Chapter 97: The Fifth Lady

Chapter 97: The Fifth Lady

In the blink of an eye, it had been nearly a month since Hongsheng was taken to the front courtyard by Yinqi. A tutor had been hired for his early education, but considering his health, only two hours of lessons were scheduled each day, and the coursework was not overly demanding.

An Qing had reviewed the tutor's curriculum, which included classic primers such as *The Three-Character Classic*, *The Book of Surnames*, and *The Thousand Character Classic*. She had listened in on one of the classes from outside and found that the tutor Yinqi had hired was indeed excellent. His teaching style emphasized learning through enjoyment, making it engaging for children.

Moreover, Hongsheng's temperament was naturally gentle, and he was currently quite timid. If the tutor had been too strict, it would not have been beneficial for his development at this stage. The current arrangement was ideal, showing that Yinqi, as a father, had put considerable thought into it.

During this period, An Qing did not let her guard down either. She had people keeping an eye on the back courtyard, but there had been no unusual activities from Liu Jiashi or Baijia Shi. However, she never underestimated anyone in the palace and remained vigilant.

After all, some risks were simply not worth taking; a moment of carelessness could lead to lifelong regret.

Despite her caution, An Qing did not live in constant fear, as doing so would only play into their hands. Therefore, she continued with her daily life and did not neglect her duties.

She was now seven months pregnant, and preparations needed to be made. However, An Qing did not need to worry much about it. The midwives and wet nurses were being arranged by Concubine Yi and the Empress Dowager, who oversaw everything, giving her peace of mind.

As for the baby's clothes, they were taken care of by the Eighth Princess, who had personally made some and supervised the palace maids in making others. Several large chests were already filled with clothes, and if An Qing had not intervened, the Eighth Princess would have continued making more.

Of course, An Qing was not idle either. She drew some blueprints based on modern cribs and had the Imperial Household Affairs Office build a rotating cradle bed. Observing that the child in her womb seemed to prefer quietness, she planned to hang various stuffed animal toys above the cradle for the baby's entertainment.

Apart from preparing for the baby, she also kept busy with the agricultural school. Since the government had established a system for wheat cultivation, she did not need to personally guide the farmers at the estate. Yinqi occasionally visited during the day and helped deliver relevant learning materials.

"Madam, can the strawberry seedlings be transplanted now?" Cui Liu asked excitedly, squatting in front of the flower pots in the western warm pavilion.

An Qing couldn't help but laugh at her enthusiasm.

Ever since An Qing described how delicious strawberries were, Cui Liu had been eagerly anticipating them, constantly watching the seedlings, hoping they would bear fruit soon.

This girl was even more impatient than a pregnant woman. An Qing even suspected that once the strawberries were ready, Cui Liu would eat more than she would.

"Just wait two more days," An Qing said with a smile.

The greenhouse had already been built, and the workers from the Imperial Household Affairs Office were efficient. Moreover, many palaces had greenhouses, so the technology was well-established, making the construction faster.

However, the largest greenhouse An Qing had seen was in Ningshou Palace, where the Empress Dowager cultivated flowers. A large area was specially designated for the greenhouse.

An Qing's greenhouse, though smaller due to limited space in the residence, was sufficient for growing strawberries. Her belly was now quite large, making it difficult to squat down easily. So, she had the flower pots moved to a nearby table for closer inspection.

When the greenhouse was first constructed, she planted the strawberry seeds in these pots for germination. After four weeks, the seedlings had grown three to four true leaves, indicating it was time for transplantation.

"Madam, what will the strawberries look like when they bear fruit? Are they really as delicious as you say?" Cui Liu asked.

An Qing nodded with a smile. "Of course, strawberries are sweet and fragrant. In my opinion, they are just as delicious as watermelon."

For someone who loves watermelon, this was high praise.

As for their appearance, strawberries had not yet been introduced to China, likely arriving in the early 20th century. Initially, An Qing thought the seeds had not been brought over, but it turned out they had been overlooked.

Although strawberries were not yet available, wild strawberries had existed in China for a long time. They were similar in appearance but smaller.

"Do you know what snake berries are?" An Qing asked. "Some places call them ground berries. Strawberries are larger than snake berries but otherwise quite similar."

