Chapter 143: Sorrow Arises

Chapter 143: Sorrow Arises

Noble Lady Sun quickly knelt down, her voice no longer as delicate due to the water incident, and thanked: "I am grateful for Your Majesty’s grace!"

The Emperor "Hmm"ed, took off his cloak and draped it over Jiang Hui, instructing her to add more clothes before he left in his imperial carriage for Liangyi Hall.

With Noble Lady Sun's promotion and the Emperor and Empress's intimate behavior, the other consorts and concubines had various thoughts, particularly Concubine Duan, whose face almost overflowed with disappointment.

Jiang Hui, unconcerned with their thoughts, waved them away. After thoroughly instructing the palace maids in Wangyou Palace, she went to Yanqing Palace to visit the frightened Second Prince.

By the time everything was settled, it was nearly the hour of Shen. Jiang Hui lay on her couch in the Fengyi Palace, resting, with Wan Song kneeling beside her, massaging her to relieve fatigue.

Okra brought freshly brewed tea, saying softly, "My lady, I’ve confirmed again, and it indeed was Princess Huaiqing who fell into the water. Even Noble Consort Sun, Concubine Duan, Sun Baolin, and Tang Xuan were not together; they just happened to be nearby admiring flowers. Princess Huaiqing was playing on the swing with the Second Prince, and after that, she was supposed to go to Noble Consort De’s Guangyang Palace but met Noble Consort Sun and fell into the water after a few words."

Jiang Hui, with her eyes closed, responded with a "Hmm," not surprised, and softly said, "Princess Huaiqing helping her like this, but in the end, it will all be in vain. She’s still too young."

A few days later, while Jiang Hui was speaking with Tian Siji from Langhuan Pavilion, Shan Zha hurriedly came in to report: "My lady, just now, Consort Sun sent someone to report that Concubine Wan might be taking action."

Tian Siji, still carrying the faint scent of herbs, immediately stood up and bowed: "Empress, I take my leave."

Jiang Hui nodded slightly, instructing: "Go ahead, Tian Siji. First, prepare a preliminary list of the stories of past women; bring it to me for review in a few days."

"Yes," Tian Siji replied, her voice tinged with excitement, as she respectfully withdrew.

Once she was gone, Shan Zha continued, "My lady, Concubine Wan's sudden action occurred after meeting Sun Baolin."

Considering the timing, Concubine Wan was still a month away from her due date, so this was a genuine case of premature labor. However, Jiang Hui showed no surprise in her eyes and asked, "What time is it now?"

Wan Song, standing by, immediately replied, "It's the second quarter of the hour of Si."

Jiang Hui nodded and asked further, "Have the imperial physicians and midwives been sent?"

Shan Zha answered, "They have already been summoned."

Jiang Hui smiled slightly and said softly, "Go to the storeroom and get some ginseng. Prepare the sedan; we’re going to Jiangxuexuan."

Chonghua Palace, Jiangxuexuan.

As soon as Jiang Hui stepped down from the phoenix sedan, she heard the cries of pain from Concubine Wan inside. Ignoring the palace maids who were performing their courtesies, she quickly went to the inner chamber and asked Noble Consort Sun, who was waiting outside the birthing room, "What happened? How did Concubine Wan go into premature labor?"

After speaking, she seemed to notice for the first time that it wasn't just Noble Consort Sun waiting outside, but also Sun Baolin, and she asked, "Why is Sun Baolin in Chonghua Palace?"

Noble Consort Sun stood up from her chair and replied, "Empress, I had returned from paying respects at Fengyi Palace this morning and came here to accompany Sister Feng for breakfast and talk. While we were sitting, Sun Baolin came to deliver an invitation on behalf of Consort He, and then..."

Her eyes visible under the veil showed hesitation, pausing before continuing, "...as soon as Sister Feng saw Sun Baolin, she started trembling and soon began to experience abdominal pain..."

Before she could finish, Sun Baolin interrupted anxiously, "Empress, I was just delivering a birthday invitation on behalf of Consort He. I was puzzled as to why Concubine Wan was unreasonably frightened upon seeing me. Is this to be blamed on me too?"

"Enough," Jiang Hui stopped the two from speaking further and sat down on a chair, instructing Okra, "Go inside and check on Concubine Wan's condition."

She then asked Noble Consort Sun, "You said Concubine Wan was frightened?"

"Yes," Noble Consort Sun nodded, explaining, "Empress, you may not know, but Sister Feng has been having trouble sleeping at night lately, often experiencing strange dreams, which is why I have been accompanying her for breakfast every day."

"Trouble sleeping?" Jiang Hui repeated, her expression inscrutable, "I checked Concubine Wan's medical records on my way here, and there was no mention of such symptoms by the imperial physicians."

"Empress, Sister Feng did not consult the imperial physician for this issue. I advised her to do so, but she was afraid..." Noble Consort Sun paused, then said, "Sister Feng was afraid of gossip about the child in her womb, so she refused to call for the physician."

Jiang Hui nodded, asking, "Then what exactly has Concubine Wan been dreaming about?"

Sun Pin said softly, "I dreamt that Sun Baolin pushed me into the Taiye Pool."

This indicated that Wan Cairen was still haunted by the previous incident where Sun Baolin nearly pushed her into the water.

Sun Baolin, sitting nearby, wanted to interject a few times but held back, glaring at Sun Pin with resentment before sitting away, no longer looking in her direction.

Inside, the cries of pain continued. Qiu Kui came out and whispered to Jiang Hui, "My lady, it seems Wan Cairen is in a bad state. I asked the physician inside, who said the baby is in an incorrect position."

Hearing this, Jiang Hui instructed, "Go and tell Qingfeng outside to speak with An Jing at Liangyi Hall about the situation in Jiaxue Xuan and send the ginseng inside."

"Yes," Qiu Kui agreed.

Wan Cairen's childbirth was difficult, and both Consort De and Consort He rushed over from their palaces, but the Emperor had not yet shown any intention of coming. Everyone present knew that Wan Cairen's situation was likely dire.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty—"

Inside, Wan Cairen's calls grew weaker. Jiang Hui composed herself and summoned Qingfeng to ask, "Is His Majesty still discussing state affairs?"

"Yes," Qingfeng replied in a low voice, "An Jing said that the court was discussing the re-measurement of military farmland today. The debate in the Taiji Hall was inconclusive, and His Majesty has summoned several officials for further discussion. They haven't left the palace yet."

Jiang Hui glanced at Consort Sun, her eyes brimming with sorrow, nodded slightly, and lifted the tea in front of her for a sip.

Just then, a baby's cry echoed through the room, and soon after, a midwife emerged holding a swaddled infant, announcing to Jiang Hui, "Congratulations, Empress! Concubine Wan has given birth to a little prince!"

Jiang Hui stood up and approached to glance at the tiny, red-faced baby in the midwife's arms, and after a brief "good," she inquired, "How is Concubine Wan?"

The midwife's smile instantly faded, and she confessed with regret, "Empress, I am to blame, Concubine Wan... she has passed away."

Qiu Kui, standing behind Jiang Hui, quietly observed the other concubines and noticed that Consort Sun, who had been keeping her head down, slightly relaxed her clasped hands and then lowered her gaze.

Before Jiang Hui could speak, a senior maid burst in, kneeling and crying before her, "Empress! My mistress was murdered! It was Consort Sun who harmed her!"

Consort Sun's just-relaxed hands tensely clenched again, her eyes showing clear shock as the maid continued, "Consort Sun gifted a 'Child-Giving Guanyin' painting to my mistress, and there was something, something mixed in it!"