Traveling through the Tang Dynasty: The Concubine Goes to War

Last time we talked about the emperor’s meaningful instructions to Zhang Chongrong to take good care of Yang Yunxi’s fetus and to send some sleeping-aiding spices to the Western Regions as tribute.

In Xiuzhen Palace where Yang Yunxi lived, Zhang Chongrong was taking out a bottle of glazed tile spices and said, "The Queen Mother gave me a bottle of incense from the Western Regions. Lighting it can calm the mind and help sleep. I thought that my sister was pregnant with the dragon seed and needed a better rest, so I gave it to her."

Yang Yunxi was quite touched and said, "In the palace, only my elder sister still cares about me. They all flatter the powerful and bully the weak, and they are all afraid of Concubine Li who assists in managing the six palaces." Zhang Chongrong said, "Don't be so formal, my sister. You and I are like sisters. If there is something good, I will definitely think of you first." After that, she ordered the maid beside her, "Qiuju, light the incense quickly."

The maid Qiuju quickly lit the incense and placed it not far from Yang Yunxi. Soon, the whole palace was filled with a faint fragrance. Yang Yunxi smelled the scent and felt refreshed and in a much better mood.

"This aromatherapy is really good, thank you sister." Yang Yunxi said to Zhang Chongrong with a smile.

"As long as my sister likes it." Zhang Chongrong also smiled, "However, although this aromatherapy helps with sleep, it should not be used excessively. Especially now that my sister is pregnant, she should be more careful."

"I understand. Don't worry, sister." Yang Yunxi nodded.

At this moment, Yang Yunxi suddenly felt sleepy. She yawned and said to Zhang Chongrong, "Sister, I'm a little sleepy. Excuse me first."

"It's okay, sister, go to bed early." Zhang Chongrong helped Yang Yunxi lie down, then left with the palace maids.

Yang Yunxi closed her eyes and soon fell asleep. In her dream, she saw that she had successfully given birth to a child, and the child was healthy and cute...

The sun was already high when Yunxi woke up from her sleep. Although she had slept for a long time, she still felt very weak. Lian'er helped her wash up. When she was eating breakfast, she felt nauseous and vomited violently. Lian'er said, "Madam, do you want to ask the imperial physician?" "No, it's too troublesome. It's probably because of the severe morning sickness." Yunxi said. When living in modern times, don't pregnant women vomit on TV? What's so strange, it's just that this... it's just that this morning sickness is too uncomfortable. Yunxi was muttering in her heart.

After breakfast, Zhang Chongrong came. Before she sat down, she smiled and said to Yunxi, "Sister, did you sleep well last night?" "Sister, I slept very well last night, but I don't know why, I still felt sleepy after waking up." Yunxi replied. "Haha, when I was pregnant with the princess, I also vomited a lot. You should go out more often to get some fresh air. Let's go to the Imperial Garden." After saying that, Zhang Chongrong took Yunxi's hand and walked towards the Imperial Garden.

In the Imperial Garden, Yang Yunxi and Zhang Chongrong were walking and chatting, when they suddenly saw Concubine Li and a group of palace maids and eunuchs coming from a distance. Yang Yunxi turned around and tried to avoid them, but Zhang Chongrong grabbed her and said, "Why are you afraid of her? We haven't done anything wrong."

When Concubine Li approached, with the same arrogant demeanor, Zhang Chongrong hurriedly bowed and said, "Long live the Concubine!"

Although Yang Yunxi entered the palace as a concubine, she was still not used to the palace's red tape after traveling from the modern era. In addition, she had been knocked down by Concubine Li before, so she hated her from the bottom of her heart. So she did not salute.

Concubine Li looked Yang Yunxi up and down, looking past Zhang Chongrong, sneering, "Oh, you're different when you're pregnant, you're so arrogant!" Yang Yunxi couldn't help but feel angry, but she tried to control her emotions and said calmly, "Your Highness, you're joking. I'm just feeling a little unwell and can't move."

Concubine Li's eyes flashed with disdain, "Humph, since you are not feeling well, just rest in the palace and don't go out too much."

Seeing this, Zhang Chongrong hurriedly said, "The Imperial Concubine is right. Sister Yunxi, let's go back."

Yang Yunxi nodded and was about to turn around and leave when she heard Concubine Li say, "Wait, I heard you used aromatherapy from the Western Regions last night?"

Yang Yunxi stopped and looked back at Concubine Li, "Yes, that was given to me by the Queen Mother."

"Oh? The Queen Mother gave it to you?" Concubine Li sneered, "I think you are trying to win the Emperor's favor on purpose!"

Yang Yunxi was so angry that her face turned pale, "I have absolutely no such intention!"

