"Blood, so much blood!"
Concubine Xu screamed and pointed at Concubine Wu.
"Miss Wu is bleeding profusely."
"What are you all still standing there for? Hurry up and carry Lady Wu back to her room."
Prince Ning was furious.
The servants worked together to lift Lady Wu and placed her in the side room.
Concubine Wu was in so much pain that she broke out in a cold sweat, her face twisted, and she kept shouting, "My child, my child. Your Majesty, please save our child."
"Quickly call the imperial physician."
Prince Ning held Lady Wu's hand and went into the wing together. "Hold on, the doctor will be here soon."
Lady Wu was in so much pain that she couldn't speak. She shook her head repeatedly, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Prince Ning looked distressed.
Pei followed her into the wing room and asked, "What's going on? When did Concubine Wu become pregnant? Why didn't anyone tell me?"
Concubine Shen and Concubine Luo both shook their heads, indicating that they were unaware of the situation.
Pei looked at the other beauties and talents again.
Everyone shook their heads, indicating that they had no idea that Concubine Wu was pregnant.
Prince Ning suddenly roared, "What are you asking? I just need to know that she's pregnant. Why are you asking so many questions? Get out of here!"
Pei was furious, "Your Majesty, this matter..."
"Shut up! I know exactly what you want to say. Go out first. I will explain this to you later."
The confidant, Nanny Qin, tugged at Pei's sleeve and shook her head slightly at her.
Pei snorted, flicked her sleeves and left the room.
Gu Jiu stood at the door, and for a moment, she almost wanted to follow him in.
It was only when Nanny Fang pulled her back that she came to her senses.
This is the Wang Mansion, not the Gu Mansion.
Concubine Wu had her period when she became pregnant, but Princess Pei was completely unaware of it beforehand, which was quite strange.
She couldn't get involved in this mess.
At some point, Liu Zhao came to Gu Jiu.
He said to her, "Go back to your room first. I'll be back later."
Gu Jiu asked, "Is it appropriate for me to leave now?"
Liu Zhao squeezed her hand and said, "It will be inconvenient for you to stay for what's coming next. Listen to me and go back to your room first."
Gu Jiu thought about it and it was true. As a daughter-in-law, it was naturally inconvenient for her to get involved in Prince Ning's inner palace affairs.
She said to Liu Zhao, "I'll go back to my room first. You should go back early too and accompany me back home early tomorrow morning."
Liu Zhao smiled rarely, "Don't worry, I won't miss the important task."
Gu Jiu took the maid and prepared to go back to the room to rest.
At the gate of the hospital, she met Doctor Hu and Doctor Wang who came hurriedly.
Gu Jiu could understand why Doctor Hu came. Why did Doctor Wang come?
As far as she knew, Doctor Wang was good at surgery, but she had never heard that he was also good at obstetrics and gynecology.
Time was urgent, and Doctor Zhu and Doctor Wang only had time to nod before they hurried into Jinxiu Pavilion.
Gu Jiu stood at the gate of the courtyard and vaguely heard Princess Pei interrogating the maidservant beside Concubine Wu.
Gu Jiu said to the servants around him: "Let's go back."
It would be better for her to stay away from this muddy water.
After returning to the upper room in the east courtyard, Gu Jiu finished washing up and prepared to go to bed.
She was exhausted these past few days. She didn't even have time to get to know the servants who served Liu Zhao.
A strange place, a strange house, strange people, a wedding, meeting relatives, visiting parents-in-law, one thing after another, so busy that I don’t even have time to breathe.
At this moment, she just wanted to lie down on the bed, close her eyes and have a good rest.
But when she lay in bed and closed her eyes, she couldn't fall asleep.
Images flashed through her mind.
Sometimes it was Jiang Yan, sometimes it was Concubine Wu, and Liu Zhao also came to make trouble.
Nanny Fang was waiting beside Gu Jiu, "Madam, can't you sleep?"
Gu Jiu simply sat up and asked, "Is the matter over at Jinxiu Pavilion?"
Nanny Fang said softly, "I've already asked Xiao Cui to go and find out. Xiao Cui hasn't come back yet, so I guess it's not over yet."
