Chapter 53: Palace Search

Chapter 53: Palace Search

The two maids, unable to catch Consort Min’s words, exchanged glances. Dongqing asked softly, "Mistress, about this breakfast?"

Consort Min didn’t answer, remaining silent for a moment before gently caressing her still-flat belly with her right hand.

She knew what her aunt and Nanny Li were secretly plotting.

The palace maid Xiaolian, chosen to serve her, had been bribed by Sun Manyun. Initially, she suspected her cousin Manyun, but how coincidental was it that she was rescued by the Consort's people when she fell into the water, and the Consort fell ill that same night.

Wasn't this meant to lead her to suspect Sun Manyun, while using the debt of saving her life and the Consort's illness to clear herself, then watch as they turned against each other?

The more Consort Min thought about it, the more she believed it to be true. Unfortunately, Manyun no longer trusted her as before. Knowing she was guilty, Manyun assumed it was Consort Min who deliberately fell into the water to slander her and even ruined the longevity gift she had prepared, intending to perform a sword dance to seek the Emperor’s favor... If that was the case, she had no choice but to retaliate and uproot the problem.

However, it was not up to Consort Jiang, the instigator of their rift, to escape unscathed.

The Emperor had been the secret object of Consort Min's affection since her youth. She entered the palace with the sole purpose of winning His Majesty's heart. How could she allow Consort Jiang to occupy that place in his heart? In this palace, there could only be one cousin of the Emperor.

Adding to this was the issue with Sun Manyun. Under the weight of new grievances and old grudges, it was inevitable that some resentful words were spoken against her aunt, leading to the daring plan conceived in Cining Palace.

Consort Min gently stroked her abdomen, her gaze returning to the food box on the table, lined with reed-patterned silver satin.

Since Manager Zhang had gone to such lengths to send a message through these means, it was likely that the area outside Hanzhang Hall was now heavily guarded, and her aunt... perhaps her plan had failed.

Her aunt was the Emperor's birth mother; he would not harm her. But Consort Min herself was different... The figurine in the box bore her own birth date and details. The only option now was to pretend ignorance of everything...

Thinking of this, she clenched her teeth and said firmly, "Dongqing, take people and thoroughly check Hanzhang Hall again. If you find anything out of place, burn it immediately; Du Ruo, go to the guards at the entrance and tell them your mistress has a stomach ache and needs the Imperial Physician."

"Yes." The two maids, seeing Consort Min's serious expression, felt a sense of foreboding and solemnly accepted their tasks.

Pregnant with the imperial heir, Consort Min's sudden abdominal pain was not taken lightly by the guards. They allowed Du Ruo to go to the Imperial Physician's office, sending one person with her and another to inform Sheng An.

But shortly after the messenger left, the Emperor and the Empress arrived together, followed by a procession of officials from the Punishment Department.

The head guard was secretly alarmed and stepped forward to greet them.

"I, Yuan Dingwu, pay my respects to His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress."

"Dispense with the formalities," the Emperor said casually.

Sheng An stepped forward and asked, "Guard Yuan, is everything in order in Hanzhang Hall?"

What did he mean by "in order"?

Yuan Dingwu internally scoffed but replied, "All is normal. Just a moment ago, Consort Min's maid reported that the Consort is experiencing some stomach pain, and I have sent someone with her to fetch the Imperial Physician."

"Stomach pain?" The Empress exclaimed in surprise and turned to Chunyan, "Go to the Imperial Physician's office and hurry them along."

The Emperor, however, remained composed and silent, leading the Empress into Hanzhang Hall.

Sheng An stayed behind, smiling at Yuan Dingwu, "Guard Yuan, leave Hanzhang Hall to me. You and your men can take a break."

"Thank you, Eunuch Sheng! We'll patrol the Taiji Hall area," Yuan Dingwu knew well that the primary duty of a guard in the palace was to keep one's senses sharp and alert. He promptly agreed with a smile and led his men swiftly away from Hanzhang Hall.

