Chapter 310 Wei Yanwan 50
As autumn deepens, the good news is that no one is sick except Yongsheng and Yongqi. The bad news is that their illnesses are not getting better.
The worse news was that the Queen's morning sickness had not subsided even after six months, she still felt dizzy and even had nightmares.
Jiang Yebi and the other doctors from the Imperial Medical Bureau tried every possible way but could only slightly alleviate her symptoms. However, this tiny relief was of little use and Ruyi was losing weight almost visibly.
It was the noble lady Chu who came to visit who brought it up: "Her Majesty, is this a case of evil spirits?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? The Empress is the head of the imperial palace. How could those filthy creatures possibly get close to her?"
Concubine Yu scolded her subconsciously, but Hongli, who was sitting at the top, had something in his mind.
"Noble Lady Chu spoke carelessly. Why did Concubine Yu have to be so harsh and angry?" Wei Yanwan's face was very pale. Everyone in the palace knew that her Yongqi's illness had not improved. She was so anxious that she couldn't sleep all night.
"The Emperor's heir is an auspicious sign. Since this is related to the Empress's legitimate son, it is only natural for the Emperor to summon the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to take a look."
"Your Highness, what you said makes sense. Since Jiang Yebin and the others can't cure the Queen's dizziness, if it's not because the imperial physician is incompetent, then there must be some other hindrance."
Hongli supported himself and called Li Yu in, ordering him to summon the director of the Imperial Observatory into the palace immediately.
Li Yu hurriedly took the order and left. Halfway through, he ran into the Imperial Observatory who was walking hurriedly.
Inside the Yikun Palace, Hongli was filled with anxiety, and none of the concubines dared to speak first. Only Wei Yanwan, seated below, softly advised, "Your Majesty, please take care of your health. As Concubine Yu said, the Empress is the mother of the Qing Dynasty, and this pregnancy is an auspicious one, according to Heaven's will. I don't think..."
"Your Majesty, the Director of the Imperial Observatory has arrived."
Hongli shouted hurriedly: "Don't let him in."
The eunuch walked in with his head lowered and knelt on the ground. Without waiting for the emperor to ask, he spoke, "Your Majesty, I observed the sky last night and saw a faint black glow in the center of the seven stars in the west, the Pleiades, the Sun, and the Rooster. The Ghost, the Golden Sheep, also emitted a faint red light."
"These two stars are both malefic. The Ghost Gold Goat represents fright and is in the southern constellation of the Vermillion Bird, directly opposite the Xiefang Palace where the princes reside. Meanwhile, the Pleiades Sun Rooster represents the White Tiger constellation in the west, situated in the very center of the western constellations. It begins in the west at the Rabbit, representing the Autumn Gate, signifying the harvest and entry of all things. It's precisely in the direction of the Empress's pregnancy, and yet it's turning black at this time. Within the Pleiades are the stars of the Curled Tongue and Heavenly Slander, suggesting that disaster comes from the mouth."
"But the Queen has always been kind and hasn't had any arguments with anyone lately. Are you just lying to her?"
Concubine Yu had no good to do with this group of charlatans who talked in mysterious words and only knew how to be mysterious and show off their abilities. When she heard his unlucky words, she felt even more unlucky and spoke in a very tough tone.
The man remained calm and composed, "Your Majesty, you may not understand that the saying 'disaster comes from the mouth' cannot be simply dismissed as a verbal dispute. In my humble opinion, it's more like... a nightmare curse."
"Are you saying that someone in the palace is practicing witchcraft and cursing the Empress and the princes?"
"This matter is of no small importance. The Supervisor must be careful with his words."
"Of course I understand. This matter concerns the Empress and her unborn child. I dare not speak rashly."
Seeing how confident he was in what he said, Hongli believed it to a point, but he couldn't help but feel doubtful that he could conclude that someone was practicing witchcraft based on just these words.
Concubine Chun, however, was easily deceived. After hearing the Supervisor's words, she was terrified: "This, this must be someone jealous of the Empress's auspicious pregnancy. Your Majesty, you must thoroughly investigate this matter and restore peace to the harem!"
"Your Majesty, this involves the two princes and the Empress's unborn child. How can we listen to the Supervisor's casual words? I think we should leave the case to the Imperial Physician."
"Concubine Yu seems very reluctant to believe that someone has murdered the Queen?"
Wei Yanwan, sitting at the bottom, was surprised by what she said. She had never been known for her outspoken nature, but today she was speaking with particular aggression to Concubine Yu.
Hongli also noticed that she was not in a good mood. Seeing that her face had lost all color and she had lost a lot of weight, he did not find it strange. "My dear concubine, I know you are worried about Yongqi, but what Concubine Yu said makes sense."
"Your Majesty, how could the Imperial Concubine not be anxious as a mother seeing her child like that? If those imperial physicians were truly any help, how could my Yongsheng, the Imperial Concubine's Yongqi, and the Empress not be so ill as they are now?"
Jin Yuyan was already in tears when she said this. "I just thought, since the imperial physician can't do anything right now, why not test the veracity of the supervisor's words? In a matter like this, I think unless someone is truly guilty, everyone would probably be eager to search and find something to prove their innocence."
"What does Jiapin mean by this?"
"Okay, Concubine Yu, Concubine Gui and Concubine Jia are just worried about the child. You are also a mother, so can't you understand her feelings?"
As Concubine Yu grew older, her mind became more and more profound. These days, she had been constantly worried about the Empress, and her appearance had become increasingly cold and hard. Occasionally, she looked like one of the old maids in the palace. Hongli, seeing her harsh words, already had a preconceived feeling of dislike in his heart. Then, seeing Yanwan's pitiful and desolate appearance, his heart naturally shifted.
Concubine Chu, who was also pregnant, took a look at the wind direction and said with a shrewd look, "Jiapin is right. If I am upright, I have nothing to fear. If the emperor really wants to investigate, he can start with me."
The other concubines also stood up and said, "We are willing to prove our innocence."
Since this was the case, Hongli naturally had no worries and immediately ordered Li Yu to take people to carefully search all the palaces.
Ruyi was originally lying in her bedroom when Rong Pei informed her of this. She quickly stood up, only to see stars and almost fall to the ground. Frightened, Rong Pei and a palace maid held her tightly on either side.
"Your Majesty, please lie down quickly. The Emperor will take care of everything. Don't worry about it."
"But I always feel that this is not right, I..."
"Empress, it's been found."
Before Ruyi could finish, Sanbao ran in, his face full of panic and confusion.
"What did you find? And from whom?"
Ruyi didn't expect that she actually found something, so she asked about it immediately.
San Bao glanced at the Empress, and after having Rong Pei help her sit down, he slowly said, "Don't worry, Empress. Just now, Eunuch Li Yu, along with the eunuchs and palace maids, searched the Yanxi Palace of Concubine Yu and found three figurines with silver needles stuck in their veins."
"What did you say? Did you find it in Hailan Palace?"
Ruyi sat there, lost in thought. Rong Pei, however, had already shaken her head, very firmly saying, "Empress Yu has always been on good terms with the Empress. How could she possibly harm the Empress? Someone must have framed her."
"It is said that Concubine Yu has coveted the throne of the Crown Prince for a long time. This time, you are pregnant with an auspicious baby, so she is using witchcraft to harm the heir in your womb, as well as... the Fourth and Fifth Princes."
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