Transmigrated as the Villainess, She Made the General Blush - Chapter 12

Xiao Caiyi returned to her seat at the head of the hall. After the Palace Maids had served tea and pastries to Fang Qin’er and Xiao Wangshu, she waved her hand to dismiss all the palace servants from the hall.

Seeing that there were far fewer people in the hall, Fang Qin’er finally spoke gently, “Both Your Highnesses have worked hard serving His Majesty in the palace. The Prime Minister is very concerned about you at the residence, and both Concubine Li and Concubine Luo are also worried.”

Perhaps it was due to the heightened emotions of pregnancy, but as soon as Xiao Pan’an heard these words, she immediately picked up her handkerchief to wipe her teary eyes.

“Mother, how is my Concubine Mother? Is she still coughing as often as before?”

Fang Qin’er patted her hand and comforted her, “Imperial Consort, rest assured. The Prime Minister often sends the Household Physician to check on her. Concubine Luo’s health is improving day by day.”

Matron Du also spoke up, “Indeed, our Madam often sends supplements over as well. Imperial Consort, do not worry. Everything is well with Concubine Luo at the residence.

“But as for you, Imperial Consort, it is no easy feat to have conceived an imperial heir in the palace. The Prime Minister and Concubine Luo are both concerned about you. You must take good care of yourself first.”

Hearing Matron Du’s words, Xiao Pan’an immediately turned to Fang Qin’er to express her gratitude, “Thank you, Mother. With you and Father caring for my Concubine Mother, I can be at ease.”

“Don’t cry anymore, wipe your tears,” Fang Qin’er said softly, continuing to comfort her. “Conceiving an imperial heir is a great joy. Concubine Luo is waiting for the day when you give birth to the imperial heir, receive His Majesty’s favor, return to the residence, and bring the little prince to see her.”

Hearing this, Xiao Pan’an blushed and lowered her head shyly, “It might not necessarily be a little prince… It could be a princess.”

His Majesty had said he wanted a princess, best if she could be as gentle and lovely as Xiao Pan’an.

Fang Qin’er kept her smile, “A princess or a prince, as long as you have an imperial heir by your side.”

But if it could be a prince, that would be best.

Xiao Pan’an nodded, her face still red, and said no more.

At this moment, Xiao Caiyi, seated above, finally spoke up, “Mother, the Mu Family’s daughter is also pregnant. I sent someone to the Imperial Medical Bureau to check the records; it is indeed a joyful pulse. All medicines for stabilizing and protecting the pregnancy are being provided without issue.”

“Oh?” Fang Qin’er withdrew her hand and picked up the teacup on the table.

Xiao Wangshu sat quietly to the side, picking up two pieces of Peach Blossom Pastry from the table, waiting for Xiao Caiyi to continue.

“His Majesty initially intended to keep it a secret, but most people in the palace are from the Xiao Family. He tried and failed, so he gave up,” Xiao Caiyi continued.

“Keep it a secret?” Fang Qin’er smiled, her fingertips lightly brushing the lid of her cup.

“The Legitimate Imperial Prince has not yet been born. How can the imperial consorts in the harem raise an imperial heir privately without the Empress’s permission? Even if this imperial heir is born, he should be brought under the Empress’s care and raised by her.”

This talk of “snatching the child” was delivered by Fang Qin’er in a refreshingly logical and reasonable manner.

Xiao Wangshu sat to the side eating pastries, her mind linking the conversation to the plot she knew from the original novel.

In the book, this pregnancy resulted in Xiao Pan’an giving birth to a prince.

To ensure that this child would have a legitimate claim to the throne in the future, Xiao Hong directly ordered that the Eldest Imperial Prince be adopted under the Empress Xiao Caiyi’s name and raised as the Legitimate Eldest Imperial Prince.

As for Mu Chuxue’s pregnancy, which was doomed to fail, it was lost on the very day she tried to frame Fang Qin’er.

“Mother is right. Since entering the palace, the Mu Family’s daughter has monopolized His Majesty’s favor and colluded with her Maternal Family to bewitch him. Now His Majesty is entirely focused on the Mu Family and rarely visits me or Empress Sister’s palaces.”

There was a clear tone of resentment and jealousy in Xiao Pan’an’s words.

