No one had the time to enjoy the lotus flowers. The Emperor, Empress, and all the concubines hurried toward Moonlight Fragrance Pavilion. Upon arrival, a servant immediately rushed to summon the imperial physician.
Mei Liang felt like she was watching a joke. Since reincarnating into this body, she hadn't heard a single word about any concubine in the harem being pregnant. So how could this Cairen Yang suddenly be showing signs of miscarriage? The physician hadn't even arrived yet, and she might have already lost the child.
The Empress appeared far calmer now than she had been in the imperial garden. Truthfully, she couldn't be held fully responsible—no one had even known that Cairen Yang was pregnant.
What puzzled Mei Liang was how the imperial physicians, who routinely checked the concubines each month, failed to discover it. It had been nearly three months since the Emperor last visited Cairen Yang's palace. How could a low-ranked concubine hide such a significant matter from everyone?
Now, the Emperor, Empress, and all the concubines sat gathered in the hall. The Emperor's face was expressionless—no sign of anger, anxiety, or even mild concern. Mei Liang thought him truly cold-hearted. It was his child in danger, and yet he acted as though it had nothing to do with him.
She made a mental note to never get pregnant. Resting her palm against her forehead, she realized she'd forgotten to take her contraceptive pill before sleeping with the Emperor. She needed to find a way to get some—quietly. If anyone found out, she would be done for. She couldn't possibly bear the enemy's child.
Just then, the imperial physician arrived and entered the room to treat Cairen Yang. The Empress turned to Cairen Yang's maidservants.
"Kneel," she ordered.
The maidservants dropped to their knees. One of them, her face streaked with tears, spoke up.
"Your Majesty, this servant had no idea that my mistress was pregnant. She rarely shares anything with me. The maid closest to her is Sùqín."
The Empress turned to her own servant. "Yulan, go and fetch this Sùqín."
"Yes, Niangniang." Yulan bowed deeply and hurried out.
After half an incense stick's time, (15 minutes) Yulan returned with Sùqín. Mei Liang felt the drama intensifying. If she knew what was about to happen, she might have started crying already.
Sùqín paid her respects to the Emperor, Empress, and the imperial concubines, then knelt.
The Empress turned to her, voice sharp. "Did you know your mistress was pregnant? Do not dare lie to this Empress."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Sùqín replied, trembling. "This servant was aware."
"Then why didn't you advise her to inform the palace of the good news?" the Empress snapped. "Instead, you chose to keep silent and lie alongside her!"
"This servant did try to advise her," Sùqín said through tears. "But she wouldn't listen. She said she would only announce it after the first three dangerous months had passed."
"Does this Cairen Yang not place this Empress in her eyes? If even a mere Cairen dares to conceal such a thing, what will happen when others start doing the same? Would the harem still be under this Empress's rule, or would it descend into disorder?" Empress Qing thought.
The Empress narrowed her eyes. "I've heard your mistress favors you greatly. So why didn't you attend the lotus flower gathering with her? Something serious happened to her while you weren't by her side. If she trusted you enough to keep her secret, why would she leave you behind and take another maid who knew nothing?"
Each of the Empress's questions was sharper than the last.
Mei Liang's eyes narrowed. Something about this whole situation didn't sit right. Something was definitely fishy with Cairen Yang.
Just then, a scream came from inside the room. Mei Liang, along with some of the other concubines, couldn't help but shiver—especially those who had never been pregnant or given birth before.
Mei Liang's eyelid twitched. A sudden, uneasy premonition welled up inside her—she felt something bad was about to happen… to her.
With Cairen Yang's continued screaming echoing from the room, the Empress suddenly shouted, "Someone come! Take this maidservant and beat her with a rod until she confesses!"
Sùqín, the maidservant, immediately cried out, begging for mercy. But an eunuch stepped forward, shoved a cloth into her mouth, and dragged her outside.
Inside the hall, the sickening sound of flesh being torn apart echoed faintly. Mei Liang could hear every single strike as the rod hit skin and bone.
After the time it took half an incense stick to burn, the eunuch returned, dragging the maidservant back inside. Her clothing was in disarray, her body covered in blood. She looked like she was barely clinging to consciousness.
Some concubines turned away, unable to bear the sight. But Mei Liang continued to stare at the broken maidservant.
She couldn't help but think of her past life.
Back then, she was just like this girl—no, worse. Not a single piece of her flesh had been left intact. Her entire body had been ruined, and she had cried until her throat gave out, yet no one had come to save her from the hands of xian guifei.
Suddenly, the Emperor turned and looked at Mei Liang.
There was a strange emotion in her eyes—resentment, pain, anger, and… despair.
When she looked at her, it didn't feel like she was seeing the maidservant through her gaze. It felt like she saw someone else entirely in her eyes—like she was thinking of another person, which was strange.
He had investigated this Mei Guiren. Her background was clean. She came from a good family that had always protected her. Nothing about her stood out—yet something about her still felt different.
Outside the palace, she had once been lively, even a bit naïve. But now… she was calm, cold and detached from the world. Too calm.
Perhaps people really do change after entering the palace.
Just like that woman he missed and wish to see.
Mei Liang suddenly felt someone's eyes on her. She turned.
It was none other than the Emperor—staring at her with an unreadable expression.
Mei Liang quickly turned her face away, but her heart was in turmoil. She silently prayed that the Emperor hadn't noticed anything strange in her expression when he stared at her.
She seemed to be losing her composure far too often these days.
No—she needed to stay vigilant. She had to control herself. If she was exposed by the Emperor before she even began her revenge, everything would be over.
Nearby, Sùqín looked like she was about to faint from the beating. Her body trembled on the floor, blood soaking through her clothes.
"You were the only one who knew your mistress was pregnant," Empress Qing said coldly. "No one else. That means only you could have harmed her or you told someone about her pregnancy. So tell me—who instructed you to do it, or who did you tell?"
Sùqín's lips quivered. Her eyes, red and swollen, looked up weakly.
"Your Majesty… it was Mei Guiren," she said, her voice trembling. "She… she was the one who instructed me. I had no choice but to obey. I was momentarily greedy… for the money she offered. Please forgive me, Your Majesty…"
Mei Liang froze.
Her name?
Her eyes widened slightly in shock. She didn't even know this maid. She barely even know who this Cairen Yang was.
Someone… someone was trying to frame her.
Someone wanted to get rid of her.