Chapter 416 - 418: Recognized by the Eyes—A Senior Transmigrator
"Noble Consort Guo!"
Feng Bailing snatched the ginkgo from Noble Consort Guo's hands and examined them closely.
"What's the matter?"
Noble Consort Guo puzzled.
Feng Bailing sniffed the ginkgo, her brow furrowing.
She whispered.
"You can't eat these ginkgo. I fear this is why you have been childless all these years."
Last night's words by Dugu Wu had enlightened Feng Bailing, and seeing these ginkgo now made her even more certain.
Feng Bailing simply relayed to Noble Consort Guo what Dugu Wu had said.
Noble Consort Guo's face instantly turned pale, and she was speechless for a long while.
"This can't be true, I also know some about medicine. Ginkgo has a mild toxicity, but eating less than ten a day shouldn't cause issues. The Emperor also specifically instructed that when he ordered people to bring them."
Noble Consort Guo murmured.
Feng Bailing sighed softly.
Indeed, Emperor Yongye was a cunning old fox, personally delivering ginkgo and deliberately instructing not to eat more than ten each day, making no one suspect for over twenty years. Thus, Noble Consort Guo never noticed, and the Imperial Physician naturally wouldn't check what Emperor Yongye had given.
"These ginkgo themselves aren't a problem, but when they were cooked, some unflowered purple eggplants were used with yellow wine for steaming. Purple eggplant can also prevent pregnancy and doesn't have a scent; you couldn't have detected it. Taking it daily, naturally, you couldn't have children."
Noble Consort Guo became speechless, her eyes already brimming with tears.
Seeing Noble Consort Guo's distressed appearance, Feng Bailing didn't know how to comfort her at the moment, she could only gently hold her hand.
"If you really want your own child, I can help you, but just as Dugu Wu said, once you have a child, the position of Empress will have nothing to do with you."
Noble Consort Guo slowly wiped the tears from her eyes, her gaze resolute as she grasped Feng Bailing's hand.
"I don't want to be Empress. I also know that no one else can have that position in His Majesty's heart, it belongs solely to Sister Yun Luo. Anyone else who wants that position won't end well."
Seeing that Noble Consort Guo was resolute, Feng Bailing took out a bottle of prepared folic acid tablets.
"Take these tablets daily. You have been using ginkgo for contraception; once you stop taking them, you can gradually recuperate and have your own child, I've also checked for you, your health is very good. Although the Emperor made you use contraception, he chose a very mild method, it shows that he still has feelings for you."
Noble Consort Guo did not speak, only smiled bitterly.
She had finally made up her mind.
"I previously misunderstood that your inquiry about Sister Yun Ruo was ill-intentioned, I was too worried. Feel free to ask any questions you have."
Feng Bailing also knew that Noble Consort Guo had now opened up to her.
"I want to know why Lady Dugu abandoned Dugu Wu, and what exactly is his relationship with the Emperor, whose child is Dugu Wu really?"
Feng Bailing fired three questions in one breath, leaving Noble Consort Guo pale with fright.
She hurriedly covered Feng Bailing's mouth, glanced around, and gave a bitter smile.
"You child, how dare you ask such questions in the palace? You will get yourself killed. Besides, I am not entirely sure about the questions you asked."
Noble Consort Guo then spoke about her acquaintance with Lady Dugu.
It was about over twenty years ago when Noble Consort Guo had just entered the palace.
At that time, Emperor Yongye had just ascended the throne and, in order to win over the court officials, many newcomers were taken into his harem.
Among the newcomers entering the palace, Noble Consort Guo was only considered beautiful, and since she did not vie for favor, she did not meet Emperor Yongye in her first year.
She didn't have any friends either, and one day, she accidentally lost her way and wandered near the Cold Palace.
There, she heard the delightful sound of a pipa, and out of curiosity, Noble Consort Guo went in and saw a woman.
The woman was very beautiful, the most beautiful woman Noble Consort Guo had ever seen to this day.
She introduced herself as Yun Ruo, just a year or two older than Noble Consort Guo.
"We got along very well and soon became close friends. Since then, I would occasionally visit Sister Yun Ruo in the Cold Palace. My painting skills were also taught by Sister Yun Ruo then. In fact, it was not just painting; Sister Yun Ruo was very intelligent, she knew various musical instruments and was also skilled in martial arts. Compared to her, Nalan Yan'er is hardly worth mentioning," remarked Noble Consort Guo with emotion.
"Later, I found out that Sister Yun Ruo was confined there by the Emperor. The reason she was locked in the Cold Palace was allegedly for having an illegitimate relationship and giving birth to an illegitimate child. I don't believe it; someone like Sister Yun Ruo could not possibly commit such immoral acts. While in the Cold Palace, Sister Yun Ruo often daydreamed, missing her son dearly. Later, when Prince Wu was brought into the Imperial Palace by Prince Shun, Sister Yun Ruo was overjoyed. And then, she suddenly disappeared."
As Noble Consort Guo recalled the past, her eyes reddened.
She gently wiped the corners of her eyes.
"As for the last two questions you asked, I can't answer them. I think in this world, only Sister Yun Ruo herself knows. But I can answer your first question. Sister Yun Ruo loved Prince Wu deeply; she must have had compelling reasons to leave. I remember, she once mentioned that she didn't like it here, she wanted to go back home. But she couldn't bear to leave her child. After her disappearance, some said she had died, but I believe she just went back home."
Noble Consort Guo paused as she spoke.
"If you had seen the painting by Sister Yun Ruo, you might have gotten some clues. Before her disappearance, Sister Yun Ruo mentioned that the painting was her final work, containing a big secret. I forgot to tell you, Sister Yun Ruo was the only person in Great Chu who amalgamated the Cultural Golden Seal and was the strongest painter in Great Chu, even across the Ten Countries. If you have a chance to see that painting again, you should carefully contemplate it; it may reveal some secrets. Even if you can't find out Sister Yun Ruo's secrets, that painting could inspire you in terms of painting techniques, which would be highly beneficial for your future participation in the Competition Among Ten Countries."
Even after leaving the Imperial Palace, Feng Bailing was still pondering over Noble Consort Guo's words.
This Madam Yun Ruo, could she possibly be a transcendent predecessor?
Could her disappearance mean she returned to her original world?
As for her painting, Feng Bailing had seen it too, but in her view, there was nothing special about it.
Or is it that a painting drawn by someone wielding the Cultural Golden Seal can only be understood by those who possess the Wenhua Seal?
With such doubts, Feng Bailing left the palace, and just as she reached the palace gates, she saw Dugu Wu's horse carriage stopped there.
Not just Dugu Wu's horse carriage, Feng Bailing also saw the Crown Prince's horse carriage just coming out of the palace and, by sheer coincidence, the two carriages collided.