Chapter 77 Harmony "I can die in peace by your hand."...
You're saying...that child is still alive?
After that, Ruan Yang couldn't hear anything Ning Xian said; all she could think about was Ning Xian's promise to take her to see her daughter.
The previously lifeless Ruan Yang was overjoyed upon learning that the person she cared about was still alive.
That was the child she had longed for, a keepsake left to her by Lu Wenjin.
But the thought of that soft, tiny baby, whose eyes hadn't even opened yet, spending a year and a half with such a wicked spirit filled Ruan Yang with immense sorrow.
Will Ning Xian ask someone to add or remove clothes for her? Will she ask someone to comfort her when she cries? Will she feed and breastfeed her on time?
Even though she was in a lot of pain, Ruan Yang held back her tears. But when she mentioned her daughter, whom she had finally managed to "forget," she couldn't hold back anymore.
Ning Xian isn't that good. He's probably just deliberately bullying and toying with a helpless infant.
What's more cruel than seeing your child's corpse is watching her become emaciated and covered in wounds.
Her body trembled, and she struggled to grasp the corner of Ning Xian's sleeve: "What did you do to her...?"
Ning Xian took her slender wrist and sighed, "If you want to know if she is doing well now, listen to the imperial physician, drink the medicine to help her conceive, and then rest in bed to take care of the pregnancy."
Ruan Yang froze upon hearing this, and the fetus in her womb seemed to sense it, occasionally shifting its position as if begging for mercy.
Seeing that Yanluo was still stubborn, Ning Xian pushed her to Ruan Yang's side, pressed down on the back of her neck and said angrily, "Are you mute if you don't speak?"
Ruan Yang clutched the blankets tightly. Ning Xian's every move told her that as long as she gave birth to it, Lu Yan and the child would be safe and sound; otherwise...
Yanluo's cheeks were pressed against the couch, and when she looked up, she could meet Ruan Yang's gaze.
Ruan Yang recalled what Yan Luo had said to her a few hours earlier. She gradually became more rational. If she gave birth to Ning Xian's only child, she could slowly gain his trust and take over the people he had arranged in the court.
As long as she takes care of her health and outlives Ning Xian, she will be in charge of the imperial court and the harem...
In the future, if he can help the Third Prince successfully seize the throne, he will deal with the remnants of the late emperor.
Ruan Yang lowered her hands, closed her eyes, and sighed softly: "I promise you, release Yanluo now, and then take me to see the child."
........
Those in the palace, knowing that the Emperor and Empress had a huge argument at the Qixi Festival banquet last month and that the Emperor had almost lost his heir, could not hide their sighs of regret.
Who would have thought that after that lavish banquet, Ruan Yang, who had been the emperor's favorite, would end up being ignored by everyone?
More than a month has passed, and Ning Xian has not only not stepped into Fengqi Palace again, but has also been going to the newly acquired Ji family palace.
After all, no one could bear the crime of plotting to harm the imperial heir using such underhanded methods.
His Majesty spared her life out of consideration for the imperial heir. After she gives birth, she will be given to a virtuous and gentle concubine to raise.
At midday, various dishes were laid out on the round table in Yizhu Pavilion. After the last dish was placed on the table, the waiting palace maids picked up silver needles and tested each dish for poison.
Since Ning Xian mistakenly drank the aphrodisiac wine last time, Lan Rong and Eunuch Liang have become increasingly vigilant.
Fortunately, the poison was counterfeit; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable. The imperial physician had said that as long as he rested well, avoided extreme joy or sorrow, and paid close attention to his daily diet, he would not be in any danger.
Ji Changhuan removed the fish bones from the bowl and smiled at Ning Xian, saying, "Cousin, it's been so long since you've had a meal cooked by Changhuan. I remember the last time we ate together was when we were children."
Ning Xian picked up the wine cup and chuckled, "It's impressive that you remember so clearly. However, there are many chefs in the palace, so cousin, you don't need to bother."
Ji Changhuan was speechless for a moment. After lunch, she tried every means to keep Ning Xian with her to play chess and arrange flowers until the sun set and the light shone on the face of the man beside her.
