Consort Hui's pointed remark kept echoing in Consort Xi's ears.
Feeling dazed and confused, Consort Xi felt as if the journey from Yikun Palace to Chuxiu Palace, though short, was incredibly long, as if she had walked for days and nights.
"Is the dragon child in my womb truly incompatible with my elder sister? Is it really because I am pregnant that my elder sister suddenly fell ill and has been unable to recover?"
Sitting on the soft couch, Consort Xi looked dazed and muttered to herself.
The palace maids serving Consort Xi looked at each other in bewilderment.
After a long while, one of the bolder palace maids mustered her courage and spoke softly, "Your Highness, Consort Wen is your sister, and the child in your womb is Consort Wen's nephew. How could it be incompatible with Consort Wen?"
"Your Majesty, please don't believe those baseless rumors."
Consort Xi was stunned for a moment, then looked at the bold palace maid.
After a moment's hesitation, Consort Xi said in a deep voice, "You're right. How could my child be incompatible with my sister? Although the imperial physician diagnosed it as a princess, my child is still of the Emperor's blood."
"Ever since my sister mistakenly took fertility-enhancing drugs and has been unable to conceive, she has been depressed and her health has been deteriorating."
With a cold sneer, Consort Xi's eyes darkened as she whispered.
"My sister's serious illness has nothing to do with me or the dragon child in my womb. Ultimately, it's because my sister is unlucky, which is why she is so ill and about to pass away."
At this time
Suddenly, the sound of crying came from the front hall of Chuxiu Palace.
Consort Xi's expression changed, her body trembled, and her lips quivered as she feigned deep sorrow, saying, "Go, quickly go and find out what happened up ahead, sister!"
Why is there a sudden sound of crying coming from my sister's main hall?
Her face was full of anxiety; every minute and every second felt like torture for Consort Xi.
On one hand, she hoped to confirm her suspicions that Consort Wen had passed away.
On the other hand, they couldn't bear to sever their sisterly bond, after all, they were half-sisters. Although there were occasional minor disagreements, they were generally on the same page.
Half a cup of tea later, the palace maid who had gone to the main hall to inquire about the situation stumbled back, knelt on the ground with a thud, and stammered, "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened, Consort Wen!"
"Consort Wen has passed away."
Upon hearing this, Consort Xi felt dizzy and fainted.
The saying goes, "If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold; if the rabbit dies, the fox will grieve." The death of Consort Wen made Consort Xi feel that the palace truly was a place that devoured people without spitting out the bones. Both of her half-sisters had perished in the palace.
And what about her?
In the rear hall of Chuxiu Palace, when Consort Xi suddenly fainted, everyone was in a flurry of activity. The other ladies-in-waiting and concubines who lived in Chuxiu Palace, after their initial surprise and shock, quickly changed out of their brightly colored clothes.
Among them, Ling Changzai and Lu Changzai, who were more senior, discussed the matter amicably. Ling Changzai then led two of her subordinates to the main hall to pay respects to Consort Wen.
The other official, Lu Changzai, along with the other two concubines, guarded the rear hall.
White banners were quickly hung in the main hall of Chuxiu Palace. The news of Consort Wen's death spread like wildfire throughout the entire East and West Six Palaces, bringing joy to some and sorrow to others.
In the inner palace, the imperial physician who had been protecting Consort Xi's pregnancy was dragged into the hall.
Half an hour later, at Yikun Palace
Xu Lejin learned about what had happened in Chuxiu Palace from Liu Ying and looked surprised.
"Consort Wen is gone, which was expected. But what about Consort Xi? Consort Xi fainted. What happened? Consort Xi is pregnant with the emperor's child. How could she suddenly faint like this? Is the pregnancy in danger?"
Liu Ying looked up, glanced quickly at Xu Lejin, carefully chose her words, and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, after returning to the rear hall of Chuxiu Palace today, Consort Xi appeared dazed. Upon learning of Consort Wen's passing, Consort Xi became so emotional that she fainted."
"Um."
Xu Lejin responded.
After frowning and pondering for a moment, she spoke softly, "Have someone inquire why Consort Xi seemed so dazed after returning to the rear hall of Chuxiu Palace."
“I remember that when Consort Xi was in my palace this morning, she looked quite well.”
Liu Ying respectfully acknowledged and withdrew.
With her left index finger rhythmically tapping the table, Xu Lejin said leisurely after a short while, "Consort Wen has been ill, bedridden, and even the imperial physicians cannot diagnose the cause of her illness. This matter is somewhat strange."
"Nongying, send someone to find out what's going on."
Looking up at Xu Lejin, Nongying's expression was hesitant, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.
After hesitating for a moment, Nongying knelt on the ground, looked at the ground, and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, please forgive me, Your Majesty, I cannot and dare not investigate Consort Wen's illness."
"、、"
Xu Lejin looked on in astonishment and covered her mouth in horror.
Nongying said she couldn't investigate, and dared not investigate; the deeper meaning behind this was chilling.
Consort Wen's health deteriorated day by day, not by divine will, but by human intervention.
The mastermind behind it all must be someone of immense power and influence, either the Empress Dowager or Emperor Kangxi.
Night falls
When Emperor Kangxi arrived at Yikun Palace, Xu Lejin quickly composed herself, her face bearing a dignified and gentle smile as always, and bowed to greet him.
"Consort Wen has passed away, and my beloved consort's arrangements were very appropriate."
Looking at Xu Lejin, Kangxi spoke in a deep voice, "Furthermore, although Consort Xi was traumatized and fainted, thanks to the imperial physicians' best efforts, she is now out of danger. As for Consort Xi's unborn child..."
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