Chapter 109

Chapter 109 Prince Jing had already made his stance clear, both openly and implicitly. The palace was unstable now. Since the last sacrificial incident, several princes and imperial sons had been stirring restlessly. His household still lacked a proper heir who could be presented publicly, making him the easiest target for those who wished to harm him. This time, none of the pregnant women could afford any mishap—all of them had to deliver safely! Otherwise, Prince Jing might truly be left without an heir. The Princess Consort and Prince Jing were perfectly aligned in this interest, which naturally lent her concern a measure of genuine sincerity. No matter how terrifying the infighting in the household was, it could not compare to the power struggles at court. The more critical such times were, the more the Princess Consort had to ensure stability within Prince Jing's household. Xie Run rose, casting a glance around the room, but Prince Jing was nowhere to be seen. In an instant, she understood. A Concubine Consort giving birth—surely one couldn't expect the Prince to keep vigil all night? The Princess Consort saw through Xie Run's thoughts at a glance. She had kept watch all night, and a hint of weariness showed between her brows. "The Prince values heirs above all else. He stayed until dawn." "This morning, word came that there was an uproar at court. His Majesty summoned him to the palace right after the morning audience. He likely won't be able to return for some time." Xie Run furrowed her brow as well. "I only hope Sister Fang can deliver before the Prince returns." Even without any experience in childbirth herself, Xie Run knew that the longer labor dragged on, the more dangerous it became. Especially in ancient times with such backward medical technology. The Princess Consort nodded. "That is what I think as well." "She went into premature labor to begin with. If it drags on too long, her strength will give out, and both mother and child may be in danger." Just as she finished speaking, a miserable cry from Fang Yuan'er echoed from within the delivery room. Xie Run was startled, instinctively tightening her grip on Dantao's hand. Seeing this, the Princess Consort immediately said, "Bring a cup of tea. Don't frighten Concubine Xie." Xie Run lowered her head slightly. "Thank you, Princess Consort." Only then did Xie Run have a chance to look around, noticing that quite a few people were waiting in the main hall. Everyone had come, except Concubine An and Consort Jiang, who was under House Arrest. As for Concubine An, she was probably barred from coming by the Princess Consort's orders. Within moments, Xie Run heard Fang Yuan'er cry out in agony several more times. A puzzled look crossed her face. "Has Sister Fang been crying out like this all night?" For an ordinary person, never mind a whole night—half a night would be enough to leave their voice hoarse. Concubine Lu said softly, "She hasn't been crying all night." "She was quiet throughout the evening. It was only this morning, when the pain likely became unbearable, that she started crying out." Xie Run accepted the tea handed over by a maidservant, gently skimming the tea leaves with the lid as she asked slowly, "I came in a hurry. I still don't know how Sister Fang went into premature labor." At Xie Run's question, the expressions of everyone present shifted in different ways. Consort Li spoke in a light, airy tone. "I heard that Concubine Wan collided with Consort Fang, which caused her premature labor." Xie Run sorted through her thoughts, puzzled. "In the middle of the night, how did Concubine Wan end up at Xiachi Courtyard to collide with Sister Fang?" Consort Li raised her handkerchief to conceal the faint sneer at the corner of her mouth. "Exactly. I am most curious about that as well." "But the Prince said the matter would be investigated after Sister Fang delivers safely." Everyone present outranked Concubine Lu, so even if she had thoughts on the matter, she dared not speak casually. As they waited, Fang Yuan'er's personal maidservant Qiuxiang walked in. "Your servants pay respects to all the masters and mistresses." The Princess Consort swept a calm glance over her. "How is your mistress?" Qiuxiang's brows were knit with sorrow and anxiety. "The imperial physician examined her and administered acupuncture, but for some reason, the baby just won't come." "My mistress also says the pain is unbearable—the longer she labors, the more it hurts..." The Princess Consort said steadily, "In that case, shouldn't