Chapter 114 The Emperor learns that she is pregnant again!
"You bitch! Die!"
No one expected Ruan Huan to suddenly attack. Holding a sharp blade, she lunged at Shui Xian with bloodshot eyes.
Narcissus, sitting in the superior position, had no way to avoid it!
In the nick of time, unable to escape, she could only turn around abruptly and raise her arm to protect her lower abdomen!
The next moment, the sound of a blade slicing through flesh rang out!
laugh--
For a moment, Narcissus's mind went blank. It was as if she had returned to her previous life, where Camellia was slashing her face with a knife!
That was her most painful memory.
Fortunately, the sharp blade tore her sleeve but did not injure her internal organs, leaving a long scar on her left arm!
A sharp pain shot through her instantly, and blood gushed out rapidly, staining her light blue brocade palace dress crimson.
Ruan Huan's attack failed to kill, and his madness intensified as he tried to stab again!
Just as she raised her knife, Lu Jiao shouted from the side and grabbed a heavy bronze candlestick from a nearby table, smashing it hard against Ruan Huan's arm holding the knife!
"I've finally found a promising master! Don't let him get hurt!"
Tinglu was naturally afraid, but she was even more terrified of returning to the bottom of the harem!
Having finally managed to become Shui Xian's confidante while she was in the Cold Palace, Ting Lu was now even more afraid of Shui Xian getting into trouble than Shui Xian herself!
The bronze candlestick was extremely heavy and slammed hard into Ruan Huan's wrist.
"ah!"
Ruan Huan screamed as the dagger flew out of her hand.
At this moment, Koriko, who was guarding the outer hall, also entered upon hearing the noise.
When he heard Tinglu's angry shout, he couldn't help but pause, but his well-trained alertness made him quickly regain his composure and step forward.
With a casual move, Xiao Lizi twisted Ruan Huan's arms behind his back, pinning him to the ground, and quickly tied him up with the rope she carried.
Having subdued Ruan Huan, Xiao Lizi noticed the blood on Shui Xian's arm, and her pupils contracted sharply.
"Tinglu! Quickly go and fetch Imperial Physician Pei! And... immediately go and report to the Emperor!"
Bound to the ground, Ruan Huan was still struggling frantically.
She stared resentfully at Narcissus's bleeding arm, and naturally noticed Narcissus's subconscious action of protecting her lower abdomen.
Ruan Huan seemed to realize something, and her movements froze...
She's pregnant! That bitch is pregnant again!
Ruan Huan could no longer bear it and began to struggle frantically on the spot.
"You lowly servant! How dare you be worthy of me!"
"Damn it! You all deserve to die!"
Her voice gradually became hoarse, filled with resentment and jealousy!
Shui Xian was having a headache from all the noise, her forearm was bleeding badly, and she was also startled by Ruan Huan's sudden outburst, so she inevitably felt weak.
She raised her hand to summon the maid outside the door, and then, supported by the maid, slowly walked into the inner room.
As for Ruan Huan... Shui Xian seemed to have already foreseen her fate, her expression indifferent, not sparing the crazed Ruan Huan a single glance.
What an idiot...
......
Not long after, Pei Jichuan arrived at Yongle Palace before Emperor Zhaoheng.
When he saw the gruesome wound on Narcissus's arm, his expression turned serious, and he immediately stepped forward to carefully clean and bandage it for her.
Narcissus trusted him completely and let him treat her wounds.
She vaguely heard the sounds of the Emperor's arrival coming from the courtyard. While a maidservant was fetching a clean cloth, Shui Xian quickly gave Pei Jichuan a look.
Pei Jichuan's subordinate paused slightly, then nodded to indicate that he understood.
Their secret conversation went unnoticed. Just as Pei Jichuan finished bandaging her wound, Emperor Zhaoheng strode into the inner room.
The emperor's usually calm and composed face now revealed anxiety and genuine worry.
"Xian'er!"
Upon hearing Emperor Zhaoheng's voice, Pei Jichuan immediately stepped back and knelt down to pay his respects to the emperor.
Upon hearing the news of Shui Xian's assassination, Emperor Zhaoheng immediately rushed to Yongle Palace.
He stopped by the bedside, looked down at Pei Jichuan kneeling beside him, and said anxiously, "Imperial Physician Pei!"
"How is Consort Jin's injury? Is it serious?!"
Pei Jichuan knelt on both knees and reported clearly, "Your Majesty, it's fortunate! Although Consort Jin's arm injury is deep, it hasn't damaged the bones or tendons. With proper care, she will be fine. However..."
His tone became exceptionally solemn, "Your Majesty has been greatly frightened, and... although the dragon fetus in your womb is strong and unharmed, the fetus has been slightly disturbed by this disturbance. From now on, you must rest quietly and absolutely must not suffer any further mishaps!"
At first, Emperor Zhaoheng was relieved to hear that the narcissus had not suffered any serious injuries.
However, when he heard what Pei Jichuan said next, he was stunned and stood there dumbfounded.
"A dragon fetus in her womb?"
Emperor Zhaoheng even thought he had misheard. His usually dignified expression wavered slightly, and his thin lips parted slightly, revealing a look of surprise that Shui Xian had never seen before.
Pei Jichuan affirmed again, "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Consort Jin is more than two months pregnant. I detected her pregnancy before she was unjustly imprisoned in the Cold Palace, but she asked me to keep it a secret, which is why I concealed it from Your Majesty..."
"Please forgive me for not informing you!"
