TICIEC Chapter 82.2

The following day, the first day of the eighth lunar month, everyone gathered at Jingxi Palace.

Zhuang Fei has been in low spirits lately and has taken sick leave. Song Xuanshi is under house arrest, Shun Pin is staying behind closed doors, and Wen Meiren has also sent her personal maid to request leave.

“Please inform the Empress Dowager that my Master is pregnant and unwell, so she is resting in the palace. His Majesty has decreed that she is exempt from paying her respects.”

A cold glint flashed in Shu Fei’s eyes.

Wen Meiren was confined to her palace for half a month before, which prevented her from discovering her pregnancy immediately.

Now, Wen Meiren had reported to the Emperor, received someone sent by the Emperor to take care of her, and, like Shun Pin, stayed behind closed doors to nurture her pregnancy—she was quite shrewd.

Shu Fei, adopting the demeanor of a principal wife, smiled and said, “It is truly a joyous occasion for our royal family that Wen Meiren is pregnant. Let her rest and prepare for her pregnancy. I will inform the Empress Dowager on her behalf.”

“Thank you, Your Highness!” The palace maid bowed and withdrew.

Xue Meiren immediately looked at Ning Wanyin with concern: “Ning Jieyu, Wen Meiren and Song Xuanshi have both become pregnant, but you, who are His Majesty’s favorite, have yet to conceive. Is there something wrong with your health? Have you consulted the imperial physician?”

Ning Wanyin calmly stood up and said, “Your Majesty, I have always been in good health and have no discomfort. Perhaps it is just that the time has not yet come.”

“Is Ning Jieyu really not sick? Don’t be afraid to seek medical help.” Xue Meiren retorted.

Cen Jieyu also chimed in: “Given Ning Jieyu’s favor with the Emperor, the fact that she has been unable to conceive for so long, and excluding any health issues, suggests that she is destined to have few children and is not blessed with good fortune.”

That’s extremely malicious.

The primary duty of imperial concubines is to produce heirs for the royal family…

A woman who is unlucky and has no children is a useless person, and the emperor should not favor her so much.

Cen Jieyu is like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, usually silent, but suddenly lunging forward to bite.

Ning Wanyin looked at her and calmly retorted: “I am deeply grateful for His Majesty’s favor. How can I be considered unfortunate? Does Cen Jieyu perhaps think that His Majesty’s favor is not a blessing?”

Cen Jieyu’s face stiffened: “Your Majesty’s favor is a blessing. Perhaps you are unlucky and cannot bear such a blessing, which is why you have no children.”

“I’ve heard that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager became pregnant in her third year in the palace, and Her Highness the Noble Consort became pregnant in her fourth year. If you, Cen Jieyu, had given birth twenty years earlier, wouldn’t you have been gossiping about Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and Her Highness the Noble Consort behind their backs?” Ning Wanyin said, emphasizing each word.

Cen Jieyu’s face turned completely gloomy.

Ning Wanyin’s counterattack was clean and beautiful, leaving her completely speechless.

Jingxi Palace was quiet.

Shu Fei smiled and smoothed things over, “It’s getting late. Since everyone’s here, we should go and pay our respects to the Empress Dowager.”

The concubines arrived at Cining Palace and paid their respects to the Empress Dowager.

Shu Fei informed Empress Dowager Xue about Wen Meiren’s pregnancy.

Empress Dowager Xue said with a look of satisfaction, “Wen Meiren has borne children for the royal family and is a meritorious official of our Great Yan. Someone, bestow upon Wen Meiren the prayer beads that I had the monk consecrate and bless some time ago.”

The old nanny accepted the order and went to Ranfeng Pavilion with the prayer beads to deliver the gift.

“I remember that Ning Jieyu entered the palace together with Wen Meiren.”

Empress Dowager Xue’s gaze fell on Ning Wanyin, adopting the demeanor of a benevolent elder: “Don’t be impatient. With His Majesty’s great favor toward you, you will sooner or later be able to continue His Majesty’s lineage, just like Wen Meiren.”

Empress Dowager Xue’s methods were several levels above those of the younger generation.

Her seemingly comforting words, though meant to be helpful, implied that Ning Wanyin was anxious upon seeing Wen Meiren’s pregnancy.

If something happens to Wen Meiren during this pregnancy, everyone will naturally think of Ning Wanyin.

“This concubine is currently busy taking care of Shun Pin, so this concubine is not in a hurry. It’s a joyous occasion for all the sisters in the harem who are pregnant, and I feel the same joy in all of them.” Ning Wanyin replied with a smile.

Empress Dowager Xue’s eyes flashed; she was quite quick-witted.

 

 

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