Transmigrated as the Villainess, She Made the General Blush - Chapter 13

By Wei Qixuan’s side, a woman dressed elegantly in a blue gown stood with remarkable grace, her slight obeisance as light as a willow in the breeze.

“This concubine greets the Empress.”

Xiao Wangshu’s gaze fell on her, silently sizing up this original heroine of the story.

“Rise. You are with child; there is no need for such formalities.” Xiao Caiyi raised her hand in a gesture of support.

After standing, Mu Chuxue gave Xiao Caiyi a gentle and graceful smile. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Madame Xiao is also My mother-in-law. There’s no need for such ceremony. Come inside and be seated.” Wei Qixuan said, taking the lead toward the main seat in the hall.

Xiao Caiyi followed behind him, with Xiao Pan’an and Mu Chuxue coming in succession.

Fang Qin’er glanced at Xiao Wangshu, gently patting her hand in reassurance.

Although her daughter could be somewhat spoiled outside, her visits to the palace were rare. Fang Qin’er wondered whether she would be afraid when meeting His Majesty up close.

Xiao Wangshu’s expression remained as usual, and she smiled at Fang Qin’er.

Back then, when she was an orphan just starting a small business, she hadn’t panicked even when kidnapped and held at knifepoint-let alone now, when her father was the all-powerful Prime Minister.

This palace was filled with Xiao Hong’s people. What was there for her to fear?

A puppet emperor-nothing more than a plaything in the palm of their hands.

“I heard that Fourth Miss Xiao fell into the water at the Mu Mansion a few days ago. My siblings at home truly did not treat you as well as they should have. Please forgive us, Fourth Miss Xiao.”

Mu Chuxue’s exquisitely made-up face was full of apology. She even turned around and went over personally to take Xiao Wangshu’s hand.

Xiao Wangshu lifted her head to look at her, her expression calm and unruffled, her hand remaining perfectly still in Mu Chuxue’s grasp.

“Imperial Consort, you flatter me. It was merely an accident; no one could have foreseen it.” As she spoke, Xiao Wangshu lowered her head, her eyes fixed the whole time on Mu Chuxue’s hand.

Mu Chuxue’s movements grew slightly stiff. She forced an awkward smile and withdrew her hand.

She had thought that with Xiao Wangshu’s impatient temperament, she would pull her hand away or shake it off, but she hadn’t expected her to quietly allow it.

Xiao Wangshu smiled sweetly and added, “Imperial Consort, you are carrying the imperial heir; your body is precious. It would be best to let your attendants support you well.”

Let them hold her properly, and tightly, so she wouldn’t always want to bump into someone.

Perhaps hearing the implication in Xiao Wangshu’s words, Mu Chuxue’s expression changed a little, her smile growing somewhat stiff.

Fang Qin’er pulled Xiao Wangshu behind her and scolded, “Child! You know you’re careless with your hands and feet-don’t get too close and bump into the Imperial Consort.”

They certainly did need to get rid of the imperial heir in Mu Chuxue’s belly, but they absolutely could not let the blame fall upon themselves.

Xiao Wangshu lowered her gaze, acting surprisingly obedient. “I understand, Mother.”

Mu Chuxue forced a smile. “Madame Xiao, you flatter me. Fourth Miss Xiao has always been a person of strong character. Please, do not restrain her too much.”

“Thank you for your understanding, Imperial Consort. But Wangshu is indeed quite lively; it’s best she keeps some distance from the Imperial Consort.” As she spoke, Fang Qin’er pulled Xiao Wangshu behind her once more.

Xiao Wangshu cooperated-every time Fang Qin’er tugged, she would take two big steps back.

“All of you, be seated!”

Seated high above, Wei Qixuan gave the order, his tone tinged with a trace of impatience.

Fang Qin’er and Xiao Wangshu, mother and daughter, wore grateful expressions and, together with Xiao Caiyi and the others, saluted in unison, “Thank you, Your Majesty!”

Once everyone was seated, a strange tension settled over the hall.

No one spoke a word; only the sounds of Xiao Wangshu pouring tea and eating pastries could be heard.

It was already lunchtime. She had experienced stomach cancer once in her previous life-once was enough. Now, this young body’s stomach had to be well cared for.

