Chapter 40 The Epidemic Crisis 1

Ever since Shen Meizhuang was released from confinement, every time she paid her respects to the emperor, it became a battleground between her, Zhen Huan, and Consort Hua. Even the timid An Lingrong occasionally dared to chime in, their arguments sharp and uncompromising. Yet, they never allowed anyone to find fault with their words, leaving Cao Qinmo powerless to help, even though she wanted to.

Not to mention, Consort Jing, who usually doesn't meddle in other people's business, also got involved.

Besieged on all sides, Consort Hua was furious, while the Empress watched the show with glee. With her abilities, she naturally found out about Hongli's injury, which made her even more disgusted with Nian Gengyao's audacity and her attitude towards the Emperor even colder.

She couldn't touch Nian Gengyao, but she always managed to fuel the flames when others targeted Consort Hua.

On this day, the two sides were arguing again, and Yixiu took sides.

Consort Fucha suddenly gagged.

"What's wrong with Consort Fucha? Did you eat something unclean for breakfast and feel unwell?"

To demonstrate her empress's benevolence, Yixiu inquired with concern.

"Your Majesty, the young lady did not eat something bad; she is pregnant," Sang'er, the palace maid behind Consort Fucha, reported joyfully.

The news caught everyone off guard. Yi Xiu's face stiffened for a moment, but she quickly put on a magnanimous smile again. "Is it true? That's wonderful! It's a joyous occasion. We should congratulate the Emperor."

Consort Hua, feeling both heartbroken and jealous, questioned, "If you're really pregnant, have you consulted the imperial physician?"

Consort Fucha touched her still-flat stomach, her face full of pride. "Both imperial physicians have come to examine me. I'm not the kind of person who would do anything to win favor. If I have a child, I have a child; if I don't, I don't. How can I lie about the imperial heir? Isn't Consort Shen an example enough... Oh, I'm sorry, Consort Shen, I didn't mean to say that about you."

Consort Fucha gasped softly, covering her mouth slightly as she apologized. But her expression was full of pride and mockery, which infuriated Shen Meizhuang, making her face turn ashen.

Zhen Huan was the first to stand up for her: "His Majesty has declared that Sister Mei is innocent. Is Consort Fucha questioning His Majesty's decree?"

"You...I didn't!" Consort Fucha panicked and hurriedly explained.

Yixiu stepped in to smooth things over: "Alright, alright, the imperial decree has been issued. Noble Lady Fucha cannot speak nonsense. Considering your pregnancy, you will not be punished for now. You should take good care of your health and make sure nothing goes wrong."

"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty."

Consort Fucha, having escaped a calamity, gratefully bowed to Yixiu, then turned to look at Zhen Huan and the other woman, glaring at them hatefully.

Because Consort Fucha was pregnant, the greetings were hastily concluded, and upon returning to Yikun Palace, Nian Shilan flew into a rage.

"Pregnant, pregnant! How come Consort Fucha can be pregnant, but I can't!"

Nian Shilan slumped into a chair, clutching her stomach and weeping, "I was supposed to have a little prince too..."

"It's all because of Qi Yuebin, it's all because of that bitch Qi Yuebin!"

Nian Shilan grew angrier the more she thought about it. She got up and took Songzhi to Yanqing Palace, where she beat and scolded Consort Duan.

"For so many years, every time you stormed into my palace in a fit of rage, it was always like this."

Because Consort Hua was preoccupied with Hongli, she hadn't come to Yanqing Palace to target Consort Duan for a long time. Her sudden appearance made Qi Yuebin, who hadn't been tormented for a long time, feel even more miserable.

"For so many years, whenever I think of my unborn child, I feel like I could eat your flesh and drink your blood."

Consort Hua glared at her with hatred, truly wanting to skin her alive and tear her apart.

"Cough cough...eating my flesh and drinking my blood, hasn't it been like this all these years?"

Qi Yuebin coughed and couldn't help but sneer. It wasn't just Consort Hua; for so many years, hadn't the Emperor's peace and stability been trampled on her flesh and blood?

“I hate you so much, I wish I could kill you with my own hands. A vicious woman like you should be turned into a human pig and left to die.”

Hearing Nian Shilan's words filled with hatred and murderous intent, Qi Yuebin felt a moment of despair, unable to understand what he had been persisting in all these years.

