Chapter 26: The General’s Little Pampered Wife 26

Chapter 26: Chapter 26: The General’s Little Pampered Wife 26

Just then, a eunuch rushed over to announce, "The Emperor and the Empress have arrived!"

Upon hearing this, everyone fell to their knees and bowed, crying out in unison, "Long live Your Majesty! May you live ten thousand years! Long live the Empress! May she live a thousand years!"

The Emperor and Empress walked in gracefully amidst the chorus of greetings. The Emperor raised a hand and said, "You may all rise."

After thanking him, everyone rose. The Emperor’s gaze swept over the crowd, finally landing on Ji Xiaosong and Li Wanyu. "What is going on here?" he asked. "Why all this commotion?"

Consort Song hurried forward and replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, it is merely a small misunderstanding between women. I was already handling it."

The Emperor’s eyes narrowed slightly. "If it’s just a misunderstanding," he said in a deep voice, "then tell me about it. I’m curious to see what kind of misunderstanding could cause such a scene at a banquet."

Consort Song’s expression tightened. Just as she was about to speak again, the Emperor turned to Ji Xiaosong. "Lady Xiao," he said, "you tell me."

Ji Xiaosong curtsied, then recounted the events from the beginning, neither servile nor overbearing.

’I just don’t want to be framed. Palace intrigue isn’t really that sophisticated.’

’But that doesn’t mean I’m afraid of trouble.’

’Since the Emperor has given me the chance to speak, there’s no reason to be timid.’

After hearing the story, the Emperor’s face grew darker. He turned to Li Wanyu and snapped, "Mrs. Song, your reckless words and malicious speculation are truly a mark of poor character! General Xiao has won great merit for this dynasty. How dare you slander his wife? Effective immediately, you are stripped of your title. You are to reflect on your actions in the Buddhist hall for half a year and copy scriptures one hundred times to repent properly!"

Li Wanyu fell to her knees with a THUD, tears and mucus streaming down her face. "Your Majesty, please calm your anger! I know my mistake! I will never dare to do it again!"

The Emperor snorted coldly and looked away from her, turning instead to Consort Song. "Imperial Concubine, you organized this banquet, yet you allowed such a sordid affair to take place and let Lady Xiao suffer this injustice. As punishment, your monthly allowance is halved for six months, your palace duties will be temporarily managed by Consort Xian, and you are confined for two months to reflect!"

Consort Song’s face turned deathly pale. She knelt to beg for forgiveness. "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I know my crime."

Then, the Emperor turned to Ji Xiaosong, his expression softening. "Lady Xiao, you have been wronged. I was already aware that you are carrying multiple children, which is a joyous occasion. I specifically invited you to this spring banquet to share this auspicious fortune with everyone. But the Imperial Concubine failed to look after you properly. She was truly derelict in her duty."

The Emperor then spoke gently to Ji Xiaosong again, "Lady Xiao, do not let this matter trouble you. If anyone dares to be so disrespectful in the future, I will not let them off lightly."

Ji Xiaosong quickly offered her thanks. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I am overwhelmed."

The Emperor scanned the crowd again and said with authority, "Let today’s events be a warning to you all. Do not stir up any more trouble and ruin the peace of this palace."

Everyone bowed their heads in assent, not daring to speak further.

With the matter settled, the Emperor dismissed the others.

The Empress, supported by her attendants, walked over to Ji Xiaosong and warmly took her hand.

"Lady Xiao, I heard you are also with child. Coincidentally, my baby and yours are about the same number of months along."

Ji Xiaosong hurried to bow. "To share in this joy with Your Grace is truly my honor."

"It is not easy to become pregnant at my age. Unlike you, Lady Xiao, you are in the prime of your youth, with a bright future ahead."

"Your Grace is deeply blessed. You will surely bear another noble son for His Majesty."

"I only pray that this child will be safe and healthy. Lady Xiao, with your multiple pregnancy, you must be extra careful."

The Empress smiled and said a few more words. Just as she was about to continue, Mother Ji interjected at the right moment, "Your Grace is of such a noble station, yet you show such concern for my daughter. I am endlessly grateful."

