Chapter 90. She's finally going to give birth.
His Majesty's medicine has always been overseen by a dedicated person, how could a mistake have been made?
If it's not a coincidence, then there's a lot of trouble ahead.
The Empress left in a hurry. The palace maid who had been ordered to inquire about the whereabouts of Lady Ji had just arrived when the Empress herself stepped into the side hall.
"How is it?" the Empress asked.
The palace maids guarding the door noticed that the Empress's expression was not good, but they dared not say that they had just dozed off and rested for a while. They quickly lowered their heads and said that there was nothing wrong and that Madam Ji had already rested.
"Is it really true?" The Empress looked at the servants in front of her.
The palace maids, trembling with fear, dared not reveal the truth and hastily nodded, lying, "Yes..."
The Empress was about to ask another question when she heard a commotion coming from inside.
Madam Ji's voice came from behind the door, "Who is it?"
The Empress narrowed her eyes slightly. It was indeed Madam Ji's voice. Had her prediction been wrong?
Is it really just a mistake made by someone in the palace, and there's actually nothing else going on?
But now that she was here, the Empress naturally wanted to check everything carefully.
So she said, "There are assassins in the palace tonight. I was afraid they would disturb you, so I came here specifically to check on you."
Lady Ji opened the palace doors and said, "This humble woman wishes Your Majesty the Empress a peaceful and healthy life."
The Empress, using the palace lanterns under the eaves and the moonlight, caught sight of Lady Ji standing in front of her, and breathed a sigh of relief.
It's good that Madam Ji is still here. She's a handle on the Ji family. If anything goes wrong, who knows how things will turn out.
"It's good that Madam was not disturbed. His Majesty has been ill for a long time, and the capital is not peaceful. It would be best for Madam to stay home as much as possible."
"Your Majesty, I am very grateful for your kindness, but..."
"Just what?"
The Empress felt at ease after seeing the person and was about to leave when Lady Ji asked her if she could deliver a letter home.
"Didn't you send a letter home some time ago?" The emperor had decreed that she should not be too accommodating to Madam Ji in any matter, and he especially instructed her not to have too close a relationship with the Ji family.
We must make the Ji family feel a little apprehensive, so as to serve as a warning to others.
"I am truly worried about my family—" Before she could finish speaking, the Empress impatiently interrupted her, "Madam, rest assured, everything is fine at the Prime Minister's residence. Once the turmoil in the capital has subsided, you can leave the palace to reunite with your family. Until then, to ensure your safety, Madam, please behave yourself."
After saying this, the Empress left with her entourage.
Madam Ji watched the departing crowd, sighed, and turned back.
Even after bathing, the Empress was still worried. She ordered the palace maids to send more people to secretly guard the side palace and instructed Lady Ji that she must not make any mistakes.
If Madam Ji were to disappear, all those who guarded her would be executed! Upon hearing this, who would dare not do their utmost?
Meanwhile, on the other side, since Madam Ji could neither return to the Ji family nor leave the capital for the time being, she went to the Wen family as planned.
It was late at night, and Mrs. Wen and Mr. Wen were still waiting. To be honest, the two sides were quite awkward when they first met.
Although they are in-laws, every time they meet, they argue endlessly about their children, and most of the time they end up on bad terms.
Mr. Wen stepped forward to smooth things over, saying that his humble abode was simple and that he asked Madam Ji not to mind, and that she should stay there without worry, assuring her that the Wen family would do everything in its power to ensure her safety.
After hearing this, Madam Ji curtsied and thanked the two men.
To make it easier to take care of her, Madam Ji's courtyard was arranged next to Madam Wen's courtyard, with arched gates connecting the two sides. Although it was called two courtyards, it could actually be considered one, since there was no real separation between them.
Madam Wen led Madam Ji to see the place that had been prepared in advance and asked her if there was anything missing.
"This place is very good, thank you for your trouble—"
Originally intending to address her as "Madam," Madam Ji changed her tone, considering the relationship between the two families and Madam Wen's frequent visits to the palace to inquire about her safety these days. "It is truly a great trouble for my mother-in-law to go to such lengths."
Seeing Madam Ji's gentle tone, Madam Wen felt relieved. "This is what we should do."
After all, it's for the future of both companies.
