Chapter 163 If something happens to you... what should I do?
Inside the Qianqing Palace, Feng Shunxiang bowed and reported the matters concerning the Changxin Palace to Emperor Zhaoheng.
"...Yi Shuren has been executed, and his body has been disposed of in accordance with regulations."
He paused, looking at Emperor Zhaoheng's expression, and said, "However, before his death, Consort Yi was delirious and babbled a few incoherent words about Consort Jin..."
Emperor Zhaoheng paused slightly as he reviewed the memorials, his vermilion brush not looking up. He asked in a low voice, "What did you say?"
Feng Shunxiang swallowed hard and forced himself to say, "She said... that Consort Jin's good fertility is defying the heavens, and... she even cursed that the Empress's belly would eventually take her life."
The usually composed Feng Shunxiang spoke haltingly, clearly aware of the consequences of his words.
Before he could finish speaking, Emperor Zhaoheng slammed the vermilion brush onto his desk. "What!"
His previously calm and composed eyes now revealed an unprecedented shock and anger.
He didn't even care about imperial decorum. When he stood up, his wide dragon sleeves knocked over the inkstone on the table, spilling thick black ink that splattered all over the hem of his bright yellow dragon robe, but he didn't care at all.
"Prepare the sedan chair; we're going to Lihe Palace!"
He walked quickly to the palace gate, then suddenly stopped, as if remembering something.
As an emperor, when had he ever been so flustered and out of control? But Emperor Zhaoheng didn't care and only gave instructions to Feng Shunxiang beside him in a deep voice.
"Go to the Imperial Hospital and summon Pei Jichuan to me. Tell him to wait at Lihe Palace immediately!"
——
Outside the palace, in a ritual setting.
Shui Xian, supported by Yin Zhu's hand, strolled slowly along the palace path outside Lihe Palace, where soft carpets had been specially laid out.
The wind carried a chill, stirring the hem of her turquoise palace dress.
Six months into her twin pregnancy, her belly was noticeably protruding, stretching her dress into a rounded and heavy shape, making each step somewhat difficult.
Her gaze drifted blankly toward the distant palace road.
Just now, Yi Guichun's body was wrapped in a roll of white silk and silently carried out of Changxin Palace and sent to the mass grave.
That blinding white figure disappeared at the end of the palace wall, as if taking away with it the intense hatred that had been building up in her heart for many years, the hatred that had sustained her to live.
The great revenge has been achieved, and the long-cherished wish has been fulfilled.
The anticipated pleasure did not arrive as expected; instead, it felt as if a large part of my heart had been suddenly emptied out, leaving only boundless bewilderment.
A breeze brushed her cheeks, bringing a touch of coolness, but she seemed not to feel it.
It wasn't until Yinzhu gently reminded her, "Your Highness, the wind is getting stronger. You've been standing for a while now, your back must be aching. Let's go back inside and rest for a bit?"
Narcissus suddenly realized that, yes, after standing for a long time, she did feel a familiar soreness in her lower back.
She nodded silently, supporting herself with one hand on the silver pearl and instinctively bracing her lower back with the other, slowly moving back into the Lihe Palace.
But the fingertips hidden in her sleeve unconsciously gripped the handkerchief beside her tightly, as if trying to grasp something to fill the void left by Yi Guichun's death.
Shuixian had just settled down on the soft couch by the window, her hand instinctively resting on her abdomen, when she heard hurried footsteps and the flustered greetings of palace servants outside.
The beaded curtain of the warm chamber was suddenly lifted, stirring up a gust of wind.
Emperor Zhaoheng strode in, and without even waiting for the palace maids to announce him, he went straight to the bedside.
Narcissus had never seen him in such a hurry before. She looked towards the door, a look of surprise flashing across her face.
Emperor Zhaoheng met her stunned expression, stepped forward and took her hand, recalling what Yinzhu had just said.
"Aren't you cold...? I heard you were taking a walk in the cold wind just now? How long were you standing there?"
Shui Xian was taken aback by his sudden action and subconsciously shook her head: "I'm not cold, I just took a short walk..."
Emperor Zhaoheng, however, was still uneasy and kept his gaze fixed on her eyes.
"Feng Shunxiang told me everything! Yi Guichun was talking nonsense before he died... Is it true?"
"Tell me, have you been feeling unwell lately? Or..."
He found himself unable to ask any more questions. Looking at the woman in front of him, he never imagined that one day she would leave him.
Seeing the still-wet ink stains on his dragon robe and the genuine panic in his eyes, Shui Xian felt a slight unease and softened her voice, saying, "Your Majesty need not take it seriously. It was just her mad ramblings in her dying moments. I am fine."
"Even nonsense must be investigated!"
Emperor Zhaoheng's brows were furrowed.
"I have summoned Pei Jichuan, he will be here soon... He must examine your pulse carefully, inch by inch, and there must be no negligence whatsoever!"
Pei Jichuan arrived quickly, panting, with a thin layer of sweat on his forehead.
He was brought here by Feng Shunxiang in a hurry. At first, Pei Jichuan thought something urgent had happened, but he was relieved after confirming with Feng Shunxiang that Shui Xian was alright.
