She didn't have leg cramps to begin with, and she wanted Sheng Xiyan to kneel down and massage her feet and legs, but that plan didn't work out, so she took the opportunity to show how difficult it was to be pregnant so that Xuan Ling would pity her.
Xuan Ling said ruthlessly, "Doctor Xue, please give her a prescription to stop vomiting."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Lian Zhaoyi was depressed. It was all in vain. Why couldn't she move the emperor's heart?
When the banquet was about to end, a palace maid from Jingren Palace suddenly ran in.
"Your Majesty, the Empress is about to give birth!"
"Isn't the due date still a month away?"
"This is premature."
The concubines were whispering to each other, and Gao Shurong said, "If the Empress gives birth to a prince, the palace will be even more lively."
When Sheng Xiyan heard other people saying that the queen was giving birth to a prince, she felt puzzled. When she took the queen's pulse before, it was clear from the pulse that the queen was not pregnant with a prince. Of course, this was not necessarily accurate.
The Empress Dowager said calmly, "It takes a long time for a woman to give birth. Your Majesty, please return to the Yangxin Palace. I will be leaving too."
Concubine Jia stepped forward to help the Empress Dowager leave. Xuan Ling waved to Sheng Xiyan, "My beloved Concubine Sheng, please follow me to the Yangxin Palace."
Gao Shurong and Lin Xiuyi said, "Sister Sheng, go quickly."
Concubine Min was behind him, smiling coldly.
"Farewell to the Emperor. Long live His Majesty."
The concubines bowed and saluted.
Sheng Xiyan followed Xuan Ling and left the banquet first and arrived at the door of Linde Hall.
Xuan Ling got on the imperial carriage, and Sheng Xiyan stood below tactfully.
Xuan Ling reached out and touched her cheek. Sheng Xiyan turned her head and saw the emperor's gentle smiling eyes.
Touching her cheek, she asked, "Is there something on my face?"
"Well, come up, I'll help you take it off."
Go up? Sheng Xiyan was distracted by the dragon-carved and gem-inlaid patterns on the imperial carriage.
"Why don't you come up? Then I'll walk with you."
Xuan Ling got off the imperial carriage and slowly took her hand.
It was just nightfall and the palace lanterns were just coming on.
He held her hand and walked in front, with the imperial carriage following behind.
Sheng Xiyan couldn't help but think of Queen Duan giving birth. That was a woman experiencing life and death, but the people around her were very indifferent, just like when she was in Prince E's Mansion, she also gave birth half a month prematurely, and Sheng's mother had not come yet.
She was so helpless at that time, with heart-wrenching pain and the despair of not being able to give birth for a day and a night. She thought she was going to die.
Only then did I know what it felt like to have no response from anyone, no matter how hard I tried.
Before she fainted from the pain of childbirth, she thought of a sentence: the family of three can be reunited after death.
"Yanyan, what are you thinking about?"
Sheng Xiyan stopped and looked up and asked, "Your Majesty, do you know how painful and helpless a woman is when giving birth?"
Xuan Ling's heart was shocked at first, and then a thousand waves were stirred up.
He had never thought about it, nor did he want to know.
He was in the morning court when Yu Mo gave birth, and he was in the Yangxin Palace when Le Wen gave birth.
When the child was born, they would report to him. After he gave his reward, he would visit the mother and child on the same day or the next day, depending on the situation.
"Yanyan, it must have been difficult for you to give birth, right?"
He asked softly, and her red eyes were enough to explain everything.
"Come on, accompany me to Jingren Palace to see the Queen."
He pulled her onto the imperial carriage, and Eunuch Fu shouted, "Let's go to Jingren Palace."
When Concubine Shu returned to Zhongcui Palace, the first thing she did was to say, "Burn those dresses quickly."
"Yes, my lady."
Hongxiu took out several sets of dresses soaked in lily and oleander juice and burned them in the corner of the backyard of Zhongcui Palace herself. After burning them, she mixed the ashes with the soil on the ground to ensure that there was no risk of any accidents.
"My lady, it's done."
Concubine Shu said, "The Queen gave birth a month prematurely. It's worth my daily visits to her. Has the midwife said anything?"
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. Although General Duan sent a midwife into the palace, the midwife in the palace is ours. Logically, those outside the palace dare not speak and can only listen to our people."
Concubine Shu pinched the peony velvet flower beside her and said cruelly, "I can finally take revenge. Alas, I didn't want this to happen either."
Hongxiu said, "Your Majesty, don't blame yourself. If the Empress really gave birth to a legitimate prince, that would be a real problem."
Concubine Shu took the nourishing soup and drank it leisurely. "Let's go and see the Queen. I want to hear the good news with my own ears."
When she went there, she met Concubine Liang at the gate of Jingren Palace.
The two smiled at each other meaningfully.
Before they could communicate, they saw the imperial carriage coming out of the darkness.
Concubine Shu was extremely nervous. Emperor Xuanwu never came in person to give birth in the past, but he came today. With his coming, would there be any problems with the things she had arranged?
Seeing her expression, Concubine Liang felt secretly delighted. She pulled her sleeve and pretended to comfort her, saying, "Don't be nervous, sister. It will definitely work out."
The two men stood at the door and saw two people getting off the imperial carriage, and one of them was Sheng Xiyan.
Concubine Shu tried her best to remain calm and said, "Your Majesty, I and my sister Concubine Liang have come to see the Empress."
Xuan Ling walked into the palace without saying a word, followed by Concubine Shu and Concubine Liang, and Sheng Xiyan followed at the end.
The entire Jingren Palace was filled with Empress Duan’s screams.
At the main hall door, Xuan Ling asked, "How is the queen?"
"Your Majesty, the Empress has given birth prematurely. The midwife said the fetus is unstable and the situation is very serious."
Concubine Shu and Concubine Liang looked at each other.
Concubine Shu said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. General Duan has specially sent a midwife into the palace. She is very experienced, and there will be no problem for the Empress."
Concubine Liang guessed that Concubine Shu not only used abortion spices to cause the Queen to give birth prematurely, but also arranged for a midwife. Otherwise, she would not have specifically mentioned that the midwife was sent to the palace by General Duan, and any problems would be the Duan family's own business.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
