After handing over the items, Shen Ruoxi left.
This was the palace. Although Murong Heng was meticulous and no one would discover their meeting, she still had to be careful.
As she left, the maidservant who had escorted her earlier followed behind her.
The maidservant bowed.
"Miss Shen, this servant is called Leng Shuang, one of Prince Ling's shadow guards, ordered to protect you. From now on, I am your person, at your disposal."
Shen Ruoxi was somewhat surprised.
The prince's shadow guards should be Murong Heng's most trusted subordinates—and he had given one to her.
She nodded.
"Alright, Leng Shuang, you'll follow me from now on. If anyone asks, say you're from the General's Manor."
"Yes."
The two turned and left the courtyard, heading back to the corridor to find Taoye.
As soon as she saw her, Taoye immediately rushed over.
"Miss, who on earth was looking for you? I was worried to death!"
"It's nothing."
Shen Ruoxi glanced meaningfully at Leng Shuang beside her.
"Taoye, this is Leng Shuang. She'll serve me alongside you from now on. She's also from the General's Manor."
Shen Ruoxi didn't tell her the truth.
She was afraid that if Taoye found out she had a thing with Prince Ling, she'd be scared to death on the spot.
"Ah, but that's not right, Miss. I've been in the manor for so many years, and I've never heard of this Leng Shuang?"
Leng Shuang: "Newly arrived."
Shen Ruoxi: "No need to ask more questions. From now on, treat each other as sisters."
Taoye: "…"
The two of them played off each other, clearly hiding something from her.
Taoye shed two streams of bitter tears in her heart.
Wah wah wah.
Miss had a new person now—she was no longer the most favored maidservant~
Just as they were about to return to the manor, they suddenly heard a panicked cry.
"Someone! Come quickly! Help!"
Shen Ruoxi paused mid-step, leading Taoye and Leng Shuang around the nearby rockery.
They saw Wei Zhenzhen collapsed on the ground, groaning in pain.
Her two maidservants were supporting her, frantically calling for help.
"Someone! Quickly, someone save our Noble Lady!"
Shen Ruoxi hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and crouched in front of Wei Zhenzhen.
"Noble Lady Wei."
"Princess Qi… it hurts so much…"
Wei Zhenzhen's expression was pained as she reached out and tightly gripped Shen Ruoxi's sleeve.
Shen Ruoxi reached out and felt her pulse.
Then she furrowed her brow.
The situation…
wasn't good.
"What is all this commotion here? How improper!"
A furious shout came from behind.
They turned to see Qin Haitang surrounded by palace attendants, approaching in a grand procession.
And beside her stood Emperor Renjing, clad in his bright yellow dragon robe.
Everyone immediately knelt and bowed.
Proclaiming long live the Emperor, long live the Empress.
Seeing Wei Zhenzhen collapsed on the ground, Emperor Renjing's expression turned grave.
"What happened?"
One of Wei Zhenzhen's maidservants, Lianxiang, immediately replied.
"Your Majesty, our Noble Lady said she felt unwell and wished to return to her palace. We were walking along just fine when she suddenly said her stomach hurt, and then this happened…"
Qin Haitang immediately showed impatience.
"Wasn't she perfectly fine at Changqiu Palace earlier? How can she suddenly claim pain out of nowhere? Noble Lady Wei, I think you're just making trouble for no reason!"
All along, the Emperor had favored her, his Noble Consort, the most.
Half a year ago, Wei Zhenzhen entered the palace. Relying on a fine voice, she sang so beautifully that Emperor Renjing was delighted. She was also skilled at playing the fragile damsel, keeping the Emperor staying at her chambers night after night these past days.
Today, when the Emperor emerged from the imperial study, Qin Haitang had finally managed to catch him and was preparing to take him to her Fuyang Palace.
And then she saw Wei Zhenzhen pull this stunt.
She reasonably suspected that this vixen was faking illness!
Wei Zhenzhen clutched her lower abdomen with both hands, her pretty face twisted in pain.
"Your Majesty, someone is trying to harm me… Your Majesty…"
As she spoke, a rush of bright red suddenly appeared beneath her.
Soaking through the skirt beneath her.
Everyone's expression changed drastically.
Emperor Renjing barked sternly.
"What are you all standing around for? Why haven't you sent Noble Lady Wei to Yaoguang Hall and summoned the imperial physician!"
The crowd was panicked.
They hurriedly handled the situation.
Emperor Renjing was about to leave when his gaze fell on Shen Ruoxi.
"Prince Qi's consort, why are you here as well?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, this consort came to pay respects to Mother Consort and happened to pass by here."
"What happened to Noble Lady Wei? Did she truly just collapse out of nowhere?"
"Noble Lady Wei, she…"
Shen Ruoxi hesitated for a moment, then said anyway: "She had a miscarriage."
