The Daily Life of a Concubine

Chapter 46 - An Ancient Secret

"Imperial Brother won't be willing," Prince Duan shook his head, shedding his earlier childish demeanor.
How could he not know the benefits of the trip to Jiangnan for himself? He had a hand in many of them. If he could step in to resolve matters, it wouldn't just be small benefits—he could grasp even greater advantages. Unfortunately, his good imperial brother would never allow him to go.
The Empress Dowager's smile deepened upon seeing that her son was not opposed to the Jiangnan trip. "Don't worry, he will agree."
Yes, she had a way to make the emperor agree. If he couldn't even tolerate his own brother, the Zong clan wouldn't stand idly by. As long as her son was willing, she had the means to make the emperor consent. "Don't concern yourself with matters regarding the imperial consorts; leave that to your mother. You just prepare for the Jiangnan trip, and I'll handle the rest."
As a mother, her love and indulgence toward Prince Duan were pure maternal care, but when it came to Emperor Rui, she was anything but a mother.
"Very well, I'll do as Mother says."
After Prince Duan left, a senior palace attendant approached the Empress Dowager.
"Your Majesty" he greeted her. As one of her most trusted subordinates, he was well aware of her intentions. "Should I...?" He left the sentence unfinished, but his meaning was clear.
The Empress Dowager cast a glance at De Zhong and was pleased with his perceptiveness. "Go investigate the situation with Guifei. I refuse to believe that the medicine from back then had no effect on her." Even if it truly had no effect, at least it had prevented her from becoming pregnant for many years.
"Also, go ask Imperial Physician An about the emperor's current condition. That medicine doesn't only harm women; it affects men too."
The consort had personally been given the medicine by the Empress Dowager to ensure her own niece would win the emperor's favor. But her niece had proved disappointing, conspiring with outsiders to deceive her. Truly despicable, truly deserving of death.
Luckily, through her niece, she had managed to make it difficult for the emperor to produce heirs.
Indeed, the Empress Dowager was a ruthless woman. Not only did she harm the emperor's consorts, but she also sought to harm the emperor himself. However, this had once been discovered by Zhang Wenke, and the extent to which the emperor had been affected was unknown to outsiders. Since then, no further good news has emerged. If not for the birth of two young princesses after his ascension, the emperor's hold on the throne would have been precarious.
Did Emperor Rui know about this?
Of course, he did. It was precisely because of this that the emperor harbored deep resentment toward the Empress Dowager. If it hadn't been for the pleas of his beloved, he would have killed his mother long ago.
De Zhong's voice was raspy. "Yes, I will have someone inquire with Imperial Physician An immediately." The emperor tightly controlled the Imperial Medical Bureau, scrutinizing the backgrounds of every physician down to three generations before allowing them to serve.
"Don't expose anything. He's still of great use. It's not easy to plant our people in the Imperial Medical Bureau," the Empress Dowager warned, fully aware of the emperor's methods and not daring to be careless.
"Understood, Your Majesty. I'll have someone handle it discreetly." De Zhong was a loyal and capable subordinate. The Empress Dowager had relied on him for many years for good reason.
"Now that we're alone, there's no need for such formality. How is Zhi'er? Are you pleased with him?" the Empress Dowager asked.
With her words, De Zhong, who had just moments ago acted like a subservient dog, straightened up, took a large stride forward, grabbed the regal Empress Dowager, and pulled her into his lap.
"Naturally, Zhi'er is just like me—extremely clever. How could I not be pleased with such a grandson? Since Xuan'er treats me so well, how could I not be happy?"
It was fortunate that there were no outsiders present; otherwise, they would have been shocked out of their wits. A eunuch and the Empress Dowager? How dare they?
And what's more—a grandson? Did they hear that right?
It was too audacious.
"Though Duan'er isn't as smart as Zhi'er, without Duan'er, there would be no Zhi'er. My son has a simple heart, just like his mother," De Zhong said, gripping the Empress Dowager's chin, forcing her to look up at him, his eyes burning with a strange light.
He lowered his head and bit her red lips. As the Empress Dowager let out a small gasp, De Zhong's tongue delved into her mouth.
Outside the room, Su Hai, who had been keeping a close watch, heard the commotion and immediately cleared the area, driving everyone away. He then stood guard outside the door like a statue.
No matter how audacious the two were inside, disregarding imperial authority, Su Hai remained loyal to his master. Whenever anyone approached, he would glare fiercely at them, even intimidating the Empress Dowager's personal attendants.
No one was allowed near—not even Prince Duan would have been permitted to approach at that moment.
De Zhong dared to act this way toward the Empress Dowager because of the long-standing relationship they had maintained. She had even borne him a son. With the former emperor no longer in the way, De Zhong was free to act as he pleased. (Translator: How scandalous!!)
As he admired her delicate, jade-like skin, his eyes were filled with satisfaction. Who would have imagined that a "eunuch" like him had managed to conquer the most exalted woman in the realm, who willingly bore him a child?
"My Xuan'er is still as irresistible as ever," De Zhong said, releasing her and allowing her to stand up. He then sat down like an emperor, waiting for her to attend to him.
It must be said, the Empress Dowager was truly despicable. Though she often scolded the imperial concubines for being vile, little did she know that among all the women in the Da Yue dynasty's harem, she was the most debased of them all.
She was willing to bear a eunuch's child. How disgraceful.
"Yes, Xuan'er will attend to her husband," she replied.
The room was a mess—filthy beyond words.
The two continued their debauchery until late into the night, finally stopping. One had to wonder whether the emperor had made a mistake in forcing the Empress Dowager to live in seclusion.
Such absurdity could only be committed by someone as shameless as the Empress Dowager.
Once they were done, De Zhong left, while the Empress Dowager remained, still savoring his strength and prowess, unwilling to cleanse herself.
It was utterly revolting.

The sordid matters happening inside were, of course, unknown to outsiders. Meanwhile, Emperor Rui had just left Lan Guifei's Yongze Palace, unaware of the schemes plotted against him.

When De Fei heard the announcement of the emperor's arrival, she personally came out to greet him, which earned her the emperor's concern and a round of tender reassurances.

When the emperor learned that De Fei wished to send someone from her courtyard to Yilan Courtyard, he immediately agreed. Not only that, but he also sent Hua Momo, who had previously served at Qianqing Palace, to assist De Fei.

De Fei was familiar with Hua Momo; she was one of the emperor's four main attendants. The fact that the emperor had her sent over to help with her pregnancy clearly indicated his intention to protect the child in her womb. De Fei was deeply grateful for this.

Over the years, her former affection for the emperor had long since faded, but the child was now her most cherished hope. Now that she was pregnant again, no matter how much suffering she had to endure, she was willing to accept it. As long as Hua Momo's care was for her well-being, she would welcome it wholeheartedly.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will definitely deliver this child safely," De Fei choked out, her voice trembling with emotion.

Seeing her in such a state, the emperor couldn't help but think of the late Second Prince. If that child had lived, he would have been ten years old this year. He was an obedient and sensible boy, and De Fei had raised him well. But alas...

"He will be born safely, he certainly will be," Emperor Rui reassured her, stepping forward to gently embrace De Fei. At that moment, De Fei could no longer hold back and broke down in tears in his arms.

It wasn't because she still harbored deep feelings for him, but because he still remembered her son—their ill-fated child.

De Fei's uncontrollable sobbing caused Emperor Rui's eyes to redden as well. How could he not feel the pain? But he couldn't afford to grieve, because he was the emperor. To lose a child as a father was like a blade being driven into his heart.