Proud Feather

Chapter 149 Abnormality
On the high platform, the excerpt from the opera was still being sung, and the actors dared not stop without being given permission.

The side hall was crowded with people, while only the Emperor and Consort Xian remained inside. The imperial physicians and midwives had been summoned. Consort Shu screamed in agony, and basins of blood were brought out, a horrifying sight that stained the originally joyous New Year's Eve with blood.

In the corner, Lü Chan stood there, pale-faced and lost in thought.

"Sister-in-law." Chu Ling walked over.

"Ah Ling!" When Lü Chan saw her, her expression finally calmed down and she regained her composure.

Chu Ling knew something was wrong and said, "It's too cold outside, Jin'er can't get cold. Qiu Niang, you take care of her first."

Zheng Qiu understood immediately and led Jin'er and his wet nurse into the hall to warm up.

With no one else around, Chu Ling asked in a low voice, "Sister-in-law, what happened? Does this have anything to do with you?"

Lü Chan shook her head and replied softly, "It has nothing to do with me, but I'm afraid I can't explain it clearly."

Chu Ling's heart tightened: "What?"

Lu Chan recounted the incident: "Just now, I brought Jin'er to the side hall to change clothes. I heard a noise coming from here, so I came to check. But there was no one inside. I saw Consort Shu move slightly, as if she was calling for someone. Thinking that she is pregnant, I was afraid it would be inconvenient for her to come in, so I came in..."

"You were the first person to discover it?"

Lü Chan nodded: "I saw blood under Consort Shu's skirt, so I quickly called for help."

"..." Chu Ling's expression was solemn.

Seeing her like this, Lü Chan also became nervous: "A-Ling, you also feel that something is wrong, don't you?"

Chu Ling responded lightly, "The people around Consort Shu are so careful, how come you were the first to discover it?"

This was exactly what Lü Chan feared. She came from a prominent family, and the methods of managing the inner quarters were things she had never seen before, having been taught by her elders. However, after so many years of marriage into the Eastern Palace, Chu Yi had always been upright and had never engaged in any underhanded dealings, which led to her letting her guard down this time.

"How could I forget? I should have called for help then." She said with regret.

Chu Ling asked, "Who did you bring with you at the time, sister-in-law? Besides Jin'er, was it only your wet nurse and your own maid?"

Lü Chan nodded.

Chu Ling was even more convinced. There were so many palace servants serving tonight, yet there was no one there at that time. What a coincidence!
However, she remained calm and gently reassured her, "Don't be afraid, sister-in-law. If you're upright, you have nothing to fear. If they ask later, just be confident and assertive. Leave the rest to me."

When Lü Chan met her gaze, it was so gentle yet firm that it made her momentarily dazed, and for a second she thought her husband had returned.

She couldn't help but say, "Ah Ling, you really took on the responsibility."

Chu Ling had told her before that she would take on the responsibilities her brother left behind. At the time, Lü Chan was only moved, but now she was finally convinced that Chu Ling wasn't just making empty promises, but was earnestly putting them into practice.

Chu Ling smiled slightly and squeezed her hand: "Sister-in-law, you wait here."

Lü Chan had made up her mind by now, and nodded as she watched her return to the main hall.
-
Consort Tian ultimately lost her child, and due to her poor health, she fell into a coma. The imperial physicians stated that her life was in danger.

The emperor flew into a rage: "If the child can't be saved, and Consort Shu can't be saved either, what use are you all? You must use whatever means necessary to save Consort Shu, or I will take your heads!"

The imperial physicians were filled with trepidation, but only the Imperial Physician Zhuang remained calm: "Your subject will certainly do his utmost."

After saying this, she led her officials inside. "Your Majesty, please calm down," Consort Xian said, forcing herself to speak. "The imperial physicians are doing their best to treat you, and you should also take care of yourself. It's too cold outside, why don't you wait inside?"

The emperor glared at her fiercely, wanting to curse but ultimately holding back.

Today's palace banquet was arranged by Consort Xian. He was somewhat angry about what had happened, but reason told him that Consort Shu was already in trouble, and scolding Consort Xian would only make things worse. The emperor could only take a deep breath and turn back to the main hall.

The concubines followed him back in a panic, feeling both schadenfreude and fear of being implicated.

Since the Empress's death, Consort Shu has been the only one favored in the palace, and to make matters worse, she is pregnant. It's impossible for everyone not to feel jealous, especially the younger concubines.

Consort Shu already has an adult prince and is quite old, so how did she manage to get pregnant? I'm so young and healthy, yet I didn't get pregnant!
Now that it's gone, they feel a subtle sense of satisfaction. See? They told them they couldn't keep it!
Chu He wiped away his tears and said, "Father, it's all my fault. I've always felt that Mother's health wasn't good, and she should have rested in the palace. I didn't take good care of her, and she has to suffer like this..."

"No, it's my fault." Pang Yu cried along with her. "When Mother went to rest, I should have gone to serve her. I was careless and only then did I realize it was too late..."

Seeing their distressed expressions, the emperor's expression softened slightly, and he lowered his voice: "Alright, what does this have to do with you? I didn't even notice it either. Does that mean I was careless? Second son's wife, you are pregnant, so you should be careful! If you are tired, go and rest."

Pang Yu, still wiping away tears, said, "Thank you for your understanding, Father. How can I rest? Just thinking of Mother's appearance..."

After saying that, she clutched her stomach, her face contorted in pain. Chu He, in a panic, grabbed her and cried out, "Ayu, Ayu, what's wrong?"

A flurry of activity ensued inside the hall. Finally, Pang Yu weakly waved his hand, saying, "It's nothing, it seems the child kicked me..."

The emperor finally relaxed and ordered, "Alright, don't get involved in these matters. Get some rest!"

Pang Yu thanked him and then sat down to the side.

The Emperor was still indignant, and since Consort Shu couldn't be cured immediately, he asked, "What exactly happened? Wasn't Consort Shu perfectly fine before? Why is she bleeding even when she's resting?"

Yes, Consort Shu had been resting at home for so long during her pregnancy, and only came out after things had settled down. Although she looked thin, she seemed to have good energy and spirits today. How could she suddenly be so weak?

When Consort Xian received the Emperor's gaze, her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly replied, "Your Majesty, I will go and find out what happened immediately."

The emperor waved his hand: "Ask here! I'd like to hear it too."

This shows they don't trust her! Consort Xian felt depressed but had no choice but to have someone call over the palace maids who were serving her.

The side hall had been prepared in advance, with safety as the top priority. Not even incense was used, and there was nothing unusual when Consort Shu went to sleep.

After Consort Xian asked all the questions, she couldn't find any problems, whether it was the palace servants she had assigned or Consort Shu's own maids.

As the emperor listened, he suddenly raised his hand: "Wait! Who did you say discovered that Consort Shu was bleeding?"

The palace maid below replied tremblingly, "Yes, it's the Crown Princess."

"How could it be the Crown Princess?" The Emperor frowned. "Is Consort Shu sleeping there without anyone attending to her?"

The palace maid was speechless.

The emperor shouted coldly and angrily, "Speak! What's going on here?"

"Your Majesty, please calm down!" the palace servant hurriedly replied. "It was Consort Xian who forbade us from disturbing Consort Shu."