Chapter 28: Eunuch 35 (Emperor vomits blood and faints)

Eunuch 35 (Emperor vomits blood and faints)

The Virtuous Consort has lately been impatient serving the old emperor; his son died—what does that have to do with her? It wasn't even her own son who died!

He actually still has the nerve to take out his anger on his own head?!

Besides, those imperial princes who possess all five poisons—if they die, it's surely heavenly punishment; dead, they got what they deserved!

The Virtuous Consort truly despises the dog emperor; all day she only thinks about the chair beneath her backside, treating her son as an enemy to guard against—even the somewhat decent crown prince from the start has been ruined by him to near death, while her other sons are raised to possess all five poisons. As their father, he actually thinks this is his true nature? And even feels especially relieved?

Don't kid yourself—it's just that the other princes have many flaws; the old emperor feels he has more leverage, easy to control, and they can't threaten his Dragon Throne!

The mothers of those princes are also stupid; they actually completely follow the old emperor's wishes to raise insects, and any prince who shows a bit of talent they all rush to kill first.

Leaving behind only those mediocre, useless princes, they can finally fight each other in peace.

The Virtuous Consort often wonders, if she had a son, how would she raise him?

It probably wouldn't be much better either—either raise a sweet, naive girl who won't catch the emperor's eye, or raise her mediocre, possessing all five poisons.

Thinking of this, the Virtuous Consort couldn't help but grow solemn, subconsciously touching her belly.

The emperor isn't a good father; this inner palace really isn't fit for raising children! If she truly had a son and still wanted to raise him into a proper person, there's only one way: kill the dog emperor……

"Your Ladyship, have some soup." The personal palace maid came over holding a bowl of steaming soup.

It's motherwort egg soup, a medicinal concoction prepared by Granny Yin; she drinks a bowl each month, and her menstruation is especially regular.

The Virtuous Consort couldn't help but frown; few medicinal concoctions taste good, but this is much better than bitter medicine juice.

This paragraph is an image paragraph; please visit the correct website, close the ad-blocking feature, and exit the browser's reading mode.

Not long after she lay down, Eunuch Xia Duofu came to see her, paid his respects, then hinted that the emperor's mood was bad now and she should think of a way.

The Virtuous Consort certainly didn't want to deal with the dog emperor; she immediately feigned weakness and collapsed on the bed, putting on a dainty act and moaning, crying stomach pain.

Xia Duofu, standing before the screen, felt embarrassed; he knew the Virtuous Consort has a few days each month when she feels unwell, to the point she can't get out of bed—this isn't a secret in the palace, after all, more than once someone has seen her faint from pain.

At that time, all the imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital were summoned; the old emperor shouted that if they couldn't cure it, everyone would have to be buried with him, etc.

Those who heard about it all wanted to roll their eyes, but it also showed the emperor's attitude.

Xia Duofu sighed inwardly, thinking the Virtuous Consort doesn't understand things; back when the emperor supported her, she used to gaze at him with the look of beholding a heavenly deity, but now that the emperor hasn't come, she's forgotten who her "heavenly deity" is.

This paragraph is an image paragraph; please visit the correct website, close the ad-blocking feature, and exit the browser's reading mode.

Xia Duofu had just left when the Virtuous Consort immediately shut up, no longer crying pain. She snorted inwardly, 'Do they really think I'm an idiot? The dog emperor lost his son; now no one can advise him usefully, the palace attendants serving him have all suffered—Xia Duofu just can't take it, so he wants to find a few more people to scold?!'

The Virtuous Consort lay on her back, staring blankly at the curtain embroidered with a big fat doll; her mood sank again.

This paragraph is an image paragraph; please visit the correct website, close the ad-blocking feature, and exit the browser's reading mode.

Just thinking that for her child's sake she still has to act coquettish in front of the emperor makes her irritable, especially as the dog emperor is aging rapidly—age spots, white hair, wrinkles all bursting out at once, that sagging skin and loose flesh make even sleeping in his arms irritable.

Half a month later, the Virtuous Consort again found an excuse to leave the palace and return to her natal home, having her family summon Granny Yin to take her pulse.

