to herself. How could I not know what Zi Yue is worried about? In fact, I have thought about having children. I definitely need to have them. Otherwise, what if someone plots to kill me when I’m old? I don’t want to live a life of luxury and freedom only to suffer a miserable end in my old age.

It’s just... not the right time yet. My status is low, and the Empress and Noble Concubine Shih are fighting tooth and nail, both eyeing the position of Crown Prince. I’m not going to join that mess. This body is still young. I’ll wait a bit longer.

As for jealousy... Sorry, that’s not in the rules of this game! As one of the Emperor’s minor consorts who just barely escaped death, I’m not qualified to be jealous! I’ve only just managed to keep my life!

Besides, the Emperor has married so many wives, major and minor. Does he do it just for physical pleasure? Naturally, he wants many children. For the Royal Family, ensuring the continuation of the line is perfectly normal!

Xia Ruqing suddenly realized how quickly her perspective had shifted. Indeed, in the face of Yama, the King of Hell, everything else is insignificant! To live well, one must adapt. Survival of the fittest—that’s precisely the principle at play.

「」

That night, Zhao Junyao was in a foul mood. It should have been a delightful affair—taking a vacation with my consorts after the Rite to Heaven. A wonderful occasion, unfortunately... ruined just like that. I don’t want to go to the Empress’s. But at this critical juncture, visiting anyone would just stir up resentment against them. Consort Yun can be rather arrogant at times; it would be unfortunate for anyone she came to hate.

He thought for a moment. Only Noble Concubine Shih’s place is suitable to visit.ŸŸŸ

Thus, after dealing with his official duties, he made his way to Yuhua Pavilion.