The Changchun Palace team travels back in time to Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace

The inner hall of Chuxiu Palace.

Although the atmosphere between the Emperor and Yi Huan had eased somewhat, the Emperor still couldn't help feeling awkward when Rong Yin left, leaving the two of them alone.

He looked around, trying to make conversation, and saw a jade unicorn spitting out a book on the table beside him. So he said, "I remember that this jade unicorn spitting out a book was a gift I gave to the Empress a few years ago. How come the Empress gave it to Consort Shu?"

Yi Huan said, "Yes. Your Majesty, I remember when Your Majesty was ill, it was I who took care of you. Last month, the Empress sent someone to say that this ornament was auspicious, so she bestowed it upon me."

These words touched upon unpleasant memories for the emperor, and the thought that the ointment was probably not a good thing added to his anger. He couldn't help but say, "Back then, Hailan tried to frame the Empress, which caused Yongqi to become weak and sickly. Yonghuang, Yonglian, and Yongzhang are already learning books, riding, and archery at Yongqi's age, but with his health like this, it's uncertain whether he will even be able to enter the Imperial Study this year. This person is treacherous and speaks nonsense. Consort Shu, don't take her words to heart, or you'll be foolish."

Yi Huan said, "Hailan framed the Empress, made the Emperor sick, and implicated the Fifth Prince. This is a huge mistake, but she did it all for Sister Xian's sake."

The emperor felt a surge of anger. He was also suspicious that Yi Huan had been so eager to defend Ruyi before even meeting her, and now that she said she loved him, yet seemed to value Ruyi in her words, he became even more suspicious. He wondered if Yi Huan was like Hai Lan, a wicked person who helped Ruyi.

Thinking this, his tone turned sour: "Consort Shu, the Empress's younger brother married your second sister. Over the years, the Empress has shown you favoritism because of this marriage. Consort Xian, on the other hand, only left the Cold Palace some time after you entered the palace, and she hasn't been treated with much kindness since. Why are you so eager to please her?"

He already had experience and knew how to gauge the situation; sure enough, after saying that, he only felt a slight, dull pain in his head.

Yi Huan's face paled slightly. She wanted to argue, but seeing the emperor's bad expression, she could only say, "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong."

As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly felt a headache and a pain in her lower abdomen, and she couldn't help but cover her head and groan.

Then he suddenly convulsed and fainted in the chair.

The emperor was startled and hurriedly ordered Jinzhong to bring Jiang Yubin in.

Jinzhong returned and said, "Her Majesty the Empress has ordered Physician Jiang to go to the Imperial Hospital to examine the box of ointment together with other physicians. This servant has already sent someone to summon him and Physician Huang."

Just as she was speaking, Yi Huan woke up again, but her eyes were lifeless and a strange smile appeared on her lips. She murmured, "Sister Ruyi, in this whole palace, among all these people, the way they look at the Emperor, their smiles, are all naked desire. Only you, only you look at the Emperor with the same eyes as me."

Everyone was terrified, and He Xi knelt down, saying, "Master, what's wrong with you? Don't scare me!"

Yi Huan suddenly shuddered, as if waking from a dream, and held her head, saying, "What...what happened to me just now?"

The emperor was now certain of his suspicions and felt a chill run down his spine. He replied casually, "Consort Shu, you suddenly fainted and were talking incoherently. I have already ordered the imperial physician to be summoned, so I will not disturb you any longer. You should rest well."

He then hurriedly led Jinzhong and the others out.

Yi Huan was still somewhat dazed. She struggled to get up and said, "Your Majesty, I respectfully see you off." However, she felt a pain in her lower back and abdomen.

He Xi quickly helped Yi Huan up, saying, "Master, please lie down for a bit."

Huang Yuanyu inquired about the symptoms, took the pulse, pondered for a while, and then asked He Xi, "Does anyone in Consort Shu's maternal family have symptoms of wind-heat? What does Consort Shu usually like to do? Or which master does she associate with most?"

He Xi replied to each of them: "The old master, the old lady, and the princesses are all in good health and have never had any major illnesses. The old lady was a little older when she gave birth to the young lady, so the young lady is a bit weaker than the previous princesses, but she doesn't have any chronic illnesses. The young lady usually likes to copy the imperial poems. As for who she is on good terms with... the young lady doesn't like socializing. Only Consort Xian comes more often. Her Majesty the Empress also comes to visit, but Her Majesty is very busy with state affairs, and our young lady can't always trouble Her Majesty the Empress."

