novelraw Chapter 549: Cannot Sit and Wait for Death
Chapter 549: Cannot Sit and Wait for Death
"Honored Lady Du is so stupid; she can’t even follow up on a single word from the Emperor!"What’s the point in elevating such a person?
How could the Emperor possibly like her?!
In the end, the Empress turned the matter over in her mind until she felt nothing but regret, as if it were bleeding.
"It’s just that Honored Lady Cheng is a clever one. I just don’t know... if she understands the situation!"
Thinking it over, the Empress called someone to summon Honored Lady Cheng.
...
The Empress sat high above while Honored Lady Cheng knelt on the ground, utterly respectful!
The Empress didn’t bother beating around the bush.
She dismissed the servants and then she spoke.
"I heard... Honored Lady Cheng is pregnant. I wonder how she is faring in Consort Ning’s Yichun Palace?"
Honored Lady Cheng’s heart tightened, and she quickly kowtowed.
"Empress, Consort Ning has been very kind, taking great care of this servant!"
She avoided the first question at all costs!
How could she know anything about it? The Imperial Physician hadn’t diagnosed it yet. How could she speculate?!
Then the Empress smiled.
"Honored Lady Cheng might not know, so why don’t we invite an Imperial Physician to take a look at her pulse?"
As soon as the Empress mentioned the Imperial Physician, Honored Lady Cheng’s complexion turned several shades paler.
"Empress, your servant is in good health and often has her Peaceful Pulse checked; there is no discomfort!"
The Empress took her hand and said with a smile, "This Palace is aware of that. Isn’t this... just concern for my sister’s health?"
After speaking, she gave a grand wave of her hand.
"Summon Judge Zhang and bring several Imperial Physicians experienced in women’s ailments!"
Yu Lan acknowledged and left.
"Empress!"
Honored Lady Cheng’s face turned even paler.
Her eyes subconsciously glanced towards her abdomen.
There might already be a child there!
If the Empress finds out, it would be a serious matter!
It’s the Emperor’s flesh and blood, after all. If discovered, the Empress could use it as leverage to raise the child herself!
What should I do then?
It was not easy to conceive a child, yet I would have to hand the child over to the Empress to raise. I would rather die than agree to that!
Thus, Honored Lady Cheng kept her head lowered, calmly thinking.
How could she refuse the Empress?!
She couldn’t just sit idly by, no matter how naive she might be!
That was her child, her treasure!
She might have to place all her lifelong hopes on this child.
It didn’t matter if it was a Princess or a Prince; she just wanted her own child!
But... the Imperial Physicians were about to arrive!
Honored Lady Cheng’s handkerchief was clenched tightly, and her heart pounded frantically!
Just then, a loud shout came from outside.
"The Emperor has arrived!"
Honored Lady Cheng felt this was the most beautiful sound in the world!
The Emperor! The Emperor had come!
The Empress was a bit annoyed but still hurried out to greet him.
"Greetings to the Emperor!"
Honored Lady Cheng was still kneeling on the ground; she didn’t even need to rise, just changing direction was enough!
Upon entering, Zhao Junyao saw two women kneeling on the ground.
He was a bit surprised but still waved his hand.
"Rise, all of you!"
Why is Honored Lady Cheng here? he wondered.
However, he didn’t ask and took his seat at the head of the room.
The Empress also rose to take her seat beside him.
On the other side, after Honored Lady Cheng stood up, she seemed a bit lost.
She had been kneeling the whole time she was here!
Seeing this, the Empress quickly signaled to Sister Ji.
Sister Ji guided Honored Lady Cheng to sit on a stool to the side.
A Palace Attendant brought tea, which the Empress took and personally handed to the Emperor.
Zhao Junyao took a few sips before setting it down.
While he drank his tea, the room fell silent.
No one spoke!
Actually, Zhao Junyao hadn’t come for anything particularly important.
The Empress’s birthday was approaching, and he needed to show her some consideration.
After all, raising the Little Princess so well was an accomplishment in itself.
