Chapter 89: A Deformed Child

Consort Wu endured the pain as she sat up, tears streaming down her face as she cried out, “Your Majesty, weren’t you the one who knew best whether the Empress was falsely accused back then?”

Now that the Empress was dead, even if she had been wronged, the Emperor would never admit it. Doing so would mean he could no longer enjoy his harem without guilt.

Unless the Empress could come back to life.

But that was impossible.

Just as Consort Wu was lost in these thoughts, another sharp pain shot through her belly, causing her to scream out in agony.

The palace maids panicked. “Imperial physicians, hurry and check on Her Highness!”

One physician after another stepped forward to examine her. Then, turning to the Emperor, they reported, “Your Majesty, Consort Wu is about to give birth.”

The Emperor furrowed his brows upon hearing this. With a dismissive wave of his hand, he said coldly, “So be it. If the child cannot be saved, then it cannot be saved.”

Consort Wu felt even more heartbroken upon hearing these words. Overcome with sorrow and anger, she pushed with all her strength.

At that moment, the midwife arrived. Peering between Consort Wu’s legs, she gasped, “Ah! The baby’s head is crowning!”

The Emperor, unwilling to witness the birth, immediately left for a side chamber.

The delivery room soon filled with agonized screams. Not long after, the child was born.

But there was no cry.

Hearing the silence from outside, the Emperor knew at once what had happened.

The midwife, staring at the newborn in her arms, was utterly dumbfounded. A look of shock and horror crossed her face.

Consort Wu, weak and trembling, forced her eyes open and whispered, “How… how is my child?”

The midwife knelt with the child in her arms and replied, “Your Highness, the baby was too small and did not survive.”

Consort Wu’s already bloodless face turned vacant and hollow. After a long pause, she whispered again, “Was it a prince or a princess?”

Ever since she became pregnant, she had been taking special tonics to ensure she bore a prince. She had been certain of it. Even now, though the child was gone, she still wanted to know.

However, the midwife’s face darkened. “Your Highness… it’s best not to ask.”

Sensing something amiss, Consort Wu pressed, “Why can’t I ask?”

The midwife hesitated before lifting a corner of the baby’s swaddling cloth, frowning as she said, “I don’t know whether to call this child a prince… or a princess.”

As soon as she spoke, the Emperor—who had heard everything—rushed over and grabbed the baby.

One glance at the newborn’s ambiguous, malformed genitals made him recoil in horror. He hastily handed the child to an imperial physician. “What is the meaning of this?!”

The physician, who had already examined the child earlier, let out a long sigh and explained, “Your Majesty, this deformity was likely caused by the medicines Consort Wu consumed.”

Upon hearing this, Consort Wu immediately saw an opportunity. Clutching at the sheets, she cried out, “Your Majesty, you see? Someone must have plotted against me! Someone poisoned me! Your Majesty, please investigate!”

For a moment, the Emperor seemed moved.

But then, another physician spoke up. “Your Majesty, this child was originally meant to be a princess. However, due to certain medicinal influences, their development was altered. I have heard of a rumored drug that can supposedly turn a princess into a prince. If my guess is correct, Consort Wu must have taken such a substance, and that is why the child ended up like this.”

The Emperor’s face darkened as he turned to Consort Wu, his voice laced with fury. “Speak! Did you take this medicine?!”

Seeing that she was about to be exposed, Consort Wu immediately denied it. “Your Majesty, no! I did not! Someone must have set me up!”

The Emperor, not entirely convinced, turned to a palace maid and demanded, “Tell me—did the Consort take such medicine?!”

The young maid stole a fearful glance at Consort Wu before biting her lip and trembling as she replied, “Your Majesty, Her Highness did not take any such medicine.”

The Emperor’s anger slightly subsided. He then ordered his eunuch, “Go. Investigate immediately! I want to know if anyone in the palace has recently purchased this kind of medicine and who brought it in!”

The eunuch bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Watching the eunuch leave, Consort Wu felt a surge of panic in her heart. She silently prayed that the Emperor’s men would find nothing.

The Emperor, however, was already disgusted with her. He rose to his feet and left without another word.

Lying on the bed, Consort Wu remained tense with fear. Her body trembled from exhaustion and blood continued to seep from her.

The midwife, growing anxious, urgently tried to stop the bleeding while ordering the palace maids to prepare medicine.

Consort Wu stared down at her now-flat stomach, overwhelmed with hatred. She had planned to use this child to secure her position in the palace, yet now even that was gone.

The more she thought about it, the more furious she became. She slammed her fist against the bed and lashed out at the palace maids, berating them in anger.

The once-solemn delivery chamber soon turned chaotic.

Before long, news of Consort Wu’s unnatural childbirth spread like wildfire across the capital. Everyone in the city was talking about it—even Zhou Feng, who had just arrived.

Upon entering the capital, Zhou Feng was led by Master Fang to the bustling North Street, the most prosperous district in the city.

Unlike the common folk of Cheng’an County, those walking through North Street were dressed in luxurious silks and fine brocades. Many were noble sons and daughters from prestigious families.

Looking at the familiar surroundings, Zhou Feng was momentarily lost in nostalgia. Then, relying on his memory, he followed Master Fang and purchased a prime storefront.

In less than ten days, the Zhou family’s incense shop was officially opened.

On its very first day of business, Zhou Feng welcomed his first customer—Han Yan’er, the eldest daughter of General Han.

She was around the same age as Zhou Feng. The moment she stepped into the shop, her eyes locked onto the young shopkeeper before her.

Though his skin was tanned and a few moles dotted his face, his bright, clear eyes made it impossible for her to look away.

“I don’t believe I’ve seen you before. Where are you from?” Han Yan’er asked as she picked up a bottle of scented dew.