novelhk Chapter 4 Fu An Inspects Zhen Huan's Pregnancy
Chapter 4 Fu An Inspects Zhen Huan's Pregnancy
The Empress Dowager looked at the person in front of her with a worried expression and asked, "Imperial Physician Wen, how is Consort Fucha's pregnancy?"
Physician Wen's expression was solemn. He bowed and said:
"Your Majesty, Consort Fucha's pregnancy is in danger due to bleeding caused by a cat."
However, I have already performed acupuncture on Consort Fucha, and it seems that the fetus has been saved for the time being.
However, Consort Fucha needed to stay in bed for an extended period to ensure the safety of the fetus.
The Empress Dowager was somewhat surprised that Consort Fucha had not miscarried.
However, she needs to stay in bed to rest, and whether she can keep the pregnancy is still a question.
Knowing her good niece's personality, she probably won't let this go easily.
This time, her attempt to harm Consort Fucha failed, but it damaged her own reputation – a classic case of trying to steal a chicken and losing the rice instead.
She's such a handful; now she has to clean up her messes again.
The Empress Dowager frowned and said sternly:
"Imperial Physician Wen, you must do everything in your power to save Consort Fucha's pregnancy."
If there is any mishap, I will not let it go easily!
Physician Wen bowed his head and replied respectfully:
"Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will do my utmost to ensure the safety of the fetus in Consort Fucha's womb."
However, Consort Fucha will need to be extra careful in the future to avoid being frightened again.
The Empress Dowager nodded slightly in satisfaction and said:
"Very well, then I'll have to trouble Imperial Physician Wen. Consort Fucha's pregnancy will be in your care from now on."
If anything happens, be sure to report it to me immediately.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will obey your decree."
The Empress Dowager then turned to Fucha Peiyun and said:
"Consort Fucha, you will need to rest in bed from now on."
Take meticulous care of yourself and the baby in your womb; there must be no further mishaps.
Fucha Peiyun forced a look of overwhelming gratitude.
Despite the physical discomfort, he struggled to sit up.
She forced a smile and answered softly:
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I will follow your teachings."
The Empress Dowager, supported by Zhu Xi, walked out of the side hall, followed by the respectful farewells of Wen Shichu and others.
After the Empress Dowager left the side hall, she immediately ordered Zhu Xi to summon Jian Qiu.
"Jianqiu, where is that beast Songzi now?"
The moment the Empress Dowager uttered those words, anyone with a modicum of intelligence could understand what she meant.
The Empress Dowager is trying to pin the whole blame on Songzi!
"Your Majesty, that beast has disappeared somewhere. I have already ordered my servants to go and look for it."
Fucha Peiyun secretly rejoiced that she had hidden the pine nuts in time.
Hopefully, Matsuko can hide well and not be easily found, otherwise there's nothing she can do.
The Empress Dowager frowned and rebuked her sternly, "You servants are utterly useless!"
"They couldn't even protect their master; they let a cat get away!"
Her voice was clearly filled with anger, making the atmosphere in the room tense.
Jianqiu and the other servants heard the Empress Dowager's scolding.
Terrified, they immediately knelt down, kowtowed, and begged the Empress Dowager to forgive their crimes.
Their faces were pale, and their eyes were filled with fear and unease.
However, the Empress Dowager could not possibly punish Jianqiu and the others severely, after all, they were loyal servants of her niece, the Empress.
So she waved for them to stand up, and then said:
"Enough, enough. You are all the Empress's servants. Let her make the decision herself."
Jianqiu and Huichun stood up after expressing their gratitude as if they had been granted a pardon, but they still kept their heads down and dared not speak.
The Empress Dowager looked at the two of them and then spoke:
"However, I also hope you understand that in this harem, rules are rules and cannot be broken at will."
This time, for the sake of your master, I will not interfere and let her punish herself.
But if such a thing happens again, don't blame me for being ruthless.
Jianqiu and Huichun nodded in agreement, indicating that they would remember the Empress Dowager's teachings and would not make the same mistake again.
The Empress Dowager nodded slightly, indicating that she knew about the matter, and then spoke:
"Well, after the Empress wakes up, let her properly manage the people under her command!"
If anything happens again, I will absolutely not forgive their mistakes as easily as I have today.
After speaking, the Empress Dowager gently closed her eyes, seemingly exhausted.
Just then, Zhang Mi, the imperial physician responsible for examining Zhen Huan and An Lingrong, hurriedly came over.
He nervously reported the situation to the Empress Dowager:
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, Consort Wan is nearly two months pregnant."
However, the impact today has slightly affected the pregnancy. I have already prescribed some medicine to help with the pregnancy, so please take a few doses and rest well.
As for the wounds on Consort Wan and Consort An's faces, they were just superficial injuries, which would heal easily with some medication.
After hearing this, the Empress Dowager's eyes snapped open, a hint of surprise flashing across them, but she quickly regained her composure.
She stared intently at Zhang Mi and said in a serious tone, "Imperial sons are rare."
Consort Guan is now pregnant; it is imperative to protect the imperial heir and prevent any mishaps!
Zhang Mi nodded quickly in agreement and replied respectfully:
"Your Majesty, please rest assured, your humble servant will do his utmost to take good care of Consort Wan's health and ensure the safety of the imperial fetus."
Consort Hua was initially pleased that everyone she disliked had suffered misfortune, but she never expected that little bitch Consort Fucha wouldn't have miscarried.