Cui Liu shook her head. "What are snake berries?"

An Qing struggled to explain, as Cui Liu was unfamiliar with wild strawberries. Just then, Maidenhair happened to pass by and offered an explanation.

"Snake berries are a type of medicinal herb. According to medical texts, they are slightly toxic but have cooling properties and can detoxify and reduce swelling."

An Qing was surprised by this explanation but realized it provided a clear answer, better than being repeatedly questioned by Cui Liu.

Unexpectedly, Maidenhair looked worried. "Madam, are you sure these fruits will be safe to eat?"

She seemed uneasy, given that snake berries were slightly toxic, although the toxicity was not significant according to medical texts.

An Qing quickly reassured her. "They are safe to eat. Strawberries are different from snake berries. Besides, the missionaries said that in their countries, strawberries are commonly eaten as a fruit!"

An Qing was genuinely concerned that Maidenhair might forbid her from eating the strawberries, which would be frustrating after all the effort.

Cui Liu, however, waved her off confidently. "Maidenhair, don't worry. When the fruits ripen, I'll be the first to try them and make sure they're safe before Madam eats them."

An Qing was touched by Cui Liu's gesture but quickly realized her true motivation—she was simply eager to taste them herself.

Cui Liu noticed her master's gaze and smiled apologetically.

Oops, she had forgotten to act and revealed her true intentions.

An Qing understood that Cui Liu trusted her judgment and believed the strawberries were safe.

Just then, Little Xizi rushed in with a hurried expression.

"Fifth Lady, there's news," he whispered.

An Qing immediately understood that something was happening in the back courtyard. She nodded, signaling him to continue, and Little Xizi explained succinctly.

It turned out that Baijia Shi had visited Liu Jiashi earlier that morning. Although the details of their conversation were unknown, Liu Jiashi later sent a young eunuch to the Imperial Medical Bureau.

"Madam, the eunuch went empty-handed and returned without any medicine, but it seems suspicious," Little Xizi reported.

Although there was no concrete evidence, An Qing had previously instructed that any abnormalities should be reported immediately, and he did not dare to neglect this.

An Qing lightly hummed in acknowledgment. She did not think Little Xizi was overreacting, but she couldn't quite understand what Liu Jiashi was up to.

"Milady, I've already sent someone to the main hall of the Imperial Medical Bureau. I'll report back once I have more information," Little Xizi said.

Just as An Qing was about to say something, a small eunuch at the gate led someone from the Imperial Medical Bureau into the courtyard.

"Lady Fu, someone from the Imperial Medical Bureau has come to deliver the pregnancy-stabilizing medicine."

The group exchanged glances, immediately realizing something was amiss.

An Qing didn't say much. According to the schedule, it was indeed the day for the delivery of the pregnancy-stabilizing medicine, and the person delivering it was the same one who usually came. Everything seemed normal.

However, given Little Xizi's earlier report, it was hard not to think more deeply about it.

She gestured for Maid Mai Dong to take the medicine, and after the delivery person left, they returned to the room with the medicine.

Maid Mai Dong placed the medicine on the table and began examining it piece by piece.

"Milady, surely Liu Jiashi isn't that stupid, right? Would she really be so brazen as to poison your pregnancy-stabilizing medicine?" Perilla asked.

If anything went wrong, it would be easy to trace back to the culprit, but it seemed too obvious.

Cui Liu snorted coldly, indignant. "Liu Jiashi isn't very smart to begin with. Besides, desperate people do desperate things."

Ever since Beile took Little Prince Hongsheng to the front courtyard, they had encountered Liu Jiashi several times. The way she looked at their mistress clearly showed her resentment. No one knew what she might do.

An Qing remained silent throughout, watching Maid Mai Dong work. The truth would be revealed once she finished her examination.

After a while, Maid Mai Dong finally finished checking everything. She looked up at everyone and said, "There is no poison in these pregnancy-stabilizing medicines."

Seeing Maid Mai Dong's strange expression, An Qing knew the matter wasn't that simple. She waited for her to continue.

Indeed, Maid Mai Dong added, "But Milady, there is an issue with the medicine. It contains two additional ingredients not listed in the original prescription."

Cui Liu's eyes widened, her voice rising. "Then why did you say there's no poison!"

