Little Palace Maid Desires a Higher Seat of Honor - Chapter 111

Chapter 111: Daring to Defy

The candlelight was lit. Tan Yuanchu, wearing an outer robe, rose to his feet, and the moment he saw the woman, he nearly lost his balance.

Xu Shunfu was so frightened his face went pale.

The woman lay on the bed, her face ashen. Beneath her, a pool of bright red had soaked through her underclothes. She was shivering from the pain, her teeth chattering, her body curling in on itself, and tears slipping down without her knowing.

The sight stabbed at Tan Yuanchu’s eyes with searing pain.

He couldn’t help but recall her tearful complaints back at the temporary palace—“The moment you leave, they will no longer tolerate me.”

She hadn’t lied.

He had been here with her, and still she had ended up like this.

If he hadn’t been here?

How many in this palace wanted her dead?!

Tan Yuanchu gripped her hand, his eyes filled with an indescribable coldness. The oppressive weight of his presence made it so not a single person in the hall dared to breathe, all frozen in fear.

When Qiu Yuan entered and saw this scene, she froze in place, her mouth opening and closing soundlessly.

How could this happen?

Her Ladyship had always been cautious. Everything in the hall had been examined by Imperial Physician Lin and found without fault. Her Ladyship had stayed in the palace for nearly a month without the slightest mishap.

Where had something gone wrong?

Qiu Yuan nearly collapsed before the bed, only the last threads of reason telling her she must remain calm. Her lady was unconscious, if she panicked, the hearts of everyone in Chu’an Palace would crumble with her.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the Emperor and seemed to snap back to herself. Her body suddenly lurched, and she stumbled to the bed, falling forward, crying out in disbelief,

“Your Ladyship—!”

Tan Yuanchu was jolted back to the moment and barked at Xu Shunfu, “Where is the physician?!”

Lu Yuan, upon hearing that something was wrong inside, had already sprinted to fetch the physician, dragging Imperial Physician Lin back at full speed.

The moment Imperial Physician Lin entered, the scent of blood in the hall made him start, but he did not dare delay for even a second. He stepped forward, pressing two fingers to the Xi Xiurong’s wrist to take her pulse.

After only a moment, he released her hand, his expression grave. He opened his medicine box and took out silver needles.

At the sight of them, everyone’s expressions changed.

Tan Yuanchu’s grip tightened. The woman on the bed trembled all over from the pain, and though he wanted to hold her to comfort her, he didn’t know where to begin—

He was afraid of hurting her.

Imperial Physician Lin frowned and said, “Your Majesty, please have someone hold Her Ladyship still. This minister must perform acupuncture.”

Yun Si was shaking so violently from the pain that it was impossible for Imperial Physician Lin to work.

Tan Yuanchu personally gathered her into his arms. Lowering his gaze to her pale face, he abruptly shut his eyes and said hoarsely,

“Yun Si, don’t move.”

He kissed her forehead, not caring about the beads of cold sweat there, his voice thick with restrained emotion,

“A’Si, be good, I’m here.”

In private, when there was no one else, he often called her to be “good.”

Back then, it had been a word of fondness. Now, it was wrapped in a tangled, nameless emotion that made his throat ache.

Qiu Yuan held down Her Ladyship’s legs. Other than the Emperor and Songfu, she now suspected everyone else and would not allow anyone near her mistress.

The pain was intense, and in his arms the woman let out faint, confused sobs. From time to time, Tan Yuanchu lowered his head to kiss her, trying to soothe her.

Imperial Physician Lin wrote a prescription and ordered the palace attendants to fetch the medicine at once.

No one dared delay.
All of Chu’an Palace and the attendants of the imperial service moved into action. With such a commotion, it was impossible for the other concubines not to know, having only just returned to their palaces and lain down, they hurriedly rose again and rushed toward Chu’an Palace.

The moment they arrived, the scene before them made them gasp, and a sudden uproar followed. The woman in his arms seemed to flinch at the noise. Tan Yuanchu’s gaze chilled, and his voice came out laced with an icy undertone,

“Get out, all of you!”

