Who was it?
Qin Guiren bit her lower lip. Unable to suppress her curiosity, she lifted her skirt and carefully climbed up the plum tree. She brushed aside the layers of branches and saw a person under the cover of the flowers. Her hair was combed into an elegant and delicate bun. Her eyebrows were carefully trimmed, and her almond-shaped eyes were staring at her. Her lips were slightly parted, and there was a trace of dried blood at the corner of her mouth.
The lower half of her plain white dress was soaked in blood. Around her waist was a luan phoenix ribbon with five colors and six tails. It had absorbed enough blood and turned a dark color, hanging by her side.
It was her. How could she die?
A sudden gust of wind blew a rain of flowers into her eyes. When Qin Guiren opened her eyes, there was no corpse on the branches, only a pool of white plum blossoms soaked in blood.
"Young Mistress, Young Mistress?"
When she woke up, she saw Cai Ju and Zhe Man's anxious faces. "Young Mistress, what happened to you? You were sleeping well, but suddenly you had a nightmare?"
Qin Guiren only felt that her throat was burning with thirst, and her head was dizzy. "What happened in the palace today?"
The two palace maids were confused by her question. Zhe Man thought for a moment and said, "Nothing happened in our Fengzhi Palace today, Young Mistress!"
Qin Guiren shook her head. "Consort Wang."
Zhe Man was startled and didn't dare to speak. Cai Ju hesitated for a moment and said, "Consort Wang woke up today. It seems … it's not good."
"Where's Uncle?"
Cai Ju moved closer and whispered, "He's with Consort Yan."
"Cough, cough, cough." With the help of Cai Ju, Qin Guiren sat up and calmed down. "Zhe Man, you're quick. Tell Uncle that I'm not well and ask him to come back quickly. Cai Ju, take two Tranquilizer Pills from the box and give them to Consort Wang. Also, tell Father to summon the Right and Left Deputy Heads into the palace immediately. Just … just say that I dreamed."
"In a dream?"
"Father will understand if you say so. Hurry up and go!" Qin Guiren said eagerly. The last sentence was almost shouted out at the top of his lungs.
When Qin Buxun hurried over, he bumped into Liang Yu-an and the left and right court judges. Upon seeing him, Liang Yu-an stepped forward and grabbed him. "We've finally found Milord. Consort Wang is having a difficult labor. I'm afraid her life is in danger. Quickly come with me."
Qin Buxun hesitated and took a few more glances at Fengzhi Palace before he was dragged into the Hall of Youhuang. Before he could bow, he was excused by Empress Dowager Wang and hurried into the delivery room.
After taking her pulse, Qin Buxun immediately knew what was going on. He raised his eyes and looked around. He saw Cai Ju rushing out with hot water in the crowd. He then calmed down and looked at Consort Wang.
Even though the situation was dangerous, after one night, she finally gave birth to an Empress Concubine. The expected hemorrhage didn't happen either. The crowd of people in the Midwife Palace let out a huge sigh of relief. A few of them directly collapsed to the ground.
This Empress Concubine was pitiful. She had been in her mother's womb and didn't cry loudly. She was like a kitten and her breathing was weak. After the midwives recovered, they quickly washed away the blood stains on the baby. Then, they took a quilt that had been baked over the fire and wrapped it tightly around the baby. They carried it out to Empress Dowager Wang, Luoshuanga, and the others who were waiting outside to report the good news.
Empress Dowager Wang took the baby and looked at the baby girl in her arms. She sighed, "This is His Majesty's first child. It wasn't easy to come by. She is called Chuiyou." She hoped that His Majesty would cherish and protect her.
Luoshuanga smiled at the side and said, "Mother Empress has done well."
Lady Wen Yu and "Consort Yan" also went forward to congratulate them. Winter Solstice and Xia Zhi also secretly let out a sigh of relief. At least for these two years, nothing could happen to Consort Wang.