Huang Yuanyu said, "I understand. Consort Shu is already weak, and pregnancy is even more difficult for her. That's why she's a little absent-minded. She needs to rest quietly and take care of herself. In the next few days, she shouldn't see anyone except the Empress. She should recite some of the Emperor's poems every day to bring inner peace, which will be better for Consort Shu."

After writing the prescription, he went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to report.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Jinzhong said, "Imperial Physician Huang, Her Majesty the Empress, along with Imperial Physicians Zhao, Jiang, Bao, and Chief Eunuch Qin, are in the hall. Please wait a moment while I go and inform them."

After a while, Jinzhong came out and invited him in.

When he entered, he found the atmosphere in the hall to be very heavy, and several colleagues from the Imperial Medical Academy looked ashen-faced.

The empress remained relatively calm, but the emperor's expression was gloomy.

On the table was an open, gilded, round bowl depicting flowers in all four seasons, containing some ointment.

Upon seeing him enter, the emperor raised his head slightly, and Jinbao presented the lacquer box to him, whispering, "Physician Huang, please take a look at this medicine."

Huang Yuanyu smelled the ointment, paused for a moment, then closed the lid and smelled the box again before saying, "Your Majesty, this ointment contains otter bone powder, honey, and various imitation floral fragrances, as well as a significant amount of musk. It smells like a doorman's."

The emperor said in a deep voice, "This musk causes miscarriages, doesn't it?"

Huang Yuanyu replied, “Yes. If there are wounds or scars on the body, this medicine will penetrate into the skin and act like food. Even if it is only applied to the surface, it is not good for pregnant women to smell it for a long time. This medicine seems to have been made many years ago, so its efficacy should have diminished. However, we must be careful.”

Qin Li said, “Your Majesty, the style and pattern of this lacquerware are from the time of the late Emperor. I have consulted the relevant records and had someone examine the body and lacquer. This small bowl is at least fifteen years old. Some of the older servants in the palace have mentioned that a deposed concubine of the late Emperor once made a kind of ointment called ‘Scar-Removing Gel,’ which was said to be a good medicine for removing scars. In fact, it contained a large amount of musk, which was masked with floral fragrance to make it difficult to detect. The original formula was also recorded when the case was uncovered. It contained an ingredient called otter marrow, but this ingredient is extremely precious and hard to find. Physician Huang said that the ointment contained otter bone powder, so it seems that someone was trying to imitate this product, but it was difficult to obtain otter marrow, so bone powder was used as a substitute.”

The emperor angrily said, "Such filthy things would have been thoroughly investigated and dealt with by the late emperor long ago. Who else has the audacity to dare to imitate them?"

Qin Li said tremblingly, "Your Majesty, this servant heard from my master that this deposed concubine... seemed to have sided with Jingren Palace and was at odds with the Empress Dowager. I'm afraid Jingren Palace might have the remedy. Back when Jingren Palace wasn't convicted, Consort Xian often visited her. When Consort Xian was deposed and sent to the Cold Palace, all her belongings were taken away and sealed away, but after she left the Cold Palace, her dowry and personal items should naturally be returned to her. If Consort Xian had these things with her when she was still a secondary consort..."

The emperor took a deep breath and ordered, "Jinbao, take this ointment to Qingyi Garden for the Empress Dowager to see. I want to see what she has to say."

He then asked Huang Yuanyu, "What illness did Consort Shu have? How could this have happened so suddenly?"

Huang Yuanyu said, "Consort Shu's convulsions and fainting during her pregnancy resemble eclampsia. However, eclampsia is caused by wind-heat. Consort Shu's pulse does not show any signs of wind-heat. She is only suffering from melancholy and depression. No one in her family has this disease. Therefore, Consort Shu does not have eclampsia, but rather irritability and restlessness. However, Consort Shu's symptoms are more severe than those of ordinary pregnant women. Ordinary pregnant women with these two diseases often experience unexplained irritability, sadness, grief, and are prone to anger and crying. Consort Shu's condition is even worse. Her mental illness has led to physical illness, which is why she has symptoms such as convulsions, fainting, and delirium."

