She never expected to meet Concubine Li here. If it was the empress who invited people here, it was simply too much.
She clearly knew that Concubine Li was still in the period of recuperation after a miscarriage and had just lost her child. Yet, the empress invited her here to celebrate someone else's pregnancy.
It was really heart - wrenching!
Just as she was thinking, Leng Nier helped Min Feiyan in.
Seeing this, the empress quickly stepped down from the phoenix throne at the upper seat and came to help Min Feiyan herself.
When she saw Min Feiyan's pale face, she said with concern, "What's wrong? Why do you look so unwell?"
Min Feiyan was about to salute but was pulled up by the empress. "Well, now that you're pregnant, there's no need for so many formalities."
While they were chatting, Mo Qinghuan had already sat down in front of Concubine Li.
"How are you? Have you recovered well?"
Concubine Li looked at her in surprise. Probably, she didn't expect Mo Qinghuan to show concern for her on such an occasion. After all, no one had dared to mention her matter since they entered.
Mo Qinghuan felt a bit embarrassed under her gaze. "Sorry, I've brought back your sad memories again..."
Concubine Li shook her head, hiding the disappointment in her eyes.
"I'm fine. I'm no longer sad..."
Mo Qinghuan didn't know that Concubine Li had taken the abortifacient herself. How could she give birth to a child for a man like Mu Linyi...
But since she had chosen this path, she would never have the chance to give birth to a child for the man she loved. It was better to ruin her own body so that she wouldn't feel regretful.
Mo Qinghuan still remembered how heart - broken Concubine Li was that day, wishing to kill the empress. It had only been a few days. How could the grief disappear so easily...
Min Feiyan had just been helped by the empress to sit at the upper seat when a figure in bright yellow suddenly rushed in. Behind him was Mu Yanming in a black python - embroidered robe.
Mu Linyi walked up to Concubine Li, took off his cloak and put it on her.
Then he held her hand and said with heartache in his eyes, "It's so cold. Why are you dressed so thinly? Look at your cold little hands."
All the concubines present were jealous, and the empress's face turned as black as iron.
But Concubine Li just lowered her head and said indifferently, "Your Majesty is being overly nervous. I'm already fine."
Mu Linyi pulled her into his arms and comforted her softly, "I know you're just being stubborn. In fact, you're very sad, but you just don't say it." He pulled her in front of the empress and shouted angrily, "Empress, you vicious woman! How cruel your heart is!"
The empress turned pale in shock, seemingly quite disbelieving.
"What did Your Majesty say?"
Mu Linyi roared, "Didn't I make myself clear enough?! You knew that Concubine Li had just had a miscarriage and lost her child. She was heart - broken and cried all day. Oh, right, you saw how sad she was that day. And what did you do? I gave you seven days to find the culprit, but you haven't found the culprit yet. Today, you invited her here to celebrate someone else's pregnancy... Aren't you a vicious woman?!"
The empress suddenly felt aggrieved and questioned, "Your Majesty means that just because she had a miscarriage, others can't celebrate when they have a child? Besides, it's really hard for this palace to please everyone. If this palace didn't invite Concubine Li, would Your Majesty think that this palace is isolating her..."
The emperor was momentarily speechless because he probably would think so. But being pointed out by the empress, he felt unwilling. So he angrily raised his hand and slapped the empress.
A clear sound echoed in the hall. All the concubines lowered their heads and kept silent.
This scene was like a battlefield. No one dared to say a word. Only Mo Qinghuan stepped forward, saluted Mu Linyi and said, "Your Majesty, please take Concubine Li to rest quickly. It's really cold now. It's better for the concubine to recuperate in the palace..."
As soon as she said this, everyone could tell that the Princess Regent was going against the empress!
But actually, the empress knew that Mo Qinghuan was helping her. The emperor was angry now. If they didn't get him away, God knows what would happen.
After Mu Linyi snorted coldly, Mo Qinghuan thought he was about to leave. But instead, he turned around and said to all the concubines, "From today on, the empress is put under house arrest in the central palace. The affairs of the six palaces will be temporarily handled by Concubine Li."
Hearing this, the empress slumped into the chair. Leng Nier quickly helped her calm down.
Seeing the embarrassing situation, Mo Qinghuan raised her hand and ordered everyone, "Everyone, disperse."
All the concubines stole a glance at her, saluted and left.
Finally, the celebration of the eldest princess's pregnancy ended in a hurry. The empress was slapped and sat there on the soft couch in a daze, while Min Feiyan almost fainted due to exhaustion.
Leng Nier was busy comforting the empress and the eldest princess, running around in circles.
Mo Qinghuan seemed rather leisurely. She was sitting in her seat, sipping tea unhurriedly.
Suddenly, Leng Nier let out a scream, which startled the empress back to her senses. The empress scolded, "What are you screaming for? Do you want to scare this palace to death?"
Leng Nier knelt on the ground with a thud. "Forgive me, Mother. It's my rudeness. But sister - in - law's face looks so bad, and her breathing seems a bit unsteady."
Hearing this, the empress got up and walked to Min Feiyan. Her face was indeed terribly pale, and the veins on her forehead were clearly visible.
"Then why don't you go and invite the imperial physician quickly? What's the use of screaming?!"
Hearing this, Zhi'er finally ran to invite the imperial physician. Everyone seemed to have forgotten that Mo Qinghuan was a doctor, but she had seen through it and would never take the initiative to help.
Just as she was thinking, the empress came to invite her in person. "Isn't the Princess Regent a doctor? Come and help this palace's daughter - in - law. It's not easy for her to have a child after all these years!"
Mo Qinghuan snorted. "Your Majesty, I remember reminding you before that the eldest princess's health is very poor. You must pay close attention. I didn't expect that before her illness was cured, she got pregnant. Her body can hardly support herself now, let alone raise a child..."
Seeing how serious she was, the empress was both anxious and scared. She grabbed Mo Qinghuan's arm and pulled her aside a few steps, completely losing the dignity of the mother of the nation. "Qinghuan, you're a good girl. Tell this palace honestly. Can the child in her womb be saved?"
Mo Qinghuan withdrew her hand, saluted the empress and said, "Your Majesty, to be honest, I don't know if the child can be saved. But since this child has come, let's leave it to fate... I'll take my leave first."
After saying that, she bowed and left the hall. When she came out of the empress's palace.
Unexpectedly, she saw a figure she hadn't seen for a long time.