There was an awkward silence. Madam Wen asked Madam Ji if she would like to have a meal.
Madam Ji shook her head and said she couldn't eat.
Seeing that Madam Ji's complexion was not good, Madam Wen still had someone bring her a bowl of ginseng soup.
Not wanting to refuse Madam Wen's kindness, Madam Ji drank it anyway.
While Madam Ji was drinking soup, Madam Wen told her about the events that had happened in the capital recently, as well as the situation of Ji Wanyuan and Prime Minister Ji.
Prime Minister Ji has been sent by the Emperor to handle matters in the outskirts of the capital and has not returned for a long time. Ji Wanyuan is doing well with Wen Qiyan taking care of her.
Hearing that the father and daughter were both well, Madam Ji felt a great weight lifted from her shoulders. Although she had no appetite to begin with, she still finished the ginseng soup.
Fearing she might spoil Madam Ji's appetite, Madam Wen waited until after Madam Ji had finished her meal before telling her about the Lin family.
At first, Madam Ji's expression was alright, but after hearing the rest, especially the part about Lin Nianxi's attempt to harm Ji Wanyuan, she could no longer hold back. She slammed her hand on the table and exclaimed, "That Lin family girl! Does she think our Ji family is made of dough?! She actually tried to harm my daughter?! She's tired of living!"
Madam Wen was stunned into place by her sharp words, "..."
Madam Ji belatedly realized what was going on and felt somewhat embarrassed, but despite her embarrassment, her anger and worry did not dissipate.
Madam Wen gave her a way out, which was also the truth: "When I heard the news, I couldn't help but feel angry. The Lin family is really ruthless."
After she finished speaking, she added, "But the eldest son of the Lin family is still quite good."
According to Mr. Wen, Lin Sinian is interested in the cousin of the Ji family. We mustn't ruin his reputation.
Lin Ssu-nien did a lot for the Wen and Ji families.
Things wouldn't have gone so smoothly without him.
Therefore, it is necessary to say a good word for him in front of the matriarch of the Ji family.
But what Madam Wen didn't know was that Madam Ji subconsciously wanted to say that the Lin family was as venomous as snakes and scorpions, and that the Wen family had been on good terms with them in the past; they were simply birds of a feather.
But right now, she knows she can't say it.
If I were to tell, things would get very serious.
Now that the Wen family has severed ties with the Lin family, they are instead bound to the Ji family, so some things can't be said casually.
The Wen and Ji families are now in a situation where their fates are intertwined, one prospers and the other suffers.
As the wife of the Prime Minister, Madam Ji didn't need to be mindful of others' feelings and always spoke her mind directly. However, she wasn't foolish and knew what to say in different situations, so she changed her tone and echoed Madam Wen's words.
"Indeed, Lin Sinian is the only decent member of the Lin family."
Prime Minister Ji also praised this person.
When they were choosing a husband for Ji Wanyuan, they had even seen this man's portrait. Unfortunately, Ji Wanyuan was infatuated with Wen Qiyan and didn't like him.
The Lin and Ji families also had a bad relationship.
“If Madam thinks he is good, then he is truly good.” How could Madam Wen not see that Madam Ji’s expression was not right?
After nagging for a bit, Madam Wen didn't bother Madam Ji any further. She told Madam Ji to get some rest and then left.
After returning home, Madam Wen told her father about the incident, inevitably revealing her concerns, saying that she was afraid she wouldn't be able to get along with Madam Ji.
However, Wen's father said, "The fact that Madam Ji was able to come down to your side shows that she was also trying to be considerate. I don't think she's a difficult person to deal with. Madam, don't worry too much."
"I hope so," Madam Wen sighed.
"Since Madam Ji is being raised at home, you must take great care of her, ensuring that her whereabouts are not exposed and that she is not neglected."
Madam Wen said she knew that the matter concerned the survival of both families, and that if word got out, the consequences would be unimaginable.
I just hope things will end soon so I won't have to live in such fear anymore.
"..."
Lin Nianxi had just come out of the room carrying the medicine and couldn't help but pinch her brow.
The maidservant next to her took the tray and whispered, "Miss, why don't you go and get some sleep?"
“You’ve been staying up late these days, and your complexion has turned sallow.”
