Returning after a three-year escape from death, the tyrant has turned evil.

Chapter 285 Unstable Pregnancy
Song Yi blushed for a moment, and under Jiang Lanye's gentle gaze, she lightly kissed his lips.

The two immediately went outside, where the palace servants gathered, watching them with concern.

After all, the two of them returned looking quite disheveled.

Jiang Lanye looked at Eunuch Cao and said coldly, "Send two teams of guards to that abandoned palace in the south, with swords, kill all the poisonous snakes inside and bring them back."

Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted in uproar:

"A snake? Why would there be a poisonous snake out of the blue?"

Jiang Lanye glanced around at everyone and said, "Both I and the Imperial Concubine are fine. This matter should not be publicized."

"Yes."

Despite this, the worry on everyone's faces did not fade. They were concerned that venomous snakes had inexplicably appeared in the palace, and more than one at that. Would those snakes stay put? What if they wandered off and hibernated elsewhere, and they were bitten while walking?
Xi Chun looked at Song Yi with concern and leaned closer: "Your Majesty, you look very unwell. Are you really alright?"

Song Yi was still somewhat dazed. Upon hearing Xi Chun's words, her hand clenched slightly. Recalling the sensation of grasping the snake with her bare hands, she shuddered all over.

Jiang Lanye immediately embraced her tightly.

After a while.

Both of them silently submerged themselves in the bathtub. The water temperature was just right, neither too hot nor too cold, gently enveloping Song Yi's entire body.

Song Yi had just picked up the soap and frantically washed her hands several times until her fingertips were wrinkled when Jiang Lanye forcibly stopped her.

Jiang Lanye casually draped one arm over the bathtub, his gaze fixed intently on Song Yi.

Most of her body was submerged in the water and she was still sliding down, wishing she could immerse her mouth and nose in the hot water.

Jiang Lanye immediately moved to her side, grabbed her arm, and pulled her into his arms. Jiang Lanye leaned against the bathtub, holding Song Yi tightly in his arms, resting his chin on her fair shoulder, and said in a very gentle voice, "Yiyi, were you scared?"

Both of their hands were submerged in the water. Jiang Lanye put his hands together and held Song Yi's hands in his own palms, casually playing with them: "You were really brave just now. If it weren't for you, I'm afraid I would have been bitten by a poisonous snake."

Song Yi bit her lip, her voice trembling slightly: "It's really disgusting. I've only ever seen a snake once in my life, and it wasn't poisonous. Today I saw so many. Their appearance, tongues, and skin were all so scary. I even grabbed one with my bare hands. It was the first time I had ever touched one with my hands. It was slippery and looked like it had a lot of mucus on its surface."

As she spoke, she closed her eyes, wishing she could shrink herself into Jiang Lanye's arms, her back pressed against his broad chest, her whole body trembling uncontrollably.

Jiang Lanye tightened his arms around her, his palm gently stroking her tense back.

In the steaming heat, he lowered his head and kissed the top of her wet hair: "It's all in the past now."

Song Yi was only realizing her fear belatedly. She shook her head: "What if those snakes come out again? What if they're watching me somewhere right now? What if someone releases poisonous snakes to harm me?"

Once bitten, twice shy. Song Yi's current state was very strange. Jiang Lanye kept holding Song Yi tightly, comforting her and talking to her about other things to distract her.

The two of them dressed almost silently, and when they went out, Eunuch Cao was already waiting outside.

"Your Majesty, the guards have returned. They said those snakes were very strange; they stayed coiled up inside the palace and wouldn't leave, as if they were attracted there by something. There were five snakes in total, and they have all been eliminated."

Jiang Lanye lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment. There were indeed five that could be seen in the hall at that time, so the number should match.

Eunuch Cao continued, "The guards have taken all those snakes away."

Upon hearing this, Song Yi froze instantly: "No!"

Eunuch Cao was taken aback. Jiang Lanye shielded her behind him: "Tell them to take the dead snake somewhere else, so that Consort Yun doesn't see it."

"Yes."

When the imperial physician arrived, he saw the dead snake in the basket. He glanced at the patterns on its body and immediately said with certainty, "Those are golden ringed snakes, which are highly venomous. If a person is bitten and the venom is not cleared in time, they will die from poisoning within an hour."

Song Yi had already gone into the palace to rest, while Jiang Lanye stood outside, watching the snakes with a solemn expression along with the imperial physician.

"According to you, these snakes should be extremely dangerous. Who could have safely transported these venomous snakes into the palace?"

The imperial physician pondered for a moment, then suddenly whispered, "Your Majesty, these venomous snakes can actually be raised as pets if they are properly trained."

Jiang Lanye frowned: "You mean these snakes weren't caught from various places, but were artificially bred, which is why they exhibit a strong aggressive instinct and are very accurate in targeting."

The imperial physician sensed something amiss in his words: "Is the target accurate?"

"These snakes seemed to be attracted by something. While the Emperor and the Imperial Concubine were taking shelter from the rain inside the palace, they crawled straight into the palace."

The imperial physician couldn't come up with a good explanation for a while.

"Let's go in and see Consort Yun first."

"Yes."

The two entered the Qingliang Palace. Jiang Lanye looked closely and found that Song Yi had wrapped herself in the quilt at some point. She was curled up in a ball, her head buried, and she didn't say a word.

Jiang Lanye's eyes darkened, and he strode over, reaching out to gently touch her through the blanket. Song Yi trembled all over, as if she had been frightened. She suddenly cried out and tried to sit up abruptly.

Seeing this, Jiang Lanye took the opportunity to pick her up, blanket and all, and said, "It's me, not a snake, Yiyi, look carefully."

Song Yi looked at him, her tense body gradually softening. She glanced at Jiang Lanye, hesitant to speak.

Jiang Lanye was truly frightened and reached out to gently touch the corner of her eye: "What's wrong?"

"I have a slight pain in my lower abdomen."

Jiang Lanye's heart sank immediately.

The imperial physician's eyelids twitched involuntarily, and he hurriedly stepped forward to take her pulse.

Jiang Lanye stared intently at the imperial physician, his knuckles white, his voice hoarse: "How is he?"

"Your Majesty," the imperial physician said, his forehead beaded with cold sweat, "the Empress has been frightened, and the pregnancy has indeed been disturbed. Fortunately, although her pulse is weak, it is not dispersing. However, she must not be disturbed again in the future, otherwise the fetus may not be safe."

After saying this, he no longer dared to look up at Jiang Lanye, and cupped his hands, saying softly, "Your Majesty, I will go and prescribe a new dose of medicine to prevent miscarriage."

"Go quickly."

Song Yi reached out and stroked her flat stomach. "Jiang Lanye, what should we do?"

"It's alright. You've been through a lot of frights these past few days. Just rest and you'll be fine."

(End of this chapter)