CHAPTER 629: CHAPTER 629: YOU CAN’T AFFORD IT

Honored Lady Cheng was always one to follow the rules. Even with her protruding belly, she was unwilling to be late.

When she arrived, the other Honored Ladies were not yet all present. Honored Lady Jiang was sitting off to the side, not speaking. The rest, gathered in twos and threes, were eating pastries and making small talk.

Before long, all the Honored Ladies had arrived. The imperial consorts also gradually made their way in. The great hall became much livelier.

The Empress, holding Yu Lan’s hand, walked out with a radiant smile. Everyone hurriedly stood up to pay their respects.

The Empress then said with a smile, "My dear sisters, please rise. It’s hot, and everyone has endured much!"

Everyone rose, and some chimed in, "To be able to serve Your Majesty the Empress is my good fortune!"

"Indeed, some people wish to come but cannot!"

The one who spoke was Honored Lady Du. In these past few months, she had been desperately scheming, trying every means to attach herself to the Empress’s faction. Alas, she couldn’t even find the smallest opening!

The Empress, having suffered a setback with Honored Lady Jiang, also held Honored Lady Du in low esteem. Among the Honored Ladies, none stood out any longer. So, the Empress abandoned this line of thought.

Now, she focused solely on raising the Princess and serving the Empress Dowager. After the incident with the Fan Family, she dared not make even the slightest maneuver. She wouldn’t dare lay a single finger on Honored Lady Cheng’s unborn child!

Doing so could only earn her a superficial semblance of dignity. No one was more aware of the Emperor’s attitude towards her than she herself. Therefore, she dared not make a move, not even the slightest.

If she stayed within this line, peace and security were assured. But if it were breached, all would be irrevocably lost!

The Empress paid little mind to Honored Lady Du’s words. Her gaze rested on the heavily pregnant Honored Lady Cheng.

The Empress smiled and said, "As the days grow hotter, and Honored Lady Cheng, your time is drawing near, you need not come anymore! Rest well in your palace. Consort Ning, Honored Lady Cheng is, after all, residing in your quarters; you must take good care of her!"

Consort Ning promptly rose. "Yes, I will diligently follow Your Majesty’s instructions! I will certainly take good care of Sister Cheng!"

The Empress nodded. "That’s good!"

After speaking, she turned her attention back to Honored Lady Cheng. "Wetnurse Nannies and Sisters—this palace has selected some. Sister Cheng, you should also look them over. They will be the ones attending to the child. As the birth mother, you should have a say in the selection!"

Honored Lady Cheng struggled to her feet to express her thanks. "Many thanks to the Empress..."

"Oh dear sister, please don’t try to stand!" The Empress quickly had someone stop her.

Honored Lady Cheng, who had only risen halfway, was supported by Yu Lan and sat back down.

The Empress nodded, then led everyone in some more idle chatter before declaring her fatigue and dismissing them. Before departing, she again admonished everyone, "The weather is hot, so all of you should return. If you are lacking anything, just send someone to inform Yu Lan! Those people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs are adept at using insinuations to their advantage; sisters, you absolutely must not shield them!"

Everyone naturally expressed their thanks once more. "Many thanks for Your Majesty the Empress’s concern!"

The Empress looked at everyone with a satisfied smile, then left, holding Yu Lan’s hand.

Once the Empress departed, the gathering here also dispersed. The weather was hot, and Noble Concubine Shih had departed early in her sedan chair.

Consort Ning, who remained, looked at the heavily pregnant Honored Lady Cheng and said, "Sister, the weather is too hot. You should take my sedan chair."

Honored Lady Cheng, taken aback by the favor, looked up suddenly. "Ah?" she uttered in surprise. Before she could react, Consort Ning had taken her hand and was guiding her towards the sedan chair.

Honored Lady Cheng’s face was slightly pale; she wanted to refuse, but Consort Ning was holding her hand too tightly. She tried to pull away but couldn’t, so she had no choice but to follow towards the sedan chair.

