Consort Cao was feeling troubled when she suddenly heard Consort Xie's voice outside.
"Hearing that His Majesty has arrived, I suppose Lady Cao is not feeling well, so I have come to inquire after her health." Xie's voice was very pleasant, but it sounded particularly grating to Consort Cao's ears at this moment.
It really is true that whatever you say comes true.
Cao Shanlu got angry just hearing Xie's voice. Xie had one set of rules for the Emperor and the Empress, but another set of rules for her. All Xie did was try to curry favor with the Emperor by using her as a cover. Did she think she was stupid?
Cao Shanlu was so angry that she smashed two teacups and naturally did not want to see Xie.
The two maids managed to persuade him by saying that the emperor was bathing in the side hall; otherwise, the noise of the teacup being smashed would have reached the emperor's ears sooner or later.
However, in just a short while, I'm afraid even Consort Xie outside will have heard it.
Cao Shanlu had just sent Zhushi out to get rid of him when she heard Consort Xie's voice halfway there: "What's wrong with Madam Cao? If she's not feeling well, we should call the imperial physician to take a look. Or maybe the servants aren't taking good care of her and are frightening her."
No sooner had Xie's voice fallen than Zhao, the Imperial Physician, greeted them.
Immediately following this, Consort Xie inquired about Cao Shanlu's pregnancy with great "concern".
Every word, spoken from left to right, felt like needles pricking Cao Shanlu's ears.
She was about to say something when she suddenly felt a dull pain in her abdomen, which also made her chest feel tight and uncomfortable.
She quickly clutched her lower back, both angry and anxious: "Quickly, summon the imperial physician; I'm feeling extremely unwell right now." It was all because of Xie Shi outside that she was so upset.
Well, Cao Shanlu originally made up an excuse to invite the officials, but now she's really made herself furious.
Throughout Zhongcui Palace, Zhao, the imperial physician, kept the female doctors busy for quite some time.
Fortunately, Cao Shanlu's pregnancy was already stable. After Zhao Yuanpan gave her acupuncture, he also prepared a medicine to help her maintain the pregnancy. Finally, a female doctor massaged her to relieve the discomfort, so nothing serious happened.
Pei Yuanhui stayed with him in the outer hall the whole time, but his brows furrowed deeply for a while.
He put his body through all this for Cao Shanlu.
After examining Cao Shanlu's pulse, the imperial physician said that there was nothing wrong with her originally; it was just that Cao Shanlu had angered herself.
Then all these things happened.
Pei Yuanhui didn't notice Xie Shi beside him, and with the two senior palace maids Zhu Shi and Zhu Ting there, Xie Shi didn't stay in the main hall for long.
However, Xie seemed to breathe a sigh of relief when she left the main hall. The maid who had been serving her waited until they returned to the east side hall before whispering to her.
"My lady, you've really suffered and endured so much hardship, and you've offended Madam Cao for no reason..."
Madam Xie wiped her face with a handkerchief, her expression utterly indifferent: "Alright, bring in some hot water to help me wash up. Her Majesty the Empress doesn't want Consort Cao to give birth to this child. I naturally have to be sensible, but I can't harm Consort Cao, because that would harm myself. So I can only use this disgusting method to let Her Majesty the Empress know that I've done my best."
The confidant quickly sent someone out to fetch water and then helped Madam Xie remove her hairpins and jewelry.
"But... once Lady Cao gives birth safely this time, regardless of whether it's a child or a baby, they'll be different from Consort Ming, and it will be quite something..."
As she removed her earrings, Xie continued, picking up where the maid had left off: "Isn't it enviable? She's causing all this trouble, and the Emperor still indulges her. Doesn't that make people envious? Just wait, there are plenty of vengeful people in this palace. Is it Little Huo's turn to serve the Emperor today?"
The palace maid nodded in agreement, then added, "I heard that Consort Huo is still in Funing Palace, and I guess she's going to stay there for the night."
But if the Emperor isn't in the Funing Palace anymore, what's the point?
Madam Xie hummed in agreement: "She's a shrewd woman, don't offend her. Go to the storeroom and pick out a box of donkey-hide gelatin, it's good for your complexion and warms your body. Deliver it to Consort Huo tomorrow. Don't say anything."
Sending jewelry or raw materials would be a bit boring. She wouldn't tamper with them, nor would she be afraid of Xiao Huo's suspicion. Sending some donkey-hide gelatin would suit Xiao Huo's taste perfectly.
The confidant nodded quickly.
Inside the Funing Palace, Huo Qinghe, who was already fast asleep, had no idea about this incident. Even if she did know, she would probably just laugh it off.
She wasn't made of clay. She knew that Cao's support for her marriage was the imperial heir in her womb. Huo Qinghe couldn't afford to offend her now, but could she not do it in the future?
Huo Qinghe slept soundly, while Zhongcui Palace was in complete chaos. Before Cao Shanlu could even exchange any pitiful private words with the Emperor, Pei Yuanhui persuaded her to lie down and rest.
He had nothing to say to Cao Shanlu at the moment. After watching Cao Shanlu "sleep peacefully," he went to the side hall to settle her in.
When the Emperor visited Cao Shanlu at Zhongcui Palace, he often encountered Lady Xie, but he never summoned Lady Xie to his residence in Cao Consort's Zhongcui Palace.
He came to see Consort Cao; he knew what was important.
Even though Xie would sometimes come over, she gradually learned to be more discreet.
The emperor is not the type to be swayed by lust.
I wonder if she feels the same way about a beauty like Xiao Huo?
But with a beauty by his side, the Emperor was still able to leave her behind and come to Zhongcui Palace to see Consort Cao. The answer is obvious.
These little thoughts were naturally the subject of discussion among the women of the harem after last night, but aside from the discussion about Xiao Huo, most of it was naturally directed at Consort Cao.
Consort Cao is reaping what she sowed.
After everyone had been envious, they belatedly realized that Xiao Huo seemed to still be in the Funing Palace this morning.
By the time everyone realized what was happening, Huo Qinghe was already welcoming the emperor who had just finished court.
Huo Qinghe was slightly startled when she saw the official, for the dark circles under his eyes were truly impossible to hide.
"Your Majesty, did you not rest well last night? How about I give you a massage after breakfast?"
Pei Yuanhui waved his hand: "Have breakfast first." The autumn imperial examination is not over yet, and it's not time for the Emperor to rest.
Today, someone from the Ministry of Rites came to report that the autumn examination cheating scandal has caused quite a stir in various places, and the subsequent regulations need to be explained. The Ministry of Rites and the Hanlin Academy are currently in a complete mess.
Huo Qinghe understood the Emperor's meaning, and while having breakfast with him, she silently served him food.
In the imperial court, breakfast was naturally incredibly lavish.
Huo Qinghe enjoyed the benefits, and the look of enjoyment on her face was unmistakable.
She slept well last night, and her complexion was noticeably radiant.
This made Pei Yuanhui, who was standing to the side, feel rather uncomfortable.
But with Xiao Huo around, Pei Yuanhui's appetite did improve.
Some people have that kind of magic; just by sitting there, they can inexplicably make people's appetites increase and their mood improve.
Sometimes it's not necessarily related to appearance.
After breakfast, the officials from the Ministry of Rites arrived.
Pei Yuanhui's fingertips traced the back of Huo Qinghe's hand: "I'll have someone send you back. Go back in a sedan chair."
Huo Qinghe naturally agreed, and then told the Emperor to take good care of himself.
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