Five days later
As we approached the end of May, the weather grew increasingly hot.
Ice basins were placed in the main hall of Yikun Palace, but Xu Lejin still felt hot. Even Wuxiha and Unaxi were listless because of the heat.
Because Wu Lingzhu was only a few months old, Xu Lejin didn't dare bring her into the main hall, fearing the child's delicate constitution might cause her to catch a cold.
In the afternoon, the scorching sun baked the earth.
Ziwu rushed in from outside the palace, her face flushed with panic. She didn't even have time to wipe the sweat from her brow before respectfully reporting to Xu Lejin, "Your Majesty, something has happened at Yongshou Palace, Consort Yi..."
Xu Lejin jolted awake from her daze.
"What happened to Consort Yi?"
Consort Yi is pregnant and has just turned three months pregnant. At this time, something happened in Yongshou Palace, and it concerns Consort Yi.
Could it be that Consort Yi accidentally fell, or...
Xu Lejin dared not imagine it.
Ziwu looked up, glanced quickly at Xu Lejin, then lowered her head and pondered, saying, "Your Majesty, Consort Yi suddenly said she felt unwell this afternoon and summoned the imperial physician. The physician said..."
"The imperial physician said that Consort Yi came into contact with something unclean, which is detrimental to the imperial fetus. The imperial fetus is very likely to be lost."
Even if the pregnancy is saved, the baby will be weak after birth.
With a forced smile, Ziwu finished speaking in one breath.
A quarter of an hour later, Xu Lejin arrived at Yongshou Palace in a sedan chair. The atmosphere inside Yongshou Palace was solemn. In the main hall where Consort Yi lived, imperial physicians and palace servants were going in and out.
Guo Changzai and Chen Yingying waited nervously in the main hall, while Xiu Changzai...
Xiu Changzai knelt on the ground, carefully protecting her belly. When she saw Xu Lejin arrive, a flash of joy quickly appeared in her lifeless eyes, but it soon dimmed again.
"We, your humble servants, pay our respects to Consort Yu. May Consort Yu be blessed with good fortune."
Guo Changzai and Chen Yingying exchanged a glance, then bowed and knelt to greet Xu Lejin, thinking to themselves, "Why is Consort Yu here at this time?"
With Consort Yu's arrival, will Her Majesty's plan still be able to proceed smoothly?
Xu Lejin nodded slightly, gesturing for Guo Changzai and Chen Daying to stand up. Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at Xiu Changzai, who was looking down with an expectant expression, and gave her a reassuring look.
After a moment's hesitation, Xu Lejin spoke in a deep voice, "What's wrong with Xiu Chang here? Why is she kneeling on the ground?"
"Ruhua, quickly help Consort Xiu up. Consort Xiu is weak and cannot kneel on the ground for a long time. If she damages her health, His Majesty will be distressed."
Ru Hua respectfully responded and stepped forward to help Xiu Changzai up.
Guo Changzai and Chen Daying exchanged a glance, quickly considering for a moment. Guo Changzai said softly, "Reporting to Consort Yu, Consort Yi is unwell today and came into contact with something unclean. The palace servants found musk and other substances in Consort Xiu's room."
"It concerns the imperial heir in Consort Yi's womb. I have already sent someone to inform His Majesty and Consort Hui."
Xu Lejin nodded.
With a light laugh, Xu Lejin stared intently at Consort Guo and said coldly, "Consort Guo, are you implying that Consort Xiu intends to harm Consort Yi?"
"Without evidence, even if musk was found in Consort Xiu's room, it cannot prove that Consort Xiu murdered the unborn child of Consort Yi."
"Besides, Consort Xiu..."
Xu Lejin swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
Because she had already seen Kangxi, Consort Hui, Consort Jing, and Consort An enter Yongshou Palace and walk towards the main hall where they were.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."
Xu Lejin curtsied to Emperor Kangxi, who nodded and told her to stand up.
Immediately afterwards, Consort Hui, Consort Jing, and the others exchanged glances discreetly, and respectfully greeted Xu Lejin, saying, "We, your humble servants, wish Consort Yu a speedy and auspicious reign."
The people took their seats in order of rank.
Guo Changzai stepped forward and knelt in the hall. "Your Majesty, you must do justice for Consort Yi. Consort Yi has been eagerly awaiting her pregnancy and has finally found happiness. Now that she has just secured her position as the emperor's consort, this has happened."
"Your Majesty, these were found by your servants in Consort Xiu's room. The imperial physician examined them and said they were musk, a dangerous substance that can harm a fetus."
On the surface, Consort Guo was seeking justice for Consort Yi, but anyone with discerning eyes could see that while recounting her story, Consort Guo didn't forget to wink at Emperor Kangxi.
Xu Lejin chuckled softly, but remained silent.
Guo Changzai had been performing a one-man show all by himself for a long time, but instead of the expected thunderous rage, his brows furrowed deeply, and he gave Chen Yingying a wink.
Consort Chen stood up, walked to the center of the hall and knelt down. "Your Majesty, I have heard that Consort Xiu has been getting close to Consort Yu recently."
"Musk is a precious substance, and even Consort Xiu might not be able to obtain it. I dare to guess that the musk in Consort Xiu's room might belong to Consort Yu..."
Xiu Chang was utterly astonished upon hearing this.
With the help of the palace maid Fu'er, Consort Xiu stood up, bowed and knelt down, "Your Majesty, this concubine did not plot against Consort Yi. This concubine does not know what the musk in my room is all about."
"I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly and restore justice to this concubine and to Consort Yu."
Kangxi nodded and turned his head to look at Xu Lejin.
After a moment of contemplation, Kangxi said in a deep voice, "Consort Xiu, get up. You are pregnant with the imperial child, and your pregnancy is still in its early stages. The ground is cold, so you cannot kneel for long."
“You are pregnant yourself, how could you have touched musk? I and Consort Yu both believe that you have been framed.”
Kangxi's words stunned Consort Hui, Consort Jing, and others.
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