Upon hearing this, Yu Jingchen's eyes flickered slightly.
"Have you found out what's inside?" Yu Jingchen asked.
"No, it's just that after the Wen family was deposed, a thorough investigation was conducted, and some things were found. These were found among the clothes that the Wen family had been sent to be burned. However, the writing on them was wet, and most of the content was no longer legible. We can only vaguely make out that they are letters to the Empress Dowager, and from the remaining writing, it seems to be just trivial matters in the palace," Xinglai replied.
“I questioned the palace maids who used to serve Consort Wen, and they said that when Consort Wen was unsure about something in the palace, she would consult the Empress Dowager, so these kinds of letters would occasionally come in,” Xinglai continued.
“Go and investigate what happened when the Empress Dowager was praying outside the palace those days, everything.” Yu Jingchen naturally did not believe that the Empress Dowager would have any collusion with the Wen family, let alone harm Nan Zhiyun, but... there was nothing wrong with investigating, right?
"Yes," Luckily agreed.
"What is Consort Shu doing today?" Yu Jingchen asked again.
"Today, Consort Shu selected four palace maids, but did nothing else. She stayed in He'an Palace and didn't leave. However, An Xin, who serves the Empress Dowager, went to He'an Palace this morning and said that the Empress Dowager wants to rest for a while, so Consort Shu doesn't need to go to Cining Palace these days." Fortunately, ever since he knew that Yu Jingchen treated Consort Shu differently, he had specifically asked people to keep an eye on her.
"Is there something wrong with the Empress Dowager's health?" Yu Jingchen asked. He hadn't seen the Empress Dowager since she returned, not because he didn't want to, but because he knew she wouldn't want to see him.
"After the Empress Dowager returned, she did not summon the imperial physicians, nor did I hear of her feeling unwell. However, the Empress Dowager's appetite seems to be less than before, and her tastes have changed significantly. Recently, she has mostly been eating spicy, sour, and other strong-flavored foods, and she is also drowsy," Xinglai replied after thinking for a moment.
Yu Jingchen frowned slightly. A person doesn't change for no reason, especially since the Empress Dowager's tastes have changed too drastically. Even if she suddenly developed a liking for something, it's impossible to expect someone who usually eats bland food to eat strong flavors. Spicy and sour flavors aren't just a matter of personal preference. He remembered that the Empress Dowager used to be unable to eat much spicy food.
"Your Majesty, would you please send a royal physician to Cixi Palace to take a look?" Xinglai asked tentatively. To be honest, he actually felt that the Empress Dowager's current state... well, it seemed like she was pregnant, but... that was unlikely.
The Empress Dowager had no biological children because her body was damaged and she had difficulty conceiving. Later, after adopting Yu Jingchen, she drank a potion that would prevent her from having children in front of the late Emperor and a group of concubines, and was unable to conceive for the rest of her life.
So pregnancy was not a realistic option for the Empress Dowager, but... if that wasn't the case, then what caused her to change so much?
"Summon the Imperial Physician to take a look," Yu Jingchen said after a moment's thought. He knew the Empress Dowager, like him, had been reborn, so... there were many things he wasn't sure about. To avoid trouble, it was best to clarify things sooner rather than later.
Cixi Palace
When the Empress Dowager heard that the imperial physician had come to examine her pulse on the Emperor's orders, she smiled without revealing her emotions and then said, "Since it is His Majesty's kindness, then let him in."
Upon hearing this, An Xin went to invite the imperial physician in. The Empress Dowager did not refuse and readily allowed the physician to take her pulse.
After the imperial physician finished taking her pulse, the Empress Dowager looked at him and asked, "How is it? Is there anything wrong with my health?"
"Your Majesty, your pulse is steady and you are in good health. You may be feeling a bit stressed due to recent overwork. A good rest should be enough," the imperial physician replied.
"That's good. You can go back and report to His Majesty now, so he won't worry too much and personally summon the imperial physician to examine me." The Empress Dowager said meaningfully.
The imperial physician dared not interrupt, and as for the meaning behind it, it was naturally impossible for a mere imperial physician like him to make wild guesses.
After hearing the imperial physician's reply, Yu Jingchen didn't say anything more, but simply dismissed the physician. So... was he just overthinking things?
He'an Hall
Nan Zhiyun was huddled inside reading when Qianxia came in and said that Consort Yang was requesting an audience. (The former Consort Yang, the birth mother of the eldest princess, came from a humble background, the daughter of a county magistrate.)
Nan Zhiyun was puzzled. She usually had little interaction with this Yang Zhaoyuan, and they probably hadn't even exchanged more than a few words. Why was she here today?
"Let her in," Nan Zhiyun said indifferently. Since she was already here, she couldn't just leave her waiting outside, much less send her back. After all, she hadn't said or done anything.
"Yes," Qianxia curtsied, then went to invite Yang Zhaoyuan in. Nan Zhiyun straightened her posture; she couldn't be too casual in front of others.
When Yang Zhaoyuan entered, she bowed respectfully to Nan Zhiyun above.
"This concubine greets Consort Shu." Yang Zhaoyuan's voice was the most moving, especially when she sang, it was as melodious and pleasant as a nightingale.
"Please rise, Yang Zhaoyuan." Nan Zhiyun adopted a proper attitude, and just by looking at it this way, she actually looked quite respectable.
"Thank you, Consort Shu." Consort Yang rose.
"Please sit down, Yang Zhaoyuan. Qianxia, have someone serve tea," Nan Zhiyun said, and Yang Zhaoyuan sat down beside her.
"I apologize for coming uninvited, Your Majesty," said Consort Yang first.
"It's nothing. I don't have anything to do today anyway. Is there anything you need, Consort Yang?" Nan Zhiyun asked directly.
“It’s nothing serious, it’s just…” Yang Zhaoyuan seemed hesitant to speak.
Nan Zhiyun understood what she meant: "Please forgive me, Yang Zhaoyuan. It doesn't matter if people hear about things that are perfectly aboveboard."
“Yes…” Yang Zhaoyuan didn’t expect Nan Zhiyun to say such a thing, but she had no choice. Even if there were people around, she still had to say it. Otherwise, why would she have come all this way today?
"Your Highness, I have come today with a request." Yang Zhaoyuan stood up again, then knelt down again. Nan Zhiyun couldn't understand what she wanted to do.
"What is Yang Zhaoyuan doing? Why aren't you helping her up?" Nan Zhiyun was still a little confused when she saw Yang Zhaoyuan kneeling down like this.
The palace maids immediately went to help her up, but Consort Yang refused to stand.
"Your Highness, I am willing to serve you. Please help me. My father is merely a minor county magistrate, and I rarely see him. A few days ago, I heard that my mother is seriously ill, and the doctors are helpless. I am of lowly status, so I beg Your Highness to help me see my mother and bring her to the capital. If possible, could you please ask the imperial physicians to examine my mother?" Consort Yang kowtowed.
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