Because Tianji Office always only recognized Tianji's secret orders when handling matters, and in order to maintain absolute confidentiality, everything they did was not recorded.
Now this secret order had already been sent out of the palace by Song Zhao and handed over to Xiao Jingyan for safekeeping.
She only needed to secretly send a message out to Xiao Jingyan for whatever she needed to do in the palace, and Xiao Jingyan would find someone to go to Tianji Office to handle the matter securely without leaving a trace.
Even if this came to light later and was traced layer by layer, it would be impossible to uncover Song Zhao as the behind-the-scenes player no matter what.
After receiving Song Zhao's instructions, Yun Shan responded decisively and then said, "It's getting late, miss should rest early."
Song Zhao nodded lightly and lay down on the couch.
But just as Yun Shan was about to blow out the oil lamp, she suddenly heard Song Zhao retch inexplicably.
Yun Shan hurriedly went up to support Song Zhao up and gently patted her back, "Miss, what's the matter..."
This kind of nauseous feeling was all too familiar to Song Zhao.
It was so familiar that there was no need for an imperial physician's diagnosis. Song Zhao already had a good idea in her heart.
She was most likely pregnant again.
It was not exactly unexpected. She was of childbearing age, and since she had 'lost her memory', she had been continuously blessed.
It was only natural that after all that rain and dew, she would conceive again.
Song Zhao was not surprised by this at all. On the contrary, her heart was calm without any ripples. She calmly asked Yun Shan, "Who is on duty at the Imperial Medical Bureau tonight?"
Yun Shan replied, "It's Imperial Physician Zhang."
Hearing that it was him, Song Zhao nodded in relief, "Then summon him here."
When summoned by Song Zhao, Zhang Imperial Physician arrived quickly.
After taking her pulse, he soon confirmed the auspicious pulse indicating pregnancy.
Zhang Imperial Physician's face revealed joy. He took two steps back, bowed to Song Zhao and said,
"Congratulations, Your Highness, it is indeed an auspicious pulse, already over a month along."
Song Zhao nodded calmly and casually instructed,
"It's late today. Please inform His Majesty of this matter early tomorrow morning."
The next day after morning court, when Xiao Jingheng heard that Song Zhao was pregnant, he hurried to Changle Palace.
When he arrived, the joy and excitement on his face was hard to contain.
Seeing Song Zhao about to get up from the heated kang to greet him, he quickly walked over to her side and lightly pressed her shoulder,
"I've told you there's no need for such etiquette between us."
After speaking, he sat down next to Song Zhao and clasped her delicate hand tightly in his palm,
"This is wonderful news, Zhao'er. We're having another baby."
Song Zhao was taken aback at first, but soon smiled helplessly, "Xiao Lang found out so quickly, I originally wanted to hide it for a while as a surprise for you later. That's why I specifically instructed Zhang Imperial Physician not to tell you about this yet. I didn't expect that while he readily agreed in front of me, he went and tattled to Your Majesty at the first opportunity. "
Xiao Jingheng laughed heartily, "No matter when I find out about such joyous news, it always delights me. Since that's the case, of course the sooner the better."
Song Zhao shyly lowered her eyes, half delighted and half worried, "I'm also very happy in my heart, but also nervous. It's said that the pain of childbirth is like walking through ghost gate. Although I've forgotten the past, even though I'm already a mother, I'm still afraid in my heart."
Xiao Jingheng held her even tighter, "Don't be afraid, I will be by your side."
Song Zhao nodded lightly, and only then did she look up at him with clear eyes, "I'm thinking that it would be good if I could have an imperial prince this time and share the blessing of having both son and daughter with you."
Hearing this, Xiao Jingheng's eyebrows tightened imperceptibly.
However, he soon resumed his normal expression. He also smiled, "An imperial prince would of course be good, but a princess wouldn't be bad either. Zhao'er, don't put so much pressure on yourself. As long as it's our child, I will be happy no matter what."
After the brief joy, Song Zhao's expression gradually became more and more desolate, looking depressed.
So Xiao Jingheng asked her, "With such a joyous event, why do you look so worried?"
Song Zhao frowned and shook her head. She said in a low voice, "I heard about Consort Yao's matter... At one point, I felt like she had been punished too severely, and at another point, I couldn't understand why Consort Yao, who was usually on good terms with me, wanted to harm me like this?"
