Chapter 33: The Canary Captured by the Enemy Emperor 20

The Next Day.

When Jun Yuanming arrived, he brought an imperial physician—much older than the ones from yesterday, clearly someone specially invited.

Lin Muqing handed over the transcribed prescription. The old physician squinted as he read it.

“Greetings, Your Majesty.”

“Come, sit,” Jun Yuanming said, gently pulling Lin Muqing’s hand and sitting beside her.

“Do you feel any discomfort today?”

“No, everything’s fine. I even had two extra bowls of meat soup compared to yesterday.”

After reading the prescription, the imperial physician repeatedly praised it.

“Your Majesty, the herbs in this prescription are rare, but its effectiveness is truly outstanding. The formulation harmonizes all five organs, easing most pregnancy-related discomfort, which usually stems from internal imbalances. This recipe cleverly avoids any harm to the fetuses—truly ingenious.”

“I can guarantee it: Consort Lin can safely deliver the imperial heirs! Your Majesty should begin training midwives and wet nurses.”

The physician trembled with excitement, still clutching the prescription.

“No need for wet nurses. I don’t like them,” Lin Muqing said.

Jun Yuanming nodded in agreement. “If you dislike them, we won’t use them. There must be other ways.”

“In that case, Physician Chen will handle the training of midwives.”

“If you, Physician Lin, need any medicinal ingredients, you may get them directly from Eunuch Qin.”

“All right, Your Majesty,” the physician noted everything carefully.

Jun Yuanming then assigned ten new palace maids and a chef from the imperial kitchen to her service.

“When the Anhe Hall renovations are complete, Qing’er will move in. The Yangxin Hall is right next door, so I won’t have to walk far every day.”

Lin Muqing had heard that a palace near Yangxin Hall was being rebuilt, but she hadn’t realized it was being prepared for her.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

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In the days that followed, Lin Muqing didn’t step foot outside Shuyu Palace.

The palace was heavily guarded by the Imperial Guard, and rumors quickly spread.

The most scandalous rumor was that Consort Lin had committed a crime and was being quietly imprisoned by the Emperor.

The palace’s other consorts and beauties redoubled their efforts to seduce Jun Yuanming.

He often encountered them “coincidentally,” bringing soup and food, mimicking the ways Lin Muqing had once won his favor.

But Jun Yuanming, who had once brought foreign beauties home just to appease the court and his mother, now found himself completely uninterested. His heart was full of Lin Muqing—more than ever before.

To him, the other consorts were just political tools forced upon him by the court. He avoided them completely, turning away every time.

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Lin Muqing’s daily routine became a cycle of eating, sleeping, playing mahjong with the palace maids, and regularly drinking her pregnancy tonic.

Meanwhile, the imperial court grew increasingly busy. Jun Yuanming only returned late at night.

She occasionally overheard that the Left Chancellor had fallen from grace—demoted and sent to Jingzhou. The Minister of Rites had retired. The Grand Marshal had been caught embezzling large sums.

Several lower officials were also removed, but young and capable replacements were quickly found.

A massive political reshuffling was underway.

After three months, her pregnancy could no longer be hidden. During the Mid-Autumn Flower Banquet, her appearance stunned the entire palace.

The banquet was held in the main hall, attended by court officials, their wives and daughters, the Emperor’s consorts, and the Empress Dowager.

It felt to her like some disguised beauty pageant.

As Lin Muqing entered, flanked by palace maids and guards, the other consorts stared in wide-eyed shock. Their expressions turned sour with jealousy, though they forced smiles.

Her belly was now very prominent—proof that her pregnancy was stable.

“Consort Lin is really pregnant, and not just newly pregnant! His Majesty kept this hidden so well!” Consort Wan shredded her handkerchief in rage, her eyes fixed on the radiant and serene Lin Muqing. Pregnant and still so beautiful—like some vixen.

“So what if she’s pregnant?” Consort Yun said in a sweet voice, though her tone held a sharp edge.

“Congratulations on your pregnancy, Consort Lin.”

Seeing the two consorts approach, Lin Muqing smiled politely. “Greetings, Consort Wan. Greetings, Consort Yun. Forgive me for not bowing—my condition makes it difficult.”

The other lower-ranked ladies didn’t even dare approach her.

The Empress Dowager arrived with Jun Yuanming.

From afar, she spotted Lin Muqing and immediately noticed her protruding belly. She almost thought she was seeing things.

She stumbled and grabbed her son’s arm, voice trembling in excitement:
“Yuan’er! Is Consort Lin pregnant?!”

“Yes. Empress Dowager, be careful—don’t twist your ankle when we go over,” Jun Yuanming replied, shaking his head helplessly.

“Good! Very good!” the Empress Dowager said, eagerly rushing over to Lin Muqing.

“Greetings, Empress Dowager.”

“No need for formalities. You’re pregnant—stand up,” the Empress Dowager said kindly, her eyes full of affection. She had never looked so delighted.

Lin Muqing felt a little overwhelmed. All the ladies present turned their eyes toward her—some envious, some admiring.

The Empress Dowager even helped her up personally.

“How many months? Looks like six?” she asked, trying to keep her excitement in check.

Lin Muqing whispered, “It’s a multiple pregnancy, so it’s a bit larger.”

“What?!” The Empress Dowager nearly lost her composure. “Consort Lin, about what happened before… I was misled. Please don’t take it to heart.”

Lin Muqing nodded.

Suddenly, a haughty young girl sneered loudly:

“With such a big belly… are we sure the child is even His Majesty’s?”

The wife of a Hanlin Academy scholar gasped and immediately covered the girl’s mouth in panic.