Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 355 Pregnancy

Mengzhu's real concern wasn't about Consort Chun's night with the emperor, since the chances of getting pregnant after just one night of receiving the emperor's favor were slim, and there were other ways to save her pregnancy, such as taking a contraceptive soup.

What terrified her was the jade cicada that shattered without warning.

The shattering of jade is an ominous sign, and its occurrence in Consort Chun's case seems to confirm what Madam Su had said earlier when she observed her face...

Looking at the jade cicada fragment in Mengzhu's hand, Meng Shu felt a chill run down her spine.

Mengzhu bit her lip, choking back tears, and said, "The jade cicada is shattered. I'm afraid Your Majesty will be unsettled, and if you lose your composure before the Emperor because of it..."

"Green willows!"

Meng Shu pondered for a moment, then called Green Willow in and instructed, "Immediately have Xia'er go to the Imperial Medical Bureau to invite Physician Jian. Tell him I've been having trouble sleeping and I need him to come and examine me. You yourself go to Funing Palace to request an audience with Eunuch Jing..." Green Willow leaned forward, listened to Meng Shu's whispered instructions, and then hurriedly went out to carry out the task.

After Green Willow left, Meng Shu turned to Meng Zhu: "When you came over like this, did anyone notice?"

Mengzhu composed herself and shook her head, saying, "Ruizhu is guarding the corridor outside Funing Palace. I came along the east path, avoiding the palace servants on night patrol along the way."

Meng Shu was slightly relieved and sent her back to Huining Palace, carefully instructing her: "Don't worry about tonight's events. Go back and find Aunt Mei first, and tell her what happened. Have Aunt Mei return to the Marquis's residence to see the Madam first thing tomorrow morning."

......

Outside the window, sparse raindrops tapped on the glazed tiles. At first, it was just a few crisp drops, but soon they formed a dense, pattering net.

Amidst the sound of rain, Jian Zhi hurriedly followed Xia'er to Lingcui Palace.

"Your Majesty, this humble subject greets you," Jian Zhi said, standing in the outer room through the beaded curtain, his medicine chest still damp with rain.

Donggua lifted the curtain and led the imperial physician into the inner room.

Meng Shu leaned against the pillow, a section of her snow-white wrist protruding from her apricot-colored nightgown. Her words startled both Imperial Physician Jian and Donggua.

“These days I feel weak and sleepy, and my period is late. I would like to trouble Physician Jian to take my pulse.”

Upon hearing this, Donggua's pupils brightened slightly, and her breathing quickened a bit. She took the medicine box from Jian Zhi's hands, her voice brimming with excitement: "Physician Jian, hurry!"

Jian Zhi took out a pulse pillow from the medicine box and knelt on the footstool.

As soon as he placed his three fingers on her pulse, he felt as if beads were rolling on a plate. He concentrated and examined her carefully for a while before cautiously speaking, "Your Majesty, the pulse does indeed have a slippery quality. However, it is still early in the pregnancy, and we need to wait a few more days before we can confirm whether she is pregnant."

He glanced at Meng Shu's expression and added, "Your Majesty, please take good care of yourself these days. Avoid worrying and keep your mind at peace."

Donggua cheered and tiptoed to the bedside, her eyes filled with joy: "Shushu, since Physician Jian has diagnosed a slippery pulse, it must be—"

“Imperial Physician Jian,” Donggua suddenly turned to Jian Zhi with a serious expression and lowered his voice, “You have been learning medicine from Doctor Zhen since you were a child and have a wealth of experience. Do you have any special methods to ensure the safety of the fetus in Her Majesty’s womb? You must ensure the safety of the fetus in Her Majesty’s womb.”

Jian Zhi bowed slightly and said respectfully, "Your Majesty and Miss Donggua, please rest assured, I will prescribe a mild medicine to help with the pregnancy. Your Majesty should also pay extra attention to your diet. If you feel unwell, please summon me immediately."

Meng Shu had anticipated this outcome, so she didn't have many other feelings. Dong Gua, on the other hand, was extremely excited and immediately grabbed a pen and ink, insisting that Jian Zhi write down a detailed dietary plan on the spot.

Judging by the time, the Emperor should be arriving soon. Meng Shu gently pressed down on the excited Donggua and said to Jian Zhi, "There's no need to make a fuss about this for now. We invited Physician Jian here today simply to check his pulse. He only needs some ordinary calming medicine. If the Emperor asks, just say..."

