Chapter 33

Jun Zechen held Su Jingyao’s hand and led her into Taihe Hall.

By then, the hall was already filled with guests. However, the Emperor could not attend due to illness.

The Empress sat gracefully at the highest seat, while the Crown Princess sat quietly on the other side, but her position was slightly lower in comparison.

Jun Zechen bowed respectfully. “Your son greets Mother.”

Su Jingyao was about to follow suit when the Empress smiled warmly and said, “You are pregnant, no need for formalities.”

Su Jingyao smiled gently and nodded. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Her maid, Miaoyun, carefully helped her take a seat below the Crown Princess.

At this banquet, the concubines of the Eastern Palace sat below the Crown Princess, while the invited imperial concubines sat below the Empress.

Apart from the women, many princes were also present.

Jun Zechen, standing tall and dignified, took the highest seat. Then, he raised his cup and officially announced the start of the banquet.

“Today is my birthday, and we gather here as a family. I hope everyone enjoys the celebration.”

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone raised their cups and said in unison, “Wishing Your Highness great fortune and a happy birthday.”

After that, they all took a sip of wine.

Soon, the hall was filled with the music and dance performances carefully arranged by the Crown Princess. This banquet had been organized by the Empress’s trusted aide, Madam Jinhua, to assist the Crown Princess.

The melodies were elegant, and the dances were graceful—truly a performance of the highest standard.

However, since most guests were used to seeing palace dances, they did not show much excitement.

The Empress occasionally whispered to the concubines, sometimes asking about Su Jingyao’s condition, but she never spared even a glance at the Crown Princess.

Ling Yue sat quietly beside the Crown Prince, her expression showing a hint of loneliness.

She knew very well—her mother-in-law still did not like her.

As the banquet went on, the maid beside Tang Suxi, Qiaoshan, frowned tightly, her face full of worry. She bent down and whispered something…

Lowering her voice, Qiao Shan asked worriedly, “Mistress, what’s wrong?”

Sitting next to Tang Suxi, Shangguan Yi heard Qiao Shan’s words and turned to look at Tang Suxi.

At that moment, Tang Suxi’s brows were tightly furrowed, her once rosy face had turned as pale as paper, and tiny beads of sweat were forming on her forehead, rolling down one after another.

Before Shangguan Yi could think further, Tang Suxi suddenly closed her eyes and fainted straight away.

Qiao Shan, who was beside her, quickly reached out to support her before she completely collapsed.

Shangguan Yi didn’t want to get involved in any trouble, but seeing Tang Suxi in such a state, she had no choice but to step forward and report, “Your Highness, Your Majesty, Tang Fengyi has fainted.”

The people at the high table immediately turned their gaze toward Tang Fengyi upon hearing Shangguan Yi’s words.

The Empress didn’t have much of an impression of Tang Suxi since her status was low, but she did remember choosing Tang Fengyi for the Eastern Palace.

Feeling impatient, she hoped these women wouldn’t cause trouble during her son’s birthday banquet.

She signaled her chief palace maid with a glance. The palace maid understood immediately and, along with other maids, carefully helped Tang Fengyi to the side hall to rest.

The Crown Prince frowned and ordered, “Summon the imperial physician!”

The Crown Princess looked confused and concerned. Why did she suddenly faint?

Imperial Physician Li rushed over quickly. As soon as he checked Tang Suxi’s pulse, he was shocked.

Tang Fengyi was pregnant!

But she also showed signs of a miscarriage!

For such an incident to happen at the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet, who would dare to do something so bold?

The Empress’s chief palace maid was also shocked upon hearing that Tang Fengyi was pregnant and in danger of losing the baby. She hurried back to report to the Empress.

With this unexpected situation, the Empress had no choice but to hastily conclude the banquet. She announced the end of the gathering and led everyone to the side hall.

Before leaving, she specifically instructed Su Jingyao to take the sedan chair back to Xiyan Hall, considering her advanced pregnancy.

