Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved
Chapter 302: I Want to Give Birth to a Young Prince for You

Chapter 302: Chapter 302: I Want to Give Birth to a Young Prince for You

Divine Doctor Zhai didn’t mention that Consort Qin’s control over Xiao Jiu was obviously to gain Jun Yuyan’s support in the palace. This was a threat, and surely Ah Jiu would suffer for it.

"Don’t we have you and the Prince? I believe in you two."

Murong Jiu said with a smile brimming in her eyes, not wanting them to worry too much about her health.

At that moment, Kai Xuan ran back from outside, and as soon as he returned, he began to circle Murong Jiu, shaking his head and wagging his tail. He was usually very aloof with others, but whenever he faced Murong Jiu, he behaved like an exuberantly playful dog.

He had grown a lot; Yang Shan took him hunting in the mountains every day, and he had just returned from one such excursion.

However, no sooner had he circled around Murong Jiu once than he suddenly stopped, his nose twitching rapidly before he started to nuzzle her leg anxiously with it.

He smelled the poison on her.

Murong Jiu crouched down and touched his fluffy head, "Kai Xuan really understands human nature; his nose is even sharper than a dog’s."

Divine Doctor Zhai also marveled.

"An ordinary court physician, even after taking your pulse, wouldn’t notice anything. But Kai Xuan, merely with his sense of smell, can detect it. He truly is exceptional."

"There now, Kai Xuan, don’t worry, there will be a way."

Murong Jiu vigorously rubbed Kai Xuan’s head. This little guy had grown up too fast; in just a few months, it had become twice the size of a full-grown guard dog, with sleek and shiny fur and only shedding for a short period. In the blink of an eye, it seemed to have grown into the size of a large wolf, except its nature was still that of a young wolf, liking to gnaw on puppets to sharpen its teeth and preferring to sleep holding the cloth dolls Murong Jiu embroidered for it.

Actually, it wasn’t a long wait before the very next day, Consort Qin felt unwell and requested Murong Jiu to enter the palace again.

At that time, Jun Yuyan was managing state affairs in the imperial court.

"Old man will accompany you to the palace. I want to see what tricks that palace maid from the Western Regions has up her sleeve!" Divine Doctor Zhai said in a grave voice.

"You can’t go. The last time Consort Jing was unwell, the Emperor invited you to the palace because your eyes were already bad then. Now, you would be entering the palace fit and well, be careful of being accused of the crime of deceiving the sovereign," Murong Jiu cautioned.

"Don’t worry about me. Thin Line Heaven is a mysterious poison, and you previously said only the Old Medicine King could concoct it, didn’t you? If Consort Qin used Thin Line Heaven on me, it indicates that she knows other poisons might not work against me. Now that she has used Thin Line Heaven, she is not likely to use other poisons."

"That’s true, but the other party is excessively treacherous..."

"No matter how treacherous, she still needs me and the Prince."

Divine Doctor Zhai indeed had difficulty entering the palace; Consort Qin had only invited Murong Jiu, and even if he could enter the palace, Consort Qin could find any excuse to prevent Divine Doctor Zhai from entering her Yonghe Palace.

Murong Jiu only took Hong Yi with her into the palace.

Chun Tao was naively straightforward, and her emotions were too easily read on her face, which wasn’t safe in the palace.

Upon arrival at Yonghe Palace, Consort Qin wasn’t even lying in bed but was leisurely sipping tea while seated.

Two palace maids, one on the right and one on the left, escorted Murong Jiu inside.

Consort Qin looked up, her smile warm and enthusiastic. She didn’t get up and said, "Princess Consort Ling has arrived. Please take a seat. Try the snow plum tea brewed by myself. This plum blossom was picked personally by me from the Imperial Garden during the coldest weather, and I preserved it using a special method. It still retains a faint scent of plum blossoms."

Murong Jiu sat down in the chair in front of her and calmly looked at Consort Qin.

"If Consort Qin wishes for my help, why stoop to such lowly tricks as secretly poisoning people? As the Princess of the Western Regions, your status is noble. Where did you learn such things? From the Second Prince? Or was it the Third Prince?"

Taken aback by Murong Jiu’s direct approach, Consort Qin’s smile stiffened momentarily before her mouth curved into a high arch,

"Princess Consort Ling really has a way with jokes. Then why didn’t you say it was the Fourth Prince?"

