Xiqiu found the matter of Le Xiu’s miscarriage somewhat strange.

According to the months, she should have surpassed the three-month mark with the fetus gradually stabilizing, so how could it be that a mere shock caused a miscarriage? No one had previously mentioned anything about a precarious fetal position.

She looked at Fourth Master Xiao and shared her thoughts, frowning, "What is the Emperor’s attitude?"

Fourth Master Xiao held her hand, noticing her cold fingertips, he gently wrapped them in his palm and softly said, "Naturally, the Emperor is furious and has punished every eunuch in the Fengwu Palace."

Xiqiu knew that, in reality, this matter was difficult to investigate and didn’t need investigating. On the surface, it seemed extremely simple; the Eldest Prince punishing the reckless servants was not wrong, but his methods were excessive. Or rather, he should have anticipated that the Second Prince and Consort Le feared blood, and throwing people out to be beaten would not have caused such consequences, at most it was just the recklessness of youth.

And as the master of the harem, the Empress did what she should have, with not a hint of deviation in her reasoning.

The matter was clear, and it was impossible for the Emperor to punish the Eldest Prince and Empress over this, at most he would only give a few gentle reminders.

"Let’s sleep early." Fourth Master Xiao pulled her to stand up, "Tomorrow there should still be matters at hand." Xiqiu nodded in agreement, assisted Fourth Master Xiao in washing up, and the two of them went to bed. Xiqiu tossed and turned restlessly, thoughts constantly occupied with Le Xiu’s matter, and then moving from that matter to Min, her heart filled with unease, feeling this matter was not as simple as it seemed on the surface.

She turned to look at Fourth Master Xiao and softly asked, "Will this matter affect Min?"

Fourth Master Xiao lay on his side with his hand under his head, looking at her softly replied, "When the Second Prince’s biological mother was alive, she was just a Beauty in the palace and was not favored by the late Emperor. Thus when the Second Prince turned seven, he was granted a residence outside the palace; when leaving the palace, he had only an old eunuch by his side... At that time, the Crown Prince was still well-favored as the legitimate eldest son, mature and prudent in handling matters, early had descendants below, deeply pleasing the late Emperor, with the court situation stable enough that the throne was without suspense..."

Xiqiu listened silently, and Fourth Master Xiao paused before continuing, "The Second Prince conducted himself low-key, rarely leaving the residence for friendship outside of studying, apart from visiting our residence or Dongchang Bo Mansion, he had little else. Over time, few in court even remembered there was a Second Prince outside the palace... Once, back when Lord Shen, who was still stationed at the Fujian Governor at that time, returned to the Capital for reporting... Lord Shen is upright and has few peers in court, added with years in Fujian his foundation is long secure, his reporting dragged on indefinitely, Lord Shen entrusted someone to find Eldest Brother..."

"Could it be that the matter of Lord Shen’s reporting was eventually accomplished by the Second Prince?" Xiqiu asked, continuing the conversation.

Fourth Master Xiao nodded slightly, "A few years later, Lord Shen married his eldest daughter to the long-marriageable Second Prince. Thereafter, in terms of financial or political views in court, he provided him with tremendous support."

Xiqiu understood, in fact, a Prince isn’t as sought after as the world assumes, quite the contrary, an unfavored Prince not only garners no benefit from his status but the risks accompanying it far surpass those of ordinary in-laws.

Though Lord Shen was an official stationed elsewhere, his influence built over years in Fujian was not to be underestimated, his reciprocation, marrying his eldest daughter to the Second Prince for a minor favor, was undoubtedly the greatest support for the then-speaking softly and, weak Second Prince.

"That night, when the late Empress had a difficult labor, he actually had many opportunities to escape from the residence but waited until the end, when seeing him holding Min with tears, his face full of determined resolve to die..."

It was disheartenment.

Seeing his wife die before his eyes, their newborn child also possibly in danger, the family that he supported whole-heartedly would be implicated by him, his resolve to die was not without reason.

Xiqiu knew, that Fourth Master Xiao told her these things not simply to recount the Emperor’s past, she concluded, "Fourth Master wishes to tell me, the Emperor might not have affection for Min, but wouldn’t allow him to be harmed?"

Fourth Master Xiao nodded lightly, responding, "Matters aren’t that simple." He paused, then looked at Xiqiu: "This is an opportunity."

At this moment, Xiqiu didn’t know what opportunity Fourth Master Xiao was referring to, until the next morning when Madam Ruan and Madam Le came in with tear-streaked faces, she vaguely sensed something.

"Fourth Madam, this matter, how did it turn into this." Madam Le hadn’t rested the entire night, her eyes red and swollen, she was very haggard, "When I arrived, she was still fine, suddenly it just..." Moreover, she knew Le Xiu was faking the fainting, yet never thought the fake scenario would turn real in the end.

"Have some tea to calm down." Xiqiu handed tea to her and Madam Ruan, asking, "What did the Imperial Physician say?"

Madam Ruan wiped her tears and shook her head, looking at Xiqiu, her face somewhat ashen, "The Imperial Physician said that in the future, it might be hard for her to conceive again."

Her heart sank, Xiqiu was so surprised she couldn’t find words, "How could it be so serious." Le Xiu was quite young, a miscarriage generally needed only time to recover, how could it turn into never being able to conceive again?

Madam Le set down the tea cup, sighing, "The Imperial Physician said her body is cold, the fetal position was indeed slightly unstable, so it only took a shock for the miscarriage, and the cleansing medication led to uncontrollable bleeding, so..." She wiped her tears again as Madam Ruan held her for comfort, "Sister, although the prognosis is not hopeful, we must take heart, she is still young, and the Emperor is in his prime, surely there will be more chances."

Madam Le sighed deeply, as Xiqiu pondered for a moment then asked, "The Imperial Concubine must be heartbroken now, how is she faring?"

"Not eating or drinking, even when the Emperor personally brought food, she wouldn’t take a bite, just sits in a daze." Madam Ruan expressed her deep worry, "We fear for her losing hope."

None could foresee such an outcome, and Xiqiu sighed saying, "If someone could counsel her, it might lighten her heart a bit. Even without children of her own, fostering a Prince could relieve her loneness, bring some joy." She paused to add, "Moreover, there is no knowing what the future holds, she might yet conceive again."

"Exactly as you said, I tried to encourage her the same way, now she is in the midst of the Emperor’s favor, she cannot let momentary sulk anger him, a woman’s fortunate years are few, in the future fostering a Prince or Princess under her care receiving favor too like a birth mother." Madam Ruan shook her head as she spoke, her face full of helplessness, "I hope she listened."

Xiqiu stayed with the two women as they shed tears until their spirits lifted somewhat, and then had Bihuai bring water for them to wash anew, "We can’t let outsiders see."

Madam Le looked gratefully at Xiqiu, holding her hand in silence for a long time.

Once they had refreshed themselves and tidied their appearances, Madam Le sat again, furrowing her brows tightly. Xiqiu, seeing her discomfort, understood the dissatisfaction brewing inside her, having invested so much effort raising Le Xiu, putting in much effort since entering the palace, hoping she would birth a Prince or even a Princess to secure a foothold in the palace, never anticipating the circumstances to evolve into such a state.