"Chunhan, do you truly have nothing to say to me?"
Mu Qingyao spoke each word deliberately, sitting up straighter, no longer scrutinizing Chunhan.
Chunhan's earlier panicked and fearful demeanor had been fully observed by her. Her heart was now entirely certain: the person she had saved that night was nothing but a heartless servant.
It was truly a waste of half a stalk of blood ginseng. It seemed that after staying in the palace for too long, people lost their conscience. Why should she persist?
"Alright, you may leave," she said, her disappointment palpable. She had invested so much effort in saving someone, only to find they had no gratitude. Instead, they might be a festering wound.
"Your Highness, I..."
Chunhan hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself. After a moment of indecision, he slowly rose and retreated.
Mu Qingyao watched his retreating back, noticing for the first time how thin and helpless it looked. However, he had already crossed her line. She would now wait for his move.
After Chunhan left, the side hall fell into a deathly silence. Mu Qingyao said nothing, and Mo Chou, sensing her mistress's chilling aura, dared not speak.
Just then, Mei Xin entered with a smile. Too excited, she failed to notice the unusual atmosphere in the hall and walked directly to Mu Qingyao's side, bending to whisper, "Your Highness, your servant has received news."
She murmured a few words into Mu Qingyao's ear. A sharp, cold glint flashed across Mu Qingyao's somber face, followed by the dissipation of her hostility. A cold smile touched her lips.
"Is this absolutely true?"
"Yes, Your Highness. Your servant quietly led people to the Imperial Hospital to confirm. That imperial physician is now waiting outside the hall."
"Good, you handled this well," Mu Qingyao nodded. Mei Xin's scheming was growing more mature, her actions more thorough. Despite her short time in the palace, she was no longer the simple maid from the Prime Minister's estate. "Bring him in."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Mei Xin went out. Mo Chou looked at her mistress in confusion, not knowing what Mei Xin and her mistress had discussed to cause such a change in her demeanor.
Mu Qingyao, who always confided in Mo Chou, now saw her confusion and spoke calmly, "There is news that Princess Ruyin is pregnant."
"What?" Mo Chou gasped in shock.
The Princess, a maiden of the royal bloodline, had engaged in such illicit behavior and was carrying a bastard child. Heavens, if this news were to spread, the royal family's reputation would be utterly ruined.
No wonder she had audaciously refused marriage at the flower banquet; she had already found someone and was secretly with child.
This was truly an astonishing affair. However, it was advantageous to them. It was no wonder her mistress's expression had softened considerably. Thinking of the arrogant and overbearing princess, her downfall was now imminent.
"Your Highness, what should we do?"
"We'll discuss it later," Mu Qingyao's dark eyes were intelligent and deep, the smile on her brows cold and alluring.
Mu Rong Ruyin, you dared to conspire with the Empress Dowager to bully my Mu family. Today, I shall return your favor. However, the Princess holds a noble status, and the matter is of great importance. It is best to proceed cautiously.
As they were about to calm down, Mei Xin led an imperial physician in. This physician was the Empress's personal physician, and thus his loyalty naturally lay with Feng Luan Palace. He respectfully bowed to Mu Qingyao, "Your subject greets the Empress."
"Mm, rise and be seated."
Mu Qingyao waved her hand. Mei Xin nimbly brought a stool and indicated for the physician to sit. The physician appeared somewhat surprised, then excited. He thanked the Empress and sat down, awaiting her command.
"Physician Zhao, when I ask you something, you must answer truthfully without the slightest deception. Do you understand?"
Upon hearing the Empress's words, the physician nodded repeatedly. He had heard much about the Empress's deeds in the palace and dared not offend such a formidable mistress.
"Yes, Empress."
"I hear the Princess is pregnant. Is this true? How did you learn of it?"
Mu Qingyao's voice was cold and deep.
Physician Zhao knew the gravity of the matter and dared not answer affirmatively. He reported truthfully:
"Your subject heard it from Physician Wang. Physician Wang is the Princess's attending physician. As he was unsure what to do, he consulted me, asking me to keep it absolutely confidential. The Princess wished to abort the bastard child due to her pregnancy, so she secretly asked Physician Wang to prescribe abortion medication. Physician Wang was afraid and dared not act independently. Such matters of abortion are serious. If anything were to go wrong, his head would not be spared, and it would likely implicate his entire family. Therefore, he dared not make a decision and secretly discussed it with me. I told him to send a letter to Guangyang Palace to request the Empress Dowager's decision."
"Oh," Mu Qingyao raised an eyebrow. So the Empress Dowager was aware of this matter. Then the Princess must be in Guangyang Palace now. This was excellent.
Mu Rong Ruyin, for not leaving yourself a way out, even heaven cannot bear to see it and must punish you, Mu Qingyao's lips curved into a chilling smile.
Physician Zhao, seated below, was so startled he dared not breathe. What would the Empress do with this matter?
The Princess's pregnancy was a scandal to the imperial family. If this matter were not handled properly, the imperial family's dignity would be lost.
"Very well, accompany me to Guangyang Palace."
Mu Qingyao looked at Physician Zhao. The physician saw the Empress's cold, predatory gaze and felt a surge of fear. What did Her Highness intend to do?
"Your Highness?"
Mu Qingyao had already stood up. The physician naturally dared not remain seated and also rose, bowing in attendance. As Mu Qingyao walked out, she stopped beside Physician Zhao and coldly reminded him.
"Physician Zhao, what you have said here today is best kept buried. Otherwise, not only you, but your entire Zhao family, might face a fatal calamity."
"Your subject obeys," Physician Zhao replied. It seemed the Empress did not wish to harm him, for which he was grateful. He had feared his words today would bring about his demise.
Unexpectedly, the Empress had spoken thus. Since she had given him this reminder, he would certainly not reveal what he knew. Physician Zhao breathed a sigh of relief.
"Let us go, we are going to Guangyang Palace."
"Yes, Your Highness." Only Mei Xin, Mo Chou, and Physician Zhao were in the side hall. The three of them exited the side hall. Several palace maids were guarding the door, led by Yi Yun. Mu Qingyao beckoned Yi Yun closer.
"Yi Yun, immediately go to Liuli Palace and inform His Majesty to come to Guangyang Palace at once. I will wait for him there."
"Yes, Your Highness." Yi Yun respectfully accepted the order. After the Empress left, she personally led two senior palace maids to Liuli Palace to deliver the message.
...
Guangyang Palace.
It was utterly silent. The last trace of red sunset pierced through the grand palace gates, bathing the hall in an eerie, unique red.
Inside the hall, only Eunuch Li was in attendance. All other eunuchs and palace maids had been dismissed, retreating ten paces away and forbidden to approach the palace gates. This action sent shivers down everyone's spines. They wondered what had happened.