Upon entering the hall, Emperor Zhaoheng personally stood by the bed, his gaze fixed on Shui Xian's face. His tense expression was several times more solemn than that of Shui Xian herself.
Pei Jichuan held his breath and quickly stepped forward to carefully take Shui Xian's pulse.
After a long silence, Pei Jichuan withdrew his hand, his expression slightly grave. He carefully considered his words before speaking: "Your Majesty, judging from the Empress's pulse, the twins are currently stable, and the pregnancy is progressing smoothly. However..."
"Even a single pregnancy consumes a great deal of energy and blood; now, with twins, the need for energy and blood is even greater than usual. Over time, this will indeed deplete the mother's fundamental energy and blood..."
"If a woman does not take proper care during pregnancy, her postpartum recovery may be several times more difficult than that of an ordinary woman..."
Pei Jichuan investigated carefully but did not actually detect any harmful effects from the secret medicine.
However, the birth of Shui Xian did indeed cause more damage to her blood and qi than normal people. He originally thought it was because Shui Xian was too thin, but now he thinks it may be because she had taken medicine.
After listening, Emperor Zhaoheng coldly pressed for an answer.
"Is it possible to treat it? Is there any way to make up for it?"
Shui Xian was calmer than him. She seemed to have expected this. Upon hearing this, she simply raised her eyes slightly, looked at Pei Jichuan, and asked a question that made Emperor Zhaoheng's heart ache.
"Imperial Physician Pei, you only need to tell me whether my current health condition will affect the health of the twins in my womb?"
Her words softened Emperor Zhaoheng's heart.
Even at this point, her concern was still for her child.
Emperor Zhaoheng blurted out, "Xian'er's safety is the most important thing!"
The moment the words left his mouth, even Emperor Zhaoheng himself was stunned.
He has always prioritized his offspring, and weighing the pros and cons has long been an instinct for him.
When did he begin to place the safety of a concubine above that of the imperial heirs, and even so casually proclaim it?
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Emperor Zhaoheng quickly regained his composure, but having already uttered those words, he had no intention of taking them back.
He immediately issued a stern order, a series of clear and explicit instructions.
"Pei Jichuan, from this day forward, you must come to Lihe Palace every day to take the pulse of Consort Jin, and report the pulse results directly to me!"
"Immediately transfer two female physicians from the Imperial Hospital who are most skilled in regulating women's blood and qi to be stationed at Lihe Palace. They will be responsible for the daily medicinal soups and meals of the Consort, and the medicinal materials used will be of the highest ration, without any need to be frugal."
Emperor Zhaoheng was preoccupied with the safety of Narcissus.
"By imperial decree, Consort Jin must now rest in absolute tranquility, and no one is permitted to disturb her under any circumstances."
"From now on... even Princess Yongning is not allowed to hold or play with the child too much. The child will be carefully cared for by wet nurses and nannies. You..."
He looked at Narcissus, his tone softer than ever before, even with a hint of persuasion, "You just need to take care of yourself, please take good care of yourself, okay?"
Shui Xian truly hadn't expected that Emperor Zhaoheng would be so worried.
Emperor Zhaoheng personally helped Shuixian lie down slowly, and then very carefully placed a soft pillow behind her back, which was sore from carrying heavy loads.
He gently stroked the back of her hand, his deep eyes gazing at her.
"Don't always say you don't care."
Emperor Zhaoheng said in a low voice, "If something happens to you, what will happen to these two children, Yongning... and me?"
Narcissus looked into his eyes and saw the genuine worry in them, as if he were truly concerned for her.
Shui Xian lowered her eyelashes subconsciously, not looking at him, and said softly, "Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will listen to the imperial physician's advice and take good care of myself, so that Your Majesty will not have to worry about me anymore."
That night, Emperor Zhaoheng insisted on staying at Lihe Palace to keep him company.
He personally watched as Shui Xian drank the bitter ginseng and deer antler tonic soup, patiently coaxing her, "I know this medicine is bitter, but Pei Jichuan said you must drink it; it's good for your health. Drink more, okay?"
Narcissus had no choice but to drink it from his hand.
That night, Emperor Zhaoheng was extremely worried about her, treating her as if she were a fragile treasure, afraid of melting in his mouth or breaking in his hands.
Finally, when all was quiet at night, Emperor Zhaoheng beside her was already fast asleep due to exhaustion from days of work.
Narcissus slowly opened her eyes, gazing at the intricate embroidery on the canopy ceiling, her hand unconsciously resting gently on her swollen belly.
The vicious curse that Yi Guichun had uttered before his death echoed repeatedly in her mind.
She knew better than anyone that Yi Guichun's words were not all nonsense, and she herself could feel the burden that carrying these two children brought on far beyond what ordinary people could bear.
At the same time, she also truly sensed Emperor Zhaoheng's extraordinary concern for her today.
It wasn't because of the twins in her womb, but because of Narcissus herself.
This realization brought a touch of genuine warmth to her cold heart.
However, this warmth did not cloud her judgment.
Narcissus knew that the emperor's favor was like a mirage, and moreover, she had the future of her three children tied to her shoulders.
She gently stroked her belly, feeling the movements of the two little lives inside, her eyes gradually becoming incredibly clear and determined.
She must ensure the safe delivery of these two children.
She was determined to protect her own life as well.
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