"Wh...what?"

When Qin Shaoqing heard the news, his mind went blank for a moment.

Jiang Tian understood his shock, and she repeated herself.

Qin Shaoqing stared intently at Jiang Tian, ​​his gaze involuntarily drifting to her abdomen.

He said expressionlessly, "Come with me."

Once inside the study, he disregarded the traditional separation of men and women, took Jiang Tian's hand, and began to take her pulse.

He had studied medical theory and was considered a semi-doctor; he could diagnose a pregnant woman's pulse.

Upon learning that she was indeed pregnant, Qin Shaoqing's expression changed drastically.

His first thought was about her identity.

Jiang Tian is a princess of the Southern Kingdom, which is on the verge of collapse. It's extremely unfortunate that she became pregnant with this child at such a critical juncture.

However, this child is still the Emperor's flesh and blood. If Xuanyuan Ye doesn't return, no one else has the right to make Jiang Tian give up.

"Since Lord Qin already knows I am pregnant, please help me. I don't want this child to be born in the palace; his status is unsuitable."

Qin Shaoqing's expression seemed somewhat inscrutable.

She is currently pregnant, and the imperial concubine selection is still a few months away. By the time she enters the palace, her belly will be quite prominent.

How could an emperor allow a pregnant woman to participate in a talent selection?

This road is no longer a viable option.

However, if the emperor's first child is born to an unlucky mother, then his survival in the palace is destined to be difficult.

Jiang Tian's true identity could not be revealed to the world...

Several paths are blocked; this child is clearly a big problem.

Qin Shaoqing looked at Jiang Tian, ​​whose expression remained calm.

Her calmness finally brought Qin Shaoqing's thoughts back to normal.

He remembered what Jiang Tian had told him.

If she leaves... then it seems like everything will be resolved...

Qin Shaoqing could see how much effort Xuan Yuan Ye had put into her. Now he was arranging an identity for her, and she didn't know what she would be doing after entering the palace.

He could find a few families who were tight-lipped, but he wasn't sure if the members of these families could keep the secret.

The emperor is almost blinded by love for this woman; he even risked his life last time.

Now that she's pregnant, who knows what he might do.

How can a ruler abandon his empire for personal feelings for his children?

Qin Shaoqing did not agree with Xuan Yuan Ye's actions.

His gaze returned to Jiang Tian's face: "You're leaving? Where are you going?"

“What I can think of, adults can think of too. This child has come at the wrong time. The Emperor is currently on a military expedition and we don’t know when he will return. By the time he comes back, I may already be showing. How will I explain my origins then? Even if they bring me into the palace, this child will not be treated well.”

Qin Shaoqing remained silent; it was the truth.

Jiang Tian continued, "That's why I wanted to ask for your help, sir. You are following a wise ruler. The emperor has made concessions for me time and time again, and I feel uneasy about it. Once the Southern Kingdom is conquered, my situation will only become more awkward."

"Then it's better to leave now. The Emperor is only a little more interested in me now. When the time comes and his Empress enters the palace, no one will care about where I go anymore."

It must be said that Jiang Tian's words touched Qin Shaoqing.

As an official, he must first and foremost be responsible to the people.

Jiang Tian is a huge variable.

It's far better for her to stay in the palace than for her to disappear.

"I hope you can help me. Now is the best time. As long as the Emperor hasn't returned, no one will notice if I leave."

Qin Shaoqing stared at her: "How do you plan to leave? The Emperor is deeply in love with you. If you just leave, he might have to search the whole world for you."

"Then fake my death, let him think I'm dead, and everyone will be at peace."

Qin Shaoqing's pupils contracted slightly. He hadn't expected Jiang Tian to be so resolute, leaving him no way out.

The so-called fake death naturally had to be acted as if the person had really died in order to deceive Xuan Yuan Ye.

Qin Shaoqing looked at her as if he were seeing her for the first time: "You have no lingering affection for the Emperor at all."

He had never seen the Emperor care so much about anyone.

Jiang Tian let go of an emperor's extreme favor without any attachment, leaving Qin Shaoqing utterly shocked.

"You jest, sir. I am merely surviving in this chaotic world. The Emperor saved my life last time, and I originally intended to repay him with my own life. But the child is innocent. I have few relatives to begin with, and since he was born into my womb, I must take responsibility for him. The Emperor can continue to be a wise ruler by leaving me."

Her clarity of mind made Qin Shaoqing look at her with new respect.

With a deep sigh, after weighing the pros and cons, Qin Shaoqing finally decided to cooperate with Jiang Tian.

What are your plans?

Jiang Tian's idea was very simple.

She understood Xuan Yuan Ye, and Xuan Yuan Ye understood her.

“I plan to tell him everything truthfully, except for faking my death. I will leave him a farewell letter, telling him that I am pregnant and do not want to give birth to his child. You are watching me closely, so I cannot escape and can only face death.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Shaoqing couldn't help but look at Jiang Tian with surprise.

How painful it would be for the Emperor to see this letter.

His beloved woman and child are gone.

Jiang Tian's tone remained calm: "At that time, all you need to do is set fire to my residence, leave this letter behind, and he will believe it. Of course, we will also need to trouble Lord Qin to find a similar pregnant female corpse."

Qin Shaoqing had extensive connections, so finding a death row inmate from a similar month was not difficult.

But he was still so shocked by Jiang Tian's methods that he couldn't sleep all night.

He was a man who had survived countless hardships and whose spirit was stronger than anyone else's, but when he met Jiang Tian, ​​he realized that he was still far from being good enough.

In the following days, Jiang Tian stopped talking nonsense with him and they practiced their reaction to the terrible scene after Xuan Yuan Ye returned.

As someone who is still alive, Qin Shaoqing must act as if it were a real event in order to deceive Xuan Yuan Ye.

"My lord, you are still far from perfect."

Staring into Jiang Tian's serene eyes, Qin Shaoqing couldn't say anything else.

"...Do you hate the Emperor?"

During a break in rehearsals, Qin Shaoqing couldn't help but ask the question that had been bothering him.

The way she acted was tragic, and her attitude was indifferent; she didn't seem to be devoted to the Emperor at all.

Jiang Tian looked at him and shook her head: "You are wrong. If it weren't for the Emperor protecting me, I would have been swallowed up by the harem long ago. If I hated him, I would not have willingly kept his child."

"...But you?"

Qin Shaoqing was very puzzled.

"Of course I care about him, but that doesn't mean I have to give up myself for him. Adults have ambitions from a young age, and so do I."

"I've lived for myself since I was a child, and no matter what, I will treat myself well."

"Life is too hard, and I have a child. I can't put both my child and myself in a cage."