Chapter 57:

Everyone was worried, and Shen Layue was no exception.

Seeing everyone’s frightened expressions, the Empress Dowager nodded slightly at Madam Gui.

Madam Gui understood her meaning. “My ladies, please don’t worry. Nothing like this will happen again. Return to your quarters first. Doctors will come later to examine you all.”

“Yes,” came the chorus of replies.

Since the Empress Dowager clearly disliked what had happened, none of the ladies dared to stay.

Although all of them had shaky legs at this moment, they still had to leave, right?

Yun Lan supported Fu Jinyao, who was naturally treated differently from others now.

“Ahh—” Unexpectedly, Fu Jinyao tripped and fell heavily to the ground. Despite Yun Lan’s quick reflexes, she couldn’t grab Fu Jinyao in time.

“Heavens…” someone cried out from the crowd.

“Oh no, my baby, save my baby…” Fu Jinyao screamed desperately.

A stream of bright red blood flowed down from her thighs.

“Call the imperial physician! Hurry and call the imperial physician…”

In an instant, Huici Palace descended into chaos once more.

No one could figure out how this had happened.

But some people with ulterior motives secretly rejoiced upon seeing the blood, because this likely meant Fu Jinyao would lose her child…

The scene had already been slightly chaotic due to Zhou Anying’s earlier assassination attempt, and no one knew exactly how Fu Jinyao had fallen or what had happened.

The Empress Dowager glared coldly at several people—those who had stood closest to Fu Jinyao.

Concubine De, Consort Qi, Concubine Li, the Bai sisters…

If Fu Jinyao had indeed been tripped, it must have been one of these people nearest to her.

By now, the Empress Dowager had arrived and Fu Jinyao had been carried to a side room for treatment. Still, the Empress Dowager continued to glare at those closest to Fu Jinyao, her eyes filled with hatred.

Regardless of how much she disliked Fu Jinyao, the child she carried was the Empress Dowager’s grandchild.

Elderly people generally delighted in having many descendants, and the Empress Dowager was no exception.

Everyone stood nervously, fearing they might be implicated.

Layue kept her head lowered and stood aside, but inwardly she pondered. This incident was strange and suspicious, unfolding in a chain of events. If Zhou Anying’s attack was the beginning, could Fu Jinyao’s accident be the next move?

And who exactly had orchestrated this elaborate scheme? Or had someone simply taken advantage of the situation following Zhou Anying’s actions?

The Empress Dowager sat with a stern expression. Six imperial physicians had just arrived, for this was a major event. Only one was left at the Imperial Academy of Medicine on duty, and another was treating Yun Xue, while the rest had all come here. Two physicians were treating Fu Jinyao inside, and after treating the Empress Dowager, Physician Wan proceeded to examine the other concubines in order of seniority.

Originally pale-faced and weak, seeing the Empress Dowager’s expression, they all understood that this matter could not end peacefully. They remained cautious and vigilant, fearing that a single misstep might incur the Empress Dowager’s displeasure and drag them into this mess.

Everyone had their own thoughts. Logically speaking, Fu Jinyao had fallen in such a strange posture—nobody was foolish enough to think it was accidental. If no one had tripped her, such a fall was simply impossible.

Everyone understood that during the earlier incident with Zhou Anying, only Fu Guipin’s maid, Yun Xue, had been injured. Others who fell had suffered no serious consequences.

This display, aside from being shocking, might also have been an attempt to gain the Emperor’s sympathy. Yet no one could have predicted that matters would take such a sudden turn.

Those close to Fu Guipin wore expressions of grievance and fear of being implicated, while those further away, aside from feeling relieved, eyed others with suspicion. Clearly, this had been deliberate—it was simply a question of identifying the culprit.

The Empress Dowager did not interrogate anyone but sat there silently, waiting for news from the inner room.

Some recalled Shen Layue’s previous incident and couldn’t help but feel even more fear toward the Empress Dowager.

“His Majesty the Emperor has arrived—”

The Emperor Jing wore a gloomy expression. Upon hearing of the chaos at Huici Palace immediately after court, how could his mood be anything but terrible?

Zhou Anying had attempted to assassinate a concubine, Fu Guipin was suspected of miscarriage—Huici Palace had become a scene of utter disorder.

How could such news reach his ears without provoking his fury?

“Your Majesty,” came the chorus of greetings.

He impatiently waved a hand and sat at the head seat, staring coldly at the group.

He coldly said, “Rise. All of you, go stand aside and behave yourselves.”

The Emperor clearly had no patience for these people.

He turned to Physician Wan and asked, “How is my mother?”