The Crown Prince sat quietly by the bed, his gaze fixed on Tang Fengyi’s pale face. His expression was complicated and unreadable.

“Imperial Physician Li, why is Tang Fengyi like this?”

The Crown Prince’s voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority.

“Your Highness, Tang Fengyi is two months pregnant. Normally, the pregnancy should be stable, but she might have accidentally eaten something too cold tonight,” Imperial Physician Li respectfully replied.

Qiao Shan quickly stepped forward, anxious and worried. “Imperial Physician, my mistress didn’t eat anything unusual tonight, just some pastries.”

“What kind of pastries? Let me take a look,” the physician requested.

Qiao Shan brought over a plate of pastries. Imperial Physician Li picked one up and took a small bite.

The moment he tasted it, his brows furrowed deeply, and his face turned serious.

“Your Majesty, Your Highness, this pastry is made from coix seed and contains crab and turtle meat, all of which are unsuitable for pregnant women.”

“Crabs and turtles are cold-natured and can cause miscarriage, while coix seed can trigger contractions. Even though Tang Fengyi ate only a small amount, she is now in great danger,” he explained gravely.

“I will immediately prepare an herbal remedy to stabilize the pregnancy,” the physician added before hurrying off.

The Empress’s face darkened as she turned her sharp gaze toward the Crown Princess.

In a stern voice, she demanded, “Crown Princess, all the food at this banquet was reviewed by you. How could such cold-natured pastries be served? Even if you were unaware of Tang Fengyi’s pregnancy, Su Jingyao is heavily pregnant—how could such food be allowed?”

The Crown Princess’s face turned pale at the Empress’s questioning. She quickly knelt down to admit her mistake.

“Mother, this was my oversight, but these pastries were suggested to me by An Liangdi.”

Hearing this, An Jingyan’s expression immediately turned nervous.

“Your Majesty, Your Highness, I have been eating these pastries daily for the past two weeks. When the Crown Princess was planning the menu, I merely mentioned them.”

“These pastries are rare and delicately made. Even Your Highness once praised their taste when visiting my palace. I truly did not know they were harmful to pregnant women,” she added, her eyes brimming with tears, looking pitifully at the Crown Prince and the Empress.

An Jingyan knew very well that these pastries were dangerous for pregnant women.

That’s why, after the Crown Princess finalized the banquet menu, she deliberately brought them up during a courtesy visit.

She specifically praised how precious these pastries were and how much the Crown Prince enjoyed them.

As expected, since the Crown Princess had been trying to please the Crown Prince lately, she included them in the menu.

Because they were added later, they were not reviewed by the imperial physicians.

After all, ingredients like turtle meat were seen as valuable nourishing foods among the nobility. The Crown Princess had never been pregnant before and was not meticulous in such matters, so she hadn’t considered the consequences.

While the Empress and the Crown Prince frowned slightly, deep in thought, An Jingyan continued in a soft and pitiful voice,

“Your Majesty, Your Highness, since entering the Eastern Palace, I have not been particularly close with Tang Fengyi and truly did not know she was pregnant.”

“But for the past two months, the Crown Princess has spent much time with her…”

She didn’t finish her sentence, but the implication was clear.

She didn’t know about Tang Fengyi’s pregnancy, but the Crown Princess might have known.

The Empress immediately caught the hidden meaning in her words and turned her sharp gaze toward the Crown Princess.

As the one managing the Eastern Palace’s household affairs, could the Crown Princess really be unaware of Tang Fengyi’s pregnancy?

“Crown Princess, did you truly not know that Tang Fengyi was pregnant?” the Empress asked sternly.

At that moment, Ling Yue suddenly realized—this was all An Jingyan’s scheme!

Ling Yue knew that Tang Fengyi was pregnant. Since Tang Fengyi had a grudge against An Liangdi, she came to Ling Yue for help, asking her to hide her pregnancy. Ling Yue agreed.

