Chapter 219: Dragon’s Seed

It was late at night that even the residence of Prince Rui was immersed in sleep and when it was all quiet, suddenly someone came in. It was Tie Yi who suddenly had something to report. Usually at such a time, Tie Yi would not come over to disturb. Shen Miao was sleeping at the deepest when she felt Xie Jing Xing getting up and walking out of the door. After a moment, he seemed to be talking outside with someone and in half a moment, sounds of clothes rustling was heard. She opened her eyes and saw that Xie Jing Xing was standing in front of the study table wearing clothes. She took a look outside again and saw that it was in the middle of the night and did not know why he looked like he was about to go out at such a timing.

"What had happened?" She asked.

Xie Jing Xing saw that she was awake and said, "Something happened in the Palace. I will enter the Palace to take a look. You should sleep first. There is no need to wait for me."

Hearing that, Shen Miao's sleepiness was mostly scattered away. For Xie Jing Xing to leave in such a late night, one could tell that this matter is very serious and moreover it was a Palace's matter. She said, "What is it? Is it serious?"

"The Empress pushed Consort Jing into the pond." Xie Jing Xing said as he wore his outer robes, "The specifics could not be said clearly in a short time."

Shen Miao was relieved. For Xie Jing Xing to run to the Palace in the middle of the night, she had thought that there was an assassin in the Palace. When she heard about the matter, her heart was settled but after thinking about it, she said in surprise, "Why would Her Ladyship the Empress push Consort Jing into the pond?" Shen Miao had seen Empress Xian De before and also seen Consort Jing. When facing this type of person like Consort Jing, Empress Xian De simply disdain to even compete and Empress Xian De did not have an impulsive temperament. If it is said that Consort Jing pushed Empress Xian De into the water, Shen Miao would believe it but saying that it was Empress Xian De who took that action was something that Shen Miao did not believe at all.

"The Lu family is currently in the Palace." Xie Jing Xing said, "They love to pester endlessly. I will go over first to take a look."

Shen Miao quickly got up, "I will go too."

"It is too late." Xie Jing Xing disagreed, "You should sleep. Nothing will happen."

Shen Miao shook her head, "Since you will be entering the Palace, this is not a simple matter. Anyways, I will not be able to sleep and for you to let me stay in the residence myself, I would let one's imagination run wild. It is better to go over with you. Moreover if anything happen, one could maybe even help."

Xie Jing Xing thought for a moment, "Never mind it. I would not feel rest assured leaving you here alone. Let's go."

Shen Miao quickly got up and changed clothes.

Because it was really late, all the servants were resting so Xie Jing Xing and Shen Miao only brought Tie Yi and Cong Yang along. Both of them rode the carriage onto the streets of Long Ye and there was not even a single person on the road. Xie Jing Xing's expression was somewhat cold and Shen Miao was seriously lost in thoughts.

Even if Empress Xian De pushed Consort Jing, there was no need to call Xie Jing Xing into the Palace in the middle of the night. To put it in a bad way, even if Consort Jing lost her life because of this, that was a fight between the females in the Inner Palace and one could directly dismiss the people from the Lu family. Moreover Emperor Yong Le was currently tearing all pretenses from the Lu family, so how would he let the Lu family make a big fuss?

When Shen Miao was in Ming Qi, she had also seen concubines who would hinder another because of jealousy. The pushing into the pond by Empress Xian De to Consort Jing was the most inferior set up, so what did it need Xie Jing Xing to take a trip to the Palace? Shen Miao felt that this matter was not that simple. However Tie Yi said that the person who came over from the Palace with the Imperial decree did not speak clearly thus no one knew the specifics of the situation.

Both of them were deep in their own thoughts thus in a moment of time, they reached the gates of the Palace. Deng GongGong, who was always beside Emperor Yong Le, was waiting at the gates of the Palace. Upon seeing Xie Jing Xing, he was joyful but became startled when he saw Shen Miao coming down from the carriage. However he was not bothered by this and smiled, "Your Highness the Prince of First Rank has finally arrived. His Majesty is in the Palace waiting for you."

