The fact that Xie Shi would have a happy ending was unexpected by the Fourth Prince. He didn't like restless women, and after that incident, he didn't even have the intention to seriously visit Xie Shi. Unexpectedly, Xie Shi took advantage of the situation.
Or rather, Xie, who had already been given a contraceptive, was now pregnant and about to give birth—Xie's ambition was also laid bare.
This made the Fourth Prince even more displeased.
For the Fourth Master, Xie's pregnancy was an accident. Even if Xie had given birth safely, the Fourth Master would have found a reason to send her to the estate.
It's better to have no mother at all than to have a mother of poor character.
Although Madam Song had never liked the eldest princess, aside from being distant and trying to curry favor with the Fourth Prince through the eldest princess, she had never harbored any ulterior motives.
People like Xie truly used the child in her womb as a bargaining chip to curry favor, and she schemed against the child in almost every way possible.
Even if Xie gave birth to a child, the Fourth Prince would not entrust the child to a mother like her to raise.
However, with Xie Shi in difficult childbirth, the Fourth Prince naturally had other things to consider.
The midwife doesn't know whether Xie's child is a boy or a girl. The Fourth Prince does not like Xie, but he also thought that if he could keep the child in Xie's womb, he would have to put the child in the imperial genealogy.
Who should be written as the birth mother at that time, or who should be written as the adoptive mother?
Rather than letting the child born into this family become an awkward figure in the mansion with nowhere to go, or even become sickly, it would be better to keep Xie Shi alive and send her far away.
However, things often don't go as planned.
Xie, inside, didn't believe in these things. She still had strength. The ginseng slices in her mouth were so bitter they were astringent. She gritted her teeth and used her last bit of strength.
She was determined to give birth to an heir and turn her life around.
Didn't the wives of the princes and Lady Song in the mansion have equally difficult childbirths? But in the end, didn't they both turn out fine?
Who says that a difficult birth means the baby can't be born?
After waiting and planning for so long, how could Xie be willing to accept the possibility of the fetus dying in the womb?
She was unwilling to accept this, and she was determined to use it to turn her life around.
Ms. Xie was obsessed. Ten months of pregnancy made her place all her hopes on the child in her womb, and giving birth to the child had become a deeply rooted and unshakable thought in her mind.
However, childbirth is a life-or-death situation for women, and the fact that others can be safe and sound does not mean that everyone can be safe and sound during childbirth.
The sounds of Xie Gege giving birth in the courtyard continued until late at night.
After finishing her dinner in the East Courtyard, Li Chenjiao watched the little girl for a while. Seeing that the little girl was sleepy and drooping her head, she asked Chen to carry the little girl away.
She figured that Fourth Master probably wouldn't be able to come today, so she didn't have to worry about being woken up by him. After a quick wash, Li Chenjiao went to rest.
In May, the blanket covering Li Chenjiao was neither too thin nor too thick, and before falling asleep, she sniffed with disdain.
"In another two days, I'm afraid I won't dare let you get close."
Li Chenjiao stayed in the inner room most of the time, and apart from eating and changing, she didn't move around much and didn't sweat at all.
However, Li Chenjiao was very clean, and she couldn't help but feel disgusted at this moment.
Qiu Hu smiled and said it was nothing, but Li Chenjiao was still skeptical.
Li Chenjiao slept relatively soundly through the night, except for being woken up once by the Second Princess's crying.
She had completely forgotten that Madam Xie was still in labor, and only remembered to ask about Madam Xie's labor after the Second Princess had been coaxed to sleep.
But before she could finish speaking, Qiu Ci hurried in, her expression a complex mix of emotions.
Li Chenjiao studied Qiu Ci's expression for a moment and asked, "Did Princess Xie give birth?"
Qiu Ci paused for a moment, moved her lips, and then nodded.
Li Chenjiao lowered her eyes slightly and noticed something was wrong: "Why are you stammering and not saying anything? Just say what's on your mind."
Qiu Ci is still young and hasn't experienced much hardship, so she inevitably showed some panic when she spoke.
"Xie Gege—is gone."
The Xie family is gone?
Li Chenjiao paused slightly as she straightened up, her subconscious reaction being disbelief.
That shouldn't be the case. The imperial physician and midwife arrived in time, and with the Fourth Prince in charge, even if it was a difficult birth, the Fourth Prince would have spoken up to save Xie Shi. How could it be a difficult birth?
"The midwife said the Third Prince's head was too big, and Consort Xie had exhausted all her strength. The imperial physician also said that Consort Xie had damaged her body during her pregnancy, and the severe bleeding was unstoppable—"
Third Prince, Xie still gave birth to the child.
But now we can't see it anymore.
Li Chenjiao's mind raced with a thousand thoughts. She took a deep breath and asked, "Is Fourth Master still in Consort Xie's courtyard?"
Qiu Ci agreed, and then said that Song Gege left during dinner, and Qian Mama from the main courtyard went in to check on Xie Gege for a while before leaving as well.
Fourth Master instructed Su Peisheng to go to the front yard and bring over some unimportant memorials for disposal.
It's already quite remarkable that Fourth Master is still sitting in Princess Xie's courtyard. For example, Third Master had a princess giving birth in his backyard, but he didn't even go to see her.
Indeed, the Emperor felt that his sons had few offspring.
But that's because legitimate primary wives rarely give birth to a son or daughter.
Of all the illegitimate sons and daughters of the princes in the harem, the only one he could remember was Hongxi, born to Consort Li Jia of Yuqing Palace.
Fourth Master is already considered a rare talent.
Li Chenjiao was still somewhat dazed: "The last time I saw Madam Xie was before the New Year, how come she's suddenly—"
From the day Li Chenjiao entered the manor, she knew that intrigue and backstabbing were common and unavoidable in the royal harem, and being soft-hearted was the greatest way to relax herself.
But the fact that someone died was something I'd never witnessed before.
Li Chenjiao couldn't help but feel a sense of lingering fear and unease.
I can't help but wonder, if it had been earlier, or if everything had been in place, would there have been fewer unexpected events?
Li Chenjiao lowered her eyes, knowing full well that the Empress Dowager's involvement was undoubtedly crucial in this matter.
Xiao Luzi stumbled upon one incident, but it remains to be seen how much more has been done in the main courtyard behind the scenes, where no one can see it.
Li Chenjiao pressed her temples; she knew she wouldn't be able to get a good night's sleep.
Although Lady Xie was only a princess, she still had to observe the proper etiquette after her death. Also, who was the foster mother when the Third Prince was registered in the imperial genealogy? And where would the Third Prince go in the future?
Li Chenjiao sighed softly and drifted off to sleep.
She's not the only one who's worried about these things; she should rest and deal with them tomorrow.
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