Chapter 409

Chapter 409 Bai Fu said softly, "No, you didn't say anything wrong." "Lady Kong and I are close. She's pregnant, and someone wants to harm her—I must protect her." "I have to keep her and her child safe, so she can successfully bear the Emperor's offspring!" The more Bai Fu spoke, the clearer her mind became, and the more resolute her decision. Caiyue looked utterly bewildered: "Mistress, what are you saying?!" "You want to protect Lady Kong?! But she... she's someone who will compete with you for the Emperor's favor?!" Caiyue thought her mistress was already exceedingly kind for not harming Lady Kong, but who would have thought she actually intended to protect her?! Bai Fu's gaze at Caiyue was deep and unfathomable. "Caiyue, you don't understand. Lady Kong has never been my enemy..." "Just do as I say." Bai Fu understood the Emperor's nature all too well. If she tried to harm the child in Lady Kong's womb, the Emperor would never let her live. But if she protected Lady Kong through childbirth, at least she would earn some merit. That merit could give her a chance to catch the Emperor's eye. Bai Fu knew very well that she was only one opportunity away from gaining favor—she just needed a chance to appear before the Emperor. Only if the Emperor truly remembered her as a person would he occasionally bestow his affection and trust upon her. Otherwise, she would truly grow old and die in the palace without ever receiving his favor. Lady Kong's pregnancy was her own fortune, but if handled properly, it could also be Bai Fu's fortune! Taking advantage of the fact that Talented Lady Xue hadn't yet returned, Bai Fu brought her people to see Lady Kong. After some pleasantries, she asked softly, "Sister, could you be with child?" Lady Kong looked bewildered: "What is sister saying?" "With child what?" Bai Fu lowered her voice: "Pregnant!" Lady Kong was taken aback herself. "Why would sister suddenly bring this up?!" "This... this, I don't even know." Bai Fu said, "I just suddenly remembered that sister once mentioned your monthly courses always made you feel unwell, and you had to lie in bed for three days each time. But now it's been over a month... Has sister's monthly flow not come yet?" Lady Kong realized belatedly, "It seems so. But a delayed monthly flow is also normal—it doesn't necessarily mean I'm pregnant, does it?" She was timid and honest by nature; even if she thought about her delayed period, she wouldn't dare to consider the possibility of pregnancy. Bai Fu adopted a sincere attitude, her tone exceptionally gentle. "Sister, don't think I'm being overly suspicious. It's just that the Empress suddenly passed away, and we newcomers haven't even been in the palace long before we have to observe mourning. Who wouldn't worry about their own future?" "Don't laugh at me, sister, but I was calculating my own monthly cycle and realized there was no hope, which made me think of you." "If sister is blessed and happens to be pregnant, then I'd like to share in a bit of your good fortune." Lady Kong couldn't quite process this. "This... if I am pregnant, what then? If not, I'm afraid it would be a false alarm." Bai Fu held Lady Kong's hand and gently reassured her, "Sister must first confirm whether she is pregnant." "You can invite an imperial physician to take your pulse, but such a matter probably can't be hidden from the rest of the harem." Lady Kong listened attentively, though her mind was in complete turmoil. Bai Fu continued, "If sister isn't pregnant, it's just a small matter—simply say you're feeling a bit unwell. If you truly are pregnant... then we'll need to plan carefully." "But sister must know, if the imperial physician confirms your pregnancy, everyone in the harem will likely find out." Lady Kong looked at Bai Fu with dawning realization. "Sister means... someone might want to harm me?" Bai Fu smiled bitterly. "Sister, think about it—seven of us entered the palace together. If only sister becomes pregnant, wouldn't the others be jealous?" "Moreover, would the senior members of the harem want us to have children?" "Perhaps they would, since our ranks are low and we're not qualified to raise children ourselves. Any child born would ultimately be raised by them." "But they also fear that if we become pregnant and gain favor, it would dilute their own share of the Emperor's affection." Lady Kong said anxiously, "This... I suddenly don't know whether it's better to be pregnant or not." "Of course it's better to be pregnant!" Bai Fu interrupted Lady Kong, her gentle expression taking on a hint of competence. "Don't doubt my intentions, sister—let me speak to you from the bottom of my heart." "I once prided myself on my family background and beauty, thinking that although I might not receive overwhelming favor after entering the palace, I could at least win some of the Emperor's affection. But who would have known I'd be so unlucky—after serving the Emperor only once, I was forgotten entirely." "I don't want to live out my days alone without children, so I came to find you, sister, hoping to share in your good fortune." "If sister happens to be pregnant, I'm willing to help you. I only hope that when sister rises in status, you'll lend me a hand as well. I don't ask for much favor..." Bai Fu smiled bitterly. "Just that I won't die of old age in the position of Baolin." Lady Kong had always held a favorable impression of Bai Fu, and after hearing her heartfelt words, she already trusted her to a considerable degree. She took Bai Fu's hand in return. "I'm a muddled person, not as thoughtful as you, sister, but I know that life in the palace isn't easy to endure." "If sister treats me with sincerity, I will treat you with sincerity in return, and I will never betray that trust in the slightest!" After the two finished their discussion, they sent word to summon an imperial physician. All matters in the palace were managed by Consort Jingshu, so when Lady of Beauty Kong fell ill and needed a physician, the news reached Consort Jingshu's ears almost immediately. Consort Jingshu thought for a moment, then asked those around her, "When was the last time she attended to the Emperor?" Tao Yao considered for a moment. "It's been about a month already, hasn't it? This servant cannot recall the exact date. Shall I retrieve the records from the Office of Imperial Attendance for you to review, my Lady?" "No need." Consort Jingshu already had a sense of the matter. "Send for a physician for her." "Yes." Xie Run had been managing the Six Palaces for quite some time, and her eyes and ears were spread throughout the palace. No sooner had Cairen Kong been found pregnant than word reached Xie Run's side. "Lady of Beauty Kong is with child?" Xie Run smiled lightly. "At last, something auspicious has happened in the palace." Influenced by her, Dantao and Xiaoshu no longer paid much mind to who was favored or who was pregnant in the palace; what mattered more was whether the matter itself brought benefit or harm to Xie Run. "Of the seven new entrants this year, they had barely attended to the Emperor a few times before the Empress passed away. One could say they were rather unlucky." "Now that Lady of Beauty Kong is with child, it counts as something good." Dantao was massaging Xie Run's legs and said softly, "If Lady of Beauty Kong can give birth safely, the palace will gain another prince or princess." "The Emperor's flourishing progeny is good for both the court and the harem." Xie Run's eyes were half-lowered when she suddenly thought of Bai Fu. "I heard that Lady of Beauty Kong and Noble Lady Bai are quite close and visit each other often?" Xiaoshu nodded. "The two live nearby and entered the palace in the same cohort, so it's only natural they've grown close."