Let’s talk about Su Ci.

If I had to sum up her situation over the past few months in one sentence, it would probably be peace and quiet but no freedom.

The living conditions are acceptable, after all, she is here as a "guest". She had enough food and clothing, and the palace maids served her. If she felt unwell, she could call the imperial physician. Even when Empress Xu herself took her pulse, she would politely ask her if she needed anything, and told her to speak up if she did, and not to be so reserved. Her attitude was still very considerate and gentle.

Even if she wanted to take a walk in the small garden of Changqiu Palace, she could do so at will. She could walk or sit whenever she wanted. Empress Xu would chat and laugh with her every day, as if she had really invited her to the palace to accompany her because of her pregnancy.

The only thing is that she has no freedom. In addition to the two palace maids that Empress Xu sent to serve her on the day she entered the palace, Ji Yuanhao sent four more the next day. They were all dressed as palace maids in their twenties. But judging from their proficiency in serving tea and water and the active support they gave when she got up and went to bed, it was obvious that they were not professional palace maids. Su Ci looked at the way these four women walked and thought they must be skilled in martial arts.

He served her personally for twelve hours a day without interruption.

In addition, there were guards standing guard inside and outside the small side hall where she lived. There were quite a few of them, and they followed her wherever she went.

As for those that already existed, there were layers of palace gates, and the imperial guards guarding the inner and outer palaces of the imperial city had a guard post every three steps and a sentry every five steps, not to mention the palace defenses that not even a mouse could get out.

In the face of such absolute strength, any cleverness is useless.

Su Ci also knew very well that she was now deeply trapped in someone else's territory, so she was very smart and never planned to make any trouble.

She can't afford to be hurt. She is not alone now.

It was inconvenient to do anything with such a heavy belly. Her body gradually became heavy and the fetal movements became more frequent, so she couldn't move.

Well, Su Ci adjusted her mentality and waited patiently.

She and Yang Yanzong had a very good understanding. Although she had not received any news from him for several months, Su Ci firmly believed that Yang Yanzong would not abandon her.

——Knowing that his plan to withdraw the army was ready and that he could proceed as planned without her, she was now very sure that Yang Yanzong would never abandon her and the child.

I don't know when it started, but it accumulated day by day. After several years of getting along, she can now confirm this point very naturally.

After she realized what was happening, she couldn't help but laugh.

As she sat on the low couch by the large window, hugging her knees and basking in the sun under the blue sky, she thought of him and tilted her head to smile.

Su Ci was not flustered, nor did she make things difficult for herself. She ate when she was supposed to, drank when she was supposed to, and chatted when she was supposed to. Anyway, she had not been panicked since the day she entered the palace.

There is no use in panicking. On the contrary, emotional changes have a huge impact on the fetus.

Even if you cannot stay happy and cheerful during pregnancy, you must never be depressed, sad or fearful for a long time, as this will have a fatal impact on the baby's development and health.

Su Ci knows very well which side is heavy and which side is light.

She also had a very good mental quality. She quickly adjusted her mindset, took good care of herself, and looked relaxed and natural.

Empress Xu pushed open half of the window and watched Su Ci's back slowly walking away in the sunlight. She was much plumper than before, but her expression was natural and her steps were not heavy.

Even Empress Xu admired her mentality.

"Okay, I don't care." Su Ci's condition had nothing to do with her. "Just keep an eye on it."

But when it comes to keeping an eye on Su Ci, she doesn't feel much pressure. Although Su Ci is temporarily living in her Changqiu Palace, except for the few palace servants and eunuchs at the beginning, the remaining half of the palace maids and imperial guards are arranged by Ji Yuanhao. They are both close to her and not so close to her. Whether they are good or bad is not her business.

Empress Xu gently stroked her bulging belly, and the imperial physician said that this was a boy, and nothing was more important than the flesh and blood in her belly.

After Empress Xu gave a few instructions, she moved the slender jade fingers wearing the red gold armor away from the windowsill. She paid no more attention to her and concentrated on taking care of her baby.

