newbobooks Chapter 201 The Legend of Zhen Huan, Consort Qi 14
Chapter 201 The Legend of Zhen Huan, Consort Qi 14
Upon learning that Liuzhu had passed away because of her request for a royal physician, she looked pained and couldn't stop crying.
Zhen Huan's letter eventually reached the Hall of Mental Cultivation. The Emperor already had suspicions about Yi Xiu. Wen Yuan's pregnancy had encountered so many problems, which was due to Yi Xiu's mismanagement. Now that Zhen Huan was asking Yi Xiu to take care of the baby, he could see if it was Yi Xiu's fault.
Knowing that the Emperor wanted her to take care of Consort Wan's pregnancy, Yixiu smashed more than half of the vases in Jingren Palace.
She even went to Shou Kang Palace to ask the Empress Dowager to speak on her behalf, because she didn't want to protect Zhen Huan's unborn child.
"May Your Majesty be blessed with long life and peace." Yixiu respectfully bowed to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager casually turned a page of a Buddhist scripture and said, "Get up!"
The Empress Dowager didn't look at Yixiu, but continued reading the Buddhist scriptures, saying, "Whether I am well or not is not a big deal. It is the well-being of the Emperor's children that worries me."
Yixiu smiled faintly and said, "Is Your Majesty referring to Consort Wan's unborn child?"
The Empress Dowager raised her eyes, glanced at Yixiu, and said, "Previously, when Consort Jin was pregnant, the Emperor complained to me that there were too many villains in the harem. Fanglan had to go to great lengths to stabilize Consort Jin's pregnancy. I was worried, so I helped Consort Jin fend off some of the villains' mischief."
Yixiu was surprised. Consort Jin actually told the Emperor directly that all the women in the harem tacitly agreed not to bother the Emperor with trivial matters and could only swallow their anger over some small actions. Consort Jin was different. Now the Emperor was complaining to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager was worried that if Consort Jin's pregnancy went wrong, the Emperor would notice something, so the Empress Dowager intervened. No wonder she said that Consort Jin, such a shallow person, was able to escape her schemes.
"I heard from the Emperor that Consort Wan hopes you will help protect her pregnancy," the Empress Dowager continued.
Yixiu was unwilling to protect Zhen Huan's unborn child, and seemed to mock, "What virtue or ability do I have that I cannot even protect my own eldest prince?"
The Empress Dowager interrupted Yixiu with an air of authority: "I believe you can protect yourself. Just be less aggressive towards Consort Jin. The Emperor has already surrounded Consort Jin with many people. If you make any big moves, I won't be able to protect you either."
Yixiu lowered her head, her face solemn, and said, "Since Your Majesty says so, I dare not refuse. It is the Empress's duty to take care of the concubines in the six palaces."
"It's good that you know your responsibilities. If you want to stand firm in your position, you must know when to be firm and when to be flexible. You are the Empress of the Qing Dynasty. Every move you make is related to the Qing Dynasty. You must protect the glory of the Ulanara clan and preserve the glory of this Empress."
"Yes." Seeing that she had no way to refuse, and with the Empress Dowager bringing up the glory of the Ulanara clan, Yixiu bowed respectfully.
On her way back to Jingren Palace, Yixiu kept thinking about the pregnancies of Consort Jin and Consort Wan. She couldn't touch either of their pregnancies for the time being. As for Consort Jin's pregnancy, she could only hope that An Lingrong could help. If the Emperor found out, it wouldn't be her fault. When she arrived at Jingren Palace, Yixiu ordered her subordinates to temporarily stop taking any action against Consort Jin.
From the moment Shen Meizhuang heard Wen Yuan's words, she was in a state of avoidance. She knew that if she could gain favor, she could speak up for Zhen Huan, but she did not want to gain favor.
Finally seeing the Emperor in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Shen Meizhuang knelt down and pleaded, "Consort Wan is pregnant. I beg Your Majesty to forgive Consort Wan."
