Chapter 219: Strike!

The little eunuch hurriedly dropped to his knees, his whole body trembling like sifted chaff.

"Reporting to the Xiyue Emperor, Imperial Consort Jia Gui suddenly began suffering unceasing abdominal pain an hour ago."

"She sent someone to summon Physician Qian, and Physician Qian said, said…"

"This child cannot be saved!"

Hearing this, the Shunhe Emperor's body swayed violently.

Shi Gui was so startled he quickly reached out to steady him.

The Shunhe Emperor gripped his arm tightly.

"Quick! Prepare the imperial procession for Yongxiu Palace!"

When he arrived, he happened to bump into a palace maid carrying a large basin of bloody water out.

The palace maid was about to pay her respects.

Shi Gui quickly stepped forward, blocking the view.

"How dare you! Be off with you at once, don't dirty Your Majesty's eyes here!"

At this moment, Physician Qian and a midwife walked out, followed by a palace maid carrying a tray with a box on it, covered by a layer of white cloth.

The midwife shook her head repeatedly, her tone quite regretful.

"What a pity, it was a boy."

Boom!

Hearing her words, the Shunhe Emperor felt as though something had struck his head heavily, his vision going black. The hand resting on Shi Gui's arm clenched tight, and borrowing Shi Gui's strength, he managed not to collapse on the spot.

My imperial son!

Looking at Physician Qian, he gritted his teeth and forced out a few words.

"What on earth happened?!"

"Didn't I order you to take good care of Imperial Consort Jia Gui's pregnancy?!"

"You even said before that the fetal signs were stable — why would there be a sudden miscarriage?!"

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"

Physician Qian fell to his knees with a thud.

"Please, Your Majesty, forgive me."

"Your Majesty!"

"Is the Xiyue Emperor here?"

Hearing Imperial Consort Jia Gui's voice, the Shunhe Emperor ignored him and strode quickly into the room.

Imperial Consort Jia Gui lay weakly on the bed, her face pale as paper, eyes brimming with tears. She reached out toward the Shunhe Emperor, her voice choking.

"Your Majesty! Our child…"

The scene before his eyes seemed to overlap with one from many years ago.

The Shunhe Emperor instinctively tightened his grip on her hand.

"Don't be afraid, there will be other children. Next time we'll have a little princess — I've always loved the princesses you bear…"

Imperial Consort Jia Gui looked at him strangely.

"Whatever do you mean, Your Majesty?"

Shi Gui at the side was even more startled.

What's come over Your Majesty?

Why would he suddenly say that to Imperial Consort Jia Gui?

He quietly reminded him from the side.

"Your Majesty?"

The Shunhe Emperor came back to himself, only to see Imperial Consort Jia Gui gazing at him with tear-filled eyes.

"Your Majesty, my child must have been harmed by someone!"

"These past few days I've been having nightmares and sleeping poorly — someone must have tampered with something in this palace!"

"Your Majesty, you must seek justice for your concubine, and for our poor child!"

The Shunhe Emperor looked at Physician Qian and demanded sharply.

"What on earth happened?"

Physician Qian knelt on the ground.

"This official has already examined every object in this room, and found nothing amiss. But judging from the Imperial Consort's pulse, it was indeed caused by some substance. May I ask the Imperial Consort, did you eat or drink anything unusual today?"

Imperial Consort Jia Gui thought carefully.

"The same as on ordinary days, though perhaps because of my morning sickness, today's tonic tasted even more unpleasant than usual."

As she spoke, her hand gripped the quilt tightly.

"Could it have been the tonic?!"

Physician Qian questioned the palace maids in the hall.

"Is the medicine bowl still here?"

The palace maid, suddenly questioned, instinctively tensed up. Even though she kept her head lowered trying hard to hide it, her guilt was plain to see.

"The medicine bowl has already been washed clean, no dregs were left behind."

Hearing this, the Shunhe Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly.

"I haven't even begun to ask yet — why would you think of dregs?"

The palace maid's face went deathly pale, and she dropped to her knees with a thud.

"This servant…"

"Sister Jia Guipin! Are you alright?"

The person had not yet arrived, but her voice reached first.

The Empress stepped quickly into the room, saw the Shunhe Emperor beside the bed, and bowed slightly.

"Your servant greets the Xiyue Emperor."

The Shunhe Emperor lifted his eyelids slightly, his tone flat.

"The Empress has come too."

"Your servant was busy with the Seventh Princess's marriage alliance when she heard the palace servants come to deliver word that something had happened at Yongxiu Palace. So your servant hurried right over."

Saying so, she looked at Jia Guipin with concern.

"How does sister feel?"

"Many thanks for the Empress Dowager's concern."

The Empress offered a few more words of comfort, putting on a thorough show of propriety before the Emperor, and finally added.