Xie Jing Xing let Deng GongGong walk in front and Shen Miao followed behind. After thinking a while, she then asked Deng GongGong, "Deng GongGong, is Her Ladyship the Empress well?"

"Her Ladyship the Empress is well. Many thanks for WangFei's care." Deng GongGong said with a smile.

Shen Miao's gaze slightly moved. The Empress was fine but such a big fuss was created, did it mean that it was related to the other person?

Sure enough when she thought of that point, she heard Deng GongGong speaking, "However Her Ladyship Consort Jing has not yet woken up."

Xie Jing Xing sneered, "What kind of tricks is Lu Jing playing?" He had an annoyed expression on.

Deng GongGong smiled and did not say anything more but Shen Miao felt that there was some meaning to that smile.

After entering the Palace, the place that Deng GongGong took both of them straight to was Jing Hua Palace. Jing Hua Palace was where Consort Jing was staying and it was already in the middle of the night but Jing Hua Palace was brightly lit and all the palace maids were kneeling in the middle of the hall. With a look, Shen Miao could see that Emperor Yong Le and Empress Xian De were also present. Both of them were sitting in the hall but one was unable to see any difference with Empress Xian De as she was the usual calm but Emperor Yong Le's face was as cold as frost.

Shen Miao went in with Xie Jing Xing and Deng GongGong quickly reported. When Emperor Yong Le saw that Shen Miao also came over, his expression was also slightly startled but Empress Xian De stood up and smiled as she walked over to Shen Miao before speaking familiarly as she held Shen Miao's hands, "Previously one heard that your health is not good and wanted to let you come to the Palace to chat. Who knew that so many things had happened? One did not expect that you would come over at such a late night."

Shen Miao smiled, "One did not know what has happen for His Highness to enter the Palace, thus one just come along."

Empress Xian De asked her, "Is one's health recovering?"

Shen Miao said, "It is fully healed. Many thanks for Your Ladyship's kindness."

Empress Xian De then smiled, "Then BenGong is relieved."

At Xie Jing Xing's end, he was looking at Emperor Yong Le and said seriously, "Imperial Older Brother, what had happened?"

Everyone knew that Empress Xian De would not push Consort Jing into the water and Consort Jing had not yet awake but Emperor Yong Le had already taken action against the Lu family, without even caring of the Lu family's face, so why would he call Xie Jing Xing into the Palace because of Consort Jing's health?

Emperor Yong Le said coldly, "The Lu family was just here."

"They came?" Xie Jing Xing frowned, "When I entered, one did not see the people of the Lu family." The Lu family was annoying troublemakers and their tails are already up in the skies. Today Consort Jing had fallen into the water and the Lu family had been suffering losses under the Emperor's hands, so they would definitely take this opportunity to kick up a fuss and would not let Empress Xian De off. For the Lu family not to show even a shadow, could it be that they had already kick up a fuss on their way here?"

"They are not afraid that something would happen to Consort Jing." The one that spoke was Empress Xian De, "They are secure in the knowledge that one has backing."

Shen Miao heart moved. Secure in the knowledge that one had backing? What is the meaning of those words?

Just as she was thinking, she saw an Imperial Physician coming out. He walked to Emperor Yong Le and bowed, "Replying to Your Majesty, Her Ladyship Consort Jing has gotten a cold after falling into the water. Fortunately the foundation of her health is good thus the Dragon seed in her womb is safe. After taking two doses of medication and rest, both mother and child would be safe."

Consort Jing was pregnant?

Shen Miao and Xie Jing Xing was stunned. Unconsciously Shen Miao looked towards Empress Xian De and the lips of Empress Xian De raised slightly higher and she looked the usual calm and magnanimous but Shen Miao felt that no matter how she look, that smile was of satire. She then looked at Emperor Yong Le, his gaze was ice cold and his expression had sank into the water, no matter how one looked, he did not seemed to be happy.

