Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 270 is indeed a joyous occasion.

As Guo Xiurong collapsed to the ground, a hint of regret appeared on Shen Meiren's face. She rushed forward in a panic to check on her, "I... I only said one extra word, how did you faint?"

Yuehuan was the most panicked. She and Huajin (Guo Xiurong's personal maid) hurriedly knelt down and helped Guo Xiurong up.

The Empress looked at the coral bead necklace on Consort Guo's chest with some surprise and hesitated for a moment. Seeing the Empress's dazed expression, Consort Chun told Mengzhu to go and find the imperial physician.

Although Consort Song also got up and looked at her with concern, she was naturally aloof, so she hesitated for a moment and did not step forward. Consort Wu, on the other hand, kept fiddling with her handkerchief, looking on with amusement.

Hua Yan calmly observed from the side, watching the genuine reactions of everyone present. Although Shen Meiren was foolish, she wasn't a bad person at heart, and her personal maid was also very perceptive and quite composed in her actions.

As for the Empress, Hua Yan caught a glimpse of panic in her eyes and secretly wondered if she was afraid that the matter of the coral bead necklace would be exposed.

When Physician He and Physician Sun arrived at Renming Hall, Consort Guo had already been moved to her bed in the inner hall.

The Empress nodded slightly to Xingyu, who immediately drew the curtains on the bed and skillfully draped a handkerchief over Guo Xiurong's wrist, asking Physician He to take her pulse.

Physician He solemnly reached out to take her pulse, closed his eyes and pondered for a moment, then suddenly opened his eyes, a hint of surprise flashing in them. He cupped his hands to the Empress and said, "Your Majesty, Consort Xiurong is fine. Her pulse is smooth and flowing, undoubtedly a sign of pregnancy. Judging from the pulse, she is about three and a half months pregnant."

"A pregnancy test?" Lady Shen felt somewhat relieved, but asked in surprise.

"More than three months?"

The Empress secretly calculated that she should conceive before the period of confinement, and the Emperor had visited Xiu Rong several times during those days, which matched the timing.

Physician He stood up and gestured for Physician Sun to take her pulse again. He then turned to the Empress and said, "Her Majesty the Empress is physically weak and shows signs of deficiency in her heart and spleen. I'm afraid she will have trouble sleeping lately."

Hua Yan looked at Hua Jin, who was both surprised and delighted. Hua Jin bowed to everyone and then said anxiously, "What the physician said is true. Her Majesty has been sleeping lightly for the past few months, often feels dizzy, and is very weak. She has been resting in bed a lot lately."

The Empress seemed to be deep in thought when she asked in a low voice, "Since Xiu Rong had symptoms earlier, why didn't she report it? Didn't His Majesty send Imperial Physician Jian to Dieqiong Pavilion to examine her?"

Hua Jin knelt on the ground and wept, saying, "Your Majesty, Consort Xiu Rong is weak to begin with, and during her confinement she has been restless. She thought it was just a recurrence of her old ailment. The imperial physician came to take her pulse and examined her once, and he only said it was a sign of deficiency in her heart and spleen."

After taking the pulse, Physician Sun stood up and said, "Physician Jian took the pulse more than two months ago, so naturally he could not diagnose the pregnancy. I am in charge of recording and storing pulse cases in the Imperial Hospital. Physician Jian took the pulse on schedule, but the Empress Dowager did not allow him to take the pulse, so the pulse cases for the past two months are missing."

For those below the rank of concubine, the imperial physicians responsible for recording and archiving the pulse records have the right to review them.

That's why Hua Yan had already instructed Meng Zhu to make sure to invite Physician Sun along.

Physician He called Hua Jin aside and explained in detail how to ensure a safe pregnancy. The Empress, seeing that what Hua Jin said was true, assumed it was due to the effect of the coral beads, so that Consort Guo may still not know that she is pregnant.

Consort Chun reminded her, "Your Majesty, the court session should be ending soon. Should we send someone to inform the Emperor? We also need to visit the Empress Dowager."

