Chapter 50: Promotion
Chu Yi held a fan, gently fanning himself, and watched as Ruotao, now dressed in brocade, looked completely different from before.
He watched as Ruotao leisurely paid her respects, not forgetting to support her lower back and abdomen when she stood up to show that she was carrying an imperial heir.
Seeing that Chu Yi had no intention of offering her a seat, Ruotao had to deliberately remind him, “Consort Hui, this concubine is pregnant and should not stand for long.”
Chu Yi raised his hand, signaling for a maid to bring a chair, then asked, “Ruotao, what brings you here today?”
After sitting down, Ruotao put on a wronged expression. “Your Ladyship, although this concubine is pregnant now, His Majesty has never been to my hall…”
The pad of Chu Yi’s thumb tapped lightly on the table. He said casually, “You haven’t even been pregnant for three months. Even if His Majesty went, what could he do? Are you hoping to attend him in bed?”
Ruotao stared blankly at Chu Yi for saying such words. How could he be so shameless!
“Your Ladyship, that is not this concubine’s intention… It’s just that His Majesty only dotes on Your Ladyship. This concubine is very envious.”
It wasn’t that Chu Yi was narrow-minded, but he held to his own principles. There was no way Sheng Qianheng was going to their halls!
If Sheng Qianheng really dared to favor someone else, then he would castrate him and then abandon him!
But he couldn’t say that. He looked up at Ruotao, his gaze falling on the hand covering her lower abdomen. “Has the imperial physician been caring for this child well these past few days?”
Ruotao immediately replied, “The imperial physician said that it’s fine now. I just need to rest and recuperate.”
Chu Yi wondered whose child this was. How could she dare to deceive everyone like this? Wasn’t she afraid of the crime of deceiving the sovereign?
“That’s good. You should be careful.”
Ruotao nodded. “Your Ladyship, His Majesty accompanies you every day. I am just a small Daying. I can never hope for His Majesty.”
Chu Yi had already had Lianfang go and invite Sheng Qianheng. He didn’t want to deal with Ruotao anymore. It was annoying to see her.
Although he had known from the beginning that Ruotao had the idea of climbing into the dragon bed, he really couldn’t accept it when it actually happened.
He couldn’t change the concepts or mindset of the people in the book, so he could only do his best to ignore it…
Chu Yi: “His Majesty manages a myriad of state affairs. How would this Palace know His Majesty’s thoughts? He can rest wherever he wants.”
Ruotao had known from before that Sheng Qianheng doted on Consort Hui. But she had never thought that now that there were four consorts in this harem, he would still only dote on one person.
Now that she was pregnant, what should she do if she couldn’t attend Sheng Qianheng in bed?
Sheng Qianheng returned to Qianqing Palace after an incense stick’s time.
Head Eunuch Liu announced from outside the bedchamber, “His Majesty has arrived.”
Chu Yi and Ruotao immediately went to the entrance of the bedchamber to pay their respects. Chu Yi rarely performed these empty formalities and was momentarily dazed.
Seeing his clumsy appearance, Sheng Qianheng immediately helped him up, leaned close to his ear, and whispered, “What kind of bow is that? It’s all crooked.”
Chu Yi glared at him and took the opportunity to stomp on Sheng Qianheng’s foot.
Seeing Ruotao still kneeling on the ground, Sheng Qianheng said, “Rise.”
After getting up, Ruotao looked up at Sheng Qianheng and smiled. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I never thought I’d be able to see Your Majesty today…”
Chu Yi raised a hand to cover his lips and coughed several times.
Seeing that Chu Yi seemed to be displeased, Sheng Qianheng immediately looked back and signaled to Liu Deshan.
Liu Deshan immediately took out an imperial edict and congratulated Chu Yi with a smile. “Consort Hui, receive the edict.”
Chu Yi looked at Sheng Qianheng, truly puzzled. What was this?
Chu Yi was about to kneel to receive the edict but was held by Sheng Qianheng, unable to move. “No need to bow. You can receive the edict standing.”