After a pause, she asked again, "Did I offend her in some way in the past?"
Xiao Jingheng quickly shook his head in denial, "Never. She treated you like this entirely out of jealousy."
"Just because of jealousy she would do this..." Song Zhao's expression became even more dismal. She clenched Xiao Jingheng's hand even tighter, "Xiao Lang, I'm really scared in my heart."
She nestled in Xiao Jingheng's arms. Her long and delicate eyelashes trembled slightly, making her look so fragile and uneasy.
Xiao Jingheng comforted her from time to time. Then she continued telling him,
"Since I woke up, there have only been a few people close to me serving by my side, like Yun Shan, Xiao Fuzi, and Chun Hua and Qiu Yue. The poisonous butterflies killed Chun Hua and Qiu Yue that day. Watching them die before my eyes pained me extremely. Lately I've also been unable to sleep well at night. When I close my eyes I'll think back to what happened that day..."
Xiao Jingheng said, "The dead are gone. Zhao'er, don't dwell on it too much. Although Chun Hua and Qiu Yue died such unjust deaths, it was also an accident beyond control. If it would set your mind at ease, I can have monks and Taoists summoned into the palace to hold a memorial service for them, crossing their souls over to the next life and hoping they can have prosperous days there."
Following Xiao Jingheng's suggestion, Song Zhao readily agreed.
When Xiao Yinzi came to Changle Palace the next day to discuss details of the memorial service with Song Zhao, Song Zhao happened to mention,
"Since we've summoned clergy to cross souls over, I was thinking not to only take care of Chun Hua and Qiu Yue. Three imperial consorts and concubines passed away successively last month in Shoukang Palace. Have them stop by Shoukang Palace as well to cross those souls over too."
Xiao Yinzi immediately voiced his agreement and praised Song Zhao's kindheartedness.
Song Zhao gave a faint smile, and then casually brought up,
"Don't forget about Song Changzai either. Although I don't remember who she was, we were from the same clan after all."
Hearing this, it confused Xiao Yinzi instead.
He knitted his brows and scratched the back of his head in puzzlement, "Song Changzai? Who is Your Highness referring to? You're the only imperial consort in the palace surnamed Song!"
Because Tianji Office always only recognized Tianji's secret orders when handling matters, and in order to maintain absolute confidentiality, everything they did was not recorded.
Now this secret order had already been sent out of the palace by Song Zhao and handed over to Xiao Jingyan for safekeeping.
She only needed to secretly send a message out to Xiao Jingyan for whatever she needed to do in the palace, and Xiao Jingyan would find someone to go to Tianji Office to handle the matter securely without leaving a trace.
Even if this came to light later and was traced layer by layer, it would be impossible to uncover Song Zhao as the behind-the-scenes player no matter what.
After receiving Song Zhao's instructions, Yun Shan responded decisively and then said, "It's getting late, miss should rest early."
Song Zhao nodded lightly and lay down on the couch.
But just as Yun Shan was about to blow out the oil lamp, she suddenly heard Song Zhao retch inexplicably.
Yun Shan hurriedly went up to support Song Zhao up and gently patted her back, "Miss, what's the matter..."
This kind of nauseous feeling was all too familiar to Song Zhao.
It was so familiar that there was no need for an imperial physician's diagnosis. Song Zhao already had a good idea in her heart.
She was most likely pregnant again.
It was not exactly unexpected. She was of childbearing age, and since she had 'lost her memory', she had been continuously blessed.
It was only natural that after all that rain and dew, she would conceive again.
Song Zhao was not surprised by this at all. On the contrary, her heart was calm without any ripples. She calmly asked Yun Shan, "Who is on duty at the Imperial Medical Bureau tonight?"
Yun Shan replied, "It's Imperial Physician Zhang."
Hearing that it was him, Song Zhao nodded in relief, "Then summon him here."
When summoned by Song Zhao, Zhang Imperial Physician arrived quickly.
After taking her pulse, he soon confirmed the auspicious pulse indicating pregnancy.
Zhang Imperial Physician's face revealed joy. He took two steps back, bowed to Song Zhao and said,
"Congratulations, Your Highness, it is indeed an auspicious pulse, already over a month along."
Song Zhao nodded calmly and casually instructed,
"It's late today. Please inform His Majesty of this matter early tomorrow morning."
