Chapter 109: Seeing Red

Chapter 109: Spotting

Who is the target?

Yu Ying glanced at the attendants in the room, wary of eavesdroppers, and said calmly, "My Lady will be having lunch soon. All of you may leave to prepare and need not stay to serve."

After the maids had exited, Yu Ying looked at Imperial Physician Liu and frowned. "My Lady, Talent Lady Yu kept dodging the examination and refused to have her pulse checked. The more she resisted, the more suspicious it seemed."

Su Jiaojiao lifted her gaze, composed. "What exactly did she say? Tell me."

"When I entered, I saw Talent Lady Yu lying in bed, looking rather pale. Seizing the opportunity, I mentioned that you had heard of her unstable pregnancy and discomfort, so you specially sent Imperial Physician Liu to reassess her condition and consult with Imperial Physician Liu to stabilize her state."

"But Talent Lady Yu insisted that Imperial Physician Liu was her trusted physician, most familiar with her pregnancy, and that Imperial Physician Liu was now favored by the Emperor and you. As someone of my low rank, I dared not use someone in your confidence."

Yu Ying frowned. "No matter how I tried to persuade her, she rebuffed every approach. In the end, she claimed she was unwell and asked me and Imperial Physician Liu to leave."

Su Jiaojiao sipped her tea, her tone indifferent. "Her refusal to let Imperial Physician Liu examine her can only mean two things. Either she’s paranoid about this pregnancy, fearing some scheme from me, or she has something to hide and doesn’t want me to know the true state of her pregnancy."

She turned to Imperial Physician Liu. "Did you notice anything?"

Imperial Physician Liu clasped his hands and bowed slightly, his voice cool. "Though I did not take her pulse, I observed that Talent Lady Yu's complexion was ashen, with sweat beading on her forehead, and there was a faint scent of burning mugwort in the room."

"Clearly, her pregnancy is unstable."

Talent Lady Yu’s pregnancy was just over two months, nearing three—a time when it should be stabilizing. If it was unstable, there was more to it.

Su Jiaojiao suddenly recalled the Spring Banquet, where Talent Lady Yu had left with Beauty Xiao. Later, it was said that Beauty Xiao had pushed her, coincidentally leading to the discovery of her pregnancy.

At the time, it seemed too convenient. Now, new connections became apparent.

Though Beauty Xiao looked down on everyone, she had no major grudge against Talent Lady Yu. The only link between them was Noble Lady Xiang.

That day was the Second Prince’s hundred-day celebration, Noble Lady Xiang’s moment of triumph, yet Beauty Xiao had publicly slighted her. Anyone could guess Noble Lady Xiang’s displeasure.

Talent Lady Yu, being close to Noble Lady Xiang, would know who her enemies were.

Thus, she deliberately left with Beauty Xiao, provoked her into lashing out, and used the ensuing chaos to reveal her pregnancy.

Without the child, the Emperor might not have punished Beauty Xiao severely—after all, Talent Lady Yu was a commoner, while Beauty Xiao was the Xiao clan's legitimate daughter. The Emperor would weigh their status carefully.

Moreover, when the Emperor asked Su Jiaojiao to visit the pregnant Talent Lady Yu, her delight seemed practiced rather than spontaneous. When questioned whether she had known earlier, her gaze was wavering.

It seemed Talent Lady Yu had known of her pregnancy beforehand and used the Imperial Heir to frame Beauty Xiao.

But what mother would risk her own child? Especially someone like Talent Lady Yu—a commoner, in conflict with Noble Consort Mi and cast aside by Noble Consort Wang. A child would be far more valuable than ingratiating herself with Noble Lady Xiang.

Yet she chose to aid Noble Lady Xiang during the most vulnerable trimester rather than protect her child. This could only mean one thing.

Talent Lady Yu’s child was never likely to come to term.

But since she was pregnant, she wouldn't let the opportunity be wasted—it had to serve a purpose.

Noble Lady Xiang had once mentioned recommending Talent Lady Yu to the Empress.

The Empress was deeply wary. For someone like Talent Lady Yu, who had many enemies, to earn her patronage, she must have demonstrated her usefulness.

Right now, the Empress’s primary adversaries were none other than Su Jiaojiao and the powerful Noble Consort Mi.

Who would the Empress choose?

Amid tangled thoughts, Su Jiaojiao carefully recalled matters related to Lady Yu but couldn’t remember anything that could implicate herself. If someone wanted to frame another using the imperial heir, there were far too many methods—there was no way to guard against them all.

However, it was still uncertain who her target was. Acting rashly might backfire and give her an opportunity to strike.

Su Jiaojiao furrowed her delicate brows and pressed her fingertips to her temples. Imperial Physician Liu stood before her and said calmly, "Your Highness, typically mugwort is used to stabilize a pregnancy only when the fetal condition is unstable. Lady Yu is already using mugwort despite being only three months along, indicating her situation is quite dire. It seems she may miscarry soon. Your Highness must make a decision swiftly."

"Yu Ying, have someone watch Lady Yu. You personally go to Jade Linglong and warn Noble Consort Mi."

With the enemy hidden and them exposed, those on defense often take hidden hits.