Both Imperial Physician Bao and Imperial Physician Jiang breathed a sigh of relief. Imperial Physician Jiang said, "Your Majesty, these symptoms of irritability and restlessness are relatively common during pregnancy and are not as frightening as eclampsia. However, Consort Shu's symptoms are more severe, perhaps due to the stimulation of someone's words. There are signs that worry and overwork are harming her health. If the mother's liver and kidneys are not strong, the fetus will not be able to grow well in the womb, and it may even lead to consequences such as stunted fetal growth, fetal restlessness, and premature birth. We must be careful, Your Majesty!"

Rongyin said, "Your Majesty, if that's the case, I implore you to suppress this matter openly for now and investigate it secretly. Otherwise, if it gets out to Consort Shu, it will only cause her more trouble, which is not good for her or the imperial heir."

The Emperor thought for a moment and said, "The Empress is very thoughtful. I will have someone handle this matter, so the Empress need not worry about it. Just take good care of Consort Chun and Consort Shu."

After everyone left, the emperor pondered for a while, and then Eunuch Xu from the Imperial Household Department presented a green plaque.

The emperor's hand touched each of the green plaques one by one, finally stopping on the wooden plaque that read "Consort Mei".

That night, Jinzhong entered the inner palace and reported, "Your Majesty, Consort Mei has finished bathing and changing."

The emperor put a memorial into the bedside table, closed the drawer, and then said to Jinzhong, "Let her in."

The next day, the Empress Dowager returned to the Forbidden City.

The Empress Dowager's return to the palace was a major event, but this time she traveled light and made arrangements well in advance, not informing anyone except the Emperor and the imperial concubines of her return.

The emperor, under the guise of paying his respects, arrived at Shou Kang Palace, where he saw the Empress Dowager dressed in a black gauze cloak with floral and pine-crane patterns, and a jade phoenix hairpin with dangling jade beads and tassels. She had been ill for a long time and was weak, but now, under the weight of her great anger, she appeared much more energetic.

She didn't stand on ceremony and went straight to the point: "Where did that box of filthy things the Emperor sent come from?"

The Emperor lowered his eyes: "It was Xian who promised to give it to Consort Shu to help her remove the marks on her body. One of the ingredients in this thing has been changed, so it should be a counterfeit, and it must be something from at least fifteen years ago."

"Good, good, good!" The Empress Dowager exclaimed three times in a row, slamming her hand on the table: "Ulanara clan is truly capable!"

She looked at the emperor: "Then, Your Majesty, what is the meaning of giving this to me?"

The Emperor said expressionlessly, "The Empress's intention is to avoid further distress to Consort Shu during her pregnancy, and that this matter should not be publicized. However, I already have so many princes, especially my two legitimate sons, Yonglian and Yongcong. Whether others can have children, or whether they are boys or girls, is of little concern to me. But I must always consider the interests of Empress Fucha and Empress Yehenara, so I think the Empress's words make sense, and I will follow her advice for now. After all, the children are innocent."

The Empress Dowager sneered: "Consort Shu is favored, yet she has been unable to conceive for many years. Does the Emperor really think I know nothing about what he has done to her? Emperor, do you know that the Empress is a woman who cannot tolerate any injustice? She hates these kinds of sordid things the most, especially since Consort Shu is her relative by marriage!"

The Emperor smiled and said, "My empress and I are not concerned with our private matters. As for my brother-in-law, Zhuang Yougong, I originally thought that since he is from Guangdong, he would be more familiar with the customs and culture of Lingnan. It would be good if he were sent to the south as an official. However, if my sister Hengti goes with me, how can she fulfill her filial duties to my mother? If she does not go, she will be separated from her husband."

The Empress Dowager held her breath and suddenly began to cough loudly.

The Emperor coldly watched as the Empress Dowager coughed until her face turned red. He gripped the corner of the dark green and gold-embroidered tablecloth on the rosewood table tightly, crumpling the gold-embroidered silk into a tangled ball. He continued, "Langhua used to mix incense, but only for fun. She is not proficient in the art of incense. Consort Xian, on the other hand, comes from the Ulanara clan. Your Majesty knows this, and Consort Xian is likely aware of it as well. I just want to remind Your Majesty not to let certain people take advantage of the situation under the guise of sharing our burdens."

