Chapter 107

Chapter 107 At that time, she didn't have many trustworthy people by her side, and in the critical moment, she nearly had to perform a caesarean section on herself. Xie Run sighed at how exaggerated the plot was, but at the same time, she wanted to help Xie Jiang out. At least let her suffer a little less. Xie Run wanted to ask Prince Jing for an experienced elderly nurse for Xie Jiang—someone who could deliver babies and care for children. Of course, Xie Jiang's pregnancy had been well concealed and hadn't been spread around. Xie Run wouldn't bring it up directly either, lest she expose Xie Jiang's secret. She only said, "My elder sister is alone in the capital and can't manage many matters on her own. I'd like to request a steady and experienced nurse for her." "It would be best if this person could offer guidance on worldly affairs by her side. Later, when my sister marries, she'll have a good helper for household management and raising children." Xie Run spoke in a gentle, soft voice, "This should have been my mother's role, but her health is poor, and she can't manage too much." For some reason, Prince Jing couldn't bear hearing Xie Run speak in such a pitiful manner. She never liked to complain, and in her daily speech, she only picked amusing and entertaining topics to talk about. Now, mentioning family matters so casually and lightly made her all the more endearing. When Prince Jing felt moved by her, he became very casual and waved his hand grandly. "It's just one person. I'll have Jing Wu find one and send her over when the time comes." Xie Run added, "My sister is the most shy and timid. I'm afraid she won't be able to keep a firm grip on people, and some words are hard for her to say without losing face. Why not send the deed of indenture along as well, so she won't have to worry?" "Then when the time comes, she can see the nurse through her old age and final rites—that would make for a fine story of devoted mistress and servant." Prince Jing said lazily, "You're quite thoughtful." Xie Run pouted. "Since Your Highness has praised me for being thoughtful, then I might as well ask for one more thing." Prince Jing glanced at her sideways. Xie Run said, "I beg you to personally honor Zihu." "She took a whip strike from Consort Jiang to protect me, and was even slapped across the face. It's truly unfair." "No matter what I give her, it can't compare to the honor of a gift from Your Highness." Prince Jing gave a light snort. "You certainly know how to flatter. Flatter me all you want, and you'll empty my treasury!" "It's not that exaggerated!" Xie Run threw herself into Prince Jing's arms, breaking into a radiant smile like a winter plum blooming amid cold snow, graceful and alluring. "But I truly am grateful to have married Your Highness!" Ever since she became pregnant, the allure hidden deep in her bones had only grown more captivating. Prince Jing's gaze darkened slightly, yet he pretended to be annoyed. "Carrying a belly like that, and still so reckless." "What if I hadn't caught you with such a sudden lunge?" Xie Run smiled. "That wouldn't happen!" She praised him with confidence and pride: "Your Highness would definitely catch me!" Gazed at by her clear, bright eyes full of trust, Prince Jing unconsciously straightened his back. He thought to himself that he couldn't let down that trust of hers. Even the corners of his lips curled up slightly. "That mouth of yours—it must be smeared with honey!" Prince Jing's words were dismissive, but in his heart, he was thoroughly pleased. Xie Run noticed and secretly smiled. It seemed Prince Jing had a bit of a secretly smug personality. On the surface, he appeared perfectly proper, as if he could withstand praise, but the curve of his lips could hang an oil bottle. If he had a tail, he'd probably be unable to stop it from wagging. That evening, the Princess Consort sent a disciplining nurse to Consort Jiang. At the same time, for the offense of wearing a phoenix hairpin beyond her rank, she was docked six months' allowance and ordered to copy ten volumes of Buddhist scriptures. It could be considered a minor punishment as a warning. That day, Prince Jing stayed the night at Spring Mountain Courtyard. Everyone was busy laughing at Consort Jiang for being muddle-headed, running over to humiliate herself, and had no energy to be jealous of Xie Run. After this incident, everyone also saw clearly the true nature of Consort Jiang. She had no brains, and her arrogance was genuine. With Wan Linlang spreading an embellished version of what