When Xue Shen returned to the East Palace, he saw that all the utensils in the West Courtyard had been replaced with new ones.
Shen Youying was sitting under a tree enjoying the cool air, with a book and two plates of fruits and pastries beside her.
Xue Shen strode closer, and the maidservant who was serving him wisely stepped back, leaving the two of them alone.
Seeing his furrowed brows, Shen Youying leaned closer to him and gently pressed her fingertips between his brows: "You're always frowning, you look several years older."
Xue Shen took her hand, kissed her fingertips, and then bit them, his expression teasing: "You think I'm too old already?"
Shen Youying withdrew her hand and glared at him with dissatisfaction: "It's still passable now, but if it gets any older, I'll really have to find fault with it."
Xue Shen smiled and reached out to pinch the tip of her nose, but Shen Youying dodged it.
After joking around for a while, Xue Shen finally got down to business: "The person behind the attempt to harm you has been found."
Shen Youying's smile faded slightly: "Who is it?"
"Yelü Nanxian".
This was a name Shen Youying hadn't expected. She widened her eyes in surprise: "How could it be her? Shouldn't she be on the grasslands at this time?"
Xue Shen pulled her hand into his palm and played with it, slowly analyzing Yelü Nanxian's intentions: "I heard that the Northern Rong and Tubo intend to form an alliance."
“If the Northern Rong and the Tubo have formed an alliance, then Yelü Nanxian should not be in the capital at this time,” Shen Youying said with a puzzled expression.
Based on her limited understanding of Yelü Nanxian, she knew that Yelü Nanxian was skilled in strategy and martial arts, and was highly regarded by the Northern Rong King. If the Northern Rong were to form an alliance with Tibet, Yelü Nanxian should be discussing the alliance at this time, so why would she be in the capital?
Xue Shen chuckled, his tone laced with sarcasm: "That was in the past. After the battle of the capital, the Northern Rong were defeated, and their king was seriously injured. The Northern Rong's strength has been greatly diminished. Although Tibet is embroiled in internal strife, the Qingmu tribe, the most powerful tribe, is now in power. Its chieftain is only in his early fifties, brave and skilled in battle, and a formidable general."
"I heard that in order to solidify the alliance between the two countries, Tibet proposed a marriage alliance."
"A marriage alliance?" Shen Youying looked puzzled, then realized, "Among the women of high status in the Northern Rong, there is only Yelü Nanxian. You mean? Chief Qingmu wants to form a marriage alliance with Yelü Nanxian?"
Xue Shen nodded: "Yelü Nanxian devised strategies and risked her life for the Northern Rong King, but ended up being sent to a marriage alliance. Given her personality, she would never willingly become a pawn in a marriage alliance between two countries."
"So she'll try to prove her worth?" Shen Youying continued Xue Shen's question.
"Indeed, if her scheme succeeds, the court will be thrown into chaos, and that will be the opportunity for the Northern Rong people."
“If the Northern Rong King can go south and become emperor, then there will be no need for a marriage alliance with Tibet.”
Shen Youying frowned as she thought of Yelü Nanxian's ambition: "Have you found Yelü Nanxian's whereabouts?"
Xue Shen shook his head: "There's no rush to find her now. According to Zhou Nian, Yelü Nanxian has been secretly contacting more than just him. It's just that Yelü Nanxian happened to use the clues provided by Zhou Nian."
"And besides that, there are countless other people hoping something bad will happen to you."
At this point, Xue Shen's expression turned very gloomy: "If we can't find all these people and make an example of them, I'm afraid we won't be able to sleep peacefully at night from now on."
"But these people aren't so easy to catch."
Xue Shen looked at Shen Youying: "So Zhaozhao will need to cooperate a little."
Shen Youying looked puzzled: "How am I supposed to cooperate?"
Xue Shen beckoned to her, signaling her to come closer.
Shen Youying leaned closer with some skepticism, and Xue Shen whispered something in her ear, saying, "It's just that Zhaozhao will have to suffer for a while longer."
Shen Youying's eyes widened slightly in surprise at his audacious plan. She shook her head upon hearing this, "There's nothing to be aggrieved about. I just need to inform Father and Brother first."
Xue Shen smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'll take care of it."
*
To ensure the plan proceeded smoothly, Xue Shen suppressed the commotion in the Eastern Palace and prevented it from spreading outside.
They even specially had someone find a potted plant exactly the same as the one that had previously contained the dead, poisonous bird, and placed it in the yard just as it was.
To outsiders, everything in the Eastern Palace seemed no different than usual; they could only think that the new emperor was indeed deeply in love with the empress, keeping her by his side at all times.
A few more days passed in the blink of an eye, and it was time for Shen Youying to give birth.
On the day of the birth, the Crown Prince's palace was on high alert.
Not only were all the imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy summoned to stand by, but also about ten midwives were invited.
Except for those who were absolutely necessary to remain in the delivery room, the rest of the imperial physicians and midwives waited outside the delivery room with Xue Shen.
Shen Youying went into labor at noon and entered the delivery room, where Huodong Zhenren, two experienced midwives, and four female servants, Bailuo Danzhu, delivered the baby.
Xue Shen originally wanted to go in and wait, but was kicked out by Master Huodong.
It is said that his presence in the delivery room frightened the midwife, making her uneasy and hindering the delivery.
Xue Shen had no choice but to stand guard at the entrance of the delivery room, watching the maid bring out basins of bloody water.
From noon until night, the cries of pain from inside the delivery room never stopped, while outside the delivery room, Xue Shen's expression grew increasingly solemn. The servants, sensing that something was wrong, didn't even dare to breathe loudly.
By midnight, the child had not yet been born, and Xue Shen's face was already contorted with rage.
"Why hasn't it been born yet?"
The imperial physician, who was on standby outside at any time, cautiously said, "If the baby is breech or there are other reasons, then... then the delivery will be slower..."
Xue Shen's face grew even paler after hearing this. Just then, a sharp scream suddenly rang out from the delivery room: "Xue Shen—"
Anyone could tell that it was the Empress's voice.
Xue Shen's expression changed, and he strode into the delivery room. Immediately afterward, two maids came out, their faces pale, urging, "Your Highness is hemorrhaging! Quickly, boil water! And bring two more imperial physicians!"
The chaos in the Eastern Palace continued until the next morning. The palace servants waited all night, none of them daring to leave, but they never heard the child cry, nor did they see Xue Shen come out.
The palace servants felt even more terrified, and seeing the basins of bloody water being brought out, they began to have some bad thoughts.
Just as everyone was filled with panic, Xue Shen, his clothes stained with blood, dragged his heavy steps out of the delivery room and weakly called to Wang Deshun: "Go and send a message to the Shen family, just say... just say..."
He paused twice, unable to finish his sentence, and finally could only omit those two words, saying vaguely, "Just say... he's dead, let them come and see him one last time."
But everyone present, including Wang Deshun, understood what he meant.
Wang Deshun knelt down abruptly, tears welling in his eyes, and said mournfully, "This servant will go immediately. Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please accept my condolences and do not harm your health."
The palace servants in the courtyard also knelt down, heads bowed, not daring to breathe, their hearts filled with turmoil.
The Empress is gone?
The Empress is gone!
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