Lin Nianxi glanced into the inner room, then walked out. Reaching the outer courtyard, she asked the maid beside her, "Is there any movement from the Ji family?"
"No." The maid's voice unconsciously softened.
Lin Nianxi's face instantly turned even uglier. "What were those people we sent out doing?"
"How much time has passed since today? And there's still no progress?!" She couldn't wait any longer.
The dosage of the medicine was initially kept small because she was afraid of giving anyone a handle to use against her. But now, if she hadn't miscalculated, Ji Wanyuan's delivery was probably only half a month away.
Even if the medicine was successfully placed next to Ji Wanyuan after half a month, it would be useless to neutralize it.
This path is blocked; she needs to think of another way. "Have the midwife and doctor from the Ji family been found yet?"
"I heard that they seem to have found someone a long time ago."
"It seems?" Upon hearing this, Lin Nianxi's gaze instantly turned cold. She looked over sharply, and the little maid, carrying a plate, shrank back a step.
“They’re all useless,” Lin Nianxi scolded.
These days, she has been taking care of her parents, arranging for the doctor to use the best medicine, and trying her best to help them recover quickly.
Because her parents were following the imperial decree to eliminate Ji Wanyuan and the child in her womb, and their goals were the same as hers, they were considered her allies. With her parents by her side, she was no longer fighting alone.
But so much time has passed, and even the imperial physicians have come to see us, yet there is no sign of improvement in my father and mother's condition. What could be the reason for this?
After much thought, Lin Nianxi suddenly realized a possibility: could she have been murdered by having her medicine switched, just like Madam Wen had been?
After all, my father and mother's illnesses are not serious. If they are not serious, how come they have not been cured for so long?
She wanted to go back to the imperial physician, the traditional Chinese medicine doctor, someone she could trust!
But how could she manage on her own?
Lin Nianxi sent her personal maid with her warrant to her maternal grandparents' house for help. But as soon as she finished instructing her maid, the two of them turned around and saw a handsome man standing under the eaves, looking at them. They didn't know how long he had been there.
"Brother?!"
Lin Nianxi's face was pale, and her voice was slightly stuttering.
Inside the study, after Lin Sinian sat down, he asked her what she was going to do at her maternal grandparents' house.
Lin Nianxi pursed her lips, and after a while, she told the story of what had happened to the Wen family: "I suspect that my father and mother were murdered."
Lin Sinian's expression remained unchanged after hearing this.
Seeing this, an idea suddenly popped into Lin Nianxi's mind, but it was too rebellious for her to utter a sound. She could only frequently glance at the people sitting on the seat.
"Is there something you haven't finished saying?" Lin Sinian asked, tapping the table.
"N-nothing," Lin Nianxi finally said, too afraid to speak.
Lin Sinian, however, directly exposed her inner thoughts, "You think it was your brother who did it?"
In their childhood, the brother and sister were quite close, but as they grew up, their relationship gradually became distant. She now only felt fear towards her brother Lin Sinian, and immediately said that she dared not.
Lin Ssu-nien was incredibly candid, saying, "It was indeed made for my brother."
Lin Nianxi's eyes widened. "Brother? You! How could you do this?"
"Why can't we do that?" Lin Sinian asked in return.
"What you're doing is tantamount to murdering your father and mother! How could you do such a thing?"
"It only delays the medication, but it doesn't hinder the treatment."
Lin Nianxi argued with him, "Every medicine has some degree of toxicity."
"So, every medicine has some toxicity," Lin Sinian sneered. "So, my sister also has a kind heart."
Upon hearing this, Lin Nianxi's heart skipped a beat. Why did her brother say that? Did he know something?
If his brother didn't know, why would he say that?
Lin Nianxi felt that he was implying something, but since Lin Sinian didn't speak, she didn't dare to speak rashly.
"Brother, what are you saying? I... I don't understand."
"If you want to play dumb, then I'll play dumb with you." Lin Sinian didn't waste any more words with her.
"These days, things are not peaceful in the capital. You should not go out anymore."
"You're going to put me under house arrest?" Lin Nianxi's eyes widened involuntarily.
"It's not exactly house arrest; at least you can still serve your father and mother medicine."
At this point, Lin Sinian looked over and said, "Of course, if you say something you shouldn't, you can think about the consequences yourself."