"Ah, yes, I missed the Fourth Prince. Thank you for the reminder, Consort Qin."

Consort Qin stared into Murong Jiu’s eyes, finding them somewhat unfathomable.

She smiled, "No matter what the Princess Consort suspects, all this palace desires is to give birth to a royal son so that after Your Majesty’s hundred years have passed, this palace could have more support, and that’s all. It’s merely for self-preservation. The Princess Consort must understand that this palace is still very young, and must plan for oneself, right?"

"So Consort Qin’s self-preservation involves stepping on others as a foothold?"

Consort Qin replied, "Princess Consort Ling does not need to put it in such ugly terms. There’s a saying in the Central Plains that goes, ’If one does not seek their own interest, heaven and earth will conspire to destroy them.’ This palace doesn’t feel like we have done anything wrong; it’s human instinct."

"No, Consort Qin is mistaken. It’s not human instinct, that’s animal instinct. The biggest difference between humans and beasts is that humans have a moral conscience."

The smile at the corner of Consort Qin’s lips faded as she looked at Murong Jiu, "This palace did not realize, it seems Princess Consort Ling has quite the temper. No wonder Prince Ling cherishes you like a treasure. Princess Consort Ling needn’t be angry, this palace will deliver the antidote to you on time, as long as you assist this palace during my childbirth. Once it’s done, this palace guarantees you all the antidote."

Murong Jiu laughed, "What does Consort Qin have now to give me such a guarantee? The integrity of someone who secretly poisoned me?"

Consort Qin was taken aback, then turned to look at the palace maid who was skilled in medicine, "Sha Li, go and fetch an antidote for Princess Consort Ling. When the poison flares up at midnight tomorrow, this antidote can alleviate the pain."

Originally planning to provide the antidote the next day, giving it to Murong Jiu today wouldn’t really matter.

However, Sha Li frowned slightly, appearing as if there was something she wanted to say but stopped herself.

"Why aren’t you going?"

Only then did Sha Li go.

Before long, she returned with a small porcelain bottle containing an antidote.

"How am I to believe that this is the antidote, and not another poison you’ve concocted?"

The palace maid Sha Li then said, "Princess Consort Ling is skilled in medicine herself, couldn’t she smell the scent of the medicine? However, Princess Consort Ling, please do not attempt to concoct the antidote on your own, as the antidote varies with each stage of poison’s progression."

Murong Jiu didn’t move, but Hong Yi stepped forward, wiped the porcelain bottle clean with a damp handkerchief, and then put it away.

Consort Qin slightly smiled, "Princess Consort Ling, I hope we can have a pleasant cooperation."

Murong Jiu nodded imperceptibly and turned to leave.

Just then, an eunuch from outside announced, "The Emperor arrives!"

Consort Qin’s expression changed. With the help of two palace maids, she hurriedly lay on the bed, and Murong Jiu also had no choice but to follow, sitting on a low stool at the head of the bed and holding Consort Qin’s hand, feigning the act of taking her pulse.

When the Emperor entered, she rose to greet him, "This subject pays respect to my Imperial Father."

"You may rise."

The Emperor did not look at her but strode over and inquired about Consort Qin’s health, how she was feeling.

"This consort is a bit uncomfortable and feels that the baby is moving too frequently," Consort Qin replied. "Princess Consort Ling says it’s nothing serious, perhaps the child is just being lively. Your Majesty, you are not well yourself; why have you come to see this consort so suddenly? I did not wish to disturb you."

Consort Qin showed a touched and delighted expression.

"Oh, it was Imperial Noble Consort Qi who was attending to my illness when she mentioned that someone had been sent from your side to summon Princess Consort Ling. I was worried about your health and made a special trip to check on you. My beloved consort, you must take good care to ensure our child is born safely," the Emperor said.

With the Empress confined, the Phoenix Seal was temporarily in the hands of Imperial Noble Consort Qi, so it was normal for her to be aware of the movement of the palace staff.

Consort Qin nodded weakly, "Your Majesty, this consort will surely bear a Young Prince for you safely!"

The Emperor asked excitedly, "Is it truly a prince?"

"Yes, even Princess Consort Ling has said so! Princess Consort Ling, isn’t that right?"

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