Mingxi trembled with rage, glaring at Lu Momo. “What is the meaning of your words, Lu Momo? I only spoke a fair word for this maid who was punished because of me.”
Lu Momo’s lips curled into a mocking smile as she raised her eyes to Duan Wangfei and said casually, “The maid failed in her duties and deserved punishment. For Wangfei to defend her so insistently—could there be some hidden reason behind it?”
At those words, Duan Mingxi clutched her chest, face pale. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but suddenly her eyes rolled back—and she collapsed limply to the floor.
Lu Momo was so frightened she nearly jumped. What was going on?
She immediately crouched down. “Duan Wangfei, what’s wrong?”
She pinched hard at Duan Mingxi’s philtrum, but Mingxi showed no reaction at all, lying unconscious on the floor.
Now truly panicked, Lu Momo shouted, “Someone come! Quickly summon Her Majesty the Empress!”
The young maid who had been kneeling moments ago scrambled to her feet and ran toward the rear hall like her life depended on it. Lu Momo, hands trembling, propped up Duan Wangfei and shouted angrily to the people of Kunde Palace, “What are you all standing there for? Quickly carry Duan Wangfei into the side hall and send for the imperial physician!”
The palace maids immediately gathered around to lift her. A coarse-handling maid took off running.
When the Empress and Duchess Wei heard the news, they rushed over at once. Seeing Duan Mingxi lying pale on the couch, the Empress immediately barked, “What happened?”
Lu Momo hurriedly recounted the events and lowered her head, saying, “It’s all this old servant’s fault. I shouldn’t have quarreled with Duan Wangfei. Please, Your Majesty, punish me.”
Duchess Wei stood beside Mingxi, face clouded. She bent slightly, and her gaze froze. She pressed her lips together hard, then looked at the Empress and said, seemingly with no particular emotion, “Lu Momo makes it sound like it was nothing serious. So how did Duan Wangfei faint so easily? She’s trained in martial arts and has a strong body—this shouldn’t be happening.”
The Empress’s brows furrowed tightly, her gaze fixed on Duan Mingxi’s face, and her eyes swept sideways to Lu Momo.
Lu Momo gave a slight shake of her head. The confusion in the Empress’s eyes only deepened.
“Consort Shu! Consort Shu! Please allow this servant to report—”
“Get out!”
Consort Shu’s furious voice came through. That single shout made the Empress’s expression darken even more.
“Consort Shu, what are you doing?” the Empress lifted her gaze and questioned her as she stormed in.
Seeing Mingxi lying on the couch, bloodless and unconscious, Consort Shu rushed forward and bent down to check her condition. Mingxi had always been lively and energetic in front of her—when had she ever looked like this?
Consort Shu turned to the Empress, face taut and voice tight, speaking with a heavy tone, “Your Majesty, Duan Wangfei has always been in good health with no prior ailments. How could she suddenly faint for no reason?”
“Consort Shu, the imperial physician will be here shortly. Once he arrives, we’ll know what’s going on.” The Empress looked at her, her heart already heavy with annoyance—how had Consort Shu even found out about this?
Consort Shu’s face darkened further. Mingxi’s complexion was terribly pale, even tinged with a greenish hue—it made her uneasy. Growing more anxious by the moment, she couldn’t help but ask, “Why hasn’t the physician arrived yet?”
Duchess Wei’s temple throbbed. Thinking back to that glance Mingxi had given her earlier, her legs began to feel weak.
But she forced herself to stand tall, not daring to show anything amiss. They had entered the palace under the pretense of visiting Consort Shu. Steeling herself, she turned to Consort Shu and spoke softly, “Consort Shu, after Duan Wangfei fainted, Lu Momo immediately ordered someone to summon the physician. He should be back any moment now.”
Consort Shu looked at her with suspicion—why had Duchess Wei come to the palace today? And how did she end up at Kunde Palace with Mingxi?
She could sense something was wrong, but couldn’t quite pinpoint what. Just as she was considering how to pry further, Duchess Wei added, “Thanks to Niang Niang’s prescription, my daughter-in-law has regained her appetite. I came especially to thank Niang Niang today. I hadn’t yet had the chance to visit you before disturbing Her Empress’ tea—I’ve truly been rude. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”
From this, Consort Shu immediately understood what was going on. So-called daughter-in-law had lost her appetite? When had she ever known that? She’d never even given any prescription.
But this was a coordinated story. Clearly, the Madam was aligning her account with hers.
Consort Shu recalled that Mingxi had mentioned Xu Heng family’s daughter-in-law being pregnant. Now she had a better picture of the situation. She looked at Duchess Wei and said blandly, “It was just a simple prescription. That day, Duan Wangfei casually mentioned it to me when she entered the palace. When I was pregnant with Duan Wang, I had a poor appetite too, so I gave her this formula. It’s no big deal. Duchess needn’t take it to heart. I didn’t do it for Xu Heng’s wife, but because Duan Wangfei brought it up—I simply gave it out of hand.”
The Empress listened to the two of them going back and forth. This was her first time hearing about the pregnancy of Xu Heng’s wife.
Thinking back to the serious injury Xu Heng had sustained… the Empress couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt.
Just then, the physician arrived.
Consort Shu had no time for Duchess Wei. She immediately turned to the physician, saying, “Imperial Physician, quickly—see what’s wrong with Duan Wangfei.”
The physician entered and bowed to both the Empress and Consort Shu before sitting down beside the couch.
Consort Shu didn’t leave it to the servants. She personally placed Mingxi’s wrist on the cushion and draped a thin handkerchief over it.
The physician, seeing this, felt a chill run through his heart. He straightened up nervously and placed his fingers on Duan Wangfei’s pulse.
The room fell utterly silent. Everyone seemed to hold their breath.
Consort Shu watched the physician’s face shift again and again, his brows furrowing higher and higher. Her sense of unease deepened. She clenched her handkerchief tightly, her face gradually turning pale.
“Physician, how is she?” Consort Shu’s voice trembled without her realizing it.
The physician stood and looked toward her, then glanced at the Empress. After weighing his words, he slowly said, “Consort Shu, did you know Duan Wangfei is with child?”
“What?” Consort Shu’s voice rose sharply. “She’s pregnant?”
Her face lit up with joy, while the Empress’s expression immediately darkened. Her gaze swept over the unconscious Duan Mingxi on the couch. Then something occurred to her, and her face changed again.
Just then, the physician continued, “Yes, Niang Niang. However, Duan Wangfei did not faint due to the pregnancy, but rather… rather…”
“What is it? Speak the truth!” Consort Shu’s smile vanished in an instant. She instinctively straightened up, her eyes turning sharp.
Cold sweat beaded on the physician’s forehead. How unlucky could he be—to be on duty today of all days and run into this!
“Physician, what exactly is wrong with Duan Wangfei?” the Empress asked sternly. “Speak clearly.”
Hearing the warning tone in the Empress’s voice, Consort Shu immediately added, “Yes, speak clearly. The Imperial Medical Bureau doesn’t have only one physician. If you can’t explain it properly, I’ll report to His Majesty and have someone else come for a second diagnosis.”
