webnovelfull Chapter 486 Concubine Shen
Chapter 486 Concubine Shen
After one failed plan after another, Consort Liu finally lost patience and decided to take a risky gamble.
She secretly ordered her confidant to find a highly concealed abortifacient powder, colorless and odorless, which would only take effect after being taken several times.
She handed the powder to Xiao Cui, a palace maid who was her spy in the Cold Palace, and instructed her not to put it in Shen Qinghe's food or drink—that would be too much of a chore—but to put it in the hot water Shen Qinghe used to wash up every day.
Although not as potent as oral administration, it can be effective over time through skin contact and inhalation.
Xiao Cui was terrified, but dared not disobey.
The first two days passed peacefully.
On the third day, after washing up in the morning, Shen Qinghe suddenly felt a slight abdominal pain.
She immediately became alert.
These days she's become extremely sensitive, like a frightened bird, to any slight abnormality.
She carefully recalled each step, her gaze finally settling on the basin of steaming hot water used for washing her face.
She leaned closer and took a careful sniff; there seemed to be a very faint, unusual odor that didn't belong to soapberry.
She remained calm and made no fuss.
That night, she pretended to go to bed early, but secretly kept an eye on the movements in the courtyard.
Sure enough, in the dead of night, a dark figure quietly slipped to the well, seemingly about to throw something into it.
"What are you doing?!" Shen Qinghe suddenly raised her voice and quickly took a few steps back.
The dark figure shuddered in fright, dropping the packet of medicine from its hand.
It was none other than the palace maid, Xiao Cui!
"My lady, spare me! My lady, spare me! It was Consort Liu! Consort Liu forced me to do it!" Xiao Cui was so frightened that she confessed everything before she could even be tortured.
Upon hearing this, Shen Qinghe frowned. It seemed she couldn't stay in the Cold Palace any longer; she needed to find a way to convey the news of her pregnancy to His Majesty.
Touching her still slightly aching abdomen, Shen Qinghe made up her mind to send out the news immediately tomorrow.
Otherwise, she worried that if it was too late, she might lose the baby.
Just then, Shen Qinghe saw the glowing book, rewarded it with a silver ingot she had hidden, and saw Lin Liuyi.
When Lin Liuyi asked her what she needed, she immediately said that she wanted medication to prevent miscarriage.
She wanted to keep the child, regardless of whether the other party was a fairy or someone else; what mattered now was her child.
After drinking the medicine, Shen Qinghe immediately felt a warm current in her stomach, and she sincerely thanked the other party.
When Lin Liuyi asked her if she needed anything else, she refused.
The gifts that fate bestows always come with a price tag; she has always only trusted herself.
Inside the Huicao Palace, Shen Qinghe gently stroked her still-flat stomach and stared blankly out the window.
The honor of returning to the rank of imperial concubine did not bring her much joy; instead, it made her more vigilant.
She knew better than anyone how precarious the favor bestowed upon her in the imperial harem was.
The last time she was demoted, wasn't it because Consort Liu plotted to frame her for cursing the imperial heir? If it weren't for the Emperor's lingering affection, she would have been dead long ago.
Now that she is pregnant, Consort Liu will certainly not let this go.
"Your Highness, it's time for your medicine." The maid Yun'er walked in carrying a bowl of medicine to help with the pregnancy, looking somewhat flustered.
Shen Qinghe keenly sensed something was wrong. "Yun'er, what's wrong?"
Yun'er's hand trembled, and the medicine bowl almost fell to the ground. "N-nothing, I just didn't sleep well last night."
Shen Qinghe stared at the bowl of medicine, then suddenly said, "Put it down. I'm feeling a bit nauseous and don't want to drink it yet."
Yun'er's expression changed slightly. "Your Majesty, this is a pregnancy-stabilizing medicine specially prescribed by the imperial physician. It should be taken on time."
“I know,” Shen Qinghe said calmly. “You can go down now. I’ll drink later.”
Yun'er hesitated for a moment, then withdrew.
Shen Qinghe picked up the medicine bowl, walked to the flowerpot by the window, and slowly poured the medicine into the soil.
Having spent many years in the palace, she had long since learned not to easily trust anyone.
She had experienced Consort Liu's methods far too many times.
Sure enough, in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the plant in the flowerpot began to wilt and turn yellow.
Shen Qinghe was startled, but remained outwardly calm.
She summoned another maid, Qing'er, and whispered a few instructions to her.
Inside the Phoenix Palace, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood. Liu Rumei leaned against the chaise longue, her fingertips gently tapping the sandalwood armrest.
Her gaze fell outside the palace, as if piercing through the many palace walls, landing on the person she hated to the core.
"Shen Qinghe..." she murmured the name, her tone laced with venom, "You're quite lucky."
She never expected that despite all her precautions, His Majesty would still find out that Shen Qinghe was pregnant. The Emperor was overjoyed and not only restored her to the rank of Consort, but also granted her residence in the Huicao Palace and assigned four imperial physicians to take turns caring for her.
This news was like a resounding slap in the face to Consort Liu.
"Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Li has arrived," Jinxiu, the personal maid, announced in a low voice.
A glint of light flashed in Consort Liu's eyes. "Let him in."
Imperial Physician Li bowed as he entered, not daring to look up at the imperial concubine on the couch.
He was a pawn planted by Consort Liu in the Imperial Hospital. He was usually inconspicuous, but he could be of great use at crucial moments.
"How is Consort Shen's pregnancy progressing?" Liu Rumei asked lazily.
"Your Majesty, Consort Shen's pregnancy is stable; she is three months pregnant. His Majesty has ordered the Imperial Hospital to check her pulse daily, and all medicines and ingredients used have been inspected by three people. It is truly... truly difficult to proceed."
Liu Rumei sneered, "Difficult to deal with? What use are you useless people to me?"
Physician Li was so frightened that he knelt on the ground. "Your Majesty, please forgive me! It's just that His Majesty is paying extra attention to this pregnancy. The Huicao Palace is heavily guarded; not even a fly from outside can get in!"
"Get up," Liu Rumei suddenly softened her tone. "I know you've done your best. Since it's difficult to get in from the outside, let's start from the inside. Surely there are one or two people around Shen Qinghe who can be of use to us?"
Imperial Physician Li hesitated for a moment, then said, "Yun'er, Consort Shen's personal maid, has an elderly mother who is seriously ill and urgently needs money for treatment..."
Liu Rumei smiled and said, "Jinxiu, take two hundred taels of silver and give it to Physician Li. Tell him what to do."
Jinxiu understood and quickly retrieved the silver and handed it over to Physician Li.
“Tell her that there will be a great reward after it is done. If she does not comply…” Liu Rumei did not finish her sentence, but the cold glint in her eyes said it all.
Physician Li repeatedly agreed and bowed as he withdrew.
Liu Rumei gazed at the blooming peonies outside the palace, a ruthless glint flashing in her eyes.
Shen Qinghe, Shen Qinghe, do you think having a dragon's child will turn your life around? In this harem, getting pregnant doesn't mean you can give birth, and giving birth doesn't mean you can raise the child well.
She would never allow Shen Qinghe to gain status through her son.
However, three days later, the sound of porcelain shattering came from Fengqi Palace.
"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!" Consort Liu was furious. "They can't even handle such a small matter!"
Physician Li knelt tremblingly on the ground, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger! For some reason, Consort Shen seems to have sensed something, and from that day on, she stopped having Yun'er serve her medicine. Yesterday, Yun'er was transferred from Huicao Palace and sent to the laundry department..."
Consort Liu's eyes practically spit fire.
Her carefully laid plan was so easily broken.