The night passed, and the next morning, Qingyin was the first to come and report.
"Your Highness, Consort Xian has suffered a miscarriage."
Ji Huan sighed, "Just as I thought."
"It's been a month?"
"It's only been a little over a month. If it weren't for a miscarriage, it might not have been detected without a careful pulse diagnosis. Physician Liang, who was usually in charge of Consort Xian's pulse diagnosis, was fined but not dismissed after Consort Xian pleaded on her behalf. The Emperor said this was an accident."
"An accident? Did Consort Xian believe this was an accident?"
"This servant does not know, but Consort Xian does not seem to be punishing Physician Liang, so she probably accepts this accident."
After all, Consort Xian herself was unaware of her pregnancy. The imperial physician who examined her pulse also said that it is normal for some pregnancies not to be detected until a month after conception if not carefully examined.
"First, investigate along the trail of Consort Chun. Then, reveal some of the clues you find to Consort Xian, and let Consort Xian find out for herself that her beloved child was lost without her knowledge. We must find out who the murderer is."
"Yes, this servant will go and investigate and make arrangements immediately."
Immediately afterwards, Ji Huan summoned Shu Xiang.
"Prepare some tonics and send them to Consort Xian."
"Yes, my lord."
After giving the instructions, Ji Huan also told the palace servants to put away some brightly colored items for a while, at least to make a show of respect.
It seems she'd be happy if she could just have some free time.
Emperor Qianlong needed comfort from Consort Xian, but with such an incident at Consort Chun's birthday banquet, he couldn't possibly remain indifferent.
The kindness of a beautiful woman is the hardest to bear!
After arranging everything, Ji Huan went to her study and began copying Buddhist scriptures. She liked to copy Buddhist scriptures whenever she had free time, as she always knew how to use them to pray for the child of Consort Xian. Whether it was useful or not, it was a token of her goodwill.
Consort Xian is the future Empress Dowager. She has no intention of changing anything. She wants to see that Empress Fucha's era is about to end and that the Empress Dowager will be in charge of the harem for a long time to come. This is called investing in advance. She doesn't want to please anyone, but at least she can make a good relationship with the Empress Dowager.
After Consort Xian woke up, she touched her belly and cried uncontrollably.
"My child, my child..."
"Your Majesty, it is this servant's incompetence that prevented me from protecting the child in Your Majesty's womb."
Consort Xian silently wept for a long while, her voice hoarse as she said, "It's not your fault, it's my fault. I didn't even notice that the child had come. It's all my fault..."
"Your Majesty, you will have more children in the future. Your Majesty, taking good care of your health is the most important thing now. You shouldn't cry too much during your postpartum period. Please think about your health!"
Consort Xian has stopped crying.
Where is the Emperor?
"...Your Majesty...Your Majesty went to Consort Chun's place."
Consort Xian smiled sadly: "She went to comfort Consort Chun, didn't she! I lost my child, which also ruined Consort Chun's birthday celebration. In His Majesty's heart, although I suffered, Consort Chun must have been wronged too!"
"Your Majesty... His Majesty... His Majesty..."
"You don't need to say anything more. I understand. His Majesty has the Empress, Consort Chun, and the former Consort Hui in his heart. Now he also has Consort Ling in his heart, and in the future, he will have many more people in his heart, but none of them will be me..."
"Your Majesty, you still have your servant."
"Yes, I still have you all!"
Consort Xian did not suspect that someone was trying to harm her, but she still asked, "How did you fall last night?"
"I feel like I tripped over someone."
Who is it?
"It was dark and there were many people around, so I didn't notice who it was. Your Highness, do you think someone might have done it on purpose?"
Consort Xian fell silent. She felt it was unlikely. She herself didn't know she was pregnant, so who would want to harm her?
However, thinking of the child, he still instructed, "Then let's investigate!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Although Consort Xian was heartbroken, she was a strong-willed person and did not dwell on her grief. Of course, the "battlefield" of the harem did not allow her to be sad.
The Consort Xian, having recovered her spirits, became even more silent than before. Almost a month passed, and Consort Xian recovered from her postpartum period. The Yuanmingyuan Garden returned to its usual bustling state. Consort Xian's trusted maid entered with a pale face.
"Your Majesty, this servant has discovered that Imperial Physician Liang is getting very close to a palace maid. Upon further investigation, it turns out that the palace maid is the cousin of a second-class palace maid who serves Consort Chun."
Consort Xian was stunned: "What do you want to say?"
"This servant thinks that Physician Liang has probably betrayed Your Highness, but it is not convenient for this servant to investigate Physician Liang's situation outside the palace."
Consort Xian was not stupid; she instantly understood that if Imperial Physician Liang betrayed her, it meant that her child might not have disappeared without a reason, but rather that someone had harmed her child.
That was the child she had longed for day and night!
"Go and investigate. I've given you a token. Go and find out for me. If Physician Liang has truly betrayed us, then let him experience the excruciating pain."
Consort Xian said bitterly.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The new information caused Consort Xian, who was already able to recover from childbirth, to fall ill again.
When Emperor Qianlong found out, he gave Consort Xian many rewards, but said nothing.
Ji Huan was waiting for Consort Xian's reaction. She didn't think that someone who could ascend to the position of Empress after Empress Fucha's death would be someone without means.
Once you have a specific target, the research becomes very simple.
Physician Liang had an affair with a palace maid, who happened to be the cousin of a second-class palace maid serving Consort Chun. If this affair were exposed, Physician Liang's future would be over.
Strictly speaking, palace maids were all considered the emperor's women. Having a relationship with a palace maid meant that one's family was implicated in corruption within the harem, and in serious cases, it could lead to the confiscation of property and the extermination of one's entire clan.
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