It seemed that Consort Jing had woken in the room as a delicate voice called out, "Your Majesty. ChenQie wants to see His Majesty." Xie Jing Xing looked at Emperor Yong Le with a smile but not a smile but Emperor Yong Le turned his head to look at Empress Xian De. Empress Xian De smiled gently, "Your Majesty should take a look at Consort Jing. The child is always innocent." She then looked towards Xie Jing Xing, "His Majesty most likely will be talking to you in a while so you can wait here." She then said to Shen Miao, "After so much time, BenGong also want to return to change. WangFei can accompany BenGong back. One feared that one would be tired in such a late night, Wei Yang Palace has hot tea prepared."

Empress Xian De was so dignified that one could not see any single wrong but the calmer she was, the more it made one's heart upset. Shen Miao saw that a large part of Empress Xian De's skirt was damp and guessed that she was just beside Consort Jing by the pond and when Consort Jing fell into the water, Empress Xian De's clothes became wet. However because of the constant caring for Lu Jing, she did not care to change into clean clothes.

She nodded her head, "Alright."

Emperor Yong Le stared at Empress Xian De and did not speak while Consort Jing, who was in the room calling, became even more delicate. Empress Xian De said, "It is better for Your Majesty to take a look earlier. It is not Consort Jing that would be tired but the child in Consort Jing's womb." After finishing, she pulled Shen Miao and left without caring what expression was on Emperor Yong Le's face.

Once exiting Jing Hua Palace, the air outside seemed to be much more refreshing. The hustle and bustle of the summer was about to pass and it would not be long later for the weather to gradually cool down and enter the beginning of autumn. The flowers were blooming beautifully in the summer but after some more days, it would be cool and deserted.

Shen Miao's head was hanging down as she thought about the strange atmosphere between Emperor Yong Le and Empress Xian De. She felt that Empress Xian De showed some exhaustion today that when she was in Jing Hua Palace, she was somewhat confrontational towards Emperor Yong Le. This was different from the usual calm Empress Xian De's personality. Was it perhaps due to Consort Jing's child?

That's right. Empress Xian De did not have children. When Shen Miao first entered the Palace, she had discovered that Emperor Yong Le was at his prime but did not have any descendants of his own. There were a lot of followers of the Lu and Ye family in court and other than the powers that were left by the Late Emperor, the other reason was because there was no descendants. No matter how one looked, an Emperor who did not have any descendants would not last long.

But Consort Jing was pregnant now? If Consort Jing gave birth to a son, could it be that the future Monarch would be fixed? Then this country would be tied to the Lu family at the end. Emperor Yong Le would definitely not one to see an external relative holding on to exclusive power. It was no wonder that when Emperor Yong Le was not at all happy upon hearing that Consort Jing was pregnant. However the reason Empress Xian De was unhappy, most likely because of the position of an Empress but due to the jealously of a female's heart.

The person on the spot was baffled but the onlooker saw everything exceptionally clearly. Shen Miao was also the same. The gaze that Empress Xian De looked at Emperor Yong Le was the same as how she initially looked at Fu Xiu Yi. She loved deeply one's own husband but at the end, it was another female that was pregnant with one's husband's child. No matter how calm Empress Xian De was, there would be a trace of unhappiness in one's heart.

She was after all only a female.

"WangFei of First Rank?" Empress Xian De's voice sounded. Shen Miao recovered to her senses and as Empress Xian De was looking at ther, she smiled somewhat tolerantly, "You were too lost in thoughts and one is unable to hear BenGong's words."

Shen Miao quickly apologised, "One has offended Your Ladyship."

"There is no need to be as such." Empress Xian De did not seem to take it to heart. "It is so late already, it is natural for one to get lost in one's thought when tired. WangFei do not need to blame oneself."

As Shen Miao walked, she could not help but asked, "Your Ladyship, one would like to ask you about a matter."

"Please ask."

"Was it really you who push Consort Jing into the water?"

Empress Xian De slightly hesitated before smiling towards her, "What does WangFei think?"

"Your Ladyship the Empress would definitely not do such a thing. Consort Jing did not just enter the Palace and Your Ladyship had lived together with her peacefully for so many years so one would not deal with her at such a moment like this." Shen Miao said, "So one is curious why did Your Ladyship accept this crime?"

