The Daily Life of a Concubine

Chapter 47 - The Imperial Consorts Successfully Conceived

"Our Xu-er has returned; he has come back and has not forgotten us," the emperor also held some hope in his heart, anticipating the return of that sensible and obedient child.

Just like his legitimate son, setting aside external factors, he was a very qualified eldest son. Though only a year older than Xu-er, he was exceptionally intelligent, beyond compare. At that time, even Old Master Tan said that Chen'er had the makings of a great scholar. Unfortunately...

It wasn't until De Fei fainted from crying and the imperial physician was summoned that the emperor finally felt at ease, learning that her outburst had relieved the pent-up sorrow in her heart.

Looking at the person on the bed, who was no longer as radiant as she once was, he gently touched her face, brushing aside the stray hairs. He felt a pang of guilt. Placing his hand on her abdomen, he eagerly awaited the arrival of this child.

"Be good, don't trouble your mother," Emperor Rui's tenderness was unseen by De Fei, but her attendants witnessed it. They were all delighted for their mistress, knowing that the emperor still cared for her.

"Take good care of your mistress. If anything happens, report to Defu," Emperor Rui instructed as he stood up. He couldn't stay here tonight; otherwise, Lan Guifei would surely cause trouble for De Fei.

"Comfort your mistress well," the emperor softly told an older servant nearby before leaving Shanhu Palace.

The emperor's movements were watched by everyone. Upon seeing him first visit Lan Guifei, bestowed her a title, and rewarded her with numerous treasures, many in the palace turned green with envy.

Afterward, he visited De Fei. Although the rewards there weren't as abundant as those for Lan Guifei, the emperor spent more time with her than with Guifei.

What surprised everyone the most was that the emperor ultimately chose to go to Wen Jieyu's residence, which caused quite a bit of resentment among the others.

Everyone knew that Wen Jieyu was aligned with Guifei. The emperor's favor toward her was essentially boosting Guifei's status—who could tolerate that?

The only one who seemed unfazed was the Empress, the highest-ranked woman in the harem. She had long since seen through the emperor's affections. Before she was pregnant, she might have hoped for his visits, solely for the sake of the legitimate heir he spoke of.

Now that she was pregnant, she no longer cared where he went. As long as she remained the Empress and didn't overstep her boundaries, no one could surpass her.

Despite the day's big events, the most unsettled person in the harem was not the Empress or the other consorts, but the usually elegant and serene Shu Fei.

"Why? Why is Lan Guifei favored?" She knew Guifei's situation, and precisely because of that, she couldn't accept the news of her pregnancy.

If it had been anyone else, she wouldn't have been this agitated.

"Your Highness." Seeing that Shu Fei's hand was bleeding, her maid Huahua hurriedly stepped forward to check. "No matter how angry you are, you mustn't hurt yourself. If the emperor finds out, he will surely be heartbroken."

Huahua opened Shu Fei's hand, taking out a broken plum blossom hairpin—a simple wooden one carved from a plum tree branch, the only gift the emperor had given her back when he was still a prince.

She had kept it all these years, hoping one day to wear it and show him. When the opportunity came, she wore it, but the emperor failed to recognize the object he had given her and even asked why she was wearing such a plain wooden hairpin.

Since then, she had never worn it again, only taking it out to look at when she missed him, as a token of her longing.

Now that the hairpin was broken, did it mean her bond with her cousin was also severed?

"Will he still care about me? Huahua, do you think I was wrong to agree to my aunt's plan and enter the palace back then?" If she hadn't schemed against her cousin, would he still despise her as much as he did now?

Did she really make the wrong choice?

Huahua had been serving Shu Fei since childhood. Even after entering the palace, she remained at her side. When Shu Fei first entered the palace, the Empress Dowager, fearing she had ulterior motives, had her bring only a personal maid and no senior attendants. It was clear the Empress Dowager had been truly vicious.

"Your Highness, you were not wrong. You are still young. Once you bear a child, that person in the rear courtyard will have to be dealt with eventually." Over the years, Huahua had watched her mistress suffer in silence. If only the emperor could see her pain. Unfortunately, his heart and mind were still occupied by the eldest young lady.

Even though she no longer saw the emperor, even though she had once hurt him, the emperor still remembered her.

But why must her mistress suffer like this?

"I've thought about having a child, but my cousin has blocked my path to bearing a child for the Zhang family. I know that over the years, the emperor hasn't wanted anyone but the Third Prince to bear the Zhang name," Shu Fei said, tears streaming down her face, her sorrow apparent.

"Don't dwell on it too much, Your Highness. The medicine from Lady Zhang has not yet been used. Now that we're at the summer palace, it seems like a good opportunity. If you conceive, you'll have a pillar of support. Whether it's a prince or a princess, it will be a blessing."

With teary eyes, Huahua bandaged her mistress's hand and gently set it aside.

"Lady Zhang also warned you not to trust the Empress Dowager too much. Your Highness, you must start thinking more for yourself," Huahua added. Having served her mistress for so long, she knew where Shu Fei's deepest wounds lay.

Shu Fei gave a sorrowful smile. "The future? Do I even have a future?" Tears slid down her cheeks, soaking into her embroidered robe and leaving dark spots.

"Trust? It's precisely because I never trusted her that the emperor still shows me some kindness. Had I listened to the Empress Dowager back then, would I still be Shu Fei today?"

Her pain was understood by no one. Even with Lady Zhang's help, she still had to endure the accusations and schemes of others.

"You're right. I can't let my mother's efforts be in vain. I'll take the medicine. Maybe the next person to become pregnant will be me." She would be content if she could bear a child, even just one.

The summer palace was lively. After the twin pregnancies were announced, others became even more eager, each hoping to be the next lucky one.

However, Emperor Rui's days were far from easy.

After dealing with one consort, another would come. As one left, another arrived, each trying to draw him in.

With the news of pregnancies, he also wanted to make an effort, but he felt his energy being drained. As a result, Emperor Rui quickly forgot about He Liangdi, the woman he had been determined to protect, in the palace. If not for Xiaoxiao's secret message, he might not have remembered the woman with whom he was so intent on ensuring the safety of her child.

"Your Majesty, how should we handle He Liangdi?" Defu, always quick to read the situation, had seen the letter from his apprentice and asked after noticing the emperor's silence.

"Isn't her due date close to the Empress's? The Empress is nearly three months along; she should be about the same," Emperor Rui said, pausing before continuing, "Have Xiaoxiao look after her. We'll deal with everything when I return to the palace."

After instructing Defu, the emperor headed to the Empress's palace.

Upon learning of the emperor's arrival, the Empress, who had intended to take a nap, had no choice but to rise.