Chapter 13: The Legend of Zhen Huan, An Lingrong

“*Ahem, ahem!*”
The Empress deliberately cleared her throat twice, quickly drawing everyone’s attention.
She smiled gently and spoke, “I hope each of my sisters can conceive a child.
But as we all know, having a child requires fate.
I truly wish that all of you may bring joyous news, so our palace can be bustling with happiness.”

“The Empress’s wish for a lively palace is simple enough,”
Consort Hua snorted disdainfully, bluntly retorting, “All you need is for the Empress herself to conceive…
Oh, look at me babbling nonsense again.
At the Empress’s age, having a child would be like a pearl born from an old clam.
I wonder if the Empress still has such fortune.”

“Hua Fei!”
The Empress’s face darkened like iron.
A child was the deepest wound in her heart.
Now, with Hua Fei stabbing her in the back openly, she could no longer maintain her saintly composure.

“What’s the matter? Does the Empress forbid me from speaking the truth?”
Consort Hua smiled with pursed lips, her eyes glancing toward Li Siqi. “I think Consort Xin is an honest person, always speaking frankly. I intend to learn from her.”

“Hehe!”
Li Siqi laughed simply in response. “Consort Hua, you are straightforward indeed.
To like is to like, to dislike is to dislike. To dare love and dare hate—that’s truly remarkable!”

“Oh, I like hearing that,”
Consort Hua’s face lit up with joy. Her gaze softened as she looked at Li Siqi. “That’s exactly who I am. It seems Consort Xin understands me well.”

“Indeed,”
Li Siqi nodded. “Your Highness has bestowed so many gifts upon me, how could I not understand?”

“You good-for-nothing, still thinking about my rewards,”
Consort Hua teased with a laugh, waving her hand generously, “I’m truly pregnant this time; I’ll give you double the gifts.”

“Alright, thank you, Consort Hua.”
Good things are never too many. Whoever gives them, she never refuses.

Just then…
Zhou Ninghai entered with several imperial physicians. “Your Highness, the imperial doctors have arrived!”

“Hurry, all of you, come in quickly!”
Consort Hua’s voice was filled with excitement. “Take my pulse, one by one. Quickly, Doctor Zhang, over here!”

“Um…”
Doctor Zhang did not immediately attend to Consort Hua.
First, he greeted the Empress respectfully.
The other doctors followed suit with their salutations.
For a moment, they ignored Consort Hua.

Consort Hua scowled and rolled her eyes but did not blame the physicians.

“Everyone, please stand up,”
Seeing that Consort Hua no longer tried to dominate the scene, the Empress finally felt somewhat satisfied.
She began with some flowery words, “The new sisters have been in the palace for over two months. I too want to know if any of the consorts are pregnant.
That is why I specially asked the imperial doctors to come.
Since all the sisters are here, let the doctors take everyone’s pulse. Perhaps there will be joyous news to delight the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”
The doctors immediately responded.

The consorts respected Consort Hua most, so Doctor Zhang first took her pulse.

Consort Hua waited patiently, full of hope.

However…
As soon as Doctor Zhang took her pulse, he nearly had a heart attack.
Sweat broke out on his forehead; his complexion turned pale.
His gaze seemed unfocused, and he was clearly stunned.

“What’s wrong?”
Seeing his expression, Consort Hua grew nervous. “Doctor Zhang, please tell me honestly what’s going on?”

Knowing Doctor Zhang served the Emperor, Consort Hua trusted his medical skill.

“Consort Hua,”
Doctor Zhang forced a smile that looked more like a grimace, “It seems you are pregnant.”

“Really?”
Consort Hua was overjoyed, her voice tinged with disbelief. “Doctor Zhang, you’re not deceiving me?
By the way, what do you mean by ‘seems pregnant’?
Explain it clearly!”

“Consort Hua, I can confirm that you are pregnant,”
Doctor Zhang wiped the sweat from his forehead and swallowed hard. “Perhaps you should let the other doctors examine you as well?”

Consort Hua called out eagerly, “Quick, all of you come take my pulse.”

The other doctors hurried forward to examine her.

She did not notice the Empress’s ghostly expression.

After all, the Empress knew better than anyone that Consort Hua could never be pregnant.
Someone who was constantly perfumed with fragrant incense to the point of being marinated—how could she conceive a child?

The Empress stared intently at Doctor Zhang.

Doctor Zhang gave her a bitter smile, then lowered his head, avoiding her gaze.

The Empress shivered involuntarily, sensing something strange.

“How am I?”

“Your Highness, you are already over a month pregnant.”

“Am I really expecting a child?”

“Yes, Your Highness, you truly are.”

“Doctor, how is my child?”

“Your Highness, you are in good health, and the child is healthy as well.”

…

Hearing the exchange between Consort Hua and the doctors,
the consorts all displayed looks of envy.

No one had expected Consort Hua to be the first to conceive.

“Gifts, everyone will receive gifts!”
Consort Hua was overjoyed.
With radiant excitement, she took on the role of a generous benefactor.
Her gaze landed on Li Siqi, and she happily said, “Consort Xin, I will reward you with three times more than the others.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Though she had not yet received anything, Li Siqi thanked her several times.

Consort Hua continued to instruct, “Someone, quickly go report this happy news to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.”

Seeing her celebratory demeanor…

Li Siqi suddenly became curious about how the Emperor and Empress Dowager would react to this news.
Would they accept the child or reject it?

“Imperial doctors,”

The Empress finally regained her voice.
Looking at the excited yet radiant Consort Hua, a pang of bitterness welled in her heart.
Her gaze swept swiftly over the other consorts present and she said, “Have the doctors check everyone’s pulses. Perhaps some of you will be blessed by Consort Hua’s good fortune and become pregnant as well.”

“The Empress is right,”
Consort Hua spoke in an unusually gentle tone. “Let’s see who has that blessing.”

The consorts could only obediently let the doctors examine them.

“Congratulations, Lady Fucha, you are about one month pregnant.”
“Congratulations, Lady Borjigit, you are about one month pregnant.”
“Congratulations, Lady Shen, you are pregnant as well, about one month along.”

Three doctors successively offered their congratulations.

This news completely shook Jingren Palace.
Some were joyful, some bewildered, some envious, and some reluctant…

But the Empress was once again trembling with anger.
Indeed, human sorrow and joy do not resonate alike.

In a foul mood, the Empress quickly expelled all the consorts from Jingren Palace.
Furious, she personally smashed the palace to pieces.
As the head of the abortion squad, she would never allow these women to bear children.

“Jian Qiu, what’s going on?”
The Empress’s expression was like a fierce ghost. “How could they be pregnant? What have you done?”

“Your Majesty, we deserve death!”
Jian Qiu and Hui Chun knelt before the Empress.

“You deserve death!”
The Empress roared in anger. “How did you let them conceive? How could these lowly women be worthy of giving birth?
I absolutely will not allow them to bear children. Do you understand?”

“Yes! We will remember, Your Majesty!”
The two hurriedly responded.