Fang Qin’er nodded in agreement and said, “Indeed, it is not right. Imperial Consort, do not be upset. After I return, I will discuss this matter in detail with the Prime Minister and have him properly advise His Majesty. It is best if His Majesty bestows his favor equally.”
Hearing this, Xiao Pan’an finally quieted down.

After soothing Xiao Pan’an, Fang Qin’er resumed discussing official matters with Xiao Caiyi.

To keep Xiao Pan’an from speaking up and wasting more time, Xiao Wangshu stepped forward and deliberately engaged her: “Imperial Consort, this strand of pearls is truly beautiful-the jade is so clear and lustrous.”

“Oh, this? His Majesty bestowed it on me the day my pregnancy was confirmed.” Xiao Pan’an originally didn’t want to talk to Xiao Wangshu, as she had always been looked down upon by her at the Chancellor’s Mansion.

Xiao Wangshu was the legitimate daughter of the Chancellor’s Mansion, while she herself was a concubine-born daughter, and in every respect, her treatment was not as good as Xiao Wangshu’s.

In the past, whenever they went out together to banquets, Xiao Wangshu was as noble as the bright moon in the sky, while she stood behind her-not even a star, as lowly as a piece of rubble.

But now that Xiao Wangshu brought up this strand of pearls, she was indeed willing to exchange a few more words.

For this was His Majesty’s favor toward her, the source of her confidence as Imperial Consort.

“His Majesty truly cares about your child. Take good care of yourself. When the baby is born, your good days will have only just begun,” Xiao Wangshu continued, rambling on.

Hearing these words, Xiao Pan’an suddenly found her fourth sister much more agreeable today.

“Then I shall accept your kind words, Fourth Sister.”

Xiao Wangshu smiled and said, “You really are blessed, little sister. I’ve heard that after conceiving the imperial heir, one is protected by Dragon Qi-immune to all manner of poisons and miasmas. Do you think that’s true?”

Xiao Pan’an seemed to recall something, her face reddened, and her voice was thin and weak, like a mosquito’s buzz: “There should be some truth to that…”

His Majesty was full of masculine vigor, and the child in her womb was healthy. Although she hadn’t heard this particular folk saying before, she thought it seemed at least somewhat believable.

Xiao Wangshu smiled sweetly and continued to ramble.

Fang Qin’er and Xiao Caiyi glanced at them, then went on with their discussion of official matters.

Before they knew it, the conversation stretched on until nearly noon.

Seeing Xiao Pan’an’s face grow weary, Xiao Wangshu smiled, as if with some deeper meaning, and suggested, “Are you tired, little sister? Perhaps we should summon the Imperial Physician to check your pulse, for the sake of the imperial heir.”

Xiao Pan’an was taken aback; it seemed she had not expected her fourth sister to show such concern today.

After a moment’s pause, she answered, “Very well. We’ve talked for so long, it’s time to ask for a peace pulse.”

As she spoke, Xiao Pan’an turned and instructed the Palace Maid beside her to summon the Imperial Physician.

Xiao Caiyi was about to invite Fang Qin’er and Xiao Wangshu to stay for a meal, when suddenly a Eunuch outside the hall announced loudly-

“His Majesty has arrived! Consort Mu has arrived!”

Xiao Wangshu raised her brows. What was meant to come had finally come.

“I, your servant, pay respects-Long live Your Majesty; long live the Imperial Consort!”

Xiao Caiyi and Xiao Pan’an were the first to walk to the doorway to greet them, with Fang Qin’er and Xiao Wangshu following closely, bowing properly and offering their respects.

“I, your servant, pay respects-Long live Your Majesty; long live the Imperial Consort!”

“I, your servant, pay respects-Long live Your Majesty; long live the Imperial Consort!”

The black brocade boots embroidered with five-clawed golden dragons stopped in front of Xiao Wangshu and the others, while the Imperial Canopy cast a large shadow over them.

“Rise.”

Wei Qixuan was still young, a teenage emperor, but his voice was deep and mature, out of keeping with his age.

“Thank you, Your Majesty!” The group rose one after another.

Only after rising did Xiao Wangshu finally get a clear look at the face of this young emperor from the novel.

Perhaps the pressure of sitting on the dragon throne was too great, for although Wei Qixuan’s features were fine-matching the book’s male lead, with clear brows and a high nose-there was nonetheless a certain exhaustion and precocious gravity about him.

His stern, unsmiling expression truly left no trace of youthful vigor.