FID – Chapter 818

Chapter 818: Providing Information for Them?

It was fetal movement.

She was a doctor, so she was no stranger to the term. Typically, fetal movement is felt around the fourth or fifth month, and she was still early, yet she had already felt the sensation.

Liu Yusheng’s lips curved into a soft smile. This was the first time in both of her lives that she truly experienced fetal movement.

Since the beginning of her pregnancy, aside from the initial symptoms of morning sickness and vomiting, she had always been somewhat unaware of her condition.

She had the joy of becoming a mother, but it felt like something was still missing.

She carried a life within her, and beyond the joy, there was more of a sense of curiosity.

It wasn’t until she felt the fetal movement just now that she finally realized—inside her, a life was growing.

A living, breathing life.

Connected by blood and bones to her, and to Feng Qingbai.

The bond of blood and bones became incredibly strong at this moment.

So strong, it brought tears to her eyes.

“You’re worried about your father too, aren’t you?” She gazed at her swollen belly, gently asking. Her eyes and brows carried the tenderness of a mother.

At the same time, the light in her eyes gradually became resolute.

No matter what, she would ensure that Feng Qingbai returned safely.

The next day, when Feng Mohan came again to the Yangxin Hall, the Empress Dowager had already returned to normal.

She was back to how she had been at the very beginning.

She no longer scolded or lectured them for their casual conversations and teasing, nor did she intervene or pay much attention.

Her expression was calm, her eyes indifferent.

Even when Liu Yusheng tried to approach her more closely, there was no longer any extra reaction.

It left Liu Yusheng feeling frustrated.

It was like everything had gone back to square one.

The relationship that had just barely begun to ease had inexplicably reverted to its starting point.

After leaving the main hall, Feng Mohan pulled Liu Yusheng aside. “Aunt, I’ve told you before, the Empress Dowager is just a difficult old woman to serve. Don’t bother getting close to her for no reason; you’ll just end up getting frustrated.”

“Frustrated over what? She has never given me a hard time. In fact, during the time I’ve stayed here, she has taken great care of me. Just look at the dishes served when we eat, most of them are my favorites. She’s the one who instructed granny to tell the imperial chefs to prepare them. You shouldn’t keep nitpicking her. Technically speaking, you should even be calling her Imperial Grandmother.”

Imperial Grandmother—Feng Mohan rolled his eyes dramatically. In this lifetime, he would never call that old woman Imperial Grandmother.

Although compared to Dowager Consort Liu, the Empress Dowager was much better in many respects, it didn’t mean that she was easy to get along with.

Wasn’t it she who had once placed him under house arrest in the Qiande Hall and ruled from behind the curtain?

If that old woman didn’t play tricks, all would be fine—but when she did, he might not be able to handle it.

“In any case, your priority is to rest and take care of the baby. Don’t worry about anything else. My Uncle will definitely return safe and sound.”

“I know, you’re so naggy. You’re almost as bad as the old ladies at home.”

“……”

After giving her a few reminders, Feng Mohan didn’t linger any longer and went to the imperial study to handle state affairs.

The situation was unusual now; he couldn’t afford to slack off. Besides, he needed to quickly finish the matters on hand. His Uncle Zhiqiu’s wedding was not far off, and by then he would accompany his Imperial Aunt back to Xinghua Village.

When he left the hall, he walked quickly and didn’t notice that at the corner outside the Yangxin Hall, a shadow flickered by. After he left, the figure hurriedly ran off in another direction.

That afternoon, Liu Yusheng received an invitation from the imperial consorts to admire the lotus flowers in the imperial garden pavilion.

In mid-August, the lotuses in Mirror Lake were in full bloom—it was the perfect time to enjoy them.

Liu Yusheng initially didn’t plan to go. She wasn’t familiar with those consorts, and sitting together with them would be quite awkward.

With strangers, she wasn’t the type who could easily make conversation.

