The Job Of An Imperial Concubine

50

TJOAIC 50 – ATTENDING THE BANQUET (陪宴)

“Have you finished investigating yet?” Zhuang Laoyan sat in a chaise lounge, gaze falling upon Fubao. On her face was not a sliver of happiness about carrying the emperor’s child.　　　　

“Reporting to Master, this slave discovered that this Imperial Physician Mao has been an imperial physician for many years. Apart from reading pulses and treating illnesses, he does not have any contact with other masters. It was originally not his duty to read your honored self’s pulse. Rather, because something happened to the family of another imperial physician, Imperial Physician Mao was switched to that shift without any warning.” Fubao hesitated for a moment, before saying, “What’s more, he has not checked Master’s pulse in the past. If some people were scheming against your honored self, they would not use him.”  　　　　

Zhuang Laoyan frowned. Fubao made a lot of sense. The physicians who checked her pulse in the past had all been fixed. If someone wanted to scheme in this regard, they would have used those other imperial physicians and not Imperial Physician Mao.　　

“Master, why is your honored self suspicious…?” Yunxi looked at Zhuang Laoyan’s lower abdomen and said in a softer voice, “Perhaps your honored self is truly with child. After all, last month—”　　　　

“How could it be this easy?” Zhuang Laoyan sneered. “The things I ate recently were all cold. If I truly were pregnant, would my body have no reaction to them?” Furthermore, in the perspective of a woman, the joy of having a child could not be hidden. Yet, after she had heard the imperial physician’s diagnosis, she did not feel happy at all. Instead, suspicion had filled her heart. Once someone had the instinct to feel suspicious instead of happy, there could only be one explanation: her pregnancy was fake.　　　

Yunxi carefully ran over her thoughts, and in an instant, she paled. At this moment, everyone in the palace knew that Master was with child. But if Master truly wasn’t pregnant, then…

Only Yunxi and Fubao were present in the room. Tingzhu was monitoring the servants cooking in the little personal kitchen. Zhuang Laoyan gazed at the pale faces of the two. All of a sudden, she smiled.　　　　

Yunxi and Fubao shared a look. Yunxi smiled as well. “That Master is with child is an extremely joyous event. Us slaves will definitely be careful in our service.”　　　　

If the other party didn’t know when they were being plotted against, then it was a conspiracy. But if the other party knew, then it was merely a joke.　　

In the coldest time of the year, even if the eunuchs diligently shoveled the snow, the paths would still be wet and slippery. Outside the empress’ residence, Noble Consort Shu sat steadily in her sedan, glancing at the approaching Chongyi Zhao. Once she was close, she disembarked from her sedan and saluted to Noble Consort Shu. In a gentle voice and a smile, Noble Consort Shu said, “No need to be so ceremonious, Younger Sister Chongyi Zhao. Currently, you are pregnant and should be more careful about your body.” Then she climbed down her own sedan with the support of a palace maid. Once she was three steps away from Zhuang Laoyan, she paused. “It’s cold today. Her Majesty the empress should have relieved you from paying respects since you are with child.”　　　　

“Her Majesty the empress is compassionate and has already relieved this concubine from paying respects.” Upon Zhuang Laoyan’s face was a joyful smile. “It’s just that there’s not much to do during the day in winter, so this concubine and the other sisters have come to pay respects to Her Majesty the empress. To have a little chat is also good, and this way, this concubine can abide by protocol as well.”　　

Noble Consort Shu had on her usual smile. “Younger Sister Chongyi Zhao is respectful and virtuous. No wonder His Majesty and Her Majesty are so fond of you.” Then she turned around and entered the main doors of the empress’ residence, a trace of coldness appearing in her smile.