Volume One, Chapter 15: Naturally, He Also Wanted to Gain Some Benefits

“Please thank His Majesty on my behalf,” Zhang Shunlai said with a broad smile. Over these past days, His Majesty had sent countless precious gifts to Jingyang Palace, but this was the first time Lady Chen had expressed her gratitude.

After reporting back to His Majesty, he was delighted, and when he was happy, the servants like them would have a good life.

Once Zhang Shunlai had completed his report, Pei Yueshu sat by the small pavilion near the flower house, holding one of the tabby cats.

The cat was surprisingly gentle, showing no resistance to being held by a stranger.

“Your Highness, please give these two cats names,” Jin Lu said cheerfully. Jin Ju, holding the other cat, nodded in agreement.

“They’re just ordinary animals; there’s nothing worth paying attention to,” Pei Yueshu replied, leaning against the railing with a face calm and expressionless.

Jin Lu and Jin Ju exchanged glances.

“Your Highness may not know, but some tabby cats are raised from kittenhood with special medicines. These specially bred cats are extremely sensitive to certain poisons, even more effective than silver needles used for detecting toxins,” Jin Lu explained.

Only then did a subtle expression appear on Pei Yueshu’s face. She stroked the cat’s smooth fur gently and spoke softly, “How thoughtful.”

Though only she and Yian knew of her pregnancy, if someone was determined to observe her menstrual cycle, it would be difficult to keep it hidden.

It seemed that Jin Lu and Jin Ju had noticed something and passed the news to Linxi, which was why these two poison-detecting tabby cats were presented as tribute.

Huo Chi truly cared about this child, fearing the women in the harem might use some foul means to harm her.

Pei Yueshu smiled faintly; this was exactly what she had hoped for.

Soon, news of Consort Chen’s affection for the two tabby cats reached the Ganlu Hall.

Xiao Xuanyu, troubled by matters of the previous dynasty, felt much better upon hearing the news.

The next day, after finishing his affairs, he eagerly made his way to Jingyang Palace.

Pei Yueshu had just finished bathing, and Yian was tidying her long black hair. The two tabby cats seemed to have grown accustomed to her scent, rubbing against her legs, trying to get her to pick them up and play.

Pei Yueshu paid no mind to Xiao Xuanyu’s impending arrival that night and rose to go to bed.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door, and the next moment, she was lifted up horizontally by someone.

The two tabby cats followed Xiao Xuanyu’s footsteps but were soon hurriedly taken away by palace maids. The door closed behind them.

Worried about harming the child in her womb, Pei Yueshu did not struggle, gently grasping the fabric of Xiao Xuanyu’s chest.

Xiao Xuanyu looked down at her; unwilling to simply drop her onto the bed, he gently set her down. Even before removing his clothes, he cupped her small face in his hands and kissed her.

At first, the kisses were light and tentative, but soon he pulled her closer, one hand holding the back of her head, the other encircling her waist, drawing her fully against him.

“Seeing you happy makes me happy too,” he murmured.

A genuine smile shone on Xiao Xuanyu’s face. He had thought that after Pei Yueshu’s recent trauma, it would take time for her to recover, but a mere two cats had restored her smile.

Pei Yueshu said nothing, lowering her gaze.

Xiao Xuanyu rose and calmly removed his clothes, his eyes fixed on Pei Yueshu’s face, unabashedly revealing his bare desire.

He had been busy with affairs of the previous dynasty these days, unable to enter the harem. Among all the consorts, his heart belonged most to Lady Chen.

He not only admired her face but cherished her flawless, milky skin.

Now that she was in good spirits, he intended to reap some rewards.

He leaned over her, pulling down her thin nightgown to reveal her perfectly rounded shoulder, shining like brocade silk. Grasping her hands, intertwining their fingers, he pressed kisses inch by inch, leaving behind blooms of radiant red plum blossoms wherever he touched.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!” came a noisy commotion from outside.

Breathing heavily, Xiao Xuanyu lifted his head. Pei Yueshu’s eyes sharpened; she slipped out from beneath him and, while tidying her garments, turned her back to him, concealing the deep disgust on her face.

Xiao Xuanyu embraced her from behind, pulling down her clothes again, kissing her slender, graceful neck while murmuring her pet name indistinctly.

“Your Majesty, a servant has urgent news to report!”

Xiao Xuanyu snorted impatiently. It wasn’t Hu Guangfu or Zhang Shunlai making the noise—who was the blind fool in the palace daring to shout so loudly before him?

