The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 208: Chapter 207: Slapping the Green Tea Empress Dowager (24)

After returning to the palace, Emperor Jianwu pondered how to cause the Empress Dowager to miscarry.

He didn’t understand the matters of women becoming pregnant and giving birth. When he asked Mr. Liu, Mr. Liu knew even less.

Emperor Jianwu was also afraid that the Imperial Physicians in the palace were the Empress Dowager’s people, and thus he dared not ask them.

Eventually, having no other recourse, he let Yun Que help gather some information.

After all, Yun Que had extensive connections and knew all sorts of people; she was certainly able to find something out.

And indeed, Yun Que knew.

After all, she had stayed in a brothel before, where there were plenty of secret medicines, including many that could cause sterility.

A few days later, Yun Que brought the medicine to Emperor Jianwu and told him how to use it.

With the medicine obtained, the difficult part was how to get the Empress Dowager to drink it.

Emperor Jianwu certainly couldn’t bribe those around the Empress Dowager.

They were old servants who had followed the Empress Dowager for many years, loyal to the core, and would absolutely not betray her.

Besides, administering the medicine to the Empress Dowager was akin to seeking death—who would dare to do such a thing?

After much deliberation, Emperor Jianwu didn’t know what to do.

The Empress Dowager’s belly grew larger with each passing day. If he didn’t get rid of the child quickly, it would be troublesome once the child was born.

Time was of the essence, and Emperor Jianwu could not wait any longer.

In the end, he gritted his teeth and decided to do it himself.

That day, after the morning court session, Emperor Jianwu had a carriage prepared, intending to visit the palace.

Emperor Jianwu’s visit was sudden, and he hadn’t notified the Empress Dowager in advance.

When he arrived, the Empress Dowager was eating, and Emperor Jianwu caught her off guard.

Upon seeing the Empress Dowager with her swollen belly, Emperor Jianwu’s eyes instantly reddened with anger.

Hearing from others and seeing for oneself had completely different impacts.

He couldn’t bear it just being told by Mr. Liu, but now that he saw the Empress Dowager proudly sporting such a big belly, he was even less able to bear it.

Emperor Jianwu was provoked to his limit.

He stared at the Empress Dowager for a long time.

Feeling uneasy inside, the Empress Dowager wouldn’t deny it now that Emperor Jianwu already knew.

She touched her belly: ”Your visit is timely. Say hello to your little brother. In a short while, he should be born. My son will have someone to rely on...”

Emperor Jianwu wanted to say this wasn’t his brother, he had brothers, and plenty of them—who would want this monstrous child?

But the words stuck in his throat and he couldn’t say them.

Drawing a deep breath, he forced a smile and walked over: ”Queen Mother... to think that the Queen Mother would actually, I, I really don’t know what I should do.”

The Empress Dowager reached out to hold Emperor Jianwu’s hand.

But Emperor Jianwu dodged: ”So it was for him that Mother left the palace. Does Prince Kang know about this child?”

He asked this to confirm whether the child was Prince Kang’s.

The Empress Dowager lowered her head, her face filled with tender love when speaking of the child: ”I haven’t told him yet. I’ll present the child to him after the birth. Rest assured, I will make sure everything is well arranged; it won’t affect you.”

Emperor Jianwu didn’t believe these words one bit.

He laughed: ”I hope the Queen Mother can arrange everything appropriately. If this gets out, it won’t be good for either of us.”

The Empress Dowager was naturally aware of the gravity of the matter: ”Don’t worry, we can say that the child is from a woman raised by Prince Kang on the outside; no one will dare to investigate.”

Emperor Jianwu seemed to let out a sign of relief.

Immediately after, he took a food box and placed it in front of the Empress Dowager, uncovering it to reveal various pastries inside, as well as some dishes specially prepared by the Imperial Kitchen.

”Mother, I hope you are still accustomed to eating outside. I have brought some special foods, please try them.”

Emperor Jianwu personally took a pastry and brought it to the Empress Dowager’s lips.

The Empress Dowager ate it with a smile: ”My son is thoughtful.”

”Do they taste good?”

Emperor Jianwu watched as the Empress Dowager finished eating.

”Delicious.”

The Empress Dowager nodded.

”Then eat a bit more.”

Emperor Jianwu, worried that Empress Dowager hadn’t consumed enough of the medicine and that the child wouldn’t be aborted, kept urging the Empress Dowager to eat more.

The Empress Dowager would never suspect that her own blood would harm her.

