Chapter 165 Illness Recurrence

**Chapter 165: Recurring Illness**

**Causing Her Pain**

Both Jiaojiao and the Empress were heavily pregnant, and the Empress was suffering from discomfort in her advanced state. He’d barely arrived before having to leave, leaving them behind, which filled him with guilt.

But state affairs demanded immediate attention, and Su Jiaojiao had spoken so firmly that Shen Huai hesitated for a moment before rising to give orders: “Cai Shan, remain here to look after the Empress and Noble Consort Zhen. Ensure nothing goes amiss tonight.”

Cai Shan hurriedly bowed deeply and replied, “Your servant obeys.”

The Empress, lying in bed, saw at once that the Emperor was about to depart and intended to leave Su Jiaojiao behind. She was instantly seized by alarm.

Though she loathed the idea, she forced herself to endure her body’s discomfort, opening her eyes with difficulty as tears welled up and fixed her tearful gaze on the Emperor. “Your Majesty…”

Shen Huai paused briefly, then reassured her gently: “State affairs demand immediate attention. I shall return tomorrow. Noble Consort Zhen will remain here to care for you, and Cai Shan is also present. There’s no need for concern.”

With that, he lifted the curtain and exited Fengyi Palace. As the sound of the Emperor’s retinue faded into the night outside, the palace fell into heavy silence.

The Empress glared at Su Jiaojiao with clenched teeth, her face twisted in worsening agony. Sweat dripped from her forehead into her hair, darkening her tresses with damp streaks.

Watching her rival’s pitiful struggle, Su Jiaojiao gently placed a hand on her own rounded belly and slowly drew a silk handkerchief from her sleeve. With mock solicitude, she stepped forward and said, “Empress, you’ve perspired so much—why hasn’t Yu He wiped your brow? A servant who neglects her duties so grievously deserves severe punishment.”

Before her hand could reach the Empress, Yu He blocked it, shielding her mistress protectively. Looking up with reddened eyes, she declared firmly, “Noble Consort, you are with child and should not trouble yourself with such menial tasks. Please sit and rest. Allow this servant to attend to Her Majesty.”

Su Jiaojiao did not retreat but cast a disdainful glance down at her. “If you truly cared, you would have already seen to Her Majesty without my intervention. Yet only when I step forward do you feign loyalty. What performative devotion.”

“Given that you serve the Empress directly, I shall overlook this lapse. But remember—I am a noble consort, while you are merely a servant. How dare your lowly hands touch me?”

She wiped the spot where Yu He had made contact, her expression cold and indifferent. “Moreover, I carry the Emperor’s heir. If any misfortune were to befall me, could your miserable life possibly compensate even a fraction? Even the Empress would suffer consequences because of you.”

“If you know what is good for you, remove your vulgar limbs and do not hinder me from serving the Empress in proper wifely duty.”

Noble Consort Zhen, being with child and within Fengyi Palace itself, held the advantage. Though Yu He wished to shield the Empress, she dared not openly defy her.

If she continued to resist, it would only make the Empress appear powerless. Swallowing her tears, Yu He withdrew her hand and knelt. “This lowly one erred. Forgive this servant’s overzealous protection of Her Majesty.”

Su Jiaojiao dabbed the Empress’s sweat with the same handkerchief, then tossed it carelessly to Yu Ying beside her. “It’s soiled—burn it. How could I reuse something touched by the Empress?”

The undisguised contempt left the Empress trembling with fury as she lay helpless upon the bed.

Just as she tried to speak, violent fetal movements convulsed her body, causing her to cough and gasp for breath. Yu He rushed to soothe her, weeping, “Your Majesty, please calm yourself—the imperial physician will arrive soon.”

The Empress glared hatefully at Su Jiaojiao, wishing she could flay her alive. Summoning all her strength, she spat out, “Su Jiaojiao… I don’t need your false kindness… Once I deliver my son… our contest is far from over… The game isn’t over yet!”

The bitter rivalry between the Empress and Noble Consort Zhen was not a matter outsiders could easily involve themselves in.

Such palace secrets and disrespectful words were perilous to overhear.

Cai Shan took one glance before immediately bowing his head and withdrawing from the confrontation, avoiding entanglement as if he had seen nothing.

If even the Emperor’s chief eunuch reacted thus, how much more cautious were the attending physicians and palace maids, terrified of drawing suspicion?

The grand chamber descended into tomb-like stillness, broken only by the Empress’s labored breathing and Yu He’s muffled weeping.

Su Jiaojiao regarded her with mock pity, languidly placing her hand on Yu Ying’s wrist. “Empress, wickedness invites divine punishment. Are you not afraid?”

“From past until now, I have remembered each of your transgressions.”

The Empress clutched the embroidered quilt beneath her with a death grip, gnashing her teeth: "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Whether you know or not matters little," Su Jiaojiao scoffed. "Your Majesty has always been so good at putting on airs and protecting your image. How could you possibly admit anything in front of the Grand Eunuch?"

Yu Ying helped her settle gracefully onto the phoenix throne before she added airily, "Rest assured, Your Majesty, I won't lay a finger on you today—nor will Imperial Physician Liu. I sincerely hope you carry to full term and, best of all, deliver another prince. Only then will it be the sweetest victory imaginable."