Cai Ju originally came to offer medicine. She didn't expect that after she went into the delivery room to be fed the medicine, she would be caught. With great difficulty, she managed to return to Green Tapestry Hall while the people were moving around.
Zhe Man saw her tired appearance and went forward to hold her, "Sister, you've worked hard. Young Mistress just had a dream again. She said that she dreamed of a little girl hugging her and calling her Mother."
When Cai Ju heard this, she blurted out, "Consort Xian just gave birth to an Empress Concubine. She is called Chuiyou. His Majesty personally wrote the decree."
The two of them looked at each other. After a long time, Zhe Man asked curiously, "It can't be that in the future, Chuiyou will really give Young Mistress Concubine to raise, right?"
Cai Ju pushed her, "Don't think too much. Quickly go and see if Young Mistress has woken up. This child might not be able to make it past the full month."
Qin Buxun and a group of imperial physicians, accompanied by Liang Yu-an, walked out of the palace in exhaustion. At the palace gate, the imperial physicians cupped their hands and went back home. Only Qin Buxun and Liang Yu-an remained in the same place.
Qin Buxun was full of displeasure, "Why do you want to protect Consort Wang? Today, I can get rid of the mother and keep the child. It's flawless."
Liang Yu-an sighed, "It's Qin Guiren. She ordered Cai Ju to send two Tranquilizing Pills over. She said that she had a dream."
"Dream? That's nonsense! "
Liang Yu-an didn't say a word. He smiled bitterly, "I'm afraid it's for His Majesty. Consort Wang's accident is not good for the court."
"Then next time, I'll have to trouble Your Majesty not to let this old official take care of Consort Xian's child!" After throwing down this sentence, Qin Buxun flicked his sleeves and left.
Because Consort Wang gave birth to an Imperial Concubine, His Majesty was overjoyed. He didn't wait for his birthday and used this opportunity to raise the ranks of all the imperial concubines and concubines below the fifth rank to celebrate.
Qin Guiren was promoted to a lower fifth rank concubine and was given the title of Qing. When this title was announced, the entire palace was in an uproar.
For a long time, the titles of imperial concubines and concubines praised women's virtues and women's work to show that the monarch was not lecherous. For example, Bai Suyan's title of "Yan" was already very ambiguous.
Yan, one's appearance was beautiful, two's skill, and one's hands. But now, most people only dared to use the second meaning, which extended from the second meaning.
And this "Qing" was even worse than "Yan". After flipping through a set of books, there wasn't any reasonable meaning. The only thing that was suitable was to leave one's name in history, which was too formal.
Because of this, even Empress Dowager Wang was alarmed. She said that the Chin Clan's contribution to the medicine was meritorious and that they were only given a title of one rank. Titles should be taken seriously, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs's "Soft" character was better.
The "Book of Rites" said, "Soft colors are established by warmth."
But Luoshuanga persisted and didn't go along with Empress Dowager Wang's wishes. He directly ordered the Ministry of Rites to issue an imperial edict and the Imperial Censor to issue an imperial edict. The Chin Clan's title was confirmed as Qing Concubine.
At the same time, Nanyuan's Xiao Clan's Qiao Zhen and Nameless Clan's Yao Tiao were also promoted by one rank. The two received the edict together and bowed to the east. Then, they turned to the west and bowed three times. They said in unison, "We obey the Empress Dowager's instructions."
Imperial Concubine Qing, supported by Cai Ju, listened to Empress Dowager Xuan Yue's orders in Xiyuan's Sleeping Moon Palace. The atmosphere was very unpleasant. Empress Dowager Xuan Yue sat in the middle with a cold face. Madame Wen Yu, who was temporarily in charge, and "Concubine Yan" sat on both sides.
Qing Concubine was dressed in formal attire. Her round bun was also combed into a crown. Her complexion was very pale, and her face and neck were two different colors.
"This concubine greets the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager meet Kim On." Her voice was like a mosquito's buzz. If it wasn't for the silence of the room, it would have slipped away.
