Palace Intrigue?: I Make the Emperor Cry by Rewinding Time!-Chapter 136 - 119: The Full Ostrich Form

In Jianzhang Palace, the Empress smashed everything breakable in the hall into pieces.

She was panting, and for once, she didn’t want to cry; her heart was only filled with hatred.

"I’ve really underestimated Concubine Xi. She’s quite capable, isn’t she? Even managed to get pregnant with this!" The Empress’s eyes were red, her voice distorted: "It’s not like she’s someone so noble, letting her get lucky and conceive. It’s truly pitiful for Attendant Lady Lan, the princess of the Zake Tribe was degraded to just an attendant."

The Empress also didn’t like Attendant Lady Lan.

Lately, Attendant Lady Lan was in favor, and she didn’t have a friendly face towards her. Discovering now that in the Emperor’s heart, someone like her is like nothing compared to Concubine Xi, she began to pity her, almost as if she was pitying herself.

"If this child of Concubine Xi’s could be raised by me, it would be great."

"No, it can’t be just raised by me..."

Being recorded under her name, with the birth mother still alive, the child would remember who it’s blood-related to, and that would make the nurturing in vain, elevating that wench.

After venting for a while, the Empress finally got tired and let herself collapse on the southern kang.

She wasn’t afraid of having nothing to use after smashing things. Previously, the Emperor had distributed the palace authority to Lady and others for a period; after she behaved herself, he returned it to her. She could ask the Imperial Household for as many items as she needed; this was the delight of having control as the Empress of the Central Palace.

"Never mind, the Emperor’s descendants are scant, having more children is a good thing, lest the previous dynasty accuses me of not being virtuous."

The Empress tried to pick up some good thoughts to console herself.

Lady was the best at pretending. On the surface, she was noble, gentle, uncompetitive, but secretly, she was the one calculating the most. The Emperor repeatedly compared her with Lady, saying she wasn’t as sensible as Lady. In the Emperor’s eyes, everything about Miss Ji was perfect. But even if she was better, didn’t she also fail to save that child?

Thinking of this, the Empress suddenly felt much better.

"Dong Qin, open the treasury and pick some supplements to reward Concubine Xi," she paused: "Remember to have the Imperial Hospital inspect them first before sending them over, and then go to the Imperial Household to replace the things you broke."

"This servant will go immediately."

Dong Qin bowed and exited.

...

After being sent back to Xianfu Palace, Yun Jiao managed to invite the Emperor back with good words.

"Lady can finally have hope for the future!"

Xue Ya cried tears of joy, then instantly felt guilty: "Had I known Lady was pregnant, no matter what Lady said, even if she were to beat me, I wouldn’t have let her go queue at the South Fruit Room herself! That arrogant brat of a palace maid dared to push our Lady! Luckily, our Lady has a great fortune, and the little prince is stable."

"I actually want a little princess."

Yun Jiao propped her chin up.

In her past life, she thought she had no chance of having children—she was weak, her doctor sister said even if she was lucky enough to grow up, she wasn’t suitable to have children. Pregnancy and childbirth would put too much strain on her body and pose life-threatening risks. She thought with her frail genes, there was no need to pass them on.

But in this life...

She has a physique with a score of eight hundred!

Musk as nighttime incense, using safflower as a snack wouldn’t even shake off her offspring.

This excellent genetic material must be passed on!

Gong Mei: "Does Lady feel this child might be a princess?"

"Right now, I don’t even feel pregnant at all, but if she’s a girl, she might be more considerate."

"Blossoming will eventually bear fruit; either way, Lady’s belly won’t disappoint, regaining favor is just a matter of time."

Xue Ya had full confidence in her Lady.

Yun Jiao patted her belly: "Indeed, it doesn’t disappoint. Tonight I want to eat two pounds of mutton in the hot pot."

"Lady! How can you pat your belly like that?"

"It wouldn’t be good if it startles the little princess." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

This act startled them both.

Gong Mei mused: "I’ll go ask Nanny Ye and the Imperial Physician if there are any dietary restrictions for Lady, and prepare the ingredients for tonight’s pot."

Listening to the palace maids talking, Yun Jiao started to sense a bit of reality—

She’s going to be a mother.

But she still feels like a baby herself, what should she do?

...

This worry persisted until the next day when she went for morning greetings.

Yun Jiao once again became the focus at the morning greeting in Jianzhang Palace; instead of staring at her face, their gazes fell on her still flat abdomen.

"No wonder Concubine Xi looks a bit plumper than before, I thought she was indulging in food, turns out she’s pregnant, truly enviable," Concubine Feng said with a hint of sourness.

Yun Jiao touched her small face.

Nonsense, it’s all collagen.

"Concubine Xi really wasn’t cautious, actually went to the South Fruit Room herself to collect melons. Luckily, the fetus is fine, otherwise, it would be too late for regrets," Consort Xu sighed, appearing very considerate of Yun Jiao.

The Empress let out an "oh," raised her eyebrows: "How are the servants at Xianfu Palace serving you? Concubine Xi hasn’t come to tell me... However, Concubine Xi is at least a concubine; if she can’t even train her servants well, how can she manage a palace’s affairs?" Her words were all implying that Yun Jiao was unworthy of her position, not showing the demeanor of a concubine, let alone any potential to advance to a higher rank.

Unmanaged at Xianfu Palace, Concubine Li had to face reprimand as well.