The next day after morning court, when Xiao Jingheng heard that Song Zhao was pregnant, he hurried to Changle Palace.
When he arrived, the joy and excitement on his face was hard to contain.
Seeing Song Zhao about to get up from the heated kang to greet him, he quickly walked over to her side and lightly pressed her shoulder,
"I've told you there's no need for such etiquette between us."
After speaking, he sat down next to Song Zhao and clasped her delicate hand tightly in his palm,
"This is wonderful news, Zhao'er. We're having another baby."
Song Zhao was taken aback at first, but soon smiled helplessly, "Xiao Lang found out so quickly, I originally wanted to hide it for a while as a surprise for you later. That's why I specifically instructed Zhang Imperial Physician not to tell you about this yet. I didn't expect that while he readily agreed in front of me, he went and tattled to Your Majesty at the first opportunity. "
Xiao Jingheng laughed heartily, "No matter when I find out about such joyous news, it always delights me. Since that's the case, of course the sooner the better."
Song Zhao shyly lowered her eyes, half delighted and half worried, "I'm also very happy in my heart, but also nervous. It's said that the pain of childbirth is like walking through ghost gate. Although I've forgotten the past, even though I'm already a mother, I'm still afraid in my heart."
Xiao Jingheng held her even tighter, "Don't be afraid, I will be by your side."
Song Zhao nodded lightly, and only then did she look up at him with clear eyes, "I'm thinking that it would be good if I could have an imperial prince this time and share the blessing of having both son and daughter with you."
Hearing this, Xiao Jingheng's eyebrows tightened imperceptibly.
However, he soon resumed his normal expression. He also smiled, "An imperial prince would of course be good, but a princess wouldn't be bad either. Zhao'er, don't put so much pressure on yourself. As long as it's our child, I will be happy no matter what."
After the brief joy, Song Zhao's expression gradually became more and more desolate, looking depressed.
So Xiao Jingheng asked her, "With such a joyous event, why do you look so worried?"
Song Zhao frowned and shook her head. She said in a low voice, "I heard about Consort Yao's matter... At one point, I felt like she had been punished too severely, and at another point, I couldn't understand why Consort Yao, who was usually on good terms with me, wanted to harm me like this?"
After a pause, she asked again, "Did I offend her in some way in the past?"
Xiao Jingheng quickly shook his head in denial, "Never. She treated you like this entirely out of jealousy."
"Just because of jealousy she would do this..." Song Zhao's expression became even more dismal. She clenched Xiao Jingheng's hand even tighter, "Xiao Lang, I'm really scared in my heart."
She nestled in Xiao Jingheng's arms. Her long and delicate eyelashes trembled slightly, making her look so fragile and uneasy.
Xiao Jingheng comforted her from time to time. Then she continued telling him,
"Since I woke up, there have only been a few people close to me serving by my side, like Yun Shan, Xiao Fuzi, and Chun Hua and Qiu Yue. The poisonous butterflies killed Chun Hua and Qiu Yue that day. Watching them die before my eyes pained me extremely. Lately I've also been unable to sleep well at night. When I close my eyes I'll think back to what happened that day..."
Xiao Jingheng said, "The dead are gone. Zhao'er, don't dwell on it too much. Although Chun Hua and Qiu Yue died such unjust deaths, it was also an accident beyond control. If it would set your mind at ease, I can have monks and Taoists summoned into the palace to hold a memorial service for them, crossing their souls over to the next life and hoping they can have prosperous days there."
Following Xiao Jingheng's suggestion, Song Zhao readily agreed.
When Xiao Yinzi came to Changle Palace the next day to discuss details of the memorial service with Song Zhao, Song Zhao happened to mention,
"Since we've summoned clergy to cross souls over, I was thinking not to only take care of Chun Hua and Qiu Yue. Three imperial consorts and concubines passed away successively last month in Shoukang Palace. Have them stop by Shoukang Palace as well to cross those souls over too."
Xiao Yinzi immediately voiced his agreement and praised Song Zhao's kindheartedness.
Song Zhao gave a faint smile, and then casually brought up,
"Don't forget about Song Changzai either. Although I don't remember who she was, we were from the same clan after all."
Hearing this, it confused Xiao Yinzi instead.
He knitted his brows and scratched the back of his head in puzzlement, "Song Changzai? Who is Your Highness referring to? You're the only imperial consort in the palace surnamed Song!"