This paragraph is an image paragraph; please visit the correct website, close the ad-blocking feature, and exit the browser's reading mode.

Granny Yin smiled; as a doctor, she most likes seeing patients cooperate with treatment—the Virtuous Consort is a cooperative patient, no matter how bitter the medicine she downs it in one gulp, and she also cooperates by walking more after meals, so obedient she doesn't seem like a noble.

But the Virtuous Consort is anxious, 'But why is there no movement at all in my womb?'

Since those high-ranking consorts have all fallen, the inner palace is almost exclusively her favor, yet she still couldn't conceive.

This paragraph is an image paragraph; please visit the correct website, close the ad-blocking feature, and exit the browser's reading mode.

Probably because the blow from the imperial son's death was too great, plus his old age, the emperor is barely hanging on; they wrapped things up hastily, leaving her utterly disappointed—if she weren't afraid the child wouldn't be healthy, she'd have wanted to drug him.

Granny Yin hesitated for a long time, then had the Virtuous Consort dismiss everyone around her.

Although the Virtuous Consort didn't understand, she still sent all her attendants out, and then saw Granny Yin suddenly kneel down.

"Granny…" the Virtuous Consort hurriedly helped her up, "What are you doing?"

Granny Yin couldn't help but wryly smile: "What happens today will reach the Ladyship's ears; I, a commoner, will immediately forget it, only hoping the Ladyship will save my life."

The Virtuous Consort was first puzzled, until a sentence struck her heart like lightning and thunder.

"Your Ladyship, having a child takes two people."

"No matter how fertile the land, if the seed lacks vitality, no grain will grow."

This paragraph is an image paragraph; please visit the correct website, close the ad-blocking feature, and exit the browser's reading mode.

This paragraph is an image paragraph; please visit the correct website, close the ad-blocking feature, and exit the browser's reading mode.

She lifted her gaze to the tall bronze gate, letting out a soft sigh; she's been in the capital long enough—perhaps she should also learn from Doctor Zheng and become a wandering physician.

Doctor Zheng is in the southeast, right? Then she'll head southwest.

That evening, Granny Yin slipped out of the capital before the city gates closed.

This paragraph is an image paragraph; please visit the correct website, close the ad-blocking feature, and exit the browser's reading mode.

The Virtuous Consort felt utterly dazed; she fell ill at her natal home, and the next day imperial physicians came and went without cease.

The old emperor, hearing that the Virtuous Consort's heart was knotted and hard to ease, couldn't help but be deeply moved—indeed the Virtuous Consort is his beloved consort; he was depressed over his son's death, unable to cheer up, and the Virtuous Consort actually became depressed because of his depression.

Among the many beauties of the inner palace, only the Virtuous Consort cares about this emperor.

Only on the tenth day did the Virtuous Consort's body finally improve.

When she returned to the imperial palace, it seemed nothing had changed, but this serious illness seemed to have drained all her spirit and energy.

The old emperor treated her even better, bestowing various gifts like flowing water; the Virtuous Consort smiled on her face, but the smile didn't reach her eyes—her attitude toward the emperor was no different than usual, only her personal attendants noticed her perfunctoriness.

Upon hearing that the Virtuous Consort had returned to the palace, the Noble Consort came especially to visit her, and couldn't help but be startled.

"It's only been a few days—how did you get so thin?"

The Virtuous Consort leaned against the bed, speaking weakly: "You're doing this on purpose to anger me, aren't you?"

The Noble Consort sat on the embroidered stool before the bed, asking puzzledly: "The imperial physician said your heart is knotted—what is it that you can't let go of?"

In the entire inner palace, the Virtuous Consort is almost exclusively favored; the old emperor sends all sorts of good things to her quarters, while she herself only has the title of Noble Consort, yet the Virtuous Consort lives very comfortably—what could possibly be troubling her?

The Virtuous Consort remained silent, then after a long while murmured: "That is not what I wish for; gaining it brings no joy, losing it brings no regret."

The Noble Consort's beautiful face was full of confusion: "If it's not what you want, then it's not what you want—just go find what you do want."

