Chapter 118 Chapter 118
[Chapter 118]
Ji Zhaoyi folded his hands on the back of Ruan Yun's hands, his eyes were red, and he tried hard not to let the tears fall:
"The child is waiting for you to personally raise him and grow up. It will be fine, Sister Ying. It will definitely be fine. Don't think about these things first. Just give birth to the child first."
Ruan Yun wanted to say something, but another sharp pain came, taking away Ruan Yun's consciousness. Her hands loosened and grabbed the red rope tied to the bed rail. Ji Zhaoyi wiped his tears and quickly retreated, saying calmly:
"We must protect Ying Chongrong and the heir in her belly. As long as Ying Chongrong gives birth smoothly, I will reward her handsomely."
The midwives nodded quickly, but they were not at all sure in their hearts. Ying Chongrong's fetal position had not yet been corrected, and she was in premature labor, with a weak body and a weak fetus. It was not a good sign at all.
Yan Shiyu sat in the outer hall, his eyes closed, one hand on the table, his thin lips pursed.
Wei Maoyuan looked towards the inner hall from time to time, bowed and comforted the emperor:
"Ying Chongrongji is blessed by heaven. She and the dragon offspring in her belly will be safe."
Yan Shiyu did not open his dark eyes, and all he could think of in his mind was Ruan Jun's pale face just now.
Suddenly a woman's scream was heard from the inner hall. Yan Shiyu opened his eyes suddenly, stood up and was about to walk towards the inner hall.
Wei Maoyuan hurriedly blocked the emperor's way, knelt in front of him, and said earnestly: "Your Majesty, you can't go! The delivery room is bloody, what if you are hit by it!"
Yan Shiyu said coldly: "Get out of here!"
Wei Maoyuan straightened the hat on his head, bent his body, and raised his head. "Even if the emperor kills me today, I can't give way! If the emperor goes in today, the news will spread throughout the harem and even the entire court. Everyone will spit at me, which is enough to make me feel uncomfortable!"
Ji Zhaoyi was just coming out from behind the screen. The moment her eyes met the emperor's dark eyes, she clearly saw the tension in his eyes.
She walked forward quickly, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured. Sister Ying is fine at the moment. If Your Majesty goes in now, Sister Ying will be even more uneasy. It would be better for Your Majesty to wait here."
Yan Shiyu's voice was hoarse, and he rubbed his brows and asked, "How is she?"
Ji Zhaoyi frowned and said, "Mrs. Wen said the fetus is in an abnormal position and needs to be corrected first. I'm afraid we'll have to ask an experienced doctor to give acupuncture in a while."
Wei Maoyuan said quickly: "The one in the palace who is proficient in maternal and childbirth is Doctor Zhou. Doctor Zhou is now with Lady Li."
Yan Shiyu's brows flashed with annoyance, "Go to the Imperial Medical Bureau and pick another imperial physician to go to Noble Lady Li."
Wei Maoyuan understood what the emperor meant and ran out of the outer hall.
Ji Zhaoyi spoke in a gentle and soothing voice, saying, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. Sister Ying will be fine."
Yan Shiyu pinched his brows, stood in front of the window, and looked at the spring scenery in full bloom in the garden with his hands behind his back.
…
When the empress heard what Xiao Muzi said, she looked into the inner hall and saw Concubine De accompanying Li Guiren inside. Screams were heard from the inner hall.
The queen clenched the handkerchief in her hand and then released it. She withdrew her gaze and said calmly, "Since it is the emperor's order, let Dr. Zhou go to Ying Chongrong's place."
Basins of blood were brought out from inside, and there was no trace of pity in the Queen's eyes.
Doctor Zhou hurried to the inner hall carrying his medicine box. When Noble Lady Li saw Doctor Zhou leaving, she raised her hand but held nothing and could only watch.
The sighing look of Doctor Zhou was still in Li Guiren's mind. Li Guiren looked at Concubine De standing beside the bed, her face wrinkled in pain. She leaned over the bed and said, "Concubine De, please save me. I am trying to help you. You can't just stand by and watch me die."
It was a pity that the pain prevented her from making a loud sound. Defei looked at the miserable appearance of Li Guiren, who was no longer smiling as usual, and her eyes turned cold.
He grabbed Li Guiren's hand and threw it aside, then walked straight out of the inner hall.
As soon as she went out, Concubine De saw the Empress looking towards the side hall with a worried look. Concubine De tightened the handkerchief in her hand, took a step forward, and said with worry in her eyes, "I am here to guard Noble Lady Li. Your Majesty, you should go to Ying Chongrong to check on her. After all, this is Ying Chongrong's first child, so it must be more difficult."
The Queen took Consort De's wrist and said, "Then there is Sister Lao."
The smile on Concubine De's face was just right, "Your Highness, what are you talking about? Sharing your worries is what I, your concubine, should do."
The empress got down from the couch and the moment she turned around, the smile she had just shown to Concubine De disappeared completely.
