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The Grand Empress Dowager obviously had a good impression of her and trusted and relied on her more and more. Now she talked to He Qing almost every day, which was a bit like the "confession" in Western religions or the "tree hole" in fairy tales in her memory. She would pour out all her troubles to her, and she would feel much more relaxed.
Once they found their place in the relationship, He Qing quickly adapted. She wasn't one for talkativeness, so the role of listener was perfect for her. As the Empress Dowager's control over the court deepened, their relationship grew increasingly harmonious.
But that afternoon, when He Qing went to the Yangshou Palace to pay his respects as usual, the Empress Dowager looked worried.
"What's wrong, Her Majesty?" He Qing greeted her, sat down opposite the Empress Dowager, and asked.
The Grand Empress Dowager sighed softly, and Aunt Qiu said, "Isn't it for the Empress Dowager and her unborn child? Master, you don't know, the Empress Dowager's body is already fragile, and pregnancy has made things even more difficult. Therefore, the Grand Empress Dowager allowed her to rest in Kunhua Palace, undisturbed, but she hasn't seen any improvement."
"The report came in early this morning that she fell ill. The Empress Dowager has already gone to see her. The imperial physician said that it was due to difficulty in eating and sleeping. These are normal signs of pregnancy, but if this continues, how can her body withstand it? How can we not be worried?" Probably because He Qing was a trustworthy person, although Aunt Qiu spoke in a tactful way, she pointed out the real reason: Empress Dowager Zhang was overly worried.
This is not difficult to understand.
Empress Dowager Zhang was originally a palace maid of humble origin, fortunately chosen to teach the late emperor about human affairs. With such a status, even if she gave birth to an imperial heir, it would hardly have truly changed anything. Suddenly becoming empress dowager, with the entire world watching her unborn child, Empress Dowager Zhang was likely terrified by the immense pressure before she could even enjoy the honor and glory.
What if she didn't take good care of the child? What if it turned out to be a dragon girl? What would she do if the outcome wasn't what she had hoped for?
There were no answers to these questions, and they were very tiring. No wonder she had trouble eating and sleeping.
The Empress Dowager's current glory rested on this unborn child. If anything went wrong, all her previous efforts would be wasted, and she naturally shared in the worry. She had already tried to console Empress Dowager Zhang once today, but she herself was one of the biggest sources of stress for her. The more she talked, the more nervous she became, which was why she was so frustrated.
"Although I don't understand this kind of thing, but I heard that pregnant women tend to worry a lot, so I can only try my best to make her relax." He Qing said.
Upon hearing this, the Grand Empress Dowager looked up at her. "Now that you mention it, an idea has suddenly occurred to me. When it comes to comforting others, who in this palace can compare to you? Every time I speak to you, my heart feels much brighter. If Master Zhen has free time, why not visit Kunhua Palace often? If you can help Zhang Shi to relax and focus on caring for the prince, you will be a great hero to our Great Chu."
"This..." He Qing was embarrassed. "The Empress Dowager is joking. I don't understand anything about pregnancy and childbirth..."
"Those matters are naturally taken care of. Just go and talk to her, make her feel happy, and don't be so tense. It will also disturb the child in her belly." The Empress Dowager thought about it and thought this idea was a good one. She took her hand and said, "That's your nephew's only child. This idea was suggested by Master Zhen on my behalf. If you abandon me now, what will I do?"
"Then I'll give it a try." Having said that, He Qing could only bite the bullet and say, "If it doesn't work, I hope the Grand Empress Dowager won't be offended."
So the next day, He Qing went to Kunhua Palace.
While it was she who had changed the fate of Empress Dowager Zhang and her son, this was actually He Qing's first encounter with her in person. She was indeed graceful and gentle, with a gentle disposition evident at first glance. She lay sickly on the couch, looking frail. Her eyes were dark blue, clearly indicating she hadn't rested much.
Seeing He Qing, she hurriedly tried to get up from the couch to greet him, but He Qing quickly stepped forward and held her down. "I heard the Empress Dowager wasn't feeling well. I've already disturbed you by coming here. How dare I bother you to get up and greet me? Besides, you're pregnant with your destined son. You should respect your status and just lie down and rest."
When Empress Dowager Zhang heard this, she just sighed, lowered her head and said nothing.
The maidservant standing by was very clever and quickly explained for her, "Our queen has been like this since she became pregnant. It's not intentional to neglect the master. The queen must be so happy that you can come over!"
As he spoke, he ordered tea and fruit to be served, looking more like the owner of the place. However, Zhang was just weak and indifferent, leaning against the headboard, her brows slightly furrowed, as if she was lost in thought.
He Qing couldn't help but shake his head slightly in his heart.
In reality, Empress Dowager Zhang's personality would have been well-suited to having such a strong-minded assistant by her side, managing all her affairs. However, the fact that this person wasn't her trusted confidant, but someone sent by the Grand Empress Dowager, her mother-in-law, was rather formidable. Seeing how this palace maid was meddling in everything, it seemed likely that Zhang's "rest" wasn't a happy one.
In this way, how can we relieve stress and open our hearts?
She looked at the maid and asked with a smile, "It's truly enviable that the Empress Dowager has such a capable maid by her side. What's your name?"
"This servant holds the incense."
"What a name! She would rather die with fragrance on the branches than be blown away by the north wind." He Qing nodded. "What a noble character! It's a shame that she can only be a maid in this palace."
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