“Your Majesty, seeing how after her pregnancy Pan’an’s mother could come into the palace to visit her, I find myself missing my own mother even more.”
Mu Chuxue was the first to speak, her gaze towards Fang Qin’er full of affection and longing.

Wei Qixuan followed up with a question: “What does my beloved consort mean by this?”

“The palace rules are strict; my mother is not allowed into the palace. Now that I am carrying the imperial heir, my mind is unsettled. May I ask Madame Xiao to visit me at Yunguang Palace, so that I may find solace for my longing for my mother?”

As soon as Mu Chuxue finished speaking, Xiao Wangshu brushed the pastry crumbs from her hands and replied with a bright smile: “So, Consort Mu so wishes to become a daughter of the Xiao Family?”

Although the plot of the original novel had already shifted, Mu Chuxue’s excuse was exactly the same as before, not the least bit altered.

Strict palace rules? In truth, she merely wanted to imply that Xiao Hong was tightly controlling things, not allowing the Mu Family to visit her in the inner palace.

How pitiful, Consort Mu-unable to see her own mother after becoming pregnant, seeking comfort from another’s mother instead. If that other’s mother was cruel enough to cause her to lose her child, wouldn’t the world be outraged?

Upon hearing Xiao Wangshu’s words, Mu Chuxue’s expression twisted for an instant.

This Xiao Wangshu was becoming more and more sharp-tongued!

Who would want to become a daughter of their treacherous Xiao Family!

“Your Majesty, I did not…” Mu Chuxue raised her head once more to look up, her teary, sorrowful expression softening Wei Qixuan’s heart.

Wei Qixuan immediately picked up her words, turning to Xiao Wangshu: “Fourth Miss Xiao, what do you mean by this?”

Xiao Wangshu tilted her head and blinked slowly, answering, “It means nothing, Your Majesty. I simply feel that Father and Mother treat the daughters of our Xiao Family very well. It’s understandable that Consort Mu would wish to be one of us.”

At that moment, the Palace Maid Xiao Pan’an had sent earlier returned with an Imperial Physician.

Xiao Wangshu continued, “It’s just as well that the Imperial Physician has arrived. Didn’t Consort Mu just say she was feeling unsettled? She can have her pulse taken together with Fifth Younger Sister, to ease Your Majesty’s concern.”

If nothing went wrong, that bowl of miscarriage-inducing medicine Mu Chuxue drank before coming should be taking effect soon.

This fetus, weak from the start and difficult to be born, let’s see who Mu Chuxue will try to blame this on now.

“No!” For once, Mu Chuxue raised her voice, her graceful and gentle image shattering like a flower in a mirror or the moon in water.

Seeing all eyes, including those of Xiao Caiyi, turning toward her, Mu Chuxue’s hand tightened under her sleeve, nails digging into her flesh. Only then did she barely manage to calm herself and force a smile.

“Thank you for your concern, Fourth Miss Xiao, but there’s no need for the pulse diagnosis. I already had the Imperial Physician check me before leaving my palace. Let this Imperial Physician take care of Consort Xiao instead.”

Hearing this, Xiao Pan’an immediately grew alert, instinctively sensing that something was amiss with Mu Chuxue’s pregnancy.

The two of them were pregnant one after the other, and with Wei Qixuan favoring Mu Chuxue exclusively, Xiao Pan’an was already deeply jealous. If Mu Chuxue’s child was born, it might one day compete with her own for status.

Now that Xiao Wangshu was handing her the opportunity, how could she not seize it?

“Consort Mu, don’t be petty. Come and have the Imperial Physician take a look with me; since the physician is already here,” Xiao Pan’an said, following Xiao Wangshu’s lead.

Xiao Wangshu smiled with arched brows and continued to eat the pastry in her hand.

Fang Qin’er glanced sideways at her own daughter, then looked at Mu Chuxue and added, “Both of you should have the Imperial Physician check you over. Your health comes first.”

Ever since the Mu Family’s daughter became pregnant, the emperor and the Mu Family had gone to great lengths to protect her, hardly allowing her to set foot outside.

For the emperor to bring the Mu Family’s daughter to meet them today was suspicious enough, not to mention Mu Chuxue’s evasive reaction-there was definitely something fishy going on.