Empress Zhou said she would have three days to think it over.
On August 18th, a female official from Empress Zhou's side came to Prince Chen's residence with gifts, including a bowl of abortifacient.
The more delighted Shen Muyu was when she first saw these exquisite headdresses and jewelry, the more frightened she became when she looked at them again.
This money was all "life-saving money" for the child in her womb.
Seeing that she seemed stunned and refused to move, the female official frowned and raised her voice, "Madam, you can have more children, but if you offend Her Majesty and His Highness, your future will be difficult. You've drunk it yourself now, and Her Majesty and His Highness still have some pity for you. But if I were to force it down your throat..."
She spoke only half of what she meant, but the threat was obvious.
Shen Muyu took the bowl of medicine with trembling hands, tears dripping into the bowl.
Dongqing watched from the side, feeling heartbroken and angry, yet powerless to do anything. All she could do was place a small dish of cherry pancakes, Shen Muyu's favorite food, next to her.
Seeing that the female official was getting impatient, Shen Muyu took a deep breath, closed her eyes tightly, and gulped it down.
Because of the excessive force, even alarming blue veins protruded from the back of his pale hand.
Are you satisfied now?
She wiped her lips hard, refusing to eat the cherry jelly prepared by Dongqing, letting the bitterness of the abortion pill spread in her mouth, her eyes red as she glared at the female official.
The female official took the empty bowl and calmly instructed, "This abortion medicine will take effect in a quarter of an hour. There may be some pain, so it would be best for you to lie down on the couch with two extra quilts underneath. I will stay outside and return to the palace to report back once I'm sure you are safe."
Upon hearing this, Dongqing helped the weak Shen Muyu into the inner room.
Shen Muyu lay motionless on the bed, her hands resting on her lower abdomen, silently shedding tears.
Fifteen minutes later, the abortion pill took effect.
Waves of cramping pain rose from her lower abdomen. Shen Muyu gripped the bedding beneath her with both hands and cried out in pain.
Afraid that she would bite her tongue, Dongqing suppressed her tears and took a soft cloth, rolled it up, and gave it to her to bite on.
Shen Muyu bit down hard, staring at her with lifeless eyes, her swollen and red eyes no longer able to shed tears.
The pain was like someone was stabbing a knife into her abdomen and twisting it around. Shen Muyu was in so much pain that she almost fainted, but the ginseng soup kept her alive, so she could only endure this inhuman suffering.
Two hours later, after five changes of the thick mattress beneath her and basins of bloody water being carried out, a stillborn baby that had not yet formed was finally born.
Because the pregnancy was premature, the fetus only had a rough human shape, and its skin was bluish-purple, which was quite alarming to look at.
Dongqing, afraid that Shen Muyu would see it, hurriedly wrapped the stillborn fetus in a red cloth and prepared to take it out, but Shen Muyu stopped her: "Let me see it."
Having endured several hours of torment, she was now extremely weak, unable to move even a finger, and her voice was barely audible. Only her eyes remained fixed on Dongqing.
Dongqing hesitated: "Miss, you shouldn't watch anymore. It's more important to get some rest."
Shen Muyu insisted, "Let me see."
Dongqing couldn't dissuade her, so he had no choice but to bring the stillborn baby to her.
Shen Muyu stared intently for a long time, her face expressionless. She then slowly turned her head away.
Upon seeing this, Dongqing quickly carried the stillborn fetus out.
The stillborn child will be taken away by the female official for burial, and a Buddhist ritual will be performed to pray for its soul.
The lady-in-waiting saw the stillborn fetus, put it into a small box that had been prepared in advance, and then left satisfied.
.
Shen Muyu was severely injured and slept for a day and a night.
Dongqing was afraid something might happen to her, so she slept on the footstool all night to keep watch over her. Only when Shen Muyu finally woke up did she feel relieved and smile.
Seeing Shen Muyu's dazed expression, she said, "Miss, are you finally awake? While you were asleep, the doctor came to check on you and said that you'll need to rest for a while after childbirth to fully recover. Prince Chen also sent many precious medicinal herbs to help you recover. I've already asked the kitchen to prepare some medicinal food and keep it warm on the stove. Would you like some now?"
Shen Muyu's eyes darted around: "Prince Chen didn't come?"
Dong Qing's joy froze, and she stammered, "The wedding is imminent, the prince is probably busy."
Shen Muyu didn't speak again, staring blankly at the top of the tent, as if it was just a casual question.
Dongqing was secretly annoyed that she shouldn't have mentioned Prince Chen. Seeing that she was unwilling to say more, she could only tuck the blanket around her and quietly slipped out.
*
After Shen Muyu had been in confinement for five days, Prince Chen finally arrived at the Banana Garden.
He looked at Shen Muyu, who was haggard and emaciated, and a hint of impatience flashed between his brows, but he quickly covered it up. He held her hand with pity and asked, "You've suffered. Are you still feeling unwell?"
Shen Muyu looked up at him, stung by the tender affection on his face.
How could I not feel bad?
The act of strangling a child inside her womb not only wounded her body but also her heart.
But Prince Chen knew nothing of this.
Or perhaps he knows everything but is just pretending not to.
Looking at that gentle face, Shen Muyu felt a little doubtful. Did Prince Chen ever like her?
If he had ever liked her, why was that liking so shallow? He spoke of pity, yet only remembered to visit her several days later.
But if he didn't like her, what was the point of all the effort he put into her back then?
Shen Muyu lowered her eyes and remained silent.
Seeing this, Prince Chen grew increasingly impatient, but still spoke gently: “I know you are upset and need time to adjust. You are currently in confinement after childbirth and it is not convenient for you to go out, but staying cooped up all day is not good for your recovery. If you feel bored, why not ask Princess Qin and your mother to come and keep you company?”
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