Empress Xian De stopped walking and looked at Shen Miao with a smile, "You indeed believe in BenGong. In fact it is strange when one speaks about it. From the first time BenGong saw you, one felt that you are very similar with BenGong but your personality is much more intense. It is most likely because your Father is a General. BenGong had heard many things about you and even though you have versatile means and schemes, but the actions are clean and direct which possess a military air. BenGong cannot do it as literary families pay attention to being indirect. Even though BenGong want to do it in a roundabout way, one has to tie it up softly till the end, thus at the end you and BenGong will always be different."

Shen Miao was silent.

Empress Xian De smiled again, "There is really no need for BenGong to push her into the pond and the Emperor understood this rational, the Lu family also understood it but the only one that did not understand was Lu Jing. As for this crime, it does not matter if one carries it. The goal of framing a person is to deceive everyone under the skies but even you, who just came to Long Ye, know about this lie, not to mention the officials in Long Ye."

Shen Miao, "Could it be that Your Ladyship would not explain?"

"BenGong is too lazy to explain and cannot be bothered to do it. Consort Jing can do whatever she likes. BenGong would not take it to heart at all." Empress Xian De said faintly.

Shen Miao thought that just this point, she was completely different from Empress Xian De. If it was her, if it was not the crime that she committed, she would not admit to it and no matter how much she changed, the fierceness in her bones would not change. Empress Xian De was like vast and deep water that was tolerate and calm and that made others feel very small in front of her.

Just as they were speaking, unconsciously Wei Yang Palace was in sight and Tao GuGu was waiting at the doors. Upon seeing both of them returning, she quickly walked to Empress Xian De, "Is Your Ladyship alright? Is Her Ladyship Consort Jing alright?" After people came when Consort Jing fell into the water, Empress Xian De instructed Tao GuGu to return first and Tao GuGu had been worried all the time and Empress Xian De return only now.

Empress Xian De did not answer Tao GuGu and instead smiled, "Nothing the matter. BenGong will change one's clothes first. Tao GuGu, bring WangFei to the hall to sit and prepare some hot tea for her." Finishing, she headed inside to change her clothes.

Tao GuGu brought Shen Miao to the hall. The tea was hot as Tao GuGu poured some for Shen Miao and could not help but asked, "WangFei, what is actually going on with Her Ladyship Consort Jing? Nothing big happened right? Why was one delayed for so long?" She was an anxious and eager loyal servant.

Shen Miao thought about it and said, "There is nothing the matter with Consort Jing and the child in her womb is also doing well."

Tao GuGu was violently startled and the tea was almost spilt. When she finally reacted, she stopped her actions but her face was very pale.

When Shen Miao saw her as such, she asked, "You all do not know that Consort Jing is pregnant?"

Tao GuGu smiled forcefully, "WangFei is joking. How would one know it earlier? If one had known…" She did not continue speaking.

Shen Miao did not overlook the resentful anger that flashed passed on Tao GuGu's face and her heart was thinking of what would happen if she had known about it. Would she annihilate the child in the womb, like all the females in the Palace would do?

Just as she was thinking about it, Empress Xian De walked over from inside. She had changed her clothes but the clothes she changed into were white thin robes and there was embroidered bluegrass on top of it. One could not deny that Empress Xian De without the official Empress outfit would look an entirely different person. Shen Miao looked carefully and noticed that Empress Xian De's brows was light but comfortable and she indeed embodied the historian style and was a little similar with Pei Lang but embraced the wind more than Pei Lang.

She walked over and sat by Shen Miao's side before picking up a cup of tea, "One it really tired at night and it is so much warmer to have tea like this."

Tao GuGu suddenly knelt down, "Your Ladyship, how could you still have the mood to drink tea?"

Empress Xian De was startled, "What is this?" There was a faint strictness in her tone of voice.