Physician Wan quickly replied, “Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is fine. She may have been slightly startled earlier, but I have thoroughly examined her. I will prescribe some calming medicine for her to take on schedule. There is no serious issue.”

“And the others?”

“Your Majesty, such an unexpected incident naturally frightened everyone. I have examined them all. Except for Concubine Xin, who has minor abrasions, the others, including the Empress Dowager, have similar symptoms—mainly due to excessive fright. Calming medicine should suffice.”

Perhaps because the physician mentioned Concubine Xin, she considered herself deserving of sympathy. Knowing the Emperor had previously shown her some favor, she spoke up with a pout, “Your Majesty, please help me seek justice…”

The Emperor glared at her coldly.

Concubine Xin flinched.

“Fu Guipin is gravely injured and receiving emergency treatment, yet here you are complaining to Us. Madam Gui, tell Us exactly what happened at the time,” the Emperor inquired, turning his gaze toward Madam Gui.

Madam Gui truthfully recounted everything that had happened, without omitting or exaggerating any details.

After listening, the Emperor looked at the group and asked coldly, “So Fu Guipin was not injured by Zhou Anying but was tripped by someone?”

No one spoke, all keeping their heads lowered obediently.

At this moment, denial would only seem suspicious.

Scanning the group, the Emperor asked Madam Gui again, “Has Zhou Anying been detained?”

“Yes. I have already arranged for her detention. Your Majesty may rest assured.”

The phrase “rest assured” was said lightly, but Layue detected an underlying meaning—Zhou Anying couldn’t even be allowed to die.

Thinking of Zhou Anying, Layue recalled their first meeting when she had been a mere Cairen, already following Consort Xian’s lead in arrogance and tyranny. A newly entered palace woman behaving like that was truly unlikable.

Later, she had become less conspicuous, though occasional rumors still reached Layue—mostly about her mistreatment of maids and eunuchs.

Yet no one expected her to go so far as to attempt murder, risking her family’s safety just to kill Fu Jinyao. Layue firmly believed that Zhou Anying must have been manipulated by someone behind the scenes.

If Zhou Anying truly hated anyone in the palace, it should have been Layue herself, yet she had targeted Fu Jinyao instead. Now that Fu Jinyao was pregnant, she naturally became the target of jealousy.

Who was the real mastermind behind Zhou Anying?

Layue dared not delve too deeply. At this moment in Huici Palace, everyone should be cautious, and the Emperor seemed to be observing everyone’s expressions and behaviors. She absolutely could not reveal any suspicion.

She refused to become someone else’s scapegoat.

The women in the harem were far more complicated and calculating than she had imagined.

The Emperor rested his hand on the armrest, tapping it repeatedly, seemingly anxiously awaiting news of Fu Jinyao’s condition.

No one dared to speak, fearing they might be blamed.

Concubine Xin had indeed fallen, suffering minor abrasions on her arms and legs, and had been quite anxious earlier, making her condition worse. She swayed slightly.

When the Emperor’s gaze turned to her, Concubine Xin immediately began to cry, giving him a pitiful look.

“Annoying! Are you done yet? I am concerned about Noble Consort Fu’s condition, yet you are here pretending to be distressed to curry my favor. I see right through you—what are your true intentions? Such behavior is utterly despicable. Demote her to a servant.”

Upon hearing this, Concubine Xin immediately collapsed to the ground, and this time, her tears were genuinely for herself.

“Your Majesty…”

“Get out. Kneel at the entrance.”

Concubine Xin—no, now merely Servant Xin—never expected such a fate. She had been injured and expected sympathy, yet she ended up like this. She dared not argue, knowing the Emperor was in a rage and a single misstep might provoke even harsher punishment.

Stumbling to the entrance, Servant Xin knelt immediately.

At this moment, she dared not say anything more.

Everyone knew that one must not provoke the Emperor’s anger or attempt to attract his attention, yet Concubine Xin had been unaware of this, indicating she was not particularly cunning. Still, even if she wasn’t clever, she wasn’t completely without guile. The Emperor’s actions today might lead her to blame Fu Guipin for her misfortune.

Layue inwardly sneered. Look, this was how men were—how an emperor was—even if he seemed anxious and deeply concerned about Fu Jinyao, he could still find time to create enemies and obstacles for Fu Jinyao. How amusing.

Love was indeed cheap to him.

Inside, the silence was so complete that even the sound of a needle dropping could be heard. Everyone waited—waited for Fu Jinyao’s fate and that of the child.

Unlike others’ performances, Layue’s eyes held genuine sorrow. Regardless of anything, the child was innocent.

Thinking of the child she had lost in her previous life, Layue’s grief deepened.

From that moment on, she had given up on Emperor Jing completely.

As for Fu Jinyao, would she see through all this?