"Don't be too grieved. Take care of your health—that's what matters. You're still young; there will always be more children."

Shunhe Emperor: "..."

Everyone: "..."

Those in the room lowered their heads a few degrees deeper.

Hearing her speak of children, Jia Guipin gritted her teeth.

"But right now I only want to find the villain who harmed my child!"

"Oh?"

The Empress feigned surprise, then changed her face and said viciously for any interested parties to hear.

"Who is so bold as to dare plot against the imperial heir?!"

"If the Xiyue Emperor and Her Highness (Her Highness (Her Highness (Her Highness (Her Highness (Her Highness (Her Highness (Her Highness (Her Highness (Bengong))))))))) find out, we will surely tear her to pieces and exterminate her nine clans!"

Sure enough, hearing her words, many in the hall were so frightened they trembled all over.

Jia Guipin pointed at the palace maid kneeling on the ground.

"This person is highly suspicious. The Xiyue Emperor was just about to interrogate her when the Empress Dowager arrived."

"Is that so?"

The Empress swept a cold glance over the palace maid, her tone ambiguous.

"This servant is innocent!"

That palace maid knelt on the ground, kowtowing *thud thud thud*.

"I beg the Xiyue Emperor to see clearly! This servant only heard Imperial Physician Qian say he needed to examine the medicine bowl, which made me think of the dregs left on it. This servant truly knows nothing!"

Seeing this, the Empress curved her lips, her eyes flicked, and when she looked toward the Shunhe Emperor her smile was perfectly natural as she proposed.

"These servants in Yongxiu Palace can't even look after their masters properly. In your servant's view, these servants all deserve to die!"

Clearly her lips carried a smile, and her tone was gentle and soft, yet the words she spoke made everyone present tremble with dread.

"Xiyue Emperor, let them be sent to the Imperial Mausoleum with the little prince!"

The palace maids and eunuchs in the room dropped to their knees in a clatter, all begging for mercy.

"Xiyue Emperor, spare our lives!"

"We beg the Xiyue Emperor to spare our lives!"

The Shunhe Emperor was given a headache by the noise.

"First lock them all in the Court of Careful Punishment, interrogate each one, then deal with them!"

After the palace servants were led away, the room fell quiet again.

The Empress pinched her handkerchief.

"Sister Jia Guipin, rest well. Her Highness (Her Highness (Her Highness (Her Highness (Her Highness (Her Highness (Her Highness (Her Highness (Her Highness (Bengong))))))))) will come visit again later."

She gave the Emperor a slight curtsy.

"Your servant still has the escort party to attend to. I'll take my leave first."

Saying so, she turned and walked out.

"Oh, Xiyue Emperor—when your servant was drinking her medicine earlier, she found it too bitter and spat some out onto her handkerchief."

Saying so, Jia Guipin turned to look at Imperial Physician Qian.

"Can it still be examined like this?"

Hearing these words, the Empress, who was almost at the door, paused her steps.

She dug her nails hard into her palm, steadied herself, and continued walking out.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Imperial Physician Qian examined the handkerchief carefully.

"Your Majesty, this tonic medicine has had an abortifacient added to it!"

Jia Guipin covered her mouth in disbelief and cried out.

"An abortifacient?!"

She gripped the Shunhe Emperor's hand tightly, weeping like pear blossoms in rain, pleading bitterly.

"Xiyue Emperor! You must see justice done for your servant!"

The Shunhe Emperor's expression was also very ugly. He patted her hand gently.

"Imperial Consort, rest well first. I will certainly get to the bottom of this."

Walking out the door, the sobs and weeping inside never ceased—the grief was beyond words, truly heartbreaking to hear, moving all who heard to tears.

The Shunhe Emperor closed his eyes heavily, the hand behind his back clenching into a fist.

When he opened his eyes again, his gaze carried a bone-chilling coldness.

"Start by investigating that servant from just now—use severe interrogation. And the Imperial Medical Bureau, whoever mixed the medicine, whoever brewed it, whoever delivered it—anyone connected to Yongxiu Palace, not a single one may be spared!"

"No matter who it is, this time, I will absolutely not let it rest!"

Hearing these words, Shi Gui's heart gave a jolt.

"Servant obeys the Imperial Decree."

……

Fengyi Palace.

The Empress rubbed her temples, aching from fury.

"I truly underestimated that wretched woman. One moment of carelessness, and she's dug a pit for Her Highness!"

Hua Ru stepped forward and gently helped massage her temples.

"Imperial Consort (Gongzhu), set your mind at ease. They're just a few servants—make them shut their mouths forever, that's all."

The Empress suddenly opened her eyes.

"No!"

"The Xiyue Emperor will certainly send people to keep strict watch. We don't have much time left."

She gripped Hua Ru's hand, a flash of killing intent passing through her eyes.

"We strike tonight!"