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墨書 Inktalez
Through the screen, Ziyue tied a red silk thread around her wrist, while Zhang Taiyi stood outside, nervously taking her pulse.
After a while, he knelt down and respectfully said, "Your Highness, everything is well with the child in your womb."
"Thank you for your hard work, Ziyue. Please escort Zhang Taiyi back," Mu Junqi said with a hint of a smile towards Ziyue.
"I take my leave."
Once the room was empty, Mu Junqi stood up and walked to the dressing table, picking up a wooden comb to style her hair. Everything was so quiet, and the smile at the corner of her mouth was hard to conceal, though she did not know what made her so happy.
At that moment, a sharp voice from outside the hall announced, "The Empress Dowager has arrived."
Mu Junqi smiled and stood up, walking towards the door as if she had anticipated such an event.
As soon as she stepped outside, she saw a large group of palace maids and eunuchs surrounding the Empress Dowager as they entered. The Empress Dowager wore a dark red palace outfit, simply embroidered with a few plum blossoms, with a matching belt at her waist and armor on her hands, exuding an air of elegance and grandeur.
"Consort pays respects to the Empress Dowager. What brings you here?" Mu Junqi asked as she stepped out and noticed the Empress Dowager gazing nostalgically at the surroundings of Jingxian Palace.
"This widow only learned today from the imperial physician that you are pregnant. Why didn’t anyone come to inform me?"
"Empress Dowager, please do not blame Consort; now you know," Mu Junqi replied as she walked beside the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager looked at the currently tranquil Jingxian Palace and smiled.
Seeing the Empress Dowager's expression, Mu Junqi understood that she was reminiscing about her past. In her earlier days, the Empress Dowager was merely a consort and had never lived in Jingxian Palace. She had also fought many battles here against the former Empress. If it weren't for those events, there would be none of this now; thus, looking back brought some sentimentality.
They embraced each other as they entered the main hall. Once inside, the Empress Dowager's expression darkened slightly as she scanned everyone before saying, "It's so hot in here; how can the Empress endure this?"
As soon as the words were spoken, the servants of Jingxian Palace immediately knelt on the ground. The Empress Dowager, seeing this, continued, "You do not know that the Empress is currently with child. In this hot weather, why have you not brought some ice from the Internal Affairs Office to cool her down?"
"Empress Dowager, please do not be angry. It is just... it is just that the Empress is still under house arrest, so how could there be ice from the Internal Affairs Office?" Ziyue immediately stepped forward, kneeling a few steps closer to the Empress Dowager and respectfully said.
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager immediately recalled what had happened a few days ago. Her expression momentarily turned awkward, but she quickly instructed Jingxi beside her, "Pass the word down that the Empress's house arrest is lifted starting today. Also, let the people from the Internal Affairs Office listen carefully to the Empress's words. If anything is done poorly again, do not blame me for not warning you."
Seeing this, Mu Junqi flashed a trace of an imperceptible smile in her eyes but still stepped forward and said, "Empress Dowager, you are making a big deal out of nothing. Although there is no ice, the Consort does not feel hot at all." However, as soon as she finished speaking, beads of sweat dripped down her forehead.
Feeling a bit awkward, the Empress Dowager looked at Mu Junqi with kindness, completely shedding her previous disdainful demeanor. She smiled and said, "The Empress is truly obedient. Come now, sit down."
Once both of them were seated, the Empress Dowager smiled warmly and said, "Now that you are pregnant, you must be careful in everything. You need to rely on trustworthy people for your food and daily needs. Do you understand?"
"The Consort will heed the Empress Dowager's teachings," she replied as she stood up.
Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager nervously said, "It's alright. In front of me from now on, do not be so formal. The child is more important, especially in these first three months after conception; you must be cautious and prudent. Understood?"
"Mm," she replied obediently with a hum.
What followed was a conversation between the two about matters concerning children. Perhaps it was because the Empress Dowager was solely focused on the child in her heart; they talked a lot and the atmosphere was warm.
"Empress Dowager, I have one thing to ask of you. I hope you can agree," Mu Junqi suddenly stood up and bowed to the Empress Dowager, saying somewhat hesitantly.
The Empress Dowager furrowed her brows slightly and looked at her with curiosity. "Sit down and tell me what it is."
After sitting down, Mu Junqi's eyes flickered. "In the past, it was always Xia Ziqian, the Right Court Judge, who treated the Consort. Now that she is pregnant, the Consort wants..."
Before she could finish her sentence, the Empress Dowager understood her meaning and smiled, saying, "What could it be? Since that's the case, just send someone to bring him here. There's no need for me to report it."
Upon hearing this, Mu Junqi did not expect the Empress Dowager to agree so readily. She suppressed her smile and said to her, "Thank you, Empress Dowager."
"Wait!" Just as she finished speaking, an angry voice came from outside, and everyone turned to look at the door.
