Chapter 195 I'll Take Your Whole Family's Lives
It was already the eleventh month of winter, and in the afternoon the sun was setting in the west, the warmth was fading, and a chill was creeping in.
Empress Xue arrived in a hurry, but was sweating slightly with excitement. She frowned and glanced at her trusted palace maid.
Has His Majesty not arrived yet?
As soon as he finished speaking, the emperor strolled over with his hands behind his back.
He changed into a dark black outfit, which made him look even thinner, and his brows showed restrained impatience.
"Did you summon me here in such a hurry because of something urgent? Has the matter at Zishantang been handled properly?"
When Zishantang was mentioned, Empress Xue recalled the embarrassing scene from earlier, and her smile faltered.
"Your Majesty, I have already sent people to clean up the incense. I invited Your Majesty here because of Consort Shu."
The emperor frowned. "What's wrong with Consort Shu?"
Empress Xue said, "I just received the red cloth from the lady-in-waiting and learned that Consort Shu has not changed her clothes for more than a month."
The Tongshi was a book specifically for recording the menstrual cycles of the imperial concubines each month. It was recorded by a special female official and then submitted to the Jingshifang (Imperial Household Department) for review, so that the time for the concubines to serve the emperor could be arranged reasonably.
The female officials would also regularly take the official records to the Empress for review.
The emperor's pupils dilated slightly, and his breathing became rapid for a moment.
"Really? Shu Wanyi hasn't changed her clothes for over a month?"
This means that Shu Wanyi has not had her period for almost two months!
Missing your period could mean you're very likely pregnant!
The emperor's short beard trembled with excitement at the thought of this possibility.
Empress Xue smiled and nodded, "Your Majesty, I have verified this matter repeatedly and confirmed that Consort Shu has not changed her clothes for more than a month."
The emperor clenched his fist excitedly, "Where is Consort Shu?"
"Shu Wanyi vomited very badly just now and went to Suyuxuan to rest. I was worried that she was not feeling well, so I brought the imperial physician with me."
To their surprise, they couldn't find her at Suyuxuan, and they searched all the nearby rooms, but there was no one there either.
This matter is of great importance, and I dare not act on my own initiative. Therefore, I immediately sent someone to invite Your Majesty over.”
The emperor's expression darkened slightly, and a hint of urgency flashed in his eyes.
He sternly ordered the eunuchs and palace maids around him, "What are you all standing there for? Quickly send people to search! If anything happens to Consort Shu, I will hold you all responsible!"
The eunuchs and palace maids immediately scattered to search for the person.
The emperor, no longer composed, paced back and forth restlessly with his hands behind his back.
He is nearly forty years old. Apart from his missing eldest son, Shen Xu, he has only five princesses and no princes.
Over the years, he has taken many elixirs to regulate his body and has worked hard in the harem.
In previous years, many concubines became pregnant, but none of them were able to give birth to a prince.
They either miscarried midway, or the fetus suddenly died in the womb, or even gave birth to a stillborn child.
Two years later, not a single concubine in the palace was pregnant!
Recalling the countless times he had been filled with hope over the years, only to have it dashed time and again, and the heart-wrenching pain of losing his son, the emperor's eyes welled up with tears.
Although he had a younger brother named Shen Cong, he had thought more than once that if his eldest son could not be found and there were no other princes in the harem, he would pass the throne to Shen Cong.
However, many court officials stood up to oppose it, saying that Ah Cong's frail body, which was coughing up blood three times a day, was simply unable to support the Great Chu's empire!
The emperor clenched one hand into a fist and wrapped the other tightly around it, secretly determined that no matter what method he used, he must protect the child in Shu Wanyi's womb!
At this moment, a palace attendant rushed over in a panic.
"Some people say they saw Miss Li and Shu Wanyi return to Zishan Hall one after the other."
"Li Nanke?"
The emperor frowned and strode toward Zishan Hall.
Empress Xue watched his retreating figure and then glanced at her trusted palace maid.