the labor-inducing medicine have been prepared?" At the mention of labor-inducing medicine, Xie Run's brow twitched slightly. Qiuxiang felt only bitterness at the corners of her mouth. "The medicine has already been drunk." The Princess Consort sighed. Just then, another maidservant, Qiukui, came running in as well, kneeling directly before Xie Run. "I beg Concubine Xie to save my mistress!" With that, she began kowtowing repeatedly. Xie Run frowned, her expression perfectly calm. "First tell me what's going on. Coming to me with no explanation and begging me to save someone—" "I don't know medicine, and I'm no immortal. I have no way to make your mistress deliver the child directly." Qiukui raised her head, her eyes glistening with tears. "My mistress is afraid... She only begs that Concubine Xie go keep her company." "She says that as long as she can see Concubine Xie, she can feel at ease." Xie Run: "..." Since when had she and Fang Yuan'er become so close?! At a critical moment like difficult labor, she had to be present for the birth to happen? Xie Run felt there was too much to say and nowhere to begin. Qiukui was fighting for her own mistress, and Dantao was equally determined to protect Xie Run. "No!" Dantao said sharply, her voice stern. "The delivery room is full of blood. What if my mistress is contaminated by the ill fortune?!" "My mistress came with a belly over eight months along to keep Consort Fang company during labor—that already shows great consideration for their usual friendship." "Now you want her to enter the delivery room? If she's frightened and something happens, who will take responsibility?!" Dantao was truly furious. Her mistress had little contact with Consort Fang on ordinary days. Why did Consort Fang insist on having her mistress there?! Consort Fang might have her own ideas, but she wasn't thinking about whether her mistress lived or died. Having said that, Dantao also knelt before the Princess Consort. "I beg the Princess Consort to seek justice for my mistress." "Consort Fang's childbirth is certainly dangerous, but my mistress is with child—entering the delivery room would be just as dangerous for her... Not to mention the shock and fright, but with people coming and going, what if she gets bumped or jostled? How would that be handled?" "We've already had one premature birth—are we to have another one in this prince's household?!" After her tearful plea, Qiukui found it hard to say anything more. Qiukui couldn't very well blurt out that her mistress feared someone meant her harm, that she trusted no one but Concubine Xie, and that only with Concubine Xie personally present could she give birth safely, could she? Never mind everyone else—even Qiukui herself couldn't understand her own mistress. The Princess Consort's brows were tightly furrowed. "What Consort Fang needs for her childbirth is imperial physicians and midwives, not Concubine Xie." That was a refusal. Fang Yuan'er's request had seemed absurd to everyone present. The Princess Consort shifted her tone, her gaze landing on Xie Run. "But regardless, we should still ask Concubine Xie for her opinion." Dantao had already gone all out for Xie Run's sake, so Xie Run naturally wouldn't play the good-natured fool at a time like this and break the hearts of those loyal to her. Moreover, she truly did fear witnessing the sight of childbirth. Xie Run lowered her head, forcing herself to appear calm, but a trace of fear leaked from her eyes. "I beg the Princess Consort's forgiveness. I am truly nervous, afraid of witnessing the scene of childbirth..." Concubine Lu quietly added from the side: "Basins upon basins of bloody water are carried out of the delivery room. Never mind Concubine Xie who is with child—even we servants who aren't pregnant... couldn't withstand such a fright." Seeing the situation turning unfavorable, Qiukui recalled her mistress's face contorted in pain during labor, and gritted her teeth as she kowtowed before Xie Run. She knocked her head against the floor with resounding thuds while crying out pitifully: "I beg Mistress Xie to save my mistress's life!" "I beg Mistress Xie to save my mistress's life!" In just a few moments, Qiukui's forehead was already red and swollen. Clearly, she was putting real force into it. Xie Run frowned. "Quick, stop her!" "Don't let Sister Fang's side be fine while blood is spilled here instead!" Xie Run wasn't actually afraid of Qiukui's moral coercion. After all, if she simply refused to go in, who could point at her nose and scold her?