c48 (1/2)

Chapter 48: The Cold Arrow Behind (Part 3)

“The Emperor has arrived–”

It was late at night thus the announcement sounded sharper than usual. The servants in the courtyard all knelt and greeted, “Long live the Emperor..” Before everyone could finish greeting, that pair of yellow boots had already stepped into the courtyard and quickly walked into the house.

He, actually came? Qing Feng’s brows furrowed unconsciously. She initially wanted Lan-er to relay the message to Zhen Yang Palace but she did not expect that Yan Hong Tian would come over in the middle of the night.

“What is the matter?” Qing Feng was still secretly surprised when Yan Hong Tian’s voice sounded by her ears.

Qing Feng looked up and saw that familiar figure pulling open the veil in the chambers and stood in front of her bed. Reckoning that he came over too hastily, he did not comb his hair and only casually tied it up with a black band. His pair of eyes coldly stared at her but she was unsure if it was worry or anger and could only hear that there was a bit of hastiness in his voice. Qing Feng slightly bowed her head and did not look into his eyes before softly replying, “Chenqie’s stomach ache.”

Stomach ache? Qing Feng’s entire person was curled up under the thick quilt and only her head was visible but it was already ashen and turning green. Yan Hong Tian reach his hand out to feel her forehead and even though Qing Feng pulled back, she was unable to escape it. The cold that was felt made Yan Hong Tian’s heart burst irritably, the entire room of servants and there was no physicians at all. Yan Hong Tian impatiently scolded, “Where is the Imperial Physician?”

Xia Yin quickly stepped forward and replied, “Answering your Majesty, Fu Ling had went to invite him over.”

After listening to Xia Yin’s words, Yan Hong Tian’s face got even more colder. He had already arrived here but the Imperial Physician was actually harder to invite than him, an Emperor?! “Gao Jing, summon Huang Jiao!”

“Yes.” Just as Gao Jing was about to leave, he saw Fu Ling dragging Huang Jiao to storm into Qing Feng Hall.

When Huang Jiao entered the chambers, he was not surprised to see Yan Hong Tian inside and greeted him breathlessly, “This official, Huang Jiao, greets the Emperor.” If it was not the good condition of his old bones, his old life would have been gone with the way Fu Ling drag and run all the way here.

“Dispense the ceremony, quickly check up on her.”

Huang Jiao just held Qing Feng’s wrist when his face changed to dignified yet cautious look. For an old Imperial Physician to look like that, Qing Feng had already guessed that what Fu Ling had said was indeed correct, she is — Pregnant.

Huang Jiao’s expression was not as per normal, not only Qing Feng saw it, Yan Hong Tian also saw it clearly, “How is she?”

Huang Jiao let go of her hand and got up to clasp his hands to Yan Hong Tian before seriously replying, “Congratulating the Emperor, Concubine Qing has a pregnant pulse.

“What?” Yan Hong Tian was apparently taken aback. Before coming over to Qing Feng Hall, he thought that for Qing Feng to create such a commotion in the middle of the night, there must be some tricks in play. With her character, if she was truly ill, she will absolutely not let anyone ask for him. He was only interested to come over to look because he was curious of what tricks she was playing. Seeing her ashen face filled with cold sweat, he was really worried if she was poisoned by someone. He never would have thought that she was actually… Pregnant?

Huang Jiao reply with certainty, “Concubine Qing has a pregnant pulse.”

Qing Feng pretended to look stunned at Huang Jiao and dare not look at Yan Hong Tian, thus she did not see that faint smile on his lips after his surprised look.

The entire room of servants suddenly knelt down and chanted, “Joyous occasion for the Emperor, joyous occasion for Concubine Qing.” The Emperor has few offspring, not mentioning the princes, there were only a handful of princesses. If Concubine Qing was able to give birth to a prince, the mother’s honour increases as her son’s position rises. Even if it was a princess, she would also be part of the Imperial lineage and her position would be much different.

During the well-wis.h.i.+ng, Qing Feng raise her eyes and glance at Xia Yin who was kneeling by the side of the bed. She was prostrating on the ground with her head facing down. Even though her expression cannot be seen, one can see her slightly shaking hands that were placed on the ground.

“Why would her stomach be aching?” Yan Hong Tian’s cold voice suddenly sounded and Xia Yin’s hand shook even more.

Huang Jiao stroked his beard and calmly replied. “The Emperor need not worry about it too much, Concubine Qing was previously and was unable to fully recover thus her body condition was not good and with her worries and incorrect positioning of the foetus, it has caused the unbearable pain. This official will prepare some medicine for pregnancy and also supplement it with acupuncture which would alleviate the pain.”

“En, go and prepare it.”

“Yes.” Huang Jia went out of the chambers to prescribe the medicine and when he pa.s.sed Fu Ling, he suddenly said, “Come with me.” Fu Ling was stunned for a moment but after some thought, she followed Huang Jiao out of the chambers.

Hearing Huang Jiao’s words, Qing Feng’s hanging heart finally settled down but there was no improvement in terms of the pain she was feeling. She herself was also unable to differentiate if it was the cold or the pain and kept on s.h.i.+vering till her teeth were chattering. Yan Hong Tian sat on the side of the bed and leaned over to whisper, “Really painful?”

No kidding! Qing Feng took a deep breath and continue to stubbornly close her eyes as she reply, “Still all right!”

Her jaw was already tightly clenched and she still say she was all right. Seeing her acting brave, Yan Hong Tian laughed softly, “There is no need to talk tough at such a time.” Leaning against the head of the bed, Yan Hong Tian gently lifted Qing Feng’s neck and let her use his legs as pillow with one hand holding her ten cold fingers and the other hand stroking her spine.

Yan Hong Tian was rarely that gentle and Gao Jing saw it quietly with a complex look, unsure if it was happiness or worry.

A warm hand appeased her aches and stiff body by the slow strokes. At this moment, she was reluctant to think more about his warm embrace and Qing Feng gently lean against Yan Hong Tian’s embrace and closed her eyes, it should be almost Maos.h.i.+ (modern timing: 5 – 7 am) now.

*****

In the middle of the night, Fu Ling ran to the Imperial Medical Court and practically woke everyone up and also stubbornly dragged Huang Jiao all the way back to Qing Feng Hall. Lan-er even went to the extent to disturb the Emperor in Zhen Yang Palace in the middle of the night. Qing Feng arranged such a commotion so that before dawn came, everyone would know that she was carrying the Imperial line.

Pa!