The Empress’s words were dangerous; without caution, even her palace maids could suffer.

Yun Jiao racked her brain for five seconds to come up with a high EQ response, yet could find none. However, low EQ had its way of dealing as well. Her delicate, jade-like hand rested on her belly, and she put on a frail expression: "If Lady Empress says more, my stomach might start hurting."

Empress: ...

The concubines of the Six Palaces: ...

Concubine Xi actually used her pregnancy to threaten the Empress!

The Empress was amused with anger: "How precious Concubine Xi has become overnight, she can’t even tolerate a harsh word from me."

She felt a bit nauseous. What is Concubine Xi’s background? When she entered the palace, she was merely a Servant Consort! Not much more noble than a palace maid, she was just there to fill the numbers, yet she managed to conceive the emperor’s child and now behaves with airs.

Yun Jiao: "Of course I heard."

The Empress stared coldly at her.

She slightly bowed: "It’s the emperor’s child I’ve been carrying for more than two months that didn’t like hearing it."

The Empress knew what happened in the South Fruit Room and feared Yun Jiao might really roll on the ground claiming stomach pain. The Empress Dowager wouldn’t spare her. Yet, doing nothing was unsatisfying, so she coldly ordered, "Dong Hua, cover Concubine Xi’s ears. She’s very delicate, and I fear dirtying her ears."

"Yes, Lady."

Dong Hua walked over and first bowed: "Forgive the offense, my Lady."

Then she raised her hand to cover Yun Jiao’s ears.

Her actions were gentle, not intentionally spiteful, yet the scene appeared somewhat comical.

"Are you called Dong Hua?"

Yun Jiao asked.

"Yes, my Lady."

"While you’re covering my ears, can you give me a head massage? Otherwise, it’s quite boring."

The hand covering hers paused noticeably.

Faced with a request she never anticipated, Dong Hua instinctively followed the instruction, gently pressing her fingertips on her scalp. Indeed, to have reached the position of Chief Palace Maid at Jianzhang Palace, she had some skills.

The originally dull and flavorless greet turned into her exclusive acupressure head therapy SPA session.

"Concubine Xi really knows how to enjoy herself."

Concubine Feng was taken aback, then laughed and teased:

"The palace maids of Xianfu Palace aren’t good at serving people. The ones from Jianzhang Palace are more effective. Why doesn’t the Empress do a good deed and send someone capable to her?"

This was an encouragement for the Empress to place someone beside Concubine Xi.

Lady indifferently looked away. She wouldn’t have done so at this moment, as such obvious words could be easily used against them. If Concubine Xi deliberately plotted against them, even if the Empress had a hundred mouths, she couldn’t explain away the blame.

Everyone looked towards the Empress.

The Empress was tempted but rationality prevailed: "I do have that thought, but the Empress Dowager treats Concubine Xi with kindness and consideration. Just yesterday, she sent Nanny Ye over. You shouldn’t worry about it. Concubine Li, you’re an experienced member in the palace. Since you live in the same palace as Concubine Xi, you need to take good care of her. Don’t let me down."

The Empress pointed out Concubine Li with her words, intending to sow discord between the two.

Since they live in the same palace, if Concubine Li harbored any intention to harm Concubine Xi, it would make it much easier to act.

Concubine Li responded with a smile: "Nanny Ye is experienced in taking care of pregnant concubines. I should listen more to her. How dare I make decisions on such matters!"

Seeing her reluctance, the Empress immediately felt she was not cooperating.

No matter, once Concubine Xi hears enough of these words, she will eventually become suspicious of Concubine Li.

And could it be that Concubine Li harbors no jealousy towards Concubine Xi, who is pregnant while they share a palace? Observing Concubine Xi’s drooping eyes and mouth corners, the Empress smiled nonchalantly.

Yun Jiao: zzzZZZ...

Sitting nearby, Concubine Li glanced at her from the corner of her eye, her back immediately tensing, and she had no extra thoughts to guess this or that.

The only thought in her mind was—

How could Concubine Xi fall asleep during the greeting when having her head massaged!

Then remembering how hard it was to wake her up before, it wasn’t unexpected.

Concubine Li had to lean slightly forward to shield Yun Jiao from the Empress’s view from above.

Some time after the greeting, the Empress heard that on her way back to Xianfu Palace, Concubine Xi had a verbal dispute with Concubine Li. Both became visibly upset, nearly resorting to physical altercations, filling her heart with joy.

"See, there’s no need for me to intervene, someone will handle her."

...

Rewind the time slightly by two ke.

On the sedan, Yun Jiao turned her head away in a huff: "I only closed my eyes for some repose; it was just the right amount of rest and I wasn’t asleep. Concubine Li twisting the truth with empty words is despicable."

"Your drool was about to drip, and you say you weren’t asleep!"

Concubine Li retorted angrily.

"I wasn’t, I wasn’t."

Yun Jiao found the Empress’s suggestion quite useful; just cover her ears when hearing something unpleasant. She covered her ears, refusing to listen.

This unyielding spirit amused Concubine Li, who pulled her face with a pinch, pulling down her hands covering her ears.

From a distance, it seemed like Concubine Li had slapped Concubine Xi.

Concubine Xi even held her face as if injured, bending over sorrowfully, curling herself into a ball on the sedan.

"This is my complete ostrich form!"