Chapter 170 Premature Birth
In Xianyue Pavilion, Chen Meizhuang and An Lingrong sat together, chatting and laughing, making baby clothes for the child in her belly.
"Ouch!"
"What's wrong with my sister?"
"The child kicked me, feel it."
Shen Meizhuang smiled and took An Lingrong's hand to her stomach. Feeling the rise and fall under her palm, An Lingrong couldn't help but show a surprised and touched smile, a joy for the new life.
"What a lively child! Don't be impatient, he'll be out in a little over a month."
"So, has your aunt prepared a congratulatory gift?" Shen Meizhuang smiled affectionately, teasing An Lingrong. During the past few months of pregnancy, Shen Meizhuang had truly come to regard An Lingrong as a close friend.
"Of course we're prepared. We can't let our little princess down!"
An Lingrong touched Shen Meizhuang's belly and replied with a smile, her expression becoming much more relaxed and magnanimous. In fact, since she had been promoted to Noble Lady Zhuang and moved to Yanxi Palace, she had been living a very comfortable life.
The only thing she was bothered about not having the Emperor's bedchamber attention was resolved shortly after they moved to Yanxi Palace. If she had harbored some resentment towards the Emperor before, after truly spending time with him, An Lingrong discovered that he was indeed a very good emperor.
It wasn't because of love, of course, but because the Emperor had given her a completely new path, showing her that she could live well on her own. After secretly reaching an agreement with the Emperor, she gained considerable income, curbing her greedy father and allowing her mother and Consort Xiao to live a comfortable life…
All her regrets were resolved, and she lived with more confidence, no longer the timid An Lingrong who had first entered the palace. Everyone else in the palace thought that her change was due to the emperor's favor, and that wasn't entirely wrong; without the emperor's support, she would have nothing.
An Lingrong, however, consciously restrained her feelings. She might admire the Emperor, but more than that, she felt gratitude and respect. She felt that things were good enough as they were. She wouldn't ruin her relationship with Mei-jie, nor would she greedily crave more.
"Alright, I knew you only see the little princess and can't see me." Shen Meizhuang chuckled. Knowing the gender of the child in her belly, Shen Meizhuang had no complaints. As long as it was her own child, what did it matter whether it was a boy or a girl?
"Sister, is she jealous of the little princess?" An Lingrong chuckled, holding up the embroidery board in her hand and deliberately making a funny face: "Oh dear, then I'd better hurry up and alter it, and give this little garment to our Consort Hui. It's just that there's not enough fabric..."
"Well, I just said it casually, and you have so many things to say in response."
Shen Meizhuang blushed with embarrassment, and cheerful laughter filled the room once again.
"Your Highness, Consort Wan requests an audience."
Yu Ying'er, who was guarding the door, came in and whispered her report. The laughter inside the room stopped instantly, and Shen Meizhuang's expression became somewhat complicated.
This wasn't the first time Zhen Huan had come to see her; she had visited many times, from the palace to the Yuanmingyuan. For the first time, Shen Meizhuang realized how well Zhen Huan understood her. She heard Zhen Huan speak softly, confess her own sins, and even told her in front of her and Ling Rong that she had punished Huanbi. Shen Meizhuang almost softened her heart.
If it weren't for the fact that she was taking a walk in the garden and saw Huanbi, who was still lively and unrepentant and spoke rudely, back by Zhen Huan's side, she might have really let it go.
It's a pity, perhaps it was destined by heaven that she and Zhen Huan were not destined to be sisters, and they could never go back to the past.
Seeing that Shen Meizhuang looked troubled and seemed to be thinking about something, An Lingrong took her hand and whispered, "Sister Mei."
Shen Meizhuang blinked, realizing what was happening. Meeting Ling Rong's worried gaze, she smiled reassuringly: "It's alright."
"Please come in, Consort Guan."
"Sister Mei, Lingrong."
Zhen Huan entered, looking considerably more haggard. She smiled and gave the two a polite bow, which they didn't seem to mind, as Zhen Huan had maintained her unchanging form of address. They hadn't minded before because of their close relationship, and now they simply couldn't be bothered to.
"What brings Consort Guan here today?"