When Concubine De saw the Empress leaving, a hint of ferocity instantly appeared on her face, and her vicious eyes fell on the Empress's back. It was not until the Empress walked out of the outer hall that Concubine De turned around and walked towards the inner hall.
The Queen stopped in her tracks and looked sideways at Consort De.
Ran Xia asked softly, "Your Majesty, please send someone in to keep an eye on Concubine Xian and Lady Li..."
Before she finished speaking, Ran Xia was not sure what the Queen meant.
Over the years, if the Empress had any hatred towards Concubine De, she never showed it. She even allowed Concubine De to help her manage the six palaces and treated her with a smile every day.
The queen turned around, held Ran Xia's hand tightly and then released it, and said in a deep voice, "No need."
After so many years, Concubine De finally couldn't wait any longer. What she wanted was to see Concubine De show her flaws.
The queen quickly hurried to the side hall, saying as she walked, "Nianqing is an important person. I have asked the Ministry of Punishment to keep an eye on her."
Qiyue nodded and went to the Ministry of Punishment in person.
…
Concubine De looked at the painful expression of Li Guiren and stood aside with cold eyes. No matter how Li Guiren cried out in pain on the bed, Concubine De did not move at all.
The palace maids in Jiefang Pavilion were busy coming in and out, seemingly doing their own things peacefully. Only one or two of them had a look of sympathy on their faces, while the others just watched.
Li Guiren looked at Concubine De's appearance and cried to Ye Man beside her, "Ye Man, please help me invite Doctor Zhou back, or invite a famous female doctor. I really can't bear it any longer."
The pain from falling down and the tearing sensation in his lower abdomen mixed together, and Li Guiren's fingertips were bleeding from pinching.
However, Ye Man, who was sitting next to him, just said, "The imperial physician said that the young lady's child can no longer be saved. Why did you invite the imperial physician to come?"
Li Guiren couldn't believe what he heard. He half-hung on the edge of the bed and pointed at Ye Man, "You... you dare to betray me!"
Ye Man felt a flash of pity, turned her head away, and quickly adjusted her mood.
Seeing Concubine De coming forward, he quickly stepped aside.
Li Guiren was tortured to death by the severe pain below her body. When she saw Concubine De, she wanted to try her best even if the chance was slim:
"Empress Defei, please save me!"
Just now, Doctor Zhou clearly said that she could keep the baby, and she would definitely be able to get it.
De Fei raised her head, and Li Guiren dodged in fear. However, De Fei's hand with gold silk armor twisted Li Guiren's face back and said, "Sister, have you forgotten? The placenta medicine you took, even if you can give birth to an heir, you will be neither human nor ghost."
Li Guiren raised her hand and placed it on her belly, feeling the bulge in her belly. De Fei sighed and shook her head, saying, "Sister, you already have palpitations. How can you give birth to a prince safely? Could it be that you can't remember how many months this child was in your belly?"
Mr. Li felt the heavy pressure on his lower abdomen and was clearly aware of the blood flowing from his body.
But it felt like there was a hand in my stomach, stirring constantly.
She cried and said, "Please give me a bowl of abortion medicine, my concubine begs you."
But Concubine De suddenly stood up, shook off Li Guiren's hand, and said, "Sister, you are confused. You are a concubine. Without the emperor's permission, who dares to give you the abortion drug?"
Li Guiren's heart sank. "I have only followed your instructions, Madam, you cannot treat me like this. How can you destroy the bridge after crossing the river?"
As she was about to get up, Ye Man and the palace maids from Jiefang Pavilion stopped Li Guiren together.
When Li Guiren was thrown on the bed, something suddenly occurred to him.
"It's you! Concubine De! It's all your fault! I'm going to tell the Emperor that I want to expose your true colors."
When Concubine De heard this, she smiled slightly, and felt the scent of rose water on her hands being replaced by the smell of blood. She couldn't help but frown and asked, "Your Majesty? Can my sister still see you?"
Li Guiren screamed in despair, looking at the palace full of people, it seemed so familiar, yet so strange.
I tried desperately to break through their obstruction, but I just couldn't do it.
Suddenly, he felt panicky and out of breath, his face turned pale, and his lips gradually turned purple. He covered his heart and fell on the bed with severe pain in his body.
Ye Man couldn't bear to watch any longer, and her hands that were holding Li Guiren were trembling.
Seeing Mr. Li's appearance, the hand that was stretched out was shaking.
Then he quickly retracted it, fell to the ground, and murmured, "She's dead, she's dead, the young lady is no longer breathing."
The palace maids around were all young and were terrified by the scene.
The bed was covered in blood, and Mr. Li's legs were covered in blood, but his eyes were not closed.
By chance, the imperial physician arrived at this time. Concubine De immediately changed her expression to one of worry and said anxiously, "Go and see Noble Lady Li quickly."
The palace maids quickly covered Lady Li's body, propped up the wooden poles and put up the curtains.
