Your Majesty, please do not disturb, the empress only wants to engage in business

Chapter 190: Hiding from the spotlight

According to medical theory, Consort Rong is currently in a state of coldness, and she really shouldn't use too much ice in the summer.

Regardless of the dynasty, women are always more afraid of the cold than the heat. Yao Jinse once thought that perhaps this was due to their constitution, but later she discovered that the main reason why most people are afraid of the cold is because of insufficient qi and blood.

Consort Rong is currently suffering from blood and qi deficiency.

In fact, Yao Jinse had carefully observed that the climate of this era was only slightly hot, far less hot than the capital city where she lived in her previous life.

Perhaps it's because the pollution wasn't as severe at this time of year; after all, she could still see the brilliant starry sky tonight.

Being able to see a sky full of stars in her own yard was something she never dared to dream of in her previous life.

However, this also shows that the climate is actually quite pleasant.

However, under such weather conditions, Consort Rong was deficient in qi and blood, and preferred heat to cold, which was undoubtedly due to her physical weakness.

"Your Majesty is quite right. I know that Your Majesty was very careful to take care of yourself after you injured yourself while practicing martial arts. But as the saying goes, too much of a good thing can be bad. The last time, that divine physician said that Your Majesty has been too careful to take care of yourself all these years."

Yao Jinse didn't mean anything by saying this, after all, Consort Rong was currently pregnant.

For Consort Rong, who had been trying to conceive for many years, the loss of her child due to some mishap would be a fatal blow.

"I have remembered what Consort Jieyu said. When I look after Your Highness, I will keep a proper distance for you."

Kang Mama's words still carried weight in Chengqian Palace. After all, she had raised Consort Rong from childhood to adulthood, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they were like mother and daughter. Since she had said so, Yao Jinse was naturally at ease.

After repeating the instructions left by the female doctor to Granny Kang in detail, Yao Jinse took advantage of the still-dawn light to walk out of the gate of Chengqian Palace.

She could only do her best and leave the rest to fate. This was all she could do now. Consort Rong's pregnancy would require at least six more months of protection, and given her weakened state, it was uncertain whether the child would survive after birth.

These words could not, of course, be said to Consort Rong in person. The child hadn't even been born yet, and to say that the child wouldn't survive was like a curse. To say such things to Consort Rong's face would be tantamount to courting death.

"Speaking of which, Chengqian Palace has been receiving a constant stream of favors these days, while the Emperor has been visiting less often. Perhaps Your Highness should go back and send some soup or something to Yangxin Hall? I imagine that when the Emperor is busy with his duties, seeing these things will remind him of Your Highness's good qualities."

Bai Lu was still quite young, and when she spoke with Yao Jinse, she was always thinking about how to gain more favor from Yao Jinse. Yao Jinse knew the girl's loyalty, so she naturally wouldn't blame her for it. When she was in a good mood, she would even personally explain things to her.

However, she wasn't in the mood for it today, so it was natural for Bai Tan to teach her. In short, she couldn't teach her in front of Yao Jinse.

Seeing the gesture made by Sister Bai Tan ahead, Bai Lu immediately shut her mouth and followed obediently behind without saying another word.

After returning to Yuxiu Palace, she was essentially in her own home. Although Yuxiu Palace wasn't as airtight as Chengqian Palace, and some news could still inevitably reach others, Yao Jinse never cared about that.

These channels are all reversible. The person who can gather information about her today can also pass on false information tomorrow. If these loopholes are truly plugged, then it would be seen as restless by outsiders.

"Actually, what Bai Lu said is not wrong. Now, Your Highness can take this opportunity to seek favors for yourself."

Seeing that the tea had reached the right temperature, Bai Tan poured a cup for Yao Jinse and handed it to her: "Now that the Imperial Concubine is pregnant and cannot serve the Emperor, if Your Highness can take this opportunity to become pregnant again, it would surely be a good thing."

This makes a lot of sense. Of all the concubines in the harem, very few actually have the opportunity to become pregnant. For most of them, during the time that Consort Rong is pregnant, the emperor will definitely want to have children in the harem. Whatever his intentions, this is indeed a good time.

In comparison, Yao Jinse actually had a better chance than the others. Compared to the new concubines who had hardly ever met the emperor, she, who could barely be considered an old concubine, still had some connection with the emperor.

However, these opportunities were not necessarily a good thing for Yao Jinse.

Although Consort Rong's pregnancy was the result of much effort, it came earlier than she had anticipated. Yao Jinse had originally thought that Xie Yun'an would make his move against the Duke's mansion around that time, and if she could get Consort Rong pregnant then, she could use the child to save most of the Duke's family.

Their power and status are certainly not going to be preserved. The old Duke's lifespan is only one or two years. As soon as the old Duke falls, the Duke's mansion will definitely be pruned by Xie Yun'an within a year. But now Consort Rong is pregnant ahead of time. If things are better, then after the old Duke passes away, the Duke's mansion may only be knocked down, but not uprooted. But if things are worse, Consort Rong may also be targeted.

The emperor's love is ultimately not such a steadfast thing. In the original plot, Xie Yun'an later got Consort Rong pregnant because of the matter of the Duke's mansion, so he felt guilty towards Consort Rong. Now, things have become more complicated.

"His Majesty has been busy with state affairs these past two days. He hasn't shown much concern for the Consort's pregnancy, and has even visited the inner palace less often than before."

Yao Jinse looked at Bai Tan and prompted, "Why do you think that is?"

Bai Tan naturally had no idea. She was just a palace maid by Yao Jinse's side. As someone who served a concubine, how could she have the audacity to speculate on the emperor's intentions?
Seeing Bai Tan remain silent, Yao Jinse slowly said, "No matter how busy the court is, there are always ministers to help deal with it. It's not like they can't spare a moment. Consort Rong's pregnancy needs care, and the concubines in the harem who have been waiting for rain are also waiting to see the Emperor. Because of Consort Rong's pregnancy, the Empress Dowager has mentioned the matter of the royal family having more children to the Emperor many times before. Now the Emperor is focusing all his energy on court affairs, but he is just avoiding these things in the harem."