"Was anyone hurt?"
The Empress Dowager inquired with concern, saying that possessions were still external things, and that it was important whether people were injured.
The Westerner shook his head: "No one was injured, only their belongings were looted."
"Someone, summon the Minister of War to the palace to see me!" At the Empress Dowager's command, a eunuch rushed in from outside the hall to deliver the decree to the Ministry of War. Hai Ling, seeing this, could not remain silent and quickly said, "Mother, you mustn't."
As soon as Hai Ling spoke, the Empress Dowager looked over, and the Left Minister of the Western Palace also looked over. Only then did they see Hai Ling in the main hall. Thinking that this woman had caused him to lose his chance at a high position in the court, his eyes turned cold.
Hai Ling ignored Xi Zuo and looked at the Empress Dowager, slowly saying, "Mother, it is not advisable to take such action now. The Emperor has just left, and to search the capital immediately would only arouse suspicion and cause chaos in the court. This matter should be investigated privately and not by dispatching people from the Ministry of War."
"Unauthorized investigation?"
The Empress Dowager repeated her words, and although she was unwilling, she finally agreed. She then inquired carefully about the situation of the robbery that happened to Master Xi last night. Apart from the stolen goods, there were no casualties, which was a good thing. The Empress Dowager ordered the people of the west residence to investigate the matter privately and to inform her as soon as there was any news.
After Lord Xi left, the Empress Dowager's face remained cold and gloomy, showing no sign of relaxation: "These people from the Shadowless Pavilion are too audacious. They actually dared to rob the Xi Mansion. They are clearly targeting the Xi Mansion. If I find out, I will definitely not let them off the hook. Not only did they rob things, but they also dared to leave their names so openly. They are too despicable."
After saying that, he waved his hand impatiently: "Forget it, let's not talk about this anymore. Let's find out where they are first."
After the Empress Dowager finished speaking, Hai Ling gave a dry laugh. What could she say? It was just a good thing she did on a whim last night. Who told her that her mother had given her obstacles earlier? If she hadn't brought that Shu Wanxing into the palace, she wouldn't have done such a thing.
As Hai Ling was pondering this, she heard a pleasant voice from one side of the hall: "Your Majesty, who has angered you this early in the morning?"
As the saying goes, "Think of Cao Cao and he appears," and people really can't resist thinking about things. The moment she thought of this woman, the woman appeared. Hai Ling's lips curled into a mocking smile.
Shu Wanxing led two maids out from behind the side hall. She had spoken because she saw that the Empress Dowager looked unwell. After she finished speaking, she noticed that the Empress and Princess Mingzhu were also there, so she quickly turned around and bowed to Hailing.
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress."
"Get up."
Hai Ling didn't make things difficult for her. She waved her hand, and Shu Wanxing stood up after receiving the favor. She then walked to the Empress Dowager's side and said softly, "Getting angry so early in the morning isn't good for your health, Your Majesty. Please don't be angry. Wanxing has specially prepared chicken porridge, which Your Majesty loves. Why don't you have breakfast?"
Shu Wanxing smiled gently, which calmed the Empress Dowager down considerably. She reached out and took Shu Wanxing's hand.
"Wanxing is so thoughtful."
"It is Wanxing's blessing to do her best for the Empress Dowager."
"He really knows how to talk," Hailin and Mingzhu exchanged glances, the same thought flashing through their minds at the same time. Then they stood up, preparing to say goodbye and leave.
"Your Majesty, I shall take my leave now."
Upon hearing that Hai Ling was leaving, Shu Wanxing quickly turned around gracefully and smiled at Hai Ling, saying, "Your Majesty, please stay and have some breakfast. Wanxing has prepared a lot."
"Wanxing, please serve the Empress Dowager well. I have already had breakfast this morning."
Hai Ling spoke calmly, showing neither impatience nor any affection towards the girl named Wanxing.
However, when the palace maid brought up breakfast and passed by Hailing, she suddenly felt extremely nauseous and couldn't help but want to vomit. Although she tried her best to hold it in, she eventually couldn't help but dry heave and her mouth filled with sour fluid.
The Empress Dowager was shocked upon seeing this and spoke nervously.
"What's wrong with the Empress?"
When the Emperor left the capital, he entrusted her to his care. What if the Empress fell ill as soon as he left? If that happened, things would get complicated. So the Empress Dowager was very nervous. While asking Hai Ling questions, she also ordered the palace maids to summon the imperial physician.
"Someone, summon the imperial physician immediately."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Inside the main hall, no one even had time for breakfast; everyone was busy preparing sea lilies.
Nalan Mingzhu stepped forward to help Hailing to sit down, then anxiously asked, "How are you? Are you feeling better? Is anything bothering you?"
Hai Ling shook her head. She had acid reflux and seemed to feel nauseous from the smell of the breakfast. The chicken porridge made her feel unwell. Shi Mei, who was standing next to Hai Ling, wanted to take Hai Ling's pulse, but she didn't move so as not to let people know that she knew medicine.
The imperial physician was quickly summoned and came forward to examine Hailing's pulse.
The hall was silent. Many people were watching the imperial physician and Hai Ling. The imperial physician's face changed in various ways, from surprise to joy. Finally, he respectfully got up, knelt on the ground, and congratulated Hai Ling and the Empress Dowager.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty the Empress, congratulations! Your Majesty is pregnant."
"A pregnancy test?"
Several voices rang out in the main hall, and everyone was a little confused. After a while, they came to their senses and became very excited, surrounding Hailing to congratulate her.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty."
The Empress Dowager smiled, and the old maid behind her, Ying, also beamed with joy as she congratulated the Empress Dowager.
In the main hall, only Shu Wanxing was depressed, her face cold and secretly jealous. She never expected that this woman would actually get pregnant. What good fortune she had! She was monopolizing such a handsome and dignified man, and she wasn't afraid of shortening her lifespan. Now, heaven had even allowed her to get pregnant. If she couldn't get pregnant, the Empress Dowager could use her infertility as an excuse to find a concubine for the Emperor. Now that she was pregnant, how was she going to enter the palace?
Shu Wanxing was only thinking about herself, her face full of sorrow.
The Empress Dowager, no longer caring about anyone else, happily ordered: "Guards, bestow generous rewards upon everyone who was in Cixi Palace today."
"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
Inside the main hall, a joyous atmosphere filled the air. Nalan Mingzhu held Hailing's hand tightly. With the Emperor away from the palace, she was determined to protect the Empress. The Empress was pregnant, which was no small matter. Nalan Mingzhu's eyes shot towards Shu Wanxing on one side of the hall. This woman was no good.
Shu Wanxing saw Nalan Mingzhu looking at her with eyes full of anger, and she glared back at him without showing any weakness. The two glared at each other for a while, and then angrily looked away.
The Empress Dowager had descended from the head of the main hall and, unusually kindly, reached out and took Hailing's hand.
"Your Majesty, you are now pregnant, so you must take good care of yourself and not be careless."
Hailing was still immersed in surprise and couldn't process it. She was pregnant. She had found out she was pregnant at such a time.