Gu Jiu bit her lip. She still had too few people around her. It was unrealistic to rely on Xiao Cui alone to gather information in such a large palace.
She said directly, "I need to have a few more people around me. What's the current situation of the eunuch who works in the palace that Mammy mentioned last time?"
Nanny Fang quickly said, "It's still the same. If Madam likes him, why don't you ask the Minister of the Household to assign him to Madam tomorrow?"
Gu Jiu said, "Let's add two more people. In such a huge palace, a few more people will only mean a few more pieces of news."
"Madam is right. I will take care of this matter and I will definitely choose someone who is loyal and honest."
At this time, Xiao Cui came back.
She went back to the room in the cold wind, looking frozen.
Qingmei brought her a hot towel to wipe her face and hands.
Xiao Cui asked, "Is the Madam asleep?"
"Not yet. Talking to Mammy."
"Then I'll go in and see the girl."
"Drink some hot tea first, or you might bring the girl a cold."
"Sister Qingmei is really thoughtful."
Xiao Cui drank the hot tea and felt warm all over, then she went into the bedroom.
"Madam, I'm back."
"Come in quickly. What's going on now?"
Gu Jiu waved to Xiao Cui.
Xiao Cui sat down on the footstool and said, "Concubine Wu had a miscarriage. She was said to have been pregnant for two months. No one knew about her pregnancy except Concubine Wu and her personal maid."
Gu Jiu said, "Since no one knew that Concubine Wu was pregnant, then her miscarriage today could have been just an accident?"
Xiao Cui nodded repeatedly, "That's what the Princess said. But it seems to me that the Prince doesn't believe it. The Imperial Physician said that Concubine Wu ate something that conflicted with her diet, causing intra-abdominal bleeding and thus the miscarriage. But Concubine Wu ate and drank what she normally eats, so there's nothing wrong with her."
Nanny Fang looked towards Gu Jiu and asked, "What does Madam think about this matter?"
Gu Jiu thought for a moment and said, "Whether the news of Lady Wu's pregnancy has spread, you should be able to find out by asking the maidservants around Lady Wu. Her situation is best known to her maidservants."
Nanny Fang said, "Madam's point is that if someone uses tonight's banquet to harm Lady Wu, the news must have been spread by the maidservants around Lady Wu."
Gu Jiu nodded. "After Lady Wu became pregnant, she stopped having her period and didn't need to change clothes. How could her maids not know this? The job of washing underwear can't just be done by her maids."
"Madam, you are right."
Gu Jiu asked Xiao Cui, "Did the princess and the prince have an argument?"
Xiao Cui nodded, "The princess seems to suspect Concubine Wu of infidelity."
Gu Jiu was greatly surprised. "How could the princess suspect Concubine Wu of infidelity? Where did this come from?"
Nanny Fang suddenly remembered something, "I might know the reason."
"Mammy, please tell me."
Nanny Fang said carefully, "As far as I know, the palace hasn't had any newborns in over ten years. The concubines around the prince seem to have been quiet for all these years."
I see. For over a decade, no woman in the palace had ever been pregnant. With the sudden revelation of Concubine Wu's pregnancy, it's no wonder Princess Pei suspected Concubine Wu of infidelity.
Gu Jiu hurriedly asked Xiao Cui, "What did the prince say?"
Xiao Cui shook her head. "I don't know. The princess has a loud voice, so I listened in for a few words. Then her voice got quieter and quieter, and the steward came to chase her away, so I didn't hear anything."
Gu Jiu understood and said to Xiao Cui approvingly, "It's great that you were able to find out the key information. It's getting late, you should go down and rest first."
"Madam, please rest early."
…
In the study of Bixi Pavilion, there were only Prince Ning and Doctor Wang.
The light in the room was dim, and Prince Ning's figure on the wall became distorted and looked somewhat hideous.
He asked in a deep voice, "Doctor Wang, how is my health?"
Doctor Wang took Prince Ning's pulse, then he said carefully, "Your Highness has been taking care of himself for so many years and has improved a lot. It is possible for a woman to get pregnant."
"Really? Why is Concubine Wu the only one who got pregnant?"
