The Emperor's hand trembled slightly as he held Meng Wenyao's. Who would have thought it would come to this—with his own mother? And all because of Prince An.
"The Empress Dowager has always been frail. I'll have the imperial physicians adjust her medicine again. You don't need to worry, Wenyao," the Emperor reassured her.
Meng Wenyao nestled obediently in his arms, her mind already calculating how best to turn this fake pregnancy into a perfect trap—maybe a well-timed miscarriage.
The next morning, Meng Wenyao learned that Prince An had gone to the palace early to visit the Empress Dowager. This felt like an opportunity.
As Empress, how could she not go to attend to the Dowager's illness? With light steps, she headed to the Changle Palace.
Meanwhile, at the morning court session, the Emperor was distracted, his mind wrestling with how to dispel his mother's suspicion—hoping to stop her from targeting the Empress and the imperial heir. If things got worse, he was even considering moving the Dowager to another palace.
The ministers quickly noticed the Emperor's distraction and guessed it was all because of the Dowager's illness. Word spread that her condition worsened overnight. Prince An had come to tend her, and some high-ranking royal ladies had also arrived. It seemed inevitable the Empress would be sent out of the palace, or else the Emperor and Empress would be seen as unfilial.
No one envied the Emperor—torn between his mother and his pregnant wife, the weight of such choices crushed even the strongest man.
Suddenly, a terrified little eunuch burst into the court, collapsing to the ground in a heap. Xiao Dezi hurried over, questioning the boy, who revealed the shocking news.
The Emperor nearly toppled off the dragon throne when he heard it.
Xiao Dezi quickly ordered a sedan chair to carry the Emperor away from court.
The ministers swarmed the trembling eunuch, demanding to know what had happened.
The boy gasped out, "This morning, the Empress went to care for the Empress Dowager. No one knows what happened at her bedside, but suddenly she miscarried."
A collective gasp filled the hall. Could it be that the Dowager's and Empress's unborn children were in conflict? Had the Dowager, unknowingly, killed her own grandson?
When the Emperor reached the Fu Ning Palace, Meng Wenyao was unconscious. The imperial physicians spoke cautiously, "The heir was lost, but Your Majesty's health is strong. There will be other pregnancies."
The Empress Dowager dragged herself in, clutching the Emperor's hand. "The Empress simply stumbled. Your Majesty, do not blame the doctors."
The Emperor's eyes were bloodshot. When he looked at the Dowager, he saw the enemy. The Dowager recoiled, nearly falling, but Prince An caught her.
"This child in the Empress's womb conflicted with the Dowager. This tragic outcome is the child's final act of filial piety," Prince An said shakily.
The Emperor, enraged, drew his sword, swinging at Prince An. The Dowager threw herself between them. Prince An trembled, confused by the Emperor's madness.
In a fury, the Emperor fainted.
When Meng Wenyao awoke and heard the news, she sighed quietly. "Without the heir's conflict, the Dowager's health should improve."
Hua Momo, holding back tears, didn't know how to comfort her mistress.
Rumors spread like wildfire: the Dowager's fate was cursed. She had killed her own son in youth, then the former Emperor. Now the current Emperor's infertility was her doing. Only when the Empress came, protected the Emperor, did the royal line see a child. But even then, the Dowager's curse struck again, causing the Empress's miscarriage. If this continued, the dynasty was doomed.
Within days, even the palace maids dared not approach the Dowager in Changle Palace. She learned of the whispers and fainted again from despair.
Prince An suspected the Dowager's curse too. Previously, she only targeted the Emperor; now, with Meng Wenyao by his side, her wrath had shifted to him. His luck had soured ever since the Empress arrived—surely the Dowager was behind it.
The Dowager's threats and manipulations forced the Astronomical Bureau to fabricate omens that hurt no one but herself, turning her into a pariah. Broken-hearted, she moved to a separate palace to recuperate.
The next day at court, the Deputy Director of the Astronomical Bureau reported that celestial phenomena had changed again right after the Dowager left, confirming her as the source of all misfortune.
Meng Wenyao rested peacefully, cared for by the Emperor who sent the other consorts away to tend to the Dowager. Those wishing to leave were given generous dowries.
Six months passed. The Emperor spent restless nights with Meng Wenyao, who spent her days in bed, too exhausted to rise until midday.
Finally, she could bear it no longer and took a twin-boosting pill. One day, she woke from sleep crying.
"What's wrong, Wenyao?" the Emperor asked tenderly, kissing her forehead. "I told them to give you a break, so why are you still crying?"
Embarrassed, Meng Wenyao said, "It's not because of your attention, Your Majesty. I dreamed a terrifying dream that made me cry."
"Oh? What dream?"
With red-rimmed eyes, she looked up at the Emperor as if finally finding a safe haven, then buried her face in his chest and sobbed.
The Emperor awkwardly soothed her, "Don't cry, Wenyao. Tell me what happened."
"You made me so worried. I want so much from you. Are you tired?"
"Rest assured, tomorrow I'll make sure you get a full day off."
Her tears finally subsided as she whispered, "I dreamed of two children calling me 'Mother.' They were running toward me, but Prince An suddenly killed them. I was so scared."
The Emperor stiffened, then realized it was only a dream. They had only one child, and the heir was well cared for.
"Don't be afraid, Wenyao. Prince An is under house arrest and can no longer harm you or our son. It's just a dream—don't fear it."
A month passed and life returned to normal between the Emperor and Meng Wenyao. The nightmare was left behind, not given much thought.
One day at court, a minister submitted a petition: The Dowager had been in seclusion for half a year and was now recovered. To set a good example for the realm, the Emperor should personally welcome her back to the palace and show daily filial piety.
The Emperor hesitated. He feared the Dowager's stubbornness and thought maybe Prince An should be exiled far away to help the Dowager let go of her grudges.
After court, the Emperor sat with Meng Wenyao over lunch, hesitating as he asked, "The ministers urge me to bring the Dowager back. What do you think, Wenyao? What should I do?"
Meng Wenyao, unaware of the Dowager's schemes, saw no problem with welcoming her back—but the question of what to do with Prince An was much more complicated.
"Your Majesty should have brought her back long ago. All those tales about the stars are nonsense."