Chapter 53 Lady Jin Was Pregnant

"Your Highness? Your Highness?" Hearing Qian Yin's call, Yun Shang suddenly came to her senses. She looked up at Qian Yin.

"What's wrong?"

Qian Yin frowned and asked in confusion. "Are you alright, Your Highness? I was calling you, but you seemed distracted."

Yun Shang shook her head and sighed. "I don't know. I just have this strange feeling, as if something is about to happen. Never mind. What were you trying to say?"

Qian Yin looked at Yun Shang searchingly. "Your Highness, I was saying that our people in the Imperial Hospital reported that Xiu Xin came to the Hospital with some dregs of a decoction before dinnertime. She asked an Imperial Physician about the function of its materials. And hearing it was for prevention of miscarriage, her expression abruptly changed. Your Highness just sent me to fill the prescription this morning, so our people paid special attention to this incident. They came to report after Xiu Xin left."

"For prevention of miscarriage..." Realization dawned on Yun Shang's face. "Oh no! Could it be that mother didn't properly dispose of the dregs after decocting?"

Qian Yin took a gauze bag of dregs from her sleeve and passed it to Yun Shang. "They kept an eye on it and secretly got us some of the dregs. Please take a look, Your Highness. Is this the prescription you made for Lady Jin?"

Yun Shang opened the bag, smelled and nodded. "Yes it is. There's something special about this prescription. I could tell the difference from other medicine for miscarriage prevention simply by smelling. No wonder Hua Jing came here and invited me to stay at her Palace today. Now this explains her visit. The Empress is afraid I might get in the way of her plan. She wants to get rid of mother's child."

"What should we do, Your Highness? Should I inform Ning Qian and ask her to send more people to protect Lady Jin?"

Qian Yin asked with worry.

Yun Shang shook her head. "People often die under mysterious circumstances in the Imperial Household." Yun Shang stood up and called. "Qin Yi. Qin Yi..."

Qin Yi hurried in with a look of surprise. "Yes, Your Highness. What happened?"

Yun Shang answered, "Do whatever you can to inform mother that the Empress knows about her pregnancy and it may bring danger to her and the child. I'll have to tell His Majesty this news. I'm afraid we ca

ng you. And I was most fortunate to hear such great news during my visit here. Congratulations, father and Lady Jin."

Emperor Ning frowned. "She's your mother, Yun Shang. You shouldn't call her Lady Jin."

Before Yun Shang could explain for herself, Lady Jin said. "It's not her fault, Your Majesty. Shang was brought up by the Empress. It's natural that she's not close to me." There were tears in Lady Jin's eyes. "It's all my fault."

A long silence followed Lady Jin's words. Master Zheng stepped into the Hall and reported. "The Imperial Physician is here, Your Majesty."

Emperor Ning said promptly. "Let him in, now."

The physician took Lady Jin's pulse and knelt. "Congratulations, Your Majesty, Lady Jin is pregnant."

Emperor Ning was even more delighted. He ordered loudly, "Reward him."

After the physician left with Master Zheng, Lady Jin looked at Yun Shang and said, "Although I am far from being a good mother, I am very grateful for this child. I do enjoy the quietness of where I stay now, but it might not be fair to the unborn child."

Emperor Ning agreed. "Where would you like to live?"

Lady Jin shook her head and smiled. "I'm content with where I live, but I might have to move for the baby's sake. I was thinking now that the Empress has been looking after Shang for me and her own daughter, Hua Jing Princess, is wise and talented, the Empress must have some experience in bringing up children. So I hope to stay in the side chamber of the Empress's Palace so that I can seek her advice. What do you think, Your Majesty?"