The sedan chair, carried by four Little Eunuchs, was exceptionally steady. It didn’t sway in the slightest as it moved, and inside, an ice basin had been placed, making it refreshingly cool upon entry. Honored Lady Cheng sat down inside, looking around with curiosity for a moment before she dared not gaze about recklessly any longer.

「At Yichun Palace.」

The sedan chair stopped at the entrance of the main hall. Honored Lady Cheng was helped down from inside by Huan Cui.

Behind them, Consort Ning had walked back, her face already flushed slightly from the heat. Honored Lady Cheng hurried forward to greet her. "This servant deserves death for troubling Your Highness so!"

Consort Ning, who was somewhat plump, panted and sweated, fanning herself with a handkerchief as she said, "It’s no trouble! Since you’re here, Sister, come and sit with me for a while. In any case, we’re both idle with nothing to do!"

Honored Lady Cheng hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Although Consort Ning’s usual words and actions were sometimes indecorous, she harbored no malice. For the sake of the Princess, it hadn’t been easy for her to serve the Empress with such caution in word and deed for so many years. Moreover, ever since Honored Lady Cheng had become pregnant, Consort Ning had not caused her any trouble. Throughout these many days, neither a long nor a short period, they had managed to coexist peacefully. Therefore, Honored Lady Cheng felt reassured and followed her into the room.

Consort Ning changed into a fresh set of clothes and had someone bring in several plates of fruit. Honored Lady Cheng, however, remained cautious and did not eat any herself.

Consort Ning glanced at her belly and didn’t blame her for it. She picked up a piece of fruit herself and, while eating, said with a smile, "Sister, you truly have good fortune! This time, if you manage to bear a son, he will be the Second Prince! The Emperor currently has only one son, so he will undoubtedly place great importance on the Little Prince!"

Honored Lady Cheng touched her belly and smiled faintly. "Your Highness is jesting. Whether he is valued or not, this servant doesn’t attach much importance to it! I only hope, like Your Highness, to give birth to a beautiful Little Princess!"

After finishing her fruit, Consort Ning wiped her hands with a silk handkerchief and said with a tone of regret, "Sister, you shouldn’t think that way! Even if you cannot raise the Little Prince yourself should you bear one, you are, after all, his birth mother! It’s just like with Shih Jieyu; in the future, the Little Princess will not fail to acknowledge her. It’s merely that she will be more filial to her adoptive mother, that’s all. No matter what, compared to other unfavored Honored Ladies, your situation is already much better!"

Consort Ning then picked up a pastry, eating and drinking tea while continuing to speak with great enthusiasm. Crumbs from the pastry in her mouth flew about, but she seemed entirely unconcerned. Evidently, she had completely abandoned her image and held no further hope for the Emperor’s affection.

Honored Lady Cheng’s face turned pale. She didn’t hear anything Consort Ning said after that. At that moment, only one sentence echoed in her mind.

’Even if you cannot raise the Little Prince yourself should you bear one!’

’Cannot raise him yourself!’

’Cannot raise him...’

That sentence, like a bolt from the blue, struck her head with such force that it buzzed, leaving her stunned and unable to regain her senses for a long time.

Consort Ning continued talking to herself for quite some time before she finally noticed that something was amiss with Honored Lady Cheng.

Consort Ning was startled. "Oh dear, Sister Cheng, what’s wrong with you?"

Honored Lady Cheng seemed not to hear, remaining lost in thought. Consort Ning called out to her several more times before she finally snapped back to reality.

She managed a forced, awkward smile and stammered, "Your Highness, this servant suddenly feels unwell. I must take my leave now!"

With that, disregarding all etiquette, she rose and, leaning on Huan Cui for support, departed.

Consort Ning, utterly perplexed, hurried out after her. "Hey... Sister Cheng, the sun is so strong! Why don’t you rest a bit longer! Hey..."

But Honored Lady Cheng still left.