The joy of having another son overwhelmed Emperor Zhaoheng.
He laughed loudly twice; he was no longer in the mood to punish Pei Jichuan!
"Good! Xian'er...so good!"
Pei Jichuan's words further confirmed that Shui Xian's offspring had a pure bloodline.
After all, after being sent to the Cold Palace, there were no records of any of Shui Xian's nights with the Imperial Household Department, so there could be discrepancies if the dates were checked.
But now, Pei Jichuan has confirmed that this pregnancy occurred before Shuixian entered the Cold Palace, so the records of the Imperial Household Department have been investigated.
Emperor Zhaoheng was overjoyed. He paced back and forth a few steps, then lifted the corner of his robe and sat down beside Narcissus's couch.
Pei Jichuan watched from the side. Just now, Shui Xian had hinted that he could tell her about her pregnancy. Now that his goal had been achieved, he silently bowed.
Immediately afterwards, Pei Jichuan quietly withdrew from the inner room, leaving the Emperor and Consort alone.
Emperor Zhaoheng sat on the edge of the couch, holding tightly the other, uninjured hand of Shui Xian.
He gradually calmed down, his heart pounding with the joy of knowing that Shui Xian was pregnant, but also with the lingering fear of Shui Xian enduring two months in the cold palace.
"Xian'er! You...you were already pregnant, why didn't you tell me sooner? You actually kept it from me! Do you know how terrible the environment in the Cold Palace is? If anything were to happen..."
Emperor Zhaoheng couldn't understand why, even though Shuixian had discovered she was pregnant before entering the Cold Palace, Pei Jichuan had concealed it!
If he had known that Shui Xian was pregnant, he would never have allowed her to enter the Cold Palace, no matter if it was the powerful families or the Empress Dowager forcing him!
The narcissus, pale from blood loss, appeared even more delicate and pitiful.
But her gaze toward Emperor Zhaoheng was extremely firm. "The turmoil in the court and the harem all arose because of me. Your Majesty has already exhausted yourself for the greater good. How can I trouble Your Majesty with this matter?"
"I know that if I tell Your Majesty, he will certainly not allow me to put myself in danger... I would rather suffer alone and endure loneliness for the sake of Your Majesty's greater good..."
She was so considerate of him; she didn't mention any grievances, yet her words touched Emperor Zhaoheng's heart more than any lament.
Emperor Zhaoheng carefully pulled Narcissus into his arms, avoiding her wounds.
Overwhelmed with emotion, he gently lifted her chin and tenderly kissed her slightly cool lips.
Narcissus gently clutched his clothes, closed her eyes, and felt his tenderness and affection.
With countless beauties in the imperial harem, one might gain temporary favor simply by relying on beauty, but one could never truly win the emperor's heart.
Only by showing that you share his hardships and suffering can you gain his favor.
She wants to be pampered.
Love is even more important.
At this moment, she was like a highly skilled chess player, whose temporary setback was for the sake of greater benefits!
After a moment of tenderness, Narcissus nestled in his arms, still shaken, and whispered, "Your Majesty... is Consort Ruan in her presence...?"
Her voice trembled slightly, "I understand she has suffered a series of blows recently, but today she actually tried to assassinate me with a knife... If I hadn't dodged quickly, that knife would probably have pierced my stomach..."
Upon hearing this, a chill flashed in Emperor Zhaoheng's eyes!
He originally considered their past relationship, and although he demoted her to the rank of Consort, he did not intend to punish her further. He only planned to let her live out her remaining years in the palace.
I never imagined... she would go to such extremes!
"Don't worry, Xian'er!"
Emperor Zhaoheng's voice was icy, carrying the resolute determination of an emperor: "I will never allow anyone to harm you and the child in the slightest again!"
"The Nguyen family...I will handle this matter myself!"
That night, Emperor Zhaoheng stayed overnight at Yongle Palace.
He stayed with Shui Xian, who was frightened by the timing of the assassination attempt, until the next morning when he led Feng Shunxiang to the west side hall of Zhaoyang Palace.
In the west side hall, Ruan Huan, dressed in plain, old clothes, had been sitting at the table all night.
Her eyes were vacant, like a stubborn rock that hadn't moved for years.
She only slowly raised her head when she heard the door open.
She saw the tall, handsome figure she had loved for many years approaching step by step against the light of the morning sun.
Tears welled up uncontrollably in Ruan Huan's eyes.
She seemed to already know her fate.
really.
She heard the man who had once spoken so tenderly to her pronounce her final fate in a voice she had never heard before:
"The commoner Ruan is vicious and incorrigible. She dared to attempt to assassinate the Imperial Concubine with a knife. Her crime is unforgivable! From this day forward, she is stripped of her title and banished to the Cold Palace. She will not be released until she dies!"
Ruan Huan suddenly laughed, laughing so hard that tears streamed down her face.
Two guards immediately stepped forward, each grabbing one of her arms and dragging her up.
Emperor Zhaoheng didn't even glance at her again. His face was grim as he turned to leave.
Just as he was about to step out of the west wing hall, he heard Ruan Huan's heart-wrenching, desperate cry from behind:
"Xiao Yiheng! All these years... have you ever had even a shred of sincerity towards me?! Have you ever truly loved Huan'er?!"
Emperor Zhaoheng paused almost imperceptibly.
But it was only for a moment.
He didn't turn back or answer, and quickly left Zhaoyang Palace, which once symbolized his boundless affection but was now only desolate.
In the end, only Ruan Huan's desperate cries echoed in the desolate palace...
......
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