Chapter 221 Stretch Marks

The next day.

When the concubines were paying their respects to Concubine Chen, they heard that Xiao Jingheng had given the snake fetus a name, and they all tried to curry favor with him.

"If I were to say this child is also blessed by the Imperial Concubine, if the Imperial Concubine hadn't raised him, the Emperor's attitude towards him wouldn't have changed."

"Yes, if Concubine Xiao was still alive, and the child was raised with her or sent to the Summer Resort, I'm afraid it would be difficult to save his life."

These were the flattering words that Concubine Chen loved to hear the most.

But today her mind is not on this.

Yesterday was the big day when she was canonized as a noble concubine, and Xiao Jingheng should have stayed in Yonghe Palace to accompany her.

But at night, Xiao Jingheng said that he was busy dealing with state affairs and left in a hurry.

Concubine Chen felt empty in her heart. Early in the morning, she heard news from Zhang Jiugui of the Jingshifang that Xiao Jingheng had summoned Song Zhao to sleep with him last night.

This will make Concubine Chen very angry.

At this moment, she looked at Song Zhao's flawless face, and the more she looked at it, the angrier she became.

So he raised his hand to stop the congratulations from the concubines.

"Stop fawning over me and just go away."

After all the concubines stood up, she stared at Song Zhao and said in a cold voice,

"Princess Yi stays."

At first, Song Zhao looked confused, as if she didn't know why Concubine Chen kept her alone.

After the concubines left, she smiled and said to Concubine Chen:

"Your Highness, please keep me here, but do you have something to tell me?"

"Of course." The Concubine Chen narrowed her eyes and looked at her, her eyes were sharp, "They are busy congratulating me, but I want to congratulate you. You just gave birth to your child, and you haven't even finished your confinement, but you have been restored to the emperor's favor. I see that all the newcomers to the palace, combined, cannot compare to your importance in the emperor's heart."

Hearing the jealousy in Concubine Chen's words, Song Zhao should have been terrified, but she lowered her eyes helplessly, smiled bitterly and shook her head.

"Your Majesty, I am very sad when you mention this..."

"Sad? Haha~" Chen Fei sneered: "Why are you sad? I'm afraid you will be woken up by laughter even in your dreams!"

Song Zhao stood up, stood in front of Concubine Chen and bowed, then looked around at the palace maids and attendants standing on both sides, and said with some difficulty:

"Could your Majesty please dismiss the attendants?"

Concubine Chen was silent for a while, then raised her hand and told everyone to leave.

When only Song Zhao and Concubine Chen were left in the palace, she slowly unbuttoned the golden buttons on her cloak one by one.

After taking it off, he started taking off his undershirt without stopping.

Concubine Chen couldn't understand her behavior and said with disgust:

"Are you crazy? You haven't taken off enough clothes in Chaoyang Palace, but you have to come to me to take them off?"

Song Zhao did not answer.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she bit her thin lips tightly, finally revealing the last layer of the apron with azure blue flowers on her body.

She lifted her bellyband up little by little.

Concubine Chen glanced at her casually, but when she saw the skin on her belly, she was stunned.

"this......"

Song Zhao had very fair skin, and there was no flaw on any part of his body that was exposed, which was the envy of all women.

But now Concubine Chen is looking at

Her lower abdomen was densely covered with light brown wavy patterns!

In severe cases, even the skin is wrinkled together, like the withered and loose hands of an old woman, which is shocking to look at.

Concubine Chen was very surprised. "What's going on? Didn't you take good care of yourself during your pregnancy? Why would you still..."

When she asked the question, Song Zhao couldn't hold back his tears.

She sobbed and put on her clothes again piece by piece.

It was as if she had regained her self-esteem.

"I don't know why this happened. When I was sleeping with you yesterday, although the lights were off, the emperor still saw it. Although the emperor said that he didn't mind, I am like this now. Even I look down on myself. How can I still imagine that others won't mind?"

After giving birth, women may develop stretch marks.

As the fetus is born, the lower abdomen shrinks rapidly and it is normal for the skin to have wrinkles.

If it is properly maintained, it will probably recover gradually, but some light brown lines will be left. If you want to use it in bed on weekdays, it is not a problem to cover it with watercolor.

But cases as serious as Song Zhao's are rare.

After seeing Song Zhao's belly with her own eyes, Concubine Chen knew that this best girl in the harem was now wrinkled and it would be difficult for her to gain favor in the future, so she became much gentler in her attitude towards her.

"Don't be so discouraged. Just focus on the treatment and you will get better."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."

Later, the two of them chatted about some interesting things about the prince.

Suddenly, I heard Kang Yubin's announcement from outside the door.

"My Lady, there's a commotion on the long street."

Concubine Chen called him in and asked impatiently, "What?"

Kang Yubin said: "Just now, the concubines paid their respects to you. On their way back to the palace, Concubine Ying had a conflict with Noble Lady Ru for some reason. Noble Lady Ru said something back, and Concubine Ying slapped her in the face on the long street.

Even after being beaten, Concubine Ru was still restless and even dared to shout at Concubine Ying, saying that her father was a Mongolian king and trying to use her status outside the palace to suppress Concubine Ying. After hearing this, Concubine Ying became even more angry and had Concubine Ru pushed to the corridor to kneel, and ordered her personal maid Ana to slap Concubine Ru in the face... one hundred times... "

"Oh? Haha~" Upon hearing this, Concubine Chen gloated, "This is interesting. The corridor is where the palace servants pass. If you kneel down and get beaten there, won't you become a laughing stock among the servants in the palace?"

Kang Yubin said, "That's right. So I came to ask your Majesty what you think, and see if you want to take care of this matter."

Concubine Chen leaned lazily on the back of her chair and did not respond for a long time.

Privately, she didn't want to get involved in this matter, but now she was in charge of the six palaces, and it was indeed against the rules for Concubine Ying to make Concubine Ru kneel in the corridor and be slapped in the face by a maid.

If she took care of this matter now, it would also be a good opportunity to reduce Concubine Ying's arrogance.

Just as Concubine Chen held onto the arm of the chair and was about to stand up, she heard Song Zhao suddenly say:

"Why don't you go there, Madam? You are a proper concubine after all, and it would be a big deal if the servants saw you getting slapped in the corridor."

Then he added, "Besides, the noble lady was born in Mongolia and has a heroic look, which is rare in the harem. If she can restrain her temper and serve the emperor in the future, she will be favored by the emperor. If someone hits her face now, won't her favor in this life be ruined?"

After hearing what she said, Concubine Chen immediately sat down firmly again.

She rolled her eyes at Song Zhao and sneered, "I see that you are kind to everyone and have a very good heart! Since you pity her so much, why don't you just take care of this matter yourself?"

Concubine Chen leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her palm, and said with a half-smile:

"But don't blame me for not reminding you. Concubine Ying is now in charge of the six palaces. If you get involved in this, you will be overstepping the boundaries. Do you want to break the rules of the harem to save Concubine Ru, or do nothing and watch her get beaten? It's your choice."

"This..." Song Zhao looked embarrassed, hesitating for a while before bowing to Concubine Chen.

"I dare not overstep the boundaries."

"Heh." Concubine Chen shrugged and sneered, "Now you are trying to protect yourself? But you are just a fake who talks big but doesn't do anything."

She stroked her hair lightly, with a look of disdain on her face, "I am tired, please kneel down and greet me."