As the group disappeared from view, Sheng An turned to the chief eunuch of the Punishment Department, Luo Yunlai, and ordered, "Let Quan Ping guard the outside with his men, and you take two teams inside with me."

He then hurriedly led his men inside.

Upon entering the hall, Sheng An signaled Luo Yunlai with a glance. Understanding, Luo led his men to search the area, being careful not to be too intrusive out of respect for Consort Min's status.

Sheng An slipped to the Emperor's side, bowing as he reported, "Your Majesty, Eunuch Luo has begun the search."

"Hmm," Emperor Xiaosheng acknowledged, his brow furrowing at Consort Min's cries of pain. He turned to the Empress, "Go and see what's wrong with Consort Min."

The Empress bowed in compliance.

Emperor Xiaosheng had no intention of checking himself. His gaze shifted, noticing a needlework basket on the table in the warm chamber, with partially sewn baby clothes and shoes inside, causing him to pause momentarily.

Du Ruo quickly returned to Hanzhang Hall with the Imperial Physician, who was again Doctor Cheng. After taking Consort Min's pulse and concentrating for a moment, he wrote a prescription and handed it to Dongqing, then reported to the Emperor:

"Your Majesty, Consort Min's pregnancy is still in its early stages. It seems she has been frightened and overstrained, affecting the fetus. I have prescribed a medicine to stabilize the pregnancy. She needs to rest in bed and stay calm for the next three months to ensure the safety of the imperial heir."

"Frightened and overstrained... staying calm?" Emperor Xiaosheng looked at Doctor Cheng with a semi-amused gaze, making the physician sweat nervously.

By then, Luo Yunlai had finished the search and approached the Emperor, whispering, "Your Majesty, we found no incense, paper money, or other suspicious items in Hanzhang Hall."

Emperor Xiaosheng was indifferent to whether anything was found in Consort Min's quarters. Whether something was found or not, the outcome was the same.

However, since the Empress had mentioned that Concubine Sun had come to accuse her, and knowing Concubine Sun, a mere talent in the palace, couldn't have known the movements of the Punishment Department and mistakenly thought Consort Min was worshipping spirits secretly, perhaps there was indeed something in Changchun Palace...

The Empress Mother had always been kind to Hui'er, but now suddenly turned hostile. Could it be Consort Min's instigation?

With this thought, Emperor Xiaosheng spoke, "Then conduct a search of the palace. Search all the side halls, auxiliary halls, and rear halls of Changchun Palace."

Luo Yunlai felt a chill in his heart and solemnly complied.

Shortly after, he approached, holding a mahogany box.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this was found in the Xianyu Pavilion," he said.

"Xianyu Pavilion?" Emperor Xiaosheng's eyebrows lifted slightly, speaking indifferently, "Open it and let’s see."

"Yes," Luo Yunlai carefully opened the box, revealing some greyish-white wooden debris and a roll of red cloth with various-sized needles inserted.

Seeing these items, Emperor Xiaosheng's expression changed abruptly, his anger barely contained, "What did Consort Liu say?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Consort Liu claimed she has never seen this box before. If she lies, she welcomes no good... ahem... and she suspects that Consort Min might have secretly placed it there when she moved from Furong Pavilion to Xianyu Pavilion," Luo Yunlai hurriedly replied.

After hearing this, Emperor Xiaosheng reflected on Consort Liu’s usual behavior, quickly circled the round table with the needlework basket in the warm chamber, and then instructed Sheng An, "Take this box," before turning behind the screen into the inner chamber.

Inside, Consort Min was being attended by maids as she took her medicine, with the Empress sitting beside her, her face full of concern.

Emperor Xiaosheng walked straight up to Consort Min, ignoring her greeting and the sudden warmth in her eyes, and coldly asked, pointing to the wooden box in Sheng An's hand, "Consort Min, do you recognize this item?"