Zou Yun'er leaned against the headboard, her stomach clutching, her expression listless. She hadn't been able to eat anything lately, and her stomach constantly churned with sour reflux. Her belly felt heavy, and the imperial physicians, after taking her pulse, attributed it to her grief and worry from the previous period, which had depleted her qi and blood, causing the imperial fetus to be a bit restless. They assured her it was nothing and urged her to relax.
"Your Highness, this servant has made some hawthorn cakes for you. Perhaps they will help with the stomach acid!"
Shen Yue entered, holding a plate of exquisite pastries.
Zou Yun'er, her mind preoccupied with Ji Hong, felt a jolt of tension at the unfamiliar voice. She quickly came to her senses and instructed the servant to place the pastries on the table.
Shen Yue was a disciple of Wei Yuan. The Emperor, pitying her and fearing that the imperial physicians might not be as attentive as the imperial midwives, had summoned her to the palace to serve as Zou Yun'er's personal attendant. Her condition had indeed improved somewhat after consuming the medicinal diets prepared by Shen Yue over the past two days.
Unaware that Shen Yue came from the prince's manor, Zou Yun'er harbored no suspicion towards her. Shen Yue had initially been flustered upon hearing she was to enter the palace. She had expected the prince to summon her for instructions, but instead, her master, Wei Yuan, had come for her. Her master had told her that a physician's heart should be benevolent and that she should do what a physician ought to do.
Shen Yue placed the pastries on the table, took out a handkerchief to wash her hands, and then went to Zou Yun'er's side. She squatted down, lifted Zou Yun'er's legs to rest on her own, and began to massage her calves with her fingertips, easing the swelling and discomfort.
Zou Yun'er's body had begun to swell slightly in the past two days. Her reactions were indeed more pronounced than those of others.
Shen Yue applied some pressure. Zou Yun'er's delicate brows furrowed, but she did not tell her to stop. She turned her head to look outside the door and asked the maid beside her, "What time is it?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, it's almost Xu Shi!"
"Has anyone come from His Majesty to deliver an imperial decree?"
"Not yet!"
At this hour, His Majesty would usually inform her, even if he were busy with state affairs, to prevent her from waiting anxiously. What was happening today?
As she was contemplating this, an eunuch arrived.
"Your Highness, you need not wait for His Majesty today. His Majesty said you should eat well and rest early."
"Did the eunuch tell this consort why?"
Zou Yun'er said this, signaling to the maid beside her. The maid leaned closer to the eunuch and slipped a purse full of silver into his embrace.
On any other day, he would have accepted the reward from the consort, but today, he dared not.
His Majesty had erupted in a furious rage in the imperial study. Standing outside the door, he had felt an overwhelming sense of dread and oppression, as if dark clouds were pressing down on the city, threatening to destroy it. If His Majesty were to discover that he had divulged anything to the consort, he feared that a hundred heads would not be enough to atone for his offense.
The eunuch knelt, holding the purse high above his head, his forehead almost touching the ground. "Your Highness, this servant is terrified, this servant is terrified!"
Zou Yun'er was slightly taken aback. She had never expected that merely asking for the reason would cause such fear. "Eunuch, there is no need for such distress. Very well, this consort will not inquire further."
"This servant thanks Your Highness!"
The eunuch kowtowed before daring to rise.
He continued to hold the purse aloft, carefully choosing his words. "This servant feels unworthy of Your Highness's reward."
"Since this consort has bestowed it upon you, there is no reason to retract it. Continue to serve His Majesty with even greater diligence in the future!"
"You may withdraw!"
"Thank you, Your Highness."
The eunuch thanked her again, tucked the purse into his robes, and maintained a steady pace, though his steps were faster than usual. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared from Zou Yun'er's sight.
"Go, instruct the small kitchen to stew a pot of black chicken soup and send it to His Majesty!"
"Yes!"
The maid hurried to the small kitchen.
Firstly, to convey the consort's order, and secondly, to inform them that they could serve the meal.
Since His Majesty was not coming to their Lilan Palace today, the consort would naturally have to eat promptly.
"Your Highness, please take heart!"
Seeing Zou Yun'er with a furrowed brow, Shen Yue advised, "Worry injures the spirit. This servant's master said that a mother's emotions during pregnancy can also affect the health of the fetus. If Your Highness does not think for yourself, then think for the imperial fetus. You are carrying the Emperor's firstborn imperial son!"
Shen Yue did not elaborate, stopping at a point of suggestion.
The imperial family of Lin Yuan was somewhat peculiar. The Emperor took concubines upon reaching adulthood, and it was customary to establish an Empress first. However, Nan Yuan'er was still young at the time, so the position of Empress remained vacant. When Nan Yuan'er came of age, for reasons unknown, whether due to the prince's influence or other circumstances, the Emperor had never issued an decree to marry her.
Despite being the favorite imperial consort and enjoying perpetual favor, even with a pregnancy, the Emperor had no intention of bestowing the title of Empress upon Zou Yun'er. If she wished to ascend to the position of Empress, her only hope now was for the child in her womb to be a prince.
The eldest imperial son, even if born of a concubine, was the Emperor's firstborn imperial son and would hold a special significance for the Emperor!
Zou Yun'er sighed. She understood theιη, but she couldn't control herself. She raised her hand to caress her belly. In the past, she had indeed coveted the position of Empress, but now, all she wished for was for her child to be safely born.
...
Torches illuminated the streets. Even after the curfew, patrols from the city guards and the Qingli Department were still searching everywhere. The citizens kept their doors and windows tightly shut, filled with apprehension.
In a courtyard on the outskirts of the capital, music and dancing filled the air. Colorful lanterns were hung from every fifth courtyard pillar, creating a vibrant spectacle that made the entire night as bright as day.
A bonfire blazed in the center of the courtyard, surrounded by dozens of curved tables arranged in a circle. Men and women sat around the bonfire. The women were scantily clad, with sheer gauze draped over brocade halters and undergarments, their forms vaguely discernible, hinting at tantalizing glimpses of skin. Some reached out to grasp at snowy 'hills,' eliciting soft moans from their partners, their eyes shimmering with desire.
Legs intertwined around their waists, like a pair of scissors.
Disregarding the onlookers, they began to writhe up and down.
Cheers and whistles erupted from the surroundings, and the entire courtyard was engulfed in a scene of debauchery.
In the back courtyard, the sound of a breaking cup echoed.
"Good, excellent!"
A man with a hooked nose and a rugged face received the message. The Black Armored Army had sailed directly towards Langlin Commandery, apprehending the prefect of Langlin Commandery and all the officials in the yamen, and had destroyed twenty-three ships.
These were their smuggling vessels en route to Japan.
The man had not expected Ji Hong's actions to be so swift. He had killed several court officials, and immediately afterward, Ji Hong had destroyed their business.
Trying to outpace him?
He had never lost before!
"Issue the order, continue!"
"Tell those noble officials that they should cause trouble, the bigger the better. At this point, no one can escape unscathed. If they don't want to die, they must force their emperor. If the other party refuses to stop, then they will all die, all of them!"
"Yes!"
The subordinate shivered, realizing the man's resolve. Anyone who retreated now would face the annihilation of their entire family!
Those officials had benefited from them for a long time. Regardless of how deeply they were involved, once stained, they could never be clean again!