She hated Nian Shilan for tormenting her, but all these years, every time Nian Shilan barged in and tormented her, did the others really not know? Why didn't they stop her?

They hypocritically allowed her to live, yet her life was worse than death.

At that moment, Qi Yuebin suddenly felt an impulse; she wanted to make Nian Shilan suffer, and make everyone who had wronged her suffer.

Looking at Nian Shilan's pained face, Qi Yuebin suddenly burst into a strange laugh: "If I were truly so heinous, how could I be on equal footing with you? Nian Shilan, Nian Shilan, did you really never have any doubts? Or were you afraid to have any doubts?"

A sudden wave of panic washed over Nian Shilan, and she demanded, "What do you mean?"

"Cough cough cough..." Qi Yuebin suddenly let out a violent cough, looking at her mockingly, "I've accepted my fate. So what if I die at your hands? At least I've lived my life with clarity..."

"Qi Yuebin! What exactly are you trying to say?" Nian Shilan questioned loudly, trying to cover up her unease with her voice.

Qi Yuebin shook his head. "General Nian enjoys great favor and privileges, and Consort Hua is no less so. Plus, the Emperor has specially bestowed upon you the Joyful Fragrance. You two siblings are so fortunate...so fortunate..."

As if in unintentional remark, Qi Yuebin let out another heart-wrenching cough, which terrified Nian Shilan. Coupled with her own panic, she ignored her and staggered away.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this servant will go and fetch the imperial physician..."

Jixiang collapsed to the bedside, weeping bitterly, looking at Qi Yuebin with worry. Qi Yuebin reached out and pulled her back, "No, no need to go, my body really can't take it... Jixiang, I'm not willing, I'm not willing to leave like this... Please help me... help me..."

"Alright, alright, Your Highness, whatever you need to do, Jixiang will help you."

...

Meanwhile, back at Yikun Palace, Nian Shilan sat blankly in her chair, her thoughts a jumbled mess, recalling Qi Yuebin's mocking gaze and words, her heart filled with a dense sense of panic.

His gaze drifted blankly as he sat silently in the chair, leaving Songzhi anxious and wondering what had happened.

Following her gaze, she spotted the incense burner. In order to please Consort Hua, Songzhi carefully said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor has ordered the Imperial Household Department to send three boxes of newly made Huan Yi Incense. This is unique to you in the entire palace. Shall I light some more for you?"

When Nian Shilan came to her senses and heard the words "Huanyixiang," she suddenly had a strange and uneasy feeling. "Songzhi."

"This servant is here."

"Take a small piece of Huan Yi Xiang and give it to my brother, ask him to check it."

"Your Majesty?" Songzhi asked, somewhat surprised and uncertain.

"Don't ask any more questions, go ahead, remember to stay hidden, and don't let anyone find out."

"yes."

...

During this period, Consort Hua claimed to be ill and did not leave her residence. Consort Fucha, taking advantage of her pregnancy, tried to steal the emperor's favor everywhere. She even openly and secretly said that the little prince in her womb was of noble status and could not be compared with ordinary people, thus offending Consort Qi, Consort Jing, and Consort Yu.

Yixiu also received the news and was so angry that she almost had a headache.

Jianqiu stood behind her, rubbing her forehead. Yixiu closed her eyes and said coldly, "Fucha's pregnancy cannot be kept!"

"This servant understands."

Jianqiu agreed quickly, but Yixiu opened her eyes, looking weary, "No, it's different..."

The reason why Consort Fucha was able to repeatedly steal the Emperor's favor during this period was partly because she was pregnant. But on the other hand, it was also because of her Manchu lineage; the Emperor still valued bloodline and status.

So even though he was clearly looking at Hongli in that way, the Emperor did not punish Consort Fucha for her words that implied a difference in their social status.

Yixiu realized this and felt a chill in her heart. She suddenly realized that simply aborting the concubines' pregnancies was useless. As long as the emperor could still have children, his heart could be swayed at any time.

When Yixiu saw Hongli, who resembled Honghui, she knew she wouldn't allow anyone but Hongli to sit on the throne.

But the Emperor is not like the concubines in the harem, so it's not easy to make a move. Yixiu was really deep in thought when she suddenly saw Huichun rushing in in a panic.

"Her Majesty is in trouble! There's an outbreak of plague in the palace!"

"What?"