…

In addition to concentrating on taking care of her pregnancy in the past few months in the palace, Su Ci also saw a lot of things in Ji Yuanhao's harem because she lived in Changqiu Palace and the palace concubines came to pay their respects to her every day.

Empress Xu was a proud daughter of a noble family. Her character was very different from General Xu and Xu Wenkai. She was power-hungry and took over the power as soon as she entered the palace. She fought fiercely with Concubine Zhang De, Concubine Feng Xian, Concubine Wang Shu and other new and old concubines, especially Concubine Zhang De, who was the previous holder of power.

Su Ci finally took a look at all of Ji Yuanhao's sons and daughters. There were more than ten of them, from big to small, and many of the older ones looked like tough guys.

Worthy of mention is Ji Zimu.

Since Su Ci was invited into the palace, the only people she had not met were the brothers Ji Zimu and Ji Zizhi. It is said that the two brothers had another conflict the day after Empress Xu entered the palace. First, they refused to call Empress Xu "mother", and then they had another conflict with Ji Yuanhao.

After that, the Ji Zimu brothers fell silent.

It could be that the dignity of the emperor and his father was offended, or it could be because Ji Yuanhao was now favored by Empress Xu. Anyway, whether intentionally or unintentionally, the brothers Ji Zimu became silent. Even the palace eunuchs rarely mentioned it after discussing it for a while, like yesterday's flowers, and they faded away sadly. The hot topics now are Concubine Feng and Li Zhaorong's newborn ninth and tenth princes, Empress Xu's belly, and the various methods used by the concubines.

"Mrs. Yang, slow down."

After dinner, Su Ci went to bed after digesting her food. She was already more than eight months pregnant, and it was difficult for her to lie down without someone to support her. She carefully protected her abdomen and slowly lay on her side on the bed.

Two palace maids covered her with a quilt. One of them would go off duty later, and the other would sleep next to her.

When the fire was blown out, there was a hissing sound inside and outside the room, and people were all asleep.

Su Ci recalled the young man with whom she had been in the same boat, and sighed inwardly.

But she didn't care about other people, she just sighed and let it go. Now she still looked relaxed on the surface, but she was starting to feel a little anxious in her heart.

——She is more than eight months pregnant and there is still no news from Yang Yanzong. Don’t wait until the baby is born! If one becomes two, it’s not a good idea.

She took a deep breath silently, trying to calm her anxiety, closed her eyes, and after a while, she gradually fell asleep.

Finally, when Su Ci was almost nine months old, one night, she suddenly received a message from Yang Yanzong.

This was given to her by a palace maid named Bai Gu who served her.

Bai Gu was one of the two maids that Empress Xu had assigned to her at the beginning. She had a serious and rigid face, and she was the one who restricted Su Ci the most on a daily basis. Whenever Su Ci stood on the platform of Changqiu Palace and walked towards the palace gate, or when she walked a little off the track while strolling in the Changqiu Palace garden, she would always remind her expressionlessly: "Madam Yang, it's time to go back."

No one could have guessed that she would be their secret agent.

When Su Ci took off her hairpins and stood up to lift the curtain to go into the inner room for a nap, she reached out for support, and suddenly a small paper ball was stuffed into her hand.

At that time, the curtain just happened to block the faces of the two people. Su Ci turned her head in surprise, but reacted very quickly and pinched it immediately. Another palace maid also came in and supported them on both sides. Su Ci's expression remained unchanged, and she continued to slowly move to the bed and was helped to lie down.

Su Ci slowly turned sideways, using the thin blanket to cover herself, and carefully unfolded the ball of paper in her hand. It was indeed Yang Yanzong's handwriting!

——There was limited space on the letter paper, so he kept it short and told her concisely that everything was ready and she would be rescued soon, and asked her to just wait patiently and not to panic if any emergency occurred.

He only added a sentence at the end, "Thinking of you, I hope to be reunited with my wife and son soon."

Su Ci couldn't help but put the small note against her chest. She exhaled silently, crumpled up the paper, lowered her head and put it into her mouth.

Phew, after waiting for so long, it’s finally here!

Logically, Su Ci should be very happy, but after being happy for a while, she soon became worried.