What they saw was Mo Xiao Li looking furious. He was dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, indicating he had just come from court. Although puzzled, she still stood up and greeted him, saying, "Long live Your Majesty."
However, Mo Xiao Li ignored her and walked directly to the Empress Dowager. After bowing to her, he turned to Mu Junqi and said, "You may rise."
Then he addressed the Empress Dowager again, saying, "Empress Dowager, you need not concern yourself with this matter. I know what to do."
"Now that the Empress is pregnant, it is a blessing for our Western Yan. It's just a physician; why are you being so stubborn?" The Empress Dowager expressed some dissatisfaction.
Mo Xiao Li listened to the Empress Dowager's words and stared at Mu Junqi for a long time without speaking. He seemed lost in thought. After a while, he helplessly said, "There are enough physicians in this palace to care for one pregnant woman. Everything else can be managed; this matter I cannot agree to." He then turned away to look elsewhere because he feared he might inadvertently agree.
Mu Junqi listened without getting angry; instead, she spoke apologetically to Mo Xiao Li. "Your Majesty, the Consort knows that too much has happened during this time and that you are not feeling well about it. However, this matter concerns our child. Are you really not worried?"
Mo Xiao Li suddenly turned around and looked at Mu Junqi. The anger in his eyes was hard to conceal. So much had happened recently that he felt an unprecedented exhaustion creeping into his heart.
He took a few steps closer to her and gazed into her eyes. Those eyes were still unchanged from before; however, the feelings within had already transformed significantly without either of them realizing it.
Mu Junqi fearlessly met his gaze. For a moment, the atmosphere in the hall became unusual. The Empress Dowager watched this scene, feeling like a mere bystander. She knew very well how cold-blooded the woman before her was and understood how much her son cared for her. Yet, this feeling seemed like a mistake; perhaps only they could resolve everything.
"Do you have to wait until our child is lost before you forget the past?" Mu Junqi said softly, but his words carried enough weight to make him clench his fists involuntarily.
"I will definitely protect this child. If you bring this up again, don't blame me for being rude," he said angrily, bowing to the Empress Dowager before leaving.
It was like this again; recently, Mo Xiao Li always left Jingxian Palace in anger. Perhaps love runs deep, and thus it hurts more.
After leaving Jingxian Palace, he stood on the path outside, panting heavily, his expression cold, scaring the passing palace servants into trembling with fear.
Finally calming his emotions, he looked at Li Fusheng and said somewhat self-deprecatingly, "Do you think I've made a mistake too?"
Li Fusheng hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, you are overthinking; I do not think that way."
"Forget it, forget it," he said, waving his hand as he walked away, with Li Fusheng quickly following behind.
Not long after walking, he saw Consort Xi and Consort Qian admiring flowers not far away. In this hot weather, they wouldn't be here unless it was intentional.
"Long live Your Majesty," everyone saw him and hurriedly came forward to pay their respects.
Mo Xiao Li responded lightly with an "mm," but Consort Qian stepped closer and asked, "Your Majesty doesn't look well. Is there something troubling you?"
Consort Qian's voice was not only soft but also charming. To Mo Xiao Li, it made him feel less irritable than before. "Why are you out here in this heat instead of staying in the palace?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, Consort only heard that Consort Xi's sister is quite bored by herself, so I came to invite her to go to Jingxian Palace to congratulate the Empress," Consort Qian said with a flirtatious glance at Mo Xiao Li.
Consort Xi stood quietly to the side. Upon hearing this, Mo Xiao Li glanced at Consort Xi and continued to look at Consort Qian, saying, "No need to go, accompany me to Tianming Palace."
Such words had never been spoken by Mo Xiao Li before, so when they were uttered, everyone present was taken aback and looked at him in disbelief, yet his expression remained unchanged.
Consort Qian could hardly believe her ears; she was somewhat shocked but even more delighted. She suddenly threw herself into Mo Xiao Li's arms and acted coyly, saying, "Consort thought Your Majesty would never care for Qian Er again."
Mo Xiao Li chuckled softly and said, "Alright, let's go," then walked past Consort Xi.
Watching the departing Consort Qian and the Emperor, Consort Xi revealed a barely perceptible smile at the corner of her mouth, lost in her thoughts.
Palace Exterior
A shadow knelt before a handsome man and respectfully said, "Sire, I have completed the task you assigned. It shouldn't be long before I can enter the palace."
The man smiled gently, his charm surpassing that of ordinary women. His eyes were as clear as crystals submerged in water, with slightly upturned corners that added to his allure. The pure pupils and enchanting eye shape blended into an exquisite beauty, with thin lips that were pale like water.
"Well done," his voice was equally pleasant to hear.
The black-clad man kneeling below no longer spoke but quietly listened for him to continue. However, the man said nothing further and eventually withdrew.
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