Consort Rong sat regally on the main seat, flanked by a stern-faced wet nurse and two maids, one massaging her legs and the other fanning her, making her appear like a queen.
Indeed, in this era, a woman carrying the Emperor's heir was held in extreme reverence.
"Consort Rong, Anning has come to take your pulse," Li Man'er knew Consort Rong was putting on airs, trying to make things difficult for her, but in Li Man'er's eyes, it was insignificant.
"Audacious! Princess Anning, how dare you not kneel and pay respects to Consort Rong?" the stern-faced wet nurse snapped, her aged face rigid, her eyes sharp as knives.
Consort Rong chuckled, her smile quite arrogant, looking at Li Man'er as if she had just won the lottery.
"This County Princess kneels only to heaven and earth, and to His Majesty. Everyone else can be spared. How many times must I say it?"
The stern-faced wet nurse immediately stepped forward, shouting, "Audacious! This is the palace, the Qitai Palace. Even if you are a County Princess, you are not permitted to be so insolent. Guards..." She was about to call for guards to give Li Man'er a lesson, when suddenly her vision blurred. Li Man'er had appeared before her.
The stern-faced wet nurse froze, then questioned, "What do you think you're doing? This is no place for you to run wild."
Consort Rong grew a little nervous. She instinctively placed a hand on her belly, fearing that Li Man'er might harm her child in her recklessness.
Li Man'er studied the stern-faced wet nurse and asked, "May I ask the wet nurse's surname?"
Seeing that Li Man'er posed no immediate threat and seemed respectful, the wet nurse's initial unease dissipated, replaced by a strong sense of superiority.
"This servant's surname is Ma. I am an elder who served Her Majesty the Empress. His Majesty specially ordered this old servant to look after Consort Rong's pregnancy."
"Oh, so you do know you are a servant."
Wet Nurse Ma felt a sudden inexplicable jolt. The next second, her throat was seized. Slender hands gripped her neck tightly, terrifying the surrounding palace maids into shrieking. Some even shielded Consort Rong, fearing Li Man'er might harm the imperial heir.
"You, what are you doing?"
Li Man'er didn't apply much force, allowing Wet Nurse Ma to speak with difficulty, but she was terrified. She knew Li Man'er possessed martial skills and feared that her grip might be too strong, accidentally snapping her neck.
"Even if I killed you, no one would utter a word of protest."
Consort Rong never expected Li Man'er to be so daring, to even contemplate murder within the forbidden palace. The ferocity on Li Man'er's face clearly indicated murderous intent, not mere words.
"County Princess..." Wet Nurse Ma swallowed hard. "This old servant is here by imperial decree to attend to Consort Rong."
Li Man'er sneered and tightened her grip, almost crushing Wet Nurse Ma's windpipe.
"Gah..." She struggled to breathe, her eyes filled with intense fear.
"Without you, will Consort Rong not give birth? I will kill this wicked servant, and His Majesty will surely send another experienced and discreet servant."
"Consort Rong, help me..." Wet Nurse Ma's face turned a purplish hue.
Although Consort Rong was scared, she believed Li Man'er wouldn't dare harm her. She was carrying the imperial heir; no matter how bold Li Man'er was, would she dare harm the heir?
"Princess Anning, this is Qitai Palace. In my palace, how dare you act so recklessly!" Consort Rong's competitive spirit flared. She refused to believe she was inferior to Li Man'er. Now that she was favored, what could Li Man'er possibly do against her?
Li Man'er's interest piqued. She chuckled twice. Her expression was so sinister that even the maids fanning and massaging Consort Rong felt the chilling aura emanating from her.
Surprisingly, Li Man'er released her grip, sparing Wet Nurse Ma's life.
Wet Nurse Ma collapsed onto the ground, drenched in sweat. She knew she had narrowly escaped death but dared not utter a sound, fearing she might enrage Li Man'er again.
"I am here to take Consort Rong's pulse. All other extraneous individuals may leave."
Consort Rong instinctively wanted to refuse. More people meant greater safety. If all the palace attendants left, she feared she would be in danger.
Suddenly, Consort Rong felt a pang of regret. She shouldn't have allowed Li Man'er to attend to her pregnancy. She shouldn't have tried to manipulate Li Man'er using the imperial heir. Now, she felt like she had tried to snatch a chicken but lost the rice used for bait.
"It's just taking a pulse; there's no need to chase them all out!" Consort Rong looked at Li Man'er warily, fearing she might do something detrimental to her.
"Your Ladyship, rest assured, I am not foolish enough for that. Since Your Ladyship has concerns, Wet Nurse Ma may stay."
Consort Rong had nothing more to say and signaled for the others to leave.
The palace maids were eager to escape this troubled place. They lowered their heads and hurried away as if in a light jog.
Only Li Man'er, Ah Si, Consort Rong, and Wet Nurse Ma remained in the room. Wet Nurse Ma struggled to get up from the ground, taking a while to quell her lingering fear.
"Ah Si, you go out too."
"Yes!" Ah Si glanced at Wet Nurse Ma and also withdrew, standing guard outside the door.
Li Man'er gestured for Consort Rong to extend her hand. Consort Rong laid her wrist flat, watching Li Man'er's every move, fearing she would harm her.
Li Man'er placed her fingers on Consort Rong's wrist. After a moment, she nodded. "Congratulations, Your Ladyship. You are indeed pregnant, though it is still early."
Consort Rong asked eagerly, "Is it a prince?"
"It is too early to tell," Li Man'er replied. "In another two or three months, it will be discernible. Your Ladyship should focus on nurturing the pregnancy and wait patiently."
Consort Rong felt a surge of impatience. She desperately wished for a prince, and her tone towards Li Man'er became less courteous.
"Useless. You can't even tell if it's a prince." The word "princess" would absolutely never escape Consort Rong's lips.
A hint of darkness flickered in Li Man'er's eyes. She said softly, "Your Ladyship, when a woman is pregnant, her emotions should be stable, otherwise, problems may arise."
"What kind of problems?"
"Miscarriage."
Li Man'er said it casually, but Consort Rong and Wet Nurse Ma listened with trepidation.
"You... audacious."
"Yes, I am quite audacious!" Li Man'er withdrew her hand and said with a smile, "With one needle, I can let Your Ladyship experience the taste of miscarriage. Or, with a little effort, I can ensure you can never conceive again."
Consort Rong's face instantly turned ashen. She clutched her not-yet-protruding belly and stammered, "You, you dare to harm the imperial heir?"
"Your Ladyship, what are you saying? How could I dare harm the imperial heir!" Li Man'er smiled slightly. "It's all due to your unstable emotions; what does it have to do with me?"
Just as Consort Rong was about to retort, she heard Li Man'er continue, "Anger damages the body and the dragon fetus. I presume His Majesty and the other imperial physicians also understand this principle, don't you think?"