Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 436 "The Risk of Premature Birth"

Jian Zhi recounted the events of the morning court session in detail, and Green Willow's expression changed drastically upon hearing this: "So, it's highly likely that Imperial Physician Jian will have to leave the capital temporarily?"

"When I left Taiji Hall with Eunuch Jing, there was still no conclusion."

Jian Zhi shook his head slightly.

"The plague in Jinzhou at that time was very different from the 'corpse plague'. As for this disease... Physician He once wrote 'Essentials of Plague Diseases' and was the most proficient among the imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital."

Meng Shu lowered her eyes, a hint of understanding flashing in them: "Physician He is over sixty years old. The northern border is a thousand miles away from the capital. His Majesty will not allow him to travel such a long distance."

Green Willow opened her mouth, but only managed to utter a few breathy sounds as the handkerchief in her hand was twisted into a pretzel.

"If we send you to the northern frontier, what are the chances that you can control the epidemic?" Meng Shu looked up at Jian Zhi.

After a moment of contemplation, Jian Zhi replied, "I have experience in preventing and treating epidemics, and I have also carefully studied relevant medical books. If I consult with Physician He and others, and if we have sufficient medicinal materials... I am about 70 to 80% confident."

"Let's draft a prescription to stabilize the pregnancy first, and then brew a calming decoction," Meng Shu said, gently stroking her abdomen. "Write the pulse diagnosis as I just mentioned."

As Jian Zhi bowed and withdrew, he paused and said, "If I leave the capital, Your Majesty can summon Physician Sun. Physician Sun is highly skilled in medicine and upright in character. He is one of the few physicians you can trust, besides Physician He."

Meng Shu smiled and nodded. After Jian Zhi left the hall, she took Green Willow's hand and slowly stood up: "Bring me the cosmetics."

Green Willow helped her to sit down in front of the dressing table and couldn't help but whisper, "Why doesn't Your Majesty take this opportunity to keep Physician Jian here? Although Physician Sun is reliable, he's not really one of our own."

"Silly girl, it's not that simple."

Meng Shu gently opened her makeup box, her slender fingers slightly raised, and took the powder box handed to her by Lv Liu. She dipped a small sheep hair brush into the powder and lightly swept it across her cheeks, instantly making her already pale face look even more sickly.

She pursed her lips and wiped away the lipstick, leaving only a faint pink tinge, which made her lips appear somewhat dry.

Soon, a frail face appeared in the mirror. She examined it closely for a moment, then smiled with satisfaction. "The court session is almost over. This appearance... makes it seem like she's truly in trouble with the baby."

After tidying herself up and lying back on the couch, Meng Shu explained calmly, "The calamity of plague is worse than war. If the epidemic prevention is delayed because of me, even without the Empress and Consort Qing's intervention, the entire court will condemn me with a single word: 'femme fatale' would be enough to ruin me forever..."

"Moreover, if an epidemic breaks out at the critical moment of childbirth, who knows how many more problems will arise... If Jianzhi can prevent and control it as soon as possible, we will have room to maneuver. Now we can only hope that this child can be born at full term."

Meng Shu was always the type to think three steps ahead before acting, and countless thoughts raced through her mind in the blink of an eye. The most important thing right now was to take advantage of this favorable wind to prevent Consort Qing from causing any more trouble. If she could get the Emperor to confine her for two months, that would be a permanent solution.

Just as he was pondering this, Donggua rushed into the bedroom. When he saw Meng Shu lying on the bed looking "sickly," his face turned pale instantly, his eyes reddened, and he staggered and almost fell off the bed.

Green Willow reacted quickly, grabbing her arm and whispering anxiously and angrily, "You're faking it! Didn't I give you a wink just now? Why are you still being so reckless!"

Donggua wiped away her tears with her sleeve. "You're telling me? You scared me to death just now. Luckily, Hongyu was quick-witted..." She patted her chest and breathed a sigh of relief. "Imperial Physician Jian said that Shushu had a miscarriage, and Mingyue went with him to the Imperial Hospital to get medicine."

