After leaving Yonghe Palace, Fuca Langhua brought up another matter while accompanying Zhen Huan back.
Lady Yi was now pregnant, but the palace she lived in—Jingyang Palace—had not been repaired for many years.
Would it be worthwhile to renovate it so she could live more comfortably?
Zhen Huan rejected the idea immediately.
Even in modern times, newly renovated houses were often left vacant for months before people moved in.
And now they wanted to renovate a residence while a pregnant woman was actively living there?
True, ancient building materials contained fewer industrial chemicals.
That didn’t mean they were harmless.
“Repairs mean workers constantly coming and going.
If someone slipped something suspicious into the palace, it would be nearly impossible to trace afterward.
Lady Yi is pregnant. What she fears most is any unexpected accident.”
Fuca nodded.
“Your Majesty is right. I was careless.”
“Always consider the worst possible outcome.
Just because you have no intention of harming others doesn’t mean everyone else thinks the same way.”
Although Fuca felt the harem was relatively peaceful these days—
There weren’t many consorts.
Half belonged to her own faction.
And aside from Ruyi and Bai Ruiji, most of the remaining women were rather well-behaved.
None seemed bold enough to attempt anything so dangerous.
Still, since the Empress Dowager had raised the concern, she increased security precautions.
The matter of renovating Jingyang Palace quietly disappeared.
A few days later, Wei Lin returned to the palace by imperial summons.
Back during the struggle against the late Emperor, he had played a role in helping Zhen Huan’s faction.
Afterward, uncertain whether she would still want him around—and aware that he himself needed time away from political attention—he had temporarily left palace service.
But Wei Lin was an ambitious man.
He hoped to accomplish something meaningful in his career.
Thus, when the Empress Dowager summoned him back, he arrived immediately.
When examining Bai Ruiji’s pregnancy, he poured his full concentration into the task.
He wanted Zhen Huan to see his value.
And after studying her condition carefully, he truly noticed something unusual.
To avoid causing anxiety to a pregnant woman based solely on speculation, he said nothing directly to Bai Ruiji.
Instead, the moment he left Yonghe Palace, he headed straight for Cining Palace.
“You’re saying Noble Lady Mei’s symptoms seem abnormal?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.
I cannot yet be completely certain.
But judging from her pulse alone, Noble Lady Mei’s pregnancy reactions appear excessively severe.”
He paused before continuing.
“I’ve already examined the furnishings and objects inside her residence.
Nothing obviously suspicious was found.
However, if I am permitted to observe her for a longer period, I am confident I can determine the cause.”
Zhen Huan considered for a moment.
Then she gave her orders.
“Very well.
Starting today, you will examine Noble Lady Mei and Lady Yi three times every day.”
“This humble servant obeys.”
After Wei Lin departed, Zhen Huan summoned Fuga.
She ordered trusted people to carefully monitor everyone entering and leaving the residences of both pregnant women.
At the same time, Fuca Langhua was quietly informed to strengthen control over the inner palace.
But she was warned to proceed carefully.
No startling the enemy.
No revealing that anyone had become suspicious.
Once all the arrangements were made, there was nothing left to do except wait for Wei Lin’s findings.
Having practically sworn a military oath before the Empress Dowager, Wei Lin devoted himself wholeheartedly to the investigation.
Yet the pulse readings continued to frustrate him.
Something was clearly wrong.
But the exact cause remained elusive.
He adjusted Bai Ruiji’s pregnancy prescriptions several times.
Nothing improved.
If anything, that only convinced him further that an outside factor was interfering.
Days passed.
Then one afternoon, while inspecting Noble Lady Mei’s private kitchen, he noticed something peculiar.
Several fish and shrimp delivered by the Imperial Kitchen were barely alive.
Immediately, he questioned the kitchen servants.
The cooks explained:
Ever since learning she was pregnant, Noble Lady Mei insisted on eating fish and shrimp every day.
The Imperial Kitchen therefore supplied fresh seafood daily for both Noble Lady Mei and Lady Yi.
During the first few months, Noble Lady Mei ate large quantities of it, and nearly everything delivered was cooked and served.
But recently her appetite had declined.
The kitchen prepared less food.
The leftovers were usually returned to the Imperial Kitchen before they spoiled.
As for these particular fish and shrimp—
They should have been returned yesterday.
Unfortunately, the young eunuch responsible for transporting them had fallen ill.
As a result, the seafood had remained in storage for an extra day.
These leftovers were already two days old.
Wei Lin crouched beside the containers.
Carefully, he examined the fish.
Then the shrimp.
Then the water itself.
The longer he looked, the more serious his expression became.
At last, a thought formed in his mind.
A possibility.
Perhaps—
Just perhaps—
He had finally discovered the source of the problem.