Chapter 83: Taking Action.

Chapter 83: Taking Action.

March 3rd, the Shangsi Festival.

Due to the Silkworm and Farming rituals, officials and their families in the capital couldn't perform the traditional riverside purifying rituals to avert misfortune. Instead, everyone accompanied the Emperor and Empress to the suburbs for personal involvement in farming and weaving.

In Yaohua Palace, Jiang Hui, dressed in the ceremonial robe, facing the direction of the suburbs, completed the ancestral worship ritual with the proclamation of the Court Lady, then, holding a yellow basket and silver hook, collected mulberry leaves from specially transplanted trees in the garden, handing them back to the Court Lady, concluding the ceremony.

The subsequent feeding of spring silkworms, silk reeling, and dyeing were performed by the Court Ladies.

Qiu Wei assisted her back to her room. Just after she had changed out of the cumbersome ceremonial robe and removed the Noble Consort's headdress, Hong Yu entered, bowed, and reported, "My lady, two guards from Changmen Palace have arrived with news that Zhao Shuren has taken action!"

Considering the dates, Zhao Shuren's child was indeed due around March or April, but it was unexpected that she would go into labor precisely on the day of the Silkworm Ceremony.

Today, with the Emperor, Empress, and all the consorts absent from the palace, and the Empress Dowager worshiping at Wutai Mountain, the Imperial Concubines typically staying out of affairs at Ci'an Palace, only Noble Consort Jiang and Consort Xu were significant figures left in the palace. Naturally, the guards outside Changmen Palace chose to deliver the news to Yaohua Palace.

Upon hearing the news, Noble Consort Jiang stood up, and while being assisted by Qiu Wei and Wan Mang in dressing, she instructed Hong Yu, "Go and send Feng Guo to the Imperial Medical Bureau to summon Physician Qiu and Physician Lin to Changmen Palace. Also, let Feng Shi visit Fengyi Pavilion and Jianzhang Palace to inform them of Zhao Shuren’s labor."

"Yes," Hong Yu replied and hurried off to find Feng Guo and Feng Shi.

Reaching the central courtyard, Noble Consort Jiang asked the two guards waiting there, "Have the midwives, medical maids, and wet nurses been arranged properly in Changmen Palace?"

The guards saluted and the elder one replied, "Your Highness, the midwives, medical maids, and wet nurses were already sent to Changmen Palace by the Empress."

Noble Consort Jiang nodded in acknowledgment, dismissed the guards back to Changmen Palace, and then told Qing Feng, Qiu Wei, Wan Mang, and Bi Yun, "Follow me to Changmen Palace. Keep an eye on the Empress's and Zhao Shuren's people, especially that Zhao Mammy."

She further instructed Wan Mang and Bi Yun, "If anything unexpected occurs, don’t focus on protecting my stomach."

Their expressions turned solemn as they all solemnly acknowledged her commands.

Bi Yun, strong and accompanying Noble Consort Jiang for the first time, kept repeating the Consort’s instructions in her mind, determined not to fail her mistress.

Noble Consort Jiang glanced at the sky and slowly boarded the palanquin, heading towards Changmen Palace.

Changmen Palace was secluded, and the eunuchs carrying the palanquin turned through another alley.

Sitting behind the brocaded curtains embroidered with magnolias in the palanquin, Noble Consort Jiang’s lips curled into a slight smile.

The Empress's father, the Marquis of Linping, serving as an official in the Ministry of Rites, had easily recommended the Emperor and Empress to conduct the Farming and Silkworm Ceremonies, as such a petition seemed innocuous, earning merit without risking the Emperor's displeasure.

Zhao Shuren’s choice of the Silkworm Ceremony for her labor might indicate the Empress’s promise to treat her child as if it were her own.

Regardless of the truth behind the Empress's promise, Zhao Shuren didn't have long to live. For her, causing trouble for Noble Consort Jiang was a no-lose situation.