Maid Mai Dong turned to Cui Liu. "Those two ingredients are indeed non-toxic and can help improve digestion and appetite."

Cui Liu was stunned. Improved digestion and appetite sounded like good things, but could Liu Jiashi be that kind-hearted?

She instinctively dismissed the idea. No one would be kind to their mistress, especially not Liu Jiashi.

"Could it be that the imperial physician changed the prescription?" Perilla asked.

Maid Mai Dong pursed her lips and replied, "It's unlikely. Yesterday, Physician Xiao Qi checked Milady's pulse and didn't mention changing the prescription. Moreover, Milady hasn't shown any signs of loss of appetite, so there's no need to add those ingredients."

Physician Xiao Qi was the apprentice and nephew of the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau. Though young, his medical skills were exceptional, and he was well-known within the bureau. He had been taking care of An Qing's pregnancy all along.

Cui Liu found herself confused. One moment Maid Mai Dong said the ingredients were harmless, and the next she said they weren't necessary. So, was this good or bad?

"It's definitely bad," Maid Mai Dong said, turning to An Qing. "Milady, Physician Xiao Qi lent me many books and case studies on childbirth. They mentioned a method used by some wealthy families where concubines compete for favor. They add digestive aids to the pregnancy-stabilizing medicine..."

The purpose is to make the pregnant woman eat more, causing the child to grow too large, making childbirth dangerous. Difficult labor is almost inevitable.

If An Qing hadn't discovered this today and continued taking the medicine, she would have eaten excessively, leading to potential complications during childbirth that would be difficult to trace.

"I told you so. Liu Jiashi is not that kind-hearted. I never expected her to be so venomous, targeting both Milady and the little master. She truly deserves punishment!" Cui Liu cursed angrily.

An Qing subconsciously touched her swollen belly, seemingly unfazed by the situation.

She always knew that life in the palace was unstable, but she had been fortunate. Since arriving at the Forbidden City, everything had gone smoothly, and she had not encountered such sinister plots.

But not encountering them didn't mean she would let down her guard. Her mother had advised her to bring Maid Mai Dong precisely to guard against such underhanded tactics.

So, she never publicized Maid Mai Dong's medical skills. Even when she secretly diagnosed Consort Min, it was done discreetly, just in case. Today, it proved useful.

Fortunately, since her pregnancy, Maid Mai Dong had extensively studied books on childbirth, delving deep into the subject. Otherwise, they might have unknowingly suffered.

"Milady, the worst part of this method is yet to come," Maid Mai Dong said.

An Qing raised an eyebrow. "What's the worst part?"

Maid Mai Dong's expression turned serious. "Even if you survive, it will likely be impossible to conceive again, and you won't be able to compete for favor either."

"Why is that?" Cui Liu asked anxiously.

It made sense that conceiving would be difficult after a difficult birth, but why couldn't she compete for favor?

Maid Mai Dong explained, "Because of stretch marks."

What are stretch marks?

An Qing knew what they were—stretch marks, commonly known in modern times.

Since her pregnancy, Concubine Yi had personally shared many skincare recipes, and her mother had also provided some formulas to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy. These were similar to modern pregnancy oils.

An Qing had personally experienced the effectiveness of these recipes. She had been diligent in applying them since showing, and so far, she hadn't developed any stretch marks.

Of course, it was possible she simply had a skin type that doesn't develop stretch marks, which is considered one of the most enviable traits alongside "never gaining weight" and "never getting acne."

Though she didn't care much about competing for favor, she valued her appearance. If there was a way to avoid stretch marks, she wouldn't take the risk. With current medical conditions, once stretch marks appeared, they were nearly impossible to remove; prevention was key.

"Lady Fu, what should we do now?" Little Xizi asked.

How should they investigate, where should they start, and what if the other party denies everything?

Maigeng also spoke up at the right moment, "Mistress, due to pregnant women often having poor appetites, these two herbs are frequently added to the medicine for stabilizing pregnancy."

An Qing understood their intentions. Given the current situation, even if they found something, it would be difficult to directly pin it on anyone, as there was too much room for argument.

But to let this go and wait for another opportunity was equally impossible. She could not risk her own life and that of her child.

She was no saint. If Liu Jiashi and Baijia Shi were truly behind this, they had crossed her line. Since they were targeting her life, she would not show mercy.

