flstandardbreds Chapter 157 Pregnancy
Chapter 157 Pregnancy
(Thanks to DawnZjc for the gift, I added another chapter.)
The Queen continued, "The Imperial Physician came today to report that Concubine Xia is already one month pregnant."
These words were like a thunderclap, shocking everyone present!
How is it possible! Ever since An Lingrong used perfume powder on her last time, she hasn't slept with him since then. How could she possibly be pregnant?
Could it be that she became pregnant in the three days after Zhen Huan's birthday?
An Lingrong instantly thought of the Queen's prescription! Looking up, she saw the Queen, looking very confident and calmly observing everyone's expressions.
This was the Queen's last resort, and it also meant she was giving up this pawn! In this case, Xia Dongchun's murder of Shen Meizhuang and the Sixth Prince was about to be exposed, and she had no choice but to use this method to save her life!
After everyone reacted, the Queen continued, "Concubine Hui, I'll leave Concubine Xia in your care while she's still pregnant!"
Shen Meizhuang quickly adjusted her mood and looked at An Lingrong, who quickly shook her head.
Xia Dongchun’s pregnancy is definitely not going to be saved, and this mess cannot be handed over to Shen Meizhuang.
"Empress, the weather has been scorching lately, and the Sixth Prince is crying non-stop. I'm afraid I'm too busy to take care of him!"
Seeing her decline, the Queen said, "The Sixth Prince is being cared for by the wet nurse, so it won't be much trouble. Now that you are assisting in the management of the six palaces, it is within your responsibility to take care of the pregnant concubines."
"Your Majesty is right. Yesterday, the Emperor instructed me to take good care of Concubine Wan during her pregnancy. I dare not disobey His Majesty's order. The Empress Dowager also instructed me to take the Sixth Prince to the Cining Palace to pay respects more often. Your Majesty is the head of the six palaces, and Concubine Xia is close to your Majesty. She will definitely feel more at ease if you take care of her personally!"
Shen Meizhuang brought out the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. The Empress was helpless and could only say, "Okay then!"
It seems that this hot potato cannot be thrown away, but it doesn’t matter, she still has a backup plan.
"Happy events are happening one after another in the palace now. I am very pleased. You should also work hard!"
"Congratulations, His Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty!"
Congratulations on becoming a mother.
After greeting each other, the three of them left work together.
Returning to Yonghe Palace, An Lingrong said bluntly: "Sister, I want to stay in Yonghe Palace for a while."
Shen Meizhuang replied, "Okay! I told you long ago to move in, but you didn't want to!"
"Now is not the time to talk about this! Xiao Luzi, tell the others to take the goodies and move to Yonghe Palace. No one is allowed to return to Yanxi Palace without my order!"
Fortunately, apart from her master, there were only four people in her palace: Liuzhu, Juqing, Xiaoluzi and Xiaochengzi. The newcomer assigned by the Ministry of Internal Affairs was rejected by An on the grounds that he "needed to rest due to illness"!
"Yes!" Xiao Luzi didn't dare to delay and immediately went to inform others.
After giving these instructions, the three of them sat together to talk.
Xia Dongchun's pregnancy this time was truly bizarre! Either she had guessed wrong, and Xia Dongchun hadn't taken the Xiji Pills, so this was a normal pregnancy; or, like An Lingrong in her previous life, she had used the Empress's prescription to force a pregnancy, with the fetus only lasting six months at most. When the time was right, they would use the fetus to frame someone, and she, living with them, would undoubtedly bear the brunt of the blame. So, she had to move quickly, away from that bomb that could explode at any moment.
Seeing her constantly knocking her head, Shen Meizhuang quickly sat down next to her and asked, "What's wrong with you? Where do you feel uncomfortable?"
"Sister, I'm not feeling unwell. I just can't understand why Xia Dongchun is pregnant."
Seeing her frown, Zhen Huan also asked, "Why can't Xia Dongchun get pregnant?"
"When Xia Shi first ascended to the throne, weren't you also puzzled as to why she became even more beautiful after being released from the cold palace?" An Lingrong explained slowly, "I suspect she took Xiji Pills. The ingredients of Xiji Pills include musk kernel, cinnamon twig, poria cocos, peach kernel, meat pine mushroom, angelica dahurica, white peony root, and peony bark. They are refined into pills and applied to the navel with oil paper. The pills absorb into the body through the navel, moisturizing the skin and making it exceptionally radiant. The pills also emit a fragrance that stimulates a man's libido, acting as an aphrodisiac. However, long-term use can damage the uterus, leading to menopause and infertility."
Shen Meizhuang and Zhen Huan gasped: "Isn't this an aphrodisiac?"
An Lingrong blinked and said with a forced smile, "Yes, that's why the Emperor doted on her so much during those few days. If I hadn't used some tricks, the Emperor would have kept her company all night long. Tsk tsk tsk tsk... Emperor Cheng of Han died of blood loss due to this!"
The emperor, this old man, still thought he was still as strong as ever, but he didn't expect that someone was deliberately seducing him. I just don't know if Xia Dongchun used the Shenxu glue on the emperor!
Seeing her expression of anticipation, Shen Meizhuang stood up, pointed at her nose and angrily said, "If you keep talking nonsense, I'll have Wei Lin poison you with a bowl of medicine and make you mute!"
Seeing that An Lingrong stopped talking, Shen Meizhuang coughed lightly and asked, "Then how did she get pregnant?"
An Lingrong shrugged. "I don't know! If she really had taken Xiji Pills, then she would definitely not be able to have the baby."
Zhen Huan, however, looked worried: "If this is true, then the Emperor has been deceived by her. Should we tell the Emperor?"
An Lingrong shook her head. "I'm just speculating about this, and I have no evidence. Now that she's pregnant and can't sleep with him, those things must have been disposed of long ago. If we go to the Emperor and report her, firstly, it would hurt his reputation, and secondly, without solid evidence, I might be accused of being jealous of a concubine's pregnancy!"
Zhen Huan disagreed with An Lingrong's opinion. "Whether musk has been used in her body and whether the pregnancy is safe and sound, the imperial physician will know after taking her pulse!"
"Yes, if the Emperor summons the imperial physician himself, she will be exposed, but what happens next?"
Zhen Huan was a little confused.
"No!" Before An Lingrong could speak, Shen Meizhuang flatly rejected Zhen Huan's proposal.
An Lingrong stopped talking and looked at Shen Meiyu.
"If we go to the Emperor as Huan'er said, Xia will certainly be punished, but Rong'er's knowledge of spices will also be exposed to the Emperor. The Emperor will then think of the incident of the incense burner being pushed over in the Yikun Palace that day. He will then know that Rong'er has discovered the secret of Huanyixiang. This is the Emperor's darkest thought, and he will definitely not let Rong'er go!"
Zhen Huan was stunned. "Sister Mei is right. I was not thoughtful enough!" Then she asked, "So, can we just sit back and do nothing?"
An Lingrong tapped her head and remained silent. The atmosphere in the hall was somewhat depressing.
"The only solution I can think of right now is to stay as far away from Xia Dongchun as possible!"