Empress Dowager Zhang waited for her to leave, then dismissed the people around her and sat alone with He Qing. A hint of worry returned to her face. She stroked her belly and asked He Qing, "Master, tell me, is there really a little prince in my belly?"
"Of course it's true." He Qing said affirmatively.
"Master, did you say that too..." Empress Dowager Zhang was in a trance for a moment. She bit her lip, as if she had made a great decision. She lowered her voice and said, "I have always had one thing in my heart. Only Master can save me."
"Your Majesty, please don't be so polite. Just tell me what you want." He Qing saw that she was about to bow to him and quickly held her hand. "Why should we be so polite to each other? It will make people look at us differently."
Empress Dowager Zhang woke up with a start, realizing that the palace servants and eunuchs who had retreated to a distance could still see their movements clearly. Her face darkened, "Thank you, Master, for reminding me."
He Qing saw that she understood, and then slowly let go, "What does your Majesty want to say?"
Empress Dowager Zhang took a deep breath, turned her head and stared at the rockery beside her, not looking at He Qing. "If the child in my belly is a boy, it's fine. But if it's a girl, Master, do you know what the Empress Dowager is planning?"
Her voice was so low that He Qing could hardly hear it if she hadn't been so close. Although the question was vague, combined with her attitude before and after, He Qing understood what she really wanted to say.
At this point, everyone was saying she was expecting a son. If she gave birth to a girl, would she really have to adopt another child from the imperial clan? If she did, it would surely cause another uproar at court. It would be better... to ensure she gave birth to a son.
Bringing a child back from outside and replacing the prince with a cat is not a difficult task for the Empress Dowager who now controls the harem and the court.
Doing so would benefit the Grand Empress Dowager, the court, He Qing, and even Empress Dowager Zhang herself. However, Empress Dowager Zhang was so worried not for herself, but for the unborn child in her belly.
If a girl was born and was switched, what would her fate be?
Empress Dowager Zhang was simple and weak, but she was not stupid. If that were the case, the chances of the child surviving were extremely slim.
This was the real heavy stone weighing on her heart, keeping her awake at night. The sudden arrival of honor and wealth did not make her overly happy, but instead became the source of all her fear.
He Qing had never given birth herself, so she couldn't understand the idea that motherhood makes a mother strong. Furthermore, she knew full well that Empress Dowager Zhang was expecting a son, so naturally, she hadn't considered this question. Now, listening to her talk, it felt like a revelation.
She felt a strange pity for the Empress Dowager Zhang, thinking she was very similar to herself in the past. Fearful, lost, uneasy, and lost. Living in this world, every day was so difficult.
Thinking of this, He Qing patted the back of her hand soothingly, "Your Majesty was worried about this. Don't worry, with the blessings of our ancestors, this baby will definitely be a boy. Then you don't have to worry."
But how could Empress Dowager Zhang possibly believe such words? Thinking that He Qing was unwilling to help her, she showed a bit of disappointment on her face and forced a smile, "I hope so."
Seeing this, He Qing could only say, "If your Majesty is truly worried, how about this? If this baby is a girl, I will keep her for you and send her out of the palace. She can live a peaceful and carefree life outside the palace. Is that okay?"
Empress Dowager Zhang's eyes suddenly lit up, and she stared at He Qing intently. She was about to stand up and salute her, but He Qing held her back, so she could only say, "Thank you very much... Thank you very much, Master. I cannot repay you for saving my life. As long as you agree to this matter, I will do anything you ask me to do in the future, without hesitation."
"Your Majesty, you are too kind," He Qing said with a self-deprecating laugh. "It's not easy to be a princess in the royal family. Princesses of the Chu Dynasty have a particularly hard life. Every one who escapes is a success."
The more He Qing read about the future in those extra memories, the more dissatisfied he became with this era, and the more he found it difficult to tolerate the environment he was in. The more he understood, the more painful it became, and this pain could not be shared with others, so he had to endure it alone.
If one day... one day all women in the world could live in such a world, and no longer feel inferior to others just because they are women, how wonderful would that be?
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