Jian Zhi nodded knowingly.

When Consort Qi was pregnant, she waited until she was three months along before announcing it to the public. He respectfully cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I understand. Rest assured, the Imperial Medical Academy's records will only show 'liver qi stagnation, restless sleep'."

Outside the palace gate.

Xia'er and Jinxi were waiting in advance. When they heard the sound of the carriage in the distance, Xia'er went into the inner room first to inform the driver.

In a short while, the Emperor and Consort Chun entered the Cuiyu Hall's sleeping quarters.

Consort Chun's face was full of worry, but her tense shoulders relaxed slightly when she saw Imperial Physician Jian.

The Emperor was naturally worried. His gaze fell on Meng Shu's slightly pale face, and his voice softened unconsciously: "I just heard that Cuiyu Hall urgently summoned the imperial physician. What's wrong, Shu'er? Is it serious?"

Then, turning to Jian Zhi, he asked, "How is Consort Meng's pulse?"

While Imperial Physician Jian was bowing to report, Meng Shu winked at Consort Chun.

Consort Chun was slightly taken aback, but then realized that Mengzhu must have come secretly. She felt both comforted and slightly bewildered because of the broken jade cicada.

Tonight, the jade cicada shattered without warning, as if it had drained away a part of her spirit and vitality.

"You will personally escort Consort Chun back to the palace. Be careful on the way." After instructing Jingming, the Emperor turned to Consort Chun: "Ever since her nightmare last time, Consort Meng has been frequently disturbed by nightmares. I will stay at Cuiyu Hall tonight to take care of her."

Consort Chun nodded slightly, glanced one last time at Meng Shu on the bed, said a few words, and then curtsied to the Emperor to take her leave. As she was leaving, her wide sleeves fell, and Consort Chun's fingertips unconsciously traced the spot at her waist where the jade pendant had once hung, only to find nothing there.

This subtle movement caught Meng Shu's eye, and a sharp, stabbing pain shot through her heart.

......

The next morning, Green Willow went to wait outside the Renming Hall according to palace rules.

Once all the concubines had arrived, she first handed Meng Shu's leave request to Xingyu, who was standing before the Empress. Then, she lowered her head and stood in the back row to listen to the instructions on Meng Shu's behalf. (Note: This was the 'proxy reporting system,' where a palace maid listens to instructions on behalf of her mistress.)

Inside the main hall.

The Empress sat upright on her phoenix throne, her eyes slightly lowered, glancing at Qu Baolin sitting behind her.

Qu Baolin coughed lightly, holding a handkerchief, and said meaningfully, "...It's quite a coincidence. Last night, it was Consort Chun who was supposed to serve the emperor, but Consort Meng happened to fall ill at that time. If it weren't for the fact that Consort Meng and Consort Chun have always been close sisters, there would probably have been rumors that she was trying to steal the emperor's favor."

Qu Cairen no longer needed to wear a veil. Upon hearing this, a hint of mockery flashed in her eyes. She really didn't know what to say to this cousin. She had failed to win favor by feigning illness a few days ago, and now she dared to be used as a pawn.

Consort Rong suddenly chuckled, "I heard that Consort Qu fell seriously ill and rushed to summon the Emperor overnight, but alas, His Majesty is currently in Consort Qu's palace..."

A few suppressed snickers suddenly rang out in the hall. It happened to be the first time that Consort Qu had served the emperor after recovering from her tinea, and soon gossip about the cousins ​​vying for the emperor's favor spread throughout the palace.

Consort Chun usually disdained such underhanded provocations, but today, feeling annoyed, she coldly rebuked, "Just because Consort Qu harbors thoughts of usurping the emperor's favor, does that mean everyone is as despicable as you?"

After speaking, she looked at the Empress, "Consort Qu has been reckless in her speech, speaking ill of His Majesty and sowing discord within the palace. As I assist in managing the six palaces, according to palace rules, Consort Qu should be punished with a three-month salary deduction and confined to her quarters to copy the 'Admonitions for Women' one hundred times. What does Your Majesty think?"

......

Meanwhile, Aunt Mei tossed and turned all night, and before dawn, she left the palace with Consort Chun's palace token and has now arrived at the Marquis of Lin'an's residence.

About half an incense stick's time later, a blue-curtained carriage drove out of the Marquis's mansion gate and sped towards the Su Mansion in Chongyi Ward.

Inside the carriage, Madam Yun's knuckles turned white as she tightly clutched the jade cicada fragment...