So, after the court session ended, Zhao Junyao came over.
As for the Empress... in addition to being happy, she was somewhat worried.
She had just sent someone to call for the Imperial Physicians!
If the Emperor had stumbled upon this, how would she explain it?
After much thought, the Empress had still not lost her wits.
She definitely couldn’t hide this from the Emperor!
Therefore, since it couldn’t be concealed, it would be better to curry favor by being frank and telling the Emperor directly.
Firstly, it would show her honesty, and secondly, it would demonstrate her generosity, which would please the Emperor even more.
It would be killing two birds with one stone.
In reality, that was all she could do!
Having made up her mind, the Empress then said with a smile, "Emperor, just now when receiving greetings, this concubine noticed Honored Lady Cheng seemed unwell, as if she were sick."
"So I had her stay and called for an Imperial Physician for her!"
This statement sounded a bit like an explanation and was somewhat forced.
However, Zhao Junyao didn’t say anything, only raising his eyebrows slightly.
The Empress felt a bit embarrassed.
She looked at the Emperor, then at Honored Lady Cheng.
Then she affected a tone of deep concern, "Honored Sister Cheng, really!"
"Next time you feel unwell, just let a Palace Attendant know. You don’t have to force yourself to come!"
"Today, it’s a minor worry for us sisters, but what if something happened to you? How would that be alright?"
Upon hearing this, Honored Lady Cheng felt a bit disdainful.
But she still had to play along, didn’t she?
So she got up with utmost respect.
"This concubine understands. Thank you for the instruction, Empress!"
The Empress, seeing that she was sensible, was very satisfied.
Shortly after, the Imperial Physicians arrived.
The Empress then took the opportunity to say, "Honored Sister Cheng is feeling unwell; please take a look at her!"
Imperial Doctor Zhang respectfully complied and stepped forward to take Honored Lady Cheng’s pulse.
With the Emperor and the Empress watching from the side, he felt enormous pressure, and his pulse-taking was noticeably stiff.
This made Zhao Junyao quite uncomfortable.
The Empress then cleared her mind of everything else. At this point, everything is up to fate.
Whether or not she was pregnant, whether it was a boy or a girl, whether the child would be born or survive—everything was uncertain.
Now, there was nothing she could do!
After taking the pulse, Imperial Doctor Zhang looked at the Emperor and the Empress before saying, "Reporting to the Emperor and the Empress, Honored Lady Cheng has a somewhat weak spleen and stomach, likely due to catching a chill from the recent cold weather or perhaps from eating something that disagreed with her!"
Honored Lady Cheng instantly relaxed.
Her spleen and stomach were weak; she had indeed been suffering from a weak spleen and stomach recently. This wasn’t a lie.
Imperial Doctor Zhang is truly clever!
Zhao Junyao was also satisfied and nodded slightly in agreement.
"In that case, Empress, please take good care of her. If the charcoal fires are insufficient, allocate more!"
The Empress, still in a daze, was jolted back to her senses by the Emperor’s reminder.
Her smile was forced. "Yes!"
After thinking for a moment, she made a show of concern, asking, "Honored Sister Cheng, are you not eating well? Later, this Palace will speak with the staff of the Imperial Kitchen to prepare some better nourishment for you!"
Honored Lady Cheng respectfully expressed her gratitude.
Imperial Doctor Zhang left without prescribing any medicine.
He said there was no need for medication; she just needed to eat well to recuperate.
Zhao Junyao, seeing that there was no serious matter, looked at the Third Princess and then took his leave.
Honored Lady Cheng also took the opportunity to excuse herself.
The Empress did not insist on keeping them and sent each away amicably.
After returning and sitting down, the Empress’s face was full of resentment.
"Not pregnant? If she’s not pregnant, what was she throwing up for!"
Sister Ji responded, "The Imperial Physician said it was... damage to the spleen and stomach!"
After being annoyed for a while, the Empress gritted her teeth.
"Enough, enough. Issue an order: have the Imperial Kitchen and the Ministry of Internal Affairs serve her well."