Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Consort Shu hurried off with the things in hand.
Before she left, she suddenly stopped. After hesitating for a moment, she told me, “Elder Sister, from now on, you needn’t waste any more effort on His Majesty.”
“For three days in a row, I secretly took His Majesty’s pulse. I also secretly examined… down there.”
“He… I’m afraid… cannot father children.”
I felt as if I had been struck by lightning.
He couldn’t father children?
He couldn’t?
Then how had he gotten that Fisher Girl pregnant?
I felt as if I had stumbled upon an incredible truth.
“Are you certain?”
“I studied under a famous physician since childhood and used to accompany my master on house calls. It was only after entering the palace that I pretended to know nothing. I have seen it for myself. I cannot be wrong.”
I gritted my teeth.
That damned emperor.
He had slept with me all these days for nothing.
“Does His Majesty know about this?”
Consort Shu hesitated.
“I imagine he does not. The imperial physicians never dare speak in absolutes, and when it concerns His Majesty’s heirs, they would be even less likely to say anything definitive.”
“Good.”
I made up my mind.
I had to get pregnant.
If the Fisher Girl could make the emperor wear a green hat, then so could I.
I began preparing for my visit home.
Consort Shu was busy as well.
The next day, news came from outside the palace that the Grand Tutor had fallen from his carriage and broken his leg.
Consort Shu’s eldest brother had injured his arm while protecting their father.
The Grand Tutor was advanced in years, and the leg injury had aggravated an old illness. He was already close to death.
Old people always wanted to return home in the end.
Consort Shu’s eldest brother immediately requested permission to resign from office and escort his father back to their hometown.
The emperor approved it.
On the day I left the palace to visit my family, Consort Shu came to see me off, silently shedding tears.
“I envy Elder Sister, being able to go home even once. I cannot even see my parents one last time. From now on, I will have no family left in the capital.”
My heart softened a little, and I patted her head.
Once her father and brother left, they likely would never return to the capital.
Between power and life, life was still more important.
I lowered my voice. “Then do you want to give birth to a relative for yourself?”
She was shocked.
I looked at her steadily.
“There is only one chance.”
She suddenly grabbed my hand.
“I beg Elder Sister to help me. Since he has been heartless, he cannot blame me for being faithless.”
“Wait for my good news.”
I left the palace and went home.
They called it going home, but I was under watch the entire time.
Only when I paid respects to my mother and sisters did I have a brief moment to speak privately.
Mother gripped my hand tightly and hissed through clenched teeth, “Zhao Jiufeng, you are truly bold. Are you trying to get our entire family killed?”
I said only one thing. “The emperor cannot father children. If I rely on him, I will never have a child in this lifetime.”
Mother’s hand loosened.
“That wretched Zhao Shen!!!”
Her eyes reddened.
Mine did too.
“Consort Shu’s family is the warning before our eyes. The emperor does not know he cannot father children. This child might save our whole family. If it cannot, then at worst, we all die together.”
Mother made up her mind and patted my hand lightly.
“Don’t worry. Your mother is here. I will go prepare it at once.”
“Prepare three portions for me!”
Mother nearly fell over.
I said openly, “I still have a few sisters in the palace…”
“At a time like this, you are still playing devoted sisters?”
“This is the Zhao family’s tradition. When we have something good, of course we share it with our sisters.”
Mother left with gritted teeth.
When I returned to the palace, I carried a large box. Banknotes were piled on top, while unspeakable things were hidden underneath.
After I got back, I summoned Consort Shu and Consort An and showed them what was inside.
“The sooner this thing is used, the more effective it is. Decide for yourselves. If you want to use it, use it. If not, throw it away. In any case, there is only this one chance.”
Consort Shu was the first to take one.
“If one consort becomes pregnant, the emperor will suspect that consort. But if several consorts are pregnant, the emperor will only suspect the imperial physicians of being incompetent. Count me in.”
Consort An gritted her teeth.
“Easy for you two. You can take it and be done. But the emperor hasn’t summoned me lately. If I become pregnant, the timing won’t match.”
“What is so difficult about that? Tonight, go bring His Majesty a bowl of sweet rice dumplings. That damned man has been craving them lately.”
“Then count me in too.”
Consort An also took one.
That very night, she carried sweet rice dumplings to the emperor and coaxed him into going to her palace.
The two of them did not settle down until the fourth watch.
I was very upset.
Wretched Consort Shu and Consort An.
What methods did you two use to battle the emperor all the way until the third or fourth watch?