Even if she didn't say it, the imperial physician would find out upon examination.
Qin Haitang exclaimed in surprise.
"A miscarriage? When did she even become pregnant!"
"Enough!"
Emperor Renjing turned and shot her a glare, somewhat displeased.
He had witnessed Qin Haitang's attack just now.
Accusing Wei Zhenzhen of faking illness without knowing the facts was truly excessive.
"Consort, come with me."
Emperor Renjing said to Qin Haitang, then suddenly looked back at Shen Ruoxi.
"You come along as well."
Shen Ruoxi: "Yes."
Inside Yaoguang Hall.
Besides Emperor Renjing, the other consorts and concubines had also arrived.
Empress Su Liu'er said in surprise.
"What happened to Noble Lady Wei? She was perfectly fine earlier in my Changqiu Palace."
After the imperial physician finished taking Wei Zhenzhen's pulse, he reported.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Noble Lady Wei… had a miscarriage."
"A miscarriage?!"
Su Liu'er was extremely puzzled.
Emperor Renjing's expression didn't change.
He had already learned of this from Shen Ruoxi's mouth.
"When did she become pregnant?"
"Judging from the pulse, it's been over a month."
"Over a month, and none of you in the Imperial Medical Bureau knew!?"
Emperor Renjing flew into a rage.
The imperial physician quickly knelt down.
"Your Majesty, the truth is that when this official went to take Noble Lady Wei's routine pulse this month, she absolutely refused, saying she had to go to Chengqian Hall to sing for Your Majesty, and that if she was delayed, she'd have this servant's head. This official had no choice!"
Emperor Renjing looked at Wei Zhenzhen on the bed.
"What exactly happened?"
Wei Zhenzhen sobbed tearfully.
"This concubine truly was pregnant. Half a month ago, this concubine's aunt came to visit. She had studied medicine and detected this concubine's pregnancy…"
Emperor Renjing: "Then why did you hide it?"
"This concubine…" Wei Zhenzhen's tears flowed even harder. "This concubine heard that the first few months the pregnancy is unstable, so she wanted to wait until it stabilized before saying anything. But who would have known…"
Looking at Wei Zhenzhen's state, Shen Ruoxi's eyes flickered slightly.
She was probably afraid that if people knew she was pregnant, she would be poisoned, so she kept it hidden.
But no matter how carefully she guarded against it, someone still made their move.
Wei Zhenzhen bit her lip, unwilling to accept it.
"Imperial Physician, I was perfectly fine before, so why did this happen today?"
The imperial physician hesitated for a moment.
"This…"
Emperor Renjing urged him.
"Speak plainly!"
"When I examined Noble Lady Wei's pulse, there are indeed signs of poisoning—she was poisoned with half-day lotus."
"But this herb has very low toxicity. Under normal circumstances, it would only cause a depletion of qi and blood, and only over time would it lead to health problems. The amount Noble Lady Wei received was very small, so it shouldn't have caused a miscarriage."
Upon hearing this, Wei Zhenzhen was filled with grief and indignation.
"Indeed! Someone is trying to harm me! Your Majesty, you heard it, someone is trying to harm your concubine…"
Qin Haitang furrowed her brows.
"Quiet, didn't you hear what the imperial physician said?"
With that, she turned to the physician.
"Are you certain that the amount of poison Noble Lady Wei ingested is not enough to cause a miscarriage?"
"I am certain, Your Majesty."
Qin Haitang sighed.
"If that's the case, Noble Lady Wei, your miscarriage must have another cause."
Upon hearing this, Su Liu'er's face showed self-reproach.
"Your Majesty, it is your concubine's fault. As the mistress of the harem, I was negligent and failed to notice that Noble Lady Wei was already with child. I also invited all the ladies of the harem to come appreciate the flowers early on. Noble Lady Wei's constitution is delicate now—walking so much must have exhausted her."
Emperor Renjing waved his hand.
"This cannot be blamed on you. Noble Lady Wei bears some responsibility for not reporting her pregnancy herself."
"But the matter of her being poisoned with half-day lotus must still be investigated. The harem cannot tolerate such scheming individuals!"
Su Liu'er immediately curtsied.
"Your concubine accepts the order."
Wei Zhenzhen felt unwilling to let it go.
"Your Majesty, this is no accident… Your concubine refuses to believe this is an accident…"
Emperor Renjing spoke.
"Rest well for now and take care of your health."
"No, Your Majesty…"
"Father."
Shen Ruoxi suddenly stepped forward.
Emperor Renjing looked at her.
"Princess Qi, do you have something to say?"
"To answer Father, Noble Lady Wei's miscarriage is indeed due to poisoning."
Upon hearing this, Fang Hui spoke up first from the side.
"Ruoxi, the imperial physician already said the poison wasn't enough to cause a miscarriage. Don't cause trouble!"