She sees it so openly, the dog emperor doesn't love himself, then she doesn't love the emperor either! She loves Ah Fu so much; Ah Fu will make her delicious food every day, will block danger in front of her at the first moment; she has already told her mother, she will take Ah Fu as a sister, and in two years she will marry her off from the palace.

Consort Shu smiled bitterly, fearing she would never get her wish in this lifetime.

Once you enter the palace gates, it's as deep as the sea; this kind of creature called the emperor, not forcing you to die with him already makes him a wise ruler—want to remarry? Wait for the next life!

The Noble Consort couldn't get Consort Shu to reveal her thoughts, so she left sulkily.

"Ah Fu, see what tasty and fun things there are outside the palace, buy them all back." the Noble Consort ordered, "There are still too few interesting people and things in the palace... tsk, if you have something you can't let go of, go torment others, eh; what's tormenting yourself?"

As she would say, the best thing to do is torment the dog emperor.

Ah Fu nodded in agreement, "The consort is right."

Seeing Consort Shu like that, she really had a headache; unlike the Noble Consort, who just needs good food and drink and a few interesting storybooks to spend the whole day peacefully in the hall.

Probably because so many sons have died, even scum like the Seventh and Eighth Princes now seem precious.

The mothers of the Seventh and Eighth Princes are sisters from the same clan; the two sisters entered the palace together, even became pregnant at the same time; the Seventh and Eighth Princes were not only born on the same day, but because their mothers are sisters, the brothers look extremely alike, so those unaware think they are twins.

The sisters got along well in the palace, serving the old emperor together and pondering his preferences, and they actually figured something out.

Over the years, although they have grown old and the old emperor seldom visits their palaces, the respect and honor due them are still given.

Seeing their father smile at them with kindness, a rare sight, the Seventh and Eighth Princes, flattered and startled, instantly got a bit full of themselves.

After comforting the little girl, she sternly said, "Zheng sister, from now on you must listen to me."

Unlike the old emperor, who likes pale and slender women, they prefer plumper women…

However, more and more people gathered around; Taotao held the unconscious Consort Shu, crying and recounting the violence of the Seventh and Eighth Princes, her face covered in tears, yet her speech remained clear.

Even the reason her husband went to the brothel was that she couldn't bear a son; he was vexed, and went to the brothel to relieve his worries.

Consort Shu wept despairingly, "Although I am not the empress, I am still a consort of the emperor; I never thought… you would even not spare a concubine-mother…" She covered her face and cried out in despair, "I have no face to see the emperor! Your Majesty, I, your servant, will not live! May peach blossoms bloom year after year, and may the emperor think of me once each year…"

"Your name is Taotao, what a cute name." the Seventh Prince, a little drunk, kept leaning toward the palace maid, "Oh, the peaches are ripe."

They hastily let go; Consort Shu's body went limp, she fluttered down to the ground and fainted outright.

The officials outside also shouted in their hearts, "Great Liang Emperor, your sons are dead or disabled, and even those who are neither dead nor disabled are poisonous; the crown prince hasn't been appointed; if you die now, the world will surely fall into chaos!"

Consort Shu rushed to Yuhuayuan, then closed her eyes and directly bumped into it.

Doctor Zheng is much younger than Granny Yin, looking to be in her early twenties.

Granny Yin couldn't help but let out a long sigh, speaking earnestly: "Zheng sister, you've taken the wrong path; if you keep this up, the authorities will sooner or later come knocking! Then what will become of Ah Yuan?"

On another note, the old emperor, who rarely cared for the Seventh and Eighth Princes, after expressing his paternal feelings, pondered that this time he must properly educate the two princes so they could someday shoulder responsibilities. After some deliberation, the old emperor, in a rare good mood, went to receive the officials; then he heard that the Seventh and Eighth Princes had teased his consort in Yuhuayuan, and the consort, unable to bear the humiliation and preparing to prove her innocence with death, unexpectedly spat a mouthful of blood onto the officials' faces.

Granny Yin also did not disturb her, quietly slipping in behind a patient.

