Chapter 818 Time Feels Like Years
In the following days, Shang Ruyi truly understood what it meant for each day to feel like an eternity.
On the first day, because she had announced at the Duke's mansion that she was feeling unwell, she did not go to offer condolences and instead stayed in Qianqiu Palace to recuperate. Even so, Yuwen Yuan still sent several physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau to examine her and ensure a safe pregnancy, fearing that any discomfort she might cause would affect the fetus in her womb.
Just as several physicians came to examine her pulse, Wang Zhen, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, also arrived.
He bowed respectfully to the Prince of Qin and his consort, and then invited the Prince of Qin to the Dali Temple. His reason was that in the battle of Longmen Ferry, one of the two dukes was killed and the other was injured, and it was the Prince of Qin's men who carried out the crossing. Therefore, the Dali Temple needed to find out the truth.
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi frowned.
Even back when she was in Luoyang, she disliked the "Dali Temple". Although she had nothing to do with legal cases, Yuwen Ye killed the supervising officer Kou Yunliang during the battle of Xingluocang. He was detained and interrogated by the then Vice Minister of Dali Temple for several days without sleep. Although he was not tortured, he was still tormented, which made Shang Ruyi restless and unable to eat or sleep.
This time again—
She immediately said, "Lord Wang, the King of Qin crossed the river to fight in order to kill the traitors and protect the emperor. Is there anything you don't understand?"
Facing her, Wang Zhen remained polite, only smiling and saying, "What Your Highness says is true. His Highness Prince Qin's actions are indeed meritorious. However, after crossing the river, the court knows nothing about how the enemy was killed or how the operation was carried out, yet one of the two dukes is dead and the other wounded. If the reasons are not clarified, how can we convince the public?"
"Winning over the masses?"
Shang Ruyi's delicate eyebrows furrowed again: "Could it be that His Highness Prince Qin has suppressed the rebels and there is still someone who is dissatisfied?"
"this--"
Wang Zhen hadn't expected that this princess, who was heavily pregnant and could barely walk, could speak with such sharp and precise words. On the contrary, His Highness the Prince of Qin, who was invincible on the battlefield and had almost never been defeated, sat motionless beside the princess, looking rather leisurely.
Wang Zhen felt a chill run down his spine, but as a veteran of three dynasties, he had seen a lot in life. His eyes darted around, and he immediately put on a broad smile, saying gently, "Your Highness, please don't misunderstand. His Highness Prince Qin has rendered great service; how could we possibly object? However, after every battle, the court needs to record everything. If other troops had participated in the Battle of Longmen, the court would have tried its best to record everything completely, and would never have dared to trouble His Highness. But this time, only His Highness crossed the river to fight; doesn't that mean—whatever His Highness says is law?"
Shang Ruyi gave him a sharp look, and Wang Zhen immediately lowered his head.
After thinking for a moment, Shang Ruyi sneered, "Lord Wang's words are going too far. It's not that whatever the King of Qin says is right, but rather that whatever he does is right."
Wang Zhen hurriedly replied with a smile, "Yes, yes."
Only then did Yuwen Ye lift his robe and slowly stand up—in fact, he knew that after this battle, there would inevitably be a series of interrogations. Dong Bizheng could not die without a reason, and Yu Dingxing could not be injured for no reason, even if he was His Highness the Prince of Qin.
However, at this moment, although the situation was not relaxed, he somewhat enjoyed the feeling of being protected under the wings of his pregnant, clumsy-looking queen who walked like a duck.
Of course, a moment of enjoyment is enough.
After he stood up, he turned to Shang Ruyi and said, "Very well, there are some things I need to clarify. The merits and demerits of this battle should be judged."
Shang Ruyi immediately stood up, and Lin Shi'an, who was taking her pulse, hurriedly let go of her hand and stepped aside. Shang Ruyi walked up to Yuwen Ye, reached out to straighten his belt, and said softly, "Take Mu Xian with you."
Yuwen Ye said, "The Dali Temple does not allow unauthorized personnel to enter."
"We didn't let him in. We made him wait outside. Back then, during the battle of Fufeng, we didn't even ask him for a day."
"good."
"Can you come back for dinner?"
"Well, it's hard to say. It's a pity that I specially asked someone to prepare a cooling medicinal meal for dinner, so that we could eat it together. You've been feeling a bit feverish since you came back from your trip to Dayan Temple."
Upon hearing this, and looking into his cold and bright eyes, Shang Ruyi immediately seemed to understand something and smiled, "It's alright. I've noticed that Father has been a bit feverish these past few days. I'll personally deliver some of those medicinal meals to the Liangyi Hall for Father to use later."
After saying that, he added, "I haven't told Father Emperor about the matter of Dayan Temple yet. Now that I've been back for so many days, if I don't tell him now and someone else does, things will become unclear and cause Father Emperor to worry. If you come back late today, I will go to Liangyi Hall. It's better if I go there myself and explain this matter to Father Emperor."
Upon hearing this, Wang Zhen lowered his head.
After saying this, Yuwen Ye patted her shoulder and then turned to Wang Zhen, saying, "Lord Wang, let's go."
Wang Zhen smiled and cupped his hands in greeting, then bowed to Shang Ruyi before turning and walking out with Yuwen Ye.
