Chapter 6

Chapter 6

In the days that followed, the Noble Consort remained in favor, while Jieyu Jiang fell into silence after receiving her caning at the Prison Directorate.

But her quietude did not last long.

Soon, during a routine health check, the Imperial Physician discovered that Jieyu Jiang was pregnant.

This pregnancy sent shockwaves through the entire palace. The Emperor and the Empress Dowager rushed to her side immediately, and the palace of Jieyu Jiang, which had been cold and desolate for days, suddenly became a hub of bustling activity.

After a careful pulse reading, the Imperial Physician reported to the Emperor that because the mother had been startled and subsequently overwhelmed by excessive worry, the fetal energy was unstable. She would have to be protected with the utmost care.

Hearing this, the Empress Dowager was already incensed.

“Jieyu Jiang was carrying a child when she endured such a severe caning at the Prison Directorate. It is a miracle that she hasn’t miscarried by now.

“Afterward, the Emperor didn’t offer a single word of concern, staying every night at Noble Consort Wei’s side instead. How could Jieyu Jiang not be overwhelmed by worry?”

His face clouded with guilt, the Emperor immediately promoted Jieyu Jiang’s rank, conferring upon her the title of Zhaoyi of the second rank. He also urged her to take good care of the pregnancy, promising that he would come to see her every day.

When the news reached Wanchun Palace, the Noble Consort was dazed for a long time.

She gripped the armrest of her chaise longue so hard that her knuckles turned a pale, sickly white.

She had never felt such despair.

The Noble Consort had been the Emperor’s consort back when he was still the Fifth Prince. However, after he ascended the throne, she was only titled Noble Consort due to the Empress Dowager’s insistence.

She could only be crowned Empress after giving birth to an Imperial Heir.

At first, the Noble Consort hadn’t been in a rush. After all, the Emperor doted on her exclusively; a child was only a matter of time.

Yet now, Zhaoyi Jiang had conceived before her.

Furthermore, it was clearly Zhaoyi Jiang who had offended her first, leading to the punishment. But now, because of this child’s existence, the Noble Consort had been turned into a villain who had nearly killed an Imperial Heir.

Because of this, the Emperor had grown somewhat cold toward her.

That night, the Noble Consort bit down on her quilt, unable to stop herself from crying out in pain.

“Liu Ying, Liu Ying.”

I rushed forward. “I am here, Your Highness.”

“My body hurts so much… it hurts…”

I immediately brought over a pain-relieving tonic. After the Noble Consort drank it, she drifted into a deep sleep in my arms.

The medicine was very effective, so the Noble Consort did not see that the rot on her hands had already spread from her fingertips all the way to her palms.

She cut off my Elder Sister’s hand, so her own body would rot starting from the hands.

It was only fair.

And it was only a fair beginning.