The Emperor now had no time to spare for the rear palace. Rarely, he still had Zhuiyun come transmit a message: “Rear palace matters are entrusted to Noble Consort Yan to handle. Unless there are major issues, no need to report to His Majesty.”
Hearing these words, Shen Guiyan felt reassured. She extended her wrist to Director Guo and asked gently: “Is this palace’s dragon child well?”
Director Guo was so frightened his hand trembled. He looked at Shen Guiyan’s belly in surprise. Hadn’t it been said she’d long since miscarried? How could…
Using silk to cover while taking her pulse—six months, nearly seven months pregnant.
“Your Ladyship and child are both healthy.” Director Guo bowed. “Truly remarkable.”
He’d been in this rear palace for over thirty years and had never seen anyone who could carry a pregnancy so smoothly to the sixth month. It was also thanks to Noble Consort Yan herself knowing to hide her capabilities—pregnant yet notifying no one, quietly recuperating in Yonghe Palace, which allowed for such a stable pulse.
Only, why not simply conceal it until the child was born?
“Many thanks, Director Guo.” Shen Guiyan smiled and withdrew her hand. A small palace maid at her side helped pass over reward silver.
Director Guo accepted it. He was just about to tell Noble Consort Yan that this child would still be better kept hidden, but before the words left his mouth, the small palace maid beside him had already taken the silver outside, distributing it to palace attendants everywhere: “Noble Consort Yan has safely protected her pregnancy to six months. She will surely give birth to a little prince. Everyone take reward silver to share in the joyous occasion.”
Deliberate.
Director Guo looked at Noble Consort Yan with incomprehension. The latter’s expression was completely serene, as if waiting for something.
Saying National Uncle Wen harbored treasonous intentions was merely the National Preceptor’s deduction. Shen Guiwu also couldn’t possibly step forward to confirm it. So what the Emperor could do was only to guard against it, but he couldn’t convict the Wen family, much less openly arrest the Wen family’s forces.
Previously there was Shen Hanlu, which made things easier—finding a pretext wasn’t difficult. But now, Shen Hanlu seemed to have switched sides. The great priestess raised up by the Emperor’s own hand surely couldn’t be personally废abolished by the Emperor again.
These things, she could all help with.
“What?!” Imperial Concubine Fu stared wide-eyed at Wanqing before her. “Consort Yan is pregnant?”
Wanqing knelt below, saying in a low voice: “Word has spread throughout the six palaces that Consort Yan is emulating the former method of Dowager Consort Nian—to protect the dragon heir, wearing loose palace robes. Her body is already six months along yet no one discovered it.”
This was unbearable! Imperial Concubine Fu’s face paled. Just when the empress position was within her grasp, Shen Guiyan stuck out a pregnant belly. What was she to do now?
Originally it was said she’d already miscarried. His Majesty and the Dowager Consort were both present. The Emperor at that time had even flown into a great rage. Everyone believed it to be true.
Could it be that His Majesty had staged that entire scene for Consort Yan?
The more she thought about it, the more chilled she felt. Imperial Concubine Fu reached out to support herself on the table, losing her composure. Dowager Consort Nian favored Consort Yan, His Majesty did as well. So now that Consort Yan revealed her belly, who in this rear palace could still compete with her?
“Wanqing, go transmit the news to the Fu family. Tell Grandfather to think of a solution.”
“Yes.”
At the Huaqing Palace side hall, Concubine Hua had obviously also received the news. However, ever since being demoted, she’d quieted down considerably, staying in her palace quarters without going out even once.
Hearing the news transmitted from outside, Concubine Hua closed her eyes. “No wonder.”
No wonder Shen Guiyan didn’t concern herself with anything. No wonder the Emperor didn’t prioritize Yonghe Palace. Everything was to protect the child in her belly.
And no wonder that just from a single fall into the water, His Majesty directly lowered her rank. Shen Guiyan was more important than anything. Even if she’d navigated every step carefully in this rear palace, what use was it if she couldn’t obtain the Emperor’s heart?
Gu Chaobei refused to see her, but had Zhuiyun come transmit words saying she should rest properly and not force things anymore.
The things she’d done, he’d actually been watching all along, hadn’t he? She’d thought herself so clever, believing heaven didn’t know, earth didn’t know. Scheming and calculating, she hadn’t lost to any woman, yet still couldn’t defeat that one man.
“Your Ladyship,” Hongzhi said carefully, “Imperial Concubine Fu sent word asking if you would go over for a visit?”
Concubine Hua said nothing.
Hongzhi hurriedly added: “This slave was thinking to refuse on Your Ladyship’s behalf anyway. Last time Imperial Concubine Fu allied with Consort Yan against you like that. Now knowing she can’t win, she wants to come discuss with you again. That kind of person…”
“This palace will go.” Concubine Hua interrupted Hongzhi’s words.
Hongzhi froze. “Your Ladyship?”
Knowing Imperial Concubine Fu harbored ill intentions and was two-faced, why still go?
Concubine Hua changed into palace robes as magnificent as when she still held the consort rank. Pinning up her hair, she glanced at herself in the mirror and said softly: “I was too obsessed and forgot my original intention. Now, this palace wants to find it again.”
Hongzhi was somewhat confused, not understanding what her mistress meant. She could only follow behind, heading all the way toward Hehuan Palace.
Xu Mengdie entered the palace and sat before Shen Guiyan, smiling quite calmly. “Is Your Ladyship panicking?”