The Empress Dowager's cough gradually subsided. After catching her breath a few times, she abruptly stood up and said coldly, "Fu Jia, come with me to Cuiyun Pavilion!"

It was neither a holiday nor a festival, so the gates of Chonghua Palace were not open.

The Empress Dowager entered Cuiyun Pavilion through the side gate and went straight into the main hall.

Ruyi was surprised to see the Empress Dowager return. When she went out to greet her, she asked, "It's neither a holiday nor a festival, why has the Empress Dowager returned?"

The Empress Dowager slapped her across the face as a response.

Ruyi was slapped so hard she fell to the ground, stunned as if in disbelief, her eyes brimming with tears.

Just as Hailan was about to step forward to protect Ruyi, Shuangxi kicked her in the back of the knee, causing her to kneel down.

Shuangxi seized the opportunity to restrain her, rendering her unable to move.

The Empress Dowager sneered, "You're still feeling wronged? Fu Jia, give that filthy thing to this wretched woman and make her eat it!"

Fu Jia took out the small round bowl, and Ruyi pouted, a tear about to fall.

Upon seeing this, Hailan cried out, "Empress Dowager! You have truly wronged my mistress! My mistress was only thinking of you and the Emperor!"

The Empress Dowager secretly thought that the Emperor's prediction was correct, and gave Fu Jiayang a nod.

Fu Jia said sternly, "Speak! If you can't give me a clear answer, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Hailan said, “Your Majesty, Consort Shu gave you a bracelet, saying it was a gift from the Emperor. However, the bracelet contained a kind of lingling incense, which is used to prevent miscarriage. The Emperor has long been wary of Consort Shu because you recommended her, and he doesn’t want her to get pregnant. Now, Consort Shu is pregnant, probably because she lost that bracelet. If the child is a princess, that’s fine, but if it’s a prince, the Emperor will be even more wary, and he will also be more suspicious and distrustful of you, Your Majesty. You are doing this to eliminate the hidden worries between you and the Emperor!”

Ruyi then said, "Empress Dowager, I know that if I do this, the Emperor will hate me. I am in a dilemma, but I am also thinking of the mother-son relationship between the Emperor and the Empress Dowager."

The Empress Dowager, her fingers adorned with gold and jade-beaded nail guards, poked Ruyi's face: "Ha, as expected of the Ulanara clan, even venting personal grievances requires using the tiger's skin as a banner! Consort Shu is already five months pregnant, yet she hasn't miscarried or had a miscarriage, which is enough to show that the Emperor wants to keep the child. If this matter comes to light, the Emperor and I will only become more suspicious of each other. I think you just can't stand that Consort Ling, Consort Chun, and Consort Shu are all pregnant, but you haven't had the chance to do anything to the first two! You're just like your aunt!"

At this moment, the main gate of Cuiyun Pavilion opened again, and Bai Ruiji walked in.

The door was closed, shut tightly.

Bai Ruiji quickly bowed to the Empress Dowager, then reached into her sleeve and pulled out a long whip.

She strode towards Ruyi, holding a long whip, then raised it and brandished it through gritted teeth.

"You wicked woman! So you're so skilled at harming other people's offspring! Were you really so innocent when I was poisoned back then? Even if you weren't involved in what happened to me, there are others you've harmed. I must beat you severely to vent my anger!"

The Empress Dowager also took off the green jade phoenix hairpin from her head and handed it to Fu Jia.

All sounds were blocked by the main gate of Cuiyun Pavilion and the several mahogany gates of Chonghua Palace. The guards standing at the gate of Chonghua Palace did not hear any sounds from inside. Apart from the three people watching the live broadcast, no one in the six palaces, both east and west, knew what was happening.

The moment Bai Ruiji took out the whip, Yuan Yi decisively cut off the live stream.

Yingluo asked, "Won't this increase our luck?"

Yuan Yidao said, “Don’t worry, the Chosen One has started to harm people on his own initiative. The Empress Dowager, who was originally planning to take the blame, is no longer willing to do so. He is no longer sympathized with, and his fortune will not only not increase, but will even start to decrease.”