She smiled as she finished eating the few pieces of pastries and repeatedly exhorted Emperor Jianwu: ”You must take good care of yourself in the palace, do not worry about me. My people here are all loyal and would never spread word of this. Once the child is born, I will return to the palace.”

”Queen Mother, drink some water.”

Emperor Jianwu offered another cup of water to the Empress Dowager: ”These pastries are a bit dry, don’t choke on them.”

”Alright.”

The Empress Dowager drank some water, and was about to ask Nanny Qin to instruct the kitchen to prepare a few more dishes, when suddenly, she felt an intense pain in her stomach.

Almost instantly, the Empress Dowager was drenched in sweat from the pain.

Holding her stomach, she said, ”Nanny Qin, I am in so much pain.”

Nanny Qin was also panicked, and immediately said, ”This servant will call for Doctor Wang right away, Your Highness, please bear with it for now.”

Emperor Jianwu supported the Empress Dowager, his face full of concern: ”Queen Mother, what’s the matter with you? Where do you feel uncomfortable? Your son is afraid.”

Emperor Jianwu’s concern was not feigned.

Although he couldn’t tolerate the child in the Empress Dowager’s belly, he didn’t want anything to happen to the Empress Dowager herself.

After all, he still had some feelings of filial affection towards the Empress Dowager.

”I, I am fine.”

The Empress Dowager, afraid to scare Emperor Jianwu, waved her hand for him to leave quickly: ”Xiao Yu, quickly take the Emperor outside for a walk, I, I will be okay soon.”

However, Emperor Jianwu didn’t wish to leave.

”How can I leave when the Queen Mother is in such pain? I must stay here with the Empress Dowager.”

The Empress Dowager wanted to say more, but at this moment, the pain in her stomach was so intense she felt like rolling on the ground, when suddenly she felt a warm flow from her lower body. Even Xiao Yu was shocked: ”Your Highness, you, you’re bleeding.”

Today, the Empress Dowager was wearing a light-colored dress, which made the blood stains particularly conspicuous.

The Empress Dowager looked down and saw a patch of bright red on her dress, and felt her legs give out, collapsing to the ground.

Emperor Jianwu was terrified, tears streaming down his face: ”Queen Mother, are you alright? Don’t frighten your son.”

At this time, Nanny Qin rushed over with Doctor Wang.

Seeing the Empress Dowager’s state, Doctor Wang knew it was bad news.

He quickly had Nanny Qin call the midwife, and instructed the medical woman to examine her.

Several coarse servants carried the Empress Dowager into the inner room, and soon after, the Empress Dowager’s moans of agony were heard, her voice so tragic it made Emperor Jianwu’s hair stand on end.

Emperor Jianwu was pacing outside with great anxiety, watching basin after basin of bloody water being carried out. It made his legs wobble in fear.

”Queen Mother, you must be alright.”

Xiao Yu was by Emperor Jianwu’s side, ceaselessly comforting him: ”Your Majesty, do not worry. With Doctor Wang here, the Empress Dowager will be fine.”

Emperor Jianwu grabbed Xiao Yu: ”Xiao Yu, you, you quickly go check. I cannot be at ease at all.”

Xiao Yu was actually eager to go in, and Emperor Jianwu’s words were just what she wanted.

She then entered the inner room.

Inside, the Empress Dowager was lying on the bed, struggling incessantly.

Her entire body was soaked with sweat, looking extremely disheveled.

Behind a screen, Doctor Wang kept asking the medical woman about the Empress Dowager’s current condition.

After a while, Doctor Wang sighed: ”The Empress Dowager’s child cannot be saved now. She cannot birth it nor can it be saved, it is truly distressing.”

Nanny Qin felt a chill all over her body.

Suddenly, Xiao Yu asked a question: ”The Empress Dowager was fine before, and the Imperial Physician even said that the Empress Dowager’s pregnancy was in good shape the other day, how could she suddenly just...”

Doctor Wang was taken aback: ”Did the Empress Dowager eat anything bad today?”

”No.”

Xiao Yu frowned: ”She just ate some pastries brought by Your Majesty.”

Nanny Qin glanced at Xiao Yu and lowered her head without speaking.

Doctor Wang’s frown tightened: ”It shouldn’t be like this... Are those pastries still around?”

Nanny Qin said loudly: ”Now is not the time to investigate the cause. What should be done now is to save both the Empress Dowager and the child.”

Doctor Wang shook his head: ”The child cannot be saved; now we can only save the Empress Dowager.”