Xinqing: “I heard from people at Fengwu Palace that she suddenly had severe pain, saw blood after fainting, but fortunately there were imperial physicians in Fengwu Palace, as well as experienced midwives. Madam Su has rushed over.”
Zhiyi: “Concubine Xuan, Mother, should we go take a look?”
Noble Lady Guo said: “Sister, I’ll go check. You stay in the palace and watch over them. Don’t let these two run around.”
Concubine Xuan: “Alright, Xinqing, go check again.”
Qu Dubian: “Ye banban.”
Ye Xiaoyuan nodded: “Alright, I’ll go too.”
Noble Lady Guo hurriedly led the two of them away, and on the way, they met other consorts who were also rushing there.
A consort giving birth was considered a major event in the rear palace. Whether to join the excitement or follow unwritten rules, those with intentions would go take a look. Even if the mistress didn’t go, each palace would send someone.
This sudden labor of Ding Chang’an, anyone with eyes could see there was something fishy about it.
Noble Lady Guo was among those who arrived early, standing in the corner of the main hall, hearing the wails from the side palace’s birthing room, her heart ached. Often those who screamed the most terribly eventually lost all strength, and she felt that Ding Chang’an was in some danger this time.
The Empress sat at the head position, and soon, consorts who had heard the news filled both sides, some speaking in low voices, others scanning with their eyes, discreetly observing the expressions of those around them.
After a while, Noble Consort Lan, Consort De, Consort Wen, Concubine Yi, and Concubine Ruan, these main-position ladies, also arrived, sitting below the Empress.
They arrived early, but childbirth is not a quick process.
After waiting for about two hours, as the sky began to darken and the hall grew dim, Emperor Chongzhao finally arrived.
“Greetings to Your Majesty.”
Emperor Chongzhao had come after finishing state affairs and casually waved his hand, “All rise.”
“Empress, how is Ding Chang’an doing, how much longer will it take?”
The Empress: “It’s been over two hours, I’m not sure how much longer it will be.”
“Wasn’t she supposed to give birth in another month? She’s so early, Empress, you’ve been negligent in your care. Did the imperial physician say what caused this?”
The Empress rose to accept blame: “It was my carelessness. The imperial physician said Ding Chang’an had long-term exposure to blood-activating and stasis-dispelling substances, which caused her pregnancy to become increasingly unstable as it progressed.”
Noble Lady Guo’s heart skipped a beat.
Heavens, there really was something sinister? How did it get into Fengwu Palace without being detected by smell?
The surrounding consorts exchanged glances but dared not discuss it at this moment.
Emperor Chongzhao’s voice was cold: “All this time, and no one discovered it?”
The Empress: “I’ve already ordered the imperial physicians to examine Ding Chang’an’s personal clothing and daily items. Results should be available soon.”
Emperor Chongzhao closed his eyes.
About fifteen minutes later, an imperial physician came forward holding two garments.
“Your Majesty, Your Highness.”
The Empress: “Do you have results?”
The imperial physician bowed: “Yes, these two garments belong to Ding Chang’an. During our examination, we discovered that after washing, they emit an extremely faint fragrance, very easily mixed with the scent of powders commonly used by the ladies. Thus, when worn, it’s not easily detected.”
“After burning and smelling the ashes, we found the fabric had been soaked in blood-activating and stasis-dispelling medicines, the most potent being… musk. After processing, the original scent of the musk was masked.”
Ye Xiaoyuan stood in the corner, silently looking up at the two garments.
Emperor Chongzhao: “Well, well, what clever thinking.”
His cold gaze swept around the room, “Who is Ding Chang’an’s personal palace maid, and what’s the story with these clothes?”
The Empress raised her hand, and soon, Ding Chang’an’s personal palace maid came before the hall and knelt: “Your Majesty, Your Highness.”
The Empress: “Identify these two garments of Ding Chang’an’s. Where did they come from?”
The personal maid came forward, examined them for a moment, then hesitantly said: “They seem to be what the Lady-in-Waiting had made a few months ago… she thought the fabric was rare, so she made them into personal garments. This is…”
Her face suddenly turned pale, and she glanced toward the high-ranking consorts sitting on the left.