He rubbed his temples, his eyes staring blankly at a certain point, as if he were thinking about something, and his thin lips occasionally curved into a slight smile.
Ji Changhuan stood there, stunned. In her memory, Ning Xian had always been a person who was indifferent to emotions. She was used to his indifference to emotions, so when she saw him grinning foolishly just now, her first reaction was that she was seeing things.
Ji Changhuan felt uneasy and silently lowered her head, clutching the tiger-head shoes in her hand. Suddenly, Ning Xian smiled at her and asked, "Do you think it will be a princess or a prince?"
Ji Changhuan forced a smile: "Your Majesty does not know, but a prince would be better. His Majesty has been on the throne for many years without an heir. If it were a boy, it would be better..."
Ning Xian shook his head: "I think a little girl would be better, like Xiao Xue'er, who looks like her mother."
Ji Changhuan said, "But everyone says that daughters resemble their fathers more."
"Like me?" A strange image flashed through Ning Xian's mind: "You mean a girl with my face?"
"If one could inherit His Majesty's beauty, what's wrong with that?"
Ning Xian's features are not particularly strong, and his facial angles are not sharp. He actually looks very gentle, so it's no wonder that women are easily moved when they see him for the first time.
It wouldn't be surprising if his daughter resembled him.
Ning Xian smiled and sighed, "Let's forget about it. If it were me, she wouldn't like that child."
"How could that be? No matter how deep the grudges between adults are, they are still their own flesh and blood, which they carried for ten months. How could they say they have no feelings for each other? The Empress is just all bark and no bite."
"I agree with what you said." Ning Xian looked at what Ji Changhuan was knitting: "What are you knitting?"
"The tiger-head shoes for the child are intended to be a congratulatory gift for the little prince after the Empress gives birth."
Ning Xian looked at the palm-sized knitted shoe in her hand and suddenly had an idea, saying, "Teach me how to make it."
It was late at night, and candles were still lit in the pavilion. Ji Changhuan was dozing on her side on the couch. When she woke up, she covered her mouth and yawned, but she still saw Ning Xian fiddling with those few balls of fluffy cotton thread under the candlelight.
She walked over, knelt down behind Ning Xian, and tentatively said, "The Empress is pregnant and it is inconvenient for her to serve His Majesty these days. Why don't you stay in my palace tonight?"
Ning Xian put down what she was holding, raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Okay, go make the bed."
Ji Changhuan felt a surge of warmth in his heart, and a faint smile appeared on his face.
"However, I am a light sleeper and do not wish to have anyone around me."
Ji Changhuan seemed to have been doused with cold water, and stammered, "...Yes."
After years of exile in the north, Ji Changhuan was filled with endless sorrow. He finally regained his status and was stripped of his lowly status, but he still could not win Ning Xian's heart.
Ning Xian had no place for anyone else in her heart, only for Ruan Yang and that child.
She retreated dejectedly, and as she walked to the corridor, she caught a glimpse of Yanluo standing outside.
Ji Changhuan put away her dejected expression, glared at her, grabbed her sleeve, and said in an unfriendly tone, "You come here!"
In a secluded corner, Yanluo rubbed her arm, which had been pinched sore, and asked innocently, "Does Your Highness have something important to discuss with me?"
"Don't play dumb with me. Did you really release the aphrodisiac I told you to release?"
Yanluo nodded: "This servant would not dare to deceive Your Majesty. If I hadn't released him, how could His Majesty, who values the child in the Empress's womb so much, have been unable to control himself..."
Ji Changhuan muttered to himself in frustration, "Then how come her child is still alive...?"
She tugged at a handful of tobacco leaves: "Look at the terrible idea you came up with! Luckily, someone is willing to take the blame, and His Majesty is unwilling to investigate where the medicine came from. Otherwise, you and I would be in deep trouble!"
Yanluo said calmly, "But this has deepened the rift between the two of them. The Empress is too weak to serve others. His Majesty will often come to your place to rest because of the Duke. Why don't you think about seizing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?"
"As long as you keep me by your side to serve you, I will help you. Even if you can't win His Majesty back, you should at least try to bring the Empress's child to your side."
