The moon wanes, flowers wither, fragrance fades, and jade perishes.

Winter passed and spring arrived, and Liu Mianying's pregnancy progressed steadily. The entire Feng household treated her like a precious treasure. Madam Feng personally cared for her daily needs, and Feng Yanshu devoted all his spare time to his wife, consulting medical books and attending to every detail with meticulous care. Although Liu Mianying's pregnancy made her body heavy, her face always radiated the happiness of becoming a mother. In her correspondence with Qin Yuti and Xu Nianchu, her words were filled with anticipation for the future. This child was the fruit of her love with her beloved, and a symbol of her integration into the Feng family and gaining their acceptance; she cherished it immensely.

However, fate is unpredictable. Just as Liu Mianying was full-term and everyone was looking forward to the arrival of the new life, an accident occurred.

On the day of delivery, the Feng family was on high alert, with the best midwives and imperial physicians already waiting at the residence. Although Qin Yuti was also with her child, she was still worried and moved into the Feng residence a day in advance to stay with her. Inside the delivery room, everything went smoothly at first. Although Liu Mianying was in excruciating pain, she remained conscious and continued to work under the guidance of the midwife.

However, after the baby's head was delivered, the situation took a sharp turn for the worse! The baby's shoulder got stuck (shoulder dystocia)! No matter how hard the midwife tried, the baby could not be delivered smoothly! Time passed slowly, and Liu Mianying's cries of pain in the delivery room gradually became weaker, replaced by the panicked shouts of the midwife and the imperial physician!

"Oh no! He's bleeding! And it won't stop!"

"Quick! Ginseng slices! Keep him breathing!"

"The baby...the baby isn't moving!"

Hearing the commotion inside, Feng Yanshu, standing outside, turned deathly pale and tried to rush in, but was firmly stopped by Madam Feng and Qin Yuti. Qin Yuti's heart sank to the bottom; having experienced childbirth herself, she knew what this meant.

Inside the delivery room, Liu Mianying's breath grew weaker and weaker; she felt her life force rapidly draining away with her warm blood. She struggled to open her eyes, looked at the panicked crowd, and with her last ounce of strength, grasped Qin Yuti's hand beside her, her voice barely a whisper: "Sister Yuti... save... save the baby... tell... tell Yanshu... I'm so sorry to him..."

In the end, the imperial physician solemnly announced that the fetus could not be saved due to prolonged asphyxiation; it was a fully formed male fetus. As for Liu Mianying, she succumbed to postpartum hemorrhage and could not be saved.

Two lives lost, one unborn.

This devastating news struck like a bolt from the blue, shattering the spirits of everyone outside the delivery room.

Upon hearing the news, Feng Yanshu swayed violently and fell straight backward, only to be caught by a servant. He opened his eyes, which were empty and lifeless, as if his soul had been ripped away, with only two lines of clear tears silently sliding down his cheeks. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

Madam Feng screamed, "My son!" and fainted on the spot.

Qin Yuti stood frozen in place, unable to believe her ears. The woman who had been laughing and discussing names for their child with her just days before, her eyes sparkling, the shrewd and capable sister who always managed to defuse crises—just like that… gone? Along with the child she had longed for?

She rushed into the delivery room and saw the sheets stained with blood, and Liu Mianying's pale, lifeless face. The woman who had once been so charming and vibrant now lay there quietly, as if she were just asleep.

"Mianying...Mianying!" Qin Yuti rushed to the bedside, grasped her still warm but stiff hand, and burst into tears. Why? Why did this happen? Why is God so unfair!

Inside Prince Yi's residence, Zhao Jingyi was about to go out to the Feng residence to inquire about news when he saw the steward running in, crying and shouting that he had lost a life.

Zhao Jingyi's riding whip fell to the ground with a "crack." He stood there stunned for a long while, then slammed his fist on the doorframe, his eyes instantly reddening: "How could this be... that girl Liu Mianying... she was perfectly fine yesterday..." He thought of the girl who always had a sly smile and helped him come up with ideas to coax Qin Yuti, and his heart was filled with indescribable grief and anger. This damned fate, does it only bully the good people?!

Overnight, the Feng family's joy turned to sorrow, and glaring white banners were hung up.

Liu Mianying's funeral was held with great solemnity. Her parents, grieving the loss of their beloved daughter, turned white-haired overnight. Feng Yanshu, dressed in mourning clothes, was emaciated and like a walking corpse, remaining silent throughout the entire ceremony, only clutching tightly the unused baby swaddling clothes embroidered by Liu Mianying herself. A somber atmosphere pervaded the Feng household.

Of the four close friends I once had, two are now gone.

Shen Anci died on the battlefield, his body wrapped in horsehide, a heroic death.

Liu Mianying, however, withered away on the delivery bed, dying silently with her unborn child, a truly heartbreaking end.

Only Crown Princess Xu Nianchu and Princess Qin Yuti remained.

Qin Yuti returned to the palace, holding her two children in her arms. Looking at their innocent sleeping faces, and then thinking of Liu Mianying's child who had never opened his eyes to see the world, she was overcome with sorrow and tears streamed down her face. She cherished the happiness before her even more, and was filled with awe for the impermanence of life.

Seeing his wife's sorrowful expression, Zhao Jingyi fell silent, a rare occurrence, simply holding her and their child tightly. He was filled with lingering fear; if anything had gone wrong during Qin Yuti's childbirth… he dared not think further.

The passing of Liu Mianying was like a heavy sigh, casting a shadow that was difficult to dispel over the prosperous surface of the capital.

She departed abruptly, taking with her wisdom, her wealth, her hopes for the future, and the Feng family's wish to continue its lineage.

What remains for the living is endless sorrow and a heavy question: Why are the good things in this world always so fragile?

The once joyful and lively Feng family mansion is now reduced to a cold memorial tablet and a heartbroken scholar.