Han Yiqing felt a surge of irritation in her heart.
Yet, she lowered her gaze to conceal the true emotions in her eyes, and when she spoke again, her voice remained as gentle as ever: "Sister misunderstood me. The reason I say this is because while beside the Empress Dowager today, I heard some things."
Yikun Palace.
"Aunt wants to help the Emperor expand the harem?!"
Upon hearing Lan Qin’s words, Princess Consort De was so shocked that she knocked over the teacup beside her, and the scalding hot water poured onto her skin.
But this pain was far less than the anguish in her heart.
"Your Highness!" Lan Qin shouted anxiously: "Summon an Imperial Physician, quickly summon an Imperial Physician!"
The little eunuch standing outside hurriedly ran towards the Imperial Medical Bureau.
"Your Highness, you must take care of yourself." Lan Qin said in pain, quickly using ice to help Princess Consort De with a cold compress.
But Princess Consort De’s eyes welled with tears, pushing Lan Qin’s hand away: "No, you don’t understand. Aunt is doing this because last time’s events have chilled her heart towards me. She doesn’t want to give me another chance. She wants to cultivate new people."
"Indeed, the Emperor is still very young, the harem has few concubines, and in over a month, the mourning period will be over, allowing a grand selection of consorts, and naturally the palace will have many newcomers entering."
"But if the Empress Dowager selects someone now, it would be different. If they truly catch the Emperor’s eye and conceive a dragon child, there’s no worry—by the time it’s announced, the mourning period will be over, and then..."
Princess Consort De’s heart ached as if pierced by a knife at the thought that someone might already be carrying a dragon child before she had the opportunity to serve the Emperor.
"Your Highness, please don’t be sad, these are only your speculations." Lan Qin comforted with reddened eyes.
"Yes, they are speculations, but soon to become reality." Princess Consort De sat despondently, her beautiful visage overshadowed by sorrow.
The Imperial Physician arrived.
Princess Consort De reluctantly composed her emotions, and after the Imperial Physician treated her hand injury and left, she felt her strength dissipate, slumping into the chair.
Just then, Lan Qi hurriedly entered from outside: "Princess Consort De, the first and second ladies have arrived."
"Mother and Aunt have arrived? They didn’t send any message beforehand, how come they came so suddenly?"
Though Princess Consort De spoke thus, she quickly stood up and asked Lan Qin to check if her makeup was appropriate. After a quick touch-up, she went out to greet them.
"I greet Princess Consort De."
The first wife from the Miao family, Mrs. Yao, and the second wife, Mrs. Zhang, were about to kneel to show their respects to Princess Consort De.
"Mother, Aunt, what are you doing? Please get up." Princess Consort De hurriedly walked over to Zhang Mengxiang and supported her as she was about to kneel.
Lan Qin quickly reached out to support Mrs. Yao, Yao Xiuqin.
"Mother, Aunt, let us talk inside." Princess Consort De, having not seen Zhang Mengxiang for a long time, reddened her eyes with joy, fearing that others might see her loss of composure, and supported Zhang Mengxiang as they walked inside.
In the hall, Princess Consort De could not let Zhang Mengxiang sit at the head, so she reluctantly took the upper seat, while Mrs. Yao and Mrs. Zhang took seats accordingly.
Lan Qin served tea and offered it.
Princess Consort De noticed that both Yao Xiuqin and Zhang Mengxiang looked truly weary, and remembering they hadn’t announced their visit beforehand, asked gently: "Aunt, Mother, has something happened at home?"
Zhang Mengxiang immediately wanted to speak, but was preempted by Yao Xiuqin.
"Princess Consort De appears to have worry constantly in her eyes, have you not rested well recently?" Yao Xiuqin looked concerned and scrutinized Princess Consort De closely.
Zhang Mengxiang also looked over, noticing Princess Consort De’s slightly pale complexion, and swallowed the words she was about to say.