Chapter 3
Chapter 3
With the Mid-Autumn Banquet fast approaching, I went to Phoenix Brocade Palace as usual to report on palace affairs.
Before I even reached the hall, I heard the Empress’s hoarse, furious accusations from within.
“Pei Zhao, were you truly that impatient? You said you would wait until I gave birth to the imperial heir…”
“As the emperor, you may favor any of the consorts you wish. But why did you have to force yourself on a palace maid?”
The emperor let her curse him. Again and again, he admitted his fault and tried to coax her.
“Zhenzhen, I was muddleheaded. I lost my virtue after drinking. I have wronged you…”
“But Consort Shen was only a palace maid. I will not fail you.”
“Zhenzhen, forgive me this once…”
Before the emperor could finish, the sound of porcelain shattering rang out from inside the hall, followed by the Empress’s despairing cry.
“When we met in Dingzhou City all those years ago, you hid your identity from me and tricked me into believing you were an ordinary young master. That was why I pledged myself to you. Now the entire harem knows of your disgraceful affair, and I alone was kept in the dark.”
“Pei Zhao, you lied to me again…”
The autumn sky was high and clear, yet Eunuch Li, who stood guard at the palace doors, was drenched in sweat.
It seemed I had come at a bad time.
Not wishing to invite trouble, I was just about to turn and leave when the emperor’s panicked roar came from inside the hall.
“Summon the imperial physician! Quickly, summon the imperial physician!”
Inside Phoenix Brocade Palace, the entire hall fell deathly silent.
The elderly imperial physician looked anxious as he took her pulse again and again.
Only after a long while did he finally breathe a sigh of relief and say, “Congratulations, Your Majesty. Her Majesty the Empress is with child. Nearly two months along. She must not be agitated again.”
After hearing the physician’s report, the emperor was beside himself with joy. He carefully stroked the Empress’s lower abdomen, his face filled with unconcealed tenderness and distress.
“Tell me if you feel unwell anywhere, or if there is anything you wish to eat. Tell me everything.”
But the Empress, leaning against the bed, calmly brushed his hand away and said with cold courtesy, “This consort also congratulates Your Majesty. At last, you no longer need to sneak around, and may enter the harem openly and honorably.”
Embarrassment crossed the emperor’s face. But in the next moment, he was apologizing again with endless tenderness…
I lowered my eyes, unable to bear listening any longer, and led the way out of Phoenix Brocade Palace.
The other consorts were sensible enough to withdraw as well, each returning to her own palace.
In the white-jade corridor, Worthy Consort Ye let out a breath of relief.
“Finally, we’re out. I need to hurry back and check on those kittens.”
The tabby cat Ruyi of Wuli Palace had given birth as well.
Because of that, Worthy Consort had sent people to search for two whole days.
In the end, no one knew which tomcat had gotten to her.