Doctor Wang said, "I have examined Lady Wu's body. First, she is young, and second, she is in good health. Therefore, Lady Wu can conceive."
Prince Ning's expression changed. "So, this means my health has completely recovered?"
Doctor Wang nodded, "Almost healed. But Your Highness must take good care of himself and not indulge in women."
"Ha ha……"
Prince Ning laughed heartily. "I know the seriousness of this matter. Thank you, Doctor Wang, for your tireless care of my health over the years and for keeping this secret for me. Doctor Wang, please remain silent on this matter, and do not reveal a single word to His Majesty."
Doctor Wang was a little surprised, "Your Majesty wants to hide this from His Majesty?"
Prince Ning stared at Doctor Wang with sharp eyes, "Are you unwilling to keep this secret for me?"
Imperial Physician Wang shook his head repeatedly. "I will follow His Majesty's orders and keep my mouth shut. However, if word of Concubine Wu's pregnancy reaches the palace, His Majesty might inquire about it."
Prince Ning chuckled and said, "If His Majesty asks about this, you should tell the truth."
"Tell the truth?" Doctor Wang looked confused.
Prince Ning nodded. "Except for matters related to my health, you must tell the truth about everything else. You can also convey the princess's suspicions to His Majesty truthfully."
Doctor Wang was astonished, "But if this happens, His Majesty's reputation will be damaged."
He would rather bear the burden of being cuckolded than admit that his health has improved. Ordinary people really cannot understand the thoughts of royal family members.
Prince Ning didn't care. "It's just a mere reputation, I don't care. Besides, do I still have a reputation? In short, you just do as I ask. After the matter is completed, I will naturally not miss out on your benefits."
"I obey your command. If Your Majesty has no other instructions, I will take my leave."
"Go ahead."
Eunuch Chang En sent Doctor Wang out, then went into the study and reported, "Your Highness, the eldest son wishes to see you."
"It's so late, why is he running here instead of going back to his room?"
"I don't know."
Prince Ning snorted coldly, "Ask him in."
Liu Zhao was invited into the study.
Everything was normal in the study. If I hadn't seen Doctor Wang coming out of the study with my own eyes, I would have thought that Doctor Wang had never been here.
Prince Ning sat on the couch, lazily asking, "Why do you want to see me so late at night?"
Liu Zhao sat down on the chair and said, "Grandfather Royal asked my father to come to the palace early tomorrow morning. He also said that if he didn't see my father tomorrow morning, he would send the Jinwu Guards to the palace."
"Hey, the old man has no other tricks except the Jinwu Guards. And I'm really afraid of the Jinwu Guards. Did the old man tell me why he summoned me?"
"Of course, this is to settle accounts with my father for his inappropriate words and deeds while guarding the imperial mausoleum."
Prince Ning looked disgusted. "The old man is so quick to intervene. It's just a drink and a few casual words, but the old man wants to settle the score later. Humph!"
Liu Zhao reminded him, "Father, remember to get up early tomorrow."
"Alright, you're the only one nagging me. I heard the prince is seriously ill? When you saw him, he looked like he was close to death."
Liu Zhao said seriously, "My son is not a doctor, so I can't tell how much life the prince has left."
Prince Ning took a sip of his wine. "The Crown Prince is truly blessed with a long life. Back then, everyone said that after Empress Cui Ruizhen died, the Crown Prince would be deposed within six months. It's been almost a year, and the Crown Prince is still firmly ensconced in the position. Those people are truly incompetent."
Liu Zhao said with a serious face: "Grandfather Huang still has some old feelings for the prince."
"I know. So we have to wait for the opportunity, the chance to strike with one strike. Pay close attention to the movements inside and outside the capital, and report any incident immediately."
"As you command, my son. Do you have any other instructions, father?"
Prince Ning stared at Liu Zhao and said, "I heard that Fang Shaojian, who used to serve Empress Cui Ruizhen, is now hiding in the Eastern Palace. Is this true?"
Liu Zhao nodded, "It is basically certain that Fang Shaojian is hiding in the East Palace."
Prince Ning asked, "Was it the Crown Prince or the Crown Princess who did it?"
