A Deliberate Display

Jiang Chan spoke earnestly, but Hua Meng found it hard to believe.

After all, she had accompanied Emperor Jing'an both times he had gone to see a physician.

The old physician's words still rang in her ears. Since Emperor Jing'an lacked kidney water and might have to bed a woman ten thousand times before getting her pregnant, how could she have conceived so easily?

Then Hua Meng thought of the Seven-Colored Spirit Spring the immortal maiden had given her.

"Can you be certain?"

Hua Meng had not originally planned to get pregnant in the first month, but since she might already be expecting, she had to make plans for the child in her belly.

Hearing Hua Meng's question, Jiang Chan also recalled what her brother Jiang Xin had told her about Emperor Jing'an's pulse.

She pondered for a moment, then looked at Hua Meng. "I'm afraid we'll have to wait another half month to know for sure." Seeing Hua Meng nod, Jiang Chan added, "But Your Highness should start taking precautions today."

Hua Meng understood what Jiang Chan meant. She looked at Qiu Die and Ling Cui. "The two of you should be more careful in the coming days. If there are any taboos you don't understand, ask Nanny Jiang."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Qiu Die and Ling Cui were both beaming. They knew that if Hua Meng really was carrying an imperial heir, they would receive ample credit as long as they served her until she gave birth safely.

Seeing their joy written all over their faces, Hua Meng frowned. "This hasn't been confirmed yet, so don't let it show." In the end, she added in front of Jiang Chan, "And even if the pregnancy is confirmed, don't report it to His Majesty immediately."

At those words, Ling Cui immediately nodded in obedience, while Qiu Die and Jiang Chan both looked puzzled and troubled.

Hua Meng had been watching their expressions all along. Seeing their reactions, she understood. "I want to find a suitable opportunity to tell His Majesty myself." As she finished, a touch of shyness appeared on her face at just the right moment.

Qiu Die and Jiang Chan looked at Hua Meng, then exchanged a discreet glance. Each understood the look in the other's eyes.

Since Her Highness wanted to tell His Majesty the good news herself, they naturally would not interfere.

Because of this, Jiang Chan had Hua Meng, who had planned to rest after dinner, walk more than ten laps around the bedchamber.

That night, after Qiu Die and Jiang Chan had withdrawn to rest, Hua Meng lay alone in bed and opened the Seven-Colored Spirit Spring.

Since obtaining the Seven-Colored Spirit Spring, she had used the spirit springs that moisturized her skin and nourished her body the most, though she had used more of the latter.

Almost every time a drop appeared, she used it, so she could not save any up.

Besides those, she had also used the spirit spring that cured all poisons, but not very much of it.

As for the rest, she had never used them.

"I don't need this spirit spring that brings the dead back to life in my current situation." No sooner had she said that than she murmured to herself again, "A spirit spring this miraculous can't be brought out and used carelessly."

With things on her mind, she had some trouble sleeping that night.

Because she could not sleep, Hua Meng found it hard to get up the next day.

But there was no empress in the harem, and aside from when newcomers entered the palace, they only had to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager on the first day of each month. So Hua Meng slept without a care until the end of the chen hour.

Since she might be pregnant, she could only change her daily lessons in making medicine with Jiang Chan to memorizing prescriptions.

"Your Highness, in your present condition, it would be best not to handle medicinal herbs."

Although Jiang Chan understood the properties of medicinal herbs, if Hua Meng really was pregnant, she would be the first consort of the current reign to conceive, making her naturally precious beyond measure.

Hua Meng understood why Jiang Chan was being so careful. She nodded and said, "I understand your kindness." After a moment's thought, she added, "My appetite is still good, but I remember that my sisters-in-law never had much appetite when they were pregnant. Why don't we start learning a few appetizing side dishes today?"

Hua Meng had originally planned to make pills and add the detoxifying spirit spring to them, but after thinking it over the previous night, she had decided not to detoxify Emperor Jing'an for the time being.

However, since she might already be carrying a child, Emperor Jing'an's body would have to be nourished.

She did not want Emperor Jing'an to pass away before her child came of age.

She thought that if she personally made a few dishes and added the spirit spring that nourished the body to one of them, the effect would not be too obvious if Emperor Jing'an ate only a little.

Jiang Chan naturally did not refuse Hua Meng's request.

When Emperor Jing'an heard that Hua Meng had stopped learning to make medicine and begun learning to cook, he simply assumed it was because the old physician had advised him to use dietary therapy, and she wanted to make him a few dishes herself.