After all, she also had a grudge against An Liangdi. If she could use Tang Fengyi to deal with An Liangdi without having to act herself, why not?

Originally, Ling Yue knew that Tang Fengyi planned to create trouble for An Liangdi tonight. However, since it was the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet, Ling Yue didn’t want to ruin the event. So, she told Tang Fengyi to wait until after the banquet to act.

But unexpectedly, An Jinyan seemed to have already known about Tang Fengyi’s pregnancy. She had even set up a trap in advance, waiting for them to fall into it.

Now, the only thing Ling Yue could do was deny everything.

Kneeling on the floor, her gaze remained firm. She gritted her teeth and said, “Mother, I truly did not know that Tang Fengyi was pregnant.”

The Empress had been managing the harem for years. If she wanted to investigate, she would definitely uncover the truth.

Just then, the Empress’s head maid walked in, slightly bowing her head in respect.

She spoke respectfully, “Your Majesty, we found these medicine dregs in Tang Fengyi’s residence.”

An Jinyan, seeing the medicine dregs, was overjoyed inside. She knew her plan had worked.

Keeping her head lowered, a hint of smugness flashed in her eyes, and a faint, barely noticeable smile appeared on her lips.

Ever since she suspected Tang Fengyi was pregnant, she had secretly sent people to monitor her.

Sure enough, every few days, Tang Fengyi would drink a special herbal soup and bury the leftover dregs in the soil, thinking no one would notice.

But how could An Jinyan let go of such an opportunity? She had to make full use of it.

“Doctor Li, take a look. What kind of medicine is this?”

The Empress’s voice was cold and commanding. She slightly lifted her head, her sharp gaze landing on Doctor Li. Then, with a wave of her right hand, she signaled him to step forward.

Doctor Li hurried forward, bent down, and carefully examined the medicine dregs. He sniffed them and frowned.

After a moment, he straightened up and respectfully reported, “Your Majesty, this is the residue of a pregnancy-stabilizing medicine.”

The Empress’s gaze grew even colder and sharper as she turned to the Crown Princess.

“Crown Princess, what do you have to say for yourself?”

Ling Yue, still kneeling, felt panic rising in her heart. She bit her lip, trying to argue, “Mother, I truly did not know Tang Fengyi was drinking pregnancy medicine.”

The Empress sneered. “Do you think I am as foolish as you? Tang Fengyi has such a low status. Without someone helping her, how could she have hidden her pregnancy? Do you want me to check the imperial pharmacy’s records?”

Her voice grew even colder, every word carrying the weight of authority.

“You helped Tang Fengyi conceal her pregnancy, causing harm to an imperial heir. You are not worthy of being the Crown Princess!”

Her voice echoed throughout the hall, filled with anger and power. This was the Crown Prince’s second child, and now it was at risk.

Everyone in the room held their breath, too afraid to make a sound, fearing they might be caught in the Empress’s wrath.

Ling Yue had no more excuses. Her eyes turned red, tears welling up. The glistening tears seemed ready to fall at any moment.

She looked up, her gaze filled with pleading and helplessness, turning toward Jun Zechen.

Everything had happened so suddenly that Jun Zechen had not yet figured out the full truth.

But he had known Ling Yue for three years. He believed in her. He knew she would never harm his child, even if all the evidence pointed to her.

Looking at Ling Yue kneeling there, her desperate eyes stirred something in him.

He knew she had always been kind and pure, unable to match the cunning minds in the Eastern Palace.

No matter what, his heart still favored her.

Jun Zechen furrowed his brows slightly, just as he was about to speak in her defense—

A small eunuch from Xiyan Hall suddenly rushed in, his face full of anxiety.

“Your Highness, Concubine Su is experiencing stomach pain! Please, call Doctor Li immediately!”

The little eunuch bowed hastily, his voice urgent and filled with worry.