Chapter 15: The Legend of Zhen Huan, An Lingrong

"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager!"
The Empress lowered her eyelids and replied calmly, "I heard you."
"Since you heard it, do not do anything to disappoint His Majesty and me."
The Empress Dowager's tone grew slightly stern. "In the past, when you were at the Prince’s Mansion, I was too indifferent to care about your antics. Now that you are within the palace, you must weigh your actions carefully. It would be best if you refrained from doing anything you ought not to."
"Your humble servant understands."
The Empress controlled her slightly trembling hands and responded as calmly as she could, "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, you have misunderstood. I have done nothing wrong; otherwise, how could so many concubines have become pregnant?"
"Hmph, is that so?"
The Empress Dowager looked unconvinced. "It’s best, as the Empress says, that the palace welcomes more princes."
"Yes, Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, I understand."
"Go back now."
"Your humble servant takes her leave."
The Empress rose and bowed, then, supported by Jian Qiu, exited the main hall.
After watching her leave, the Empress Dowager sighed softly, "I hope she truly comes to her senses and stops committing such wicked deeds."
"Do not worry, Your Majesty. With you watching over her," Zhu Xi stepped forward to serve, speaking, "The Empress is a filial woman and will surely heed your guidance."
"It would be good if she truly obeyed."
The Empress Dowager thought of the children lost over the years—one after another miscarried.
The Emperor perhaps did not wish to ponder deeply, never considering that only a thorough investigation could uncover the real culprit.
Having witnessed countless schemes from the champion of palace intrigues, the Empress Dowager was not blind to the tricks at play.
Now, with the Empress right under her nose, she was still manipulating the other concubines.
How could such actions escape the notice of a former palace intrigue expert?
"With Your Majesty’s instruction, the Empress will surely not make mistakes."
"Let’s hope so."

…

Yanquing Hall.
Consort Duan had been sitting all day.
Her expression was vacant, as if she had turned into a statue, sitting motionless and causing great concern.
"Your Highness," Jixiang could no longer bear it and stepped forward to persuade her, "Please eat something first. Your health will not hold up otherwise."
"Jixiang."
Consort Duan finally spoke, murmuring, "I must have misheard, I definitely misheard, didn’t I?"
"Your Highness, there’s no need to deceive yourself any longer."
Seeing her mistress unwilling to accept the truth, Jixiang was full of helplessness. "The news is true, and the Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Empress have all rewarded several pregnant concubines—including Consort Hua!"
"No, it can’t be."
Consort Duan shook her head, unable to believe this unbearable fact. "How could she, Nian Shilan, be pregnant? It’s impossible, absolutely impossible..."
"She is. The entire palace now knows Consort Hua is expecting."
"No, absolutely not, absolutely must not..."
Unable to accept the fact, Consort Duan broke down in tears, "Anyone can conceive but not her, Nian Shilan cannot, heavens, why do you treat me so cruelly..."
"Your Highness!"
Jixiang felt deeply pained and sorrowful, unable to help but grieve alongside her.
Their sobbing continued for some time.
As the crying subsided, Consort Duan quickly regained her composure.
Being called the ‘Electric Lady’ was not without reason.
Her rise to Imperial Noble Consort was not simply because she had clung to Zhen Huan’s influence, but because she had meticulously plotted every step.
"Jixiang."
Consort Duan wiped away her tears and instructed, "There is news of pregnancy in the palace. You must arrange for others to keep a close watch everywhere. Do not miss any information."
"Yes, Your Maid understands."
"I want to see if they can keep their unborn children."
"..."
Jixiang dared not reply, stealing a glance at her mistress and quietly standing by.
"Nian Shilan is pregnant?"
Cold light flickered in Consort Duan’s eyes as she muttered to herself, "If she is with child, that would be the greatest joke— the biggest disgrace of the royal family..."

Jingren Palace.
The Empress was practicing calligraphy.
The character for "quiet" was written with such murderous intent that each stroke seemed to materialize into a blade, ready to cut through paper and sever heads.
After setting down the brush, she examined her work seriously.
Turning, she left the study and sat on the couch in the inner hall.
"Your Highness, freshly prepared bird’s nest and lotus seed soup."
Jian Qiu approached with a smile, handing it over. "Please try some to settle your stomach."
"I am not hungry at all."
The Empress took the bird’s nest soup and lightly stirred it with a spoon.
Her voice carried a faint, biting sarcasm. "Every time I return from Kangshou Palace, I could go three days and nights without food and not feel hungry."
"Your Highness, please do not be so hard on yourself."
Jian Qiu said tenderly, "The Empress Dowager is the Empress Dowager, and you are the Empress. How could she understand your suffering?"
"Yes, how could she possibly understand my pain?"
A gleam of hatred flashed in the Empress’s eyes as she softly said, "I have no children. How could they deserve to have children? I will absolutely not allow them to bear children."
"Your Highness need not worry."
Jian Qiu replied quietly, "They are not blessed and cannot keep their children; it is not your fault."
"Yes, they are all people without fortune."
The coldness in the Empress’s eyes did not lessen. "Consort Borjigit is under surveillance both inside and outside the palace. I will not act for now. As for Consort Hua... whatever she gives birth to, whether human or ghost, I will let her enjoy a few days of happiness first.
As for Consorts Fucha and Shen, they are young and inexperienced newcomers to the palace. They surely lack fortune, and it will be difficult for them to keep their children."
"Your Highness speaks wisely."
Jian Qiu casually remarked, "Winter is coming soon, with ice and snow. Who knows what accidents may occur then."
"Mm."
The Empress was satisfied.
After taking three sips of the bird’s nest and lotus seed soup, she said, "Let’s see whose luck is worse."

…

Suiyu Pavilion.
Zhen Huan recalled Sister Mei’s face full of happiness and unconsciously touched her belly.
"Young Madam."
Liu Zhu entered carrying mung bean cakes, her tone tinged with grievance, "The Imperial Kitchen only gave one snack, and it was the plainest mung bean cake. There was no lotus root starch sweet osmanthus cake, which you like best."
"The Imperial Kitchen has become more and more careless with us lately."
Huan Bi, unable to bear such grievances, complained, "Next time, if we want something to eat, we’ll probably have to pay for it."
"Enough."
Zhen Huan reached for a piece of mung bean cake and put it in her mouth. "Don’t bother with the Imperial Kitchen. Huan Bi, if you want something, just pay for it. It’s not like I can’t afford you all."
"Young Madam, the daily snacks correspond to our ranks. Why should we have to pay for them?"
Huan Bi looked defiant. "Are we going to have to pay for food from now on? I wish Young Madam were pregnant too. The snacks from the Imperial Kitchen are always given first to the concubines who are already expecting."
"Not that easy."
Zhen Huan instantly lost her appetite; she could no longer eat the mung bean cake before her.
She pushed the snacks toward them. "Take these and share them to settle your stomachs. We’ll go get more food shortly."