However, several consorts personally came to invite her, and since she had nothing pressing to do in her hall, it wouldn’t be proper to refuse again.

“I wonder if Your Highness still remembers me? Actually, before I entered the palace, we once had the fortune of meeting,” the woman nearest to her said with a gentle smile.

Liu Yusheng felt awkward. She looked at the woman’s face for a long time but couldn’t recall where or when they had supposedly met before.

The woman covered her lips and laughed lightly, “This Concubine is the daughter of an Assistant Minister of the Central Secretariat, and now titled Consort Song by His Majesty. A few years ago, Your Highness was invited by the daughter of the then Left Prime Minister to go on an outing in the osmanthus forest. I was present at that time as well. But back then, my status among the noble ladies was insignificant, my words carried little weight, and I didn’t have the chance to speak with you.”

Oh. Liu Yusheng showed a look of realization. She remembered the outing in the osmanthus forest, but as for Consort Song, she still had no impression at all.

“It doesn’t matter if Your Highness doesn’t remember. Up ahead is the Mirror Lake pavilion; let’s go and sit for a while.”

The group of women gathered around Liu Yusheng and escorted her into the pavilion to sit down. Outside, the scenery was beautiful—bright sun, delicate lotus flowers, and a vast expanse of blue sky and water.

The gathered beauties exchanged glances among themselves, nudging one another as if they had something to say but were too embarrassed to speak up.

“Do you all have something to say?” Liu Yusheng smiled lightly.

It was Consort Song who spoke up first, “We’ve long wanted to invite Your Highness to enjoy tea and chat. Today, we finally found the opportunity. Please don’t blame us for being abrupt or noisy.”

With her taking the lead, the other women relaxed a little and shyly spoke up as well.

“Actually, the reason we invited Your Highness is that we wanted to ask for your advice on something.”

Liu Yusheng paused in surprise. “What is it?”

“Well, we all know that His Majesty has always been close to Your Highness, treating you with the respect one would give to an elder. We simply wanted to ask if you know of any particular hobbies or preferences His Majesty has in his daily life?”

“In the past, His Majesty rarely visited the harem. Only after Your Highness moved into the Yangxin Hall did His Majesty start coming by daily, but toward all of us sisters, he still remains distant and indifferent. It’s hard to guess His Majesty’s heart. This time, we’ve merely mustered the courage to invite Your Highness here, hoping to understand His Majesty a little better.”

Faced with several pairs of eager, expectant eyes, Liu Yusheng rubbed her brow.

What kind of situation was this?

There were more than just one or two beauties present. Were they hoping to ask her about Xiao Feng’s preferences so that they could all go compete for his favor together?

And she, in the background, would be supplying them with intel?

“I’m actually not very clear about His Majesty’s likes and dislikes either. Although His Majesty dines daily at the Yangxin Hall, I am an elder. Naturally, His Majesty wouldn’t discuss his personal preferences openly in front of me, would he? I’m afraid you’ve asked the wrong person.”

The women exchanged bewildered glances.

“We noticed that when His Majesty speaks with Your Highness, he seems completely different from usual—very relaxed and natural. We assumed Your Highness would understand him well…”

“Not at all, not at all,” Liu Yusheng chuckled awkwardly. “Well, if you really want to know something, perhaps I can help ask him for you sometime?”

“Really? Would Your Highness truly help us sisters?”

“……” Liu Yusheng’s hand suddenly moved to her belly, her brow knitting tightly. “Aiyo, my stomach… it hurts a little!”

“Your stomach hurts? How could it suddenly start hurting?”

All the beauties instantly blanched in panic.

“Your Highness, p-please wait, we’ll summon the imperial physician right away!”

Just at that moment, a palace medical maid happened to pass by the pavilion and was hurriedly dragged inside. “Quick, quickly, take a look at Her Highness. She suddenly said her stomach hurts!”

They hadn’t done anything, but if something happened to the Princess Consort’s belly while she was in their company, their very lives might be in danger!