In the capital city, at the Crown Prince's residence.

In the main courtyard, Ning Chenghui was sitting. She was more than seven months pregnant and had become quite plump.

However, she wasn't particularly fat; she had a plump and rounded appearance, which was actually quite attractive.

At this moment, the Crown Princess sat at the head of the table and waved for everyone to leave.

"My sister hasn't been out much lately. Is she feeling unwell? If she is, she should tell us."

"Thank you, sister." Since no one was in the room, she called out to her sister, "It's just that I'm quite far along in my pregnancy, and sometimes my legs cramp at night, so I can't sleep well. I'm also always sleep-deprived during the day. Since you excused me from my greetings, I've been too lazy to come out."

"I see." The Crown Princess nodded. "Alas, it's a pity I'm unlucky, otherwise... I would have known all this too."

“Sister, don’t be sad. You will naturally have legitimate children in the future. Your children are the noble legitimate offspring of this household. Our children are just illegitimate. They are lucky to receive your care.” Ning Chenghui said.

She herself was born out of wedlock, so naturally she knew what kind of things legitimate children liked to hear.

As expected, the Crown Princess liked to hear those words.

However, she didn't respond, but instead said, "You and I are both daughters of the Ning family. The Ning family has people like you and me who have become crown princes, but there are always people in the family who are unwilling to accept it. Isn't that right? Your own sister has become the seventh prince's consort."

Ning Chenghui was born out of wedlock to the second wife, while the seventh prince's wife, Ning, was born out of wedlock to the second wife.

In truth, the two of them are the closest of sisters.

“Sister… even though the Seventh Prince’s wife and I share the same father, I am the Crown Prince’s son, Chenghui, and I can’t possibly be on the wrong side. It’s just… the elders in the family are really… with you as the Crown Princess, the future of the Ning family is guaranteed no matter what, yet they still have to do this…”

“Of course, we want to be safer at home, but little do we know that such indecisiveness and wavering are the biggest taboos! The only way forward is for us sisters to unite as one. In the end, we must protect ourselves.” The Crown Princess’s words were not a lie; they were truly heartfelt.

“Sister, I will obey your every command. I will follow your lead from now on.” Ning Chenghui said.

"My dear sister, I can only confide in you about the troubles in my heart right now. If you truly believe this, then I am much more at ease. We sisters are of one mind, and now that we have a child with the Ning family bloodline, we will naturally stand firm." The Crown Princess wiped the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief.

Whether there are tear stains or not doesn't matter, but the gesture is definitely there.

When Ning Chenghui returned to Mingyue Pavilion, he let out a soft sigh.

Hongdou took off her outer clothes: "Chenghui, what's wrong? Did the Crown Princess scold you?"

She hadn't been allowed in before, so she didn't know what was said.

“No. It’s just…” She reached out and touched her belly, looking down at her swollen stomach. After a long while, she took a deep breath: “It’s just that I… can’t keep this baby.”

"Huh?" Hongdou exclaimed in surprise, "Chenghui, what are you saying? It's been more than seven months!"

“What are you thinking? I mean… this child. I’m afraid he’ll have to be raised in the main courtyard,” Ning Chenghui said.

Hongdou breathed a sigh of relief, then frowned again: "His Highness will be back soon..."

“It’s no use coming back. I’ve never been favored. Getting pregnant is a blessing from heaven. The Crown Princess miscarried. I’m a member of the Ning family. This child… even His Highness the Crown Prince would be willing to let him be raised in the main courtyard.” Ning Chenghui bit his lip.

“Chenghui, you…you must think of something. This servant…this servant is afraid. It’s a good thing that the child is raised by his stepmother, it’s…it’s a blessing, but…but you…”

What if the Crown Princess wants to keep the child and remove the mother?

"Don't be afraid, it won't happen. This is a good opportunity." Ning Chenghui took another deep breath: "I may not be favored, but I still have the surname Ning. I'm still useful."

She touched her belly sadly: "It's just a pity that I'm still useful, and I don't know how long it will last."

“You…you’re not an incompetent person, why don’t you try to find a solution…” Hongdou said, tears streaming down her face.

“Silly Red Bean, if I try to keep this child in front of me for a while, can I protect him as he grows up? Since you want him, then give him to you. You need a child. As long as he is a child of the Ning family and the Shu family, that will be fine.”

"But what if the Crown Princess has her own child in the future... will she still treat you well?"

Ning Chenghui didn't speak, but gently touched his belly.

She thought that the imperial physician meant this pregnancy was most likely a boy.

Now that it's a boy, shouldn't the Crown Princess be satisfied?

One child is enough for the Ning and Shu families, isn't it?

If there were a second one, it shouldn't be the Crown Princess's next life.

Giving birth is like entering the gates of hell; the Crown Princess, of such noble status, cannot endure such suffering.

In the main courtyard, the Crown Princess sipped her tea: "Nanny, do you think she's willing?"

Madam He smiled and said, "Ning Chenghui is a smart woman; she must be willing. She understood what you said today and knows that you also want to protect her. What could she possibly be unwilling about?"

To be honest, nowadays, women in the "backyard" don't take the idea of ​​giving away a child that seriously.

Especially those who were concubines.

“I admire her intelligence, her understanding, and her willingness to compromise. I didn’t agree to her entering the household back then, but my mother persuaded me, saying that I would need her. Sure enough, my mother was right. Now, she really is useful. In the future, I won’t be so intolerant of her. What you said before is true, after all, she is a member of the Ning family. Once she enters this door, she will only have me to rely on. Since that’s the case, when I need her, she should also be useful.”

"Yes, Your Majesty, rest assured, this child will definitely be a boy. Whether he is the eldest son or not is not important. Isn't His Highness also the fifth son? As long as he is born of the legitimate wife, he will be honored."

He's words were naturally meant to advise the Crown Princess that she herself wanted to give birth to a legitimate son, and therefore did not need to pursue whether he was the eldest son or not.

In any case, being the legitimate son is noble, regardless of when one is born.

The Crown Princess was naturally happy to hear this and smiled, "I still need to trouble my wet nurse with her worries."

"Of course, I am devoted to you alone," Madam He said with a smile.

She had a son and a daughter, but her son died when he was ten years old, and her daughter also passed away two years later.

She was heartbroken and decided to sever ties with her husband's family, devoting herself entirely to serving the Crown Princess.

Naturally, he was single-minded and only thought of her. Her own future depended entirely on the Crown Princess.

The Crown Princess took her hand: "Nanny, come and see my new jewelry."

These words, just like those from her childhood, warmed He's heart. She then went with her to the inner room to look at jewelry.

It's simply that one of them wanted some warmth, and the other wanted to act cute.

Given her current status, what kind of jewelry would the Crown Princess covet?

After all, they were just things sent by the Imperial Household Department.