"ah!"
Qian Shengyan screamed as a searing pain surged through her body, pouring out of her stomach and flowing over her entire body, causing her heart to clench in agony.
What followed was all surreal and unreal...
She seemed to have fainted, but then again...
She heard a cacophony of sounds—screams, cries, shouts, calls—and something sticky was flowing from between her legs…
No, no, no...
In her dazed state, Qian Shengyan sensed something. She tremblingly reached out to touch her stomach, wanting to keep the baby...
Was it because she had said those unwelcoming things to the child in her heart too many times that the child chose to leave her...?
No, no, don't go, don't go!
Mother wants you, my darling. Even if it means changing history, Mother still wants to give birth to you, my darling!
"Master... Waaah, Master..."
Who is crying?
What is it that is crying about?
Don't cry, she's alright, her child, the child is alright too...
Qian Shengyan tried hard to open her eyes and raise her hands. She wanted to speak and tell the child, even if it meant using language that seemed outrageous today, that she didn't really despise him.
She loves him/her...
Accompanied by a cry, and what seemed to be a twisted laugh, Qian Shengyan was plunged into complete darkness...
When she woke up again, Qian Shengyan looked at the canopy above her head in a daze.
"Master! Master, you're finally awake!"
A familiar voice came from behind her. Qian Shengyan turned her head and saw Qingxue with a pale face. With Qingxue's joyful shout, Lvyan, Lvliu, and Lvshuang all surrounded her.
The next moment, the maids dispersed again, and Yinzhen strode over. He sat on the edge of the bed and held her hand, his brows and eyes showing signs of exhaustion.
Qian Shengyan's lips trembled as if she wanted to ask something, but the hand that touched her belly in the next instant told her everything.
She suddenly closed her eyes, but tears streamed down her face.
Seeing her like this, Yinzhen felt distressed as well. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he opened his mouth to speak, but then, as if unable to bear facing Qian Shengyan's tears, he abruptly turned his head away.
"Master, Master..." Qingxue's face was flushed, and the other maids couldn't help but turn away and cry.
Qian Shengyan asked in a hoarse voice, "It's nothing. Why didn't Qingxue go to rest?"
"My injuries aren't serious..." Qingxue should rest, but with Qian Shengyan like this, how could she not worry? She only felt a little better when she and Lvliu and the others took turns watching over her.
Qian Shengyan tried to turn away to hide her tears, but Yinzhen gripped her hand tightly. She instinctively tried to break free but failed, and Yinzhen held on even tighter, almost crushing her bones.
She had no choice but to say, "My hand hurts."
“…You all get out of here,” Yinzhen said in a hoarse voice.
Several maids curtsied. Qingxue, who was walking with slight difficulty, glanced back with some concern and finally couldn't help but speak up, "Master, you've been unconscious for two days and one night, and the Prince hasn't closed his eyes to stay by your side..."
"Get out!" Yinzhen said.
Qingxue dared not say anything more, quickly bowed, and was helped away by Lvliu. Su Peisheng followed at the back, and closed the door before leaving.
Qian Shengyan had just realized she had been unconscious for so long and quickly asked, "Where are Hongli and Foerguochun?"
"Everything is fine, nothing's wrong," Yinzhen replied, holding Qian Shengyan's hand, and then suddenly bending down to hug her.
His face was buried in Qian Shengyan's neck, and a gentle warmth washed over her. Qian Shengyan knew what it was without even thinking.
But at that moment, she had neither the strength nor the mood to care about this man; she couldn't even take care of her own child.
The hand that was resting on her stomach suddenly clenched into a fist. Qian Shengyan sobbed and then burst into tears.
She didn't say anything, just cried, crying freely like a child. Yinzhen hugged her even tighter, sharing her sorrow.
After an unknown amount of time, Qian Shengyan cried herself to sleep, and Yinzhen lay awkwardly next to her in that embracing position, motionless, unsure whether he was awake or asleep, crying or something else.
When Qian Shengyan woke up again, it was already completely dark. Feeling the weight still pressing down on her, she stared at the dark sky and suddenly blurted out, "I want her dead."
"Alright," Yinzhen said in a hoarse voice.
"No, don't die..." Qian Shengyan sniffed, hating someone so much for the first time. "I want her to live in pain and despair."
"Okay." Yinzhen had no objection.
He used to be willing to go to great lengths to set up schemes to deceive the Nian family, but now, alas.
They don't deserve it.
Let's just keep her completely confined. There's no need to fabricate any beautiful dreams. Let her know clearly that she is the one who is disliked and despised.
To create the illusion of being favored by Nian Gengyao, it was not necessary for Nian's family to cooperate; simply cutting off their communication was sufficient.
Yinzhen understood, but he also regretted it. He should have done it sooner. That madwoman, Nian Shi, should have been locked up much earlier. Instead, he had brought her to the estate and allowed her free access...
He was too stupid.
This agonizing regret tormented him constantly in the days following Qian Shengyan's miscarriage. Yinzhen even couldn't help but think of his two deceased eldest sons, with whom he had also felt such profound grief when they were gone.
But unlike the other child, he had never met him, and had only known of his existence for a little over two months, yet he was deeply concerned about him—it was at this moment that Yinzhen finally understood his feelings for Qian Shengyan.
But it was at such an inopportune time.
Mixed with regret, heartache, pity, and deep love...
Yinzhen said something silently, then blinked away his tears before looking up at Qian Shengyan: "From now on, she will live on the estate forever."
Qian Shengyan gave a casual reply, seemingly not believing it.
Yinzhen leaned to the side and pulled her into his arms: "'Consort Nian' will come back to the capital with us, go to Rehe, and even in the future... But she, Nian Chuyao, will stay in this manor for the rest of her life, living in the main courtyard. Even if she dies, she will not be allowed to leave."
Qian Shengyan hadn't expected him to say that, and after a long pause, she said dryly, "There's no need for that..."
"No, it's already a favor that we spared her life." Yinzhen kissed Qian Shengyan's forehead. "Let's not talk about her anymore. Are you hungry?"
Qian Shengyan paused for a moment: "I'm not hungry."
"Then you should eat something. How about bird's nest porridge?" Yinzhen said, calling someone in to bring in the porridge that had been kept warm. He then helped Qian Shengyan lie on his lap, took a spoon, blew on the porridge to cool it down, and fed it to her lips.
Qian Shengyan really didn't want to eat.
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