Tao GuGu remained unmoved and continued kneeling but said with some grief and indignation, "Her Ladyship Consort Jing is pregnant. She is pregnant and still wants to frame you. You still tolerate it. Till when do one need to endure?"

These words had exceeded what a servant should say to a master and thus the atmosphere quickly became cold. Shen Miao looked at her nose and she did not speak while she was holding the teacup. Empress Xian De said, "Qiu Shui, you have followed BenGong for so many years and BenGong see you as family but you have exceeded one's boundaries."

Tao GuGu refused to get up.

After a moment, Empress Xian De sighed, "Never mind. Lu Jing did not know that she was pregnant. BenGong knows Lu Jing's temprement well. If she knew that she was pregnant, she would not use the child in her womb to frame BenGong. She would only protect the 'Dragon's seed' well and not let anything happen to the child."

"But now it is a fact that Consort Jing is pregnant." Tao GuGu raised her head, "Your Ladyship has to consider for oneself!"

Shen Miao could no longer stay silent and said, "Tao GuGu's words are not wrong. One needs to carefully think about the matter of Consort Jing. That was not all for the Empress. Even with the current situation with the Lu family, Your Ladyship the Empress cannot just be an onlooker.

Empress Xian De looked at her astonished as she did not expect that Shen Miao would speak at such a juncture but she quickly smiled, "It seemed that Jing Xing had spoken a lot to you."

"Qiu Shui, get up." Empress Xian De said to Tao GuGu, "BenGong do not wish to speak the second time."

An ordering tone was used when saying this sentence thus Tao GuGu hesitated before she finally stood up.

Empress Xian De looked towards Shen Miao, "One had let you see a joke. Qiu Shui is a person very close to BenGong and would think of BenGong wholeheartedly thus her words might be somewhat anxious. However her heart comes from a good place." She then sighed, "Actually BenGong had all the while thought that Lu Zhen is a stupid one and BenGong disdain to compete with her but from now it seems that it is BenGong that made an oversight. Lu Zhen still has some capabilities as she could avoid the concoction to avoid pregnancy and bear the Emperor's child."

Concoction to avoid pregnancy. Shen Miao's heard moved. Empress Xian De just told her about the Palace's secret like that. In fact the more she knows, the more dangerous it would become as those who knew about the private secret matters would at the end become fertilizers for the Palace's flowers. However one did not know why but she felt that when Empress Xian De spoke to her about these things, it was only because she wanted to tell her and not to guard against her because of her knowledge.

"You are a smart person so one thinks that you have noticed that the Emperor has no children in the Palace but this was not because of the concubines or the Emperor himself but because they all drank the concoction to avoid pregnancy. Lu Jing initially also drank it but one did not know why but it is most likely she had used some methods to be pregnant with the Dragon's seed. This is the first in the Palace." After finishing speaking, she seemed to have thought about something else and smiled, "Perhaps this is not the first. BenGong had also had a child before but there was a miscarriage."

When Tao GuGu heard it, her eyes became somewhat red.

Shen Miao's hands that were holding the tea cup trembled but she did not speak.

"The Emperor often felt that you are not good because he felt that Jing Xing is the best that even if the female is a fairy, most likely it would not be even worth mentioning to his eyes. At the beginning Jing Xing said that he wanted to marry a female from Ming Qi, thus the Emperor instructed people to inquire many of your matters. After hearing about all the matter, he said to BenGong that you have a malicious heart." Empress Xian De suddenly changed topic and looked at Shen Miao, "However looking at it now, BenGong feels that you are very kind."

Shen Miao was puzzled and only heard Empress Xian De speaking, "You obviously want to ask about the miscarriage of BenGong's child but fear that it would affect BenGong's feelings and thus did not ask."

Shen Miao said softly, "This one does not dare only."

"You are in fact very frank and sincere. Jing Xing has indeed found an interesting wife. BenGong like you even more." Empress Xian De smiled before continuing, "Actually the matter has passed a long time so BenGong is at ease. At the beginning when BenGong was pregnant, Lu Zhen added a cold herb into the snacks that the Imperial Kitchens made. Just a little and BenGong's child was gone. At that time Lu Zhen just entered the Palace and was at the 'favoured' period. The Lu family was watching and His Majesty could only punish a little. BenGong felt that one was not fated with one's child."

