The banquet at Chuigong Hall ended at exactly 9 PM.
After everyone had finally dispersed and returned to their respective palaces, they hadn't even had a chance to sit down properly when they heard that something had happened at Chuxiu Palace.
Alright, let's have some tea to calm down. There's no need to remove any hairpins or jewelry. We can tidy ourselves up and head to Chuxiu Palace.
Chuxiu Palace is located in the Western Six Palaces. Yanxi Palace, where Huo Qinghe lives, is already remote. The Eastern and Western Six Palaces are even further apart. Given her current rank, she doesn't have a sedan chair, so it's naturally very inconvenient for her. Traveling on foot alone would take even longer.
When Huo Qinghe arrived at Chuxiu Palace, everyone had already arrived.
Huo Qinghe stood outside for a while, but couldn't hear any sound from inside. She was led to the main hall by a palace maid and slowly entered.
"Sister Huo, over here."
Huo Qinghe heard someone calling her.
There were quite a few people standing in the outer hall at this moment, most of them were concubines of low rank.
Huo Qinghe quickly walked to Meng Meiren's side and curtsied to everyone.
"I'm late, please excuse me."
Huo Qinghe returned the greetings one by one, and only after everyone's attention returned to the main hall did she whisper to Consort Meng.
"I'm late. How is Consort Ming inside? How long have you been here, sister? Am I the last one to arrive?"
Consort Xie, who was standing in front, heard Huo Qinghe's voice and couldn't help but turn around to look at Huo Qinghe.
Huo Qinghe didn't look at her. She waited a few seconds before slowly turning her gaze away.
Consort Meng glanced around and whispered, "I just arrived a little while ago, you're not the last one. The Empress and the Imperial Concubine haven't arrived yet. Everyone knows Consort Ma's health isn't good, she probably won't be here. Oh, and Consort Zhou hasn't arrived either, who knows if she'll even be here tonight."
"As for Consort Ming inside, she is quite far along in her pregnancy. I heard she fell quite hard this time, and several imperial physicians are watching over her. The Emperor arrived early, but we still don't know what the situation is like inside."
Huo Qinghe responded with an "Eh," and said, "Thank you for informing me, sister."
She didn't ask too many questions about Consort Ming's fall, seemingly not very curious.
Before Huo Qinghe could even ask, Meng Meiren had already spoken up.
"I heard that Consort Ming slipped when she got out of her sedan chair. I don't know what she stepped on. His Majesty has already sent Jinyang, who is close to her, to investigate. Consort Xu, who lives with her, has also been detained."
Huo Qinghe moved her lips: "Did Consort Xu return with Consort Ming?"
Consort Meng shook her head: "How would I know? But I did hear from Consort Xu that Consort Ming treated her well. However, since Consort Ming was in a sedan chair, I also wondered if Consort Ming should have arrived earlier than Consort Xu."
The two were chatting when they suddenly heard the sound of the beaded curtain swaying.
"The Imperial Concubine has arrived."
There is only one Consort Chi left in the palace.
Consort Chi appeared to have removed her hairpins and jewelry in preparation for her arrival. She had also changed into a different palace dress, and her overall demeanor appeared much less aggressive.
Without even glancing at the people in the outer hall, Consort Chi simply lifted the curtain separating the inner hall and went inside.
As soon as the curtain was lifted, everyone vaguely heard the official's voice.
"Has the Imperial Concubine arrived?"
Huo Qinghe lowered her head, suppressing the urge to yawn.
Judging from the sounds coming from inside, it seems that Consort Ming is alright.
She had witnessed difficult childbirths and even miscarriages when she was young, and she hadn't smelled any blood since she came in, so the baby in her belly should be fine.
Huo Qinghe and the others could only wait outside. They were exhausted from the daytime and most of them were not in much spirits at the moment.
Inside the main hall, Consort Chi looked at the Emperor as soon as she entered. The Emperor was sitting upright in a round-backed chair by the bed, seemingly resting with his eyes closed.
A royal physician was taking the pulse of Consort Ming on the bedside, while a female physician was feeding her something.
Chi Xiexiang was halfway through her bow when the official called out to her, "You've arrived? Your hair is all messed up. Please sit down."
Chi Xiexiang thanked him profusely.
Miao Xi quickly moved the embroidered stool aside.
After taking her seat, Consort Chi first asked about Consort Ming's situation, and then slowly explained.
"After Her Majesty the Empress returned home, she drank her medicine and fell asleep peacefully. I thought about it and decided not to disturb Her Majesty's sleep. Consort Zhou is with the Empress Dowager, so I didn't disturb her either. Too many people might disturb Consort Ming's pregnancy. On the way here, I also heard that Consort Ma is not feeling well, and Consort Cao was also frightened when she heard about Consort Ming's situation..."
"Your Majesty, please do not worry. I have already sent the imperial physician to take care of Consort Cao."
When Consort Chi saw the Emperor open his eyes while she was speaking, she placed her hand on the back of his hand reassuringly.
Consort Cheng, sitting to one side in the inner palace, looked at the two clasped hands and her expression changed slightly; the smile on her lips vanished instantly.
On the other side, Consort Zhuang and Consort Ruan also reacted to varying degrees, but neither of them made a sound.
Ruan Jieyu even turned her eyes away and refused to look.
Pei Yuanhui opened his eyes, but after two seconds he withdrew his hand.
“Consort Ming’s pregnancy is fine. Consort, tell them to disperse. As Consort said, too many people are not good for Consort Ming’s pregnancy.” Pei Yuanhui clasped his hands together, his knuckles tapping lightly, as he pondered.
Consort Chi nodded slightly in agreement: "That's what I meant too. Then I'll have them go back first. What did the imperial physician say?"
She glanced inside again as she spoke.
Fang Kui, who was standing behind Consort Chi, went out to deliver a message upon seeing this.
As soon as the curtain was lifted, everyone standing in the outer hall looked in the direction of the sound.
Fang Kui bowed respectfully: "I've kept you ladies waiting. I've relayed His Majesty's and the Imperial Concubine's message that Consort Ming is now much better. I apologize for keeping you waiting, ladies. Please go back and rest soon."
As she spoke, she bowed respectfully.
"Is Consort Ming alright?"
I don't know who asked the question.
Fang Kui's face wore a smile that revealed nothing about her true feelings.
"Yes. Consort Ming has already woken up, which has worried you ladies."
Meng Meiren spoke first: "In that case, let's call it a day."
She's been waiting so long she's tired of it. I wonder if she can go through that kind of ordeal once she gets pregnant.
Ultimately, it wasn't her who got into trouble, so Meng Shi didn't have that much patience. What did other people's lives and deaths have to do with her? It was already good enough that she wasn't gloating.
Huo Qinghe's eyes remained fixed on the corner of the lifted curtain.
Only a small part of the inner hall could be seen, and the emperor's figure could be vaguely discerned.
Perhaps it was because her gaze was too intense that the emperor in the inner palace finally turned his head and looked at her from afar.
Huo Qinghe curtsied, but did not lower her head.
She moved her lips.
"Your Majesty, please take care."
As night deepened, they returned to their respective palaces easily, but the Emperor's situation was different; he didn't know how long he would have to stay in Chuxiu Palace...
She was the same; the health of Consort Ming was only of a few degrees of concern at most.
What benefit would there be in caring about Consort Ming?
Instead, we should pay more attention to the government.
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