Chapter 599 Shield 9
From that day on, Consort Liu indeed frequently came to keep Ning Yan company, talking and playing mahjong. The people in Zhu Yan Palace also became more welcoming to her. Consort Liu was secretly delighted, just waiting for the day she would meet the Emperor to begin her plan.
However, I don't know what happened to the childbirth system. It's been so long since I went to consult the main god, and it still hasn't returned.
To be honest, she was a little panicked, afraid that something might happen to the system and she would never be able to come back. How would she live then?
...
Time flies. The Empress had been ill for nearly a month. After she recovered, the women of the harem resumed their daily morning greetings.
Ning Yan, of course, could no longer rely on the Emperor's favor to avoid paying her respects, so she naturally went on time.
But today, Kunning Palace is destined to be anything but peaceful.
Ning Yan glanced around the crowd. Consort Mu wasn't there; she probably hadn't recovered from the humiliation of being slapped last time.
"Consort Zhao's face is getting prettier and prettier. It's really different when you're being pampered by a man!"
The Empress's tone was extremely sarcastic; anyone could hear it.
Ning Yan deliberately touched her face and smiled at Consort Xian, "Thank you for the compliment, sister. I'm only a little bit prettier."
Consort Xian: Who the hell praised you?
The other concubines also looked at Ning Yan speechlessly. She really wasn't polite at all. However, her face was indeed very beautiful.
Consort Liang laughed and joked, "Consort Zhao is in the prime of her life, so naturally she looks beautiful no matter what she wears, unlike us, who are all getting old."
The original body was sixteen, Consort Liang was twenty-three, and Consort Xian was the same age as the Emperor, twenty-four. In ancient times, a woman of twenty-three or twenty-four was considered old.
Therefore, ancient times were not a place for humans to live.
Consort Xian: You're the one who's old! You're the one who's old! I'm still young!
But in reality, you can't deny getting old; a 24-year-old woman is indeed no longer so youthful.
Thinking this, she glared fiercely at Ning Yan.
Ning Yan: "...Sister Xianfei, is there something wrong with your eyes?"
Why were all the whites of your eyes showing just now? It looked awful! Sister, I advise you to get treatment as soon as possible if you're sick. Don't be afraid to see a doctor.
Muffled laughter echoed from the side hall. Consort Xian, furious, pointed at Ning Yan's face and shouted, "You, you're the one who's sick!"
"Tsk tsk tsk, she's even stuttering. It seems my sister is quite ill; even her mouth is having problems."
Consort Xian could no longer hold back and got up to hit Ning Yan. Unfortunately, she couldn't even touch the hem of Ning Yan's clothes before Gu Yu restrained her. "Your Highness, be careful. The ground is uneven. Don't trip. Let me help you."
Consort Xian tried to pull her hand away, but couldn't manage it after several attempts. "Let go! Let go!"
Gu Yu smiled, then helped the woman back to her original seat before letting go and stepping back behind Ning Yan.
Consort Xian was so angry that she was panting heavily.
At this moment, the Empress's maid came to invite someone, and Consort Xian could no longer make a scene, so she got up and went to the main hall.
After performing the rites, the Empress offered her a seat. Ning Yan looked up at the Empress. She was now sitting closer to the Empress, so she could see her more clearly. Even with several layers of powder, she couldn't hide the weariness on the Empress's face. She clearly hadn't recovered well.
That makes sense. If she stays sick, the Emperor won't go to the Empress's palace, and she won't be able to get pregnant. In that case, wouldn't the Empress be eager to come out and see people?
"While I've been ill these past few days, the maids around me have been trying their best to prepare delicious food for me. They've even invented a new type of pastry with a very unique flavor, so everyone should try it."
As soon as the Empress finished speaking, the palace maids filed in carrying plates of beautiful pastries. Ning Yan glanced at them; they were plum blossoms made with molds, and the petals probably had fillings inside. To be honest, they weren't anything special.
However, Ning Yan still ate it out of courtesy. If she didn't eat it, how could she reveal that she was pregnant? After all, she had been in the palace for more than a month.
After taking a bite of pastry, Ning Yan let out a loud "hiccup." Indeed, this "hiccup" was like a command, causing all the dozens of people in the hall to turn their heads in Ning Yan's direction.
Consort Li covered her mouth, "Oh dear, what's wrong with Consort Zhao? Does she think Her Majesty the Empress's pastries aren't good?"
Ning Yan quickly put down her chopsticks and looked at Li Fei with a wronged expression. "Sister Li, you've wronged me. I just suddenly felt a little nauseous from the smell of the pastries, but I didn't mean to say that the pastries were bad."
Why did you say that to your younger sister, sister? You've really hurt me.
After saying that, she snorted again, this time even louder. Li Fei's face turned dark. What? Was talking to her such a disgusting thing?
Suddenly someone whispered, "Could it be that Consort Zhao is pregnant with the emperor's child?"
The concubines in the hall all changed color. Gu Yu quickly spoke up for her mistress: "Our mistress just has an upset stomach. She'll be fine after drinking some stomach medicine when she gets back."
A flash of ruthlessness crossed the Empress's eyes as she sat on her high throne, but she quickly regained her composure. "Someone, go and fetch the imperial physician to examine Consort Zhao."
Damn it, after Bai Shu's incident, she was afraid the Emperor would find out about her, and besides, the medicine had already been administered, so she didn't send anyone else to Zhu Yan Palace. Unexpectedly, this little bitch still got pregnant.
Ning Yan placed her hand on her lower abdomen without making a sound, her eyes showing obvious joy, but she was trying her best to hide it. To others, this expression was interpreted as: Consort Zhao is really pregnant, but she is afraid of being plotted against, so she does not want to reveal it early.
All of them were waiting for the imperial physician to arrive so they could see what would happen.
Everyone else is neglected, but you are, so you become the target of everyone's envy.
Now that you're secretly pregnant again, do you expect to have a good life from now on?
The imperial physician was quickly summoned, and after the ceremony, the Empress ordered the physician to examine Ning Yan's pulse.
The imperial physician took out a handkerchief and placed it on Ning Yan's wrist before stroking his beard and slowly taking her pulse.
In a short while, the imperial physician withdrew his hand. "Congratulations, Consort Zhao. You are one month pregnant. The fetus has a strong pulse, and the mother is in good health. You will definitely give birth to a healthy imperial heir in nine months."
A chorus of congratulations erupted in the hall.
Ning Yan was overjoyed and immediately ordered Gu Yu, "Reward, reward Imperial Physician Wang with a handful of golden melon seeds!"
Gu Yu took out a purse from her bosom and handed it to Physician Wang. Physician Wang happily accepted the purse, bowed again, and left.
The Empress's lips twitched, and she could barely maintain her fake smile. Her strong pulse indicated that she was carrying a boy.
If the mother is healthy, the child is less likely to miscarry, and there is less chance of complications during childbirth.
The other concubines, my goodness, truly deserve to be the Emperor's favorites. They are rewarded with golden melon seeds, while the other concubines have to carefully calculate even when ordering dishes at the Imperial Kitchen.
Bah, now is not the time to think about that, Consort Zhao is pregnant!
This was the Emperor's first child after he began mourning, so you can imagine how important this child was to him!
Consort Zhao was already favored; if she gives birth to a prince, will the emperor still be able to see them?
The concubines exchanged glances, then looked away, concealing their ulterior motives.
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