"My lady, have you heard? Concubine Wen's pregnancy has been unstable recently. The Emperor has sent precious medicinal herbs to the Yanxi Palace one after another, but it seems to be of little use."
Jingning has always been the first person to catch rumors in the palace. The news that comes out of her mouth is naturally something that others have never heard of.
Wei Shuyi couldn't hide his surprise. "I ran into her at Fengluan Palace a few days ago, and she didn't look bad. She sat next to me, and she didn't show any signs of morning sickness. How could she suddenly become like this?"
"After all, she's not as good as our little princess, who was filial even in her mother's womb!" Wen Yu mentioned Zhao Hua, her face full of smiles. "I still remember that the young lady only vomited a few times during her pregnancy."
"I've been so busy teaching people how to cook lately that I haven't had time to visit Zhaohua. How about you all come with me to Shoukang Palace while it's still early?"
"My lady, you don't have to rush." Jing'an walked in from outside. "Just now, I ran into the old maid in the Yanxi Palace. She said that Zhang promised to do something today and couldn't come. I can also tell Concubine Xin. You can go visit the little princess without worrying about being late."
"What happened to her? Is she unwell?"
Wei Shuyi remembered: Zhang Da Ying had complained more than once about how boring and difficult the days were when she was not summoned by the emperor.
Today is not a special holiday, and she shouldn't lock herself in the palace and not go out. The only possibility is that she is sick.
"No, Madam said that Young Lady Zhang wanted to try cooking in her own palace and then secretly give it to the servants to eat, so as to get the real feedback."
"That's something she could come up with!"
Wei Shuyi did not continue to ask questions, but prepared the newly embroidered shoes and underwear, and went straight to Shoukang Palace with the palace servants.
But in the Yanxi Palace, there was no such peace.
"Jiang Yuanzheng, is my pregnancy still unstable?" Concubine Wen leaned on the couch, her voice weak, "What if it never gets better? Then the delivery..."
"Don't worry, my lady. I have already prescribed some medicine and asked your maid to prepare it. It will definitely be effective after taking it for a few days."
"Then I'll trouble Dean Jiang. Mu Tao, please show the guests away."
After they all left the inner room, Concubine Wen resumed her sitting position, rubbing her aching waist and muttering to herself, "I don't know how she can continue to act like this? Being as soft as a boneless being is truly not something I can do."
Another half incense stick of time passed, and Mu Tao came in with a bowl of medicine: "My lady, the medicine is ready, would you like to..."
"Bring it here."
Concubine Wen was washing her hands, so she tilted the bowl and poured all the liquid into the basin.
Seeing this scene, Mu Tao was at a loss: "My lady?! Isn't your pregnancy unstable? Only by drinking the medicine can..."
"I trust none of the palace physicians. I wouldn't dare drink any of the medicine they prescribe." Concubine Wen handed the bowl back. "If you really feel unwell, my father will arrange for a doctor in the mansion to treat you. Go, pour it out so no one else sees."
"Yes, I understand."
She held her waist and wandered around the inner room, sighing softly, "There are so many stupid people everywhere, it makes me feel annoyed! Concubine Yi is interesting and can speak a few sensible words. It would be great if she could be my personal maid."
It is unheard of that a palace concubine would be reduced to a maidservant.
But she suddenly had this "ambition": After all, Concubine Yi was also born as a palace maid, and falling back to her original position was nothing.
——
"Your Majesty, this is the thirteenth sachet the embroidery workshop has sent. Is it still not enough?"
Eunuch Yang stole a glance at the emperor's expression and waited for a reply in a tactful manner: The embroiderers have run out of ideas, and it would be really difficult for them if they were forced to go back and embroider again.
Xie Yanci picked up the crescent-white sachet and inexplicably remembered that she had also worn a similarly colored dress when she first slept with him. He immediately decided, "This is it."
"Yes, I'll take my leave."
He took the braided hair out of the box and carefully placed it back into the sachet, feeling quite satisfied. He recalled the scene of the two of them swearing an oath under the moonlight, and subconsciously looked at his little finger, vaguely remembering the knot in his hair.
However, the momentary tranquility was broken by Eunuch Yang: "Your Majesty! Concubine Wen of the Yanxi Palace has persistent abdominal pain. Would you like to go and see her?"
"Um."
The daughter of the Qu family wouldn't be so stupid.
As early as when she started to feel unwell, she would be extra careful and committed to keeping the baby safe. Therefore, asking him to come over as a "royal physician" was a lie; the real purpose was to hide other things.
Xie Yanci put the sachet back to its original place, strode out of the Hall of Longevity with his hands behind his back.
"How is Lady Yi doing lately?"
Eunuch Yang approached the sedan chair and said, "I heard he's busy teaching other young ladies how to cook!"
"She has the leisure to cook a dish and send it to me to try."
"Your Majesty," Eunuch Yang kindly reminded, "Noble Lady Yi is of the sixth rank. According to the rules of our dynasty, only those of the third rank and above may seek an audience with Your Majesty."
"That makes sense. So, it's not that she doesn't want to come, but she can't get in." Xie Yanci seemed to be thinking about it. "I will find an opportunity to grant her a privilege."
After arriving at the east wing of the Yanx Palace, he unexpectedly saw an unfamiliar woman. Her clothes and appearance clearly showed that she was not a palace maid. Could she be a master?
"Your Highness, I pay my respects to you. May your Highness live long and happily."
Xie Yanci looked at the person in front of him, but there was a gap in his memory: it was all because his mother urged him too hard on the day of the audition, so he didn't even look closely at the people in the last row and just pointed at someone at random.
Maybe, it's her?
"Your Majesty, this is Lady Zhang from the West Wing Palace." Noble Lady Wen walked over slowly and introduced him. "She learned that I was not feeling well, so she came to serve me morning and night. I feel bad for that."
"Yes, very good."
His eyes swept across the slightly ordinary face, and he asked with concern: "Yuexi, how do you feel now? Is it still painful?"
"Thank goodness for the Zhang family's sister. She's skilled in massage. After massaging me, I've indeed gotten much better! No matter how many supplements the Imperial Hospital sends, they can't compare to her skills!"
Noble Lady Wen redirected the conversation again, his purpose obvious, yet he deliberately made her anxious: "Looks like you should ask the people around you to ask Zhang for advice. She is the master after all, and it's not appropriate for her to serve her every day."
"Your Majesty is right." She offered, "I heard earlier that the Emperor has been busy with state affairs and has had a headache. Would you like to ask Zhang Da Ying to take a look?"
"That happened two months ago."
The atmosphere suddenly became awkward. Zhang Da Ying couldn't help but clench the handkerchief in his hand. He was so ashamed and angry that he just wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
Just at this moment, Xie Yanci gave her hope again——
"Since Yuexi is recommending someone else's craftsmanship to me for the first time, I must not let you down. Let's go, Zhang agreed. I'll go to your palace and sit with you."
The woman's body trembled slightly, her eyes widened in disbelief, and she looked even more stupid.
Noblewoman Wen suppressed the disgust in her eyes and said, "Sister, why are you still standing there like an idiot? Hurry and take the emperor to your palace!"
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