"Imperial Physician, how is Consort Rou?"
"Your Majesty, Consort Rou is so angry that she is very weak and cannot withstand any further stimulation."
Emperor Qianlong: "Prescribe medicine and treat Consort Rou."
"yes."
Then, Qianlong said with a worried look, "Li Yu, go and call two more imperial physicians over. I am worried about Consort Rou."
Li Yu immediately understood that Qianlong wasn't distrustful of Consort Rou, but rather afraid that her story might be false: "Yes, Your Majesty."
At this point, Emperor Qianlong trusted no one.
It's true that he dotes on Ji Huan, but Ji Huan is also a participant in the competition for the Imperial Concubine!
Soon, Li Yu brought two more imperial physicians with him; they were physicians trusted by Emperor Qianlong.
After the two doctors' diagnosis, they reached the same conclusion as the first imperial physician: Ji Huan's condition was very bad, and she was likely to miscarry. If she did miscarry, it would probably damage her body, and she would not be able to have children in the future.
Now Emperor Qianlong truly believed that this matter had nothing to do with Ji Huan.
The concubines in the harem were very concerned about their pregnancies, and Ji Huan would never gamble her future for the sake of promotion.
He immediately instructed Li Yu: "Investigate what's going on with the rumors. Also, tell the Empress to deal with it quickly. The harem is in chaos, and all sorts of things are being spread. It's absurd."
Emperor Qianlong began to take his anger out on his empress dowager.
In fact, Emperor Qianlong often pursued perfection. Compared with Empress Fucha, Empress Nara could not be said to be inferior to Empress Fucha. It can only be said that the living cannot compete with the dead. In addition, Empress Nara had a straightforward personality. Even if she tried to be more gentle, in Emperor Qianlong's eyes, she was still too straightforward.
Li Yu bowed his head: "This servant will go right away."
Ji Huan was given medicine and acupuncture, and soon woke up. When she saw Qianlong there, she immediately burst into tears.
"Your Majesty, I have absolutely not done anything to Consort Yu. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly and clear my name. As for my mother, I would never dare to do such an unfilial thing."
Your Majesty, I humbly request that someone be sent to investigate. When Mother had pimples on her face, she consulted many doctors, all of whom said it was due to internal heat and that the pimples would eventually disappear. Your Majesty, I would never dare to do such a wicked thing!
Although I am dull-witted, I know that it is all due to my rank. However, I am self-aware and know that I have not been in the palace as long as my three elder sisters. I have never dared to dream of becoming a Noble Consort.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to forgo any promotion for the rest of my life, only asking that you investigate the truth and clear my name."
Emperor Qianlong believed Ji Huan's performance; he had no choice but to believe it.
What she said was sincere and heartfelt, and indeed tragic, but most importantly, it made a lot of sense.
The rumor came suddenly and inexplicably.
Rumors suddenly spread in the palace that court officials and women in the inner quarters had pimples on their faces. It just so happened that it was Consort Yu, Ji Huan's "wicked" stepmother, who was frightened by the pimples on her face.
Emperor Qianlong also knew that it was too much of a coincidence.
The rumors about Manchu bannermen occupying high positions made him find them utterly absurd.
"My beloved consort, don't worry. Of course I believe you. Just focus on your pregnancy and I will find out the truth. Think of our child. My beloved consort, please remember not to be angry anymore."
"Your Majesty's words are enough. I trust Your Majesty."
Emperor Qianlong comforted her again before leaving Xianfu Palace. Remembering that Jihuan needed to rest, he sent someone to tell the Empress not to let anyone disturb Jihuan during her pregnancy.
Upon receiving the news, Empress Nara felt a headache coming on.
Rumor has it that this really isn't her fault; the whole thing just happened too fast and too suddenly.
She's not idle; she has a lot of things to do!
Due to Ji Huan's deliberate suppression of news from Xianfu Palace, apart from Empress Nara, the others learned about it a little later.
Consort Ling only learned of the seriousness of Ji Huan's condition the day after Ji Huan had suffered a miscarriage due to rumors. Connecting the dots with those rumors, Consort Ling's first reaction was to sense that something was wrong.
Then he quickly summoned his trusted confidant: "Quickly send a message back to Father, and make sure he doesn't arrange for anyone to be promoted to a high position under the Manchu banner..."
Halfway through her sentence, Consort Ling seemed to remember something, paused, her face suddenly turned pale, and her stomach began to feel uncomfortable.
She said dejectedly, "No need."
Her confidante, not quite understanding her meaning, asked in confusion, "Your Majesty?"
"No need to send a message! I have lost this round again. Father is probably not in a good position this time."
"Your Majesty?! This servant does not understand."
"You don't need to understand."
The confidante swallowed her curiosity and looked at her face with some concern, saying, "Your Majesty, should we call the imperial physician? I noticed you don't look well."
"I cannot call the imperial physician. You may leave now. I wish to be alone."
After her confidante left, Consort Ling's expression grew even more somber.
She knew that her family was probably not doing well; even if it wasn't destroyed, it probably wouldn't be as glorious as it used to be.
If she really sent the message out, Emperor Qianlong would surely find out.
She was well aware of Emperor Qianlong's suspicious nature, and he could not tolerate the collusion between the harem and the court.
Since her family has already been implicated, she must do everything she can to ensure her innocence and avoid giving anyone too much leverage against her.
The only thing that left her uncertain was who had orchestrated this whole thing. Both Consort Yu and Ji Huan had motives and were both possible motives, but Consort Yu had just been disfigured and shouldn't have been in the mood to scheme so much.
As for Ji Huan, it's true that she was diagnosed by three imperial physicians as having a dangerous pregnancy and almost miscarried.
This left Consort Ling unsure who had arranged it.
She pondered, the light in the room flickering, while she waited, awaiting the final judgment.
The following day, many officials from the bondservant class began to submit memorials in the imperial court, saying that the Manchu bannermen occupied high positions.
Honestly, that's utterly absurd.
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