"Imperial Attendant Jing has left?" Meng Shu smiled and rubbed her head, then squeezed her shoulder to comfort her.

Donggua nodded and carefully squatted down in front of the bed. "Shushu, as soon as Jing Neiguan heard that you had a miscarriage, he rushed to Taiji Palace in a hurry."

“I’m fine. Have Xia’er go to Huining Palace to find Xiao Yuanzi and send a message to the palace to tell Wan’er that I’m alright and that she doesn’t need to worry.”

......

Just as Meng Shu wished.

The Emperor heard from Jingming that Meng Shu had miscarried. Before the matter of the epidemic could be discussed and resolved, he hastily dismissed the court.

Upon entering the inner courtyard of Lingcui Palace, he went straight to the sleeping quarters and saw Meng Shu lying on the bed, pale and sickly. He was immediately furious.

Jian Zhi knelt in the outer flower hall and honestly reported, "Your Majesty, Consort Jin was just frightened, which caused her to experience severe abdominal pain and threatened miscarriage. I prescribed a remedy to stabilize the pregnancy, and after taking it, Consort Jin is temporarily out of danger, but..."

"Just what?" The Emperor's voice suddenly turned cold.

Jian Zhi knelt on the ground, trembling as he said, "...But Her Majesty is currently in a state of agitation. If she is further agitated, she may be at risk of premature birth..."

Before he could finish speaking, the Emperor called out in a deep voice, "Jingming!"

Within half an hour, Jingming rushed to Zhaoqing Palace to deliver the Emperor's edict, temporarily confining Consort Qing and the other two, forbidding them from leaving the palace without permission. As for the missing cat, it was being investigated by Lord Tong.

After everyone had left, the Emperor sat on the edge of the bed, gently comforting Meng Shu, a hint of hesitation flashing across his face.

Meng Shu keenly noticed his subtle change. Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and she coughed twice, prompting the emperor to immediately bend down to help her up.

She asked softly, "I've taken the medicine to prevent miscarriage, and I feel much better now. Your Majesty... is something on your mind?"

The Emperor paused for a moment before speaking gently, "This morning at court, we received an urgent report from the northern border: an epidemic has broken out in the border camps. The situation is critical, and Physician He is old and frail..."

"Is Physician Jian someone who has treated the plague before? Does His Majesty intend to send him to the north to prevent the spread of disease?"

Meng Shu smiled weakly, "Although it has always been Imperial Physician Jian who has been taking care of my pregnancy, if the affairs of the country require it, Your Majesty can have the Imperial Hospital select another imperial physician to take care of me."

"Shu'er..."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor grasped her hand tightly, gently stroking the back of her hand with his thumb. "Shu'er is always so sensible."

His voice carried a hint of pity, mixed with a touch of guilt, "I will order Imperial Physician He to personally ensure your pregnancy is safe and well, and I will absolutely not allow you or the prince to suffer any mishap."

......

Under the eaves of Renming Hall.

The Empress had been waiting to see what would happen after hearing about Consort Qing's grand visit to Lingcui Palace an hour earlier. Now, after hearing the palace servants report the commotion at Lingcui Palace, the smile on her lips slowly faded.

She had already anticipated that Consort Qing would not succeed, and even upon hearing the news, a hint of regret still lingered in her eyes.

"It's a pity, that little beast's madness didn't accomplish anything."

Xingyu lowered her hands and said cautiously, "This is the second time Consort Qing has been confined to her quarters. I just returned from outside and heard that the Empress Dowager also sent someone to Zhaoqing Palace to reprimand Consort Qing. This is the first time."

The Empress chuckled, the pearl tassels at her temples swaying gently. "The Empress Dowager is currently most concerned about Consort Jin's pregnancy, so naturally she won't give Consort Qing a kind look this time."

“Right now, His Majesty has left Eunuch Dong on duty at Lingcui Palace. It will be even more difficult to do anything underhanded in the future…” Zhixue said, her voice gradually lowering.

The Empress turned and walked slowly into the palace, a dark cloud hanging over her brow.