Why did my brother do that?
"For the sake of our Lin family, and to save your life," Lin Sinian retorted, shutting her down.
Having already been met with setbacks at every turn these past few days, Lin Nianxi could no longer contain her anger. "Is it really for the sake of our Lin family? Isn't it just as Father and Mother said, that you're currying favor with the Ji family for the sake of their cousin, Lou Qingru?"
After she yelled, she couldn't help but feel a lingering fear, because Lin Sinian was walking closer and closer to her.
Before she could react and run, a loud slap landed, turning her face to the side. Not only was her face turned, but the force of the blow also caused her to stumble and crash into the table.
She covered her face, her eyes wide with disbelief, "You...you hit me?"
"Neither my father nor my mother has ever laid a hand on me!" Lin Nianxi's tears rolled down her cheeks instantly.
Lin Sinian used so much force that her face was swollen and blood was even seeping from the corner of her mouth.
She cried bitterly, but Lin Sinian remained unmoved.
If he doesn't take action, Lin Nianxi's life will be in danger.
Hopefully, this will calm Wen Qiyan down. Even if it doesn't completely calm him down, at least... he'll go a little easier on her.
“You know what you’ve done. This slap from your brother is to teach you a lesson on behalf of Father and Mother.”
"If there's a next time, it won't be as simple as just a slap." Lin Sinian didn't waste any more words with her and left after saying that.
Seeing her defiant expression and worried that Lin Nianxi would ruin things, Lin Sinian did not soften his heart or let his guard down. He immediately ordered Lin Nianxi to be locked up and sent many servants and guards to protect her.
Madam Lin was unable to see her daughter and asked her where she had gone.
Lin Sinian told her that she had gone to the Wen family these past two days and that she could rest assured.
Madam Lin was ill and could not know the full extent of the weather outside, so she did not doubt his words.
A few days later, to everyone's surprise, the situation in the capital changed drastically. Urgent reports came from the border that the Wuhuan had gathered troops from a neighboring small state, launched a rebellion, and were heading straight for the capital, having already captured a city.
Upon hearing this news, the emperor was furious. Despite his illness, he attended the morning court session and ordered all civil and military officials to quickly come up with a solution.
Before they could come up with a solution, someone impeached them, saying that the young master of Wuhuan was actually Ji Lingyue, the adopted son of the Ji family. The Ji family was accused of colluding with foreign tribes and being disobedient and rebellious, and that their entire family should be investigated and their property confiscated!
This memorial shocked the entire court.
The Ji family was instantly thrust into the eye of the storm.
Immediately, some people came forward to defend the Ji family, saying that this matter must be an alarmist rumor, and then recounted many things that Prime Minister Ji had done for the people over the years.
For a time, the court was filled with endless debate.
The emperor was already seriously ill and had to be carried to the morning court session, so he was completely unable to control his ministers.
The matter concerning the Ji family was not yet over when another powerful family jumped out to impeach the Wen family, saying that the Ji and Wen families were related by marriage and could not possibly be unaware of the Ji family's treasonous acts, and must have been involved. They requested that His Majesty thoroughly investigate the Wen family.
An experienced minister said that the most important thing right now is to deal with the powerful foreign enemy, because the enemy has already attacked and has captured a city in just a few days. Their attack is truly fierce.
Some say that to repel external threats, one must first pacify the internal situation! It is necessary to thoroughly investigate the Wen and Ji families, find the traitors within, and execute them in court as a warning to others, only then can the court be stabilized.
Before things had even settled down here, another person submitted a memorial, claiming that the Fang family members, who were handling state affairs on behalf of His Majesty, were untrustworthy, abusing their power for personal gain, and outwardly complying while inwardly opposing him, and were actually committing treason!
The Fang family had been enjoying considerable influence lately, and immediately began arguing with the person who had submitted the memorial impeaching them. They even nearly threw their jade tablets at the other person's face.
When the civil and military officials arrived at the imperial court, the scene was so chaotic that it resembled a bustling marketplace where vegetables were being sold and chickens were being slaughtered. The emperor was so angry that his hands trembled, and he ordered everyone to stop.
But before the matter involving the Wen, Ji, and Fang families could be resolved, someone else jumped out to impeach the Yu, Gao, and Lu families...