The Empress’s tone deepened: “If you’ve remembered something, speak.”
The personal maid suddenly kowtowed heavily: “Your Highness, the fabric the Lady-in-Waiting used to make these clothes was… was sent by Noble Consort Lan a few months ago!”
The entire hall was shocked.
Noble Consort Lan abruptly stood up: “What nonsense are you talking!”
After speaking, she suddenly remembered that a few months ago, because of the rumors, the Empress had invited her to Fengwu Palace, and after returning to her palace, to express that she didn’t have the time to harm a child who posed no threat to the Sixth Prince because of rumors, she had sent some fabric.
Noble Consort Lan’s pupils contracted, and she suddenly turned, pointing at Noble Lady Rong: “You! The fabric I gave to Ding Chang’an was originally given to me by you. I thought it was just sitting idle, so I might as well give it to Ding Chang’an.”
Noble Lady Rong’s face instantly turned deathly pale.
Under everyone’s gaze, she took a step back.
“I… I didn’t… I didn’t!”
Lianzhu stepped forward: “This servant can testify that the fabric Noble Lady Rong gave to my lady, my lady never even looked at. Otherwise, when the imperial physician brought out these two garments, my lady would have recognized them, but just now my lady clearly had no reaction at all.”
Noble Consort Lan nodded: “That’s exactly right.”
Emperor Chongzhao rested his elbow on the table, his fingers pressing against his temple.
He said: “The fabric only stayed with you two.”
Noble Consort Lan and Noble Lady Rong both knelt down, “We request Your Majesty’s clear judgment.”
“It’s terrible! She’s hemorrhaging! Ding Chang’an is hemorrhaging!” A midwife ran out from the side palace’s birthing room, letting out a cry of despair.
Outside the hall it was dark and gloomy, with shadows of low plants swaying.
Emperor Chongzhao stood up and walked out quickly, for a moment seeming to return to over seven years ago, the night Consort Yun gave birth. He said in a deep voice: “Save the mother.”
The midwife’s hands were covered in blood, “Your Majesty, it’s no longer a matter of saving the mother or the child. We can only pray for heaven’s mercy, hoping to save at least one of them.”
After reporting, she curtsied and hurried back inside.
The scene fell into deeper silence.
Emperor Chongzhao took a deep breath: “Noble Consort Lan and Noble Lady Rong, stay in Fengwu Palace. Yu Decai.”
Head Eunuch Yu: “Here.”
“Search Xiuxiang Palace and Changxin Palace.”
Head Eunuch Yu: “Yes.”
He flicked his whisk and left with several eunuchs, leaving Eunuch Bao here with Emperor Chongzhao.
Noble Consort Lan’s face completely darkened.
She suddenly remembered the previous rumors saying that Ding Chang’an’s child was incompatible with the Sixth Prince-this practically gave her a motive to act.
In the entire palace, besides her, who else would have more motive to harm Ding Chang’an?
Even His Majesty would be suspicious.
If someone had to take the blame for this matter…
Noble Consort Lan looked toward Noble Lady Rong.
Around nine in the evening.
It was already very late when Noble Lady Guo returned from Fengwu Palace.
When she had left, the weather was still fine, but on her return, the sky had begun to drizzle with the first autumn rain of the season.
Lamps were lit in Shunning Palace.
Qu Dubian, Concubine Xuan, and Zhiyi were all in the main hall, eating while waiting.
As soon as Noble Lady Guo returned, disregarding the dampness on her body, she first gulped down a cup of warm water to calm her wildly beating heart, then said: “A major incident has truly occurred this time!”
“Ding Chang’an gave birth to a princess, and not long after, she passed away.”
Zhiyi covered her mouth: “Ding… is gone?”
Qu Dubian grew quiet, listening to Noble Lady Guo’s account.
Concubine Xuan handed her a cotton towel to wipe her face and head: “Don’t rush, tell us slowly.”
Noble Lady Guo: “The fabric used to make the clothes was soaked in musk, which affected Ding Chang’an after wearing it for a long time. And guess what? That fabric was traced back to Noble Consort Lan and Noble Lady Rong.”
