"It doesn't matter. As long as it can be used at the critical moment, it's fine," Si Junlin said to Su Wan'er.
Su Wan'er sighed and then nodded in agreement.
A few days later, all the concubines in the palace heard that the emperor was going to practice martial arts. Early in the morning, a large group of them came to the martial - arts training ground, all dressed up beautifully.
Su Wan'er couldn't help but shake her head helplessly. These women would really do anything to gain the emperor's favor.
"Please send them all back to the palace," Su Wan'er said to Fang Xi.
Fang Xi replied with an "Yes" and then walked over to the concubines watching the scene. "Ladies, the emperor has ordered that you all return to the palace to rest," he said.
Concubine Xi raised her hand to caress her belly and said to Fang Xi, "Father - in - law Fang Xi, there might be the emperor's child in my belly. Are you going to drive me away too?"
Everyone knew that this woman was the distant niece most favored by the empress dowager. Concubine Xi, who was already in the good graces of the empress dowager, and now was rumored to be pregnant with the emperor's child, would surely reach an unprecedentedly high position, perhaps even overshadowing the queen...
Jealousy flashed in the eyes of the concubines from each palace.
Fang Xi also showed a look of embarrassment. Concubine Xi's pregnancy was a major event. Although he was the chief eunuch beside the emperor, he was still just a servant. If he offended her, she could make his life a living hell at any time.
Helplessly, he had to go back to Su Wan'er and tell her what had happened.
Hearing Concubine Xi's words, a sarcastic smile curled up on Su Wan'er's lips. "Concubine Xi says she's pregnant? Then summon the imperial physician to make a proper diagnosis."
Looking at those people's expressions today, Su Wan'er knew she wouldn't be able to practice her inner strength. Moreover, Concubine Xi had just come to offer herself up. Such a fun thing, of course, she had to have a good time with it. Otherwise, wouldn't it be a waste of Concubine Xi's good intentions?
Soon, the imperial physician came to Concubine Xi's palace.
At this moment, Concubine Xi's palace was extremely bustling. Since she was rumored to be pregnant, she was specially allowed to sit beside Su Wan'er.
When the imperial physician came, she was looking at the concubines haughtily, as if she were already the queen and was receiving the concubines' homage.
Su Wan'er glanced at Si Junlin who had come in with a bit of helplessness and motioned for Si Junlin to sit on the chair on the other side.
Si Junlin whispered to Su Wan'er, "What are you going to do about this?"
Su Wan'er shook her head. "Now we can only wait for the imperial physician's result."
Then she turned to look at Si Junlin. "Do you hope she's pregnant or not?"
"Of course not. You haven't even touched her, right? If she can be pregnant without your touch and still has the guts to tell you, it means she has some plot," Si Junlin analyzed.
While the two were chatting, the imperial physician's diagnosis result came out.
He came to Su Wan'er respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, Concubine Xi is not pregnant. It's just that these days she has been overly worried and taken some medicine, which has led to symptoms similar to pregnancy. This is the prescription I've written. Boil three bowls of water down to one bowl and take it once a day. She will recover in a week."
"No, it's impossible! You quack! You're deliberately trying to harm me! How could I not be pregnant with the emperor's child?" Concubine Xi couldn't accept the fact that she wasn't pregnant.
However, the fact was right in front of her, and the imperial physician couldn't fake it. "If the lady is not sure, you can ask other imperial physicians to examine her."
"Stop," Su Wan'er raised her hand to stop the imperial physician. "Let this matter end here. Imperial physician, tell the people in the imperial kitchen to boil a dose of the decoction every day."
"Your Majesty!" Concubine Xi looked at Su Wan'er aggrievedly. She didn't understand why Su Wan'er was so heartless.
Su Wan'er turned to her gently and said, "Concubine Xi, I understand your eagerness to conceive the emperor's child, but such things can't be forced. You should rest well first. It's not too late to conceive after you've recovered."
Although Concubine Xi was reluctant, since Su Wan'er had said so, she didn't dare to insist. At least, because of this incident, the emperor had shown a little more concern for her. For her, this was already a good result.
Then the concubines slowly left, but disdain was written on each of their faces.
Especially Concubine Mei, whose status was similar to hers, showed even more sarcasm.
"This person always thinks too much about conceiving the emperor's child. Otherwise, she might never be able to conceive," she sneered.
Among the women in the harem, except for the odd - ball Su Wan'er, there was no woman who didn't want to conceive the emperor's child.
Of course, in order to ensure that the status of their children wouldn't be threatened after they conceived, they might also take action against other concubines in the palace.
Looking at the empty palace gate, a look of viciousness flashed in Concubine Xi's eyes.
It seemed that she had to take action against those who threatened her position.
Su Wan'er and Si Junlin were walking on the palace path. After a long while, she said to Si Junlin, "The hunt will start in three days. Which concubines do you usually take with you, Your Majesty?"
Si Junlin was slightly stunned. Then he remembered that he never took Su Wan'er with him during the hunts. Clearly, on such an important occasion, the queen should be taken, but he always only took other concubines...
"Take me with you this time. It will help you deal with the officials better. As for the other four concubines, take Concubine Mei, Concubine Xi, Concubine Hua, and Concubine Yue."
Su Wan'er nodded. "Okay, then do as you say."
Soon, the four concubines received Su Wan'er's order. At first, they were all very happy. But when they heard that the queen would also go, their expressions became extremely interesting.
They never expected that the once - unfavored queen would get the chance to accompany the emperor.
If they were not sure before whether the emperor really favored the queen, they were sure now. If it weren't for favor, why would the emperor take the queen with him? This had never happened before.
Three days later, the hunt began. Su Wan'er and Si Junlin were both in military uniforms. Si Junlin directly asked for a horse and was going to take it.
The people in the stable, thinking about the recent rumors in the palace about the relationship between the emperor and the queen, didn't dare to disobey. They directly picked out a good horse for Si Junlin and let her take it away.
Su Wan'er had been waiting outside the palace gate. Along with her were also many ministers.