In the past two days, Qi Jingxuan has had Consort Liu serve him in bed. The political climate in the palace has now shifted into three factions: the civil officials led by the Empress, the former court officials led by Chu Yue, and the favored faction led by Consort Liu.
"Your Majesty, a new batch of young and beautiful young women have entered Chu Yue's Chuxiu Palace. Why doesn't Your Majesty go to see them?"
Consort Liu verbally urged the Emperor to go, but she was secretly delighted.
"Ruhua, I have just ascended the throne. As you know, it is not easy to run a country. I think that my father-in-law is good at business. There are still many vacancies in the capital. I want to expand my father-in-law's business. After all, it is the high-ranking officials who are willing to spend money on cloth and brocade!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Ruhua was overjoyed. No wonder the Emperor still remembered her powerless family. She was so excited that she quickly knelt down to express her gratitude.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Ahem~~~" Qi Jingxuan picked up a cup of tea and began to calculate, "But the national treasury is currently empty, and we need to replenish it with a hundred thousand taels of silver!"
While it wasn't explicitly stated that Liu Ruhua's father should hand over the money, the implication was clear.
"The Liu family has no shortage of money. If we expand our business to the palace, we can earn it back quickly. I will send word out soon and have my father come to the palace to bring it to you personally."
"This..." Qi Jingxuan pretended to be embarrassed.
How could Liu Ruhua let this opportunity to show off pass by? "It's alright, it's time to help my son-in-law."
Qi Jingxuan nodded. Seeing that he had achieved his goal over the past two days, he made an excuse and slipped away.
Now that Chu Yue is pregnant, she is becoming increasingly arrogant in the palace. I heard that a few days ago, a palace maid lost a few extra hairs while combing her hair, and the maid was beaten with thirty strokes of the cane and lost consciousness.
Everyone avoided looking at her.
Most of the palace servants were from the previous dynasty. The princess had been arranging things for them, which boosted Chu Yue's confidence. Her mother was also receiving good treatment in the princess's residence.
"Eunuch Li, go to Chengfu Palace." Qi Jingxuan had naturally heard these rumors and was rushing off to give her a wake-up call.
Chengfu Palace
"His Majesty has arrived!"
Chu Yue, who was admiring the fish, was overjoyed to hear this, as it was the first time the Emperor had come to visit since she entered the palace.
"Qiao'er, do you think my outfit is alright?" Chu Yue excitedly straightened her clothes.
"Your Majesty is very beautiful!"
"Where's my hair? Do me some hair ornaments or something."
"Your Majesty is fine. Let's go and greet the Emperor."
Qiao'er quickly led Chu Yue out.
"Your Majesty, I respectfully welcome you. Long live the Emperor..." Before Chu Yue could finish speaking, Qi Jingxuan helped her up.
"You're seven months pregnant, so you don't need to perform the proper etiquette." Seeing Chu Yue's belly, he realized that Ruan Yu Mu was probably about to give birth. Sure enough, when women are engrossed in their careers, they almost forget about that troublesome pregnant man.
Looking into the Emperor's sharp eyes, Chu Yue suddenly panicked, a feeling that he was up to no good spreading through her heart.
Chu Yue, knowing her place, smiled and propped her chin on her hand. "Your Majesty, I've recently learned some massage techniques. Since Your Majesty rarely comes here, let me shrug your shoulders for you."
The Emperor looked up at Chu Yue, who had been bullied since childhood and was born out of wedlock, and always felt that these people were too scheming and infighting, which he disliked.
"No, it's not convenient for you with your big belly." He directly removed Chu Yue's hand from his shoulder.
"The things that happened in your palace have spread like wildfire. I heard a few days ago that a palace maid was almost beaten to death!"
Chu Yue quickly straightened herself up, "Your Majesty, what's going on? Don't listen to those servants gossiping; they're just bored."
"Oh? You know perfectly well that I'm here today to remind you not to be so arrogant. Just give birth to your child properly."
Qi Jingxuan left without doing anything; she came from the backyard and really hated women who competed for favor.
Chu Yue was startled by the warning voice and did not even respectfully see the emperor off when he left.
I don't understand why the Emperor is angry. He was perfectly fine just now. Why is he getting angry over a mere servant?
In the end, the emperor went to the imperial study to handle state affairs.
There's been no news from Chengde Palace, so it seems the delivery is still some time away. Since Ruan Yumu isn't going to contact me, I might as well not go see her. I'll go when she's giving birth.
Meanwhile, Ruan and Mu's baby had already started labor.
Zi Ling was frantic and hurriedly found a midwife, but when the midwife saw that it was a difficult childbirth and thought that this was the emperor's woman, she shook her head and ran away.
Xu Yunchuan was also with the Imperial Guards, which was too far from Chengde Palace for Zi Ling to reach.
Given that Ruan Yumu has no reliable people around her right now, how dare she leave on her own?
The eunuch Xiaoyunzi, who had been sent out, returned to report that the Imperial Hospital was very busy and no physicians were available.
How absurd! They clearly see that Ruan Yumu is not favored, so they naturally don't care about her childbirth.
"Rong'er, go and inform the Empress. She is a daughter of the six palaces and has never seen our young lady before. She will definitely send someone." Zi Ling had no choice but to casually instruct a palace maid to complete this difficult task.
Zi Ling stomped her feet in anger, "The young lady is about to give birth, how can she manage without the imperial physician and midwife!"
At this crucial moment, she remembered someone: Qi Yuandong! But this place was even farther from the princess's residence than from the Imperial Guards.
The maid beside him was also in a dilemma, sighing and looking helpless.
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