Time Travel: Pampered by the Aloof Prince
Chapter 298: This despicable person, how dare they humiliate me like this

Chapter 298: Chapter 298: This despicable person, how dare they humiliate me like this

In Jingyang Palace, just past noon, the Empress lifted her hand to have the remnants of the meal on the table cleaned away.

Treasure Bead accompanied her in the garden for a while, the Empress resting one hand in the palm of Treasure Bead and the other on her swollen pregnant belly.

In just over two months, she would be able to see this child.

Smiling, Treasure Bead congratulated her, "It hasn’t been easy for Princess to carry this child; finally, you’ve almost made it."

Upon hearing this, a smile curled on the Empress’s lips but quickly vanished without a trace.

She looked indifferently at the plants and trees in the garden, walking slowly.

After a while, noticing the midday sun was at its peak and fearing it would harm her, Treasure Bead hastily suggested, "Princess, let’s go back and rest; it’s too hot outside."

The Empress murmured an indifferent "Hmm," allowing her to be assisted back to her chamber.

It had been hot lately, and although ice blocks were initially placed inside the room, the Imperial Physician warned that they could harm the fetus, so Treasure Bead had the palace maids remove them.

Apart from opening the windows for ventilation, there were over a dozen palace maids taking turns to fan the Empress.

Before long, Imperial Physician Chen arrived to check her pulse.

Treasure Bead hurriedly welcomed him and dismissed the palace maids.

With the palace maids no longer there to fan, she picked up a fan and slowly wafted away the stifling heat from the Empress’s side.

Chen Shi knelt on the ground, not daring to raise his head.

After a moment, the Empress stretched out a hand, and Treasure Bead quickly covered her wrist with a handkerchief.

After the pulse was taken, Chen Shi’s gentle voice sounded, "Princess, everything is well with the Dragon Son in your womb."

On hearing this, the Empress relaxed and said with a somewhat weary look, "In another two months, I will be giving birth to the Dragon Son; has the nanny been arranged for the delivery?"

The question seemed a bit strange.

Naturally, the palace was never short of midwives, and upon hearing that a noble was about to give birth, they would certainly prepare well in advance.

However, the other two in the room didn’t find the Empress’s question odd, and their expressions remained unchanged.

Chen Shi replied softly, "Everything has been arranged, Princess."

The Empress then waved her hand, "I understand, you may leave."

"Yes," Chen Shi slowly rose, picked up his medicine box, and was about to walk out.

Suddenly, an eunuch rushed in, his voice frantic, "Princess, it’s not good!"

Upon hearing this, the Empress’s brow furrowed, and she snapped, "What’s the matter that you’re in such a panic!"

The eunuch then realized he had been out of line and hurriedly knelt to apologize, "I deserve death, Princess."

Treasure Bead scolded from the side, "The Princess is with child. By making such a racket in Jingyang Palace, you could frighten the Dragon Son in her womb!"

The Eunuch was visibly embarrassed, continuously kowtowing, "Miss is right, I won’t dare do it again."

Though he said so, his dark expression revealed everything.

Internally, the eunuch cursed Treasure Bead, who had been wielding power, more than a dozen times. Ever since the Princess became pregnant, only Treasure Bead was kept by her side, with everyone else relegated to guarding the gates.

After so many years beside the Princess, he found it unbearable that he received less favor than a mere palace maid.

Treasure Bead eyed him, taking in all his unsightly behavior, a trace of mockery flickering in her eyes.

The Empress then raised her hand, allowing him to rise, and asked in a cold tone, "What is it?"

Servant Fu did not dare to display any more of his sharp mannerisms and stood to the side, speaking in a timid and compliant voice, "Your Highness, Princess Qi Yu has arrived."

The Empress frowned, "Princess Qi Yu? What is she here for?"

Seeing that the Empress was not in a good mood, and knowing of her usual dislike for Princess Qi Yu, Servant Fu immediately exaggerated, "Princess Qi Yu entered the palace early this morning, she first visited the Noble Consort of Virtue, then made a trip to the Xuanruo Pavilion, and only then did she remember to come and pay respects to Your Highness."

The palace has always been a place rife with gossip, and since these eunuchs and palace maids had little to do besides serving their masters, they would stretch their necks out in anticipation of whatever commotion would arise in the palace next.

Their sense for gossip was sharper than a dog’s nose.

And for an extraordinary woman like Princess Qi Yu, almost every visit to the palace would lead to a significant commotion.

Therefore, no matter how the Empress and the other concubines viewed Qi Yu, these servants actually looked forward to her visits to the palace.

Because when Princess Qi Yu entered the palace, it meant they had more gossip and amusement to look forward to.

Qi Yu herself was unaware of how much attention she attracted, and even less aware that as soon as she set foot within the palace walls, the news of Princess Qi Yu’s visit had already spread like wildfire.

Being in a position like Servant Fu, one knew that it was not only about serving your master well, but more importantly, providing value to them.

And it was these seemingly inconsequential pieces of gossip that were their source of information gathering.

That’s why Servant Fu was so peculiarly well-informed about Qi Yu’s movements; those unaware might have thought he had been following her all morning.

Upon hearing his words, the Empress flew into a rage, "That wretched woman, how dare she humiliate me so!"

Chen Shi kept his head low, standing to the side. He had not moved quickly enough earlier, and when Servant Fu entered, he had not managed to leave, finding it even less opportune to make a discreet exit amidst the Empress’s temper.

However, upon hearing the title ’Princess Qi Yu’ a flicker of emotion subtly passed across the depths of his eyes.

Treasure Bead, seeing the Empress’s anger, hurriedly consoled her, "Your Highness, why bother getting angry with her? It’s not good for your health to become upset."

The Empress barely managed to suppress the anger in her heart and instructed Servant Fu, "Tell her I have already retired to rest, and to get out!"

Servant Fu, having successfully fanned the flames, wore a somewhat smug expression as he quickly rose and scurried away.

As he left, naturally, Chen Shi could no longer continue to remain, so he bowed and tiptoed out as well.

Yet, he had not reached the gate of Jingyang Palace before he saw Servant Fu rushing back inside in a fluster, with the look of someone eager to report a grievance.

Chen Shi silently shook his head; he was well aware of the nature of these eunuchs and tended not to engage with them.

But for some unknown reason, today his steps were particularly slow, as if he was waiting for something.

Inside, after Servant Fu reported Qi Yu’s words, the Empress was about to explode in anger but was dissuaded by Treasure Bead, "It probably isn’t anything serious. If Your Highness doesn’t wish to see her, just send her away."

Servant Fu knelt on the side, trembling, as the Empress’s anger towards Princess Qi Yu spilled onto him.

He couldn’t help but sigh, wishing he had sent a young eunuch to deliver the message instead. Why had he insisted on taking on this mess himself?

He had hoped to gain favor in the eyes of Her Highness, but instead, he had been met with misfortune.

The Empress thought it over; Qi Yu would not come to find her so abruptly without a good reason.

Otherwise, given her character, she wouldn’t deign to visit Jingyang Palace even in eight hundred years.

Her eagerness to come today must certainly mean she needed something from the Empress.

With this in mind, the Empress let out a cold laugh and said to Servant Fu, "Let her in."