"This... Your humble servant doesn't know either!" Zhang Wenshan shook his head, and fearing that Mingyue wouldn't believe him, he added, "If your humble servant conceals this matter, may I be cursed with childlessness!"
Seeing him make such a solemn oath, Mingyue already believed him. After all, a man who loves his wife and children dearly would not make such an oath unless he was telling the truth.
"Fine, I believe you," Mingyue said indifferently. "Since you've said it, I will keep my promise and won't harm a single hair on your family's head. As for you, choose between poison or a dagger!"
Hearing this, Zhang Wenshan breathed a sigh of relief, but instead of making a choice, he said again, "Your Majesty, could you grant me another favor?"
"What favor?" Mingyue asked, drawing out her words. She wanted to see what Zhang Wenshan was planning.
"I will leave only after the child is safely born." He kowtowed heavily to the ground.
Mingyue chuckled, clearly finding Zhang Wenshan's overreaching behavior laughable. "Your wife is only four months pregnant, and it's still a long way from the birth of the child. What good deeds have you done to deserve living these extra six months?"
“Your Majesty, I am unworthy, but killing me now will only bring you harm and no benefit.” Zhang Wenshan raised his head, looking intently at Mingyue, his tone carrying a hint of pleading.
Mingyue snorted coldly, "I know that killing you now will arouse Jianning's suspicion, but I just can't swallow this insult."
"Your Majesty is right, but aren't you afraid that after I die, she will deal with you in other ways?"
"I'd like to see how she'll deal with me!" Mingyue said confidently. "However, I advise you not to try anything clever. You only want to save your life now because you're afraid your wife will be heartbroken when she hears of your death, and that both mother and child will perish!"
Zhang Wenshan was horrified; he hadn't expected Mingyue to have seen through his plan. He was indeed worried that his wife would be traumatized and contemplate suicide.
"Your Majesty, you..." Zhang Wenshan was so surprised that he couldn't speak. Was this still the same Empress who had no opinions of her own and was easily swayed?
At this moment, Mingyue suddenly thought of something and changed her mind about killing him immediately. "I am not a heartless person. If you want to live for another six months, I may grant your wish, but only if you are sincere."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Wenshan's eyes lit up with joy. He immediately knelt on the ground and kowtowed to express his gratitude: "Your Majesty, this humble subject is willing to obey your orders."
This was his only chance, and he couldn't afford to lose it. To show his loyalty, he added, "Also, the four princes who died before the Emperor were all the work of Princess Jianning."
"Including my Cheng?" Mingyue frowned, realizing that Jianning was a difficult person to deal with.
Upon hearing this, she felt that Zhang Wenshan should be kept behind so that he could coordinate with both inside and outside the city and keep an eye on Jianning's every move.
"Yes, but unfortunately I have no evidence, it's just a feeling!" Zhang Wenshan answered truthfully.
"Alright, I'll give you that chance," Mingyue nodded.
"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress!" Zhang Wenshan, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon, kowtowed to the bright moon to express his gratitude, and said, "After this matter is accomplished, I will certainly not go back on my word!"
"Hmm... Go down now, it's been too long, Jianning will get suspicious." Mingyue waved her hand and said.
"Your humble servant takes his leave!"
Watching Zhang Wenshan's departing figure, Mingyue narrowed her eyes, which flashed with a cold light.
"Your Majesty, what if this is just a temporary measure by Physician Zhang?" Green Sleeve, who had been silent until now, asked worriedly.
"Probably not." Mingyue said with some confidence.
"Human hearts are unpredictable; we must be on guard," Green Sleeves advised.
In fact, Mingyue was also afraid that Zhang Wenshan was deceiving her, having pledged allegiance to her one moment and then revealing everything to Jianning the next.
After some thought, he instructed Green Sleeve to find some reliable people to secretly observe and keep an eye on Zhang Wenshan's wife. If Zhang Wenshan behaved strangely, they were to arrest his wife immediately.
"Alright, I'll go right away." Seeing that Mingyue was following her advice, Lüxiu was overjoyed and turned to leave quickly.
Seeing Green Sleeves leave, Mingyue felt a little more at ease. She knew she had to be careful about this matter, lest she be taken advantage of without even realizing it.
...
Time flies, and half a month has passed in the blink of an eye. It is now the twelfth lunar month, the coldest time of the year.
Snowflakes danced in the air, enveloping the entire city of Kyoto in a vast expanse of white that stretched as far as the eye could see.
After investigating for half a month, Mingyue found nothing unusual about Zhang Wenshan and finally felt relieved.
"Your Highness seems to have lost a lot of weight," Green Sleeves said as she helped Mingyue get dressed.
"You've lost a lot of weight, and your belly has shrunk a bit, like you're seven months pregnant," Mingyue said, stroking her belly.
During this period, she resisted enormous temptations, forcing herself to eat only vegetables and walk 10,000 steps every day to achieve this effect, and all of this was done in the palace, where no one knew about it.
“But I’ve gained weight, and my belly looks like I’m two months pregnant,” Green Sleeves said playfully.
It turned out that Mingyue was afraid that Jianning would find out, so she continued to accept the greasy dishes brought by the imperial kitchen every day. Lüxiu couldn't bear to throw them away, so she ate them herself. Although she exercised a lot, she still gained weight.
"Then stop eating. If you get any fatter, no one will want you," Mingyue teased.
Upon hearing this, Green Sleeve immediately blushed and said, "Your Majesty is talking nonsense. This servant will accompany Your Majesty for the rest of my life. Anyway, I will not get married, so it doesn't matter if I'm a little chubby."
"What nonsense are you talking about? You should get married when it's time to get married." Mingyue patted the back of her hand and said, "If you have someone you like, just tell me and I'll make the decision for you."
Green Sleeves shook her head: "Your Majesty, you don't need to worry about me. I just want to serve Your Majesty and the future little prince well right now."
"You!" Mingyue sighed, but didn't say anything more. After all, matters of the heart depend on fate.
Just then, a palace maid announced from outside: "Your Majesty the Empress, Consort Hui has arrived."
Upon hearing that Wanwan had arrived, Mingyue frowned slightly.
"Your Majesty, don't be afraid, this servant will protect you," Green Sleeve comforted Mingyue, holding her hand.
Mingyue smiled at her, nodded slightly, and then got up to go to the door to greet her.
"Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace." Wanwan knelt and bowed.
Mingyue bent down slightly and helped her up, saying, "Sister, get up quickly, lest you catch a cold."
"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress."
Wanwan looked up and examined Mingyue's face. She saw that Mingyue's face was pale and her eyes were lifeless. She couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Why does Your Majesty look so unwell?"
Of course, she couldn't tell that this was the effect of makeup.
"Really? I don't feel anything," Mingyue said with a smile.
"Why don't we let the imperial physician take a look at you?" Wanwan said with concern.
"It's alright," Mingyue waved her hand and said, "What important matter brings you here today?"
"No one visits a temple without a reason," and Wanwan's sudden visit today is definitely not just for casual conversation.
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