Chapter 114: The Fall.

Chapter 114: The Fall.

Seeing the worried expressions of the two girls who grew up with her, Jiang Hui winked at them and laughed.

"Alright, don't worry, I haven't finished speaking yet…" She touched the bare branch of the begonia in the vase mischievously, "...If Lady Luo is smart enough, then after this incident, the Emperor will start looking for excuses to depose the Empress."

If everything appears normal, the Emperor won’t suspect Lady Luo of deliberately mentioning the agarwood. Then, the one who harmed the Dowager Empress would obviously be the Empress.

The Emperor has long harbored intentions to depose her. Adding this incident would only strengthen his resolve. But even for the sake of the Grand Princess, he can't publicly scandalize the royal family with a plot of the Empress harming the Dowager Empress, so he needs to find another excuse.

Autumn Kui and Wan Men exchanged glances, with the former commenting, "Mistress, you once said the Empress seems to be plotting something… If the Emperor intends to depose her, what about her…?"

Jiang Hui twirled the begonia flower, "Even without the agarwood incident, the Emperor deposing the Empress was inevitable, it's just happening sooner now. The Empress must be well aware of it. In her position, there are only two paths: either voluntarily step down to maintain dignity or… kill the Emperor and become the Empress Dowager."

Autumn Kui and Wan Men weren't shocked by their mistress's startling words, listening intently as she continued, "The Empress doesn’t seem like one to sit and wait for doom. Lacking affection and a biological son, and even for the Grand Princess's sake, she wouldn't willingly abdicate. Thus, her plot is probably aimed at the Emperor… If he moves to depose her sooner, she can only act first…"

Stopping there, Jiang Hui paused without further elaboration.

Today, at Fengyi Palace's greeting ceremony, she also saw the Empress's cousin, the beautiful Wang Shi, who appeared quiet and reserved.

The Empress bringing her cousin into the palace was obviously with the intention of having her bear the Wang bloodline. Her original plan must have been to wait until either she or Wang Mei Ren gave birth to a prince or until the Second Prince grew a bit older before making a move…

Born to the Yingchuan Wang family, her father, the Marquis of Linping, served as a mid-ranking official in the Ministry of Rites, and her family lacked military power. If she wanted to elevate a young emperor to the throne, merely harming the current Emperor wouldn't suffice; she would also need a powerful minister with military authority on her side.

"Otherwise, despite the lack of support from the Marquis of Cheng'en's family, compared to these young princes, the court officials would probably prefer to support the steadily maturing Prince of Changle."

"But if Lady Luo's pregnancy proceeds without issues, the Emperor won't leave the Empress much time to win over the ministers. Her choices are becoming limited."

From outside the window, Qingfeng's figure hurriedly moved among the corridor's pillars, seemingly bearing urgent news.

Moments later, Jiang Hui heard his request to be seen from outside the curtain.

Biyun opened the curtain for Qingfeng, who approached Jiang Hui with a solemn face and reported, "Mistress, Lady Luo suddenly suffered unbearable abdominal pain at the entrance of Chonghua Palace. Lady Sun and Lady Wan had no choice but to take her inside."

Hearing this, Jiang Hui smiled faintly, understandingly commenting, "Not only is she intelligent, but she also possesses the ability to adapt to circumstances."

Two quarters of an hour earlier.

Lady Sun, having dealt with her half-sister, walked towards Chonghua Palace in a good mood with Lady Wan, only to encounter Lady Luo, visibly pregnant, seemingly on her way back to Changxin Palace.

Lady Luo, exempted from paying respects due to her pregnancy, still visited Fengyi Palace for roll call on the first day of the new consorts’ arrival.

Since they met, there was no reason to pretend otherwise. As fifth-ranked nobles, Lady Sun merely nodded at Lady Luo, while Lady Wan, enviously looking at Lady Luo's belly, respectfully greeted, "Lady Luo, hope you're well."

"No need for formalities, Lady Wan," Lady Luo replied softly.

Lady Sun, noticing Lady Luo's slightly pale complexion, became wary, afraid that her condition might worsen. After exchanging pleasantries, she hurriedly excused herself with Lady Wan.

Lady Luo seemed to see through her intentions but didn't stop them, watching as they entered Chonghua Palace.

As they crossed the high threshold, a heavy thud from behind startled Lady Sun, followed by the panicked screams of the palace maids. She turned back, sweating coldly, to see Lady Luo groaning on the ground, clutching her belly.

"Lady Luo!" Lady Sun rushed over, stopping a yard away, her face filled with anxiety, "What happened? How did you fall?"

She urgently instructed the head palace maid, Dujuan, "Quickly, fetch the imperial physician!"

Suddenly realizing something, she asked the still cradling her belly Lady Luo, "Which physician has been examining you?"

Lady Luo bit her lower lip until it turned pale and strainedly replied, "Physician Cheng..."

Lady Sun nodded and instructed Dujuan, "Please ask Physician Cheng to come."

Given Lady Luo's pregnancy, it wasn't feasible to leave her lying at the entrance of Chonghua Palace. Lady Sun ordered the palace maids and eunuchs to carefully carry Lady Luo into the palace, turning to see Lady Wan still in shock. Suppressing her anger, she commanded, "Carry Sister Luo to Xiu Xia Xuan, and be gentle, don't harm her!"

Despite being in pain and pale, Lady Luo was still conscious. Hearing Lady Sun's order, she weakly protested, "No, no need, just take me back to Jinlan Yuan..."

Lady Sun rolled her eyes inwardly, expressing concern, "That won't do. Sister Luo, please rest here. I've already sent for the Empress and Physician Cheng."

True to her words, Physician Cheng hurriedly arrived, and upon checking Lady Luo's pulse, his expression changed drastically. He told Lady Sun, "Lady Luo's unborn child cannot be saved. We must administer labor-inducing drugs immediately, otherwise..."

Not finishing his sentence, Lady Sun understood his implication. Since the matter concerned a royal heir, she couldn't decide alone, so she told Physician Cheng, "This needs to be reported to the Empress. For now, please give Sister Luo some medicine to stabilize her condition."

Exiting, she stopped the palace maid Bailing and asked, "Has Huamei returned?"

Huamei had been sent to Fengyi Palace to summon the Empress.

Bailing shook her head, whispering, "Lady, Huamei hasn't returned yet."

Lady Sun nodded, her expression anxious but without real concern. She thought to herself, "I've not delayed the physician. It's the Empress's absence that prevents me from making decisions. Delaying it to possibly cause two deaths would be ideal."