Empress Dowager Wang looked at the thin woman who was struggling to kneel in front of her. She didn't say anything for a long time. During this time, Qing Concubine was weak and her body tilted. With the help of Cai Ju, she knelt again.
Seeing that Qing Concubine was trembling, Empress Dowager Wang finally opened her mouth. "You were the first to serve His Majesty. At that time, I suppressed it for the sake of Wang Clan and refused to let you go on the open road. Even … However, since you were willing to give medicine to help, I think you are a sensible person. Qing, this name is really not suitable for you. When the election is routine, I will ask His Majesty to change your name. Do you understand?"
Qing Concubine said softly, "I will obey the Empress Dowager's instructions."
Empress Dowager Wang nodded with satisfaction and let Cai Ju help Qing Concubine to sit down. She turned to Lady Wen Yu and "Consort Yan" and said, "You two should know that in the election the year after the next year, don't let the newcomers compete. You have become old people, but you can't even bear fruit."
Lady Wen Yu and "Consort Yan" blushed and bowed to thank her. "We will obey the Empress Dowager's instructions."
Empress Dowager Wang said to Qing Concubine, "You are the only one in Fengzhi Palace now. If you feel lonely, you can go to Youhuang Palace more often. The harem should be harmonious."
After saying the last sentence, Empress Dowager Wang waved her hand to let them leave. Unexpectedly, after leaving Sleeping Moon Palace, Qing Concubine didn't walk far before she fell down, startling her companions.
"Consort Yan" quickly stepped forward to help Cai Ju support Qing Concubine. "Quickly call for the imperial physician. While you are at it, apologize to His Majesty's escort. Lady Wen Yu, please go and tell the Empress Dowager to borrow a strong woman to carry Qing Concubine out." Today was Qing Concubine's coronation, so she should be accompanying her.
In order to show filial piety, everyone, including Luoshuanga, had to stop in front of Xi Yuan's gate and walk to Sleeping Moon Palace. Qing Concubine also had to be carried. At this moment, she was in an awkward situation where she didn't have a sedan to carry her.
After sending everyone away, "Consort Yan" and Winter Solstice looked at each other. Winter Solstice stepped forward to block the former's action of taking Qing Concubine's pulse.
In less than a cup of tea's time, Lady Wen Yu came back with Qing Concubine. The woman bowed to "Consort Yan" and quickly carried Qing Concubine on her back and rushed to the door. The two concubines in complicated palace dresses had to follow the woman's footsteps and follow the palace rules.
When they finally escorted Qing Concubine back to Luwen Palace, Qin Buxun was already waiting there. He cupped his hands and apologized to the two concubines who came with him. Then he turned and entered the inner chamber.
Lady Wen Yu said, "Sister, you've worked hard today. Sister's health is not good, so you should go back early. I'll take care of things here!"
"Consort Yan" had never seen her so pleasant. Without waiting for her to react, Winter Solstice also quietly advised, "Your Highness, you don't look well. Don't spread your illness to Concubine Qing. Why don't you listen to Lady Wen Yu and go back first?"
Don't look well? "Consort Yan's" heart skipped a beat. She understood that Winter Solstice was reminding her that her "makeup" was ruined. She must have been in a hurry and sweated. She unconsciously wiped some of it. After calming herself down, "Consort Yan" bowed to Lady Wen Yu. "Then I'll have to trouble Lady Wen Yu."
Lady Wen Yu smiled and said, "You're welcome."
"Consort Yan" and Winter Solstice left Fengzhi Palace and got on the sedan chair. They urged the sedan chair bearers to hurry up. Only when they entered Liuying Palace did they let out a sigh of relief.
Before they could finish, someone came up to report, "Lady Wen Yu is here with the imperial physician."
The two sisters looked at each other. Winter Solstice reacted first. She pulled "Consort Yan" into the inner chamber and turned to instruct Green Waist, "Gu Gu, please receive Lady Wen Yu first. I'll take Consort Yan to tidy up her appearance."
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