The Emperor glanced at Shen Meizhuang, who still looked lifeless and dejected, and said, "I'm not here to hear you say this."
"Since Your Majesty is willing to see me, you know that I will definitely say this."
"Whether you speak or not is your business, whether I listen or not is my business. Besides, I have already dealt with Chief Eunuch Gou, read Consort Wan's letter, and allowed the Empress to take care of Consort Wan's pregnancy and restored Consort Wan's treatment."
Shen Meizhuang was clearly not satisfied with this. With a look of affection for Zhen Huan, she said, "But Consort Wan is always depressed and still keeps Suiyu Pavilion closed. Why don't I go and take care of Consort Wan and make her feel better?"
The Emperor wouldn't be swayed by Shen Meizhuang. Besides, Shen Meizhuang and the Emperor didn't have much of a relationship. She couldn't even compare to Wen Yuan, who had only recently entered the palace. In the Emperor's heart, Wen Yuan was a woman who couldn't live without him. She was a woman who wasn't very clever, liked to act coquettishly, loved to complain, and had no scheming. The Emperor was willing to give her more.
"Alright, Consort Wan has made a mistake and must be punished." The Emperor interrupted impatiently, his brows already furrowed.
Su Peisheng walked in and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, the Empress requests an audience."
"Send him away, you may now leave."
Yixiu walked in and saw Shen Meizhuang kneeling on the ground. She understood that Shen Meizhuang had come to plead for Wanpin, but she did not show it on her face.
After Shen Meizhuang left, Yixiu came to test the Emperor and see how well Wanpin held a place in his heart. Hearing the Emperor's words, she realized that his attitude towards Wanpin had softened and that all that was needed was a trigger. Perhaps after the baby was born, the Emperor would forgive Wanpin.
Wen Yuan had heard about Zhen Huan and the Emperor's affair, and that the Emperor had asked the Empress to take care of Zhen Huan's pregnancy.
However, she is now four months pregnant, and Aunt Fanglan and Jing'an don't allow her to worry. They don't allow anyone else to disturb her. An Lingrong comes very frequently, but Wen Yuan is too lazy to deal with her. Every day after paying her respects, she comes to Chuxiu Palace like a fly that can't be driven away.
When the Emperor came to visit her, Wen Yuan complained that Consort An came every time. She was pregnant and had no energy to entertain her. The Emperor told Consort An not to come anymore.
When the Emperor heard her complaint, he went to An Lingrong's Yanxi Palace the next day and told her not to go to Chuxiu Palace to disturb Consort Jin's pregnancy.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand. I thought I had hit it off with Consort Jin at first sight and wanted to get closer to her. I didn't expect to disturb her. I deserve to die." An Lingrong twisted her handkerchief tightly, her face turning pale.
"Alright, that's good. Get some rest." Seeing that An Lingrong understood, the Emperor lay down on his side to sleep.
The Emperor did nothing tonight. Yesterday, Consort Jin was pregnant and couldn't sleep well, waking up several times and waking him up each time. He was really tired tonight.
An Lingrong was left alone to sleep beside the emperor, tossing and turning until almost dawn before finally falling asleep. Soon after, she had to get up to dress the emperor. After the emperor left, it was almost time to pay her respects to the empress. Having not slept all night, An Lingrong had a thick layer of powder on her face.
Since taking care of Wenyi, Consort Jing has not paid much attention to the affairs of the harem. She even felt that the time spent paying respects was a waste of time playing with Wenyi. After Zhen Huan's incident, Shen Meizhuang came several times, asking her to plead for Zhen Huan. Consort Jing was too busy holding Wenyi to avoid her. Why would she go to her? In the end, it would implicate Wenyi and make her disliked by the Emperor, which would be a serious crime.
Consort Jing is now only grateful to Wen Yuan. She has silently boarded Wen Yuan's ship. Looking at Wen Yi's sleeping face, her heart softens. She only hopes that Wen Yuan will give birth to a little prince, so that Wen Yi will have a powerful backer.