"Enough!" Zhang Chongrong interrupted the quarrel between the two, "My Lady Imperial Concubine, Sister Yunxi is pregnant, why are you making things so difficult for her?"

Concubine Li glared at Zhang Chongrong fiercely and said, "I am only reminding her not to get carried away just because she is pregnant with a dragon seed. There are many women in the harem who are pregnant with a dragon seed, but how many of them can successfully give birth to a prince in the end?" After the concubine finished speaking, she walked around Yunxi. Yang Yunxi was startled. She understood that Concubine Li was threatening her.

But she didn't want to show weakness in front of Concubine Li, so she straightened her body and said, "I believe that as long as you abide by the law, God will be fair." Concubine Li raised her lips slightly, revealing a sinister smile, "Then we'll see." Then, she left the Imperial Garden with her entourage. Zhang Chongrong looked at Yang Yunxi worriedly, "Sister, you must be careful of Concubine Li, she is scheming and cruel, and she will definitely try every means to deal with you."

Yang Yunxi held Zhang Chongrong's hand gratefully, "Sister, I know. But I won't compromise easily. I will protect myself and the baby in my belly." However, Yang Yunxi didn't know that a bigger crisis was waiting for her...

Yang Yunxi knew very well that Concubine Li would not give up, but she decided to be patient for the time being. After all, the most important thing at the moment was to protect herself and the baby in her belly.

As the days passed, Yang Yunxi's belly grew bigger and bigger, but her morning sickness did not get better. The imperial physician came to see her several times and said everything was normal and that she did not need to worry too much.

That day, after Yang Yunxi finished her breakfast, she felt a strong nausea again. She wanted Lian'er to accompany her to take a walk in the garden and breathe some fresh air, but suddenly she heard a noise coming from outside.

It turned out that Chunlan, a maidservant beside Concubine Li, came to tell her that Concubine Li invited Yang Yunxi to her palace for tea and chat. Yang Yunxi's heart sank, knowing that this must be a Hongmen Banquet, but she couldn't refuse, so she had to cheer up and followed Chunlan to Concubine Li's palace.

Yang Yunxi walked into the palace and saw Concubine Li sitting on a chair, looking at her coldly. "Lady Yang, come and sit down." Concubine Li pointed to the seat next to her and motioned Yang Yunxi to sit down.

After Yang Yunxi thanked him, she slowly sat down. Concubine Li ordered a pot of tea and some snacks to be served, and then she smiled and said to Yang Yunxi, "This is the Longjing tea I specially asked someone to prepare. It has a light and elegant taste and is most suitable for pregnant women."

Yang Yunxi was alert, she knew that Concubine Li would never be so kind. She picked up the teacup and took a sip. Sure enough, the tea tasted a little strange.

"How is it? Is this tea to your taste?" asked Concubine Li.

"Thank you for your kindness, my lady. This tea is very good." Yang Yunxi put down the teacup, raised her head, and looked directly into Li Guifei's eyes. "I wonder why your lady has asked me to come here today?"

Concubine Li sneered, "Lady Yang, you are quite direct. I won't beat around the bush. Whose child is this in your belly?"

Yang Yunxi was shocked. She didn't expect Concubine Li to ask such a straightforward question. "Of course it's the emperor." She answered firmly.

"Really?" Concubine Li looked suspicious, "But why did I hear that you had an affair with another man?"

"Your Highness, please don't say such things. Since I entered the palace, I have always abided by the code of conduct for women and have never done anything to let down the emperor." Yang Yunxi said angrily.

"Hmph, who knows if you appear innocent on the surface but are actually fickle behind the scenes." Concubine Li said disdainfully.

"I can swear to heaven that if I tell even a single lie, I will be punished by heaven," Yang Yunxi said righteously.

Concubine Li looked at Yang Yunxi's determined expression and couldn't help but feel a little confused. Did she misunderstand? But how could she receive such news... So she said, "The queen has always been in poor health. The emperor and the queen mother asked me to assist in the management of the harem, so I must check it out."

After coming out of Concubine Li's bedroom, Yunxi's mind flashed back to the image of Wang Junjie, her crush in college. Suddenly, she missed the happy times with Han Xuan. How nice it would be if she was pregnant with Han Xuan's child. She shook her head and patted herself lightly. What was she thinking about? This was in the palace. After traveling here, she could only accept the palace life of an ancient concubine.

In the middle of the night, in the bedroom, Yang Yunxi suddenly felt a sharp pain in her stomach. She woke up suddenly and shouted, "Help! It hurts!" The palace maids rushed over in panic. Zhang Chongrong was also alarmed and rushed over.