Now that vile Zhen Huan is pregnant again. How come everyone else is pregnant, but she can't get pregnant?
The Empress Dowager smiled and dismissed Zhang Mi to attend to his duties, then turned to Zhu Xi, who was standing to the side, and softly instructed:
"Zhu Xi, quickly go and tell the emperor this good news, so that he can be happy too."
Zhu Xi respectfully replied, "Yes, Your Majesty." After saying that, she turned and left.
The Empress Dowager slowly walked towards Zhen Huan, her eyes filled with concern and joy.
"The first three months of this woman's pregnancy are a crucial period."
You must be extremely careful and calm down to properly recuperate.
Zhen Huan's face was full of joyful smiles. She lowered her head slightly and said:
"This concubine certainly will, thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."
The Empress Dowager said, "It's just that your servants are too negligent; they didn't even know their mistress was pregnant."
Zhen Huan hurriedly said, "This is my fault. I was just feeling lazy and thought it was spring fatigue."
The concubines have always been unwell, so I didn't ask them to call the imperial physician.
The Empress Dowager's expression softened slightly. "You should take better care of your health in the future."
At this moment, a complex expression flashed in An Lingrong's eyes, who had been standing quietly to the side.
She pursed her lips and lowered her head slightly, as if trying to hide her true emotions.
However, after only a moment, she quickly raised her head.
An Lingrong adjusted her expression and put on a gentle and charming smile.
He knelt down and bowed.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor does not have many children."
Now, Consort Fucha's unborn child has been saved.
Consort Guan is pregnant again! Truly a blessing from heaven for our Great Qing!
She spoke in a gentle and respectful tone, as if she were genuinely happy for the royal family.
However, only An Lingrong herself knew that the handkerchief she was holding tightly in her hand was now soaked with sweat.
The soft fabric seemed to become an outlet for her emotions.
She clenched it tightly, trying to channel her dissatisfaction and anger into the cloth through her fingers.
She was unwilling to accept it; she was unwilling to see Zhen Huan and others gain the emperor's favor so easily.
She was even more unwilling to always be in a disadvantaged position. This resentment grew wildly in her heart like weeds.
It gradually masked the pain on her face and hands.
Why is it that everything belongs to them—family background, favor, children—while she has nothing?
An Lingrong's words immediately caught the Empress Dowager's attention, and her gaze fell on An Lingrong's scarred face.
The Empress Dowager frowned slightly and said with some concern:
"You need to take good care of the injury on your face, so that it doesn't leave any scars."
Also, you're still young, so please take good care of yourself.
It would be even better if Bian could conceive soon; whether it's a boy or a girl, they will be of royal blood.
Having said that, the Empress Dowager's gaze swept across the entire room, and she spoke earnestly to everyone:
You must all understand that you entered the palace not merely to enjoy wealth and luxury.
More importantly, it was to ensure the emperor's lineage, to ensure the continuation of the imperial bloodline.
Hearing the Empress Dowager's words, An Lingrong's heart couldn't help but stir a ripple.
She secretly thought that if she were to become pregnant one day, her status would surely be elevated.
However, reality cruelly pulled her back to reality. She knew full well that she was not favored by the emperor.
Almost no one in the palace respected her, let alone allowed her to get pregnant and give birth.
Even if she were fortunate enough to conceive, given the Empress's methods, she probably wouldn't be able to give birth smoothly.
The Empress Dowager's words stirred up An Lingrong's emotions.
A glimmer of hope and anticipation welled up in my heart.
But she knew very well that this was just something the Empress Dowager said casually and shouldn't be taken seriously.
After all, she was just a lowly concubine with a low status, and she didn't deserve the Empress Dowager's attention.
The Empress Dowager's only concern was having a few more pregnant women in the palace.
To produce more offspring for the emperor, rather than to focus on any particular individual.
Therefore, the Empress Dowager's words may have been just a passing whim.
Perhaps it was out of concern for the women in the harem, rather than genuine concern about whether An Lingrong could become pregnant.
Many people looked down on An Lingrong, believing that she was of lowly status and unworthy to bear children for the emperor.
They might think that a minor character like An Lingrong is not worth having high hopes for.
However, when Consort Hua heard the Empress Dowager's words, her face turned extremely ugly.
The Empress Dowager's words struck a chord with Consort Hua.
Consort Hua had always longed to have a child for the Emperor, but after so many years, she still had not been able to fulfill her wish.
Now, the Empress Dowager's words undoubtedly made her feel lost and helpless.
She didn't know if she could get pregnant again, and all of this was because of that vile Consort Duan.
A bowl of safflower back then caused her to lose her child, and she hasn't been able to conceive since.
She hated Consort Duan with a passion that made her grit her teeth.
Xin Changzai and the others respectfully replied, "We will follow the Empress Dowager's instructions."
The Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction, then turned her gaze to Consort Hua and Consort Jing.
She said seriously, "Now that the Empress is injured, the affairs of the inner palace will be left to the two of you to manage."
I hope you will do your utmost to manage the order of the harem, so that the Emperor will have no worries.
Consort Hua and Consort Jing exchanged a glance and replied in unison, "Yes, Your Majesty."
Although Consort Hua was still somewhat displeased.
But she also knew that now was not the time to lash out. She had to suppress her anger and wait for the right opportunity.