Just from listening, Shen Miao could already guess the heartbreaking pain in it. In her previous life in Ming Qi Inner Palace, the concubines would fight with one another for the Monarch's love and favour thus the Inner Palace is the battlefield for females and when females became vicious, they would be more fearful than males. There were a number of consorts' children who became victims in such a situation. However no matter how vicious a concubine was, the moment they lose a child, they would cry hopelessly. Did this calm and gentle Empress in front of her also experience this kind of despair? It took a long time for the scar to be healed but only she herself would know of the pain from the scar.

The most hateful thing was that she could not even avenge for her child. Why was this so?

"You must not blame His Majesty and don't pity BenGong. Even though BenGong is indeed pitiful, BenGong have also become a wicked person." Empress Xian De said, "After BenGong miscarriage, one could no longer have children so in this lifetime, one would not be able to have my own child. Thus the Emperor did not let all the females in this Inner Palace carry his children. BenGong does not live well so everyone cannot live well."

Shen Miao was startled.

Because Empress Xian De could not bear children so Emperor Yong Le did not let all the female in the Palace give birth?

Then Emperor Yong Le really loved Empress Xian De but if he truly loved her then why would he allow Empress Xian De suffer such a great grievance? Even if Empress Xian De did not mention, Emperor Yong Le himself would want to kill the murderer so why would he make her his favoured Consort?

Shen Miao felt that the secrets of Great Liang's Imperial family it not at all less than Ming Qi's.

When Empress Xian De saw her startled look, she suddenly smiled, "You really believe it. How would His Majesty be willing to give up all the concubines' children because of BenGon? Jing Xing could do it because of Jing Xing's good fortune but the Emperor's fortune is not good as he is the Emperor."

There was so much more meaning to this sentence thus Shen Miao did not know how to continue for the time being.

"But you are right with your words. One naturally has to plan for the future. Consort Jing's child come in a convenient time as this child would temporarily protect her life but the Lu family do not have such luck." Empress Xian De smile slightly but the smile became sharp…

"The child cannot be kept." In the Imperial Study, Xie Jing Xing's gaze was cold as he spoke to the Emperor in front.

"Zhen knows that this child cannot be kept and if it is possible, Zhen wishes to give her a bowl of medication at this moment." Emperor Yong Le spoke indifferently, as if the person that would suffer from the medication was not his child and someone else.

"Then why do you not do it?" Xie Jing Xing asked sharply.

"Qing Zhen doesn't allow it." Emperor Yong Le said.

Qing Zhen was Empress Xian De's unmarried name and this name was not spoken from Emperor Yong Le's lips for a long time.

After half a moment, Xie Jing Xing laughed in ridicule, "Imperial Sao's heart has always been soft and perhaps because of pitying the death of one's child."

"Xie Yuan!" These words seemed to have touched on Emperor Yong Le's pain that he glared at the other party.

But it only brought a casual smile from Xie Jing Xing, "So what can be done now? I do not care about Lu Jing and I do not want to pay any attention to that child. The Lu family came and left, with the absolute certainty that the child in Lu Jing's womb is a talisman. How could one give them such a big gift?"

To an Emperor without any descendent, to suddenly have one, it would be a life-saving straw. No matter how unwilling Emperor Yong Le was, the position of the Monarch would land onto the child in Consort Jing's womb thus after the Lu family came to take a look at Consort Jing's pregnancy, they did not make a fuss or have any disagreement and left quickly. Perhaps in their eyes, the Empress position of Empress Xian De would soon be gone and did not even have time to take pity. The power was their kindness.

But could one really sleep in comfort without worries?

Since ancient times, there was a saying that it was hard to foresee future events.

"The Lu family has always forgotten about a matter. You and I bear the surname of Xie and we have the Xie family's blood in our body." Emperor Yong Le said indifferently, "The people of Xie family are all ruthless and unfeeling."