Chapter 183

Kun Ning Palace was brightly lit throughout the night,

with Judge Chu leading Imperial Medical Bureau to muster all their medical expertise in an attempt to save the Empress's life.

Xiao Jingheng and the Empress Dowager also kept vigil in the main hall all night,

and told Consort Chen to lead the ladies of the six palaces to Baohua Hall to pray and make offerings for the Empress's blessing and health.

Among them, Noble Consort Xiao had just given birth so she did not need to go. Song Zhao was also pregnant and could not kneel for too long, so Xiao Jingheng specifically told her to rest in the palace.

But when everyone gathered at Baohua Hall, Song Zhao still came.

Consort Chen glanced at her and said indifferently: "With your big belly, don't come and pretend with us. Go back."

Song Zhao said worriedly: "The Empress is suffering, how can I sleep soundly? I beg Consort Chen to let me stay and pray together for the Empress, so I can do my humble part for the phoenix's health and safety."

At this time, how many consorts in the harem truly wished the Empress well?

They all had ulterior motives, paying lip service while scheming privately.

Only Consort Chen was the most straightforward,

wearing her impatience on her face.

She said to Song Zhao: "If you want to pretend, I won't stop you. Liu Yue, bring Consort Song a chair. Don't let her hurt herself and the baby with too much kneeling."

Later when Consort Chen led the consorts in chanting scriptures, her perfunctory attitude was visible to the eye.

She never believed in gods and Buddhas, and could not recognize many characters.

Now holding the scripture, she stumbled over the unfamiliar complex words, misreading two or three in every ten.

In fact, Liu Yue was already whispering to prompt her,

so she just parroted after hearing it first. But she did not want to pretend at all, reading however she wanted, with perfunctory written all over her face.

The other consorts did not dare say anything,

only corrected the pronunciations themselves, chanting diligently.

After chanting for half a time, Consort Chen was already sleepy.

With so many people gathered, Baohua Hall was stuffy and hot. She simply picked up the scripture and fanned herself.

Just then, she heard Consort Yun and Consort Yin whispering behind her:

"It's only early June, yet there is unrest in the harem already. The Empress having a premature birth was already ominous. Now she is hemorrhaging as well. The Empress herself also has a heart condition. I'm afraid she will..."

Consort Yin also sighed: "Let us hope the Empress will be fine. As for Noble Consort Xiao, being perfectly healthy yet giving birth to a..."

Before she finished speaking, Consort Chen who had suddenly turned around threw the scripture at her face.

"If you have nothing to say, sew up those flapping lips of yours! If I hear you speak of this again, be prepared for me to punish you according to the palace rules!"

Xiao Jingheng had forbidden discussion of this matter. Consort Chen lashing out at Consort Yin followed precedence.

But Consort Yin was a hot-tempered Hu woman, and would not suffer in silence.

She picked up the scripture and offered it back to Consort Chen respectfully, saying:

"I spoke out of turn, I should not have discussed this matter. Rather, I should congratulate you. His Majesty previously allowed you to raise Noble Consort Xiao's child. Congratulations on gaining a precious son."

Consort Yin's sarcastic words were meant to add to Consort Chen's troubles.

Everyone knew Xiao Jingheng did not like that "freak child".

If the child was raised in Consort Chen's palace, not only would she have to painstakingly care for his illnesses, Xiao Jingheng found the child inauspicious, and would likely visit Yonghe Palace less and less in the future.

Consort Chen would not do something so taxing without reward.

She said: "Noble Consort Xiao will move back to Zhaochun Palace after giving birth. Hasn't Consort Hui already moved there to live with Consort Yi? With Noble Consort Xiao living alone in Zhaochun Palace, the little prince also needs attentive care, and no one understands better how to care for a child than his own mother. So I have decided to tell His Majesty to let Noble Consort Xiao raise her own child."

Consort Yin said: "Noble Consort Xiao's status is low, she is no empress, how can she raise the child herself?"

"Oh?" Consort Chen brushed the stray hairs back behind her ears, glanced at Consort Yin, and said lazily:

"Then if she doesn't raise him, shall I give him to you to raise?"

"..." Consort Yin was left speechless, afraid to say another word,

fearing Consort Chen would really find a way to foist the "freak child" upon her...

Seeing her defeated, Consort Chen sneered scornfully.

Her eyes also caught Song Zhao sweating on her brow as she read scriptures seated. She immediately ordered:

"Come, bring an ice tub next to Consort Song, don't let her overheat."

Song Zhao was overjoyed at the favor, and was about to get up to thank her. At that moment, Consort Chen walked to her side and patted her shoulder, smilingly saying:

"You need not thank me. With the Empress and Noble Consort Xiao both having given birth, your belly is now the most precious in the harem. Of course I must ensure you are well in every way."

Song Zhao also smiled and gave thanks, but she saw through it all clearly as a mirror.

The Empress had a daughter, while Noble Consort Xiao's son did not count for the royal lineage.

Thus, Consort Chen would keep even closer watch over her womb.

But this was not bad.

With Consort Chen's protection, it was better than her scheming.

Only when this child was safely born would Consort Chen realize she had fallen for Song Zhao's scheme.

By then it would be too late for Consort Chen to retaliate, however vicious her intents.

Later, after the consorts chanted sutras for a while more,

past the hour of zi, Kang Yubin stumbled into Baohua Hall, out of breath as he reported:

"Reporting to Consort Chen, there is news from the Empress's palace. The Imperial Medical Bureau exerted all their efforts and barely pulled the Empress back from the gates of hell. Though her life is preserved, the Empress's hemorrhage this time was severe, damaging her vitality... She likely will be completely infertile hereafter."

Hearing this, everyone sighed and lamented the pity.

But from Consort Chen's lips came a burst of untimely laughter:

"Hahahaha! What great news!"

Consort Chen laughed as she offered incense before the bodhisattva statue, saying, "We really must thank the bodhisattva's blessings."

"Consort Chen! What do you mean by this?" Consort Yin angrily retorted. "The Empress has been reduced to this state yet you actually dare call it good news?"

Consort Chen glanced at her coldly and said plainly:

"Why are you so agitated? She didn't die, did she? Giving premature birth to a princess, then making a scene with hemorrhaging, yet still barely clinging to half a life, how is this not the bodhisattva showing his power?"