As for the room for argument, it would depend on whether she allowed them any when the time came.

An Qing never advocated using power and status to oppress others, but if it was for self-preservation, she did not mind being the one who wielded authority.

"Little Xizi, take some people and secure our courtyard. Find any reason, but in short, no one is allowed to enter or leave for now," An Qing instructed.

Little Xizi hurriedly agreed, though he did not know what the Furen intended, he followed orders.

An Qing looked at Maigeng, "Take my palace token and go to the front yard to get some men from Ma Xiang. Then investigate how these two herbs were added to the medicine at the Imperial Medical Institute. Also, find a way to control the eunuch from the Imperial Medical Institute that Liu Jiashi hired and bring him back for Ma Xiang to interrogate."

"Remember, you must act quickly to catch them off guard."

The two responded in unison and immediately set about their tasks without delay.

"Mistress, if this matter isn't resolved, will Beile and the others in the palace think you are deliberately targeting Concubine Liu Jiashi and Princess Baijia Shi?" Perilla asked with concern.

There were already rumors about the Fifth Furen's jealousy. If this incident spread, who knows what new rumors might arise.

Before An Qing could respond, Cui Liu immediately retorted, "Sister Perilla, I have to criticize you this time. Those baseless rumors are nothing compared to the safety of our mistress and her child. We cannot let these rumors tie our hands. I support the mistress's decision; this matter must be thoroughly investigated. As the Han people say... yes, 'Better to mistakenly punish a hundred than to let one guilty person go free!'"

After saying this, she even put on a fierce expression to make her point more convincing.

An Qing couldn't help but laugh, but Cui Liu's words resonated with her.

She did not care about those rumors in the palace. She valued substance over appearance, so she would not risk her and her child's safety for a false reputation.

To be more direct, she had many important things to do and didn't have the time or energy to constantly fight with Liu Jiashi.

Her principle was simple: if everyone could live in peace, all was well. But if someone made a move against her, she would not let it go.

As for whether Yinqi would misunderstand, based on her understanding of him, he wouldn't. If they lacked such trust, their partnership would be meaningless.

Even if Yinqi did misunderstand, she would still proceed because this had crossed her line.

*

In the western annex, Baijia Shi's room.

Baijia Shi's personal palace maid returned furtively from outside and quickly closed the door upon entering.

"How is it? Has Liu Jiashi taken action?" Baijia Shi asked eagerly upon seeing the maid enter.

The maid replied, "Princess, I followed the eunuch from Concubine Liu Jiashi's courtyard into the back entrance of the Imperial Medical Institute."

Baijia Shi's eyes lit up. She knew Liu Jiashi must have some useful connections in the palace.

After all, as a concubine, before the Furen arrived, she managed the Fifth Prince's household. Anyone with sense would know to cultivate useful allies.

But she didn't expect Liu Jiashi to actually have connections within the Imperial Medical Institute. It was worth the effort.

"Princess, are you sure we won't be implicated in this?" the maid asked nervously.

Baijia Shi waved her hand dismissively, "Don't worry. What does this have to do with us? I just went to chat with Liu Jiashi. Is it forbidden for concubines to visit each other in the Fifth Beile's household?"

She simply chatted with Liu Jiashi and mentioned some old stories from her family. She didn't expect Liu Jiashi to use this method to harm the Furen.

Even if it were traced back to her, it would be an unintentional mistake. The one who acted was Liu Jiashi, not her. No matter what, she couldn't be blamed.

Baijia Shi felt quite pleased with herself, believing her method of using others to do her dirty work was brilliant. Even if the Furen suspected her, denying it would suffice.

Seeing Liu Jiashi inactive for so long, she decided to push her along.

But Baijia Shi didn't realize how ironic her confidence was, as she didn't understand that in the face of power, all cleverness was useless.

If someone wanted you gone, there were a hundred ways to make you disappear. Such examples were common in the imperial harem, and there were plenty in the Prince's residence alone.

Indeed, just as Baijia Shi hadn't had time to celebrate, her door was suddenly kicked open. There stood Ma Xiang with his men.

"Baijia Shi, you are suspected of plotting to harm the royal offspring. By order of the Furen, please come with us."