That spring in the Capital City, it seed like the sky had collapsed,
The rain kept falling ceaselessly, often not stopping for three to five days.
The air was infused with damp moisture, and newly changed clothes soon beca sticky against the skin, making one feel uncomfortable.
As Zhao Hua's due date approached, her feet were also badly swollen, to the point that she could no longer walk around freely now.
So days ago, Madam Marquis Jing'an had been critically ill, so Xiao Fengheng had sent Zhang Imperial Physician out of the palace to treat her, which had already been seven or eight days now.
Therefore, these past few days, it was Gao Yuanpan who had been looking after Zhao Hua's pregnancy.
Today, after he ca to check Zhao Hua's pulse and confird her wellbeing, he said:
"Your Highness, everything is fine, it's just that the weather has been exceptionally humid recently, inevitably so dampness has entered Your Highness's body, which led to Your Highness's lower limb swelling looking a bit severe. But Your Highness is nearing your due date, once the imperial heir is safely delivered, all the discomforts will be alleviated."
Zhao Hua nodded gently, and asked with concern:
"Counting it out, Consort Hui is almost seven months along, how has she been recently?"
Gao Yuanpan was taken aback for a mont, stamring: "It should be...fine."
"It should be?" Zhao Hua asked curiously, "What does this an?"
Gao Yuanpan helplessly sighed: "What Your Highness doesn't know is that Consort Hui has found it troubleso to check her pulse daily, so she stopped from attending to her regularly for over half a month now. However, the Imperial Pharmacy still delivers the pregnancy tonics to Zhaochun Palace every day, and Consort Hui has not summoned the imperial doctors either, so it seems there should be no issues."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Hua imdiately sensed sothing amiss.
Consort Hui's fetal pulse had always been maintained by a dicinal herb that Zhang Imperial Physician secretly added to her pregnancy tonics.
Now with Zhang Imperial Physician not in the palace, even if those tonics were still being delivered to Consort Hui daily, if she had suspicions and refused to take them, no one else would know.
To prevent Consort Hui from noticing anything, the doses that Zhang Imperial Physician secretly added to the tonics each ti were very light.
This made it difficult to detect any clues from the dregs, but if the dicine was stopped, the original pulse would return after three to five days.
Zhao Hua thought to herself:
Consort Hui herself has so dical knowledge, now that she has even stopped Gao Yuanpan from checking her pulse, it's hard to say whether she has discovered so abnormality with her fetus...
Zhao Hua's scheming all hinged on Consort Hui using her female fetus to fra her.
If Consort Hui knew she was carrying a male heir, she certainly wouldn't use this prince who could help her rise in status to sche against Zhao Hua anymore.
By February 25th, there were three days until Consort Hui's birthday, but she had declined the preparations for her birthday banquet on the grounds of needing peace and rest to nurture the fetus, and was still hiding away in her palace, refusing to see anyone.
This confird Zhao Hua's suspicions,
it seed her sche had likely been seen through by Consort Hui.
Yun Shan worriedly said: "Miss...Has Consort Hui discovered sothing wrong with the dicine? If she knows she's carrying a male heir, hoping to advance herself with this child, she would be even less willing to easily see any of the consorts..."
But this wasn't even Zhao Hua's biggest worry,
What she was worried about was Zhang Imperial Physician's safety right now.
After thinking for a while, she instructed Xiao Fuzi:
"Find a way to send word to your brother, tell him to slowly treat Madam Marquis Jing'an's illness, don't rush. As long as Madam Marquis Jing'an's illness is not cured, your brother won't need to return to the palace. Even if Consort Hui wants to investigate sothing through your brother, she will be powerless."
Xiao Fuzi was also worried about his elder brother, hearing Zhao Hua's words, he imdiately went to arrange it.
After he left, Zhao Hua secluded herself in the inner chamber for the entire afternoon, quietly thinking of counterasures.
She had experienced Consort Hui's craftiness before, if she couldn't thoroughly defeat her this ti, then once Consort Hui rose up again, it would be endless trouble.
About half a shichen later, Yun Shan brought in today's pregnancy tonic for Zhao Hua to take.
She knew Zhao Hua's thoughts were in turmoil, and didn't want to add to it, but still couldn't help saying:
"Miss, Imperial Physician Zhang can't keep hiding at the Marquis Jing'an Estate forever. I'm worried that when he returns to the palace in the future, Consort Hui may discern the relationship between us and him from him, and even make His Majesty suspicious about the incident of your amnesia that day..."
Zhao Hua's gaze darkened as she silently looked at the welco blossoms on the table.
Her fingertips kept tapping the yellow pear wood table, her mind also montarily blank.
Just then, Xiao Fuzi returned to report:
"Replying to Your Highness, the ssage has been sent out. Also, per Your Highness's instructions, Tian Ji's people deliberately revealed themselves, which has already alerted Prince Qi to soone secretly investigating him."
Xiao Fuzi's words were like rays of golden light penetrating the dark clouds,
instantly dispersing the gloom that had been lingering in Zhao Hua's heart.
She smiled calmly, and suddenly changed the topic, saying to Yun Shan:
"Didn't you ntion to a few days ago that Li Changzai who lives with Consort Yao ca looking for you, saying Consort Yao often verbally abused in her own palace? Previously you stopped her from seeing , today since we have ti, go call her over."
"Call her over?" Yun Shan said in puzzlent: "Miss is pregnant, how can you bear to hear such foul words?"
"It's fine. I'm in a good mood today, I actually want to hear what kind of lotus words can co out of Consort Yao's slick mouth."
Li Changzai was best at flattering those in power.
Seeing Zhao Hua's rising prestige in the harem now, soon to stand alone at the top, she had wanted to pledge allegiance to Zhao Hua early on.
Summoned today, she scurried over even faster.
"This concubine pays her respects to Esteed Consort Zhao, may the consort have eternal blessings!"
She bowed down to Zhao Hua in salutation, indicating her respect and allegiance.
Zhao Hua smiled and bade her rise, after inviting her to sit and drink tea, she said:
"The past few days this palace had discomfort due to the pregnancy, and had to decline your wish to chat a number of tis. Today I finally have ti, you were the first one I thought of."
Li Changzai quickly placated her with a smile: "To be rembered by Esteed Consort brings great fortune to this concubine."
Glancing around, she couldn't help sighing: "In the end, it's still peaceful in consort's palace. This concubine lives in Yaohua Palace, having to hear such foul language every day, it's truly headache-inducing."
"Foul language?" Zhao Hua asked curiously: "Who said what?"
Li Changzai had a conspiratorial look:
"This concubine really couldn't stand to keep listening, that's why I wanted to report the matter to Esteed Consort so many tis. Ever since Consort Yao was crippled and paralyzed in bed, she has held much resentnt toward you, often cursing ill words, not wishing consort well at all. Just now, upon hearing of consort's impending coronation as Empress, she has been insulting consort even more vulgarity every day..."
This Li Changzai was accustod to flattering those above and trampling those below.
When Consort Yao had been in power, she lingered around her daily, eager to even help her with her shoes if needed.
Now that Consort Yao had fallen from grace, she wished for nothing more than Consort Yao's death.
Of course Zhao Hua also disliked such a fickle opportunist, but she was very useful nonetheless.
So she smiled and asked Li Changzai, "Oh? Go ahead and tell what Consort Yao has been cursing about in private."
Reviews
All reviews (0)