"Your Majesty, please calm down. You've seen all kinds of storms over the years, how could you be angered by this vixen?"
As she spoke, Granny Du hurriedly winked at the kneeling palace maids and eunuchs, who quickly retreated and closed the door. Granny Du then stepped forward and continued speaking to the Empress.
"Over the years, countless concubines have been favored in the harem, but how many have remained?"
The Empress had calmed down by this time. With the help of Granny Du, she sat down, tapped the table lightly with her phoenix-armored fingers, and said with a frown.
"Seeing Consort Jiao reminds me of Consort Zhen from back then..."
After the Empress finished speaking, she rubbed her temples with her hands, closed her eyes, and stopped talking, looking like she had a terrible headache.
Years ago, the emperor favored Consort Zhen so much that he almost deposed her from her position as empress because of her.
To be precise, it wasn't because his womb, as the empress, was uncooperative and failed to produce a legitimate eldest son. Had she given birth to such a son, he would undoubtedly have been the undisputed heir to the throne.
Why would he get angry because of the concubines in the harem? He's so old, why would he compete for favor with younger concubines?
"Your Majesty, please don't overthink it. How many of these princes' mothers are still alive? No matter which prince ascends the throne, won't they still call you Mother and make you Empress Dowager?"
Having served the Empress for so many years, Du Mama knew that the Empress was worried about the issue of having offspring.
"Now that we have tested His Highness the Second Prince and shown him goodwill, we should strike while the iron is hot and ask the Emperor to quickly select an auspicious day for Young Master Feng and the Princess so that they can get married as soon as possible."
As she spoke, Granny Du glanced at the Empress and whispered something.
"Don't be fooled by the fact that the Emperor hasn't shown any special treatment to the Second Prince on the surface. Don't you know the Emperor well after all these years?"
Upon hearing Du Mama's words, the Empress slowly opened her eyes and muttered to herself.
"The more he ignores something, the more he values it. Over the years, his approach has remained unchanged."
Having been married to the emperor for many years, the empress naturally knew his way of dealing with people and affairs.
Whom the emperor outwardly favors may not be truly his favorite. Back then, Consort Zhen secretly carried on this deed, not showing any favoritism publicly, but quietly bearing him child after child.
Unfortunately, Consort Zhen was of a weak and delicate nature and did not know how to protect her children. Although she had the emperor's favor and instructions, she ultimately did not help these princes.
Later, Consort Zhen, grieving the loss of her child, hanged herself, and the matter was dropped.
"The Emperor's feelings for the Fourth Prince may not be genuine, just as his feelings for the Consort may not be genuine."
After saying this, Granny Du opened the door, allowing the palace maids and eunuchs waiting outside to come in and clean up the mess in the room. The Empress, now completely relieved, instructed the maids to change and wash before heading to the Imperial Study to find the Emperor.
What happened?
"Your Highness, the Second Prince's Consort felt nauseous and unwell as soon as she woke up this morning."
A group of maids were busy and flustered. Li Youran grabbed one of the maids who was carrying a basin of water and asked her a question.
Why did I suddenly feel nauseous and uncomfortable?
As Li Youran spoke, she hurried toward the Second Prince's wife's bedroom.
The Second Prince's Consort was lying on the bed, vomiting incessantly. A maidservant was kneeling on the ground with a basin in her arms, while another maidservant was gently patting her back.
"Sister, did you have an appetite for breakfast today?"
As Li Youran spoke, she knelt down, taking the place of the previous maid, and patted the Second Prince's wife on the back while asking softly.
"This morning, the smell of food made me feel nauseous and uncomfortable. I couldn't eat anything, and I didn't even drink any water."
As she spoke, the Second Prince's Consort waved her hand to signal the maid to step back. She straightened up and wiped her mouth with a handkerchief.
"Logically, I shouldn't be suffering from acclimatization issues after returning to the capital, so why am I suddenly feeling so unwell?"
The Second Prince's wife was extremely weak at this moment, her lips were pale, and she leaned against the bedside, speaking weakly.
"Go and get some sour candied fruit."
Li Youran spoke to the maid standing to the side, who hurriedly curtsied and then withdrew.
"Could it be that you can read my mind? I didn't even say a word, and you already knew I wanted something sour."
The Second Prince's wife looked at Li Youran with a surprised expression.
Upon hearing the Second Prince's wife's words, Li Youran smiled secretly and looked at her.
"You suddenly became dumbfounded, what are you laughing at?"
When the Second Prince's wife saw Li Youran laughing, she also laughed. Suddenly, she felt nauseous and hurriedly leaned over the bed to vomit again.
"Sister, you're not sick, you have good news!"
As Li Youran spoke, she fetched a cup of warm tea for the Second Prince's wife to rinse her mouth.
"You can't just say that carelessly."
The Second Prince's wife didn't believe Li Youran's words. After all, Li Youran was still a virgin, so how could she know about pregnancy? Therefore, she didn't take Li Youran's words to heart.
"Sister, don't disbelieve me. Your reactions are exactly the same as my second sister-in-law's."
As Li Youran spoke, she took the Second Prince's wife's hand and turned to look at a maid standing beside her.
"Go quickly and see if His Highness the Second Prince is coming soon."
As Li Youran spoke, she hurriedly took the candied fruit that the maid had just brought from her hand and handed it to the Second Prince's Consort.
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