Twenty-seven, Calmly Born in the Marsh

  It was already dark after dinner, the evening wind was blowing gently, and the stars were shining brightly in the sky. The fragrance of lotus flowers filled the air. Along the lake shore grew lush water plants such as cattails, red smartweed, reeds, and irises, swaying gently in the breeze. A few waterfowl and white egrets played among them. As the night wind blew softly, it carried a refreshing coolness.

  The road to Yuruntang is not far, so I didn't bring many attendants. Xuan Ling and I strolled hand in hand along the waterfront corridor, picking flowers in the wind and playing with fish, chatting and laughing.

  As soon as they entered the courtyard, they heard a house full of cheerful chirping. Following etiquette, she stepped back two steps and followed behind Xuan Ling into the room. The Empress, Imperial Consort Hua, Imperial Consort Yan, and Noble Consort Xin, along with others, were all present, chatting with Mei Zhuang. Seeing Xuan Ling arrive, they hastily rose to greet him.

  Xuan Ling hurriedly pressed down on Mei Zhuang, who was about to get up, and said: "I told you not to bow earlier." With one hand supporting the Empress, he said with a smile: "Today is quite a coincidence, as the Empress and all of you concubines are also present."

  The queen smiled and said: "Shen Ronghua is pregnant, as the mistress of the harem, I should take more care and be considerate, fulfill my duties as the empress."

  The various consorts also said: "We will follow the Empress."

  Xuan Ling nodded in satisfaction.

  Apart from me, Imperial Consort Hua and Consort Cao, the rest of them have not seen the imperial carriage for several days. Suddenly seeing Xuan Ling, it's hard to avoid having a lingering gaze that is focused on him.

  The Empress glared at me and smiled sweetly, saying: "Has Your Majesty finished dinner? A new chef from Western Yuet has arrived in my palace, and he cooks very well."

  Xuan Ling said casually: "I just had dinner at Yifu Hall. Some other day."

  The Empress Hua smiled faintly: "I suppose there's a good chef in Concubine Wei's palace, which is why the Emperor stayed behind just now."

  Meizhuang nodded at me; the empress was still calm and gentle; Cao Jieyu seemed not to have heard; the rest of the people's faces were already slightly displeased.

  The Empress is indeed not willing to let me off easily, she wants to push me in front of everyone!

  I smiled warmly: "The purple ginseng chicken soup in the palace of Queen Hua has already made the emperor unforgettable, and now there is a good cook, isn't it to make the emperor infatuated with the queen?"

  As expected, as soon as these words came out, everyone's attention immediately shifted to the Empress, and I was ignored. What's the big deal about having dinner together once? The Emperor is thinking of who he cares about, and that's what the imperial concubines are really concerned about and jealous of.

  The Empress's cheeks flushed slightly, and she laughed: "It's been a month since we last chatted, Concubine Wei. Your words are as sharp as ever."

  She slightly lowered her head and turned to look at Xuan Ling with a gentle smile, saying: "Your Highness's demeanor is still the same as before."

  The Empress was about to speak again. Xuan Ling smiled faintly at the Empress, but his eyes were as cool as the ice sculptures in the palace, scanning the Empress's beautiful face: "Niece is clever and witty, young and loves to joke, does the Empress want to compete with her?"

  The Empress Hua met Xuan Ling's gaze without flinching, and soon smiled: "I also like Concubine Wei's cleverness, so I often play jokes with her."

  Xuan Ling looked at her and said with a softened tone: "The Empress is indeed by my side for many years, understanding what's on my mind."

  While they were talking, the palace maid of Yurun Hall had already brought up the melons and fruits. Everyone tasted the melons and fruits, and then chatted for a long time again.

  It was a good night, and Xuan Ling was in high spirits. He saw the Empress by his side, being gentle and courteous, and couldn't bear to disappoint her. Moreover, with all the concubines seated around him, it would be inappropriate to go to my Yifu Hall again, so he said he would go to the Empress's Guangfeng Jiyue Hall.