In terms of hatred, the Empress had repeatedly lost face because of her. Aside from Noble Consort Wang, the Empress likely despised her most.

But even if Lady Yu used this child to frame Su Jiaojiao, it would only lessen the Emperor’s favor for her—the Empress herself would gain little.

How would the Empress choose?

If the attack was truly aimed at Su Jiaojiao, it would be easier to handle. But if it was directed at Noble Consort Mi, many things would become far more complicated to intervene in.

By evening, the moon shone bright with sparse stars, and cicadas chirped incessantly.

Su Jiaojiao sent Ling Yun to summon Shu Jieyu to talk, hoping to get her advice on possible countermeasures.

Yu Ying spoke up beside her, "Your Highness, for some reason, ever since visiting Lady Yu’s Qilixiang earlier today, I’ve felt uneasy—like something’s about to happen."

There were always warnings before a storm. Not just Yu Ying, even Su Jiaojiao felt unsettled.

Lady Yu had only recently earned some minor favor and lacked any significant backing. Even if she lost the child, it wouldn’t cripple Su Jiaojiao or Noble Consort Mi.

After a rare six months of peace, what worried Su Jiaojiao was that this might only be the beginning.

Before long, a eunuch holding a palace lantern entered first, followed swiftly by Shu Jieyu, dressed in crimson, emerging from the night.

Seeing Su Jiaojiao at the door waiting for her, Shu Jieyu frowned slightly and raised her voice, "Why wait outside for me in this heat?"

She quickened her pace to take Su Jiaojiao’s hand and led her inside to talk. "Ling Yun seemed troubled when she fetched me. Has something happened?"

Su Jiaojiao quickly summarized what Yu Ying and Imperial Physician Liu had gathered from their visit to Lady Yu earlier that day. Shu Jieyu scoffed coldly and said, "Lady Yu seems quiet, but she’s clearly scheming big. No wonder—just as Beauty Xiao was personally brought by His Majesty to the Spring Banquet, she turned around and pushed Lady Yu into the flower bushes, and what a coincidence, she was diagnosed with pregnancy the very same day."

"I recall she was once part of Noble Consort Mi’s faction. Rumor has it she defected to Noble Consort Wang because Noble Consort Mi favored Beauty Xiao and neglected her, delaying her chance to gain favor. It’s strange—Noble Consort Mi had a notorious reputation for arrogance back then, yet Lady Yu dared to betray her. Quite bold."

Su Jiaojiao sighed softly. "Lady Yu despises Noble Consort Mi, but the Empress loathes me. The ‘treasure’ she’s carrying in her belly will be trouble no matter whom it lands on."

Observing her expression, Shu Jieyu countered, "You’re both good targets, no doubt. But if the Empress is behind her, someone as cautious and meticulous as the Empress would surely maximize the benefits."

"Right now, the Empress is under His Majesty’s suspicion, out of favor, and the authority she once held has been handed to Noble Consort Mi. She’s biding her time, but if the Empress intends to make a comeback, would her first move really be as simple as making you, the favored consort, lose His Majesty’s affection?"

Shu Jieyu lowered her voice and said, "The Empress is ambitious and values power above all. If she still held authority over the harem, she’d eliminate whoever stood in her way. But with her power stripped away, the first thing she’d do upon reemerging would be to have His Majesty return that authority to her."

"Most likely, Lady Yu’s child isn’t aimed at you—it’s aimed at Noble Consort Mi."

Su Jiaojiao’s gaze sharpened as she studied Shu Jieyu for a long moment before murmuring, "Being caught in the midst of it, I couldn’t see as clearly as you, sister. But precisely because it involves Noble Consort Mi, I find it particularly thorny."

"Though Noble Consort Mi and I are currently allied, our relationship is based on mutual benefit, not the closeness we share. Moreover, Noble Consort Mi is exceedingly proud, impulsive, and prone to leaving vulnerabilities in her words and actions. Even if I wanted to help her, I wouldn’t know where to start. If the Empress regains the authority now held by Noble Consort Mi, it would only harm me, not help."

Shu Jieyu watched Su Jiaojiao quietly, not following her train of thought. Instead, she asked, "If there’s no closeness, only mutual benefit, how can such a relationship last? Noble Consort Mi may be domineering and ruthless, but she’s never harmed you or plotted against you. That’s why you can’t bear to see her framed, isn’t it?"

Su Jiaojiao fell silent, lowering her eyes without a response.

Then, Shu Jieyu continued, "But have you ever considered—if both the Empress and Noble Consort Wang were gone, and a new empress were to be established, who would be your greatest enemy?"

As soon as her words fell, the room fell into a heavy silence.

Inwardly, she knew that Noble Consort Mi had not treated her poorly and had even secretly helped her on several occasions. Though Su Jiaojiao was no angel, neither was she a person of malicious intent.

At present, with the Empress and Noble Consort Wang still in power, and Concubine Lian being a tough opponent, even if she were to confront Noble Consort Mi one day, now was not the time.

Just then, a palace maid rushed in frantically to deliver urgent news, crying out in alarm, "Your Highness, Mistress, it's terrible—Talent Lady Yu is bleeding!"