3. The noble consort suffered a miscarriage
She looked coldly at the Concubine Shu's belly, her sharp gaze piercing like a knife into Concubine Shu's heart. Concubine Shu, feeling guilty, took two steps back, fortunately, the palace maid behind her supported her waist.
"Enough, Your Majesty is just joking, why are you taking it seriously? Get up!" The noble consort said with a smile, her gaze falling on Huo Qingsang's somewhat pale face. She casually remarked, "I heard from my father that the Emperor is indeed quite angry about General Huo's matter, but sister, do not worry. The Emperor is a person who values old sentiments and will certainly not make things difficult for General Huo."
"Alright, you refuse, do you? I shall sever your dog head," she declared, swiftly drawing the icy white blade from his waist. The blade glinted in the air as it descended directly towards the top of his head.
The leader of the inner guard picked up the knife expressionlessly and inserted it back into his waist: "Your Highness, please return!"
Huo Qingsang would not be swayed by this, forcefully pushing Liu Quan aside and glaring at the more than ten inner guards in front of her: "Step aside."
Huo Qingsang approached step by step, her heroic brows and eyes now carrying a hint of murderous intent. Suddenly, she leaned down and whispered softly in her ear: "I wonder what the taste of this purple river car is like"
The vast imperial study suddenly fell into silence, and there were large patches of bloodstains on the bluestone steps before him. Huo Qingsang felt a chill deep in his heart, yet he couldn't help but smile bitterly. As he smiled, tears began to flow, dropping onto the ground like a shattered heart
At this moment, a flurry of footsteps echoed from the corridor, and the royal consort's palanquin came to a halt outside the corridor. She was surrounded by palace attendants as she approached, holding a tray in her hands, on which rested a small cup made of delicate snow-white porcelain. A faint warmth emanated from the air holes, enhancing the rosy complexion of her already beautiful face.
Huo Qingsang quietly watched a group of people in chaos, the pain still searing in her back, while her heart felt as if it were immersed in a bucket of ice water, even her blood felt cold.
It is a well-known fact among the officials and scholars that the Emperor harbors resentment towards the Huo family. However, regarding this Empress, who comes from a military background, the Emperor's attitude is somewhat nuanced, leaving people unable to decipher his true thoughts
"Your Highness, please wait." Liu Quan followed and reached out to stop Huo Qingsang.
"Calm down?" Huo Qingsang let out a cold laugh, "He won't calm down. How can he feel at ease without killing the entire Huo family?"
Huo Qingsang felt a burning heat on her back and instinctively raised her hand to shake off the hand of the noble consort.
"Come here, summon the Imperial Physician. If anything happens to the Noble Consort, let them come and face the consequences." As he spoke, he strode past Huo Qingsang, bending down to tightly embrace the Noble Consort, hurriedly making his way towards the Noble Consort's Jiaofang Hall
The woman's piercing scream echoed incessantly in his ears. Before Huo Qingsang could discern what had actually happened, a palace maid behind the noble consort rushed over and pushed her aside. The noble consort lay on the ground, her face pale and ashen, with bright red blood seeping from the hem of her peach-pink palace gown, the strong smell of blood assaulting the senses.
Huo Qingsang smiled without speaking, turning to leave, but Shufei seized the hem of her sleeve at the moment she turned. The delicate white porcelain cup in her hand tilted slightly, and the scalding Chuanbei pear soup spilled all over Huo Qingsang's back.
Thinking of this, he could not help but secretly wipe the cold sweat from his forehead
She slowly raised her head, yet her gaze was directed at the door of the study. Steady footsteps echoed from within, and with the sound of the door scraping against the floor, the tightly shut door was pulled open from the inside. Nangong Yao stood behind the door with a face as cold as water, his gaze passing over her to look at the Concubine Shu on the ground.
Huo Qingsang could only feel a surge of anger rising in her throat, and as she looked at the affected demeanor of the Shu Fei, she wished she could tear her face apart.
He remained completely still, the blade poised at his brow, yet it ultimately did not descend
What a capable Minister of Justice, and his daughter is equally skilled. She looks down upon the insidious tactics of the imperial harem, yet she is fully aware of how the child in the Consort's womb came to be. It is a pity that that person still holds onto hope, unaware that it is merely a fleeting existence.
I want to see him
"The Emperor will not see the Empress." He stood upright, like a tower, in front of the door to the imperial study
The Emperor has decreed that no one shall be received. It would be best for Her Highness to return to Shulan Palace for now. As for the matter concerning Lord Huo, it is advisable not to speak of it.
Sister," Shu Fei lifted the curtain of the sedan chair and called out in a melodious voice.
"This humble servant pays her respects to Her Majesty the Empress." The noble consort slightly inclined her body, the movement subtle, while a nearby palace maid hurried over to support her arm, her gaze fixed intently on the consort's abdomen
Huo Tingdong is unable to protect himself in Yanshan, and the General's Mansion of the State Protector has been raided, ensuring that news cannot be leaked. By the time Huo Tingdong arrives in Yanshan, everything will have already settled. Reflecting on this, Huo Qingsang gritted his teeth in anger, quickening his pace.
"Oh dear, I must say, Your Majesty, you have made your appearance, and it seems the palace is about to undergo a change in fortune," Liu Quan said, feigning a distressed expression as he approached.
Outside the imperial study, Liu Quan saw Huo Qingsang from a distance and thought to himself, the Empress is here to plead for the General, but unfortunately, the Emperor may not recall past affections
In this deep palace, even the slightest disturbance can cause great alarm. The Shulan Palace is surrounded by heavy troops, the servants have collectively been punished, and the Empress is nowhere to be found. The concubines in the harem have long been eagerly awaiting to see the joke of Huo Qingsang
Liu Quan hurried over to help Huo Qingsang up from the ground. The scene just now had frightened him so much that he almost wet his pants. This person from Shulan Hall, who could cause a commotion at will, was not to be trifled with. That knife just now, if it had truly come down, even the Great Luo Immortal would not have been able to save her.
