Chapter 105:  Competing for the Warm Pavilion

On the surface, Lady Wen reprimanded the palace maid, but her heart was full of anticipation.

When the Emperor placed her under house arrest, she was initially a little afraid.

But she gradually discovered that her treatment was very good, her food, clothing, and daily necessities remained the same, and even the silver thread charcoal used in winter was only available to concubines with a rank of Lady Zhao or above…

She gradually understood that the Emperor valued her fetus very much! He had not neglected her!

However, only the main palace could raise children, she was just a mere concubine, even if she gave birth to this child, it wouldn’t be raised by her.

She had already been promoted once for the merit of being pregnant.

Unless the Emperor was willing to make an exception and promote her beyond Lady Jieyu and Lady Zhao, to Lady Pin.

Otherwise, if the child was raised by another concubine, wouldn’t she be giving birth for someone else?

Lady Wen thought about it and decided to test the waters for her own future.

If the Emperor was willing to make an exception and promote her…

She could use this as an excuse to be promoted to Lady Pin and move into the main palace!

“Order the Internal Affairs Department to prepare more braziers for Yanfeng Pavilion.” Helian Qi said coldly.

He saw through Lady Wen’s intentions at a glance.

He had no intention of giving the child to someone else to raise, he could make an exception and let the child stay with her.

But he didn’t want to promote her rank.

“Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty!” Lady Wen’s plan was foiled, she was furious in her heart, but she could only thank him on the surface.

Helian Qi, to prevent her from causing trouble with her body again, reminded her, “You are working hard to conceive the imperial heir, I know how difficult it is for you. So, after you give birth, whether it’s a prince or a princess, I allow the child to continue to be raised by you.”

Lady Wen was surprised, her eyes filled with joy, “Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!”

She was very disappointed that she couldn’t be promoted to Lady Pin!

But the child would stay by her side, she would have someone to rely on for the rest of her life, and she could also use the child to win favor…

“You should rest well…” Helian Qi finished his instructions and turned to leave.

Lady Wen suddenly said, “I heard that Your Majesty built a warm pavilion for Lady Ning, unfortunately, I’m pregnant now, it’s not convenient to go out, otherwise, I would really like to go and take a look…”

The palace maid who was kneeling on the ground suddenly kowtowed to Ning Wanyin, “Lady Ning, please be kind, our Lady’s body can’t withstand the cold, it’s freezing cold now, besides the main palace, only Lingxue Pavilion has a warm pavilion… Please be considerate of our Lady…”

Lady Wen was very satisfied.

This new palace maid from the Internal Affairs Department was very close to her, she could understand her subtext everywhere.

Since she couldn’t be promoted to Lady Pin, then she would take Ning Wanyin’s warm pavilion…

This shouldn’t violate the rules, right?

She was pregnant, who wouldn’t give way to her?

“The warm pavilion is a gift from His Majesty, this concubine cannot decide, everything depends on His Majesty’s arrangement.” Ning Wanyin said calmly, looking at Helian Qi.

She could certainly find reasons to refuse Lady Wen.

But if the Emperor sincerely wanted to give the warm pavilion to Lady Wen, it wouldn’t matter what she said.

Everything in this palace was a gift from the Emperor. He could give it, and he could take it away.

Ning Wanyin had always been clear, she only possessed it temporarily.

Nothing truly belonged to her.

Helian Qi was speechless towards Lady Wen.

You’re testing whether you can be promoted to Lady Pin, considering that you don’t want to be separated from your child, I don’t hold it against you, and I’ve made a promise.

But you can’t get the main palace, so you want to take Ning Wanyin’s warm pavilion?

If all the concubines with lower ranks who are pregnant are as troublesome as you, wouldn’t…

Helian Qi was disgusted by such greedy people.

“The warm pavilion in Lingxue Pavilion was built by me temporarily, it was rushed and not satisfactory. It’s not as warm as your brazier, just stay here and take good care of yourself, don’t make a fuss.” Helian Qi casually refused, his reason was perfunctory.

Wang Degui listened silently. The warm pavilion in Lingxue Pavilion, according to His Majesty’s instructions, was built exactly like the warm pavilion in the main palace, and the furnishings were even more luxurious…

Lady Wen was annoyed in her heart, but she could only say, “Your Majesty, this concubine has no such intention… It’s just that this palace maid is too protective, please forgive her, Your Majesty…”

Seeing that Helian Qi was not indulging Lady Wen, Ning Wanyin understood that he disliked Lady Wen’s behavior, and she announced loudly:

“Lady Wen’s palace maid is loyal and devoted. However, she is not attentive in her service, causing Lady Wen to catch a cold…”

Then, Ning Wanyin looked at Helian Qi and said:

“This concubine thinks that this palace maid should be rewarded and punished. Otherwise, if someone else is not diligent in their duties and is careless, I’m afraid they will harm Lady Wen again.”

Helian Qi nodded in agreement, “You make a good point. Someone, drag this palace maid away and give her twenty strokes of the cane. In consideration of her loyalty, reward her with one hundred taels of silver.”

“Your Majesty…” Lady Wen’s face changed slightly.

But Wang Degui had already swiftly ordered people to drag the kneeling palace maid away.

Helian Qi looked at Lady Wen, every word was a warning: “Take good care of yourself.”

If she caused trouble again using the safety of the imperial heir, he wouldn’t punish the palace maid anymore.

After Helian Qi dealt with the matter, he returned to Lingxue Pavilion with Ning Wanyin.

State affairs were busy in the court, and the palace concubines were troublesome, only when he was with Ning Wanyin did he feel at ease.

Sitting quietly with her, playing a game of chess, or chatting casually, made him feel comfortable.

This was also the reason why Helian Qi often came to Lingxue Pavilion.

Ning Wanyin was like a cup of calming tea, making him feel peaceful without realizing it.

Although he didn’t love her, he gradually got used to coming to her.

Helian Qi didn’t know that getting used to being alone was actually a very scary thing.

The next morning, Helian Qi went to court.

Lianrui couldn’t help but sigh:

“Master, during the time of the previous Emperor, only the main palace concubines could raise the imperial heir, His Majesty is so kind and considerate of the mother-child relationship, I wonder if it’s because he was separated from the late Empress Dowager since childhood, so he doesn’t want his own child to leave his mother? Now this servant doesn’t have to worry about your rank being insufficient…”

Although her master was not far from the rank of Lady Pin, wasn’t she still a little short?

Ning Wanyin said calmly, “This is a favor for the Wen family.”

How could the Emperor be sentimental? Even if he had suffered the pain of being separated from his mother since childhood, he wouldn’t let this affect his arrangements for the prince.

The matter of the imperial heir was related to the foundation of the country.

His every word and action must be based on interests.

Appealing to his emotions could not fail to move the Emperor, but only for unimportant matters.

“Ah? Then Master, you…” Lianrui thought this was a privilege everyone could have.

It turned out it was specifically for the Wen family.

“Don’t worry about me, His Majesty will definitely give me this favor, but it’s not necessary so soon.” Ning Wanyin was not in a hurry, and she remembered another matter:

“Counting the time, Lady Shun’s due date is a month away. Some things should be prepared. Lianrui, go brew a pot of ginseng tea, and take me to pay my respects to His Majesty later.”

…

The day after the first snow, news of Lady Shun’s fall spread throughout the six palaces.

It was said that Lady Shun, while enjoying the snow, accidentally slipped and fell to the ground, causing her to have a miscarriage, and it seemed like she was about to give birth prematurely.