Shen Guiyan looked up at her, truly too curious why she knew everything. Compared to Shen Hanlu’s mystical pretenses, she believed even more that Xu Mengdie could know Heaven’s will and understand the future.
“The capital is about to face variables. This palace is somewhat uncertain what to do.”
Xu Mengdie’s gaze drifted for quite a while before she spoke: “My husband has already entered the palace overnight to ease His Majesty’s worries. What Your Ladyship needs to do is merely stabilize the rear palace.”
Shen Guiyan looked at her profile and pressed her lips together. “This palace understands the principle, but this palace is somewhat afraid. His Majesty’s military strength is insufficient, and the court hasn’t completely stabilized yet. If National Uncle Wen truly rebels, I fear…”
“Your Ladyship worries too much.” Xu Mengdie smiled. “His Majesty’s realm is more secure than Your Ladyship thinks. This storm can be considered a test. Afterward, there will be peace throughout the land.”
Indeed, prophetic knowledge again. Shen Guiyan fell silent for a moment, then waved her hand for Baoshan to take the other palace attendants outside.
“Guiyan has always wanted to ask about one matter.”
Withdrawing the term “this palace,” Shen Guiyan looked seriously at Xu Mengdie. “Ever since I first married into the Gu residence, from that first time you saved me, I’ve always felt you seem to know everything.”
Xu Mengdie was very composed. She knew Shen Guiyan would ask this question sooner or later.
“Mengdie knows many things that have already happened and will happen, as long as the future hasn’t changed.”
It was time to be frank. Xu Mengdie didn’t hide or conceal, but generously said: “Does Your Ladyship believe that after people die, it’s possible to restart from a certain moment and live one’s life over again?”
Shen Guiyan froze.
“For example, I’ve already lived through this lifetime and died at some future time. But dying unwillingly, when I opened my eyes again, I’d returned to when I miscarried. So I know everything that happened afterward, which is precisely how I could step forward to save you in your moment of crisis.”
Live… again? Shen Guiyan’s instinct was to think Xu Mengdie was lying. Once people died there was nothing left. How could they live again?
But if it wasn’t like this, how could Xu Mengdie’s many instances of prophetic knowledge be explained?
“If Your Ladyship doesn’t believe it, you may consider Mengdie to be spouting nonsense. However, Your Ladyship must trust Mengdie.” Xu Mengdie said: “It’s precisely because I know the future that Mengdie won’t harm you.”
The incense in the room slowly burned out. Only after a long while did Shen Guiyan come to her senses, looking at Xu Mengdie with somewhat complicated eyes. “You always say I’m a person of great wealth and honor. Is it because you know His Majesty will ascend the throne and I’ll follow him to glory and riches?”
Xu Mengdie nodded. Things that had already happened—even if she acknowledged them, it wouldn’t change anything.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Shen Guiyan asked: “Then in this great battle, will His Majesty be alright?”
“Mengdie doesn’t dare guarantee there won’t be any changes.” Xu Mengdie shook her head. “In the previous life there were no problems, but in this life, there are too many variables. I don’t know if the outcome will be altered.”
In other words, her prophecies might not come true. If there was even a small change somewhere, different from the previous life, this life’s results could be vastly different.
Her head ached somewhat. Shen Guiyan turned away and closed her eyes to calm herself.
Xu Mengdie stood up. “Such matters are difficult for ordinary people to accept. Mengdie can understand Your Ladyship. Your Ladyship needn’t force yourself either. Rather than thinking about Mengdie’s matters, better to think about how to deal with the great priestess. In the future, she’s also a major problem.”
Having said this, she took two pieces of paper from her sleeve—folded, somewhat crumpled paper. Then she bowed and silently withdrew.
When Baoshan entered, she saw Shen Guiyan covering her head in extreme distress.
“Mistress, where are you uncomfortable?” She hurriedly came over to feel her mistress’s forehead, but found nothing wrong. Looking down, she saw two crumpled pieces of paper half-opened on the table beside her.
“Eh, isn’t this the verse Consort Shen wrote when the foreign nations came to pay tribute last time?”
Shen Guiyan rubbed her brow and acknowledged: “Indeed.”
“Among outstanding figures, one must still look to the present.” The verse was good, but those characters were truly what left a deep impression—not only missing strokes and radicals, but also exceptionally ugly.
Under heaven there wasn’t a second person who could write characters this ugly.
“Then what’s this?” Baoshan picked up the other one. Opening it, it seemed to have once been crumpled into a ball and thrown in dirt, bearing some mud prints. The characters on it were equally ugly.
“Bright moonlight before my bed, I suspect it’s frost upon the ground.” This was also a poem, but it should have been written long ago. The ink had faded somewhat. There was also a signature, written as…
Shen Guiya.
Baoshan’s eyes widened. “Mistress, isn’t this from back when we were at the Gu residence…”
“Indeed.” Shen Guiyan opened her eyes, took both papers over, and folded them properly. “Don’t ask too much. You’re already dull-witted. Better to run an errand for me and invite Minister Gu to the palace for a visit.”
“Minister Gu?” Baoshan was startled. “Recently rumors are abundant. Why would Mistress choose this particular time…”
“Can’t worry about all that now. Go on.” Shen Guiyan waved her hand.
Baoshan stood dazed for a moment, but still nimbly turned and ran outside.
At the same time, Concubine Hua was sitting before Imperial Concubine Fu. A distinguished guest had arrived beside them—none other than Shen Hanlu.
“Imperial Concubine is protected by Heaven’s mandate, so naturally things will proceed smoothly.” Shen Hanlu maintained the bearing of a great priestess, speaking with great conviction.