However, Gu Qinlan herself suffered a great loss. Although the Fourth Prince's Consort was slender, the force of her fall was not to be underestimated. She felt a sharp pain, as if she might faint at any moment.
Everyone was startled, but after they realized what was happening, they rushed forward to help the Fourth Prince's Consort and Gu Qinlan.
The Fourth Prince's wife was still in shock, but she quickly regained her composure, clutching her stomach and crying out in pain, "Ouch, my stomach, my stomach hurts so much!"
Her maids panicked immediately, crying out, "Your Highness, what's wrong? Quick, go and fetch the imperial physician! Escort Your Highness back to the palace!"
Gu Qinlan struggled to her feet, clutching her chest as she said with difficulty, "It's too late. We happen to have a divine physician in our household. Quickly, go and fetch Miss Mei."
Having finally seized this opportunity, how could the Fourth Prince's Consort let it slip away so easily? She gave her maids a wink, signaling them to quickly take her away.
However, at the next moment, Meiyun appeared hurriedly carrying a medical kit.
Upon seeing Meiyun, the Fourth Prince's maids immediately surrounded and protected her.
"Who are you? How dare you be so insolent! Get out of here at once! If you offend the Fourth Prince's Consort, you'll lose your head!"
Our master went to great lengths to obtain this opportunity; how could we allow others to easily ruin this carefully laid plan?
Meiyun, being a woman from a remote area, was so frightened by the reprimands of these maids who had undergone strict palace training that she dared not take another step forward.
How could Gu Qinlan let them succeed? She resolutely stepped forward, pushed aside the maid blocking her way, and said in an anxious and firm tone, "What time is it now? How can you still be so bound by those old rules and regulations! Can't you see that your mistress is suffering from severe abdominal pain? If anything happens to her, how many heads do you have to pay for it? Your lives may be insignificant, but my life is extremely precious!"
"Miss Mei, what are you standing there for? Come over and diagnose the Fourth Prince's Consort."
Meiyun immediately stepped forward.
The maids quickly stopped her, saying, "The Fourth Prince's Consort is of noble birth and precious status. How can someone of unknown identity like you be allowed here? Get out of here immediately!"
Gu Qinlan retorted with a gloomy expression, "What are your intentions? The Fourth Prince's Consort is in such pain, yet you are obstructing my skilled physicians from treating her. Could it be that you are plotting to harm the Fourth Prince's Consort?"
"That must be it, otherwise how could that footstool have suddenly broken! You not only plotted to frame the Fourth Prince's Consort, but also wanted to take this opportunity to frame our Prince Duan's Mansion. You are truly treacherous!"
After she finished speaking, she shouted loudly, "Guards! Seize these maids who are plotting against the Fourth Prince's Consort!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Sang Qian immediately led several guards forward and subdued the maids.
The Fourth Prince's wife couldn't help but shout, "How dare you..."
Gu Qinlan immediately interrupted her: "Fourth Prince's Consort, there is no need to panic. With me here, you will be safe and sound!"
"Miss Mei, quickly help her!"
Meiyun quickly stepped forward.
The Fourth Prince's Consort refused to cooperate, glaring at Mei Yun with a warning look: "Don't touch me!"
Gu Qinlan remained unmoved, grabbed the Fourth Prince's wife's wrist, held her tightly, and hugged her in her arms, carefully afraid that she would touch the cold floor.
"Miss Mei, get a diagnosis quickly! Don't delay treatment!"
Mei Yun glanced at Gu Qinlan with a complicated expression, gritted her teeth, and resolutely took the pulse of the Fourth Prince's Consort.
The Fourth Prince's Consort struggled desperately, but she could not break free from Gu Qinlan's grasp. Gu Qinlan comforted her in a gentle yet firm tone: "Fourth Prince's Consort, you don't need to be afraid. Rest assured, Miss Mei's medical skills are extraordinary. Even if you only have a breath left, she can save you."
"Outrageous! You've gone too far!"
The Fourth Prince's wife trembled with rage. She never expected that her noble status would be so humiliated by Gu Qinlan.
Just as she was about to get angry, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her neck and then fell into a coma.
At that very moment, the Fourth Prince arrived in a hurry.
What are you doing?!
Upon seeing their savior, the Fourth Prince's maids cried out for help, "Your Highness, please save us!"
Gu Qinlan spoke first: "Your Highness, the maid in your household attempted to take advantage of the Fourth Prince's wife. She not only tampered with the footstool, causing the Fourth Prince's wife to fall, but also tried to prevent me from helping her."
"The poor Fourth Prince's wife couldn't bear this cruel blow and has fainted from anger."
Gu Qinlan adopted a posture of seeking credit.
The Fourth Prince's face was extremely ugly. He barely suppressed his anger and said in a deep voice, "Thank you for your concern, Princess. However, there may be some misunderstanding. I will take the Princess Consort back to the manor now. There is no need to trouble you."
In today's power struggles, he suffered a complete defeat. In desperation, he must immediately take the Fourth Prince's wife away from here, lest not only do his plans fail, but he also inadvertently reveal a secret he has kept hidden for so long.
Just then, Meiyun suddenly announced loudly: "Good news! The Fourth Prince's Consort is six months pregnant, already a month and a half along."
Gu Qinlan immediately followed up with concern, asking, "Really? Miss Mei, you haven't made a mistake in your diagnosis, have you? Is the Fourth Prince's Consort really pregnant?"
Mei Yun replied somewhat displeasedly, "Such an obvious sign of pregnancy is noticeable even to ordinary people. If I make a mistake in such a trivial matter, how can I continue to practice medicine?"
Gu Qinlan quickly explained, "I'm not questioning your medical skills, but I'm worried about the Fourth Prince's wife's health. She just experienced a great shock, and I don't know if the baby in her womb is alright. This is the direct offspring of the Fourth Prince and Fourth Prince's wife, which concerns the royal bloodline, and there can be absolutely no mistakes."
Mei Yun's expression softened slightly, and she comforted her, "Princess, there's no need to worry too much. The Fourth Prince's wife is physically strong. Although she was frightened just now, the fetus is very stable and there are no problems at all."
Upon hearing this, Gu Qinlan was overjoyed and clapped her hands, saying with a smile, "This is truly fantastic news!"
She turned to those around her and announced, "Did you all hear that? The Fourth Prince's Consort is pregnant!" As soon as she finished speaking, she turned to the Fourth Prince to congratulate him, "Congratulations, Fourth Prince! It's a truly joyous occasion to celebrate your upcoming role as a father!"
At this moment, Madam Zhao and several other noble ladies were walking out of the Prince Duan's residence. Upon hearing Gu Qinlan's words, they all showed expressions of astonishment.
"Wasn't it said that the Fourth Prince had difficulty conceiving? How come the Fourth Prince's wife is pregnant instead?"
Madam Zhao explained with a serious expression, "That's not how it works. Having difficulty conceiving doesn't mean being completely unable to have children. The Fourth Prince and his wife are blessed with good fortune, so it's only natural that they would conceive."
After saying this, she took the lead in congratulating the Fourth Prince.
The other ladies followed suit, vying to offer their congratulations.
Although he was furious inside, he had to force a smile on his face. He couldn't bring himself to appear cheerful, so he hastily replied, "Thank you, ladies. I must take the Crown Princess back to my residence immediately. Farewell."
The fourth prince carried his still not fully conscious fourth princess onto the carriage and hurriedly left with his entourage.
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