Chapter 264

The weather had been sultry for about a week, and finally, it poured down rain, bringing a refreshing relief.

Now that they were no longer in the palace, the concubines found it easier to move around privately. They would often visit each other's chambers or have conversations, without attracting too much attention.

During these days, Rongyue would frequently come to Song Zhao's chamber to keep her company.

During this southern expedition, Xiao Jingheng only brought Rongyue among the newly entered concubines from last year.

Song Zhao found it strange in her heart. After all, one would expect Xiao Jingheng to be somewhat cold towards Rongyue after the "borrowing flowers to present the Buddha" incident.

But Song Zhao had secretly checked the palace records and noticed that Rongyue hadn't been spared from being turned over even once. However, it didn't affect her favor with Xiao Jingheng.

Perhaps it was Rongyue's detachment from Xiao Jingheng in private that further piqued his interest.

After all, for men, what they can't have is always the most precious.

Today, when Song Zhao saw Rongyue, she was wearing a dark blue embroidered silk dress, with a cloud brocade jacket draped over it, making her attire a bit too heavy.

It had been raining since this morning, and although the rain had stopped now, the weather was still somewhat humid. There was no need to wear so many clothes for warmth.

"Sister, please have a seat."

Song Zhao held Rongyue's hand and sat opposite her.

She noticed that Rongyue's hand was very cold, as if she had held a block of ice in the scorching summer. She remembered that Xiao Fuzi had once said that every time Rongyue served the emperor in bed, she would take cold contraceptive medicine to avoid getting pregnant.

Now Rongyue's hands and feet were ice-cold, and she clearly had symptoms of aversion to cold, indicating that she had taken too much of that medicine and harmed her body.

Song Zhao had always pretended not to know about this matter, and she couldn't bring it up now. She could only express her concern:

"It's already April, sister. You're wearing so much, but your hands are still very cold. Have you seen a physician? Don't tell me you have caught a cold. It would be troublesome if it develops into a chronic condition."

Rongyue shook her head with a troubled expression, "I... It's an old ailment of mine. There's no need to have a physician look at it."

Song Zhao said, "Because it's an old ailment, you should pay even more attention to it. We can't afford to be secretive about illnesses and avoid seeing physicians. Yunshan, go and replace Tong Chang's cool tea with ginger tea sweetened with brown sugar. Make it slightly warm."

As Yunshan left the room, Rongyue suddenly said to Caiying, "Yunshan is skilled. You should go down and learn from her."

After sending everyone away, only Song Zhao and Rongyue remained in the room. Rongyue then hesitantly revealed to Song Zhao how she had been using contraception.

Hearing this, Song Zhao pretended to be shocked and reproached her with a hint of displeasure, "Sister, you're being foolish. Regardless of the reason, you should never play with your own health. You're only nineteen now, and you'll be serving as a companion in the palace for at least a decade. Are you planning to keep using this method?"

Rongyue said, "Three months ago, my hands and feet started to feel cold. I knew it was most likely the onset of a chronic ailment. I was afraid that if it continued like this, it would raise suspicions and implicate my maternal family. So I've already stopped taking that medicine. But I'm still afraid to call for a physician, fearing that it would be discovered that I had used the Nine Yin Powder."

Aware of Rongyue's concerns, Song Zhao tightly held her hand and said in a gentle voice, "There is a skilled physician named Xiao Fuzi in my palace who is also loyal. If my sister doesn't want to consult the imperial physician directly, we can ask him to take a look first. If it's not appropriate, he can help with my sister's recovery."

Rongyue, fearing to implicate her family, did not refuse Song Zhao's kind offer.

However, little did she expect that after Xiao Fuzi examined her pulse, he would bring a huge "piece of news":

"Congratulations, Tong Changzai. You have been pregnant for over two months."

Although Xiao Fuzi's words were meant to convey joy, there was no hint of joy in his tone. Upon hearing this, Rongyue's face turned even more pale.

She protected her lower abdomen, tightly clutching the embroidered silk fabric, her expression complicated.

"Everyone hopes for it, but I am the least willing to conceive his child. It seems that fate is playing tricks on me..."

Song Zhao advised her, "Since it's good news, my sister shouldn't dwell on it too much. After all, this is still my sister's child. Having an heir in the palace will ensure a stable future." Rongyue's eyes were hollow, and she forced a smile before nodding. "The concubine's self-inflicted death is a great sin, and harming the dragon's heir is also a crime. I cannot implicate my father and mother."

Although it was supposed to be a joyful occasion, Song Zhao didn't know how to express her congratulations. She noticed that Xiao Fuzi's brow furrowed as if he had something to say, so she asked, "What's the matter? Is there something wrong with my sister's pregnancy?"

Xiao Fuzi asked in a deep voice, "Please forgive my impudence, Lord Tong... Have you been using contraception?"

Rongyue nodded with a dazed expression, "I stopped using it three months ago."

After a moment of silence, Xiao Fuzi continued, "Please forgive my blunt words, but my lord... this pregnancy came right after you stopped using contraception. It is truly not the right time for the imperial heir to be conceived. Your pulse indicates weakness, and it is likely that the fetus has already been harmed. I believe it would be best to have the attending imperial physician diagnose you as soon as possible. Perhaps..."

"Not possible," Song Zhao interrupted Xiao Fuzi in a low voice. "If you can detect that my sister used contraception, how could the imperial physician not detect it? If this matter were to be revealed now, it would only implicate my sister. I trust your medical skills, so first help my sister with her recovery. At the very least, remove the cold symptoms from her body and then report this matter."

Rongyue, who had a worried expression on her face, felt some relief upon hearing Xiao Fuzi's remark about the ill-timed pregnancy.

After a long silence, she followed Song Zhao's lead and said, "Song Zhao, you are attentive to details. Indeed, this matter cannot be made known to others at the moment."

In the midst of their conversation, she suddenly changed the subject, "Last time we tested Consort Hui, she even dared to harm Cheng Yu. Her mind is truly treacherous. Song Zhao, you are currently highly favored, so you must be more cautious around her."

Song Zhao nodded in agreement, "Sister, you're right. We must be vigilant in everything and not give her any opportunity to find fault. Now that my sister is pregnant, we must be even more careful. In the next few days, my sister should reduce her activities. I will secretly send the medicine for nourishing the fetus and removing the cold symptoms to your chambers. Take good care of yourself, sister. With me by your side, I will ensure that nothing harms you or the heir in your womb."

After Rongyue bid farewell and left, Xiao Fuzi looked at Song Zhao with a mysterious expression and said,

"Your Highness, Tong Zhu'er might be lying."

Song Zhao furrowed her brows. "What do you mean?"

Xiao Fuzi explained, "Based on Tong Zhu'er's pulse just now, it seems that she has recently exhibited symptoms of taking Jiuyin Powder. Contrary to what she claimed, she hasn't stopped taking the medicine for three months."

Song Zhao fell silent for a moment, then immediately dismissed Xiao Fuzi's speculation. "Since she has already admitted it to me, why would she need to go in circles and tell me this lie? Are you certain there was no misdiagnosis?"

Xiao Fuzi firmly replied, "If I weren't confident, I wouldn't dare to speak directly to Your Highness. However, this time Tong Zhu'er took a very light dosage, unlike the previous times when she took a strong dose. Perhaps... she never intended to keep this child and planned to handle it quietly?"

Song Zhao shook her head repeatedly, finding this matter increasingly illogical.

"If she didn't intend to keep it, it means she knew she was pregnant. If she knew she was pregnant early on, why would she agree to let you diagnose her pulse? It doesn't make sense."

[Four updates today.]