After all, Hanliang Pace wasn’t far from Fengyi Pace.

  “How could it spread this far? It’s raining heavily. Even if it’s close, there’s still some distance. Don’t worry. Go get some rain gear. We’ll go check on it once the rain lightens,” Wumian said calmly.

  “Do you think Li Fei’s child is alright?” she asked. “Isn’t she a little… unlucky?”

  “She’s certainly unlucky. But this was lightning sent down by Heaven…” Linshui said with a strange expression. “This might damage her reputation as well.”

  Ancient people were highly superstitious. If you were struck by lightning without provocation, how could that be a good sign?

  It would be seen as ominous, a sign of evil energy or ill fortune.

  Wumian clicked her tongue, genuinely feeling sorry for Li Fei. Sister… you really are down on your luck.

  At that moment, Li Fei was terrified, and the pain in her abdomen was growing worse.

  But the rain outside was pouring, and although someone had already gone to summon the imperial physician, they likely wouldn’t arrive anytime soon.

  “Tell His Majesty…”

  “Don’t worry, Your Highness, the message has already been sent,” said Doukou as she tried to soothe her breath. “There’s no need to panic. It was just the side Pace’s roof that was struck. The fire wasn’t serious—it’s already under control.”

  “My belly hurts so much…” Li Fei clutched Doukou’s hand tightly.

  “Your Highness, please take slow, deep breaths. You’re just frightened—it’ll pass,” said Shaoyao as she rushed to help.

  Li Fei gripped both of their hands and tried to breathe deeply. But another thundercp sounded outside, making her cry out and shiver in fear.

  Meanwhile, Wumian remained unhurried. She calmly ate her lunch in her own pace. The rain was too heavy, so she didn’t bother the imperial kitchen and kept her meal simple.

  Only after she finished eating did she prepare to head out. The downpour had eased, but it hadn’t stopped completely. At least the thunder had subsided.

  Dukang held an umbrel while Feixu and Linshui fnked Wumian on either side, shielding her with umbrels of their own.

  Thankfully, Fengyi Pace wasn’t far from Hanliang Pace. Wumian led her attendants out the back gate, turned left through the rear corridor, exited the Fengyi compound, crossed the main path, and entered a small ndscaped area—and there it was.

  By the time she arrived, several sedan chairs were already stopped outside Hanliang Pace—clearly, many had come ahead of her.

  Only a select few were permitted to ride sedan chairs within the pace.

  Wumian had come on foot—she didn’t want to risk slipping in such weather.

  Just as she reached the entrance, she saw Lin Cairen gncing around.

  “Your Majesty is here—I was waiting especially for you,” Lin Cairen said with a smile. “His Majesty arrived about a quarter of an hour ago.”

  Wumian nodded and entered with her.

  Inside Hanliang Pace, she immediately saw the damaged side hall. The fire hadn’t been severe, but the roof was scorched, and the windows were burned through.

  The fmes were already extinguished, leaving a bckened and unsightly mess.

  Likely during the firefighting effort, many of Li Fei’s beloved flowers and pnts had been trampled. Now they were soaked by the rain, looking utterly pitiful.

  Inside the main hall, everyone was already present. As Wumian stepped in, all the consorts rose to greet her.

  The Emperor was not by Li Fei’s side but seated in the highest position.

  Wumian stepped forward and curtsied. “Your Majesty is already here. I apologize for arriving te.”

  “No matter, come sit,” Ying Qionglou said, pointing to a seat beside him.

  “Is Li Fei alright?” Wumian asked as she sat down.

  “The Imperial Physician is still checking her pulse.” Ying Qionglou’s expression wasn’t pleasant.

  Who wouldn’t be upset after something like this?

  He frowned and gnced toward the curtain inside, and as he turned back, his gaze nded on Wumian’s shoes. “You walked here?”

  Her cloth shoes were damp. Even if the rain had eased, the ground would still be flooded.

  “We’re close by. It’d be more of a hassle to take a sedan chair, so I walked,” Wumian replied.

  “Thank you for your trouble,” Ying Qionglou said.

  Wumian smiled at him but didn’t bother with any perfunctory politeness.

  Guifei had originally wanted to comment that the Empress had arrived te, but seeing this exchange, she held her tongue.

  Everyone waited quietly for the Imperial Physicians. About a quarter of an hour ter, two physicians came out.

  The elder, Imperial Physician Zhang, stepped forward to report to the Emperor: “Li Fei was startled, and it disturbed the fetus. She’s had some spotting—this is extremely harmful during pregnancy. I recommend complete bed rest for the next five months, with consistent use of fetal-stabilizing medicine. Without such care, I cannot guarantee the royal heir’s safety.”

  Ying Qionglou’s face grew darker.

  At this point, he was beginning to question what was going on in his harem. Was it truly so difficult to deliver a healthy child?

  “Heaven’s thunder frightening Li Fei is no one’s fault. Where are her personal attendants?” Wumian asked.

  Doukou quickly stepped forward. “Your Majesty, I am Doukou, Li Fei’s personal maid.”

  “Very well. Follow the physician closely and ask clearly how best to care for your mistress. The damage is done—regret is useless now. What matters is proper care moving forward. Since there’s a way to treat it, your mistress will be fine.”

  “Yes, thank you, Your Majesty, for your guidance.” Doukou bowed deeply.

  “How strange, though. A clear day like this, and lightning just strikes out of nowhere? It was quite frightening,” Xian Fei frowned.

  “The thunder really was terrifying today. Second Princess was pying when it hit and cried for a long time,” Rong Fei added, sounding genuinely frustrated. That part, at least, was true—Second Princess had indeed cried.

  “Have the physician check on the Second Princess ter,” Ying Qionglou said.

  “Yes, thank you, Your Majesty.” Rong Fei answered with a smile.

  “People say only those with evil energy are struck by lightning... could it be that Hanliang Pace is...” Hu Meiren started to mutter, but her words trailed off like someone had choked her mid-sentence.

  Ying Qionglou’s cold gaze swept over her, and she dared not continue.

  “Sister Hu is always speaking nonsense,” Yang Jieyu said softly. “This is the inner pace, not a street market. Is such reckless talk becoming of one in our position?”

  “Oh? Has Hu Meiren said such things before?” Ying Qionglou’s voice turned icy.

  Zhang Meiren quickly stood up. “Please don’t be angry, Your Majesty. Younger Sister Hu is still young. Perhaps she hasn’t fully grasped pace etiquette.”

  “If she hasn’t learned, then she should start. If she cannot hold her tongue after repeated offenses, demote her to Cairen. Once she learns properly, she may be promoted again. If not—well, there’s still a vacancy for a Pace Attendant in the Office of the Attendants.” His tone was ice-cold.

  Everyone knew the Emperor was in a foul mood—and still she had to provoke him? She deserved what she got.

  No one pleaded on her behalf.

  Hu Cairen, now demoted, trembled in fear and shrank into silence, trying to make herself invisible.

  “Yang Jieyu, are you unwell?” Wumian turned to her. “Your health is always delicate—why come out in this weather?”

  “I live nearby. This is a serious matter—I was concerned,” Yang Jieyu answered.

  Ying Qionglou looked at her a few times. “Have you run out of medicine?”

  “Replying to Your Majesty, the Imperial Medical Bureau has kept me stocked. The test batch just arrived a few days ago. Please don’t worry—my health only suffers a bit in bad weather. Most days, I’m quite fine,” she said.

  Back when she was in the Eastern Pace, Yang Shi had been bright and sociable. Though the Crown Prince had little interest in her, she’d gotten along well with all the other women, except for the Crown Princess.