"What's going on? Go call the imperial physician!" Zhang Chongrong said anxiously. The imperial physicians arrived quickly and after a diagnosis, their faces became solemn. "Madam, you are poisoned!" the imperial physician said. "Poisoned? How is that possible?" Yang Yunxi was shocked. "I didn't eat anything strange today..." She suddenly remembered the Longjing tea she drank in Concubine Li's palace. "Is there something wrong with that cup of tea?"

When the emperor heard the news, he was furious. He immediately ordered a thorough investigation and put Concubine Li under house arrest. At the same time, he summoned all those involved in the matter for questioning.

Yang Yunxi's condition became increasingly serious, and the imperial doctors were helpless. The emperor was extremely worried and stayed by her bedside all day.

At this critical moment, a mysterious old man appeared. He claimed to be a miracle doctor with magical medical skills. The emperor asked him to treat Yang Yunxi with a try-it attitude.

After carefully examining Yang Yunxi's symptoms, the doctor confidently prescribed a prescription. The emperor quickly ordered people to prepare and boil the medicine according to the prescription.

A few days later, Yang Yunxi's health gradually improved and he was finally out of danger.

Meanwhile, the results of the interrogation came out. Concubine Li refused to plead guilty. She said to the emperor, "Although I am jealous of her monopolizing your favor, I have never thought of killing her child. I am the assistant in the harem and I am only thinking about your interests. How could I harm her dragon fetus? Besides, I have experienced miscarriage before, and I feel the same way. I would never do such a thing."

The emperor stared at Concubine Li, with a complicated look in his eyes. "But Yunxi was poisoned after visiting your bedroom. There have always been rumors in the palace that you two are not on good terms. Although there is no evidence to prove that you poisoned her fetus, you are definitely involved. I have to punish you... I will fine you one year's salary and confine you to your house for three months. What else do you have to say!"

Concubine Li burst into tears, "I am really innocent! Your Majesty, I asked the servants to prepare that tea, and I don't know why it is poisonous." The emperor was furious: "How dare you poison my Long'er! You should reflect on yourself." After saying that, he turned away.

Yang Yunxi was able to survive the poisoning and was treated by the imperial physician, but the fetus in her womb was not saved.

Yang Yunxi was heartbroken after losing Long'er. This was her first child. When she lived in modern times, she loved children very much. Her father was not only an excellent businessman, but also a caring person who was enthusiastic about public welfare. He often participated in various public welfare activities and made contributions to the society, which demonstrated his good social image as a successful businessman. Therefore, Yang Yunxi was raised to be very loving by her parents since she was a child. She was often taken to the orphanage to visit the orphans there. When she was in college, she often went to the orphanage as a volunteer with her classmates.

On the gorgeous embroidered bed, the emperor hugged the distressed Yunxi and said, "Don't be too sad. Maybe this child was not blessed to be born. When you recover, we will have children in the future."

"Your Majesty... I can already feel the heartbeat of the fetus. It's just gone. I really can't accept it." Yunxi hugged the emperor and cried. God knows how precious this child is to her. She traveled to ancient times. Everything seemed irrelevant to her. She finally got pregnant and thought she could have her own child and have a spiritual sustenance in the future, but the child was gone.

Moreover, the emperor had not punished Concubine Li, only fined her one year's salary and confined her to her home for three months, which made her sad. But she had no choice but to do nothing because of her low position and her family was not as powerful as Concubine Li's.

She leaned on the emperor tightly and cried, with hatred in her eyes. She thought to herself that she must serve the emperor wholeheartedly, regain the emperor's favor, and find a chance to overthrow Concubine Li to avenge the murder of her son. The emperor comforted Yunxi and said, "You should take good care of yourself. I will definitely give you a son in the future." He covered her with a quilt and left.

After leaving Yunxi's bedroom, the emperor went directly to Zhang Chongrong's bedroom. When Zhang Chongrong saw the emperor coming, she smiled and saluted, "Your Majesty, I respectfully welcome you." "No need for formalities," said the emperor, as he walked to the table and sat down. Zhang Chongrong quickly ordered the palace maids to prepare some snacks for the evening.

The emperor said to the maids and eunuchs, "You all go down." After the maids and eunuchs left, the emperor seemed to be thinking about something and slowly said, "Yunxi is sure that her fetus was framed by Concubine Li. Concubine Li has been punished now, and the matter is over. In her mind, you have always been her good sister. From now on, the matter of aromatherapy can only rot in your stomach and must not leak a single word." Zhang Chongrong's face changed slightly, and then she replied respectfully, "I dare not say a word more!"

To find out what happens next, please see the next chapter for updates!