"Has this Lord Zheng caused trouble again?" Yuan Yuhan didn't say much seeing Jing Xunce's targeting of Lord Zheng. He just asked out of curiosity.
"Yes. I happened to have a poison attack yesterday, and he sent people to assassinate me." Jing Xunce spoke in a volume that only the two of them could hear.
"Are you okay?" Yuan Yuhan felt his question was a bit redundant as soon as he said it. After all, if Jing Xunce were in trouble, he wouldn't be here.
"I am. Qier was scared again." So this was no longer something that could be resolved with five hundred taels of gold.
Yuan Yuhan twitched the corner of his mouth speechlessly after hearing this. This guy was even more of a wife-slave than he was. It was really enough. However, after what happened to Jing Xunce, he also had to double the number of people in his mansion.
Although he was confident in the guards in his mansion, there was always a slip in the most meticulous plans. It was better for him to be more careful.
"By the way, I heard that Concubine Mu was punished by Concubine Hua yesterday and almost had a miscarriage. The emperor was extremely angry."
"When did you become so gossipy?" Jing Xunce gave Yuan Yuhan a speechless look.
"It's not that I wanted to know. Someone told this king." Yuan Yuhan coughed awkwardly twice. It was really not that he sent people to inquire. It was just that he happened to have informants in the palace. It wasn't his fault.
Since the end of the Mid - Autumn Festival palace banquet, Mu Xingrou seemed to be glowing with health. She was also much nicer to the people in her palace. Kong was really not lying to her. She was really pregnant, and she also heard that the child conceived after using this folk remedy would be a son.
It was really a blessing from heaven.
"Concubine Mu, our empress invites you over." Mu Xingrou's face changed completely when she saw the person coming. She knew this person very well. This was the personal maid beside Concubine Hua.
"I wonder what the empress wants with Xingrou?" Mu Xingrou asked tentatively.
"This servant doesn't know. Concubine Mu will know when you go." The maid spoke in a rigid manner. Mu Xingrou couldn't tell whether this was good or bad for her.
However, the possibility of it being bad was high. She knew Concubine Hua very well.
"Auntie, please lead the way." Mu Xingrou took a deep breath. She knew that if she didn't go, Concubine Hua would find other ways to make her submit.
"Where are you going?" Kong came out from the inner hall and saw Mu Xingrou about to go out as soon as she came out.
Since she heard that her son was going to be beheaded after the palace banquet, Kong had been a bit out of her mind these days. Whenever she saw a man, she would say it was her Rendong. Mu Xingrou was almost annoyed to death by her. If it weren't for the fact that she helped her get pregnant, how could she have kept her until now?
"Mother, Concubine Hua is looking for me. I'll be back soon." Saying that, she winked at the eunuch in the palace and then went out.
The eunuch stepped forward and knocked Kong unconscious with a chop to the neck, then just let her lie on the ground.
This eunuch was brought out of the Punishment Department by Mu Xingrou two days ago. He was originally going to be beaten to death, but she brought him out and even found someone to take his place.
This guy was a ruthless character. He used to serve the concubines in the late emperor's harem. After the new emperor ascended the throne, those people were sent to the Punishment Department to work.
Now there was no simple - minded person around Mu Xingrou. All of them were found by this eunuch from every corner of the palace.
With these people around, would her days in the palace be bad?
"Greetings to the empress." Mu Xingrou bowed to Concubine Hua respectfully. That eunuch had told her that she couldn't be too happy yet and had to be careful of the people around her at all times.
Mu Xingrou understood what he meant. She would definitely protect the child in her belly until it was born safely.
"It seems that Concubine Mu still respects this palace. This palace thought you had grown too powerful." Concubine Hua looked at Mu Xingrou sarcastically.
She and the wet nurse beside her had discussed for a whole night and both thought that the child in Mu Xingrou's belly couldn't be kept. So... don't blame her for being ruthless. It was just that this child came at the wrong time.
"Xingrou would never forget the empress's great kindness."
"Really? Then get up and drink this cup of tea. This was bestowed upon this palace by the emperor. Now you can also have a taste and see if the tea leaves are good." Concubine Hua poured a cup of tea and put it on the table, staring fixedly at Mu Xingrou.
Mu Xingrou stiffened. She knew what was in it. It was an abortifacient! "Thank you for the empress's bestowal, but Xingrou is too scared to drink it."
"Bold! How dare you reject what the empress bestows upon you?" The wet nurse beside Concubine Hua directly scolded Mu Xingrou and picked up the cup on the table, intending to force - feed Mu Xingrou.
Mu Xingrou watched the cup getting closer and closer, trembling all over. No, she couldn't drink it!
Mu Xingrou suddenly knocked over the cup in the wet nurse's hand and instantly breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, fortunately, the child was saved.
"It seems that Concubine Mu doesn't want to drink that cup. It doesn't matter. This palace has a whole pot here. Concubine Mu can drink it slowly." Concubine Hua said as she pushed the teapot in front of her forward.
"Empress, please spare my life." Mu Xingrou knew from Concubine Hua's attitude that Concubine Hua didn't intend to spare the child in her belly. Now she had to stall for time and wait for her people to rescue her.
"Spare your life? Concubine Mu, when did this palace say it wanted your life? Concubine Mu is just being overly worried."
Concubine Hua reclined on the soft couch, looking at Mu Xingrou leisurely. Now she was the cat, and Mu Xingrou was a trapped mouse with nowhere to escape. She could either die or surrender.
There was no other choice.
"His Majesty the Emperor is coming—"
Just as Concubine Hua was about to order someone to force - feed this medicine to Mu Xingrou, she heard that the emperor was coming.
"Hurry up and clean up these things." She knew that harming the imperial heir was a capital crime, so she must not let anyone find out.
"There's no need to clean up. I already know." Yuan Yuchuan came in before they had a chance to move.
Seeing Mu Xingrou kneeling on the ground, he helped her up personally and patted her arm to signal her not to be afraid.
"Your servant greets the emperor. May the emperor be in good health."
"Concubine Hua, is it because I've been too kind to you that you have the audacity to harm my imperial heir!" He had already heard that Concubine Hua was pregnant, but he would never allow his child to be born from her belly.
Did she really think he didn't know what their Huaman Country was up to?
"Your Majesty, please calm down. Your servant would never have such thoughts." Concubine Hua knelt down in a panic.
"Really? Then this pot of tea on the table is bestowed upon you. Drink it now."
Concubine Hua's face turned pale instantly when she heard this. No one knew better than her what was added to it. A large amount of saffron. That amount could not only abort the child but also make a person unable to conceive again.