Chapter 324 The baby was born.
"When we left the palace, we heard that Consort Shu had a difficult childbirth, which scared us."
Princess Zhaoning walked over and glanced at Princess Zhaokang sideways.
"Not everyone has the opportunity to give birth to a prince for the Emperor; some people are just born unlucky."
Princess Zhaokang trembled with anger, her usual timid nature gone, and she glared at Princess Zhaoning with red eyes.
"Who are you calling unlucky? My mother and brother will definitely be alright."
Princess Zhaoning curled her lip, her face full of disdain.
"A younger brother? Ha! Your mother's whole body is swollen like a ball. It's not even certain that she could give birth to a living child, yet she still dares to dream of having a younger brother."
What? You think that with your younger brother backing you up, you can be on equal footing with this princess?
"Dream on! I am Father Emperor's legitimate princess, born to be superior to you!"
"You...you dare to curse my mother and brother, you...I'll fight you to the death."
Princess Zhaokang's tears fell in a steady stream, her shoulders trembled, and she angrily charged towards Princess Zhaoning.
"My mother and brother will be alright, you mustn't talk nonsense!"
Princess Zhaoning was caught off guard and was knocked to the ground by Princess Zhaokang. Her palm was scraped by the stone steps behind her.
He immediately winced and cried out in pain.
"You dare to disrespect me, Zhao Kang!"
She jumped up, drew her whip from her waist, and lashed it at Princess Zhaokang's face.
Zhao Kang only realized what he had done after knocking Zhao Ning down, and was so frightened that he stood there stunned for a moment.
Just as Zhao Ning's whip was about to strike Zhao Kang's face, Li Nanke quickly stepped forward and grabbed the whip with one hand.
Then, with a strong tug, Zhao Ning was pulled so hard that she stumbled forward a few steps, feeling embarrassed and glaring angrily at Li Nanke.
"Li Nanke, let go of me!"
As he spoke, he lowered his body slightly, gripped the ground with his feet, and tried to pull the whip back with all his might.
Unexpectedly, Li Nanke suddenly loosened his grip on the whip, and Princess Zhaoning, who was putting all her strength into it, fell to the ground again, this time landing heavily on the stone steps.
The excruciating pain almost made her cry out, "Li Nanke, how dare you bully me! I'll never forgive you!"
Li Nanke looked completely innocent.
"It was the princess who told me to let go, and I did as she said. How could that be wrong?"
"You! You're clearly doing this on purpose! Are they all dead? Hurry up and help this princess up!"
Princess Zhaoning angrily cursed.
Her maidservant quickly stepped forward and helped her up.
Princess Zhaoning pointed at Li Nanke and said, "You lot, arrest Li Nanke. I will personally take the whip."
The goddess of the palace hesitated.
"Princess, this..."
"What? What? You're not even listening to me, the princess?"
The palace maids dared not disobey, so they had no choice but to arrest Li Nanke.
Li Nanke protected Princess Zhaokang with one hand and drew his whip with the other.
Princess Zhaokang's voice trembled, "This is Jingxing Courtyard. If my elder sister dares to use a whip to hit people, Father will definitely punish you."
Princess Zhaoning said angrily, "It was the two of you who teamed up to bully me. If Father Emperor is to punish someone, it should be you."
"you......"
"What are you all making such a racket about?"
Scholar Wu walked in from outside the door with a displeased look on his face, carrying two books in his hands.
Li Nanke pulled Princess Zhaokang forward and explained the whole story.
"...It was Princess Zhaoning who cursed Consort Shu first, and Princess Zhaokang, unable to bear it, pushed her."
Princess Zhaoning, however, was relentless and wanted to whip Princess Zhaokang...
"You're talking nonsense! I didn't do that. I was just trying to comfort her, but she pushed me down without even asking what was wrong with her. The two of you ganged up on me."
Princess Zhaoning rushed over angrily and stretched out her palm in front of Grand Scholar Wu.
"Master, look, my hands are all injured."
"Master, do not believe what Li Nanke says. She is Zhao Kang's study companion, so she will naturally speak in Zhao Kang's favor."
Seeing the patch of blood on his fair palm, Grand Scholar Wu frowned and looked at Li Nanke and Zhao Kang.
Princess Zhaokang was so anxious that tears were about to fall, and she kept shaking her head.
"No, that's not true. She's not right. She was the one who cursed my mother first..."
Li Nanke's interface.
"Yes, Princess Zhaoning not only cursed Consort Shu, saying that Consort Shu was unlucky and destined not to give birth to a prince."
Furthermore, it was said that only the Empress was qualified to raise a prince, and even if Consort Shu gave birth to a prince, the Empress would take the prince away.
Princess Zhaoning's expression changed drastically, and she blurted out.
"You're talking nonsense. When did I say that the Empress Dowager was going to take her away? Consort Shu is unlucky; it's uncertain whether she can give birth to a prince."
Even if I were to give birth to a prince, my mother would never deign to accept a lowly child…”
"shut up!"
Scholar Wu interrupted Princess Zhaoning with a dark expression.
"How dare you, a princess, utter such nonsense as cursing your stepmother and unborn siblings? Have you forgotten all the etiquette and manners you've learned these past few days?"
Princess Zhaoning then realized what she had said in her haste, and her face immediately turned pale.
"I...I was just saying it offhand."
Grand Scholar Lü sneered, "As the elder sister, you failed to comfort your frightened younger sister during your stepmother's childbirth; as a junior, you spoke recklessly to your elders."
"Is the princess to be punished by copying the Rites of Zhou? If not, shall we go and debate this before His Majesty?"
Princess Zhaoning dared not approach His Majesty. She secretly glared at Li Nanke and Princess Zhaokang before reluctantly pouting.
I'm convinced.
After saying that, he turned around and went straight into the main hall.
Grand Scholar Lü's gaze fell on Li Nanke.
"The Lady of Fu'an County is intelligent and quick-witted. Even if you wanted to provoke the other party, what you just said was indeed inappropriate."
"As a subject's daughter, to presume to speak ill of the Empress's actions could, if seized upon by someone with ulterior motives, bring disaster upon the county princess."
Li Nanke's expression turned slightly stern, and he curtsied.
"Thank you for your teachings, Master. I know I was wrong."
"Since you know you're wrong, I'll punish you by making you copy the Zhou Li Neize (Rites of Zhou) once. Is that acceptable?"
Princess Zhaokang looked guilty and wanted to plead for Li Nanke, but she grabbed her arm.
She gently shook her head at Princess Zhaokang, and said earnestly to Grand Scholar Lü, "This student is convinced."
Grand Secretary Lü's expression softened, and he nodded before leaving.
Princess Zhaokang said, "You were punished because of me, so why won't you let me explain to the teacher?"
Li Nanke smiled slightly.
“What I said just now was indeed inappropriate, and the Master’s punishment was justified.”
"Alright, stop talking about me. Go and send someone back to the palace to check on Consort Shu."
As soon as she finished speaking, Princess Zhaokang's personal maid rushed in, panting.
"It's born! It's born!"
Princess Zhaokang's face lit up, and she excitedly ran over and grabbed the palace maid.
"How is my mother? Is she a younger brother or sister?"
The palace maid's face was somewhat pale.
"Your Highness is alright, he's a prince, but..."
"What is it? Tell me quickly!"
Princess Zhaokang pressed for an answer.
The palace maid lowered her head and whispered, "The young prince is very weak. I heard that His Majesty has summoned all the imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital."
Princess Zhaokang staggered back two steps, almost collapsing to the ground.
When Shen Cong arrived, Li Nanke learned from him that the newborn prince was not physically weak.
Instead...
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