With the Empress not in the palace today, if something were to happen to Noble Consort Jiang because of Zhao Shuren, the blame couldn't be placed on the Empress.

If Noble Consort Jiang was indeed pregnant, causing a miscarriage would be ideal; if she was faking her pregnancy, this would be a good opportunity to test her.

Noble Consort Jiang's palanquin took about half an hour to reach Changmen Palace. The guards at the gate, seeing her arrival, promptly opened the gates.

The palanquin stopped outside the side hall of Changmen Palace, where Qiu Wei lifted the curtain to help Noble Consort Jiang alight, with Wan Mang and Bi Yun following closely behind, subtly protecting her.

Physician Qiu and Physician Lin had already arrived and were sitting in the side hall, awaiting news from the medical maid. They quickly stood to greet Noble Consort Jiang as she entered.

Noble Consort Jiang gestured for them to sit, and she too found a chair to sit in. She watched as palace maids brought hot towels into the delivery room and soon came out with bloody water.

Zhao Shuren seemed to endure pain well, hardly screaming, only occasionally letting out a cry of pain.

After a while, the Imperial Kitchen's Wu Chenggong sent a steward with food including egg noodles and chicken soup rice, which was delivered to the delivery room by the palace maids.

As Changmen Palace lacked its own kitchen, all meals were naturally managed by the Imperial Kitchen. Noble Consort Jiang didn’t wish to mistreat Zhao Shuren over food, avoiding needless criticism.

Zhao Shuren began labor around the beginning of the Si hour and it was now nearing noon. According to the medical maid, the delivery might take another hour or two.

Back in Yaohua Palace, Shan Zha had Feng Shou, another apprentice of Qing Feng, bring meals. The Imperial Kitchen also cleverly sent meals for the others present.

Noble Consort Jiang stood up discreetly and said to Physician Qiu and Physician Lin, “You’ve both been waiting all morning; perhaps you should have something to eat.”

Both physicians exchanged glances and respectfully thanked Noble Consort Jiang for her consideration.

They watched as Noble Consort Jiang moved to the side hall for her meal, then sat outside the delivery room, hastily eating a few bites from the food boxes provided by the Imperial Kitchen.

Noble Consort Jiang's reaction to this pregnancy was less severe than with her son Nian, but she still couldn’t tolerate the smell of meat and fish. Stepping out of the delivery room for fresh air finally eased her discomfort.

Having finished a specially prepared lunch from the small kitchen, Jiang Hui checked the sky, guessing the Emperor and Empress would soon return to the palace. Sensing the crucial moment approaching, she refreshed herself and headed back to the labor room.

Zhao Shuren's labor pains seemed unbearable, her cries echoing, while two maids hurriedly carried hot water, their faces pale.

Suddenly, Zhao Mammy rushed out with a basin of bloody water, urgently calling for Doctor Qiu but strangely heading towards Jiang Hui.

Though calling for Doctor Qiu, she blindly charged towards Jiang Hui.

Doctor Qiu responded but seemed oblivious to Zhao Mammy's odd behavior, swiftly entering the labor room with his medical kit. Doctor Lin, trembling, moved forward to stop Zhao Mammy.

Onlookers like Qing Feng and Autumn Cui tensed up, noticing Zhao Mammy's odd charge towards Jiang Hui, especially with a basin full of blood water.

Qing Feng stepped in her path, while Autumn Cui and Autumn Cui shielded Jiang Hui, retreating outside.

Realizing her cover was blown, Zhao Mammy no longer pretended, bypassing Doctor Lin and clashing with Qing Feng, still trying to reach Jiang Hui.

Gritting her teeth and veins bulging, she raised her arms, attempting to hurl the blood-filled basin towards Jiang Hui.

Just then, Bi Yun swiftly lunged from Jiang Hui's side to Zhao Mammy's, snatching the copper basin and drenching Zhao Mammy with its contents, even Qing Feng, who was restraining her, couldn't dodge in time!