happened in Mizhou, everyone now had a general impression of Consort Jiang. They all felt that Consort Jiang couldn't possibly accept this punishment. Now that this grudge was settled, they only had to wait for Consort Jiang's House Arrest to be lifted before she'd put on another good show. Everyone wanted to watch Consort Jiang's drama, and even more so, they wanted to watch the drama of Xie Run, the favored concubine. While everyone else was waiting for the excitement, Fang Yuan'er at Summer Pool Courtyard was strung tight as a bowstring. Qiukui dismissed the other young maidservants, stepped forward to hang up the curtain, and whispered, "Mistress, someone from Concubine An's side has sent word." Fang Yuan'er's gaze sharpened. "What, she's about to give birth?!" Qiukui nodded. "An experienced nurse felt her belly—the baby has already descended into the pelvis. She's also been having abdominal pain these past few days. She'll likely give birth within two days!" Fang Yuan'er grabbed the blanket and sat up straight. "Isn't it only eight and a half months? Why is she about to give birth?!" She said disdainfully, "That useless Concubine An, wasting all my careful efforts!" "That day at the Stillwater Pavilion, Li Zi followed my orders and got herself bitten all over, yet still managed to protect her." "Who would've thought she couldn't hold herself together—just two bites from Ju Zi and she went into premature labor!" Just thinking about it made Fang Yuan'er furious. "She's never done anything to harm others, yet she's guilty as all hell, scaring herself into premature labor... What a freak!" "All my efforts wasted!" Fang Yuan'er felt a twinge of regret. "Had I known she'd be this fragile, I wouldn't have let the pear suffer that ordeal back then. A good scare, and she might not have carried to term at all!" Qiuxiang, who was attending at her side, also let out a sigh. "Please don't fret, mistress." Concubine An is carrying twins, and the manor physician has always said it would be difficult to carry them to full term." "She was already unsettled during Princess Ruyi's birthday celebration, and I fear her constitution was ultimately harmed, which is why she's going into labor now." In truth, it wasn't exactly a premature birth for Concubine An. Carrying twins to eight and a half months was considered fairly stable. But the one in Fang Yuan'er's belly was only seven and a half months along. Qiuxiang asked gently, "But has mistress truly made her preparations?" Fang Yuan'er couldn't help but furrow her brow, her heart lifting with unease. If it weren't necessary, she wouldn't want to induce labor either. With ancient medical technology being so backward, premature babies were hard to raise, and the mother's body would also suffer damage. But the position of Second Prince had become her obsession ever since the day she obtained the labor-inducing prescription. She had transmigrated into this book and spent nearly a year navigating the inner court, enduring no small amount of hardship and shedding no small amount of tears. What was she after? Wasn't it wealth, honor, fame, and prospects? At this point, either she made a bold move to seize the advantage, or she lost everything. And if she died early, she could hurry along to reincarnation and pick up a new script. Qiukui also spoke softly, "Mistress, Mistress An could give birth at any moment. You must decide quickly!" When doing something like this, the worst thing was to be prepared and then hesitate. Either give up entirely and seek safety and security, or gamble it all—life and death are determined by fate, and wealth and honor by heaven! Hesitating was the hardest path of all. Fang Yuan'er took a deep breath. "Qiuxiang, have someone prepare the medicine!" After a pause, she added, "Qiukui, go fetch Concubine Wan. Tell her I'm feeling unwell and don't wish to disturb the Prince and Princess Consort—I only want her to come and take a look." "If she refuses to come, you drag her here even if you have to carry her!" Princess Ruyi's birthday banquet had been quite the spectacle, and it had handed Wan Linlang a golden opportunity, breaking her previous deadlock. Influenced by her transmigration awareness, Fang Yuan'er had come to see her as a mortal enemy, so she naturally wouldn't let such a good chance slip by. Fang Yuan'er thought that even if her own luck ran out, she'd drag someone down with her before she died! She'd make Wan Linlang taste what it was like to have reincarnated for nothing! Qiukui and Qiuxiang both sprang into action immediately.