“Get out!” he commanded, pulling Pei Yueshu into his arms and covering her ears.

The servants outside fell to their knees in a clatter. Hu Guangfu regretted his moment of leniency in allowing that little Dezi inside.

“Your Majesty, this servant truly has urgent news. Consort Shu is pregnant but has just suffered a miscarriage. The imperial physician says it may be serious...”

The lust vanished from Xiao Xuanyu’s face. At his age, having his first child was precious, and naturally, he was deeply concerned.

No further sounds came from inside. Little Dezi and Hu Guangfu both breathed sighs of relief.

“What happened to Consort Shu? How did she suddenly miscarry?” Hu Guangfu asked.

Little Dezi dared not speak directly, only vaguely gesturing towards the direction of the Kunning Palace.

In truth, Huo Consort Shu had long known of her pregnancy, but with the Huo family in turmoil and her support gone, she dared not reveal it now.

No one knew where Empress Ji had obtained the news, but she had just personally taken the imperial physician to Shangyang Palace, confirming Consort Shu’s pregnancy and infuriating her so much that she miscarried, causing a stir in the imperial medical court.

Regarding the affairs between the Ji and Huo families, Hu Guangfu dared not utter a word.

Soon, Xiao Xuanyu dressed and came out. He glanced at the trembling little Dezi kneeling on the ground, asked nothing, and headed to Shangyang Palace.

Pei Yueshu summoned someone to prepare water, washed herself once more, and then fell asleep peacefully.

Although Xiao Xuanyu had promised to return after a while, Pei Yueshu knew he would not come back.

Inside Shangyang Palace, imperial physicians and nurses came and went. Though all knew Consort Huo was not seriously ill, she kept crying out in pain, so the servants had no choice but to play along.

Empress Ji, accompanied by a group of palace attendants and eunuchs, remained seated inside. Upon seeing the emperor arrive, she stood and offered a perfunctory bow.

“Congratulations to Your Majesty; soon you will have a dragon son,” she said with feigned sincerity.

Though aware that Ji Yiling harbored ill intentions, Xiao Xuanyu still smiled and replied, “Your Majesty has worked hard. It’s late; you should rest early. I will stay here with Consort Shu.”

“There’s no rush. I will accompany Your Majesty to see Consort Shu before leaving,” she said.

As the head of the harem, Xiao Xuanyu had no reason to dismiss her and entered Consort Huo’s chamber with her.

“Your Majesty!” Consort Huo clung tightly to Xiao Xuanyu’s hand, clearly frightened of Empress Ji, and kept hiding in his embrace.

A cold smile flickered across Empress Ji’s face. Did she think the emperor’s protection would safeguard the child?

“What caused the miscarriage? Imperial physician, is the dragon son in Consort Huo’s womb still well?” Xiao Xuanyu patted her back soothingly.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, Consort Shu’s dragon son is already three months along. The miscarriage was caused by fright. As long as her mood remains calm and she takes a few doses of medication to protect the fetus, there will be no further issues,” the white-bearded imperial physician Zhang replied.

Xiao Xuanyu nodded. “It’s already been three months. Why was I unaware until now?”

Consort Huo’s maid Qingzhu knelt with a thud. “Reporting to Your Majesty, due to family matters recently, the lady had poor appetite and did not suspect anything. It was only after the physician’s diagnosis that we learned of this. We servants have been negligent.”

“Your Majesty, it was my own carelessness. Please do not blame Qingzhu and the others,” Consort Huo said softly to Xiao Xuanyu, though she still appeared weak.

A glint flashed in Xiao Xuanyu’s eyes as he raised his chin, signaling Qingzhu and the other maids to rise.

“Since Consort Huo is fine, I shall take my leave,” Empress Ji said.

Xiao Xuanyu nodded, but Consort Huo seemed dissatisfied and wanted to speak but thought better and remained silent.

What fault did Empress Ji have? She merely brought the imperial physician to examine the consort. It was Consort Huo who repeatedly declined, clearly hiding something.

Even if Empress Ji had truly done something wrong, Xiao Xuanyu would have no means to act against her, especially since she was a discarded scion of her family.

“Your Majesty, I fear I cannot protect this child,” Huo Yuanyao said tearfully after everyone else had left.

Now, the only person she could rely on was the emperor she once despised.

“Rest assured, I am here,” Xiao Xuanyu said, holding her close and comforting her patiently, though his expression was cold.

He knew well why Consort Huo was acting vulnerable, but this was his first child, and no matter what, it must be safely born.