  Since the emperor spoke up and it was also the empress's main palace, naturally no one dared to have any dissenting opinions. They all respectfully sent off the emperor and empress as they left the gate.

  Just out of the Jade Refined Hall's main gate, suddenly saw a figure flashing behind thousands of bamboo stalks. Xingui Pin had sharp eyes and already cried out "Ah yo!" Xu Ling heard the sound and looked over, shouting: "Who is sneaking around there?!"

  Immediately, an imperial attendant rushed over and dragged the person out. He took a look at the lantern and found it was Mei Zhuang's personal palace maid, Fu Ling. She had never seen such a scene before and was already trembling with fear. Her hand loosened, and the package she was holding fell to the ground, scattering expensive clothes everywhere. They looked familiar, seemingly all belonging to Mei Zhuang.

  Xuan Ling raised his head, and Li Chang understood and walked up.

  Li Chang suddenly bent down and flipped his hand, his face changed as he pointed at Fu Ling and scolded: "What is this? You stole the young master's things and want to secretly escape?" As he spoke, two strong eunuchs had already pinned down Fu Ling.

  Fu Ling's face turned pale, and she tightly closed her mouth without saying a word. Mei Zhuang had always been proud and arrogant, seeing that such a humiliating thing happened in her own palace made her both angry and anxious, and she repeatedly ordered: "Get this useless slave out of here!"

  Xuan Ling grasped her with one hand and said, "You're pregnant, what's wrong with you!"

  The fungus on the ground cried out: "Young Master! Young Master save me!"

  Meizhuang saw that everyone was staring at him, and he awkwardly waved his hand. "You've done such a thing, how can I tolerate you!" He stamped his foot and urged, "Go quickly! Go quickly!"

  Cao Jieyu suddenly exclaimed, took a palace lamp from the eunuch's hand, walked forward and carefully turned over the bundle. She picked up a piece of silk pants and asked strangely: "What is this?"

  Qin Fangyi also went up to take a closer look, covered her nose and frowned, saying: "Oh no, there's blood on these pants!"

  Could it be a case of murder for wealth? After turning it over in her mind several times, she glanced at the crowd and saw that everyone's face was filled with shock and uncertainty. Mei Zhuang looked particularly frightened. In her heart, she was even more suspicious - if it was theft, why didn't they steal any valuable jewelry or accessories, but only took a few pieces of clothing, all of which were pants, skirts, and not a single top?

  Xuan Lingdao said: "This matter is very suspicious, who would steal and not steal valuable things but only take some pants and skirts, and they are dirty?"

  The queen nodded repeatedly and said: "Yes." She also said: "These things seem to be Shen Ronghua's, but how did they get stained with blood?"

  Xin Gui Fei said in a low voice: "Isn't it... seeing red?"

  Although the voice was small, several people nearby heard it. For a moment, everyone looked at Mei Zhuang with tension. Mei Zhuang was even more confused: "No..."

  Before the words had fallen, Empress Hua said: "You help Shen Ronghua go in and rest." And to Emperor Xuanling: "Your Majesty, this girl is very strange. In my humble opinion, it's better to have someone take her to the Ministry of Justice for a thorough interrogation first."

  Meizhuang was furious because his own man had lost face in front of the Emperor, and he shouted: "This dirty-handed scoundrel, take him away and give him a good flogging!"

  The place where the palace maid was punished for her mistakes was a place of severe punishment, and it was said that the law was strict and made people shiver. When Rong Ling heard the words "Ah", she let out a loud cry and almost fainted. Suddenly, she shouted: "Master, I'll destroy the evidence for you, but you're ruthless enough to abandon me to death! Why should I be loyal to you?" After finishing speaking, she fell to the ground at Xuanying's feet, knocking her head repeatedly and saying: "Now that things have come to this, I dare not deceive the emperor again. Master is actually not pregnant. These clothes are not stolen by me, but by Master a few days ago when her period came and stained her clothes, asking me to throw them away. These clothes are iron evidence!"

