When Zhang Wanrou returned to the side room, although she still felt exhausted, her consciousness had already cleared.
Zhang Wanyin's maid still came, telling her to use a pillow to prop up her hips to increase the chances of pregnancy.
Zhang Wanrou agreed on the surface, but in her heart, she could not help but feel a chill.
After Chun Xu left, Zhang Wanrou threw the pillow aside and got off the couch.
Qing Ning hurried forward to support her, "Little Master, what are you doing?"
Zhang Wanrou asked her, "Qing Ning, did you do what I asked you to do before I went to attend the Emperor?"
Qing Ning thought for a moment, then brought over a basket of weeds.
This was what Zhang Wanrou had ordered her to dig up from the back garden of Yonghe Palace.
"Is this what you meant, Little Master?"
Zhang Wanrou took the basket of weeds and carefully identified them by the light of the oil lamp. Finally, among the pile of weeds, she found the Zigenji she wanted.
She picked out two more plants and gave them to Qing Ning, "Crush these herbs, then pour the juice into the yellow wine I set aside earlier."
Qing Ning looked at her in confusion, "Little Master, you..."
Zhang Wanrou urged, "Stop talking, go do it quickly!"
Qing Ning no longer hesitated and quickly followed her instructions. Before long, the wine mixed with Zigenji was brought before her.
Qing Ning looked at her worriedly, not daring to hand over the cup in her hand, "Little Master, what exactly are you trying to do? This weed might be poisonous; is it really safe to drink?"
Zhang Wanrou pondered, her voice low, "It is poisonous, because I want to prevent conception!"
Qing Ning's hand trembled, and she almost dropped the cup.
Zigenji looks like an ordinary weed, but if its juice is mixed with yellow wine, it produces a very fierce toxicity. Although not fatal, it is harmful to the body!
And the symptoms are incredibly painful!
The reason she knew this was because in her previous life, Liu Cairen, who entered the palace at the same time as her, was afraid that she would conceive an heir after attending the Emperor. Zhang Wanyin had someone secretly use this method to cut off her chance of bearing an heir.
That night, she sat at the door of the side room, listening to Liu Cairen's agonizing screams, and was filled with fear all night! She even developed a high fever the next day, which affected her pregnancy, and she almost lost the child.
Zhang Wanyin came to see her, and she asked tearfully, "Elder Sister, what did Liu Cairen do wrong?"
She said, "Her mistake was that she shouldn't have gone to seduce the Emperor to favor her at that time!"
"Younger Sister, you must know that the Emperor has few heirs, and the Empress's son is weak and sickly. This pregnancy of yours is of great importance! Before you give birth to a child, no one else can have the chance to get pregnant!"
What if this pregnancy was not a prince? She had to ensure there were no mistakes!
At that time, Zhang Wanrou did not know that Zhang Wanyin could not conceive, and she only thought that her elder sister truly loved and supported her... but she never expected that her heart held such vicious thoughts!
In this life, before she had the ability to protect herself, she would never conceive an imperial heir so quickly!
As her thoughts returned to the present, she downed the bowl of yellow wine mixed with Zigenji in one gulp.
The night faded, and the sky turned a pale white.
In the side room of the side hall of Yonghe Palace, Zhang Wanrou tossed and turned on the bed, her face full of pain, and her clothes were soaked with sweat.
Qing Ning guarded anxiously outside the side room, her heart almost jumping out of her chest.
It was not until half an hour later, when the room became quiet, that she hurriedly entered the bedchamber.
On the couch, Zhang Wanrou looked as if she had been fished out of water, her body wet and sticky, her face pale, and there were even spots of blood on her lower body!
"Little Master!!" Qing Ning was scared out of her wits!
Zhang Wanrou instructed weakly, "Quick, change my clothes, then change the bedding, and hide it!"
Day had broken, and Zhang Wanyin would soon come to "care" for her; she could not let her see any clues!