Consort Mei was both envious and jealous, but she also said, "The general election is approaching, and Consort Guo is pregnant at this time. This is truly a good omen."

After regaining her composure, the Empress felt much more at ease and said with a smile, "Indeed, this is a joyous occasion."

"Chen Ling, go to Taiji Palace immediately to inform the Emperor of this matter. Xingyu and Zhixue, you two go to Shou Kang Palace and Cining Palace immediately to report to the Empress Dowager."

The three responded and left the main hall.

Before half an hour had passed, Chen, the nanny serving Empress Dowager Jiang, and Kong Lian, the head nanny serving Empress Dowager Zhou, arrived together. Consort Chun looked at Hua Yan with some confusion when she saw that it wasn't Aunt Rongxiu who came from Shou Kang Palace.

Hua Yan pondered, "Aunt Rongxiu is going to Shanglin Garden with the Empress Dowager. Granny Kong is the head nanny of Shou Kang Palace, so her presence would make it seem more solemn."

Upon hearing the news that Consort Guo was pregnant, the Emperor rushed to Renming Hall after court, where he was comforting the awakened Consort Guo.

Seeing the Emperor's concerned expression, Consort Mei and the Empress exchanged a glance, each harboring their own thoughts.

Consort Chun was genuinely envious of Consort Guo. Although she already knew that Consort Guo was pregnant, seeing the Emperor's concern for her now, she couldn't help but reveal a hint of longing on her face.

While everyone was gathered around the bed, Hua Yan whispered to Consort Chun, "When we were in the manor, Physician Zhen reminded us that getting pregnant too early can harm the mother's body. Your Highness is only seventeen years old; you have a long future ahead of you."

Consort Chun smiled slightly at Hua Yan, "Yes, Aunt Mei also advised me in the same way."

"Aunt Mei has given birth to three children. If she says so, there must be a reason for it."

Consort Chun patted Hua Yan's arm, "You're the same age as me. It's not a good thing if you get pregnant too early. Now that you've served the Emperor, if you become pregnant..."

Hua Yan was stunned. She was secretly taking medicine, so how could she be pregnant? However, only Lü Liu knew about this.

"Your Majesty need not worry. Now that Consort Guo has pledged allegiance to us, we must do everything we can to ensure the safety of her pregnancy."

The Emperor comforted Consort Guo with a few words, and seeing that she was alright, he said to everyone, "I am very happy that Consort Guo is pregnant. She is currently weak and needs to recuperate. She will rest and recuperate quietly in Dieqiong Pavilion from now on."

This was a message to the Empress that Guo Xiurong would no longer need to come to Renming Palace to pay her respects.

"Your Majesty is right. However, Dieqiong Pavilion is rather cramped. Why not renovate Hanxiang Hall instead? It's close to the Imperial Garden and has more space, which would be more conducive to grooming and recuperation."

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I am quite at ease living in Dieqiong Pavilion now, so there is no need for you to trouble yourself."

The Emperor said, "The Dieqiong Pavilion is quiet and suitable for recuperation. You may order the palace servants to make some minor repairs in the coming days."

The Empress nodded in response, and Consort Guo blushed and said gracefully, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Hua Yan and Consort Chun bid farewell to the Emperor at the gate of Renming Palace. The Emperor personally accompanied Consort Guo back to Dieqiong Pavilion.

The Empress looked around at the concubines and said, “Consort Guo is pregnant, which is a great joy in the harem. In the days to come, we sisters will need to take good care of her and show her more concern. We all hope that this child will be born safely and carry on the royal line. If you have time in the future, please visit Consort Guo’s palace more often, keep her company and help her pass the time. This will be a way of showing your concern for this unborn prince or princess.”

"Yes."

After the concubines paid their respects, they dispersed. Just as Consort Chun was about to return to Huining Palace with Hua Yan, Granny Kong stepped forward and respectfully said:

"Your Majesty, please wait. The Empress Dowager requests that you accompany me to Shou Kang Palace."

Consort Chun nodded in agreement. Just as Hua Yan was about to leave, Granny Kong said to Hua Yan again, "The Empress Dowager also requests that Your Highness make a trip."