Liu Deshan continued, “By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims:
Zhen has received the precious mandate and inherited the throne. By the grace of the heavens, I bestow this celebratory gift. Consort Hui of the Chu family is virtuous and talented, a descendant of a noble family, born with pure beauty, and greatly pleases Zhen’s heart. She is hereby enfeoffed as an Imperial Consort, with the authority to manage the Six Palaces. By Imperial Decree!”
Chu Yi received the imperial edict, his palm trembling slightly. He stood there in a daze, his heart filled with doubt. Why had Sheng Qianheng suddenly promoted him today?
Logically, an Imperial Consort had to have given birth to a son and a daughter, but he had become an Imperial Consort while the child was still in his belly. It was not logical.
He squeezed Sheng Qianheng’s hand slightly, his eyes filled with confusion.
Hearing of Chu Yi’s promotion, even if Ruotao was displeased, she had to congratulate him. “This concubine congratulates Your Ladyship, the Imperial Consort.”
Only then did Chu Yi realize that Ruotao was still there. He replied, “Thank you, younger sister.”
Sheng Qianheng immediately signaled for Ruotao to withdraw. Only then did he pick up Chu Yi and place him on the chaise lounge. He knew that Chu Yi was puzzled and explained, “Recently, the court officials have all been submitting memorials, urging me to promote Ruotao. The rank of Daying is too low. It is not logical for the mother of the future eldest prince to have such a low rank. They don’t know that our A-Yi is the great hero of Da Mo. It is perfectly reasonable to promote you.”
Chu Yi nodded. He didn’t care much about this rank. It was just that there were only two women in this harem, and they were always coming to him to ask for Sheng Qianheng, which annoyed him greatly.
He pinched the palm of Sheng Qianheng’s hand and complained, “Just now, Ruotao also told me not to keep you all to myself! There are only three people in this palace, and the other two are both coming to me for your favor. I’ve become the main culprit! What’s the use of being an Imperial Consort? Hmm?”
Sheng Qianheng gave an awkward smile. He knew that the matter of the rank could not make up for the current situation.
“I know you’ve suffered. Could it be that you hope I’ll go to their palaces to sit for a while and not bother you?”
Chu Yi reached out and grabbed Sheng Qianheng’s lapels, scolding, “If you dare to stay in their halls, I’ll get rid of the father and keep the child!”
Sheng Qianheng looked at Chu Yi’s sour face and found it very amusing. He couldn’t help but tease him more. “But if I don’t go, they’ll come and find trouble with you. Why don’t I go to their palaces to sit for a while during the day?”
Chu Yi raised an eyebrow slightly, pushed away the Sheng Qianheng who was half-leaning on him, and said, word by word, “Get rid of the father and keep the child!”
Sheng Qianheng knew he had taken the joke too far. He immediately stepped forward, picked him up, and then sat down himself, having Chu Yi straddle him.
He touched Chu Yi’s lower abdomen and said with a wronged expression, “Baby, your daddy is so cruel. He doesn’t want your other daddy anymore!”
Chu Yi pried at Sheng Qianheng’s fingers. Although he knew that a fetus of this month’s age had not yet developed its hearing, he still retorted, “Don’t talk nonsense to my child!”
Sheng Qianheng lightly kissed Chu Yi’s neck, then took his hand and touched his lower abdomen together. “Your child is of course also my child. My Imperial Consort, don’t be angry with me. You had Lianfang go to Yangxin Hall to report. Didn’t I rush over immediately? Isn’t that worth a little reward?”
Chu Yi “tsked,” too lazy to bother with such a rogue. He stood up, intending to go and get a cup of tea, but was again held by the waist and couldn’t move…
He looked back at Sheng Qianheng and didn’t speak. Chu Yi didn’t know why his emotions were always out of his control recently. It clearly wasn’t Sheng Qianheng’s fault, but he always vented his emotions on him.
He sighed and said, “I was just thinking that although Ruotao had malicious intentions in the past, she was just a servant at that time. But now she’s flaunting her pregnancy in front of me… I didn’t mean to take it out on you.”
Seeing that Chu Yi was actually apologizing to him, Sheng Qianheng was instantly flustered. He held him tightly in his embrace. “It’s fine, it’s fine. It doesn’t matter what you do to me. I don’t mind. As long as our A-Yi is happy.”
