The Royal Family's Orphan is on the Rise

During this period, Shen Jiarou tried every possible means to avoid letting others know the truth about her pregnancy. She even stayed at home and rarely went out to perfectly conceal her pregnant belly.

Nan Qi came over with a steamed egg custard with some meat filling on it to help Shen Jiarou supplement her nutrition.

"My lady, this is a snack for you, please eat it while it's hot."

Shen Jiarou, who had already sat up, reached out to take it and put it into her mouth spoonful by spoonful.

Seeing how happily she was eating, Ruan Qingling and Nan Qi smiled at each other. As long as the queen ate well, the prince and princess in her belly would grow up well.

The virtuous concubine worshipped Buddha day and night. Thinking of the recent strange things in Fengyi Palace, she always felt strange while worshipping Buddha in the small Buddhist temple.

The emperor and empress might not have any plans, but nothing big has happened recently. However, Ji Chenyu's reputation as a good husband in the former court and the harem is well-known in the court and among the people.

The loyal Nanny Deng began to give advice to Concubine Xian.

"Teacher, why don't we find someone to find a way to see the queen? Let's see if she is really sick or just pretending to be sick?"

Concubine Xian frowned: "The Fengyi Palace is heavily guarded now, how can our people get in?"

Aunt Deng was also in a dilemma: "Well...why don't you go visit her?"

Concubine Xian shook her head: "That's not right. I haven't been out much for many years, so it's a bit strange to suddenly go to see the Queen."

Madam Deng was in a dilemma: "How about I go there on your behalf?"

Upon hearing this, Concubine Xian’s eyes lit up.

"That's appropriate. When the Grand Empress Dowager and the Queen Mother were ill, I sent you to go. Now that the Queen is ill, it makes sense for me to send you."

"Then shall I go today or tomorrow?"

"It's better to choose a day than to hit it."

Madam Deng nodded solemnly: "Then I will go and prepare it right away."

Concubine Xian closed her eyes, nodded, and began to recite Buddhist scriptures again.

Nanny Deng brought gifts to Fengyi Palace to visit Shen Jiarou. Zhang Zirou, who was guarding the door, was stunned when he saw her.

"Madame Deng? Are you here?"

Madam Deng stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Greetings, General Zhang. I am here to visit the Empress Dowager on the orders of my virtuous Consort. Please let her know."

Zhang Zirou pursed her lips and thought. Even though she had doubts in her heart, she had to pretend to report it.

"Please wait!"

"Thank you, General Zhang."

It is still more reliable to do it in an open and aboveboard manner, and it will not tolerate gossip.

After receiving the report, Nami walked towards the bedroom and stopped beside the phoenix couch.

"Your Majesty, Aunt Deng from Concubine Dowager Xian's side wants to see you. She said she was ordered to come and see you."

Shen Jiarou, who was lying down, was suddenly stunned: Why is she here? Is she here to visit her or is she really sick?

Thinking of how the virtuous Concubine Dowager had lived in seclusion and worshipped Buddha for many years, Shen Jiarou found this place very strange. It seemed that she was not as reclusive as everyone seemed to think.

As for why she lives in seclusion and worships Buddha for many years, it is probably because she wants people to ignore her existence so that they can act better.

Unfortunately, no matter how experienced and skillful this person is, he still loses to her junior who is better than her.

Shen Jiarou raised her head and coughed, then looked at Nami and whispered instructions.

"Let her in." Show her whatever she wants to see.

"Yes, ma'am."

Nanny Deng came to the bedroom under the guidance of Nami. Musiqi and Rezana had moved the screen to cover the room, and Kaier placed a stool aside.

"Your servant greets Her Majesty the Queen. May Her Majesty be well and at peace."

Shen Jiarou pretended to be weak and said, "No need to be polite. Please take a seat."

Upon hearing this, Madam Deng immediately bowed and thanked her: "Thank you, Queen, for your consideration."

She stroked her dress and sat down, then raised her head and looked seriously and respectfully at Shen Jiarou who was lying on her side behind the screen.

"My virtuous concubine heard that you were suddenly ill, so she sent me to come and visit you. I wonder how the queen is doing."

Shen Jiarou coughed lightly a few times and said, "Thank you for your concern, Concubine Xian. I caught a cold unexpectedly. Perhaps it's because the weather has been too cold recently and I caught a cold."

Thinking about the recent weather, Nanny Deng also felt that what she said made sense. Many palace maids in their palace had caught a mild cold. She was afraid that it would affect the health of her master, so she did not allow anyone to serve Concubine Xian closely, for fear that she would be infected with the disease.

"Your Majesty, you are young, please take care of yourself."

Shen Jiarou coughed again, and Aunt Deng frowned when she heard it.

"What Madam Deng said is true. I don't know why, but since I came back from the battlefield, my health has become much worse than before."

Ruan Qingling frowned and sighed: "My queen, you haven't had a good rest since you returned to the capital. You have to take care of the affairs of the previous dynasty and the affairs of the harem. You haven't even had a good rest yet, and the wedding and enthronement ceremony are coming..."

Seeing that she was talking more and more outrageous, Shen Jiarou quickly interrupted her.

"Stop talking. We are all family. Fortunately, Aunt Deng is not the kind of person who likes to gossip. Otherwise, you might not be able to keep your head stable today."

Hearing this, Ruan Qingling touched her neck in fear and quickly apologized: "I know I was wrong."

Shen Jiarou coughed and looked in the direction of Nanny Deng.

"Madam Deng, Ruan Gugu was speaking up for me and was a little too outspoken. Please forget about what happened today when you leave." Shen Jiarou then looked at Nan Qi who was waiting on the side.

"Give the golden hairpin in my dressing-box to Madam Deng."

Nan Qi bowed: "Yes, Madam."

What a pity, I lost a valuable gold hairpin in vain today.

"I thank the Queen for the reward." The Queen was as generous as ever. She gave the servant a golden hairpin just for these words.

She looked down at the golden hairpin in her hand and sighed, this hairpin must be worth at least fifty taels, so today's trip was not in vain.

When taking her away, Shen Jiarou pretended to cough several times. She had done this countless times in the bedroom of Fengyi Palace.

However, as long as there were no outsiders around, it was mostly Ruan Qingling and Nan Qi who took turns coughing, so she couldn't say she was tired, but she was just lying down for a long time and her body was indeed tired.

Ji Chenyu, who was processing memorials in the imperial study, was a little absent-minded when he thought of the sick Shen Jiarou. Luo Cheng, who was standing beside him, saw it clearly.

Ji Chenyu put down the memorial in his hand after reviewing it, then looked up and asked about Shen Jiarou with concern.

"How is the Queen?"

"Your Majesty, I heard that Concubine Dowager Xian arranged for Nanny Deng to visit the Queen, and she even sat in the bedroom for a quarter of an hour."

Ji Chenyu frowned upon hearing this: "A quarter of an hour? I wonder if this will tire the Queen."

She is still sick now.

When Luo Cheng heard his words, he sighed: The Emperor is being controlled by the Empress. Fortunately, the Empress is a good person, otherwise his master might show signs of becoming a tyrant.

After Nanny Deng left, Shen Jiarou slept for a while. When she woke up, she received a letter from the Jiang Mansion.

"A letter from my mother?"

Kaier nodded solemnly: "Yes, Madam, the handwriting on it also looks like that of Old Madam Jiang."

I don't know why Madam Jiang wants to see the Queen this time.

After reading the letter, Shen Jiarou realized that her former in-laws were all worried about her health, especially her ex-mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and brother's wife.