She was deep in the Changqiu Palace, which was the heart of the inner court, almost the most central point of the entire imperial palace. There were three layers inside and outside, and there were also palace gates.

Yang Yanzong's plan was to lead his troops to evacuate, not to force the emperor to abdicate.

She thought about it and felt that the difficulty was too high. Even though she didn't know the details, she could guess that it was extremely dangerous.

I guess it would take countless sacrifices and bloodshed to get her out, right?

More importantly, Su Ci covered her belly, she was afraid that the baby couldn't wait any longer!

Starting yesterday, she began to feel some back pain, which came in waves. In the evening, she began to feel tightness and dull pain in her lower abdomen.

——She had plenty of knowledge in this area, and she immediately realized that this was a sign of impending delivery.

She should be giving birth in a few days!

She estimated the date hinted by Yang Yanzong and became extremely anxious. She didn't know if her due date would happen to fall on this date.

Without her cooperation, and because she is still in pain, will it create great obstacles to the rescue operation?

No, this can't be possible!

Su Ci's mind raced. The next day, she asked Bai Gu to bring her a small piece of paper. She pierced her finger with her earring and quickly wrote a few small words on the paper. "I want to try to get out."

…

Yang Yanzong soon received a reply from Su Ci.

Seeing the crooked maroon handwriting, his heart clenched and his lips tightened. He just looked carefully and thought that it would be better if she could leave the palace!

To be honest, Su Ci was not wrong at all. This rescue operation was indeed bloody. More importantly, she was almost nine months old. Yang Yanzong was really worried that something might happen to her and her daughter during the process.

Yang Yanzong let out a long breath and quickly replied, "Okay."

He added, "Don't force it."

…

Su Ci didn't force it, and she didn't plan to do anything, she just talked.

She actually had an excuse: Ren's birthday was coming soon.

Su Ci was really showing signs of being about to give birth, and the fetus was already showing signs of entering the uterus. Fortunately, men couldn't see it, and those palace maids who were good at martial arts obviously didn't understand it either. As for the other palace maid aunt sent by Empress Xu at the beginning, Bai Gu had already prepared it. While she was accompanying her in bed, she somehow pulled out a few strips of cotton cloth from her clothes, buttoned them together, and made a cushion that was barely usable. She got up early and quietly buttoned the cushion inside her clothes to fill up her slightly sagging belly.

Su Ci let out a long breath and stroked her belly silently. As the baby approached full term, the space for movement became smaller and the fetal movements became slow and real.

She muttered a few times in her heart, "Baby, be obedient."

I looked out the window behind the gauze curtain and thought of Ren. I said to myself, I'm sorry, she didn't mean to use you as an excuse. It's really your man who went too far.

Ji Yuanhao would come to see her, his important hostage, every few days. When he was not busy, he would come once every three to five days, and when he was busy, he would come once every ten days or half a month.

Sometimes we sit together, sometimes we walk in the garden together, talking about the weather, the scenery, or other things.

The two of them tacitly understood each other and did not tear the last layer of veil. Ji Yuanhao smiled slightly, and Su Ci also talked and laughed freely, as if everything was just like before.

Counting the days, Ji Yuanhao should be here almost soon. This time he is two days later than she expected, but Su Ci knows that he should be busy competing with Yang Yanzong.

Su Ci was sitting under the porch basking in the sun when Ji Yuanhao slowly walked over to her. She said she felt heavy and didn't stand up, but he didn't mind and asked someone to bring her a chair.

The two of them were leaning on either side of the porch, basking in the sun.

This time, because Empress Xu had someone send a fruit plate of honeydew melons and grapes, the topic was opened by Empress Xu. Empress Xu's fetus was not very stable. She slipped when she went down the stairs a few days ago and had to stay in bed for a few days before she recovered.

"After all, she is too young. In fact, the mother's body is not considered mature until she is 18 years old."

Su Ci made an objective comment and ate a piece of honeydew melon, "It's better after the age of 20."

Ji Yuanhao looked at her. No wonder she got pregnant after she was 20. He was a little curious: "Does he know?"