Seeing Shen Meizhuang's polite and distant expression, Zhen Huan's eyes dimmed slightly. She brought Huanbi up from behind her and said, "Sister Mei, I'm here to apologize. It was my fault for not disciplining Huanbi properly, which led to her speaking without restraint. Huanbi, apologize quickly."
Zhen Huan couldn't help but quietly scold Huanbi. Mei Jie's attitude towards her had softened before, yet she suddenly distanced herself again. If Jinxi hadn't helped her inquire, she wouldn't have known it was Huanbi's loose tongue that caused the trouble. Now she truly regretted agreeing to her father's request to bring Huanbi into the palace.
"Consort Hui, it's all my fault. I couldn't control my mouth. It has nothing to do with our mistress..."
Huanbi knelt before Shen Meizhuang, apologizing repeatedly, but her heart was filled with humiliation. She harbored resentment towards Shen Meizhuang, An Lingrong, and even Zhen Huan.
"Enough! Why do you need me to discipline a servant?" Shen Meizhuang's brows furrowed with impatience. She looked at Zhen Huan instead of Huanbi, and spoke so bluntly for the first time: "If you really want to discipline Huanbi, then don't keep letting her cause trouble. What's the point of apologizing afterward?"
"I..." Zhen Huan was in a difficult position. Could she reveal Huan Bi's true identity? No, she couldn't. Yet, she had no choice but to bear the consequences of indulging Huan Bi.
"Sister Mei, you're pregnant, don't get too excited." An Lingrong quickly patted Shen Meizhuang's back, gently comforting her, afraid that she might do something bad.
No one expected that Huanbi would suddenly rush over at this moment, "Consort Hui, it's all my fault, please don't blame our mistress..."
"Ah..." Shen Meizhuang was startled and recoiled sharply, then a sharp pain shot through her stomach. "My stomach, my stomach..."
Everything happened in the blink of an eye. By the time everyone reacted, Shen Meizhuang was still clutching her stomach and had fallen into An Lingrong's arms.
"Sister Mei!"
"My lord!"
Cai Xing and Cai Yue, who were serving nearby, rushed forward and pinned Huan Bi down, only to see Huan Bi scream in terror, "Ah, blood! I didn't mean to, I didn't mean to..."
Following her gaze, everyone saw the bloodstains seeping from under Shen Meizhuang's skirt, and their expressions changed drastically. An Lingrong tightly hugged Shen Meizhuang and shouted, "Imperial Physician! Summon the Imperial Physician!"
The room was in complete chaos, but fortunately Aunt Fangruo was there and quickly brought the situation under control. She realized that Shen Meizhuang was about to give birth prematurely, so she immediately ordered people to arrange a delivery room, sent everyone else out, and stayed by Shen Meizhuang's side with the midwife.
As the saying goes, "Seven months pregnant, eight months pregnant, no life." Thinking of Shen Meizhuang's eight-month pregnancy, An Lingrong couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine.
"My lord, my lord, please save me! I really didn't mean it! I did it for you, my lord..."
Busy with delivering Shen Meizhuang's baby, no one in Xian Yue Pavilion had time to deal with Huanbi. But Huanbi knew she had caused a huge disaster in her moment of excitement, and hurriedly grabbed Zhen Huan's sleeve for help, her panicked voice echoing throughout the corners of the room.
"Smack!"
The world fell silent. Zhen Huan, clutching her aching face, looked at An Lingrong in shock: "Lingrong..."
"If you can't teach this servant, why bring her here?" An Lingrong stared coldly at Zhen Huan. "If Sister Mei or Little Princess does anything wrong, I won't let you off the hook."
"Lingrong, I..."
Facing An Lingrong's hostile gaze, Zhen Huan felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave. An Lingrong was serious; she had truly become her enemy. Glancing at Huanbi, who was "bullying the weak and fearing the strong" and too afraid to utter a sound because of a slap, Zhen Huan gave a self-deprecating smile.
Indeed, people are all afraid of power and not of virtue, and Zhen Huan had no choice but to swallow the bitter fruit caused by Huan Bi. Now, Zhen Huan only prays that Mei Jie will not get into trouble, otherwise she will not have a good life.
It was only at this moment that Zhen Huan suddenly realized that this peaceful life wasn't so bad after all; unfortunately, she always wanted too much...
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