Chapter 17 She's about to give birth.

The selection process was said to begin in three months, but this was the first grand banquet for the new emperor's ascension to the throne, and preparations had to begin well in advance.

Once the news of the preparations was released, everyone naturally knew about it, and the inner palace was abuzz with discussion.

Hongzhao already knew about this, and he also knew that the talents selected in this selection were all exceptional. He pretended to casually glance at his mother's face and secretly breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that she was not upset.

Lu Yingfeng naturally noticed her son's little actions. Seeing how worried he was, she felt even more comforted. She reached out and stroked his smooth forehead twice. "Don't worry about your mother. Your mother is used to it. Now that you two are growing up well, and the baby in my belly can be born safely, that is your mother's greatest wish."

Lu Yingfeng spoke with such sincerity that Hongzhao was also moved. He stretched out his short arm, holding Shuer with one hand and his mother with the other. Despite his small size, his voice was so firm.

"Yes, Mother's wishes will come true."

With me here, it will definitely happen.

Now, Hongzhao is on high alert. The entire Yongshou Palace is so well-maintained that not only are the pebbles cleaned up, but even a small patch of moss has to be removed. He has already started his studies, but it will be a few months before he can go to the Imperial Study. In his spare time, he acts as a security guard in the courtyard.

At this point, we have to praise Hong Xihai. Even Lü Yingfeng herself laughed that the child was being a little too cautious. Hong Xihai, however, always bowed and followed behind Hong Zhao, his eyes searching along with Hong Zhao's, just like two police dogs.

Lü Yingfeng observed all of this and secretly noted it down.

A month passed in this way, and the harem was eerily quiet. The Empress's headache flared up again, and the preparations for the imperial concubine selection fell to Consort Hua. It was also her first time handling such a grand banquet, and she was too busy to attend to everything.

In addition, with many matters to attend to since his ascension to the throne, the emperor had not entered the inner palace for many days. Even Hongzhao thought that perhaps everyone could get through this safely this time, but a wail shattered his illusion.

"What's going on outside?" Lu Yingfeng had just coaxed Shu'er to sleep when she heard a commotion in the distance. She quickly put on her clothes and tiptoed out.

Hong Xihai bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, it seems something has happened at Suiyu Pavilion."

"Consort Fang?" Lü Yingfeng frowned. She was always a kind-hearted person. Although she sometimes disapproved of Consort Fang's behavior, she was unwilling to kick her while she was down. "Help me do my hair and makeup, I'll go take a look."

"Your Majesty, it's late and the dew is heavy. Your health..." Xue Xin looked at Lü Yingfeng disapprovingly, while Hong Xihai beside her also looked troubled.

“Go ahead. The Empress is still seriously ill, and the Emperor won’t go even though he only chose Consort Hua today. Anyway, I’m a Consort, so I need someone in charge to keep an eye on things.”

As the sound faded into the distance, Hongzhao, who was feigning sleep in the room next door, blinked twice.

He had his own selfish motives; he knew that Fang Chang was destined to lose the child. It seemed that if he wanted to warn her, it could be avoided, but what about the future?

Consort Fang's mind is no match for Gua Liu's; she's obsessed with vying for the Emperor's favor. Whoever wins his affections, she targets them like a raging firecracker. We've managed to escape this time, but if she goes on a rampage and affects her mother later, Hongzhao doesn't dare imagine how much he'll regret it.

So, don't blame me.

He buried his head under the covers, closing his eyes tightly to deliberately ignore the rustling sounds outside.

Although Lü Yingfeng came out in time, she didn't dare to walk too fast. She wanted to ask the palanquin to take her there, but for some reason, she kept thinking about the small figure who was always looking down and examining each stone in the courtyard. Her heart tightened for no reason, so she chose to walk there herself.

Xue Xin and Hong Xihai supported each other tightly, and Xue Xin, who was almost eight months pregnant, was already slightly out of breath when they arrived at Suiyu Pavilion.

"Greetings, Consort Xin." The little maid who was anxiously stamping her feet at the door saw Consort Xin arrive and rushed to kneel before Lü Yingfeng as if she had seen her own parents.

"How is Consort Fang? Has the imperial physician been summoned?"

The young palace maid's voice was still choked with sobs as she spoke haltingly, "Your Highness, the imperial physician is in the palace now. Our mistress didn't eat anything special, except for a plate of crab roe pastries sent by Consort Hua. By evening..."

"Shut up!" Before she could finish speaking, Lü Yingfeng interrupted her sharply. Even Xuexin rarely saw her mistress so angry. "How dare you slander Consort Hua? The truth will be known by the imperial physician's examination. We cannot tolerate others making up stories."

Lu Yingfeng knew that Consort Hua had sent crab roe pastries, but she didn't just send them to Suiyuxuan. She sent them to almost every place in the harem except for Consort Duan. Because Hongzhao and Hongjin both loved them, Yongshou Palace sent two extra plates.

Lü Yingfeng did not believe it was such an obvious case of poisoning.

It's absurd, really. Although my premature birth was related to Nian Shilan and I truly hated her at the time, when I think back on it, the panic and disappointment on her face that day were not fake.

Perhaps she truly never intended to harm her own child.

Lu Yingfeng didn't look at the little palace maid again. She walked around her and entered the side hall. As soon as she entered, a strong smell of blood made her stop in her tracks.

She took a few steps back to the magnolia bushes, took a few deep breaths of the fragrance and tried her best to suppress the nausea in her heart—"Xuexin, go and tell the imperial physician to come out and report back to me after the examination. We will wait in the main hall."

The wind was fierce at night, and Xuexin clung tightly to Lü Yingfeng's cloak, while Hong Xihai stood with his back to the wind, shielding her from the chill. Yet, Lü Yingfeng's heart grew colder with each cry of pain and wailing from next door.

The cold wind blew all night.

As dawn approached, Lü Yingfeng, feeling somewhat exhausted, leaned against Xue Xin and dozed off, when she finally heard someone coming out of the house next door.

"How is Consort Fang? How is the child?"

The imperial physician knew he was covered in blood and didn't want to offend the nobleman, so he knelt down outside the door and reported back into the room.

"Your Majesty, Consort Fang has already collapsed from exhaustion. The child... could not be saved. It seems that Consort Fang has been in contact with something cold for a long time. Miscarriage in the fifth month is extremely damaging to a pregnant woman, and she will likely have difficulty having children in the future."

Lü Yingfeng sighed, as if exhaling all the worries of the night.

It's a pity that the child is gone, but it's already very good that Fang Changzai was able to survive. As long as there's life, there's hope.

"In that case, I hope the imperial physician will take good care of her. I will also inform His Majesty."

Seeing that there was nothing more she needed, Lü Yingfeng slowly stood up, her voice slightly weary—"Xuexin, let's go back."

She still didn't take a sedan chair, but on the way back, the palace road seemed unusually long. At first, Lü Yingfeng thought it was because she was tired from staying up all night, but her belly, which was slowly and faintly sagging, reminded her that it wasn't that.

Having given birth once, she certainly understood what was going on.

"Xuexin! I think I'm about to give birth!"