The Imperial palace, the Empress Phoenix hall.
"Mingzhu greets Mother Empress" Xu Mingzhu said as she paid her respects. It was very rare for her to be invited into the palace by the Empress.
"Don't stand on ceremony have a seat" the Empress said from the Phoenix seat.
"Thank you mother Empress" Xu Mingzhu said and sat on the seat.
"It seams that you still do not know your duties as a royal wife Mingzhu" the Empress said.
"Mother Mingzhu was wrong and has failed to provide his highness the crown Prince with an heir, I deserve to be punished" Xu Mingzhu said kneeling
"So you do know your primary duties, that's good but that's not why you are here" Empress Ye said standing and walking up to where Xu Mingzhu knelt.
"It isn't" Xu Mingzhu replied surprised.
"No you are here because of the disturbance caused by the Haram at the crown Prince wedding ceremony. your first duty as a wife is to manage the Haram but you have proven time and time again that you are incapable of doing even that" Empress Ye said turning and heading back to the Phoenix seat.
"Mingzhu apologies for not properly carrying out her duties the imperial family" Xu Mingzhu replied
"There is no need for you to apologise just yet. Madam Yang is pregnant with an Imperial heir, You as the crown princess Consort will have to ensure her safety and the safe delivery of the child" Empress Ye said dismissing the crown princess Consort.
"Mingzhu will abide" Xu Mingzhu said.
* * *
The Crown Prince Manor, Lu Xiaolian's private rooms.
"Your highness that Madam Jang is very cunning, she stopped me from delivering the soup to his highness the Crown Prince and instead delivered it herself" Yao Yao said
"Oh, do you feel bullied" Lu Xiaolian said chuckling softly.
"Your highness who does she think she is" Yao Yao continued ranting.
"You really shouldn't take it to heart, I only want to test the waters and it seams I was right. Since she wants to handle his highness foods then let her. As long as she doesn't hurt me I won't do anything to her" Lu Xiaolian said and standing walked over to the bed a took a seat.
"Oh so your highness wishes to ignore the struggles for power in the Haram" Yao Yao asker softly.
"Exactly, as long as they do not involve me I wish to stay neutral for the meantime just keep me informed of everything that happens nothing is too little" Lu Xiaolian and
"Yes your highness" Yao Yao said in reply.
"I thought that crown Prince had three concubines how come I've only saw two" Lu Xiaolian said.
"Madam Shen is of the same rank as Madam Yang but she's very frail and sickly and doesn't come out often" Bie liu replied.
"even to pay her respects" Lu Xiaolian said.
"She has been sick of late so his Marjesty exempted her from paying her respects" Bie liu replied.
"Oh that's surprising, judging from Xu Mingzhu's character am surprised that she ever agreed to that" said Lu Xiaolian.
"Madam Shen's Father is the head of the Imperial Academy and her aunt is pure Consort Shen and is very close to Noble Consort Gao" Bie liu continued.
"You mean her lackey, what a inoffensive way of putting that. That explains her leniency to Shen ce fei __" Lu Xiaolian said when a loud voice belonging to an outside servant announced "Your highness Madam Yang fainted and is bleeding"
"What, how can this be. Call the imperial physician. I am headed there now" Lu Xiaolian said and began walking quickly to The southern courtyard.
Lu Xiaolian arrived at the courtyard to find that Jang Suyin had already arrived.
"Where is Crown Princess consort Xu? Lu Xiaolian asked the steward standing at her right.
"Answering your highness, Her highness the crown princess Consort was called into the palace by the Empress and his highness the crown Prince is still at court" Steward Hu replied.
"Have you sent for the Imperial physician" Lu Xiaolian asked the Steward.
"Yes your highness I have already sent for him" Steward Hu replied.
"Imperial Physician Chen has arrived" a voice announced and a middle aged man dressed in a dark red physician robe walked into the room and with a slight bow said "Your highness"
"Quickly check on madam Yang" Lu Xiaolian ordered and the imperial physician with a bow walked up to where Madam Yang laid and opening his physician's box began to treat her.
A few minutes later after her condition was stable, Imperial physician Chen walked up to Lu Xiaolian and facing her bowed and said"Your highness Madam Yang is now stable"
."And the baby? Lu Xiaolian asked.
"The foetus is now stable, she only has to rest and take better care of her health. I have already written a prescription,as long as she follows the prescription she would get better"Imperial physician Chen replied.
"What caused her to faint and bleed? Jang Suyin asked which making Lu Xiaolian to be alert.
"I checked Madam Yang's pulse and found out that she was poisoned with little amount of aborticide no enough to kill the baby but enough to make the baby unstable and make her lose the baby naturally" Imperial physician Chen said in replied
"How could this had been put in her food everything she ate was tested of poison" Yan Lu Madam Yang person maid servant said
"there are other ways it could have been added, i will have to test everything she ate or drank" Imperial Physician Chen said
"I tested my lady's food and drinks the only thing that wasn't tested was her Foetus stabilizing drugs" Yan Lu said
"Get madam Yang's drugs" Madam Jang instructed
A maid servant servants from madam Yang's inner rooms quickly went in and brought out the drugs then handed it over to imperial physician Chen who brought it to his nose and tested it with a silver needle.
"This contains little amount of aborticide" Imperial physician Chen said after testing for poison.
"Who delivered this drugs? Lu Xiaolian asked
"Tai Li, the crown princess Consort Personal maid" The maid servant that brought out the drugs replied.