If the Xuanwu Emperor were here, he would defend himself by saying that his precautions were aimed at all the concubines in the harem, not any particr individual.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But he wasn''t here now, so Empress Zhu interpreted it as the emperor guarding against her, guarding against her harming Concubine Zhen''s unborn child.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Empress Zhu felt both angry and deste inside.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She herself had lost two children, and knew that kind of pain never fades no matter how much time passes.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
That pain was like something etched into her bones - the slightest touch felt like scraping bone, piercing her heart.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
How could she possibly harm a child?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Over these past dozen years, she had taken many lives, but never that of a child.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She always felt that any child could be the reincarnation of one of her own two lost children. If she killed a child, she would be destroying the chance for her own children to be reborn.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Howughable that her one act of mercy was seen as vicious by the emperor.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Imperial Physician Yan! Imperial Physician Yan..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Wang Dequan ran ahead of the emperor, ignoring the corpses strewn on the ground outside Hexi Pce and the ck Armor Army soldiers dealing with the bodies. He grabbed Xi Que and demanded: "Where is Imperial Physician Yan? Bring him quickly, Concubine Zhen is having stomach pains."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It was most likely fake, her mistress knew what she was doing!<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But on the surface, Xi Que still rushed anxiously to the side hall to summon Imperial Physician Yan: "Imperial Physician Yan should know what to say, mydy says her stomach hurts."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Imperial Physician Yan waved his hand dismissively. How could he not know about Concubine Zhen''s dramatic tendencies?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He had been fooled by her acting before and dragged onto this ship of thieves.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Usually when taking a pulse, he could get results in just a moment. But this time, after half an incense stick''s time had passed, Imperial Physician Yan was still stroking his small mustache, his expression unreadable.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The emperor sat by the bedside, appearing outwardly calm, but inwardly extremely anxious. The fingers tapping restlessly on his knee betrayed his agitation.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Xinyue secretly red at Imperial Physician Yan: That''s enough, there''s nothing wrong to begin with. You''re getting carried away with the act. If His Majesty gets angry, I won''t be able to save you.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Imperial Physician Yan coughed a few times and removed the handkerchief covering Jiang Xinyue''s wrist. "Your Majesty, please forgive me. Concubine Zhen has received too many shocks today. I was worried the fetus might be affected, so I took extra time to be thorough."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"No matter."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The Xuanwu Emperor furrowed his brow. "How is Concubine Zhen?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Your Majesty can rest easy," Imperial Physician Yan smiled. "Concubine Zhen has a strong constitution. The child is unharmed, but Concubine Zhen herself was quite frightened. I will prescribe two doses of a calming decoction for her."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Then why did her stomach hurt?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Imperial Physician Yan had prepared an exnation: "In response to Your Majesty''s question, it is normal for pregnant women inte stages to experience abdominal tightness and pain when they walk too much or overexert themselves. This is due to the growing fetus stretching the abdomen. Some rest should alleviate it. In my observation, Concubine Zhen could go intobor at any time. I will return home tomorrow and send my unworthy daughter to Hexi Pce to care for the Concubine."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Imperial Physician Yan''s daughter, Yan Xinyi, was once a close friend of Concubine Zhen. Since learning of Concubine Zhen''s pregnancy, she had been pestering her father to teach her midwifery. After eight or nine months of study, she had mastered the arts from Imperial Physician Yan and the midwives.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
When the time came for Concubine Zhen to give birth, Imperial Physician Yan would not be allowed to enter. Yan Xinyi could take his ce perfectly.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The emperor also breathed a sigh of relief. "Your daughter and Yue''er are fated to be friends. Even their names are simr. It is fitting for her toe to the pce to keep Yue''erpany."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
By saying this, the emperor was ensuring that Yan Xinyi''s role as a medical practitioner would not be revealed, preventing others from finding a weakness to exploit.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It was simply that Concubine Zhen had experienced a pce upheaval and received a fright. The emperor worried it might affect the health of the child in her womb, so he was allowing her childhood friend to enter the pce to keep herpany and lift her spirits.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Originally, the emperor had wanted to bring Jiang Xinyue''s mother into the pce as well, but she refused: "Your Majesty, my mother is unfamiliar with pce etiquette. I fear she would be ufortable, and I do not wish for her to be unhappy here, worrying about home. Could we wait until I am close to giving birth before summoning her to the pce?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The pregnancy itself wasn''t the most important time - what mattered most was the month of confinement after birth. The more trusted people around then, the better.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The Xuanwu Emperor considered briefly, realizing this point as well, and nodded in agreement.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
After that day, Nanny Li and Nanny Xiang hardly left Jiang Xinyue''s side for a moment, fearing something might happen to her.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
With just over a month left, they couldn''t be careless. Otherwise all their efforts would be wasted.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
When Jiang Xinyue returned, she didn''t forget to bring back the sword from the ck Armor Army soldier: "I did not encounter any danger on my journey, but thank you for your sword. Holding it gave me peace of mind."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The ck Armor Army soldiers rarely interacted with others and served as covert guards. They didn''t realize Concubine Zhen was covering for herself with this lie.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He only thought Concubine Zhen was rather foolish. The people outside were trying to lure her out of the pce. When she heard the emperor had been shot, she rushed out. It was fortunate nothing happened to her, otherwise they would have had difficulty exining to the emperor.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The emperor med them for letting Concubine Zhen run out alone, and they could only repeat one phrase: "We deserve death."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The advantage of being a secret guard was the willingness to admit mistakes.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
What else could the emperor do?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He could only dismiss them.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Qian Sheng was unconscious for two days, and the Fourth Prince kept vigil by his bedside for those two days. On the third day when Qian Sheng awoke, the Fourth Prince who had been holding back his fear finally burst into tears in his embrace.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Grandpa... waaah... I thought Grandpa didn''t want me anymore... waaah..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Qian Sheng felt as if he had taken a journey to the gates of hell. While unconscious, he saw strange tall buildings and small boxes with four wheels that moved incredibly fast, carrying people inside.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Beeping sounds filled his ears. The sky was very blue, but he didn''t know where he was. People wore odd clothing and seemed unable to see him, passing right through his body.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Old man, be careful!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Just as he took a few steps forward, suddenly a figure rushed out from the blurry crowd and collided with him. The impact jolted him awake.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The terror had not yet faded from his eyes as Qian Sheng gasped for breath.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Just now...<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The woman who had called out "Old man, be careful!" seemed to have been hit by one of those four-wheeled boxes. Shey not far from him, blood pooling around her.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Had she died trying to save him?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
What terrified him most was that although the woman had bright red curly hair and wore strange revealing clothes that exposed her arms and legs, he recognized her at a nce - it was Concubine Zhen.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
How could Concubine Zhen appear in his dream?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
And... and she had died so tragically trying to save him from being hit by that small box.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Grandpa, why aren''t you saying anything? Are you still feeling unwell somewhere? Grandpa... I''ll go ask Uncle Yan the Imperial Physician toe again..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"No need, no need." Stroking the back of the Fourth Prince''s head, Qian Sheng finally felt the reality of being alive again. "Grandpa is fine now."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The Fourth Prince smiled as he wiped away his tears. "I knew Grandpa would be alright. Aunt Zhen also said Grandpa would definitely wake up."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
A realization struck Qian Sheng''s mind like a thunderbolt: Concubine Zhen was an otherworldly being from that strange world. He was the one who had brought Concubine Zhen here.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0