He guessed that Su Ci was taking contraceptive measures, but did Yang Yanzong know about it?

Yang Yanzong was not a topic that they avoided, Su Ci raised an eyebrow: "I don't know."

Ji Yuanhao couldn't help laughing.

In the sunlight, Su Ci's somewhat plump face was still bright and her features were clearly visible under the golden autumn sun. Her complexion was ruddy and her eyes were full of spirit.

As the two chatted more, Ji Yuanhao had to admit that Su Ci was indeed a very outstanding, wonderful and charming woman. She had a broad vision, extensive knowledge, unique perspective, interesting personality, and a colorful life. Her existence itself was like an eye-catching luminous body. He couldn't help but touch the sandalwood rosary on his wrist.

——No wonder Cheng Tan is so devoted to her.

It is difficult for anyone to have a bad feeling towards such a girl. Even he, who originally blamed Su Ci, gradually began to understand Ji Chengtan, not to mention the young man who was just beginning to fall in love.

He felt a little sad and melancholy. When he lowered his eyes, he suddenly felt Su Ci turning her head towards him.

He looked up and raised his eyebrows.

Su Ci said softly, "Sister Ren's birthday is coming soon."

Ji Yuanhao was stunned for a moment, then said slowly, "I remember."

Ren's birthday is August 20th, the fifth day after the Mid-Autumn Festival every year.

Su Ci drank some warm water, put down the cup, and said to Ji Yuanhao: "I want to go to the eastern suburbs to pay homage to her."

"We agreed on that."

We agreed to celebrate our birthdays together every year.

This is not false. In fact, Ren didn't have many friends. She was very happy to have her. After celebrating her birthday with her one year, she was very happy and said that she would celebrate her birthday with Sister Su in the future.

They really spent two years together, once at the Marquis of Yanyi's mansion, and once when Ren came to the Yang family.

Nowadays, the young generation does not celebrate birthdays in a big way. Ji Yuanhao is basically not free during the day. Ren is really happy to celebrate her birthday with Su Ci in a simple and happy way.

Su Ci knew that Ren had told Ji Yuanhao about this, because one year, Ji Yuanhao came personally to take her home.

Ji Yuanhao obviously remembered it as well, but his smile faded, his eyes became sharp, and he looked at Su Ci indifferently.

Su Ci looked calm.

"We agreed before," she also went to the eastern suburbs last year. She lowered her head and stroked her belly, "It's good to go before the baby is born."

She said: "Although she is gone, I don't want to break my promise."

…

Ren had not been dead for long. Su Ci could still clearly remember her voice, appearance and smile.

She'll take a gamble!

After being married for more than ten years and dying for him, she bet that in such a short time, Ji Yuanhao would not have lost even a trace of affection for Ren.

It is said that the dead are the most beautiful.

I hope so.

If that doesn't work, Su Ci will have no other choice.

After Ji Yuanhao left, Su Ci continued to bask in the sun as if nothing had happened.

But she couldn't help feeling a little anxious. This morning when she urinated, she started to have a little red discharge.

I'm afraid she's about to give birth!

If it was true that there was no friendship at all so soon, Su Ci would curse him as trash and a scumbag!

Although this guy was already a scumbag.

…

After Ji Yuanhao returned to Shangyang Palace, he reviewed memorials for more than two hours. After lunch, he stood up to digest the food and walked to Fengxian Hall.

Yes, Ren’s birthday is coming soon.

"Another year has passed without me noticing."

Amid the wafting sandalwood scent, he gently stroked the row of soft gold-powder calligraphy on the tablet.

Ji Yuanhao did not forget Ren's birthday.

In fact, I remember it more clearly than before.

In the past, he was always busy with various things and didn't even care about his own birthday, let alone hers. In the past ten years or so, they only had time to have a meal together a few times.

Some things, after you lose them, begin to feel precious as time goes by.

Empress Xu was noble and affectionate, but she also had many little thoughts.

The new concubine was charming and tried to please others in every way, but she also wanted a lot; even the old concubines who used to be well-behaved changed after entering the palace.