The palace maid named Taotao had tears in her eyes, daring to be angry but not to speak.

When adult men cannot find wives, chaos ensues; the trafficking of women increases, causing the authorities headaches, and Zheng sister's path narrows.

Taotao continued to wail, "Consort ah, being teased is not your fault; it's only because you are too beautiful… Don't despair, ah; beasts when drunk like to bite people at random—how can humans argue with beasts?"

Granny Yin's expression remained calm: "When others want to seize your family's wealth, they need no excuse; if Ah Yuan were a son, you might even lose your lives, and cases of killing for profit are not few."

After the little girl entered the inner room, Granny Yin then sighed, "You don't look like someone who favors sons over daughters, so why has the title of Child‑Bestowing Goddess spread? It's all about bearing sons and no daughters; where will men find wives in the future?"

Granny Yin listened from the side for a long while, her face growing increasingly stern.

Doctor Zheng took a sip of tea; perhaps the pastry was too sweet and greasy, making the tea taste especially bitter, and she felt the tea was bitter to her heart.

"A few stones stacked or bricks laid to make a baby girl shrine, placing the baby girl inside to slowly starve, freeze, or be eaten by wild beasts… As the baby girl shrine grows larger, it can hold several; the bones of the baby girls in front have not yet decayed, while more are shoved in behind."

Doctor Zheng smiled and said, "She's losing her baby teeth; she normally loves to laugh, but she's afraid people will see her, so she refuses to laugh."

The palace attendants with her saw the situation was wrong and hurried to spread the word; Consort Shu, still lying in bed, upon hearing the news, flew into a rage and jumped straight out of bed.

Fortunately she had some medical skill, which allowed her to raise her daughter; even more fortunate, a miraculous medical book fell from the sky, greatly boosting her medical skill, especially in treating women's ailments, and she gradually earned a good reputation.

Inside the house, Doctor Zheng, her face tanned black and dry, was speaking gently to a woman whose face showed panic.

Doctor Zheng's face lit up with joy, "Granny, you're also joining us on our medical rounds? That's wonderful."

The Seventh and Eighth Princes were playing a peach‑picking game when they suddenly sensed something wrong; opening their drunken, bleary eyes, they saw Consort Shu's face, twisted from shock.

The two princes wanted to retort, "Who knocked her down?" No, "Who wanted to tease her?"

Seeing this, the two princes hastily reached out to help her up, but then thought of something and jerked their hands back; panicked and confused, their legs went weak and they plopped straight onto the ground.

The little girl opened her mouth and wailed, revealing black cavities in her teeth.

"Old Seven, Old Eight." the old emperor looked at his two sons, already in their twenties, with a kind expression, "You're no longer children; settle down and do something proper."

"Rest assured, as long as you and your husband follow my advice, the chance of bearing a son is greater than that of bearing a daughter. Remember, you must abstain from alcohol, let your husband eat more vegetables regularly, and you eat more meat; only with fertile land and normal seeds can you grow the crops you want."

Doctor Zheng replied coldly, "If they chose to drown baby girls back then, they should have anticipated that their sons would lack wives later; the consequences of their own actions are no one else's fault."

A palace attendant shouted along, "Oh no, the Seventh and Eighth Princes teased Consort Shu and even knocked her to death!"

When she encountered Doctor Zheng, the latter was holding a free clinic in the back courtyard of a pharmacy; the pharmacy had opened a side door, with a thick curtain that rose and fell, and furtive patients came and went.

"Since they only want sons, I'll tell them how to increase the odds of having a son; they'll be satisfied, and no baby girls will die—how wonderful…"

"Your Majesty, don't die!" the accompanying officials shouted.

"The baby girl road means burying baby girls on the thoroughfare that everyone passes, signifying countless tramplings, so that baby girls will not be reborn into my family."

Taotao couldn't help but break down and wail, throwing herself onto Consort Shu, "Consort ah!"

They only wanted to establish relations with a flourishing nation, not with one mired in chaos.

That sound was extremely shrill, carrying far away.

The old emperor didn't think there was anything wrong; he himself had three thousand in the Hougong, and it's normal for his sons to want three hundred in the rear court!