"The Crown Princess did it."
Prince Ning nodded. "This prince suspects that it was the Crown Princess who did this. The Crown Prince doesn't have the guts to do this, otherwise he wouldn't have been manipulated by his subordinates. The Crown Princess..."
Prince Ning hesitated to speak. He almost married the Crown Princess Sun. Unfortunately, the Sun family chose the Crown Prince and gave up on him.
King Ning laughed and said, why bother about something that happened decades ago.
He waved at Liu Zhao, "Retreat. I want to be alone."
Liu Zhao stood up, bowed and retreated.
When he got outside, he reminded Chang En, "Early tomorrow morning, father will go to the palace to see the emperor. Remember to wake him up and don't be late."
"As you command, shall I send someone to escort you back to your room?"
"No. Take good care of father."
Lin Shuping walked in front with a lantern to light the way for Liu Zhao.
Liu Zhao walked silently in the palace garden.
He looked up and saw that there was a moon, which was a rare sight today.
I wonder if Gu Jiu is asleep.
She must have been exhausted these days. Given her temper, she would definitely not wait for him to come back and would go to bed early.
He played with the ring on his hand. Did Gu Jiu really care about her identity as the emperor's grandson's wife?
Regardless of whether Gu Jiu cared about the identity of the emperor's grandson's wife or not, she had already married him. The two of them would be tied together for the rest of their lives, and neither could escape.
Arrived at the upper room in the east courtyard.
As soon as the gatekeeper saw him, she went to the upper room to report.
He stopped the gatekeeper and said, "Don't wake up the lady."
He walked silently into the upper room, where several maids were waiting.
"This servant greets you, sir."
"Is the lady asleep?"
Qingmei nodded, "Madam just lay down."
Liu Zhao walked straight towards the bedroom.
Gu Jiu had just finished turning two pages of a book and was about to go to bed when he heard a noise at the door.
When she opened her eyes, her gaze met Liu Zhao's.
They looked at each other and no one spoke for a while.
It was Liu Zhao who broke the silence. "Why is there no one yet?"
"Just getting ready for bed. What brings you back so late?"
Gu Jiu sat up from the bed and asked.
Liu Zhao untied his belt and took off his outer robe.
"I had a conversation with my father, so I came back late."
Liu Zhao, wearing only his inner garments, sat down at the head of the bed.
He held Gu Jiu's hand and gently stroked Gu Jiu's slender fingers.
"That maid in Ganlu Palace today, was she yours?"
It turns out that he wants to dig up old things.
Gu Jiu said carefully: "She used to be my maid, but now she is not mine."
Liu Zhao raised his eyebrows, a little surprised, "Since she is your maid, how did she enter the palace again?"
Gu Jiu said, "Her name is Jiang Yan. When she was in the northwest, she sold herself to the governor's mansion. I saw that she was pretty, so I took her.
Although she was just a maid, she was very ambitious and had great aspirations. I wanted to help her and see how high she could climb, so I used my connections to send her to the capital.
I never imagined she would be working in Ganlu Palace, even as a lowly maid. Seeing her today surprised me too.
I thought that with her beauty, if I made good use of it, I might be able to climb up."
Liu Zhao smiled when he heard this, "You can't climb up to the palace just by looking good."
Gu Jiu nodded, "I understand this principle now. I thought things were too simple in the past."
Liu Zhao moved closer to Gu Jiu, and their breaths intertwined.
"You sent Jiang Yan to the palace, weren't you afraid of her beauty and deliberately sent her away?"
Gu Jiu rolled his eyes at her. "Am I that kind of person? Or are you attracted by Jiang Yan's beauty? How about I take her for you tomorrow?"
"Little jealous girl, did I say I liked her?"
"Hmph! You ask Jiang Yan as soon as you come back. Who knows what you are thinking?" Gu Jiu deliberately picked a fight with him.
Liu Zhao lowered his head and chuckled, "Jiang Yan's employment at Ganlu Palace was truly a coincidence?"
"Of course. Do you think I have the ability to influence the personnel arrangements in the palace? If I had such great ability, why would I have to endure the wrath of others today?"
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－－
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