The little palace maid cried and thought that a disaster was about to happen.

Just now, she was cleaning the delivery room on the orders of Concubine Shu. However, within a few breaths after leaving the crib, the Third Prince disappeared.

Upon hearing the news that the Third Prince was missing, Concubine Shu comforted her and said, "I see, it's just a small matter, you don't need to panic."

The maid thought she had heard it wrong, and asked in disbelief, "Madam?"

She looked at Zhao Changzai helplessly, hoping that Zhao Changzai would give her a normal reaction.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Changzai, the biological mother, was even more calm.

Zhao Changzai said calmly, "It's lost, it's lost anyway. It's in the palace, where else could it be lost? You've been tired all day, go and have a rest first. You don't need to take care of this place for the time being."

Not being punished, the maid retreated with a confused look on her face.

It was just a birth of a child, why did the young lady seem like a different person? ... And the child was lost, how could the young lady not panic?

The concubines gathered together and talked among themselves for a long time.

Half an hour later, according to Zhu Hanfei, Zhao Changzai could get out of bed. She slowly moved to the edge of the bed and lowered her legs, which were swollen due to pregnancy.

None of the concubines around her urged her, and they all cast encouraging glances at her.

Zhao Changzai took a deep breath of fresh air. She held the edge of the bed with one hand, covered her newly opened belly with the other, and took a tentative step forward.

One step, two steps.

After finding that she didn't feel anything in her stomach, Zhao Changzai became bolder. She let go of her hands and let her body walk naturally, and her steps gradually returned to their usual brisk pace.

"Does it hurt?" Concubine Shu looked at her nervously.

Zhao Changzai shook his head with a smile on his face.

The queen nodded slightly, revealing a hint of relief in her voice: "Since the concubine can walk normally, I can go and report to the emperor with peace of mind."

…

Linhua Palace.

Concubine Lin found an excuse and did not follow the concubines into the delivery room, but returned to Linhua Palace and her own bedroom.

When Zijuan pushed the door open, she had already taken off all the gorgeous pearls and jade on her head. She was circling her forehead with her fingers, and a hint of weariness appeared on her face.

"Your Majesty, the child has been brought in. Everything went very smoothly and did not arouse anyone's suspicion..." Zijuan did not dare to disturb the imperial concubine's rest and kept her voice very low.

Concubine Lin raised her eyelids and responded casually, "Bring him here, let me see him."

Zijuan carefully handed the dark red swaddling clothes to the imperial concubine.

The third prince was like all the newborns, with wrinkled skin, and was not at all good-looking.

Concubine Lin held the swaddling clothes firmly against her chest, and her fingers, without armor, gently slid across the baby's delicate forehead.

“This one is really big…”

Concubine Lin couldn't help but chuckle.

She stretched out her slender index finger and tapped the third prince's brow. "Just because of this ugly thing, Zhao Changzai has suffered for nearly ten months. It's pitiful just to think about it."

At this point, Concubine Lin changed the subject and said regretfully: "What a pity, I don't even have the chance to experience this pain."

The smile on her face gradually faded.

Changing her position, the imperial concubine rested her chin lightly on the child's head.

She held the child in her arms, rocking him gently, humming a Sichuan tune that was used to coax children.

Zijuan stood aside, too frightened to make a sound.

Concubine Lin is rarely so gentle in private.

Perhaps after Lady Ji moved into Linhua Palace, Concubine Lin's temper improved a lot. But like now, she was holding the child tightly and refusing to let go, with eyes full of love... It was as if she was possessed.

“My queen…”

"Um?"

Concubine Lin's singing suddenly stopped. She turned her head slowly, with no emotion in her eyes.

Zijuan hesitated, not knowing how to start, "My Lady, do you really want to rob..."

"——My Lady! I'm back!"

"I'm telling you, someone stole Zhao Changzai's child! This is terrible!"

Wu's lover has not arrived yet, but the voice has arrived first.

She was still outside the door, but her voice had already penetrated through the layers of screens.

Zijuan hurriedly swallowed her words and pretended to be just a piece of wood.

Hearing footsteps approaching, Wu Qing rushed into the inner room and immediately locked onto the swaddling baby in Concubine Lin's arms.

"My queen, everyone is looking for the third prince now."

"Oh, what kind of person is capable of stealing the prince without anyone knowing? I am stupid and can't think of it no matter how hard I try. It gives me a headache."

Wu Qing spoke to himself, pretending not to see what was in the imperial concubine's arms.

"What use would it have if an ordinary person stole the Third Prince? In my opinion, the person who stole the child must be a concubine who has no children."

Concubine Lin rocked the child in her arms, an elusive light flickering in her beautiful eyes.

After listening to Wu Qing's words, she did not refute, but added, "Perhaps, she has lost her ability to have children, so she has such an idea."

Wu Qing paused for a moment and continued, "She was able to secretly take the child away without anyone noticing. It's obvious that she had someone planted in Concubine Shu's palace beforehand."

"You're right. This man has had the idea of ​​taking the child away for a long time." Concubine Lin nodded, still not letting go.

Wu Qing said unwillingly: "My lady, if the emperor knew about this, I'm afraid..."

Concubine Lin said, "As long as the emperor loves her, there is nothing she can't do."

[My lady, this is different! ]

[And the favor was only temporary. The emperor favored Sister Fei more later, which indirectly led to your death! ]

Wu Qing stared at the child in Concubine Lin's arms, feeling anxious.

[If the Imperial Concubine wants a child, she can learn from Concubine De and adopt one from outside the palace! Anyone can be adopted, but not Concubine Zhao’s child! This is too dangerous!]

[It’s all my fault for changing the plot. In the original book, the imperial concubine had no feelings for the third prince at all.]

[No, I must persuade the Imperial Concubine! It’s not too late! ]

Wu Qing finally asked this question: "…Madam, what is in your hand?"

Concubine Lin finally looked up at her.

"A child." The imperial concubine said lightly.

Wu Qing looked at her helplessly: [Everyone knows that this is a child! ]

Concubine Lin smiled, "I just picked him up to take a look... What do you think I was going to do?"