vstars Chapter 484 Consort Liu
Chapter 484 Consort Liu
"You...have...great...could...not...a...bold...assertion!" Every word Consort Liu uttered seemed to be squeezed out from between her teeth, filled with boundless rage.
Qinghe gently stroked her lower abdomen, a faint smile curving her lips: "Your Highness, please forgive me, I am simply... unwell due to the presence of His Majesty's child."
These words struck everyone present like a thunderclap.
The kneeling palace servants lowered their heads even further, wishing they were deaf and blind at that moment.
Consort Liu's gaze swept over her like a knife, finally settling on her still flat stomach, her eyes darkening slightly.
"Never mind, I came today to bring some tonics for my sister." She gestured to the eunuch behind her to place a beautifully packaged box of tonics on the stone table. "Although my sister is currently under punishment, His Majesty is kind and cannot just stand by and watch her health deteriorate."
Qinghe glanced at the box of tonics and sneered inwardly.
What good intentions could a weasel have when it visits a chicken to wish it a Happy New Year?
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but I am not fortunate enough to accept such a precious gift."
Consort Liu's smile froze for a moment, then blossomed into an even brighter smile: "Sister, what are you saying? Do you suspect that I did something behind this?"
She opened the box herself and took out a ginseng root. "Look, this is top-quality Korean ginseng. His Majesty specially bestowed it upon me, and I'm reluctant to use it."
She took a step forward, staring intently at Qinghe: "Or is it that you, sister, have some unspeakable secret and dare not take these tonics?"
Their eyes met, and sparks seemed to fly in the air.
Qinghe suddenly smiled slightly and accepted the ginseng: "In that case, I shall respectfully accept your offer."
She immediately summoned the old eunuch and ordered him to take the ginseng and stew it into soup.
Consort Liu was clearly taken aback by her quick acceptance and was momentarily stunned.
Before long, the ginseng soup was ready and served, steaming hot.
Qinghe picked up the bowl and, under Consort Liu's watchful gaze, slowly brought it to her lips—
Then, with a sudden flick of her wrist, the entire bowl of ginseng soup spilled onto the ground, soaking Consort Liu's magnificent skirt.
"Oops, my hand slipped." Qinghe said calmly, without any apology.
Consort Liu stood up abruptly, her face ashen: "You!"
"Your Highness, please forgive me," Qinghe looked up at her, her gaze icy. "Perhaps it's because the cold palace is damp, making my hands slippery. Or perhaps... the baby in my belly kicked me, and I lost my grip for a moment."
The word "fetus" struck like a thunderbolt, causing a stir among the palace servants behind Consort Liu.
Consort Liu's expression changed several times in an instant, finally freezing into a twisted smile: "Sister, you really know how to joke. This cold palace is so miserable, you must have gone hysterical, right?"
"Whether it's hysteria or not, the imperial physician can tell at a glance." Qinghe slowly stroked her lower abdomen. "It's been exactly three months."
Consort Liu's fingernails dug into her palm.
Three months was the last time Shen Qinghe served the emperor before being deposed.
She suddenly smiled, her voice so gentle it could melt water: "If you are truly fortunate enough to conceive a royal heir, that would be a joyous occasion. I will immediately report to His Majesty and request the imperial physician to examine you."
"No need for the Noble Consort to worry," Qinghe said calmly. "His Majesty will know when the time is right."
Consort Liu's eyes turned completely cold. She took a step forward and lowered her voice: "Shen Qinghe, don't think that having a child will turn your life around. There are many unexpected things in the Cold Palace, and it's hard to say whether you can even give birth."
"But this is, after all, the Emperor's bloodline!"
Consort Liu snorted coldly and turned away.
The courtyard gate slammed shut again, the sound of the lock clicking loudly.
Once the footsteps faded into the distance, Qinghe finally breathed a sigh of relief; her back was soaked with cold sweat.
That night, more guards were indeed dispatched outside the Cold Palace, ostensibly for protection, but in reality, to keep Qinghe under even closer control.
The food delivered became coarser, but each item was still strictly inspected by the nanny sent by Consort Liu—ostensibly to ensure safety, but in reality to monitor whether she was truly pregnant.
Qinghe cooperated with all the examinations, her mind as clear as a mirror.
Consort Liu was waiting, waiting for confirmation, waiting for an opportunity.
A few days later, Consort Liu visited again.
This time she brought the imperial physician with her.
"Sister, please don't be offended. The matter of the imperial heir is of great importance, and we can't just rely on your word alone," Consort Liu said with a smile. "This Physician Zhang is the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, and he is the most reliable person."
Physician Zhang stepped forward and bowed, his eyes darting around, not daring to look directly at Qinghe.
Qinghe knew that this imperial physician must be one of Consort Liu's people, and the diagnosis was probably not up to her.
She extended her wrist, her face calm and composed: "Thank you for your trouble, Imperial Physician."
Physician Zhang took her pulse, paused for a moment, and his expression gradually became strange.
"How is it?" Consort Liu asked anxiously.
The imperial physician withdrew his hand and knelt down: "Your Highness, the commoner Shen does indeed have a slippery pulse, which has lasted for more than three months."
Consort Liu's smile vanished completely, a hint of murderous intent flashing in her eyes, but she quickly concealed it: "Really? Have you examined me thoroughly?"
"I swear on my life that it is indeed a pregnancy pulse."
The courtyard fell silent for a moment.
Consort Liu gripped the silk fan tightly, her knuckles turning white.
Suddenly, she smiled and affectionately took Qinghe's hand: "What a wonderful thing! Don't worry, sister, I will report to His Majesty right away and make sure you are moved out of this cold palace so that you can take good care of yourself."
Qinghe withdrew her hand and said calmly, "No need. I think this place is quiet and suitable for a peaceful pregnancy."
Consort Liu was stunned, clearly not expecting her to refuse.
The next day, Consort Liu came again.
Consort Liu covered her lips with a fan, smiling gently and kindly, but there was no warmth in her eyes: "We are sisters, and although you are now cultivating here, I always think of you. Today, I have specially brought some of the best tonics to help you recover."
Two eunuchs behind her stepped forward in response, carrying several brocade boxes, which they opened one by one.
Inside were exquisite ginseng, bird's nest, and donkey-hide gelatin, their high quality evident from their color and shape, a stark contrast to the dilapidated state of this cold palace.
"Sister, look, this is a century-old ginseng newly bestowed by His Majesty, the best for replenishing qi and blood." Consort Liu personally picked up a ginseng root with all its hairs and roots intact and handed it to Shen Qinghe, her tone warm and affectionate. "Sister, you must take it on time and take good care of your health. If you experience any shortages, just send someone to tell me. You must not neglect yourself... or the imperial heir in your womb." She emphasized the last few words slightly, her gaze seemingly casually sweeping over Shen Qinghe's lower abdomen.
Shen Qinghe sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly calm: "Your Highness is too kind, I am unworthy of such a favor. However, I am currently a criminal and cannot use such a precious item, it would be too much of a burden."
"Oh dear, sister, you're being too polite!" Consort Liu scolded, forcefully stuffing the ginseng into Shen Qinghe's hand. "What's this talk of guilt or punishment? Sister is carrying His Majesty's child now; the safety of the imperial heir is paramount. What are these tonics compared to that? Perhaps..." Her tone shifted, her smile turning cold, "Sister suspects that I've tampered with something and dare not take it?"