“His Majesty ordered a search of their palaces, and they found undelivered fabric in Noble Lady Rong’s quarters. Now, Noble Lady Rong has been detained in the inner prison.”
The inner prison was a place specifically for dealing with consorts and palace servants who had committed offenses.
“But, we all suspect that perhaps Noble Consort Lan was behind it, who knows? Of course, some also believe that it was Noble Lady Rong trying to please Noble Consort Lan by eliminating Ding Chang’an’s child, after all, she’s often tried to curry favor with her.”
Concubine Xuan: “Only Noble Lady Rong was imprisoned?”
Noble Lady Guo: “The palace servants who attended to her in Changxin Palace were also imprisoned. The inner prison doesn’t torture consorts, but they won’t be lenient with these servants.”
Concubine Xuan: “Do you think it was those two who harmed Ding Chang’an?”
Noble Lady Guo hesitantly said: “There must be someone responsible…”
Concubine Xuan: “There are too many coincidences in this matter.”
After they finished speaking, Ye Xiaoyuan entered. He had gone around the birthing room while no one was paying attention, and had some blood scent on him, so he quickly took a bath and changed clothes as soon as he arrived.
Qu Dubian asked: “Did Father Emperor say who would raise the little sister?”
Noble Lady Guo shook her head: “Right now she’s being looked after by the Empress, with Madam Su also there.”
“But regardless, Noble Lady Rong will likely find it difficult to clear her name. Once in the inner prison, it’s hard to come out clean,” Noble Lady Guo sighed lightly. “If Noble Consort Lan is willing to help her, it might be alright, but I fear…”
Fear that she might kick her while she’s down.
Qu Dubian suddenly awoke, “Right! Fifth Brother!”
“Is Fifth Brother still in Changxin Palace now?”
Noble Lady Guo: “Probably, Xiao Qi, you…?”
Qu Dubian quickly stood up: “Concubine Xuan, Noble Lady Guo, I’m going to Changxin Palace.”
Concubine Xuan: “Xiao Qi, it’s raining outside.”
Qu Dubian: “Concubine Xuan, I feel I should go check on him.”
Concubine Xuan sighed and called for someone to bring a thick cloak, umbrella, and hat.
“I’ll go with you. It’s cold outside. Let’s go quickly and return quickly, don’t catch a cold and get sick.”
“Concubine Xuan, you stay here. I’ll be fine.”
Concubine Xuan knew her child was a determined one, and under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t forcibly prevent his actions.
“Alright, then have Xiaoyuan accompany you.”
“Mm.”
Qu Dubian held an umbrella and turned to leave the main hall, with Ye Xiaoyuan also holding an umbrella behind him.
Zhiyi waved: “Brother, be careful!”
Da Hei barked twice and chased after them. It shook the fur on its body and barked at Qu Dubian: “Woof.”
Qu Dubian patted its head, “An old general takes the field. Since you want to go out, we’ll trouble our Da Hei then.”
Da Hei shook its head and took the lead.
Qu Dubian ran to Changxin Palace. His martial arts training over the past few years hadn’t been in vain; after running all the way there, he only needed a moment to catch his breath before his heartbeat returned to normal.
Ye Xiaoyuan had also trained well. They circled Changxin Palace and found that there wasn’t a single person inside.
The yellowing leaves, wet from the autumn rain, made the place seem desolate and empty.
The Fifth Prince wasn’t there either.
They met a passing palace servant, “I just saw the Fifth Prince going to Zichen Hall.”
The two had no choice but to go to Zichen Hall as well.
Zichen Hall was brightly lit, with eunuchs standing guard at the hall doors.
A figure was kneeling in front of the hall, clothes already soaked by the drizzling autumn rain.
Qu Dubian held his umbrella as he climbed the steps, and immediately recognized the figure. He called out to that back:
“Fifth Brother!”
##
(advanced chapters available on kofi)
![Who Are You Calling A Canary? [Transmigration]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250108211651_200_280.jpg "Who Are You Calling A Canary? [Transmigration]")