No one else can be as wholeheartedly gentle as Ren.

The more Ji Yuanhao thought about it, the more he missed it.

He stayed in Fengxian Hall for a long time, and only came out when the sun set in the west.

But that’s all.

He missed Ren, but that didn't mean he relaxed about Su Ci. He wanted to leave the palace, but that was impossible!

Of course he would not give Su Ci the chance to step out of the palace.

…

However, Su Ci's repeated reminders did have some effect. What you think about during the day will come to mind at night, and Ji Yuanhao dreamed of Ren that night.

The hazy background, Ren's gentle and affectionate smile, the scenes of the past are still so clear.

"I finally have a sister. From now on, I'll have someone to celebrate my birthday with. That's great."

She said happily.

She also drank some wine, her face was flushed, and there was a hint of joy between her brows.

Ji Yuanhao smiled: "Isn't it good for me to accompany you?"

"you?"

She gave him a glare, who knows when she might meet him, "I don't need you."

It was rare for Ren to show such joy, which showed that she liked Su Ci very much.

Ji Yuanhao couldn't help but be curious: "Why?"

Ren thought for a moment and finally said, "It's a pleasure to be with her."

Energetic, cheerful, comfortable, and always full of life, Su Ci seemed like someone from another world, making her envious and unable to help but get closer to him.

I know I can never do it, but deep down I can't help but like it.

Ji Yuanhao didn't know what Ren was thinking, but he remembered Ren's happy smile at that time.

Ji Yuanhao even joked with a smile at the time: "You are probably happier than I am to be with her."

Ren pursed her lips: "It's different."

As for what was different, he wanted to ask at that time, but was interrupted by an urgent message.

When I looked back, I had already forgotten it.

I forgot about it until today, and suddenly remembered it in a dream at midnight.

However, he would never be able to get the answer from her.

Because, she is already dead.

Suddenly, in the soft and warm scene, bloody and splattered, a thin and bloody baby jumped out, with a strong smell of blood everywhere. She looked at him with a livid face and was dying, mumbling, "I... I don't regret it!"

Ji Yuanhao suddenly woke up, sweating all over his head and back. He gasped heavily, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty——"

The eunuch on night watch hurriedly lifted the bed curtain, but he stared fixedly at a certain point on the gold-thread bed curtain.

After a long while, Ji Yuanhao's hoarse voice rang out: "Shi Tuo."

A breeze blew, and the night watchman knelt in front of the bed. Ji Yuanhao said in a hoarse voice, "Go check whether Su went to the eastern suburbs to pay tribute to Madam's birthday last year."

…

Ji Yuanhao couldn't fall asleep in the second half of the night.

Ren's gentle smile and pale face appeared alternately before his eyes.

The scene before her death is still so clear.

Ji Yuanhao did not forget.

He had too many things he had to do, too many urgent situations and dilemmas, the dead and the living, personal feelings and achievements. In the end, he chose the latter and had no regrets.

But it doesn’t mean that he has forgotten Ren.

It's just a little thing.

This is Ren's wish.

After verifying that Su Ci did go to the eastern suburbs to pay tribute to Ren's birthday last year.

He said in a hoarse voice: "On August 20th, let her go to Fengxian Temple."

It was absolutely impossible to leave the palace, so Ji Yuanhao finally asked Su Ci to go to Fengxian Hall.

…

The next day, Su Ci was convinced.

Her heart skipped a beat, then suddenly relaxed.

Very good!

——After Kun was executed, Yang Yanzong obtained half of the burned blueprint of the imperial city from Empress Dowager Kun’s bedroom.

This was what Kun got from the old emperor, including the secret passage under the imperial city.

That half of the incomplete picture was of the outer court, without the Shangyang Palace, but just happened to be bounded by the Fengxian Hall.

——Fengxian Hall is located at the junction of the inner court and the outer court, belonging to the outer court, and is right at the very edge of the incomplete picture.

Ask for a high price, pay back the money!

Of course Su Ci knew that Ji Yuanhao would never let her leave the palace. Her target from the beginning was Fengxian Palace!