Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Miscarriage
Liang Hanzhang stayed where he was, not daring to move. The surroundings seemed to be still, and he could only hear his own clear breathing.
It turned out to be... Liang Yuan.
She came from a poor background, had lived in the Eastern Palace for so long, and knew how hard it was to obtain those positions with salaries and ranks there. Now, she was actually a fourth-rank concubine?
The woman's eyes were dull, as if she had lost her mind. Until Eunuch Yang brought her back to her senses, the eunuch holding the imperial edict in his hand bowed slightly to her and reminded her: "Empress Liangyuan, please accept the edict."
He wasn't surprised by the other party's reaction. After all, His Highness had quietly arranged for a good fourth-rank concubine for her. Even an old eunuch who had been by the emperor's side for many years was surprised at first. But later on, it made sense.
Your Highness has been celibate for many years and finally met a woman who suits his heart. This woman is also pregnant with his first child. Doesn't this supreme honor belong to Your Highness?
Liang Hanzhang stiffened, holding the imperial edict in both hands. The two maids wanted to keep the eunuch for a cup of tea before leaving, but the old eunuch flicked his whisk, saying that the emperor was still waiting for his reply and that it was not appropriate to linger.
After the eunuch left, Madam Liu supported her and said, "Your Majesty is very happy today. To show your joy, do you want to give some money to everyone so that they can have fun?"
Liang Hanzhang's attention was still on the bright yellow imperial edict in his hand. He had just heard the eunuch read it once, but the feeling was completely different from seeing it with his own eyes.
Rubbing the marks with her fingertips, she felt a mix of emotions. She couldn't help but ask, "Isn't this a bad idea? Will it seem too conspicuous?"
Nanny Sun shook her head. "This is just a customary practice. It's nothing to be ostentatious about. If Your Majesty doesn't reward me, I'm worried that people will spread rumors about you and say you're petty. This will damage Your Majesty's reputation."
Since that was what she said, Liang Hanzhang had no reason to refuse. She smiled slightly, raised her head, and said softly: "In that case, the maids can arrange it for me. I don't understand the ins and outs of this."
Second Madam Sun Liu bowed in response.
After the two of them left, only Chunfen and a few others were left around. They were not very old, and it was the first time they had seen the imperial edict in person. They were all curious and couldn't help but secretly look sideways.
Although they couldn't understand the words, it didn't stop them from craning their necks to read with great interest. The yellow silk with black characters was dignified and solemn, revealing the solemnity of the imperial edict.
There is a big red seal under the yellow cloth, which might be the emperor's imperial seal.
The person on the couch naturally noticed the arguments of the people around them, but didn't bother to care. She touched her belly, which still showed no trace of anything, and couldn't help biting her lower lip, secretly making up her mind.
When Eunuch Yang returned to the palace, the emperor was sitting at his desk, reviewing memorials. He looked much more energetic than in the past few days. He didn't even look up when he saw someone come in, and his red brush kept writing on the memorials.
"how?"
Eunuch Yang knelt at the imperial desk and reported respectfully, "Liang Yuan seemed startled when I announced the decree, and it took her a long time to recover. Her face showed nothing but surprise, and she treated the servants kindly and courteously." She seemed to be an obedient and honest woman.
Emperor Hui'an paused after hearing this, then nodded after a long pause, "That's good." The woman was of humble status, yet she was pregnant with the heir, and the Crown Prince doted on her. If she had become arrogant and overbearing due to her favor, the Crown Prince would have been reluctant to let her go. However, he was different. He had to give the Crown Prince a good scolding.
After lunch, not long after taking the pregnancy-preserving medicine, Liang Yuan proposed going to Taoran Residence. The maids, having just received instructions from His Highness the day before, naturally urged her not to leave.
This time, the other party was determined and just said that he was bored staying at home and wanted to go out for a walk.
"Your Majesty, I am not exaggerating. Chang'an City has been in turmoil recently. Many refugees and bandits have sneaked into the city. Your health is precious, so please don't disturb them."
Liang Hanzhang listened without saying a word. He just sat there with his head lowered, his long hair hanging down behind him, revealing a long, white neck.
His mouth was flat, his eyes were misty, and drops of water were swirling in his eyes, about to fall. He looked really pitiful.
