Chapter 350: Xie Ping Is Pregnant
The Emperor's brows were heavy with concern.
When the Empress proposed enfeoffing Li Jingshu as Consort Jin, he hesitated.
That day, seeing Li Jingshu collapsed in a pool of blood, he had acted impulsively in his anxiety and allowed her to reside in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
In recent days, memorials of impeachment from the Censorate had piled up on his desk like falling snow, while rumors from the common folk had also reached his ears.
If he truly allowed Li Jingshu to enter the rear palace, he would become the most absurd emperor of the Great Jin Dynasty, and history books would surely record him in disgrace.
In his youth, he might have recklessly made Li Jingshu the Brocade Imperial Concubine.
But now, he no longer thought that way.
Compared to the vast empire and his reputation both in life and after death, what did a woman matter?
He would protect Jing Shu for the rest of his life.
There was no need for her to enter the palace.
Having made up his mind, he was about to speak.
Lifting his head, he met the Empress's eyes, which were filled with shards of winter ice: "Li Jingshu harbors great ambition, and it is Your Majesty who has fueled it. If such a person were to become Empress, the Great Jin Dynasty would become the laughingstock of the world. How would Your Majesty face the ancestors then!"
"Audacious!"
The Emperor slammed the table.
When had he ever said he would make Li Jingshu Empress!
He didn't even want her to enter the rear palace as a concubine!
How could he possibly let the eternal legacy of Great Jin be destroyed by his own hands!
But the Empress's attitude deeply displeased him.
"What I do is not for you to question!" the Emperor said coldly. "If you admit your mistake, you should show the proper attitude of repentance!"
The Empress slowly lowered her head.
In her red-rimmed eyes, the pain gradually faded, replaced by determination.
Between her and Li Jingshu, it would be a fight to the death.
If the Emperor protected Li Jingshu, then she would be the one to die.
First, the phoenix seal would be stripped from her, and she would be confined to the cold palace.
Soon after, her position as Empress would be abolished.
Then, with some scheme from Li Jingshu, she would die under mysterious circumstances...
Before that happened, she had to take action.
"Yes, Your Majesty. This subject has committed a grave error," the Empress said, kneeling directly. "I await Your Majesty's judgment!"
They were childhood sweethearts who had grown up together; she shouldn't have to kneel to her own husband. Yet now, she humbled herself to the dust.
The Emperor's expression softened slightly. "Since you recognize your mistake, return to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
The Empress rose and withdrew from the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
As she left, she caught sight of Li Jingshu standing at the entrance of the side chamber, supported by two palace maids. Though she appeared frail, a triumphant smile graced her lips.
The Emperor had only ordered her return to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility but had not restored the phoenix seal.
That seal was being reserved for Li Jingshu.
The Empress indifferently averted her gaze.
Upon returning to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, the Empress said coldly, "Summon Tian Feng to the palace."
Granny Yin was utterly astonished. "Your Majesty..."
"Bring him to the palace," the Empress enunciated each word clearly. "This is what I must do."
Tian Feng was the leader of the five thousand death warriors she had secretly raised at great expense. She had nurtured them for years, hoping they would prove useful one day.
Now, her position as Empress was precarious, and the Crown Prince's status would soon follow.
Since that was the case, she might as well go all the way.
The Emperor had been heartless first; she could not be blamed for being unjust. Thirty years as husband and wife, from sharing a pillow to standing opposed—this was the outcome she had dreaded most.
But did she have any other choice?Only when the Emperor dies... and the Crown Prince smoothly ascends the throne... can the current situation come to an end.
The Empress closed her eyes, two clear tears sliding down from the corners of her eyes.
Soon, she thought of something and suddenly opened her eyes: "Consort Wu, bring her here!"
This was the greatest hidden danger in the Eastern Palace and must be dealt with.
The matron had long known Consort Wu could not be kept much longer and immediately went to the Eastern Palace to fetch her.
At this time, the Crown Prince was gathering his counselors to discuss matters and was not by Xie Ping's side at all. Thus, Xie Ping was brought before the Empress.
She had already keenly sensed the aura of death, so frightened that her legs trembled: "Your humble servant pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress..."
"You've lived long enough." The Empress's voice was light. "Guards!"
Two matrons approached with a white silk cord.
"No, Your Majesty, I cannot die..." Xie Ping struggled frantically. "I... I am with child, yes, I am pregnant!"
The Empress froze.
Pregnant?
Seizing the opportunity, Xie Ping hurriedly said, "If Your Majesty does not believe me, you can summon the imperial physician to take my pulse!"
As long as she could buy time, the Crown Prince would surely come to save her.
The Empress looked at her abdomen.
The Crown Prince had been married for over ten years, and only the Crown Princess had given birth to three daughters and one son. Despite so many women in the Eastern Palace, no one else had managed to conceive.
At first, she thought the Crown Princess was behind it, but after sending people to watch closely, she discovered that the other women were too frail to bear the Crown Prince's favor.
Aside from the Crown Princess, only Consort Fang had conceived once, but she miscarried. Now she was pregnant again.
And Xie Ping's belly also carried a child.
"Your humble servant knows her sins are grave, but the child is innocent..." Xie Ping wept bitterly. "After the child is born, I will willingly take the white silk to end my wretched life. I beg Your Majesty to give me a chance..."
The Empress ordered someone to summon the imperial physician.
The physician arrived quickly. Xie Ping tremblingly extended her hand: "I've been feeling nauseous and vomiting these past few days. I don't know if it's pregnancy or a chill. Please examine me carefully and slowly..."
The Empress was instantly enraged.
This wretched woman, at death's door, still dared to play tricks to delay time. A white silk cord was too merciful—she should die in humiliation...
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Consort Wu!" Unexpectedly, the imperial physician beamed with joy. "Consort Wu is indeed pregnant. It's very early, not even a month along. She must take good care of herself."
Xie Ping was utterly stunned.
She was truly pregnant? Carrying the child of her and the Crown Prince?
This was the best gift from heaven!
The Empress's voice was icy cold: "Then take good care of yourself."
As soon as she finished speaking, the Crown Prince rushed in through the door: "Mother Empress, Linglong she..."
"Your Highness, I am pregnant." Xie Ping wept with joy. "I can continue Your Highness's lineage..."
"Did you hear, Mother Empress? Linglong is with child. She carries my bloodline. I beg you not to trouble her anymore." The Crown Prince shielded Xie Ping as they left.
The Empress's expression was frigid.
When this child is born, it will be Xie Ping's death day.
Xie Ping, having narrowly escaped death, returned to the Eastern Palace.
Leaning against the Crown Prince, she gently stroked her belly, a tender smile gracing her lips.
With this child, she had truly secured her footing in the Eastern Palace. From now on, things would only get better.
The shameful years of the past were over. With the Crown Prince and her child, her life could be complete.As for whether the Empress would take her life, that wasn't something to ponder at the moment. So many people had wanted her dead, yet she had survived until now, hadn't she?
Time passed in the blink of an eye. Li Jingshu remained living in the palace, in the side chamber of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The officials from the Censorate grew weary of submitting memorials against her, and those petitions gradually ceased.
Moreover, the Emperor's birthday banquet was approaching, and they had no desire to spoil His Majesty's mood at such a time.
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