The one who had pushed open the door was the Empress.

But the man, wholly concerned with the beauty in his arms, did not so much as lift his head to glance at her. He didn’t care who had come, his mind was entirely fixed on the person he held.

The Empress’s hand, resting against the door, paused. She lowered her eyes slightly, and before Tan Yuanchu could speak again, she withdrew, taking all the concubines with her.

All of them felt a little awkward as they left.

Yet in their minds, they could not help but recall what they had just seen—
The man had cradled the woman close, ignoring the disheveled state of her body. He held her hand in a loose but protective grasp, the veins on the back of his own hand standing out. His head was lowered as he looked at her, each movement filled with an indescribable tenderness and care.

He was usually careless, his emotions unreadable.

But just now, in a single glance, they had all been able to see his unease.

Some were stunned; others pressed their lips together in a faint gloom. To see, with their own eyes, the man they had longed for filled heart and soul with someone else—how could they feel comfortable? And how could they pretend it didn’t matter?

Su Jieyu, however, lowered her head after stepping outside, her hands curling into tight fists within her sleeves.

Would Yun Si survive this?

She didn’t know.

Su Jieyu glanced unobtrusively toward the hall. In the past, she had only vaguely known that Consort De was not as gentle as she appeared. Only now, after seeing Consort De’s methods firsthand, did she understand why Qi Guipin, Yun Si, and even the Empress were so wary of her.

Consort De was far too skilled at seizing opportunities, far too adept at manipulating hearts. Merely by using her own death, she had managed to set Yun Si up.

Something occurred to Su Jieyu, and her eyes darkened.

After a long moment, she looked up at the Empress and said in an ambiguous tone,

“Did His Majesty not even see Your Highness just now?”

Her sudden words shattered the silence of the outer hall. Everyone turned their eyes toward her and the Empress.

Whether Tan Yuanchu had noticed the Empress or not, he should have known that in such circumstances, the Empress would certainly appear.

And yet, even so, he had still barked that command.

The Empress lifted her head and gave Su Jieyu a glance, her expression unchanged. She felt she had already been more than fair to Su Jieyu, yes, she had used her, but she had also given her a choice.

She had spelled out the dangers clearly. It had been Su Jieyu herself who chose this path.

Afterward, she had honored her promise, shielding Su Jieyu as agreed. The Central Province Hall and all the palaces treated Su Jieyu with great respect. Even Yun Si, when faced with her provocations, had been tolerant.
Did Su Jieyu think all this had happened for no reason?

And yet she was foolish, foolish to excess.

To sow discord so openly, just how much did Su Jieyu hate Yun Si, that she would constantly incite enmity against her?

The Empress’s voice was calm,

“Xi Xiurong’s condition is obviously poor. His Majesty’s concern for her is natural. It’s normal he wouldn’t notice others. Not only His Majesty, even this palace is worried for Xi Xiurong.”

Seeing her completely unmoved, Su Jieyu felt her heart grow colder still.

What had Yun Si given her?

Why was she protecting Yun Si like this?!

Was it just because Yun Si was more favored than she?

Su Jieyu’s fingers clenched tight around her handkerchief.

After a moment, she thought of her plot with Consort De, and a cold smile touched her lips. Protect her, then. I’ll see how long Yun Si can keep her pride.

Outside the hall, the atmosphere was frozen; inside, the situation was no better.

Qiu Yuan held down Her Ladyship’s legs, tears falling hard and fast, choking back sobs from time to time. Her mind kept spinning, no matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t figure it out.
What had happened?

There was nothing wrong in Chu’an Palace, and His Majesty would never harm Her Ladyship, so how could she be in trouble?

She thought she caught a faint whiff of fragrance. Since Her Ladyship became pregnant, the only incense burned in the hall was the peppermint blend prepared by Imperial Physician Lin, never this kind of floral scent.
It was faintly familiar.

Suddenly, Qiu Yuan remembered something, and her expression changed abruptly—

Peonies!

It was the peony scent she and Her Ladyship had smelled at Yihe Palace.

