Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved
Chapter 311: Princess Consort, please save our young master!

Chapter 311: Chapter 311: Princess Consort, please save our young master!

Murong Jiu found it very amusing.

Earlier, Imperial Noble Consort Qi had shown disdain for her, and after she had given birth, there was no immediate inquiry from the Prince Mansion or even a few kind words sent her way.

The gifts she sent were merely an afterthought following the Emperor’s own offerings, lacking in consideration compared to those from other concubines, with not a single item for the child -- not even saving face.

Now, however, upon learning the two children were her own grandsons, she had the audacity to block them and question why they hadn’t brought the children into the palace.

These past few days of continuous rain had brought a chill to the air, and the majority of those visiting the capital’s medical clinics were the elderly and children stricken with colds. One could hear the coughing of passersby as carriages traveled the roads. In such weather, to suggest they bring such small children to the palace, Murong Jiu truly wondered what Imperial Noble Consort Qi was thinking.

It was, in plain terms, pure selfishness.

Yet, she was unable to lower her facade and assumed a scolding posture.

Jun Yuyan did not indulge her; with a few perfunctory words, he took Murong Jiu to Yonghe Palace.

At the palace gate, Jun Yuyan was stopped by the palace maid Sha Ya: "Your Highness Prince Ling, our mistress is not convenient for meeting men from outside."

Jun Yuyan nodded and said to Murong Jiu, "I will wait for you here."

Murong Jiu smiled and replied, "This is just for a peace pulse reading, it will be quick."

Sha Ya’s gaze flickered and accidentally met Prince Ling’s eyes; the icy cold look that came from him filled her with terror.

No wonder the Princess called Prince Ling a madman; even through a mask, his gaze was intimidating. Without the mask, his expression would have been even more terrifying.

Murong Jiu followed the palace maid into the palace, where Consort Qin greeted her with a faint smile, standing not far away with her pregnant belly, and inquired after Murong Jiu’s well-being.

"You have my concern, Your Majesty. This Princess Consort is already in good health, but looking at Your Majesty’s appearance, it seems you are suffering from poor sleep, perhaps overthinking too much, you must be careful with the child in your womb."

Consort Qin remained standing, not offering Murong Jiu a seat, and merely said, "This palace’s favorite palace maid is gone; how could I sleep well? Speaking of which, Princess Consort Ling should be approaching the time of poisoning outbreak in a couple of days, have you considered our previous matter?"

"Did this Princess Consort not already agree to help Your Majesty with your labor? If Your Majesty wishes me to do something else, please speak freely. I am not skilled at guessing others’ thoughts," Murong Jiu responded.

"Your forthrightness impresses me greatly, Princess Consort Ling. Actually, I wish no discord with you; for self-preservation, I had no choice," said Consort Qin, revealing vulnerability as she caressed her protruding belly:

"I married into the Great Yan Imperial Family to foster relations between our two nations. It’s pitiable to be in unfamiliar territory with such cultural differences, sometimes without even a confidant to speak to. With Sha Li gone, I am truly heartbroken, but I also recognize that the poison from Thin Line Heaven has crossed the line for you and Prince Ling, so Sha Li’s death is closely related to me. I can promise you now, if you stand by me to the end, when I give birth to the imperial son, I will give you the final antidote."

With that, she looked towards the palace maid Sha Ya.

Understanding the cue, Sha Ya brought over a small porcelain vial.

Consort Qin said, "This holds the second antidote. If the Princess Consort takes it now, you won’t suffer a second outbreak of the poison."

Murong Jiu accepted the vial with a handkerchief.

"Very well, I have seen Your Majesty’s sincerity. I can empathize with your hardship, but in the future, Your Majesty must carefully consider your actions before proceeding."

Consort Qin nodded with a smile: "I have learned my lesson."

"That’s very good to hear. Neither His Highness nor I are spiteful by nature; we understand the difficulties Your Majesty faces."

Having obtained the antidote, Murong Jiu prepared to leave. As she moved to go, she suddenly asked Consort Qin, "Would Your Majesty like this Princess Consort to take your pulse?"

"There is no need, I am well enough. However, I would ask the Princess Consort to come to the palace again in three days," Consort Qin responded.

"If Princess Consort does not need to take the pulse, what is the purpose of inviting Princess Consort to the palace?"

"Princess Consort Jing’s birthday is in three days, and the Emperor mentioned to me that he wishes to hold a palace banquet to celebrate it, inviting me to attend as well. However, I’m genuinely afraid. Without Sha Li by my side, I might not avoid being schemed against, so I have no choice but to trouble Princess Consort for help."

Murong Jiu felt a stir of surprise in her heart, thinking how could the Emperor not know Princess Consort Jing’s reluctance, when even her face had been disfigured yet a birthday feast was being held for her?

Could it be that Consort Qin was adding fuel to the fire?

It seemed this birthday banquet was bound not to be peaceful.

Yet, she did not show any emotions on her face and nodded slightly, saying, "So, it’s Your Majesty Consort Jing’s birthday. Even if Your Majesty hadn’t mentioned it, Princess Consort and Prince would surely attend. When the time comes, Princess Consort will definitely keep a close watch for Your Majesty, so there’s no need to worry."

Consort Qin smiled her thanks and personally escorted Murong Jiu out of Yonghe Palace.

She saw Jun Yuyan outside the palace, his posture upright and vigorous. Beneath the mask, his thin lips were tightly pressed together, his eyes revealing a profound and cold hue.

Before she could say anything, Jun Yuyan had already stepped forward, taken Murong Jiu’s hand, and the two of them turned to leave.

Consort Qin watched them go until they were out of sight; then the smile on her face slowly faded.

She gave a snort of contempt and, supported by Sha Ya, walked back into the palace.

Jun Yuyan and Murong Jiu had not gone far when a palace maid, disregarding the eunuchs and other palace maids’ attempts to stop her, rushed toward them and fell to her knees in front of Murong Jiu.

"Princess Consort Ling, I beg you, please save our mistress!"

Several eunuchs, sweating profusely, kept apologizing to the couple, trying to drag the maid away.

Murong Jiu waved the eunuchs off, feeling that she recognized this palace maid, as if she had seen her somewhere before.

"Which palace are you from, and what has happened to your mistress?"

"To answer Princess Consort, my mistress is Consort Yun. She has been suffering from a relentless fever, and her condition is critical. I beg you, please save her!"

Murong Jiu remembered.

This palace maid was from Consort Yun’s palace. Some time ago, Consort Yun had been pushed down from the attic and miscarried; then she bled excessively and was in a coma, barely surviving the ordeal. The child was gone, and the Emperor had shown her pity for less than two months before gradually pushing her out of his mind, and now she had long fallen out of favor.

The original palace maids of Consort Yun had been executed for the miscarriage, and she remembered this one because she seemed to be just a lowly palace maid in Consort Yun’s palace, relegated to cleaning, and it was unexpected that this maid was so devoted to Consort Yun.

"Haven’t you sought an Imperial Physician to see what the problem is?"

Murong Jiu asked while exchanging a glance with Jun Yuyan, signaling they should go and see for themselves.

Consort Yun was a pitiful woman.

Jun Yuyan nodded to her.

The palace maid cried, "An Imperial Physician was consulted before, and he prescribed some medicine, but the mistress’s condition has only worsened. When we sought the Imperial Physician again, he started to become evasive..."

Murong Jiu frowned. Favoritism and negligence were all too common in the palace. Consort Yun, now out of favor, was left with only this one maid, indicating that any new palace maids had fled if they could.

"Lead the way," she instructed.

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