Chapter 3 - Congratulations your highness

"BUT WHAT?!" the emperor spat out furiously as he became too impatient, waiting for the response the Imperial Physician Wang was to say.

"T-The Empress's constitution is unbalanced," the Imperial Physician said quickly, not wasting any more time.

"Unbalanced?!" Emperor Jingli asked.

"Yes, your majesty. Her majesty's pulse is floating and tight. Although her Jing (essence) and Shen (spirit) are weak, it is not severe and can be taken care of with proper care. Though what is most worrisome would be her Yang deficiency, if not properly taken care of, I fear it would lead to …." the Imperial Physician trailed off, not daring to say that it could lead to a miscarriage out loud.

"Your majesty, please abjure your words. I fear the harshness of the Cold palace may not be good for her highness," Nui couldn't stop herself, so she knelt and pleaded with Emperor Jingli after she heard what the Imperial Physician said.

"Have I fallen so low that a mere servant would dare to challenge me," Emperor Jingli said with a cold demeanour while giving off a deathly aura towards Nui's direction.

"No… No, your majesty. P-Please have mercy; forgive my insolence, your majesty. This humble servant dares not to challenge his majesty. B-but I only fear for the health of my lady and her child," Nui immediately said, stuttering through her words as she was frightful of what the emperor can do to her.

Emperor Jingli silently pondered for a bit on what to do before finally clenching his fists as he was ready to say his last decree.

"Then she may no longer be sent to the Cold Palace instead will be confined to her palace till the birth of the royal child," Emperor Jingli said another decree before leaving the Empress's palace, the Flowery Jade Palace.

"We thank your majesty for your kindness," Nui, the head palace maid of Empress Yunqing and the rest of the Flowery Jade Palace maids present chorused after hearing the emperor's final decree.

After Emperor Jingli left the Flowery Jade Palace, the Imperial Physician Wang said a few words to Nui advising her on the necessary things to take note of during pregnancy.

He told her he would be sending herbal tonics every day for the empress, which she needed to make sure the empress took. The herbal tonics were to restore and balance the empress's constitution and address her Yang deficiency problem.

When he was done with all that needed to be said, he gathered up his things and left.

After a while, Empress Yunqing finally regained consciousness, a bit surprised at her environment. To her surprise, she was still in her palace, even on her own bed and not in the Cold Palace. Wasn't she supposed to be sent to the Cold Palace?

'Wait?! Why am I still here?' she wondered before deciding to call for her handmaid, Nui. She needed to clear her current confusion as to what was happening.

"Nui... Nui… Nui!" she called out in a weak and hoarse voice.

Not long after, Nui came rushing into the room, "Your highness, you are awake~" Nui said with a tear-stained face.

"Urggg! W-What happen…ed?" Yunqing weakly inquired from Nui while holding her head as she was feeling a slight ache.

"Congratulations your highness, you have a little prince in your stomach now. So… So his majesty didn't send you to the Cold Palace anymore and only confined you to your quarters," Nui explained with soft sobs.

"What?! I-I… am pregnant?!" Yunqing spat out as her face became ashen, she reflexively moved her hands to touch her stomach. She rubbed her stomach while she had an expression of disbelief.

Nui noticing the disbelief on the face of the empress, she gathered herself. She smiled before she continued speaking, "Your highness, his majesty, also let you remain here, but…. without leaving this palace."

She had said the last bit with a solemn expression. Her ladyship will no longer have her freedom. Her position as the empress still remained, but she was now just an empress in name only.

She watched as the Empress's face change from disbelief to surprise at the piece of information she just revealed.

Then she continued with a serious look, "Your highness, we have to use this opportunity to prove your innocence. We cannot let those schemers get away with this, if not... I'm afraid your majesty will still end up going to the Cold Palace or even worse…," refusing to complete her statement. She said the last bit with a pool of tears gathering by the side of her eyes. She didn't want to imagine a worse punishment, and she also knows for sure that her lady is innocent of the allegations laid out on her.

Yunqing pondered on what Nui said, and for one, she knew she was right. Still, then again, the so-called schemers Nui spoke of was someone she trusted wholeheartedly, Noble Consort Jinghua.

She had helped her gain favour with the emperor due to the relationship she had with her late sister, Jiaying.

How ungrateful! To actually bite the hands that feed you.

After all, 'Not do not die'* (This is Chinese wisdom saying which means "if you don't do stupid things you won't end up in tragedy").

She was only plundered into this state because she had been stupid enough to even trust the wrong person, who was covetous of the empress's position.

At a corner was a figure hiding away from sight in the dark, trying to get as much information as she could so she could relay it to her mistress. She had to leave with her mistress earlier when Yunqing fainted, so they could not find out what was wrong with the empress.

She wished the empress was actually dying; that way, her lady would not have to expend so much effort to deal with her anymore and could finally gain the empress's position. That way, she can finally become the head palace maid to the empress. It would be a win-win for them. But if only…

She happened at the right time when Yunqing had just woken up and was calling for Nui. She waited to hear their conversation and was struck with dread upon hearing it.

'What?! The Empress is pregnant.' Her face had horror written all over it when Nui mentioned that the Yunqing was pregnant.

The person hiding in the dark hurriedly left to inform her mistress.

She only hoped that her mistress's plans would not be exposed now that the emperor was merciful towards the empress because of the pregnancy.