20demayo Chapter 499: Adopting Hongming
Chapter 499: Adopting Hongming
"I will obey your orders and be careful in what I say and do."
Li Songling bowed his head respectfully and nodded repeatedly.
He knew very well that this matter was of great importance and would cause an uproar if leaked.
The emperor was silent for a moment, as if thinking about something.
Then he waved his hand, signaling Li Songling to leave.
The emperor spoke suddenly after reviewing three memorials.
"Su Peisheng, what do you think about this?"
"Your Majesty, this servant...this servant..."
The concubines used medicine to help them get pregnant and used themselves to nourish the fetus in their wombs. This was indeed against the will of heaven, but the master had few children.
How should I put it about this matter?
In the end, the person who suffers the most harm is undoubtedly the woman who is pregnant. However, if the information is accidentally leaked, the master will most likely be the target of criticism from the censors.
The emperor had obviously thought of this as well. His dark eyes were fixed on Su Peisheng, forcing him to speak.
"Master, the idea of using medicine to pray for a child is merely Doctor Li's speculation. I believe the most urgent task is to send someone to thoroughly investigate the authenticity of this matter to prevent any conspiracy behind it. I should also order the doctor to carefully care for the three pregnant ladies and ensure the smooth birth of the royal heir."
The emperor nodded, obviously agreeing with Su Peisheng's proposal.
"Okay, you will personally arrange for a group of trustworthy people to take care of the three pregnant concubines. Remember to prioritize the protection of the royal heir."
This was the decision he made after weighing the pros and cons.
Competition for favor in the harem is common. No matter how these three people obtained the drugs, they are pregnant with his own children after all.
The emperor couldn't bear to see these children lose their mothers at birth, so he could only hold his nose and let people take care of them.
"There's no need to send a message to Noble Consort Hua for now. Noble Consort Shu is gentle and graceful, so please tell her to look after Consort Hui, Noble Lady He, and Xi Yingying, and make sure the Imperial Household Department doesn't run out of money."
"Yes, I will do it right away."
Su Peisheng had been gone for about half a minute when the emperor waved towards the curtain behind him.
"Xia Qian, send someone to the town Li Songling mentioned to investigate and see if it's true. Also, send someone to keep an eye on Li Songling. If he makes any unusual moves, execute him on the spot."
"Yes, Wei Chen obeys your order."
Xia Qi's figure disappeared in a flash like a ghost, as if it had never appeared.
The emperor sat on the dragon throne and rubbed his eyebrows irritably, thinking about the source of the medicine used by the three people.
The dates on which the three of them became pregnant were not much different, so they must have taken the pills in the garden.
It is not yet certain whether it was voluntary or someone drugged him.
His hand accidentally brushed over several purses hanging around his waist, and his eyes stopped on a purse that was painted purple.
Lingyun Peak's Concubine Wan is also pregnant. Could she have used the same medicine?
Then he rejected this sudden idea.
Zhen Yuandao and his family were exiled to Ningguta, and Concubine Wan had never left the area of Ganlu Temple, so it was impossible for her to have come into contact with such poisonous pills.
Furthermore, Cui Jinxi said that Wanpin was ill all the time because she did not take good care of herself after the confinement and was abused by the abbot.
After the emperor felt relieved, he began to deal with the mountain of memorials.
Less than half an hour later, Su Peisheng, who had conveyed the imperial edict in the Imperial Hospital, hurried to Yongshou Palace.
"Your servant pays respects to Her Majesty Shu Guifei."
"Eunuch Su, please stand up. I heard that you accidentally fell and injured yourself. Now seeing how you look, perhaps you are not seriously injured, right?"
An Lingrong smiled and raised her hand to motion him to sit down.
Su Peisheng replied with a smile.
"Thank you for your concern, my servant is fine now."
"Today, Imperial Physician Li went to the Yangxin Palace to request an audience and frankly stated that the three pregnant ladies were weak. The Emperor specifically requested that Concubine Shu take extra care of them."