For the past two days, Hua Meng had worried that Emperor Jing'an would summon her to attend him in bed. Fortunately, perhaps because of the old physician's warning, he had not slept with any of his consorts.

And because Emperor Jing'an had seldom slept with his consorts recently, voices at court once again brought up the fact that he still had no children.

Just then, the first day of the month arrived, the day to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.

Hua Meng was still washing and dressing at Sparrow Plume Palace when Consort Wan, who had agreed to meet her at the palace gate, came there with her attendants.

"Little sister, the Elder Princess has brought Commandery Lady Ningyin into the palace."

At Consort Wan's words, the first thing Hua Meng recalled was how Emperor Jing'an had previously asked her to choose a title for the Elder Princess's daughter, Wei Ningyan.

At the time, she had thought that, given the Elder Princess's arrogance and the Wei family's power, Wei Ningyan should at least have been made a county princess. To her surprise, Emperor Jing'an had ultimately given her only the rank of commandery lady.

The daughter of a prince of the first rank was a commandery princess, the daughter of a prince of the second rank was a county princess, and only a granddaughter of a prince of the second rank was a commandery lady.

When the Elder Princess married, the late emperor had granted her a fief and a status equal to a prince of the first rank. Her daughter should have been a county princess at the very least.

Yet, unexpectedly, Emperor Jing'an had only made her a commandery lady.

But when Hua Meng thought of Emperor Jing'an's dislike for the Elder Princess's family, she did not probe the matter further.

She raised a hand to adjust the Huasheng in her hair. "Doesn't the Elder Princess often come to the palace?" After speaking, she rose with Qiu Die's support and continued, "But why has Commandery Lady Ningyin come?"

Consort Wan had hurried to the Right Side Hall because she was worried that Hua Meng would be caught unprepared if she ran into Wei Ningyan later.

If the two came into conflict, Commandery Lady Ningyin would certainly not suffer with the Elder Princess protecting her.

That would leave Hua Meng as the only one to suffer.

But she had not expected Hua Meng's tone to be so calm when she mentioned Wei Ningyan.

"You... you don't hate her?"

Consort Wan only brought this up because she knew Hua Meng was not the overly sensitive sort.

She would not have asked anyone else.

Hua Meng accepted the pouch Jiang Chan had filled with pastries and preserved fruit, then looked at Consort Wan. "Why should I hate her?" She put the pouch away before continuing, "I had never even met her before, and my only connection to her was through Zhang Jinghong. As long as she doesn't come looking for trouble with me, even if I seek revenge, I'll go after Zhang Jinghong. It has nothing to do with her."

Of course, if Wei Ningyan did not know what was good for her and came looking for trouble, Hua Meng would not put up with it either.

Consort Wan understood what Hua Meng had left unsaid, and the worry between her brows disappeared.

"Since you're ready, let's go." Consort Wan had not been in a hurry before, but since the Elder Princess and her daughter were already in the palace, they had to hurry over too.

Otherwise, given the Elder Princess's temperament, who knew how she might take roundabout jabs at the Empress Dowager if they did not go?

Hua Meng understood what Consort Wan meant. Since she was already ready, she naturally would not delay.

But neither of them had expected that by the time they reached Chaohuang Palace, the Elder Princess and Wei Ningyan would have been there for a while.

When she saw them approach, the Elder Princess seemed not to notice them at all, while Wei Ningyan looked up and glanced at Hua Meng.

Hua Meng had thought Wei Ningyan would say something, but unexpectedly, she merely glanced at her before turning back.

Hua Meng knew Wei Ningyan was not afraid of her. She had grown up pampered by the Elder Princess, so how could she be afraid of Hua Meng?

Then why was she behaving this way today?

Though puzzled, Hua Meng followed Consort Wan and sat down in her place.

Once all the imperial consorts had arrived, the Empress Dowager slowly emerged from the inner hall, supported by a nanny.

As soon as the Empress Dowager arrived, everyone rose and bowed. After she told them to rise, the Elder Princess spoke before the Empress Dowager had a chance to say anything. "I came to the palace today to bring the Empress Dowager good news."

The moment the Elder Princess said this, the Empress Dowager's expression darkened.

Hua Meng did not know what was going on, but she was certain this was not the first time the Elder Princess had done something like this.

The Elder Princess seemed not to notice the Empress Dowager's dark expression. She happily took Wei Ningyan's hand and looked at the Empress Dowager. "Ningyan returned home yesterday, and the smell of fish soup made her feel a little unwell during the meal. An imperial physician examined her, and it turned out she was expecting soon after marrying into her husband's family. Although she is still in the early months, the imperial physician said her pulse was clear, so it should be a son."