When the concubines had crowded into the main hall, Her Ladyship, fearing being jostled, had chosen the quiet of the veranda. They had stood there for a long time.

There was something wrong with Yihe Palace’s peonies!

Realizing this, Qiu Yuan’s heart filled with regret. It was her fault, if only she had been more cautious…

She closed her eyes slightly, concealing her thoughts.

Comsort De was always cautious. If she made a move, would it really be this simple?

Qiu Yuan didn’t think so.

Consort De must have a follow-up plan.

But what was it?

The medicine was hastily decocted and quickly brought in.
Tan Yuanchu took it himself and fed it to the woman.

“This is to protect the pregnancy,” Imperial Physician Lin explained.

The moment he spoke, everyone inside realized something, only a pregnant woman would drink pregnancy-protecting medicine.

If Her Ladyship had truly miscarried, the prescription should have been for recuperation, not for preserving the child.

The tension in their bodies finally eased. A cold wind brushed past, making them feel a chill. Only now did they realize they had been scared into a cold sweat by this ordeal.

Tan Yuanchu heard it too. His fingers moved almost imperceptibly.
Without a clear confirmation, he did not dare relax. His dark gaze fixed coldly on Imperial Physician Lin.

The physician wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and exhaled deeply.

“Your Majesty, fortunately treatment was administered in time, the imperial heir in Her Ladyship’s womb has been saved.”

The pregnancy-protecting medicine also had a calming effect. The woman, leaning against him, drifted into a hazy sleep, though her delicate brows remained furrowed, as if she still felt pain even in her dreams.

Tan Yuanchu’s back was soaked through, yet he seemed not to notice. He simply lifted his gaze to look at Imperial Physician Lin.

“What was the cause?”

The physician dared not delay. “Her Ladyship came into contact with something of a yin and cold nature.”

Tan Yuanchu’s eyes turned abruptly cold. His gaze swept toward Qiu Yuan and the others. “Something of a yin and cold nature?”

Fury surged within him, barely restrained, his eyes sharp with icy intent.
This was how they took care of their mistress?!

Qiu Yuan suddenly dropped to her knees.

“Your Majesty, this servant failed to care for Her Ladyship and deserves death, but before punishment, this servant dares to request that Your Majesty allow Imperial Physician Lin to examine the items Her Ladyship wore today, and also… to issue a decree for the Imperial Guards and the Imperial Hospital to search Yihe Palace from top to bottom!”

The hall instantly fell silent. Qiu Yuan closed her eyes and, as if throwing her life away, knocked her head heavily against the floor.

For a moment, the only sound within was that dull thud.

Seeing this, Song Fu immediately led the attendants of Chu’an Palace in kneeling. “We beg Your Majesty to uncover the truth and uphold justice for Her Ladyship!”

Tan Yuanchu fixed his gaze steadily on Qiu Yuan. He naturally understood the implication behind her words, this matter with the woman was connected to Consort De.

Consort De had disgraced the imperial family, but he had only let her die of illness, rather than stripping her title and implicating her entire clan.

That was to preserve a layer of dignity for the Eldest Prince.

Qiu Yuan knew this well; that was why she said she “dared.”

If it was discovered today that Yun Si had indeed been harmed by Comsort De, would he still let Consort De be buried with honor?

If Consort De were deposed and buried in disgrace, bearing criminal charges, the Eldest Prince would inevitably be shamed, it would be as good as abolishing him halfway.

If Consort De truly had done this, then her audacity came from relying on the belief that he would not touch the Eldest Prince.

Tan Yuanchu’s gaze dropped to the woman’s face. Her complexion was pale, her lips ashen, so fragile she seemed as thin as paper. In his mind still lingered the image of her trembling in pain, her unfocused voice still faintly calling him Your Majesty.

His fingers slowly tightened around hers, his voice deep and resonant.

“Convey my order, the Imperial Guards and the Imperial Hospital are to search Yihe Palace. There must be no mistakes!”

The Eldest Prince was his first imperial heir.

He valued him greatly.

But the child in her womb was also his long-cherished offspring, the one whose news had brought him such joy he could not sleep the entire night.