Huo Qingsang let out a cold snort: "What are you trying to do?"
Huo Qingsang fell to the ground in despair, and the knife clattered on the bluestone steps, producing a crisp sound
Huo Qingsang was certain that Nangong Yao must be in the imperial study at this moment, but she also knew that she might not be able to see him
A child born from ovulation-stimulating drugs, a child who can only replenish nutrition by consuming purple river carps, if not a prodigy, would be a simpleton; such monsters being born would indeed make the Great Yan Dynasty a laughingstock in the world
In this move by Su Wan, Nangong Yao has played brilliantly. On one hand, he has provoked both himself and Huo Yun, while on the other hand, he has leaked news about Ye Er to the border, drawing Huo Tingdong into Bianjing. With Su Wan's forces being ambushed in Yanshan, it is only natural for Huo Tingdong to be sent to Yanshan to eliminate bandits. The remnants of the deposed crown prince of Xiliang are entrenched in a province north of Yanshan, possessing considerable military strength. Huo Tingdong's expedition will inevitably result in significant losses, and with a slight misstep, he could very well be defeated in Yanshan.
I said, Your Majesty, it would be better for you to return for now, or perhaps come back once the Emperor has calmed down. It is the height of noon, and the sun is scorching, which may harm your delicate constitution. Liu Quan earnestly advised, then turned to give a signal to the leader of the inner guards, indicating that he should offer some words of persuasion.
The palace maid's face instantly turned pale, and she hurriedly knelt on the ground to bow her head.
Ah, quickly summon the imperial physician, the empress has had a miscarriage!" The palace maid shouted hysterically, while Liu Quan beside her was already so frightened that he was at a loss.
Huo Qingsang raised an eyebrow and scrutinized her from head to toe. She recalled that Su Yi had once mentioned that the Shufei was the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Justice. It seemed that her father had received considerable support from the Ministry of Justice. With this thought, her hatred deepened, and she coldly gazed at the Shufei's abdomen, casually remarking: "I heard that Her Highness the Shufei is two months pregnant. These servants are truly outrageous; how dare they trouble you with a mere soup? They might as well be dragged out and executed with a stick." As she spoke, she glared fiercely at the palace maid beside the Shufei.
Earlier, as Huo Qingsang entered the Xuande Gate, a minor eunuch stationed at the Shang Gong Bureau, appointed by the Huo family, intercepted him and succinctly recounted the situation at Shulan Palace. In the end, he intermittently conveyed the details regarding the Emperor's investigation into the General's residence of the State of Zhen Guo that took place this morning.
Having said that, she kicked Liu Quan aside and, in a somewhat hysterical manner, shouted towards the imperial study: "Nangong Yao, you treacherous hypocrite, how has the Huo family wronged you? Why do you harbor such jealousy against the Huo family, scheming to bring my brother back to the capital and setting up a banquet to frame my father! Nangong Yao, why don't you come out and confront me?"
The door to the imperial study remains tightly closed, and Liu Quan has obediently stepped aside. The Emperor has stated that if the Empress Dowager were to cause a disturbance, he would not intervene if he could not stop her, allowing her to do as she pleases
Huo Qingsang seemed to have not heard and continued to walk forward, entering the corridor, her footsteps growing increasingly hurried
Ah!
"I want to see the Emperor," Huo Qingsang glared at him fiercely and pushed him aside as she rushed towards the imperial study.
The events unfolded rapidly, almost in the blink of an eye, as the noble consort screamed and fell down the steps behind her
Huo Qingsang's long-held anxiety finally eased, yet it felt as though a heavy stone had been pressed down upon her.
Given that things have come to this point, other matters now appear to be reasonable.
The noble consort was suddenly taken aback, looking at Huo Qingsang in disbelief
The Consort's face in the sedan chair was as dark as water, her right hand gently resting on her still flat abdomen. The current Emperor has few offspring; apart from the late Crown Prince who died young, he has only one princess who is not favored. If the child in her womb turns out to be a prince, then aspiring to the position of Empress is not merely a pipe dream.
The noble consort ordered someone to prepare the stewed pear with Sichuan fritillary bulb. Unable to wait until evening, she took a palanquin to the imperial study in the Palace of Heavenly Purity. As she passed through the imperial garden, she indeed saw Huo Qingsang, who had been missing all morning, walking briskly towards the Palace of Heavenly Purity with a serious expression.
At this moment, the inner guards hidden in the shadows rushed over, blocking the entrance to the imperial study completely.
Upon considering this, she let out a cold laugh as she gazed in the direction where Huo Qingsang had disappeared.
The leader of the Imperial Guard pressed his lips together in silence, standing like a mountain in front of the study.
After Ye Er's early demise, although Huo Qingsang rarely ventured out of Shulan Palace to manage the affairs of the harem, he was still somewhat aware that over the past year, the competition for favor within the harem had intensified. Among them, this noble consort had proven to be the most adept, having risen from a beauty to a noble consort in just a year, enjoying unceasing favor. Now that she is also with child, her actions are inevitably becoming increasingly erratic
She did not expect that the response of the noble consort would be so swift, coming up with a countermeasure the moment her scheme was exposed, even going so far as to sacrifice this child. No, perhaps it is not a sacrifice; this child was never meant to come into the world. To be able to defeat her as the empress in one fell swoop, is that not fate?