t
After they left, Jing Xuan told Concubine Xiao, expression contrite, “Imperial Mother, Daughter didn’t do it on purpose. After that bracelet is repaired, I will send it to Imperial Sister-in-Law.”
“What were you thinking?”
Eh? “What?”
“Before… weren’t you…” Concubine Xiao didn’t say the words out directly.
Jing Xuan pursed her lips and sighed. “After these two days, Daughter has come to a realisation. Only we are a family. No matter what, I should stand with you; how could I help outsiders deal with Imperial Mother and Imperial Brother? In the end, I’m the one that would suffer.”
“Do you really understand now?” Concubine Xiao looked at her.
She nodded vigorously. “Of course! Imperial Mother treats me so well but I instead set myself against Imperial Mother in all things. Daughter now knows that she was wrong and will listen to Imperial Mother obediently. I will take care of my health and wait to be married in Huyi. At that time, it would be difficult if Daughter wished to even see Imperial Mother.
“So, I wonder if there is still time to mend the relations.h.i.+p between us mother and daughter if I admit my mistakes now? Daughter had previously said many things that hurt Imperial Mother, but I never meant any of it. It’s my own fault for being too biased and taking Imperial Mother’s good intentions for malice. After thinking about it, I felt like I really shouldn’t have done so and was extremely troubled. Imperial Mother, would you please forgive Xuan’er? Xuan’er takes back everything that I have said before.” She appeared very sincere as her eyes glimmered with the s.h.i.+ne of tears.
Concubine Xiao caressed her face, “It’s good that you understand. Only after you have suffered injustice would you understand the pains that Imperial Mother took for you.”
“Daughter will listen obediently to Imperial Mother in the future.”
“This girl.” She tapped Jing Xuan gently on the forehead. Mother and daughter finally made up.
However, Concubine Xiao reminded her yet again, “Xuan’er, you cannot go visit that fool anymore, you understand?”
She quickly agreed. “I won’t go. He’s just a fool anyway, Daughter won’t go visit him again. But Daughter doesn’t understand why Imperial Mother would bring that fool into the palace and lock him up.”
Concubine Xiao patted the back of her hand, “You don’t have to ask too much about this. Just don’t go looking for him again.”
“Mn.” Extremely obedient! Jing Xuan leaned her head against her mother’s forearm, “Imperial Mother, why don’t Daughter serve you as you prepare to rest today?”
“You?”
“Daughter will leave after Imperial Mother has fallen asleep.” She was so sincere that Concubine Xiao didn’t have the heart to say no, and agreed.
After they went back to her bedroom, Jing Xuan thought of something as she helped Concubine Xiao remove her hair accessories one by one, “Imperial Mother, Daughter has a piece of quality incense that can help Imperial Mother sleep better if it’s placed in the incense burner.”
“Oh? What incense is that?”
“It’s one that Daughter personally dried in the sun a while back. I had intended to give it to Imperial Mother long ago but kept forgetting.”
“Bring it over and let me have a sniff.”
“Alright.” Jing Xuan bade someone bring over a few pieces of the incense she had prepared.
Concubine Xiao put it under her nose and took a deep breath, “Mn, it’s rather fragrant.”
“Daughter will place it in the incense burner then.”
She nodded.
Jing Xuan cut off a small piece and put it into the incense burner. After Concubine Xiao lay on the bed to rest, she moved the incense burner to the side of the bed. White tendrils of smoke drifted upwards from the gaps in the incense burner, filling the entire room with an indescribable light scent.
“This daughter shall not disturb Imperial Mother’s rest for any longer.”
“Mn.”
Concubine Xiao fell asleep.
Jing Xuan also backed out from the room softly. The moment the door closed, that innocent and guileless smiling face slowly turned dark and sinister.
She called for the maid that was responsible for lighting the incense for Concubine Xiao and pa.s.sed her the remaining pieces of incense, instructing her, “Imperial Mother said that she really likes this type of incense. In the future, light it for her every night and place it by her bed without fail. Do you understand?”
The little maid nodded, “Yes.”
Jing Xuan turned back to eye that set of doors. Her gaze seemed to tunnel through the wood and land squarely on Concubine Xiao who was lying on her bed.
After a long while, she turned around, straightened her back and walked forward, step by step. Her eyes were rimmed with red and glittering with tears. She hated her! She wished that she could take that woman’s life immediately! But there was no hurry. Slowly, slowly...
…
On the way back from the palace to Prince Yi’s estate, Chen Xiang and Ji Muqing sat face to face within the carriage. Neither of them looked happy.
It was silent for a long time before Ji Muqing scoffed and said, “Serves you right!”
“What does Younger Sister mean?”
“You were so smug thinking that you selected a good bracelet. Thankfully, evil receives bad karma and even the heavens won’t help you. Serves you right that the bracelet fell and broke.”
“You’re not much better than me. Your hairpin is also one that had been spoilt.”
“You…” Ji Muqing thought about it from another angle. She herself had a much higher status than the one sitting opposite. It would be beneath her dignity to split hairs with her. Thus, she smiled and said, “This consort is magnanimous and won’t argue with people like you.”
Pah! Chen Xiang felt stifled. So what if she had a good-looking face and received favor from the prince? In the end, she was merely a chess piece that didn’t have much value. Just like what Jing Yi said, once there was no need for her, she could be sacrificed at any time.
At that thought, she started getting angry again. However, her stomach suddenly felt uncomfortable and she started dry heaving.
Ji Muqing immediately sprang away. “What’s wrong with you? I didn’t hit you or scold you. Don’t try to blame me in front of His Highness.”
Chen Xiang didn’t answer her as she continued dry heaving. It was as if she had eaten too much!
Ji Muqing sneered at her and quickly pulled open the curtains and stuck her head out of the window.
After a while, Chen Xiang finally felt a little better. She pressed on her heaving chest as she tried to catch her breath. Unexpectedly, she smiled. That smile was brilliant and dazzling!
When she returned to the estate, she had someone summon a physician.
After the physician took her pulse, he hurriedly offered his congratulations. “Congratulations to the Side Consort. You’re blessed with a child!”
Chen Xiang’s eyes widened in surprise and pleasure. “Doctor, is that true? This consort is really pregnant?”
“This old man has many years of experience and can’t be wrong. From Side Consort’s pulse, it seems to be a little heir.” [1]
“A little heir?” Chen Xiang was delighted and cradled her stomach that had yet to start showing. “It’s a little heir, that’s great.” She finally had a chance to battle and change her fortune! Once she gave birth to this child, the position of Consort would be hers sooner or later. The position of Empress would also be hers.
The maids in the room all kneeled down. “Congratulations to the Side Consort for being blessed with a little heir.”
She ordered someone, “Quick, go inform His Highness.”
“Yes!” The little maid hurried over.
When Jing Yi heard that Chen Xiang was pregnant, he immediately tossed his books aside and hurried over. When he entered, he saw Chen Xiang get up. Just as she was about to bow in greeting, he stepped forward and held her arm to stop her. “There’s no need to stand on ceremony. Now that you are pregnant, you should sit properly.”
Jing Yi’s excitement was hard to conceal. The child in her stomach would be his future crown prince. This was one that carried the imperial bloodline; nothing would be allowed to happen to him.
[1] TLN: This cannot happen IRL. You can't tell from either the shape or the pulse. Tbh this little factoid is rare even in xianxia and the plot device tends to me more some magical kind of ultrasound but OK SUSPENSION OF BELIEF.