  Meizhuang's face was as white as paper, extremely frightened, almost fainting, and beside her, Caiyue and Bai Ling were urgently calling out: "Young Master, Young Master..." Meizhuang trembled with rage and turned to Xuanying, saying: "Your Majesty... she! She! This lowly servant girl is slandering me!"

  Everyone who heard the words of the fungus was stunned, I was shocked and couldn't speak, this matter happened suddenly, even I fell into the fog, unclear.

  Xuan Ling heard the words and didn't speak, only coldly staring at Fu Ling, making her not dare to lift her head. He then said in a slow tone: "Shen Ronghua has been frightened, go invite the imperial physician." Mei Zhuang seemed to have let out a slight sigh of relief after hearing this, saying: "Li Gonggong, please go invite Liu Taishi who is taking care of my pregnancy for me. I just don't know if he's on duty tonight."

  Li Changying responded with a "yes", saying: "Tonight is not Liu Taizhen's shift."

  Xuan Ling Dao said: "It doesn't matter if it's not there. Then please ask Taichang Hospital to make a note of Zhang Mi."

  Mei Zhuang said: "But my pregnancy has always been taken care of by Imperial Physician Liu..."

  "It doesn't matter. They're all the same doctors."

  I heard him say that and knew he was going to invite a doctor to verify the truth. For some reason, my body suddenly felt cool and refreshing under the pale moonlight, with a solemn expression and complexion as white as paper.

  The imperial physician arrived soon. Mei Zhuang sat slantingly on the chair and let him take her pulse. Zhang Yi concentrated his mind, took her pulse for a long time, his lips pursed tighter and tighter, his goat beard slightly trembling, and beads of sweat as big as soybeans appeared on his forehead.

  The empress hastily asked: "Imperial Physician Zhang, what's going on? Has she been startled and lost the fetal energy?"

  "Your Majesty, Your Highness, forgive me," Zhang Taizhen hastily knelt down and said. Wiping the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, he stuttered: "I... I... She... she... she... didn't have a fetal image at all!"

  As soon as the words were spoken, all four seats were shocked.

  Her heart suddenly turned cold, and she saw Mei Zhuang's shocked expression as one hand pressed against her abdomen and the other pointed at Zhang Mi, shouting: "You're talking nonsense! How could a perfectly fine child not have a fetal image?"

  I grasped Browning's sleeve and said, "Sister, don't worry, it's possible that the imperial physician misdiagnosed."

  Zhang Mi knocked his head and said: "I, your humble servant, am not a master of the art of pulse diagnosis. To be cautious, it would be better to ask Jiang Mu and Jiang Taiyi to examine him together. However, Jiang Taiyi is in mourning..."

  Xuan Ling's face was as hard as iron, and he coldly spat out two words: "Go invite."

  Everyone saw this and knew that he was angry, and even the slightest sound did not dare to come out. The hall was silent and still, with an atmosphere as thick as unopened glue. Mei Zhuang's body was pregnant, and she had always been the most favored one in the palace. Even the ice used for cooling in the Qing Dynasty blue-glazed basin in the palace was finely carved into auspicious patterns. With many people present, the warmth melted those intricate carvings, leaving only a few transparent blocks that were no longer recognizable. A small drop of water slid down and fell onto the plate, making a crisp sound, and the entire Jade Ruan Hall was filled with an inexplicable chill due to this single drop of silence.

  Meizhuang saw Jiang Muyi come in and his expression slightly cleared. Jiang Muyi also nodded slightly to indicate.

  Jiang Muqi felt her pulse and exclaimed in surprise: "The young mistress is not pregnant at all, I don't know which imperial physician diagnosed her as being pregnant."

  Meizhuang originally had some color on his face, but when he heard this, his body suddenly softened and almost fainted onto the chair, and he slid to the ground, kneeling with his head bowed.

  It has come to this, Mei Zhuang is clearly not pregnant, but I don't know if it's her own plan or someone's frame-up. I know that Mei Zhuang really wants a child urgently, could she have resorted to such a lowly tactic just to gain favor? If that's truly the case, my heart aches, Mei Zhuang, you're not utterly foolish!

