Chapter 39: Pushing Someone
Lan Wu, after all, had learned dancing since childhood. Her body was flexible enough that even if pushed and about to fall, she could stabilize her center of gravity at the critical moment, preventing herself from falling in an overly awkward manner.
Moreover, she had been on guard from the start.
Seeing Beauty Rong flailing and struggling in the water, she stepped ashore with a cold expression. Looking back, she noticed the surrounding imperial concubines staring at her with strange looks in their eyes.
Lan Wu laughed in anger. It was clearly Beauty Rong who had bumped into her, and she had only pushed back when she was about to fall. These people only saw her pushing someone but failed to see her predicament, didn’t they?
“Zhen Jieyu, you have truly gone too far,” said Consort Li. “You dare to push someone into the water right in front of everyone. How malicious.”
Some echoed her words, while others remained silent.
Lan Wu looked at Beauty Rong, who had been rescued and was trembling uncontrollably, and frowned coldly. “This concubine dare not accept what Your Highness says. This concubine only adjusted her posture instinctively upon sensing someone was about to knock her into the water.”
Her eyes lowered slightly as she suddenly spoke in a measured tone, “But this concubine never expected that Beauty Rong intended to push me into the water. I cannot swim. Had I truly been knocked in by Beauty Rong, I might not have survived.”
“Does Your Highness perhaps believe that Beauty Rong’s life is precious, while this concubine’s life is not?”
Her words were sharp, and she showed no timidity even when speaking to Consort Li alone. Gone was any trace of the timid demeanor she had displayed when she was still a servant.
Consort Li trembled with rage. She had wondered how this little wretch Lan Wu could have ever considered leaving the palace. That time in her palace, she had spoken so pitifully and sincerely—it turned out this was her true face now. This despicable wretch!
Hearing Lan Wu’s words, the surrounding imperial concubines wore varied expressions.
Consort Rou, her face stern, silenced Lan Wu. “Enough. Hold your tongue.”
Lan Wu sneered.
Just then, Beauty Rong, who had been rescued, suddenly let out a cry of pain.
She clutched the hand of the palace maid beside her, whispering in agony.
A gasp of shock rippled through the crowd.
Lan Wu followed their gazes and saw blood staining the hem of Beauty Rong’s skirt.
Her expression froze as a dreadful thought surfaced.
Was Beauty Rong pregnant?
Consort Rou quickly ordered Beauty Rong to be taken to the nearest Falling Blossoms Pavilion, sent someone to summon the Imperial Physician, and relayed the news to the Imperial Presence.
Lan Wu pressed her lips tightly together and followed the crowd to Falling Blossoms Pavilion.
Falling Blossoms Pavilion was always kept clean and swept, with nothing lacking in the hall, intended for the convenience of the ladies enjoying themselves in the Imperial Garden to rest briefly and to serve in case of emergencies.
Along the way, Lan Wu kept repeating to herself that it was impossible.
In her previous life, Beauty Rong had never been rumored to be pregnant, even until she fell out of favor. How could it be possible in this life…
But indeed, many things in this life differed from the previous one.
If Beauty Rong truly was pregnant…
Lan Wu steadied herself. If Beauty Rong truly was pregnant, it still couldn’t be considered her fault. Her reaction had been natural at the time; otherwise, she would have been the one falling into the water.
“Kneel,” commanded Consort Rou, seated in the upper position in the main hall of Falling Blossoms Pavilion. As soon as Lan Wu entered, she ordered her to kneel.
From the side hall, Beauty Rong’s cries of pain could still be heard intermittently.
Lan Wu had no choice but to kneel in the hall.
Today, she had only brought Lian Xi with her. Earlier on the small boat, Lian Xi had helped her steady herself and could testify that it was Beauty Rong who had stumbled into her.
If Beauty Rong had not been pregnant, Chu Mingheng might have taken her side, but now that there was a complication, Lan Wu had no idea how Chu Mingheng would decide.
“Who saw what happened on the boat just now? Step forward and speak up. Don’t wrong Zhen Jieyu.” Although Consort Rou said this, not a single person stepped forward after her words.
After what had just happened with Cairen Liu, who would dare to get involved with Zhen Jieyu? Last time it was Cairen Liu, this time it was Beauty Rong—who would be next?
Consort Li, however, was in no hurry and sneered, “Sister Rou is right, but as I said earlier, Zhen Jieyu has a sharp tongue. She can turn black into white. How would I dare to speak up?”
Lan Wu knelt, feeling the pain in her lower abdomen grow more intense.
She took a deep breath, thinking she should have just stayed in her own palace today. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have gotten caught up in this mess.
A palace maid hurried out from the side hall to report that the Imperial Physician had taken Beauty Rong’s pulse and said she showed signs of a miscarriage. The physician was currently administering acupuncture for treatment.
Everyone gasped in shock.
In the harem, heirs were already scarce. Aside from the eldest princess born to the late Noble Consort Liang, no imperial concubine had successfully given birth to a royal heir. Now that Beauty Rong was pregnant, news of a possible miscarriage followed immediately.
Everyone couldn’t help but feel fearful, looking at Lan Wu as if she had already been ordered by His Majesty to be sent to the Cold Palace.
Hearing this, Lan Wu felt dazed for a moment.
Beauty Rong really was pregnant.
A miscarriage…
Was it her fault? Had she perhaps caused the death of Chu Mingheng’s child?
No, it wasn’t her fault.
It was Beauty Rong’s own fault. She was the one who had bumped into her.
Lan Wu clenched her hands tightly, her face pale. Unconsciously, she no longer felt the pain in her lower abdomen.
Just then, a eunuch’s announcement came from outside the hall.
“His Majesty has arrived—”
Chu Mingheng had come.
All the imperial concubines stood up to prepare for the formal greeting.
Lan Wu remained kneeling on the ground, her back to the hall entrance. Lian Xi tried to help her up to greet His Majesty, but saw that her face was frighteningly pale.
Lian Xi knew that Her Ladyship hadn’t been in good condition today. When applying makeup, she had deliberately concealed her exhaustion, but now, even through the thin layer of powder, Lan Wu’s face looked pale, her lips much lighter in color. She frowned tightly, as if enduring something.
As Chu Mingheng entered the hall, his eyes immediately fell on Lan Wu kneeling in the center.
On his way, he had heard from the palace servants what Lan Wu had done. Seeing her kneeling there with her head bowed, he didn’t tell her to rise and went straight to take his seat.
“Let’s hear it. How did a simple boat ride end with someone falling into the water?” After sitting down, Chu Mingheng asked unhurriedly, his expression so calm and composed it seemed almost frightening.
From the crowd, Consort Li cautiously whispered, “Your Majesty, Beauty Rong is currently in the side hall. The Imperial Physician said she shows signs of a miscarriage. The physician is—”
Chu Mingheng cast a calm glance in her direction, and the person being looked at naturally fell silent, not continuing her words.
Everyone felt a chill in their hearts—His Majesty was truly indifferent toward a pregnant imperial concubine.
It was Consort Rou who spoke up again, frowning as she said, “Your Majesty, at that time, Zhaorong Yun, Zhen Jieyu, and Beauty Rong were on the same small boat. When they were docking, a sudden wind rose on the lake. Zhen Jieyu said that Beauty Rong bumped into her first, so she pushed back, and then Beauty Rong fell into the water.”
“At that time, I was on another small boat. I only saw Beauty Rong fall into the water, but as for anything else… I beg your pardon, I did not notice.”
After speaking, she turned her gaze toward Zhaorong Yun, who stood a few steps away with her head bowed: “Perhaps Zhaorong Yun knows something.”