Another half hour passed, and Qing Ning's heart pounded like a drum. Just as she finished everything, a report came from outside.
"Noble Consort has arrived!"
Zhang Wanrou patted some powder on her face and applied some red rouge so that her complexion would not look so frightening.
After Zhang Wanyin entered the room, she saw Zhang Wanrou about to get up from the bed and noticed the pillow propped under her, a flash of satisfaction crossing her face.
"Wanrou pays her respects to the Noble Consort!"
Zhang Wanyin grabbed Zhang Wanrou's arm and smiled gently, "We are sisters, there is no need for such empty formalities!"
Zhang Wanrou stood up, lowered her head, and bowed, "Elder Sister, the inner palace is not like our own home. Younger Sister understands. Even if we are sisters, the proper etiquette must still be observed!"
Zhang Wanyin nodded with satisfaction, "Since Younger Sister is so observant of the rules, I will not make things difficult for you. Since this is your first time receiving favor, your body must be tired, so I will excuse you this time!"
Zhang Wanrou replied obediently, "Then many thanks, Elder Sister!"
Zhang Wanyin nodded. After sitting for a while, her fingers curled slightly, and the expression on her face was not as natural as before. "Younger Sister, how was the Emperor to you last night?"
A shy flush appeared on Zhang Wanrou's face, "Elder Sister, the Emperor, the Emperor was very good... Younger Sister doesn't even know how she got back..."
The meaning behind these words was: great favor from the Emperor!
Zhang Wanyin's fingers, hidden under her sleeves, clenched tightly, and a flash of jealousy crossed her eyes.
Does that mean the Emperor wanted her more than once?!
How could that be... The Emperor has always been perfunctory about such matters, sometimes even disliking such things. How could he be so unable to resist this little slut?
What kind of vixen tricks did this little slut use?
"Imperial Edict has arrived!"
At this moment, the loud voice of a eunuch came from outside.
Zhang Wanrou quickly put on her outer garment, not even having time to comb her hair, and went out with Zhang Wanyin to receive the edict.
"By the order of the Emperor, it is decreed: The order of the Six Palaces values the virtue of gentleness and grace; the inner court spreads refinement, valuing the sincerity of respect and obedience. Zhang Wanrou is virtuous, steady, and upright, with a gentle and respectful demeanor. Having recently received imperial favor, she has served well. Now, because of her respectful service and commendable character, I specially bestow this grace and promote her to Jieyu. I grant this title to manifest her noble reputation. Respect this!"
Jieyu, she was promoted two levels! In her previous life, until her death, she was only a Jieyu... It seems her performance last night pleased the Emperor very much.
"Your subject Zhang Wanrou receives the edict. Long live the Emperor, long live, long live!"
After Cheng Qi handed the imperial edict to Zhang Wanrou, he smiled, "Jieyu Zhang, the Emperor ordered this servant to ask if your body is feeling better? If you still feel uncomfortable, have the Imperial Physician come to take a look."
Zhang Wanrou quickly bowed, "Thank you for the Emperor's concern. My body is fine, there is no need to call the Imperial Physician! Please also convey a message to the Emperor for me: if the Emperor has time, he should come to Yonghe Palace for a meal, Noble..."
"Presumptuous!" Zhang Wanyin heard this, her face sinking uncontrollably, and she scolded coldly, "Wanrou, the Emperor is busy with state affairs, how would he have time to accompany you for a meal? You have just received favor, do not be ignorant of your place!"
Competing for favor in front of her, does she really not take her seriously?
Zhang Wanrou showed a disappointed and aggrieved expression, "Elder Sister, Wanrou just wanted the Emperor to come and have a meal with you. Didn't you say you hadn't seen the Emperor for many days?"
"Wanrou thought that the golden date cakes in Elder Sister's palace were delicious, so I wanted the Emperor to come and taste them..."
"Elder Sister, please don't be angry, Wanrou will say nothing more! Eunuch, you, please don't tell the Emperor these things either..."
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