  Cai Yue hastily said from behind Zhuang's body: "This is not right. Miss Ming has been having morning sickness and loves to eat sour foods, isn't that a sign of pregnancy?!"

  Jiang Mu's eyebrows slightly furrowed, and he calmly said: "Is that so? However, in my humble opinion, the young master should have had her menstrual period a few days ago. It's just that her menstruation is irregular and has been delayed. It must be due to taking medicine." He continued: "Over a month ago, Rong Hua asked me for a prescription to delay her menstrual period, saying that she often had irregular periods and found it difficult to get pregnant. Although I knew it wasn't right, the young master kept saying it was for the sake of the imperial family's descendants, so I gave her the prescription. As for the vomiting and craving sour foods, I didn't know about that." The implication being that he suspected Mei Zhuang was faking a pregnancy.

  Mei Zhuang was both shocked and angry, and could no longer maintain her composure. She tearfully complained to Xuan Ling: "I had privately asked Jiang Taiyi for a prescription in the past, but this prescription can help with pregnancy, not delay menstruation! I am really being wronged!"

  Xuan Ling's face was expressionless, and he only looked at her and said: "Where is Fang Zi? It can be clearly seen in black and white."

  Mei Zhuang said to Bai Lian: "Go to my bedroom and bring the square thing from under the makeup box on the dresser." And then to Xuan Ling: "I understand that private transactions are against palace rules. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

  The Empress Dowager was unconvinced and put down her tea, saying slowly: "That's true. The crime of privately giving and receiving is much smaller than that of faking a pregnancy to compete for favor."

  Meizhuang fell to the ground and did not dare to argue back, so he could only hold his breath and swallow his voice for the time being.

  A moment later, Bai Lian hurried back, her frightened expression hard to conceal, and exclaimed: "Miss, it's not there!" She brought out the dressing box together.

  Meizhuang's body trembled slightly, and she snatched the makeup box with a "pop" sound. She opened it with a shake of her hand, and the jewelry inside scattered all over the floor, sparkling and shining everywhere, making it hard to open her eyes. Meizhuang was terrified, frantically searching around, but there was no sign of even half a piece of paper anywhere.

  Xuan Ling's forehead bulged with blue veins, his lips tightly pursed into a line, and he shouted: "Stop searching!" Without turning back, he ordered Li Chang: "Go and bring Liu Shang to me. If he dares to delay or resist, bind him immediately and bring him here!"

  Li Chang, who was standing aside, had already broken out in a cold sweat and said in a low voice: "I also sent someone to ask Liu Taifu when I went to ask Jiang Taifu just now, but Liu Taifu's family had already fled."

  Xuan Ling was furious, "Fine! Fine! Go to the empty building alone!" He turned his head to Mei Zhuang and said: "Is he your fellow countryman?! Did you recommend him to serve?!"

  Mei Zhuang had never seen Xuan Ling like this before, his words were harsh and his expression was stern, which scared her so much that she trembled all over and couldn't speak.

  I slightly closed my eyes and let out a long sigh in my heart. It turned out that Browning was framed by someone!

  If it were something else, I would have let it go. But this prescription, I've seen it before. Not to mention whether this prescription is for delaying menstruation or assisting pregnancy, but its sudden disappearance can only make me know that Mei Zhuang is innocent. Moreover, Liu Fu also disappeared at this time. Everything points to Mei Zhuang.

  Apart from her, I am the only one who has seen that prescription.

  I was about to kneel down and speak for Mei Zhuang, now only I have seen that square word, can prove that Mei Zhuang is being framed by others, she is innocent.

  I knelt shoulder to shoulder with Mei Zhuang, just calling out "Your Majesty——"

  Xuan Ling glared at me with an icy tone: "Whoever dares to plead for the Shen family will be punished together."

