"Madam Lu said that Her Highness is alright. She just needs her wound stitched up, but she will be fine once she wakes up."

The palace maid relayed Jiang Jiuniang's words verbatim, and the emperor visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

It's good that you're alright, it's good that you're alright.

It was almost dawn, and the women of the Lu family had all set off to the temple to offer incense. There was simply too much to do here, so Jiang Jiuniang wouldn't be able to make it in time.

Moreover, since the other party clearly wanted to get rid of her, they naturally had to give her a chance to show off.

Seeing that it was getting late, Jiang Jiuniang secretly sent a message to the emperor through a trusted palace maid, asking her to help her with her plans.

Only then did the emperor learn that the women of the Lu family were going to the temple to offer incense today. Considering the crisis the empress had faced the previous night, there was nothing he couldn't understand!

He was so angry he almost lost his temper, but thankfully he still had some sense and managed to hold back.

To make the whole thing more convincing, Lu Baichuan hasn't told the emperor who the mastermind is yet, so the emperor's anger is useless and he can only play along and keep up the act.

Knowing that the emperor would do as she wished, Jiang Jiuniang was able to focus on stitching up the empress. After finishing, she didn't rush to leave but stayed by the empress's side until she woke up.

When the Empress gave birth, the imperial physicians in the room outside were helpless and could only kneel down and beg for forgiveness.

Actually, they weren't completely without options, but they couldn't guarantee the safety of both mother and child. If they were to force it, they could only save either the mother or the child.

When the palace maids brought news that the Empress and her child were safe, the imperial physicians were astonished. Given the circumstances, it would have been difficult to save both of them, and even if they had, the damage to the mother's body would have been significant. They feared the Empress wouldn't last more than a few years.

An imperial physician immediately asked, "How is Your Majesty?"

"Very good. She hasn't suffered much since Madam Lu arrived and has been sleeping soundly."

The palace maid spoke frankly, saying that she didn't have a good attitude towards the imperial physicians. They had previously told the emperor that they could only save one of the patients, which had made them very anxious. Now it seemed that they were indeed not capable enough.

The imperial physicians were even more astonished. She fell asleep peacefully during childbirth? Was that even possible?

How can you give birth while asleep?

Perhaps sensing their confusion, the palace maid took the initiative to say, "Her Majesty had a difficult childbirth, so Madam Lu opted for a cesarean section to deliver the baby. The little prince was born safely, and Her Majesty did not suffer any pain."

The imperial physicians were speechless with astonishment.

They had heard of cesarean section and had even performed it themselves.

However, those methods were only used on women who were having difficult childbirth and were certain to die. The woman's abdomen was cut open to take out the child, and the woman would not survive.

With such a huge hole in his stomach, it would be strange if he could still live.

"You're saying that Her Majesty is alright, she just fell asleep?"

The young palace maid nodded.

"Doesn't Your Majesty feel pain?"

The palace maid shook her head: "Madam Lu used medicine, so Her Highness can't feel any pain. She fell asleep and doesn't know anything. Madam Lu is stitching up Her Highness's wound right now. She'll be fine when Her Highness wakes up."

As she spoke, she proudly raised her chin. She had stayed in the inner chamber to help Jiang Jiuniang, which was practically equivalent to her delivering the Empress's baby. That was enough for her to be proud of for a lifetime.

"Oh my, I've long heard of a miraculous medicine that makes people faint and lose all sensation after taking it. I always thought it was fake, but I never imagined that Madam Lu actually has it!"

"I'm curious how they'll stitch up that cut-open belly. I really want to go in and take a look!"

"I heard that not long ago, Madam Lu helped a woman give birth in this way, and the woman is still fine. It seems that she is really alright."

...

The imperial physicians discussed the matter excitedly, wishing they could rush in and see for themselves. But that was the Empress, not someone they could just see whenever they wanted. Realizing this, they all sighed.

Let alone going in to watch Jiang Jiuniang sew up the Empress's belly, the Emperor is still furious right now, and they, as imperial physicians, don't have the ability to save her; they'll be punished later.

The excitement instantly plummeted to freezing point.

Jiang Jiuniang's estimate was correct; the women of the Lu family were already on their way into the mountains. Originally, a large number of people had been arranged, but Lianhua was given a last-minute order in the middle of the night. She got up early to explain the situation to Madam Sun and deliberately reduced the number of people accompanying them.

The situation at the border was too urgent to delay any longer, so they had to give the other side hope.

"Grandma, Aunt, Aunt, Aunt Guilan, if anything happens in a little while, just pretend to panic and shout. Remember, don't worry about me. If I really get arrested, you must cry, the more heartbroken the better, understand?"

This was instructed by Aunt Jiu Niang. If Aunt Jiu Niang were here, she would definitely risk her own life, but now that Aunt Jiu Niang is tied up with something, she needs to step forward to protect her elders and sisters.

Qin grabbed her hand, her face full of worry: "Why don't you let them arrest me? You're a young lady, if something like this happens, your reputation will be ruined!"

Although they knew there were people secretly working for them, and that even if they were caught, they might not be in any serious trouble, they were just afraid of the worst-case scenario.

Besides, with so many adults in the family, it's really hard to bear having Lianhua step forward.

Knowing there was danger, Qin didn't bring Xiaodoudou with her; she just wanted to go in Lianhua's place.

This is her only child in the Qin family. If something happens to him, how will she face her deceased family members?

Sun said with a sullen face, "Why don't you let me go? I am Bai Chuan's mother, after all. They will think I have more value to them."

Madam Yu: "Mother, you're too old to go through all that trouble. My second sister-in-law still has Xiaodoudou to take care of. It would be inconvenient if something happened to her. I'll go!"

Lu Guilan couldn't get a chance to speak, and when it was finally her turn to speak, Lianhua beat her to it.

"I am the most suitable, the only one who can replace Aunt Jiu Niang. Because Aunt Jiu Niang has been intentionally spreading the word that the family values ​​me highly. Since Aunt Jiu Niang isn't here, the other party will only choose me. Don't worry, I've been prepared for this for a long time, and I'm quite skilled now. I won't let anything happen to myself. Trust me!"

Lotus knew that in the eyes of her elders, she was still the little girl who was almost sold into a brothel, but now she had grown up and was capable of standing on her own and repaying her family. Therefore, this time it had to be her.

Hearing this, everyone fell silent for a moment, never expecting that this was something the third son's wife had already considered and arranged in advance.

Since that was the case, they stopped arguing.

Lianhua is right about something: she knows martial arts and has basic self-defense skills, making her more suitable than others.

The matter was settled, and no one spoke much. An eerie silence fell over the carriage. Everyone was in a bad mood, feeling uneasy and anxious, wondering when the other party would make their move and what they should do then.