0p0 Chapter 830 [Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace 20]
Chapter 830 [Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace 20]
At this moment, a very subtle, fragile cry of a baby, like a candle in the wind, reached everyone's ears. Then, a solemn-looking imperial physician hurried over and knelt down to report to Hongli: "Your Majesty, Concubine Mei gave birth to a little prince after much difficulty. But... this child was born with defects. Unfortunately, he died not long after he was born."
Hearing this, Hongli's face instantly turned gloomy, and he immediately ordered Li Yu beside him to bring the little prince over. However, when Li Yu carefully held the little prince and walked closer, his body trembled involuntarily, and his steps became hesitant, as if the thing in his arms frightened him.
Seeing this, Fucha Langhuan calmly waved her hand, signaling the surrounding maids and eunuchs to leave for the time being. Then, she turned to look at Hongli and said softly, "Your Majesty, please don't look at it, so as not to be too sad."
But Hongli was unmoved and insisted on taking a look at this unfortunate child who died young. So he slowly stretched out his hand and gently lifted a corner of the swaddling clothes that wrapped the little prince.
Instantly, everyone present was stunned by what they saw! The small body was twisted and deformed, and the face was different from that of an ordinary person, which was horrifying.
Hongli took only one look and felt a chill running from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. He felt as if struck by lightning and his body swayed violently. If Youyou had not been quick to support him, he would have fallen to the ground on the spot.
After a brief silence, Fu Cha Lang Huan was the first to come back to her senses. She took a deep breath and calmly gave an order: "Li Yu, immediately announce to the public that the baby born to Concubine Mei is stillborn. Bury it quickly, and do not let anyone else know about this."
Li Yu quickly responded, "I obey your order!" Then he picked up the little prince and left in a hurry.
After Li Yu left, Fucha Langhuan turned to Hongli again and said softly, "Your Majesty, please accept my condolences."
Hongli suppressed his grief and responded in a slightly hoarse voice: "Leave this to you, the Queen. I will take Concubine Zhao back to the palace first. Concubine Zhao is pregnant and in heavy condition. It is really not suitable for her to stay here for long." After that, he took Concubine Zhao's hand and slowly turned around and left surrounded by the crowd.
Looking at Hongli's receding back, Fucha Langhuan bowed slightly and said respectfully: "Yes, Your Majesty. I will take care of everything properly and will never let Your Majesty down."
Concubine Mei woke up slowly and looked around with hazy eyes. When she realized that the little figure was not beside her, her heart sank suddenly. A sharp pain swept over her instantly, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.
"Where is my child? Where is my child?" Concubine Mei shouted at the top of her lungs, tears streaming uncontrollably from her eyes, soaking the pillowcase.
Ruyi, who was standing by, looked at the grief-stricken Concubine Mei, sighed softly, and said slowly: "Concubine Mei, I am in mourning... Your child is gone."
Concubine Mei's eyes widened, her face full of horror and disbelief. She asked with trembling lips, "No, it's impossible! How could this be possible? My child was fine, how could he suddenly die? Sister Xianpin, tell me, is this true? Also, is my child a boy or a girl?"
At this time, Fu Cha Lang Huan walked in. She looked at Concubine Mei solemnly and said softly, "Concubine Mei, it's a little prince. But don't be too sad. I have already instructed the masters of Anhua Palace to chant sutras for the little prince. I hope he can be reborn in paradise soon."
When the Empress Dowager, who was far away in the Cining Palace, learned that Concubine Mei's child had died, she could not help but shake her head slightly and sighed: "Alas, Concubine Mei was also a person with a miserable life. She lost her child at such a young age. She was really unlucky." Afterwards, the Empress Dowager ordered Hongli to be invited to the palace.
Hongli entered the palace with a sad face. Seeing this, the empress dowager comforted him: "Don't be too sad, Emperor. You will have children in the future."
Hongli took a deep breath, nodded, and said slowly: "My only hope now is that the baby in Concubine Zhao's belly can be born safely."
The Queen Mother smiled slightly and replied, "Yes, I think that Concubine Zhao will surely give birth to a prince smoothly."
However, Hongli shook his head and corrected her: "Mother, it's not the dragon son, but the little princess."
The Queen Mother was stunned at first, then she smiled and said, "Oh? It's the little princess. Well, the princess is my sweetheart."
"Yes, what I am most looking forward to is the little princess in Concubine Zhao's belly." Hongli said with a smile, his eyes full of anticipation and joy.
The Queen Mother beside him nodded slightly and advised earnestly: "Your Majesty, you should also go to the harem more often. Now you only have three princes and one princess. Your Majesty, you should go to the palace more often."
Hongli nodded respectfully and said, "Yes, what you said is absolutely right, mother. I will take note of it."
At the same time, Concubine Mei, who had lost her child, was immersed in endless grief. Since the death of her child, not only had the emperor not set foot in Yonghe Palace in the past half month, but even other concubines had not come to visit and comfort her.
Concubine Mei was disheartened, and felt as if she had been completely trapped in this deserted palace. Seeing this, the maid Suyun beside her gently reminded her: "My lady, instead of waiting like this, why don't we think of a solution ourselves."
Not long after, Hongli led a group of concubines to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager. After everyone paid their respects, Fu Cha Langhuan said with joy: "Your Majesty, I have good news to report. According to the diagnosis of the imperial physician, Concubine Yi Huang Qiying is already two months pregnant!" As soon as these words came out, there was an uproar in the palace, and all the concubines came forward to congratulate Concubine Yi.
After all the concubines left, Gao Xiyue quietly approached Ruyi and said in a low voice: "Princess Xian, I heard that the child of Concubine Mei is not just a dead fetus. It is said that there are some abnormalities in its body shape."
Ruyi's face changed slightly when she heard this, and she frowned and asked, "Where did Concubine Hui get this from? Where did you hear these baseless nonsense?"
Gao Xiyue saw Ruyi's serious expression and quickly explained: "Don't blame me, Concubine Xian. I just happened to hear others talking about this matter and told you about it in a hurry. But don't worry, I will never spread such gossip again in the future."
The news of Concubine Mei's suicide spread like wildfire throughout the palace. Everyone was horrified and rushed to Yonghe Palace. When they arrived, they saw the palace maids and eunuchs frantically trying to rescue Concubine Mei, who was already hanging on the beam. After a tense and fierce rescue, Concubine Mei was finally successfully rescued.
At this time, Gao Xiyue spoke first, "Now the whole palace is spreading rumors that Concubine Mei gave birth to a demon. If I were in her situation, I would probably find it difficult to bear the pressure, so it's not surprising that she chose to hang herself."
Hongli quickly spoke to comfort Concubine Mei, saying: "Don't believe those nonsense, there is no such thing as evil. I will order a thorough investigation to find out where these rumors came from!" Then he ordered Li Yu beside him to investigate the matter immediately.
After everyone slowly walked out of Yonghe Palace, Gao Xiyue once again said to Hongli: "Your Majesty, Concubine Mei gave birth to a stillborn baby after all. This is a bad omen. Besides, Concubine Yi is pregnant now. In my opinion, why not help Concubine Mei and let her go to meet the child who died young."
However, Ruyi retorted, "It is common for children in the palace to die young. It does not mean that Concubine Mei is guilty or unlucky. The reason why she chose to hang herself this time was nothing more than the fear she felt after hearing those rumors. In this case, she should not be punished, but comforted instead."
After a brief thought, Hongli decided, "Then let's move Concubine Mei to Anhua Palace. The environment there is quiet and peaceful, which may help her calm down and recuperate."