The trusted palace maid nodded slightly, indicating that everything had been arranged.
Empress Xue's lips curled into a sinister smile.
His Majesty had just learned that Consort Shu was pregnant and was filled with hope and excitement, but the next moment the child could not be saved. What blow could be more painful or infuriating than this?
If His Majesty were to learn that it was Li Nanke who caused Shu Wanyi's miscarriage, he would be furious and Li Nanke would surely die!
The trusted palace maid whispered, "Your Majesty's move is brilliant, killing two birds with one stone!"
Empress Xue smiled slightly.
After Shu Wanyi's miscarriage, everyone in the court was talking about it, and who would care about Xue Ting's matter anymore!
"Let's go, let's go take a look."
As they entered Zishan Hall, a eunuch was kneeling on the ground, pointing to a side room of Zishan Hall.
"This servant just saw Miss Li and Consort Shu enter this room together! Consort Shu seemed to be quite unwell."
Empress Xue said sternly, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and go in to see if anyone is there?"
The eunuch hurriedly jogged over and pushed open the door to the side room.
A strong smell of blood hit me.
The emperor's expression changed, and he strode into the room.
Seeing Shu Wanyi lying unconscious on the ground, her dress stained red with blood.
Li Nanke knelt beside her, her face deathly pale, looking extremely nervous.
The emperor flew into a rage, "What's going on? Li Nanke, what are you doing?"
When Li Nanke saw the Emperor and Empress Xue enter, his eyes lit up, and he said urgently, "Your Majesty, quickly send someone to save Consort Wanyi and the child in her womb!"
Upon hearing the word "child," the emperor's pupils constricted sharply.
"Imperial Physician! Imperial Physician, please examine Shu Wanyi!"
The imperial physician rushed over with his medicine chest and knelt on the ground to take Shu Wanyi's pulse.
Empress Xue looked at the unconscious Shu Wanyi, a smile flashing across her eyes.
It's no use, it's too late!
She had someone poison Shu Wanyi's tea, causing Shu Wanyi to not only miscarry but also die along with her unborn child!
Li Nanke was the only one present.
She couldn't explain it clearly no matter how many mouths she had.
Sure enough, the imperial physician's face turned pale as soon as he felt the pulse.
Her voice trembled as she said, "Your Majesty, judging from her pulse, Consort Wanyi has been poisoned and is showing signs of miscarriage. I'm afraid..."
The emperor's face turned ashen, and he sternly interrupted the imperial physician.
"I have no fear. I only want Shu Wanyi and her child to be safe and sound. Detoxify them immediately. If you can't cure them, I'll take the heads of your entire family!"
The emperor, who was always kind and benevolent, spoke such harsh words for the first time.
The imperial physician trembled with fear. "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, I will write a prescription and prepare the medicine."
The emperor stepped forward and personally carried Shu Wanyi to the bed, his movements extremely careful, as if afraid of making the slightest mistake.
Empress Xue's gaze darkened slightly as she turned and glared coldly at Li Nanke.
"Li Nanke, tell me the truth, did you poison Shu Wanyi?"
Li Nanke's grape-like eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly offered an explanation.
"No, it wasn't me. I was knocked unconscious when I went to change my clothes. When I woke up, I was in this room with Consort Shu Wanyi."
Consort Wanyi collapsed there, bleeding, and when she saw me, she cried and begged me to find someone to save her child. "Your Majesty..."
Before she could finish speaking, Empress Xue interrupted her sharply.
"How dare you lie to His Majesty! Guards, search her body!"
Immediately, a palace maid stepped forward, pressed Li Nanke down without saying a word, and began to grope her body.
He quickly pulled out a glass bottle and exclaimed, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this was found on Li Nanke!"
The bottle was opened, and red pills were poured out.
Empress Xue immediately said, "This must be poison!"
The emperor sat on the edge of the bed, his expression grim.
"Li Nanke, if anything happens to the imperial heir, I will take the lives of your entire family!"
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