Before she could respond to Mother Ji, the Empress turned her head slightly. As she was about to speak, her expression suddenly changed. Her hand unconsciously went to her belly as she cried out softly, "Oh, my stomach is suddenly cramping."

The palace maids beside her were thrown into a panic. Ji Xiaosong and Mother Ji also looked nervous.

Hearing the Empress was unwell, the Emperor rushed over. "Zitong, what’s wrong?" he asked anxiously. "Quickly, summon the Imperial Physician!"

Everyone scrambled in a flurry of activity, and the previously lively atmosphere instantly grew tense.

Ji Xiaosong glanced around, using her Divine Sense to first check herself and those close to her.

When she saw the sachet worn by Mother Ji and the purse carried by her maid, her pupils contracted sharply.

She discreetly moved closer to Mother Ji and, using her wide sleeves as cover, swapped out Mother Ji’s sachet and stashed it in her personal space. She also took the maid’s purse and stealthily replaced the medicine packet inside.

Just as she finished, Consort Song spoke up, just as expected. "Your Majesty, the Empress’s health is precious and cannot tolerate the slightest mistake. Her Grace was just happily chatting with Lady Xiao. How could she suddenly feel unwell? If there is something suspicious about this, the person who intentionally caused this must not be let off lightly!"

Rongrong floated over to Ji Xiaosong’s side to watch the show. Fortunately, no one paid any mind to the tiny, fingernail-sized cloud.

[Song, I just saw you swap Mother Ji’s sachet. What’s going on?]

"The Purple Condensation Flower is a tribute item from a foreign land. Most people in this country don’t know its properties, but someone colluding with foreigners would definitely know its effects. I am a plant spirit. When it comes to understanding plants, no human can surpass me. The calming incense Mother Ji usually wears in her sachet clashes with the fragrance of the Purple Condensation Flower. It’s not a big deal if you smell it yourself, but for someone with an already unstable pregnancy, smelling the combination could cause a miscarriage."

[So the maid’s purse was the same?]

"No. That maid’s purse contained an abortifacient."

[What’s going on? What are you going to do now?]

"I don’t know if this is related to Consort Song, but if it is, it’s something I need to think about carefully. I’ll discuss it with Xiao Shen when I get back before deciding on a course of action; he’s always more thorough than I am. For now, I’ll lay low and see what they’re planning."

Before long, the Imperial Physicians from the Imperial Hospital rushed over. Liu Zheng was the first to step forward and take the Empress’s pulse.

A moment later, Liu Zheng knelt with a grave expression and reported, "Your Majesty, the Empress was stimulated by a medicinal substance, which has disturbed her pregnancy."

The Emperor’s eyes flew wide with fury. "Search everyone present!" he roared. "Find out who is carrying something harmful to the Empress!"

The guards immediately sprang into action, carefully inspecting the belongings of every person.

The Emperor paced back and forth nearby, his expression terrifyingly dark.

When the search reached Mother Ji and her maid, Ji Xiaosong clearly noticed that the inspecting Imperial Physician was being especially thorough. When he found nothing, he even seemed a little confused.

The Imperial Physician’s gaze swept back and forth between Mother Ji and the maid, as if he was unwilling to give up.

At this moment, Consort Song stepped forward and questioned the Imperial Physician directly, "Imperial Physician, did you find anything amiss with them?"

The Imperial Physician trembled and quickly bowed his head. "Replying to the Imperial Concubine, nothing has been found so far."

Consort Song’s face darkened, her eyes holding a hint of a threat. "Are you sure you searched carefully?" she said. "If there was an oversight, can you bear the responsibility?"

Cold sweat beaded on the Imperial Physician’s forehead. His voice trembled as he said, "Your Grace, this humble servant did indeed search carefully. I truly... truly found nothing unusual."

"Imperial Concubine, what is the meaning of this? The Imperial Physician found nothing wrong with my mother’s belongings, so why are you singling her out with these instructions?"

Ji Xiaosong stepped forward quickly, shielding Mother Ji behind her.