Back then, her husband went to the brothel to vie for the top courtesan, but was stabbed to death; her husband's brothers, in order to seize her family's house and fertile fields, ruthlessly drove her and her daughter out.

Granny Yin never expected to meet Doctor Zheng.

Moreover, the sisters both doted on their children, treating them as the apples of their eyes and protecting them fiercely; the result was that they spoiled these two into inhuman playthings! It is said that as soon as they learned to walk, they knew how to lift the skirts of palace maids, and when they grew a bit older, they could not wait to open an establishment to play with women.

Ah Yuan rushed in from the inner room, wailing, "Granny, my mother kept telling those people not to kill the little sister, saying there would be retribution; they agreed, and then my mother told them how to have sons, and my mother saved many, many little girls."

Granny Yin held her in her arms, aching, "Granny knows your mother is kind-hearted, but others don't realize! Dear child, don't be afraid, Granny won't let your mother be taken away."

She said, "You know, I and A Yuan were driven out; at that time we were almost left with nothing but the clothes on our backs, and my dowry was almost going to be taken by them, so I kept thinking, if A Yuan were a son, would they have shown mercy?"

The result of being too flighty was that, when he bumped into a beautiful palace maid in the Yuhuayuan, the two of them flirted with her for most of the day.

The two imperial consorts were capable and resourceful, and the two imperial princes lived very comfortably in the palace, with no one daring to provoke them.

In the modest temporary dwelling they were staying in, Doctor Zheng invited Granny Yin for tea.

The seven- or eight-year-old girl had somewhat dry, yellowish hair; when she smiled, she revealed two dark gaps in her teeth, then, feeling embarrassed, she pursed her lips and placed the snack in front of Granny Yin.

Stop playing with women all day.

The eighth imperial prince lecherously reached out his hand, saying, "Seventh Imperial Brother, I've come to pick peaches!"

Granny Yin looked at her affectionately; although the girl's clothing was not expensive, it was very clean, with a little pink flower embroidered on the sleeve—one could tell her mother treated her well.

Granny Yin furrowed her brows, "Have you thought about the future? If you only bear sons, where will they find wives later? Then you'll have nothing left to do but abduct girls."

"There are just too many, too many." Doctor Zheng said sadly, "Since once they're born they must die, it would be better not to be born at all."

"The infant girl pits are even simpler—just throw them off a cliff you can't descend, and they're smashed to death alive; no need to bury a pit."

What's abnormal is that the two brothers probably grew up sharing a pair of pants from childhood—not quite twins but almost as close; they share many of the same hobbies, including their fondness for playing with women, which they enjoy together. The old emperor feels embarrassed, but fortunately there are six capable older brothers to take the blame, so this little preference is no great harm.

Well, she's not dead yet, and those two scoundrels are already scheming against her personal palace maid, treating her as if she were already dead!

Doctor Zheng recalled the scenes she had witnessed along the way, and involuntarily closed her eyes in sorrow.

"Mother takes all the money she earns to the orphanage; we've picked up many little sisters and sent them to the orphanage…… Mother has saved many people, so the authorities can't arrest her."

She softly said, "Granny, do you know that in the southeast there are infant girl temples, infant girl roads, and infant girl pits……"

She told Doctor Zheng of her plan.

Previously, the father emperor's affection was given only to those older brothers above them; when will it be their turn?

The old emperor simply toppled backward.

The two imperial princes were startled sober by fright.

Doctor Zheng's heart gave a slight start, then she softly sighed, "That might also be uncertain." She gritted her teeth, "I know you dislike me, thinking I favor males over females, which is why you taught others how to bear sons……"

The little girl held up a plate to cover her mouth, revealing only two crescent eyes, "Granny, long time no see—how do you like the rice cake I made?"

The reason is that they seek out fresh, beautiful women to entice the emperor, catering to his tastes; each time they manage to win over the old emperor's heart, causing him to often remember them.

Please move the original unaltered content to vinegar. Sol''er, literature#official! website. If already there, please close the ad-blocking function and exit the browser reading mode.