As soon as their figures disappeared at the entrance of Qianqiu Palace, Shang Ruyi immediately turned around and winked at Wo Xue, who was following beside her. Wo Xue nodded and hurriedly went out as well.
After they all left, Shang Ruyi sat back on the bed, looked at the Imperial Physician Lin Shi'an who was waiting quietly to the side, and said with a smile, "I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Lord Lin."
Lin Shi'an had kept his head down, seemingly oblivious to his surroundings, until this moment when he finally raised his head and said with a forced smile, "Your Highness, what are you saying?"
Shang Ruyi looked down at her wrist again and asked, "Do I need another check-up?"
Lin Shi'an quickly shook his head and said, "Your Highness, I have already taken your pulse. Your Highness's pulse is relatively stable."
"Relatively stable?"
Upon hearing these words and seeing his cautious demeanor, Shang Ruyi frowned slightly, but immediately smiled and said, "Lord Lin, please speak freely."
Lin Shi'an was silent for a moment, then finally said softly, "The princess is more than nine months pregnant, and should be due to give birth soon, but there's still no sign of labor..."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi looked down at her enormous belly.
This was not her first pregnancy, but it was her first time giving birth. Everything was unfamiliar to her, but Madam Yu had reminded her early on, and Su Qinglan had also told her that although it is often said that pregnancy lasts ten months, most pregnant women give birth after nine months. She had been pregnant for more than nine months, so it was indeed time for her to give birth.
She said, "Does Lord Lin mean that this pregnancy was a mistake?"
Lin Shi'an quickly waved his hand: "No, that's not what I meant. It's just—"
"Just what?"
"However, Your Highness's excessive worry can affect the fetus."
"..."
"Especially when it's almost time to give birth."
Shang Ruyi frowned, and slowly realized that Lin Shi'an meant that the reason why her belly hadn't shown any signs of pregnancy as her due date approached was because the major events she had experienced recently had caused her to overthink, which in turn affected the fetus and might even affect her delivery.
Shang Ruyi thought for a moment and said, "Then, should we induce labor?"
Lin Shi'an hurriedly said, "No, that's not necessary. As things stand, everything is normal. However, if my pulse diagnosis was correct, the Princess Consort's delivery will be within the next two days."
"These past two days?"
"yes,"
Lin Shi'an stepped forward and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, I and the entire Imperial Medical Bureau will be on standby at any time, and Your Highness, please rest assured."
"..."
"It's even worse, what if they get another fright?"
Unlike Su Qinglan, Lin Shi'an would speak more slowly, especially since Yuwen Ye wasn't around. But Shang Ruyi had already fully understood that she wasn't afraid of childbirth. After all, she had experienced things that were even more painful for women than childbirth. This time, she was in the palace, with Yuwen Ye by her side and the Imperial Physicians waiting for her, so it wasn't really a danger.
But just these past two days...?
The thought of this time still caused Shang Ruyi's brows to furrow involuntarily.
After a long silence, she took a deep breath and said with a smile, "I understand. Lord Lin, thank you for your hard work. Someone, bring out the reward."
Tushe'er hurriedly stepped forward and presented Lin Shi'an with a box. Lin Shi'an accepted it with both hands, bowed to Shang Ruyi, and then turned and walked out.
Once he left, Tushe'er, who had been holding back her words, finally couldn't contain herself any longer and turned to Shang Ruyi: "Your Highness—"
Shang Ruyi waved her hand gently, then looked down at her stomach.
After a long silence, she calmly said, "We have to go through some things, otherwise, how will we raise the child he has in the future?"
"..."
"It would be best to let him know now that being a prince or—the crown prince—is not an easy job."
Upon hearing this, Tusheer lowered his head.
The Thousand Autumns Palace fell silent, but this silence was not peaceful; rather, it was a suffocating stillness. It wasn't until the time it takes to eat another meal that Wo Xue hurriedly returned from outside. Shang Ruyi, who had been sitting on the couch watching the shadows of the trees sway outside, but whose eyes were as still as a stagnant pool, slowly raised her head.
Wo Xue walked to her side and said softly, "Your Highness, when Lord Wang left the palace, he did say a few words to his subordinates, and then that person went to the side."
Where did you go?
“This servant had someone follow us halfway up the road to the Duke of Wushan’s residence.”
Shang Ruyi's eyes twitched slightly, and her lips parted slightly, revealing a faint, cold smile: "As expected..."
Wo Xue asked softly, "What are your plans, Your Highness?"
Shang Ruyi said, "Have the Imperial Kitchen prepare a medicinal meal. If His Highness Prince Qin does not return by 5 PM, I will personally go to the Liangyi Hall to 'dine' with Father Emperor."
"yes."
Wo Xue immediately turned around and left.
Tushe'er watched her retreating figure with a complicated expression, then walked to Shang Ruyi's side and said softly, "Your Highness, the people from the Dali Temple were ordered by Duke Wushan to inquire about Your Highness's Longmen Ferry incident."
Shang Ruyi nodded.
Tushe'er took a deep breath and said, "No wonder the princess hasn't said a word about the Dayan Temple these past few days since she returned. So, she was waiting for today."
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