Ji Changhuan snorted, "I'll trust you one more time. If you dare to play tricks, your life won't be up to you!"
...
In late autumn, the courtyard was covered with withered yellow sycamore leaves, and Fengqi Palace was deathly silent.
Since Ning Xian sent many soldiers to guard the area, and Lan Rong kept a close watch on her every move, Ruan Yang had no chance to step out of this small place. In her spare time, she could only read the well-worn storybooks and play with the kittens she used to keep.
As time went on, Ruan Yang seemed to accept the fact that she was going to give birth to Ning Xian's child. From initially resisting and threatening to go on a hunger strike, she has now obediently taken medicine and stayed in bed to rest during her pregnancy.
With Ning Xian not by her side, she became unusually quiet, no longer as extreme as before. However, she would inevitably become anxious and angry when the baby in her womb was occasionally fussy.
Lan Rong was afraid that Ruan Yang would have a premature birth, so she tried every means to coax her, but in the end, it was all in vain.
Having no other choice, Lan Rong boldly sought out Ning Xian's portrait in private and gave it to Ruan Yang. Sure enough, as expected.
She watched helplessly as the portraits turned to dust in Ruan Yang's hands, and watched as Ruan Yang blatantly used forbidden palace techniques, such as making dolls with Ning Xian's name engraved on them.
Lan Rong felt it was an ominous sign and wanted to stop her, but only in this way would Ruan Yang calm down.
"Let her get it."
Ning Xian listened to Lan Rong's words and told her, "Lan Rong, she can have whatever she wants. Even if she wants my heart's blood today, I will give it to her. None of you are allowed to upset her."
"yes......"
Did she mention me?
Lan Rong was taken aback. The answer was naturally no. Not only that, Ruan Yang kept talking about her husband who had died young.
She shook her head and comforted her, "However, I mentioned you to the Empress, but she didn't react much. She even subconsciously reminded me to add clothes when it gets cold."
"Is that so?" Ning Xian forced a smile.
Lan Rong sighed, "If you miss the Empress, why don't you sneak over tonight? She's sleeping soundly and won't notice you're there."
Ning Xian's breath hitched, and after a long pause, she replied, "Okay."
He tiptoed and slowly walked to the bedside.
The person in bed had a relaxed brow and was breathing steadily. Her dark hair was tucked under her neck, and her arms were outside the blanket, her palms gently supporting her abdomen.
They look like they've grown up a lot.
Ning Xian raised her hand, wanting to hug them, but Ruan Yang happened to open her eyes at that moment.
He was startled, and instinctively dodged away, turning and running away like a deserter.
"where you go?"
Ning Xian's wrist was grabbed by Ruan Yang.
"It's making a lot of noise right now, and I can't sleep."
Ruan Yang pulled Ning Xian's hand and placed his palm on her stomach: "You want to touch it, right? Come on."
"It's moving now, can you feel it?"
Ning Xian felt the wriggling motion beneath her palm, and a stream of hot tears welled up in her eyes: "...Mmm."
Ruan Yang said, "I'm due to give birth in a few months, and I'm a little scared to be alone. You can stay here with me these days, and I'll make your favorite dessert for you tomorrow, okay?"
Ning Xian frowned, then smiled gently and said, "Okay, but are you planning to drug me again with all this enthusiasm?"
"How about I plant a love potion in you?"
Ruan Yang looked at him and said, "Now I'll tell you, the only way to break it is to kill the person who planted the Gu."
"You wish! You know I'm reluctant to part with it, yet you deliberately say these things to provoke me."
Seeing the somewhat somber atmosphere, Ning Xian joked, "But if I have to die, I'd rather die by your hand than die in peace."
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Author's Note: Happy New Year to all the readers! Thank you for your support, and please leave lots of comments! [Sprinkling flowers] I stayed up all night to finish this chapter, but it's almost over. I'm so looking forward to the ending! [Shy] My next book, "After the Failed Assassination of the Paranoid Minister," is a crematorium/forced acquisition story. Please support it in my author page! [Thumbs up]
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