Nanny Sun tried to persuade her again, but she wept silently, not like the usual women who cried loudly. Her silence softened her heart, and she swallowed back the words that were on her lips. She sighed and turned away, not wanting to look.
The woman raised her head timidly, with a hint of red at the corners of her eyes, and whispered, "I just want to go out and take a look. I won't wander around." Her voice was soft and innocent, and she was almost raising her hand to swear.
Madam Liu hadn't joined in the persuasion earlier, but now, seeing Liang Yuan so aggrieved, her heart softened. She was an experienced woman, and knew how much worry a woman has during pregnancy. The Empress was still young, and if she didn't take good care of herself, what would happen if she hurt herself?
Besides, yesterday His Highness only said that the capital was not peaceful and asked the Empress not to wander around. He did not order the Empress not to go out.
Now that the Empress is eager to go out, can these servants still hold her back?
She spoke first: "How about asking Li Gui to harness the carriage and send a few more followers to follow, probably..."
"But if something goes wrong and His Highness blames us, we'll both be punished." Nanny Sun still refused coldly. In her opinion, the heir in the Empress's belly was the most important; she wanted nothing to do with the rest.
Liang Hanzhang had to go out today. She realized that Nanny Liu's attitude had softened, and she knew that she was the best way to break through. Moreover, Nanny Sun refused to agree because she was worried about the baby in her belly and feared that His Highness would punish her.
So she said, "Don't worry, Ma'am. I'm just going to Taoranju to relax. I'll be riding in a carriage all the way, so how can I cause any trouble?" As she spoke, she lowered her head and stared at her belly, as if with the glow of a loving mother:
"And I told Your Highness last night that I wanted to go to Taoranju to make a set of bracelets for the baby in my belly. This is the only thing I can do for her."
Since His Highness already knew, Nanny Sun had nothing more to say. Looking at the delicate and pitiful Liang Yuan, she ruled out the suspicion that she was lying.
Liang Yuan had always been cautious, never daring to speak even a single boast. If she had the guts to lie, she wouldn't have let Chunfen and the others bully her like that. Besides, whether it was true or not, she could just ask His Highness. There was really no need for Liang Yuan to lie about this matter.
In this way, they were finally able to leave the Eastern Palace smoothly. In the luxurious four-horse carriage, a young girl with a faint smile on her face could not help but lift a corner of the curtain to look out onto the long street.
At two o'clock in the afternoon, the sun was high in the sky, and the temperature was slightly scorching. The carriage turned along the pipeline into a market, which was already crowded with people.
The bustling scene was abuzz with activity as vendors of all stripes set up their stalls. Silk merchants, pancake vendors, and jewelers bustled about, their cries echoing one after another. The rich, exotic aromas of the Hu spice stalls drew passersby.
All of this shows the prosperity and grandeur of this great capital city.
Nanny Liu sat next to her and saw people looking at her with curiosity. She thought to herself that she also grew up in the streets of Chang'an, and one day she would be curious and envious of the lives of these peddlers and hawkers. It was obvious that she was really suffocated in the Eastern Palace.
He couldn't help laughing and helped her to draw down the curtain, reminding her: "My queen, please be careful, or the dust outside will blind your eyes."
Liang Hanzhang didn't argue, but nodded obediently. She felt that being able to go out was already a great feat, and there was no need to argue with the two maids over such a trivial matter.
"I'd better think carefully about how to abort the baby," she told herself. Midday always made people particularly drowsy, and the two maids beside her were older and already feeling a little sleepy.
Liang Yuan's cold eyes swept over the two of them, her attention focused on the sound of horse hooves outside. If she wanted to find a way to abort the baby without being discovered by the imperial physician.
She had just thought of one.
Wouldn't it be extremely difficult to control this beast once it went mad under the influence of drugs? In this way, as long as she was careful, even if she lost the child, the prince wouldn't find out about it.
Thinking of this, she couldn't hide her excitement and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. So, she had to plan carefully.
The horse whistled and stopped in front of Taoranju. As this was a busy area, the streets were crowded with people of all kinds. There were also many vendors setting up stalls next to the store.
Liang Hanzhang put on a veil and got off the carriage with the help of a nanny. She looked up at the big gold-embossed words "Taoran Ju" at the door for a while before continuing to walk in.