  Before Mei Zhuang's fall from favor, she had already attracted the envy of many. Now that she was in trouble, people were gloating and hadn't even had time to intervene. When Xuan Ling spoke up, no one dared to plead on her behalf. I saw her pitiful state and couldn't help but want to speak again, but my hand was grasped by Mei Zhuang's icy cold hand under the cover of her wide skirt. She was signaling me not to say anything more. Besides, speaking out would only implicate myself and eliminate any chance of saving her in the future.

  Qin Fangyi glanced at me and said: "Your Majesty, Zhen Bijun has always been on good terms with Shen Ronghua, I don't know what happened today..."

  Xuan Ling let out a loud roar, his eyes blazing with anger as he glared at her: "Shut up!" Qin Fangyi was immediately frightened into silence, not daring to speak again.

  She's also a muddle-headed person, in this situation she still wants to kick someone when they're down, it will only add fuel to the fire and make Xuan Ling Xiao angry with her.

  Everyone saw this and hastily knelt down together to beg Xuan Ling to calm his anger.

  He only saw his nostrils slightly flared, his eyes fell on Mei Zhuang's hair. He couldn't help but turn his head to look, the hall was bright as day, and on Mei Zhuang's hair bun was pinned the very same crimson gold harmonious ruyi hairpin bestowed by the Empress Dowager, which shone even more dazzlingly under the candlelight.

  Not enough time for Mei Zhuang to apologize, Xuan Ling had already reached out and pulled out the red gold hairpin and thrown it to the ground. The pin fell on the golden brick floor, shining with a cold and piercing light in the candlelight. Xuan Ling said: "You dare to deceive me and the Empress Dowager, and still wear this pin to show off!" This move was too sudden, Mei Zhuang couldn't dodge in time, nor did she dare to dodge. Her hair scattered like clouds, her black locks disheveled like weeds, contrasting with her pale face that was stiff as a corpse.

  The queen tried her best to persuade: "Your Majesty is angry and Shen Ronghua dare not argue, please take care of the dragon body."

  Xuan Lingjing's expression turned cold, and she spoke in a stern tone: "I have always valued your stability, but I didn't expect you to be so unscrupulous. You deliberately faked a pregnancy to vie for favor, truly disappointing me to the extreme."

  Meizhuang didn't dare to argue back, and could only cry and knock her head repeatedly, saying "I'm innocent".

  I can no longer endure it, being wronged is a small matter, but what if Huang Ling, in a fit of rage, wants to sentence Mei Zhuang to death? No! I cannot just watch as Mei Zhuang dies.

  I rushed to the front of Mei Zhuang's body, weeping and crying: "Your Majesty does not allow me to plead for mercy, nor do I dare to go against Your Majesty's will. It's just that I beg Your Majesty to think thrice about Shen Ronghua. Even if she has made a great mistake, please remember how she served you wholeheartedly in the past. I entered the palace with her on the same day, and I know what kind of person she is better than anyone else. Even if she has erred today, please give her an opportunity to reform herself. Moreover, although Shen Ronghua has angered Your Majesty at present, but if one day Your Majesty remembers even a little bit of her good deeds, yet there will be no chance for you two to meet again, how can Your Majesty bear it?" After finishing speaking, I pressed my forehead against the cold brick floor and refused to lift my head.

  The empress also sighed and said: "Zhen Meiren's words are reasonable. Shen Ronghua's mistake today is just being too anxious to have children, I hope Your Majesty will consider our past relationship."

  Perhaps it was my words and the Empress's that moved Xuan Ling, he remained silent for a long time before saying: "Gong Hua Shen Shi, due to her improper behavior, is demoted to a commoner, imprisoned in Yu Rundang, no one is allowed to visit her without my permission."

  I let out a sigh of relief, as long as I'm still alive, there will definitely be a day for me to rise again.

  Li Chang asked cautiously: "Please Your Majesty, about Liu and that palace maid named Fu Ling..."

  "Capture Liu Bei alive. That palace maid..." His eyes narrowed, and he spat out a single word: "Kill."