Su Peisheng lowered his voice and added quickly, "The East Six Palaces are a place of controversy. Your Majesty, please proceed with caution."
"I understand. Thank you, Eunuch Su, for your advice."
An Lingrong took out a small purse from the drawer of the small table and handed it over.
"It's hot outside. Thank you, Eunuch Su, for coming all the way here to bring me some cold tea to cool me down."
After seeing Su Peisheng off, An Lingrong called Baoque to her side.
"Su Peisheng revealed that the three pregnant women in the East Six Palaces are weak. The Jiang brothers checked the pulses of Noble Lady He and Xi Yingying. Has there been any news from the Yikun Palace?"
"Master, there is no movement yet."
Bao Que thought for a moment, "But today is the day Jiang Cheng goes to Yikun Palace to take the pulse. I'm sure I'll get a message from Concubine Hua before dinner."
"Okay, I understand. Li Songling must have something extraordinary to succeed Zhang Wuwei as the Emperor's personal physician. Relay Su Peisheng's words and have Sister Nian use the excuse of worrying about the Emperor's heir to thoroughly interrogate the Jiang brothers."
An Lingrong whispered an order.
She had previously felt that it was inexplicably strange that four women became pregnant one after another. If Prince Guo had given them medicine to force them to become pregnant, then everything would make sense.
Prince Guo and his mother are really good at scheming.
This medicine?
The subordinates had reported that although Prince Guo had a palace doctor in his mansion, he brought back a doctor named Gou.
To outsiders, it seemed that Ye Lanyi had a miscarriage because she received bad news, but An Lingrong knew that was not the case.
Ye Lan Yi had long regarded the baby in her belly as her only support, and she would never be too sad for Prince Guo who had broken her heart!
There is a big problem with that Doctor Gou!
An Lingrong nodded to Xiao Linzi, and soon he left the palace on his master's orders.
Doctor Gou, who was being cared for by An Lingrong, was lying in a dark cellar covered in blood, screaming in a hoarse voice.
"How bold of you! Do you know who I belong to?"
"Cough cough cough..."
A warm feeling surged in his throat, which had not seen water for several days, and Doctor Gou quickly pressed it back with force.
He was clearly still treating Concubine Ye a few days ago, so how come he was in a different place the moment he opened his eyes?
"Help! Is there anyone here?"
No matter how Dr. Gou screamed, no one responded.
Ye Lanyi signaled Dongxue to lift the board on the cellar and threw a shaking bag down with her own hands.
"From now on, throw a bag of rats down there every day to serve Doctor Gou. Remember not to get bitten."
"Yes, the servant understands."
Dongxue supported Ye Lanyi, who was so thin that she had difficulty walking, and persuaded her with concern.
"Master, the old doctor left a prescription for recuperation before he left. How about you follow it?"
"Dongxue, it's not the right time yet. Have you delivered the memorial I wrote to the palace?"
Ye Lanyi stared at the golden sunlight with red eyes.
Prince Guo's mansion was not a blessed place. Not only did she fail to keep the child, but she also damaged her body, making it extremely difficult for her to have children in the future.
As Yu Ying'er said, the best way at the moment is to adopt a child from a poor relative to provide her with support.
"Master, our people sent the memorial in two days ago. I guess you will receive the news in the next two days."
Dongxue was not sure whether the memorial would be delivered to the emperor's desk, so she could only comfort her master in this way.
"The Guojun Prince's Mansion is so deserted these days. I will personally go to the palace gate to ask for an audience tomorrow."
Ye Lanyi had never told anyone that ever since she started thinking about adoption, she had an inexplicable sense of urgency in her heart that this matter had to be settled as soon as possible.
The next day, she waited outside the palace for almost an hour before Su Peisheng ran out in a hurry.
"Concubine Ye, the Emperor has granted your request...Prince Rong has a grandson, Prince Hongming, who is honest and respectful...He has been specially adopted by the prince and will be raised by you."
Ye Lanyi knelt down tremblingly and shouted loudly in the direction of the Yangxin Palace.
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty. Ye will definitely educate Prince Hongming with all his heart."