"Wouldn’t you agree, Your Majesty?"

The words sounded pleasant, but the Empress could never bring herself to believe them.

Her conflict with Su Jiaojiao was to the death. Now, weakened and vulnerable, she was completely defenseless. That Su Jiaojiao would show such kindness—not only refraining from harming her but even ensuring she carried to term—had to be some kind of trick. She refused to trust it!

If she could bear a prince, even if Su Jiaojiao remained favored, she might still have a chance to contend for power.

At worst, whoever stood in her son’s path to the throne—she'd just have them killed!

The pain in her belly grew sharper, and the Empress nearly believed she was going into labor.

In such a state, she had no energy left to ponder what scheme Su Jiaojiao was plotting. She could only pray to stabilize her womb and avoid premature birth, clinging to the quilt like a drowning woman clinging to a lifeline, desperate to endure.

Watching her, Su Jiaojiao shot her a look of contempt.

Imperial Physician Liu hurried in from outside, first glancing at Su Jiaojiao. Seeing her calm expression, he bowed to the Empress and her before approaching the bedside.

After carefully taking the Empress’s pulse, he used silver needles to stabilize her acupoints, then wrote a prescription and handed it off before clasping his hands in respect. "Reporting to Your Majesty, though the situation is dire, it is still salvageable. However, the pregnancy tonic will be quite strong and may harm Your Majesty’s health."

He paused briefly before adding, "But premature birth poses even greater risks. In my professional opinion, it would be better to wait until the royal heir is born before focusing on recuperation."

At this point, the Empress could no longer afford to worry about her own well-being.

She knew her own body better than anyone. After the autumn hunt and the events that followed, her health was already ruined, her foundation weakened beyond measure. She had only lasted this long by constantly dosing herself with medicines. Her desperate struggle was solely for the sake of delivering a healthy prince. To risk premature birth for her own sake would be a huge mistake.

Gritting her teeth, the Empress ground out between clenched teeth, "No... premature birth..."

After enduring such prolonged pain, the Empress was soaked in sweat, her face ghostly pale.

With great effort, she lifted her head to look at Imperial Physician Liu, gasping heavily to steady her breath. Without bothering to hide Su Jiaojiao’s presence, she made her offer: "Imperial Physician Liu... This palace knows of your exceptional skill and humble origins... Whatever Noble Consort Zhen can offer you... this palace can match... Even if it means making you... Director of the Imperial Medical Office in the future... So long as you help this palace... preserve this pregnancy and protect this palace... whatever you desire... this palace will grant it."

Seeing her openly attempt to steal away one of her own men in desperation, Su Jiaojiao gave her a sideways look and let out a cold laugh.

Her mocking gaze shifted to Imperial Physician Liu, who remained expressionless, his thin frame bowed slightly as if he had heard nothing. "Since Your Majesty consents, I'll have the servants prepare the medicine at once. Once taken, it should stabilize your pregnancy. With daily acupuncture, this physician guarantees Your Majesty will carry to full term."

With that, Imperial Physician Liu withdrew from the bedchamber.

Su Jiaojiao watched him go, satisfied, before resting her hand on Yu Ying’s wrist and rising.

She looked down at the Empress on the bed and remarked coolly, "Childbirth will hurt far worse than this."

"Grand Eunuch, remain here to guard Her Majesty. Ensure no... unfortunate accidents happen. This consort is weary from pregnancy and shall return to Yaoxian Palace."

Cai Shan hastily bowed. "Understood. I'll stay right here on duty. Farewell, Your Highness."

As they left Fengyi Palace, the lantern-bearing palace servants led the way. Yu Ying whispered, "Be careful, Your Highness."

After a pause, she added in a voice only the two could hear, "Lord Su has already sent word to Chang’an at full speed. Your Highness need not have come to Fengyi Palace today—it just makes her more suspicious. Wouldn’t it have sufficed to have Imperial Physician Liu stabilize her womb?"

Su Jiaojiao smiled faintly. "The more she suspects, the less she can discern my intentions. The more uncertain she grows, the greater her fear."

"She knew something terrible was coming, knew I was taking action, yet there were no irregularities, no warnings. When everything is too calm, it often heralds danger. Do you know? When a person knows they will one day die, every second before death becomes torment."

Her tone was eerily calm. "I want her to nurse this dread even at her most triumphant moments—to live in fear. At the very pinnacle of her glory, I will cast her down into hell."

"For someone like the Empress, this is undoubtedly the harshest punishment."

The summer heat was oppressive, the sun scorching fiercely enough to keep people from venturing outdoors.

Chang’an had been suffocating for two or three days before a deluge finally arrived. The rain poured down in torrents, washing away the summer’s unbearable heat—and showed no sign of easing.

Thunder rumbled intermittently through the sky.

Outside, wind and rain raged, but Yaoxian Hall stood untouched by the chaos, serene within.

Su Jiaojiao was resting indoors, reading a book, when Xiao Songzi entered from outside and knelt before her on one knee. Frowning, he looked up and said, "My Lady, a messenger from Lingbo Hall has come. Noble Consort Lan's condition has worsened again—she has fallen ill once more—and they request that Imperial Physician Liu examine her."