Chapter 79 The Empress Secret (2/2)
Hearing this, Yun Shang whispered to herself for a while. A sudden thought seized her. Then the world around her became silent. After a long pause, Yun Shang suddenly rose to her feet and exclaimed, ”I finally know what's wrong.”
All the others in the room cast their eyes upon Yun Shang. Yun Shang smiled and said with firm eyes, ”All these days I felt that something important was being missed. When Lin just revealed the laundry incident, it occurred to me that more than half a month ago Lady Shu went all out to make the Empress eat the abortifacient at the banquet. I saw the Empress had eaten the abortifacient. Logically, the Empress should have miscarried within half a month. But nothing happened until now. Qiwu Palace has remained unusually quiet. Several Imperial Physicians have been there several times to check my dear mother's health (Lady Jin) by pulse diagnosis. But there is only one Physician serving the Empress all the time. Other Physicians have never treated the Empress.”
”Your Highness, you mean that…” Qin Yi's eyes shone. She stared at Yun Shang with focused eyes.
”Putting these things together, I think that the Empress is in all likelihood, not pregnant, ” said Yun Shang with an ironic smile. ”The Empress played a wonderful trick on us. That day when we l
, ” On hearing this, the smile disappeared from Lady Shu's face. She asked instantly, ”Does the Empress fall ill? How is she now? The servants in Qiwu Palace should be to blame. They didn't report this news to me. I have to go see the Empress now.”
Yun Shang added hastily, ”There is no big deal. The Physician said that the Empress is just physically weak and that the Empress just need to take some tonic medicine and eat some nutritious dishes to regain her health.”
These words allowed Lady Shu to feel some relief. She said, ”Well, well. I will go to Qiwu Palace now. It is cold. You should wear more clothes. Today, I have ordered the man in charge of Shangyi Bureau to prepare a few winter clothes for you. In a few days, you will have your new clothes.”
”Lady Shu, thank you for your consideration.” said Yun Shang. Then she curtsied to Lady Shu who turned for Qiwu Palace.
After a few steps, she stopped to look back at Yun Shang and said gently, ”Next time you go to Qiwu Palace, don't forget to see Lady Jin. Anyway, Lady Jin is your biological mother. You shouldn't ignore her even if your adoptive mother, the Empress, treats you very well. You care about the Empress, which indicates you are a filial girl. But you shouldn't have a prejudice against Lady Jin. Now, she is also pregnant and the fetus is getting bigger and bigger. She is having a harder time than the Empress.”
In a daze for a second, Yun Shang smiled coldly and said, ”You are right. Next time I will do as you have told.”
Lady Shu found Yun Shang didn't really pay attention to what she said but she had nothing more to say. So she sighed and continued on her way.
Once Lady Shu was out of sight, Yun Shang, followed by Qin Yi and Qian Yin, set off again.
Upon returning to Qingxin Palace, Qin Yi helped Yun Shang take off her cloak, put it aside and drew the stove nearer to Yun Shang.
”Princess, Lady Shu is heading to Qiwu Palace. What does she want to do?” said Qian Yin out of curiosity.
Yun Shang said, ”No mountain can accommodate two tigers, let alone two tigers who both want to rule the mountain. Although Lady Shu has the Empress's seal now, she is just temporarily in charge of the Imperial household. She is not the real Empress. Meanwhile, the Empress claims to be carrying the Emperor's baby. If the Empress gave birth to a baby boy, everything Lady Shu has done would be in vain. So Lady Shu managed to make the Empress take the abortifacient during the banquet. She did it but nothing happened. She is anxious. Hearing me say that the Empress feels ill, she can't wait to see whether the Empress really lost her baby just as she expected.”
Qian Yin chuckled, ”Lady Shu's plan will fail. The Empress is not pregnant. There is no way for her to lose her baby.”
Yun Shang was leaning against the couch. ”You'd better keep that to yourself. Remember not to talk of this in the days to come.”
”Do we just let the Empress play this trick?”
Asked Qian Yin. At this time, Qin Yi was carrying the quilt from the bed to the couch. She said, ”The Princess has her own plan. The trick the Empress is playing won't go too far.”
Yun Shang said with a smile, ”Right. It won't go too far.” All of a sudden, it occurred to Yun Shang that if she hadn't taken precautions, her dear mother, Lady Jin would have taken the abortifacient at that banquet. Lady Shu had planned to get rid of Lady Jin and the Empress once and for all. Her plan was good but Yun Shang wouldn't let anyone hurt her dear mother, Lady Jin. Although Lady Shu worked for Prince Jing, Yun Shang thought she should work out a way to warn Lady Shu.