Chapter 39 Pushing People
Lan Wu had studied dance since childhood, so her body was flexible enough that even if she was pushed and about to fall, she could still maintain her balance and not fall too badly.
Moreover, she was already on guard.
Seeing Consort Rong struggling in the water, she walked ashore with a cold expression. Looking back, she found that all the concubines around her were looking at her with strange eyes.
Lan Wu laughed in anger. It was clearly Rong Meiren who bumped into her, and she only pushed back when she was about to fall. These people only saw her pushing her, but didn't see her predicament, did they?
“Consort Zhen, you have truly gone too far.” These were the words of Consort Li. “You dared to push someone into the water in front of everyone; you have a truly vicious heart.”
Some people echoed the sentiment, while others remained silent.
Lan Wu frowned and said coldly as she looked at the trembling Rong Meiren who had been rescued, "Your Majesty, I dare not believe what you say. I only subconsciously adjusted my posture because I sensed someone was about to knock me into the water."
Her eyes drooped, and she suddenly spoke slowly: "I just didn't expect that Consort Rong would actually knock me into the water. I can't swim. If Consort Rong really knocks me in, I might lose my life."
"Does Your Majesty perhaps think that Consort Rong's life is precious, but my life is not?"
Her words were sharp, and she didn't flinch even when speaking to Consort Li alone; there was no trace of the timid demeanor she had when she was a servant.
Consort Li was trembling with rage. She thought to herself, how could that little slut Lan Wu possibly want to leave the palace? She had acted so pitiful and sincere in her palace that time, but now she was showing her true colors. What a despicable slut!
Upon hearing Lan Wu's words, the surrounding concubines displayed various expressions.
Consort Rou, with a stern face, stopped Lan Wu: "Enough, shut your mouth."
Lan Wu sneered.
Just then, the rescued Rong Meiren suddenly let out a cry of pain.
She gripped the hand of the palace servant beside her tightly, whispering in pain.
A gasp of surprise rippled through the crowd.
Lan Wu followed everyone's gaze and saw that Rong Meiren's skirt was stained with blood.
Her expression froze, and a bad thought popped into her head.
Is Consort Rong pregnant?
Consort Rou quickly ordered someone to send Consort Rong to the nearest Luoying Pavilion, summoned the imperial physician, and sent a message to the Emperor.
Lan Wu pursed her lips and followed the others to Luoying Pavilion.
The Luoying Pavilion is always kept clean and tidy, and the palace lacks nothing. It is designed so that the ladies who are playing in the Imperial Garden can rest for a while, and it can also be used in case of emergencies.
Throughout the journey, Lan Wu kept telling herself it was impossible.
In her previous life, until Consort Rong fell out of favor, there was never any news of her being pregnant. How could she be pregnant in this life...?
But there are indeed many things that are different in this life from the last.
If Consort Rong is indeed pregnant...
Lan Wu composed herself. If Rong Meiren was indeed pregnant, it couldn't be said to be her fault. It was a natural reaction at the time; otherwise, it would have been her who fell into the water.
"Kneel down." Upon entering the main hall of Luoying Pavilion, Consort Rou, seated in the superior position, ordered Lan Wu to kneel down as soon as she entered the hall.
Inside the side hall, Consort Rong's cries of pain could still be heard from time to time.
Lan Wu could only kneel in the hall.
She only brought Lianxi with her today. Just now on the small boat, Lianxi helped her stand up and could also testify that it was Rong Meiren who fell on top of her.
If Consort Rong were not pregnant, Chu Mingheng might have sided with her, but now that things have changed, Lan Wu has no idea how Chu Mingheng will decide.
"Who saw what happened on the boat just now? Step forward and speak up, so as not to wrong Consort Zhen." Although Consort Rou said this, no one in the room stepped forward.
The incident involving Consort Liu has just passed, so who would dare to associate with Consort Zhen? Last time it was Consort Liu, this time it's Consort Rong, and who knows who it will be next?
Consort Li, however, calmly mocked, "What Consort Rou said is true, but as I just said, Consort Zhen is very quick-witted; she can make black seem white. How could I dare to mention it again?"
Lan Wu knelt down, and the pain in her lower abdomen intensified.
She took a deep breath, thinking that she should have stayed in her palace today, otherwise she wouldn't have run into all this mess.
A palace maid rushed out from the side hall to report that the imperial physician had taken Consort Rong's pulse and said that she was showing signs of miscarriage. The physician was currently administering acupuncture treatment.
Everyone gasped in shock.
The imperial harem was already short of offspring. Apart from the eldest princess born to the late Consort Liang, no concubine had successfully given birth to an imperial heir. Now, Consort Rong was pregnant, but news of her miscarriage followed immediately.
The crowd couldn't help but feel fear, and they looked at Lan Wu as if she had already been ordered by His Majesty to be sent to the Cold Palace.
Lan Wu was momentarily dazed upon hearing these words.
Rong Meiren was indeed pregnant.
Miscarriage...
Was it her fault? Did she perhaps kill Chu Mingheng's child?
No, she did nothing wrong.
It was Rong Meiren's own fault; she was the one who wanted to hit her.
Lan Wu clenched her hands tightly, her face pale, and she had unconsciously become unaware of the pain in her lower abdomen.
Just then, the sound of a eunuch announcing something came from outside the hall.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
Chu Mingheng came over.
All the concubines stood up to prepare to pay their respects.
Lan Wu remained kneeling on the ground, her back to the palace gate. Lian Xi tried to help her up to pay her respects, but saw that her face was frighteningly pale.
Lianxi knew that the Empress was not in good condition today. She had deliberately tried to cover up her haggardness when she put on makeup, but now, even through that thin layer of makeup, Lanwu's face was pale and her lips were much lighter in color. She was frowning, as if she was enduring something.
Chu Mingheng entered the hall and immediately saw Lan Wu kneeling in the center of the hall.
When he arrived, he had heard the palace servants talking about what Lanwu had done. Now that he saw her kneeling here dejectedly, he didn't tell her to get up, but went straight to sit down.
"Tell me, how did someone fall into the lake while swimming?" Chu Mingheng asked calmly after sitting down, his expression so calm it was almost frightening.
Amidst the crowd, Consort Li cautiously whispered, "Your Majesty, Consort Rong is currently in the side hall. The imperial physician says she is showing signs of miscarriage, and the physician is currently..."
Chu Mingheng cast a calm glance at the person being looked at, and the person being looked at naturally stopped talking and did not continue speaking.
Everyone felt a chill in their hearts—His Majesty was truly indifferent to his pregnant concubine.
Consort Rou continued, frowning as she said, "Your Majesty, at the time, Consort Yun, Consort Zhen, and Consort Rong were on the same small boat. When they reached the shore, a sudden gust of wind rose on the lake. Consort Zhen said that Consort Rong bumped into her first, and she pushed her back. Then Consort Rong fell into the water."
"I was on another small boat at the time. I only saw Consort Rong fall into the water. I'm sorry I didn't notice anything else."
After saying that, she looked at Yun Zhaorong, who was standing a few steps away with her head down: "Perhaps Yun Zhaorong knows something."
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