It’s not uncommon to receive contraceptives, but this is the first time I’ve seen supplements for conception!
Yun Jiao touched her face and opened her personal status panel.
Lady is neither an ally nor an enemy.
"If there’s such a recipe, why doesn’t Lady use it herself?"
As soon as Yun Jiao spoke, Concubine Li said, "Lady was pregnant once before but couldn’t keep it—the pregnancy was quite advanced... The Imperial Physician said it would be difficult for her to conceive again after injuring her body, so the Ji Family sent in their second daughter."
So that’s how it was. Yun Jiao vaguely remembered hearing about this matter.
She then asked, "How do you know so much? Did you listen under her bed?"
Concubine Li sneered, "Yes, I’m actually that child."
Yun Jiao was filled with admiration.
The palace maids in the main hall found it unbearable to listen.
Their Lady used to be such a bright and elegant beauty! Now she’s starting to talk nonsense like Concubine Xi, truly a case of being influenced by those around her.
As for those supplements, after they were delivered again, Yun Jiao ate some, and although she wasn’t sure if they improved conception, her menstrual cycle became more regular, and the pain reduced significantly—if she’d known it had this effect, why was she so hesitant?
Supplements from the Yanxi Palace were delivered sporadically, and halfway through a regimen, another unexpected guest arrived.
"Lady Xi!"
"Your Highness, slow down."
The Eldest Prince ran ahead, followed by a long train of hurried palace maids and eunuchs, creating quite a comical scene.
With the joint efforts of the Imperial Hospital, Chengjing’s small face had regained some color, becoming a protected figure in Qixiang Palace. Having finally received permission from Princess Consort Jing to go out, he eagerly went to Xianfu Palace to thank his "beautiful sister."
Princess Consort Jing was reluctant to be strict with her son, but she would show no mercy to the palace attendants.
If the Eldest Prince were to suffer even a minor scratch, she would ask the Emperor to send all his attendants to the Imprisonment Department, showing no leniency.
"Your Highness, by protocol, you should first pay respects to Concubine Li..."
At this moment, Concubine Li came out to greet the Eldest Prince and politely asked if he wanted to come in and sit down.
To be honest, Concubine Li didn’t like other people’s children at all.
Especially this sickly Eldest Prince; if he were to fall ill in her palace, Princess Consort Jing would surely hold a grudge against her.
"Your son greets Concubine Li."
Chengjing quickly paid respects to Concubine Li and then shyly shook his head, "I’m here to see Lady Xi, so I won’t disturb Concubine Li."
"Alright, Your Highness, go ahead. Next time, come to my palace for some snacks."
Concubine Li waved a handkerchief, watching him head to the backyard.
...
Ever since falling into the water that day, Xie Chengjing had been ill intermittently for a week.
He occasionally had fevers, remained weak for a long time, and couldn’t lift his arms or legs. During his few moments of clarity, his eyes met those of his tearful mother and the ceiling as he was fed medicine, closing his eyes to nightly nightmares of being submerged in icy water. At his most panicked, helpless, and regretful moments, a pair of hands reached out from behind and lifted him out, allowing him to breathe fresh air again.
Throughout this week, he repeatedly dreamt about falling into the water.
Strangely, each iteration of the event played out with subtle differences, yet the owner of those hands seemed to learn how to rescue him anew each time, in that eternal dream where the only constant was that she never gave up on him.
After recovering, Xie Chengjing learned that the owner of those hands was none other than Lady Xi from Xianfu Palace.
He wanted to find her and thank her in person.
Before he was allowed out of bed, Chengjing had imagined countless times what his benefactor looked like.
Her hands, though soft, were strong enough to save him from the icy pond.
She should have a gentle and beautiful face, brimming with wisdom, with a resilient spirit—an Immortal descended to save those in distress, unlike the ordinary harem inhabitants. The little boy attributed all the beautiful words he knew to Lady Xi.
And now, finally, he could see the true face of Lady Xi!
Finally, he could express his gratitude to Lady Xi while fully awake; she would surely give him a warm embrace!
The excited young boy rushed into the west wing—
"I told you I can somersault, why don’t you believe me?"
Yun Jiao was on the couch, rolling herself into a ball, tumbling forward two times.
Ever since her first night in the Emperor’s chambers, she consciously practiced stretching and yoga.
The reason was simple: the Emperor was too overwhelming, and she didn’t want to feel broken every time, so she aimed to train her body to withstand at least a couple of bouts. Alas, though she imagined being disciplined, reality was indulgent, and her only so-called ’exercise’ was rolling around on the couch.
"No maid defies Lady; Lady rolled yesterday."
"Yesterday I was pretending to be a snowball, today is different," Yun Jiao seriously corrected.
"What is Lady today then?"
"A thunderbolt invincible flaming wheel."
Yun Jiao rolled forward two more times, "This time I’m a tossed sesame ball."
...
Xie Chengjing experienced his first small shock in life.
His rescuer was, in fact, a tossed sesame ball.
...
"This slave greets Lady Xi and pays respects to Lady Xi."
The palace maid following Chengjing performed a grand salute to Yun Jiao.
Upon being asked to rise, she immediately stated her purpose.
"Doesn’t Lady Xi recognize Jing’er anymore?"
The little boy’s face was flushed, but not the healthy rosy kind. He had a pale complexion and his cheeks were reddened from the cold as he hurried over, his dark eyes filled with awe and anticipation, as well as a hint of shyness, as if Yun Jiao saying one word "no" would make him burst into tears.
"How could I not recognize you? Has Your Highness fully recovered?"
"Fully recovered. I’ve wanted to visit Xianfu Palace to thank Lady Xi for some time, but Mother Consort and the Imperial Physician wanted me to rest, so I had to wait till today. I hope Lady Xi forgives me,"
Chengjing looked eagerly at Yun Jiao, "Could Lady Xi call me Jing’er like Mother Consort does? I’d rather not be addressed as Your Highness like anyone else."
"Of course."
It’s just a matter of addressing, Yun Jiao agreed.
As soon as she spoke, the little boy’s eyes brimmed with joy, and he dashed eagerly to her side, "Lady Xi is as beautiful as I imagined. Even if Lady Xi is a sesame ball, I like Lady Xi. Thank you, Lady Xi, for saving me; your great kindness and virtue are something Jing’er will never forget."
The Eldest Prince’s childish words amused all the palace maids in the room.
Rarely were children’s voices heard in the palace; Xue Ya and Gong Mei found the Eldest Prince quite adorable.
Yun Jiao thought differently. She had seen too many kids during her past life in the hospital, especially those frail, sickly children, so she was familiar with this without any embellishment. She crouched down to look the Eldest Prince in the eye, "Even if I’m a sesame ball, Jing’er still likes me?"
Chengjing nodded vigorously.
Yun Jiao: "What if I were a dung ball?"
"..."
The Eldest Prince had a thunderstruck expression.