Quick Transmigration: Underdog Turns out to be Untouchable

Chapter 890: Chapter 801: Unwilling to Be a Slave 21

Upon hearing Nangong Shuangshuang’s diagnosis, Gao Gao Pin nodded repeatedly. Indeed, she had fallen into an ice hole as a child, but at that time her family was not well-off, her father was just a poor scholar, and all the money was spent on buying books and taking exams. In order to treat her illness, they had to borrow money, which caused a delay, leaving behind the root of a cold condition.

Previously, Gao Gao Pin was worried that her inability to conceive was due to the untreated cold condition. Now, hearing the definitive answer from Nangong Shuangshuang, she immediately believed it and eagerly asked Nangong Shuangshuang, ”Can you cure this illness of mine?”

Nangong Shuangshuang confidently nodded, ”Of course, I can cure you, Empress. With moxibustion combined with acupuncture, and bathing with herbs to dispel the cold, give me a month, Your Majesty, and I will surely cure your cold body condition.”

Relieved, Gao Gao Pin smiled, ”As long as you cure my illness and help me conceive the Dragon Descendant, I promise to find a way to have the Emperor pardon your father’s crimes, so he won’t have to suffer in the Exile Land.”

This promise was exactly what Nangong Shuangshuang wanted, so she nodded solemnly. This time, for Gao Gao Pin’s treatment, all necessary items, including silver needles, mugwort sticks, and various cold-dispelling herbs, were prepared with the help of Gao Gao Pin’s trusted Imperial Physician.

For the next month, Gao Gao Pin shut herself away, focusing on her treatment. Even when the Emperor came, she refused to attend to him, citing her discomfort.

Meanwhile, during acupuncture sessions, Nangong Shuangshuang took the opportunity to gently infuse a trace of power through the silver needle into Gao Gao Pin’s body, slowly clearing her blocked fallopian tubes.

A month quickly passed, and Nangong Shuangshuang’s treatment came to an end. Gao Gao Pin clearly felt her energy and vitality improved recently. What surprised her most was that she did not experience menstrual cramps this month, and her symptoms of feeling cold all over had disappeared.

Finally, Nangong Shuangshuang announced that Gao Gao Pin’s condition was completely cured, and she could now prepare for pregnancy. Overjoyed, Gao Gao Pin rewarded Nangong Shuangshuang with a heap of food, daily necessities, and three hundred taels of silver.

However, Gao Gao Pin’s joy did not last long, as the Emperor did not enter the harem anymore. Recently, state affairs had been busy, with floods in two southern provinces, leading to reduced grain yields, and this year’s harvest was bound to be affected, leaving the Emperor with a headache. The National Treasury was depleted, yet disaster relief was imperative.

Speaking of disaster relief, the Emperor recalled the corrupt officials who embezzled disaster relief funds. Whenever this happened, the Emperor was especially furious. Though not a harsh ruler, he rarely punished officials lightly, except for embezzlement of disaster relief and military funds, which he would never tolerate.

In recent days, the Emperor had been counting on his fingers, pondering who should lead the disaster relief efforts. It had to be an honest official, sharp-minded enough to outwit corrupt officials. These kinds of talents were few among his officials, all of whom held important positions that could not be easily reassigned.

Because of this, the Emperor was in a particularly bad mood, naturally having no mind to seek pleasure in the harem. The Emperor had been sleeping in the Imperial Study Room for half a month, summoning ministers until late at night every day.

The Emperor’s absence from the harem was for official duties, so Gao Gao Pin, no matter how anxious, dared not act rashly. She could only wait for the Emperor to finish his affairs and have the mind to enter the harem again. She waited for a full half-month.

Half a month later, the Emperor finally entered the harem, but unfortunately, he only visited the Empress’s palace and summoned a newly favored talented one, without visiting any high-ranking concubine’s palace.

This made Gao Gao Pin restless. Usually composed, she was now fervently hoping for the Emperor to come so she could conceive a prince. Her impatience grew, and despite her waiting, the Emperor not only didn’t come but favored a minor talented one instead. Gao Gao Pin couldn’t stand it.

Bang! A beautiful porcelain vase, intricately depicting peonies, was swept off the table and shattered on the floor. Lan Ying immediately stepped forward, frightened and pleading with the furious Gao Gao Pin, ”Empress, please calm down. You have been with the Emperor for many years; he has you in his heart. He will come sooner or later. Please, Empress, don’t be anxious.”

Gao Gao Pin gritted her teeth, taking a deep breath, unable to suppress her anger, ”Sooner or later? The Emperor hasn’t been in the harem for ages, and when he finally comes, it’s understandable he visits the Empress since she is gentle and forgiving to the harem, often advising the Emperor to share his favor equally. We, as concubines, are willing to yield to the Empress, but how dare a mere talented one be favored at this time, disregarding us high-ranking concubines!”

Nangong Shuangshuang frowned at the agitated Gao Gao Pin. Her current state of mind was not healthy, she lacked the experience to face adversity, having never been tempered by setbacks of competing for favor in the future.

Recently, Nangong Shuangshuang watched coldly and discovered something she very much hoped wouldn’t happen: at this time, Gao Gao Pin still harbored a thread of affection for the Emperor, naively expecting true love from him.

This was a major taboo for concubines in the harem. Love easily breeds jealousy, and jealousy is the original sin of women in the harem. Numerous women fell out of favor with the Emperor due to this jealousy. The only fortunate thing was that Gao Gao Pin’s affection was still shallow enough to be cut off.

Seeing that Lan Ying was about to persuade her further, Nangong Shuangshuang raised her hand to stop her and spoke, ”Empress, do you really think it’s the fault of the talented one that the Emperor favored her? Isn’t competing for favor the duty of women in the harem?”

Gao Gao Pin turned angrily to Nangong Shuangshuang, ready to retort, but upon seeing her face, she forced herself to swallow her words and, after calming down, said, ”Then what do you suggest I do?”

Fortunately, she was able to control her temper and listen instead of recklessly venting. Nangong Shuangshuang was somewhat satisfied with Gao Gao Pin’s response. She said calmly, ”Empress, it is easy to have the Emperor come to you and to have him favor you.

But you must remember, Empress, you are just one of the many women of the Emperor. To him, no matter how beautiful the women of the harem are, they are merely diversions, not touching his heart.

The Emperor treats the women of the harem like playthings in his hand. When he favors one, he keeps it close, not allowing others to touch it. Anyone daring to harm this plaything would incur his wrath, but it is only an object. Even if he has a lasting preference, other objects will catch his interest.

So, in this situation, Empress, you should please the Emperor for your position and future, but never for any sentimental attachment you might have toward the Emperor, because he has too much and won’t care for a single woman’s affection nor respond to you.”

”Enough, stop, I don’t want to hear it,” Gao Gao Pin couldn’t help but interrupt Nangong Shuangshuang’s words, her brows tightly knitted together.