Chapter 422: Chapter 425: A Completely Different Person
By the time Hua Qingqing and the Emperor returned to the palace, night had completely fallen.
The Emperor had originally intended to accompany Hua Qingqing to the Moon Viewing Pavilion, but they were intercepted on the way by a eunuch sent by Wen Zhaorong.
The eunuch prostrated himself on the ground, his voice brimming with irrepressible joy.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Physician took Wen Zhaorong’s pulse today and has confirmed she is pregnant!"
Pregnancy was a joyous matter, and the Emperor was delighted. He said to Hua Qingqing,
"I will go see Wen Zhaorong. You may return first."
’This means he’s going to spend the night with Wen Zhaorong.’
A flicker of disappointment crossed Hua Qingqing’s eyes, evidently saddened by her failure to keep the Emperor with her, but she still managed a sweet smile.
"Sister Wen is so fortunate. I will go and congratulate her another day."
Her expression only made the Emperor dote on her more.
"Don’t you worry. I’ll just pay Wen Zhaorong a short visit. I’ll still come back to you later."
A smile instantly blossomed on Hua Qingqing’s face again. Her voice was as cheerful as a little warbler, clear and sweet.
"Then I’ll go back and wait for you. You must promise to come!"
The Emperor stroked her head and agreed with a smile, "I will."
The two parted ways at a fork in the path.
The Emperor took the Dragon Carriage to Wen Zhaorong’s residence.
Meanwhile, Hua Qingqing returned to the Moon Viewing Pavilion in her own palanquin. By now, her usual calm and composed demeanor had returned. She was like a different person from the lovestruck woman she had just been in the Emperor’s presence.
’After everything she had been through, she had long since accepted a simple reality: to live well in the palace, the most important thing was the Emperor’s favor.’
’And how could she obtain the Emperor’s favor?’
’By showing him her deep affection, of course. By making him feel for her.’
’The Emperor may be high and mighty, but he was still a man. He needed to be loved, too.’
’The role she had to play now was that of a delicate woman who loved the Emperor so desperately she couldn’t live without him.’
’So far, her performance had been convincing. The Emperor was gradually coming to believe that she truly loved him.’
The palanquin stopped at the entrance to the Moon Viewing Pavilion.
Hua Qingqing had just stepped out of the palanquin and found her footing when Xi Xiang came rushing out.
Xi Xiang dropped to her knees with a THUD, crying out.
"Zhaorong, you’re finally back! The Seventh Prince is ill!"
Hua Qingqing’s expression changed drastically.
Lifting her skirts, she dashed into the room and immediately saw the Seventh Prince lying in his small bed.
A number of people were crowded around the bed: an Imperial Physician, the nanny, and the wet nurses were all present.
Seeing Hua Zhaorong return, they all curtsied in greeting.
The Seventh Prince’s body was covered in a red rash, and he was burning with fever. The Imperial Physician had tried to give him medicine, but he had vomited it all back up.
For the time being, the Imperial Physician could only apply a topical medicine to the Seventh Prince and wait to see how he responded.
Looking at her son’s small face, covered in the red rash, Hua Qingqing’s heart clenched with sorrow.
The nanny asked quietly.
"Should we ask the Saint to come?"
Hua Qingqing wiped a tear from the corner of her eye with her handkerchief. "The Saint has gone to Wen Zhaorong’s quarters. If I send someone to summon him now, it will surely put him in an awkward position. We should wait a little longer."
’She knew perfectly well that even if the Emperor came, he wouldn’t necessarily be able to help.’
’It was better to keep the news quiet for now.’
The nanny sighed. "You’re just too kind, Your Grace.
You probably don’t know this, but Wen Zhaorong has actually known for a while that she was pregnant.
But because it was too early in the pregnancy, she deliberately kept the news quiet and didn’t allow anyone to spread it.
She waited until she was three months along to finally announce it.
She deliberately chose today to make the announcement, all to snatch the Saint away from you.
She’s already gone this far. Why must you continue to tolerate her?"
Hua Qingqing bit her lower lip, her eyes welling with tears, but she remained silent.
She was already stunningly beautiful, and this vulnerable, aggrieved expression made the nanny’s heart ache for her.
After leaving the bedchamber, the nanny quietly sent someone to find the Emperor.
’Whether the Emperor came tonight or not, he had to be informed that the Seventh Prince was ill.’
Wen Zhaorong hadn’t seen the Emperor in some time. To ensure he would stay the night, she had dressed with special care and even paid the Imperial Kitchen to prepare a number of fine dishes.
At first, everything was going smoothly.
She had already persuaded the Emperor to stay the night, but just then, news of the Seventh Prince’s illness arrived.
Anxious, the Emperor immediately rose to his feet and headed for the door.
Wen Zhaorong watched the Emperor’s retreating figure, so furious she could have ground her teeth to dust.
Once the Emperor was completely out of sight, Wen Zhaorong swept the cups from the table onto the floor.
As the cups shattered with a CRASH, the expression on Wen Zhaorong’s face contorted with rage.
’She had thought her pregnancy would be enough to capture the Emperor’s attention, but she never imagined that his favorite was still Hua Zhaorong.’
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her abdomen.
Wen Zhaorong’s face turned deathly pale in an instant.
Seeing this, her Chief Palace Maid rushed forward to support her, whispering a reminder in a low voice.
"Don’t forget Doctor Liu’s warning, Your Grace. You absolutely must not get angry."
Shortly after entering the palace, Wen Zhaorong had offended someone and was secretly poisoned. The drug had made it difficult for her to conceive.
Even though she had now managed to conceive against all odds, Doctor Liu had told her that she would likely be unable to carry the baby to term and that she should prepare for the worst.
Wen Zhaorong hadn’t wanted to believe it.
But now, clutching her throbbing abdomen, she had no choice but to accept it.
She said in a hushed voice, "Go fetch Doctor Liu."
"Yes, Your Grace."
...
Inside the Moon Viewing Pavilion, the lamps were brightly lit. Everyone was still bustling around the Seventh Prince.
Hua Qingqing was startled to see the Emperor arrive.
She hastily wiped the tears from her eyes and came forward to greet him. "Your Majesty, what brings you here so suddenly? Shouldn’t you be with Sister Wen right now?"
The Emperor replied, "Qiong’er is ill. Of course I had to come and see him."
He walked to the bedside to check on the Seventh Prince, then summoned the Imperial Physician to inquire about the boy’s condition in detail.
To ensure the Seventh Prince was cured, the Emperor dispatched men to drag the Chief Imperial Doctor from his home.
The Chief Imperial Doctor was already fast asleep and had to be roused from his warm bed to rush frantically to the palace.
「After a long and chaotic night.」
The Seventh Prince’s condition finally showed signs of improving.
The Emperor and Hua Qingqing breathed a small sigh of relief.
Everyone was utterly exhausted from the night’s ordeal.
Hua Qingqing said, "Your Majesty, please go and rest. I can manage here."
Looking at her red-rimmed eyes, the Emperor’s voice softened involuntarily.
"Don’t be afraid. I am here. I won’t let anything happen to Qiong’er."
His words seemed to strike a vulnerable chord in Hua Qingqing.
She could no longer hold back and, collapsing into the Emperor’s arms, began to sob.
"I was so scared! I was so worried something would happen to Qiong’er... I didn’t know what to do!"
The Emperor held her close. "If anything like this ever happens again, you must tell me at once. No matter where I am, I will come to your side immediately."
Hua Qingqing nodded as she cried, "Yes!"
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