Chu Yi closed his eyes, smelling the xìnxiāng on Sheng Qianheng, and slowly asked, “Then do you have anything to hide from me?”
Sheng Qianheng’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be that he had found out about his secret plan to issue an edict to make him the Empress when he was three months pregnant?
“Why do you ask? How could I hide anything from you?”
Was Sheng Qianheng not planning to tell him about the matter of the Kunze for the rest of his life? Although he had accepted it, whether Sheng Qianheng said it or not was another matter.
He lifted his head and bit lightly on Sheng Qianheng’s earlobe, whispering, “Nianqing, I hope we can both be honest with each other…”
It had been a long time since he had heard his courtesy name. Sheng Qianheng was dazed for a moment. He felt Chu Yi’s small gesture, and his Adam’s apple bobbed unconsciously, his breath catching. “Brother A-Yi, I have naturally given myself to you without reservation. You see, we even have a child~”
Chu Yi: “In broad daylight, don’t say such lewd things!”
Sheng Qianheng: “This is called boudoir fun.”
On her way back to the palace, Ruotao felt that something was strange. Chu Yi had no objections to her pregnancy? That shouldn’t be right.
Didn’t he covet the position of the eldest prince?
Princess Zhaoning was waiting for Ruotao at the entrance of Zhongcui Palace. She said, “Younger sister, come into my bedchamber and sit for a while. Let’s have a chat.”
Ruotao was very dissatisfied with the Imperial Household Department’s arrangement for her to live in the side hall of Zhongcui Palace. She had to put up with this Consort De’s temper!
The two of them entered the main hall. Princess Zhaoning got straight to the point. “You think the one in your belly is the eldest prince?”
Ruotao was unconcerned. “Of course.”
Princess Zhaoning let out a cold laugh. “Then the one in Consort Hui’s belly is older than yours.”
Ruotao was suddenly enlightened. No wonder Chu Yi was so calm.
“How do you know? You’re not lying to me.”
Princess Zhaoning raised an eyebrow. “Why would this Palace lie to you? I know medicine. I held his wrist and took his pulse.”
Ruotao took a step back, becoming cautious. “Consort De, why are you telling me these things?”
Princess Zhaoning took out a small bottle and placed it on the table. “This is saffron. It has the effect of promoting blood circulation. You have a relationship with Consort Hui. If you want to keep your position as the eldest prince, this medicine of mine can be of great use.”
Ruotao supported the maid beside her and asked, “Your Ladyship, this concubine is not a fool. If Consort Hui really has a miscarriage, it will be traced back to me.”
Princess Zhaoning walked to Ruotao’s side, handed the small medicine bottle to her, and whispered a few words in her ear…
Although Ruotao had her reservations, she still hid the medicine bottle in her sleeve and then pretended that nothing had happened and went back to the side hall to rest.
Chu Yi stayed in Qianqing Palace all day with almost nothing to do.
After Moshu had gone out of the palace to buy some new picture books, he inadvertently mentioned the matter of Lady Lu to Lianfang.
Chu Yi happened to hear it and immediately asked, “What happened to Lady Lu?”
Moshu was instantly silent, and Lianfang also stammered.
Chu Yi: “What on earth happened…”
Only then did Moshu speak, “Your Ladyship, Lu Wenhan died on his way back to the capital before. The Lu residence was suddenly without a leader. Lady Lu saw that the concubines were pitiful, so she gave each of them a lot of money and let them go back to their maternal homes. She herself managed the household affairs in the Lu residence and, by the way, looked at the account books of the Jishi Teahouse…”
Chu Yi was puzzled. “These are all good things.”
Moshu continued, “But when this servant was on my way back to the palace today, I seemed to see Lady Lu’s lower abdomen was swollen, as if she were pregnant. It felt strange…”
Since Lu Wenhan was already dead, it was impossible for Lady Lu to be pregnant. Could it be that the practice of diǎnqī was still going on?
Chu Yi immediately requested an audience with Sheng Qianheng, wanting to go out of the palace to see Lady Lu.