Almost every secret of every prominent family was exposed, and they were even accused of treason.
The emperor was so enraged that he grabbed the imperial seal next to him and smashed it! A courtier who was nearby was directly injured and vomited blood on the spot.
Everyone who was pulling at the crowd fell silent. The emperor looked at the civil and military officials, stood up, pointed, and shouted, "You, you all..."
Before he could finish speaking, he fell straight backward.
"His Majesty!"
"Summon the imperial physician!"
"Imperial Physician! Quickly, summon the Imperial Physician! Hurry!"
"Your Majesty, you must hold on..."
The silence inside the Golden Palace lasted only a moment before it erupted into chaos again, with the noise so loud it seemed like the roof would be blown off.
It was during this noisy winter night that Ji Wanyuan went into premature labor.
The two had just fallen asleep when, in her hazy state, she felt the baby in her belly moving around a lot. She initially thought it was just her imagination, but then she suddenly felt a warm flow.
In that instant, Ji Wanyuan opened her eyes. Before she could call Wen Qiyan, the man beside her had already noticed her discomfort and got up in an instant.
"Yuan'er, what's wrong?"
Ji Wanyuan's voice trembled, "I...I think I'm going into labor."
He immediately got off the bed and called for help, holding her and comforting her, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid."
He told her not to be afraid, but he himself was scared. His handsome face tightened instantly. When Ji Wanyuan felt the pain, his brows furrowed even more than hers.
"you……"
But soon, she couldn't even bother teasing Wen Qiyan anymore, because waves of pain washed over her as her water broke, and the overwhelming feeling she had never experienced before threatened to drown her.
It reminded her of that dream, the dream of her postpartum hemorrhage during a difficult childbirth.
It won't happen, will it?
Before it even started, Ji Wanyuan's face fell the moment she thought of that possibility.
"Waaaaah... Wen Qiyan, I won't die, will I?"
"Don't talk nonsense!" He actually scolded her with a stern face. It had been so long since she had been rebuked or scolded by a man that Ji Wanyuan was stunned for a moment.
Her eyes were wide open, brimming with tears, her lips were slightly parted, and there were still teardrops hanging on her face.
"Waaaaah..." she cried.
"You yelled at me."
How could he yell at her? And so loudly! The midwife, the doctor, and the maid who came in all heard it!
The man's kiss landed on her brows and eyes, wiping away her tears. Her brows were still furrowed, but his voice was incredibly gentle, "You won't die, don't scare yourself."
It startled him too.
He took her hand and intertwined their fingers.
The midwife and doctor beside him said that the woman was giving birth and the room smelled strongly of blood, so he should wait outside. He ignored them and kept trying to calm Ji Wanyuan's tense emotions, talking to her, wiping her sweat, and coaxing her not to be afraid.
It's hard to say who was more scared, because she was only scared inside and showed it verbally, but his hand holding hers was already trembling.
shake?
It's unbelievable that Wen Qiyan was shaking when she gave birth.
Ji Wanyuan blinked, looking at the man's tightly furrowed brows.
"Wen... Wen Qiyan, you're hurting me." He gripped her hand so tightly it turned white, and the pain he caused her was even worse than the pain coming from below.
He even stammered along with her, "I'm...I'm sorry."
After saying that, he barely loosened his grip a little, but didn't let go of her hand, as if he was afraid that she would disappear if he let go.
Ji Wanyuan quickly forgot everything else because the pain was getting worse and worse.
Her head kept shaking from side to side, beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, and she kept crying out, almost shattering Wen Qiyan's heart with each blow.
"Waaaaah..." Ji Wanyuan bent over, and the midwife had the maid hold her down.
They said we need to wait a while because it's not time to produce yet.
Wen Qiyan turned his head and asked, "When will it be?"
Before the midwife could explain, the doctor next to her had already spoken up and explained the process of childbirth to her.
In fact, Wen Qiyan had already learned about these related things some time ago.
Hearing her crying, I was so tense and panicked that my mind went blank, and I was completely unable to control my emotions.
Because of the dream they both had.
"Blood, there's bleeding," the midwife exclaimed, horrified.
Wen Qiyan's expression changed.
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Author's Note: Here it is! There will be random lucky red envelopes dropping in this chapter! [rainbow fart]
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