Because of the princess, everyone at Taoranju knew her. As soon as she entered, the unfamiliar shopkeeper approached with a smile on her face. "Madam, you are so honored to be here. What jewelry would you like to pick out?"
Liang Hanzhang looked down at her belly and raised a faint smile: "I want to make a pair of jade bracelets for the baby in my belly to bless her with everything."
The shopkeeper followed her gaze, a look of understanding on his face. The news that the prince's concubine was pregnant had spread throughout Chang'an.
Countless rare treasures were constantly sent from the national treasury, each one as precious as the treasures in their small Taoran Residence. Yet the empress chose to come personally to make a bracelet for the child, revealing her motherly heart and her desire to do something for her unborn child.
All his thoughts flashed through his mind, and then he introduced with a smile: "Jade requires both virtue and charm. In my opinion, you have to choose a piece of green jade that is warm to the touch and smooth, so that it can complement the little boy in your lady's belly."
Green jade, only the Eastern Palace is qualified to wear green jade. As soon as these words were spoken, the two maids instantly realized that the other party already knew their identities.
Liang Hanzhang nodded after listening and said, "Then I'll leave it to you, boss. There's no rush for the jade bracelet. Just tell the craftsmen to make it meticulously."
"Don't worry, madam," the old shopkeeper said, bowing with a faint smile on his face. "The hairpin girl here has learned a new skill. Madam, would you like to summon her up?"
Liang Hanzhang was so shocked that he almost lost his composure. He glanced at the two maids discreetly, and after finding nothing unusual, he waved his hand and said, "Okay, let her try and see if she's to my liking."
When they entered the inner room, Zan Niang came up. The maids were all shocked when they saw that this person was ugly, had a gloomy face, and had a faint sinister aura about him.
Stopping the person with a sudden move, Nanny Sun turned around and said, "Your Majesty, this person has too much evil energy and it is not suitable for her to get close to you. Please let me ask her to leave."
Zanniang's expression remained unchanged, and she continued to giggle. The more she laughed, the colder Mammy felt on her back.
Liang Hanzhang tried hard not to reveal any flaws. He held up his sleeves of luxurious fabric and stood up to explain: "Don't worry, Ma'am. This hairpin lady has done my hairpins many times. Her skills are very good. She just looks a little scary. Ma'ams, please don't judge people by their appearance."
Nanny Sun also realized that what she had said was a bit harsh, especially since she had said it in front of someone else. She felt a little embarrassed for a moment, but seeing that Liang Yuan insisted, she let the person in.
Looking through the bronze mirror, Liang Hanzhang saw the two people standing behind him. His face tensed, and he held his breath. "Hair-pinning takes time and effort. I'm here anyway. Why don't the maids go out and wait? I can have a cup of tea and rest for a while."
Even though the person was let in, the two maids still looked at the strange-looking Zan Niang warily, and refused to leave no matter how much they tried to persuade her. In the end, they even sat down on the chair next to them, refusing to leave.
Seeing this, Liang Hanzhang's eyes gradually darkened, and she began to lose her temper. Just as she was about to continue persuading her, Zan Niang's hand gently patted her, so gently that the nanny behind her didn't notice.
She lowered her head and rummaged through the small box, exclaiming in surprise: "I forgot to bring the hairpin chisel", and then smiled and said: "Sir, could you please allow me to find it? I guarantee it won't take much time."
Liang Hanzhang looked at her face which was smiling more and more ferociously and responded softly.
The maids did not take this little episode to heart. In their opinion, their main responsibility was to protect the safety of the empress. As for other things, as long as they did not harm the empress, they would not care about them.
After a while, the hairpin lady came back with the things. She smiled and apologized to the nobleman, and then stood behind Liang Hanzhang and carefully pinned her hair.
Time passed slowly, and Liang Hanzhang's hairstyle, which had been relatively simple before she left the house, soon transformed into another gorgeous snake bun. She looked in the bronze mirror, but her eyes were always focused on the movements of the people around her.
The thin, dark, and dry hand held the note, and when no one was paying attention, he secretly put it into her hand.
Sitting any longer might arouse suspicion, so Liang Hanzhang sat casually for a moment and then stood up.
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