The imperial physician shuddered as soon as he felt Noble Lady Li's pulse, then quickly withdrew his hand and knelt in front of Concubine De, still in shock, "Reporting to Her Majesty Concubine De, Noble Lady Li...she has passed away."
The tears in Concubine De's eyes fell instantly, and she said, "How could it be possible? She was fine just now, still crying out in pain, how could she become like this overnight?"
Wang Yi supported Concubine De and asked anxiously, "Why did Noble Li die? Can the imperial physician tell?"
The palace maid drew aside the curtains. The imperial physician took a look and said, still in shock, "I have read in medical books that Lady Li looks like she has palpitations, a disease that can kill her at any time."
Concubine De wiped her tears with a handkerchief, unable to believe it, "I have never heard Lady Li say this before."
She closed her eyes, suppressing the sorrow in them, "You change the clothes for Noble Li, and ask the imperial physician to come with me to the emperor's place."
The imperial physician did not dare to delay, nor did he dare to stay here for long, so he picked up the medicine box and left with Concubine De.
Concubine De gave Wangyi a wink, and Wangyi let go of the hand that was supporting the empress and took a step back.
Seeing the Empress heading towards the side hall, Wang Yi turned around and looked at the palace maids in Jiefang Pavilion, and said in a cold voice: "You all know what to say and what not to say. You also know how the Empress Defei has treated you and your family over the years."
The palace servants all stopped what they were doing and responded to Wang Yi's words in unison.
Wang Yi heard what they said, and then said with satisfaction: "Pack up quickly."
After leaving the inner hall, several palace ladies looked at each other, but no one dared to tell the truth.
…
The queen entered the side hall and was frightened when she heard the screams inside.
Seeing the emperor at the top with a gloomy face, he asked the imperial physician kneeling outside, "How is Ying Chongrong?"
Doctor Sun immediately replied, "Doctor Zhou has already gone in to give acupuncture. If everything goes well, the pregnancy will be fine."
The Queen said in a sharp voice: "If everything goes well, then there will be no problem. Doctor Sun is the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau, and he can actually say such a thing."
Doctor Sun said quickly, "I dare not."
The queen took a breath and said, "No matter what, do your best to protect Ying Chongrong."
Yan Shiyu also opened his eyes at this moment. The Queen stepped forward and said, "Noble Lady Li is being watched by Consort De. Your Majesty does not need to worry."
Turning the white jade ring in his hand, Yan Shiyu glanced at the queen and asked coldly, "How is she?"
The queen did not dare to hide the truth and said, "The imperial physician Zhou said that Lady Li had a miscarriage. As for the rest, I am not sure."
Yan Shiyu knocked on the table and said, "Let her go."
After hearing this, the queen knew what the emperor meant, "Yes, I understand."
Ruan Yun's cries inside stopped, and the empress's heart suddenly lifted. Yan Shiyu also stood up and looked towards the inner hall with a serious look.
Grandma Wen came out of the inner hall anxiously and knelt in front of the emperor. "Ying Chongrong... Ying Chongrong suddenly fainted. The end of the Dragon Clan is nigh. If Ying Chongrong doesn't wake up for a long time, I'm afraid Ying Chongrong and the heir will be in danger."
"Wei Maoyuan!" Yan Shiyu's chest rose and fell violently, and he took a deep look at the inner hall, "Open my private storehouse and take out the hundred-year-old ginseng."
Wei Maoyuan immediately took the order and took his men to get the ginseng.
Yan Shiyu's eyes fell on the screen. Xiaoxiao, you clearly said that you would not leave me.
The queen saw that something was wrong with the emperor, so she helped him sit down and said, "Don't worry, your majesty. Ying Chongrong will definitely get through it."
Yan Shiyu did not speak, and the handkerchief in the Queen's hand gradually became tighter. She felt extremely nervous and even a little scared, which was a rare emotion for her.
When Concubine De walked to the outer hall, she heard such sounds coming from inside.
She paused in her tracks, her beautiful eyes showing unfathomable emotions. The maid beside her was confused and asked, "Madam?"
Concubine De looked at her and went in without saying a word.
As soon as she stepped into the side hall, tears suddenly fell from Concubine De's eyes.
She knelt down in front of Yan Shiyu and cried, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. Just now, noble Li had a heart attack and died."
Yan Shiyu seldom saw Concubine De in such a state, and his eyes were fixed on her. If it were in the past, he would have asked her to stand up, but today, he just looked at her with indifference.
The Queen stood up, holding onto the table, and frowned as she said, "When I left just now, Lady Li was fine. How could she suddenly have a heart attack? How could she have a heart attack?"
De Fei glanced at the Empress, and was helped up by the palace maid beside her. She wiped away her tears and said:
"I don't know when Lady Li became ill, but she suddenly said she was not feeling well. I thought she had a miscarriage and was about to urge someone to invite the imperial physician, but Sister Li fell on the bed. When the imperial physician arrived,..."
Concubine De looked very sad, and cried, "It was my fault that I didn't find out that something was wrong with Sister Li earlier, which caused Sister Li to lose a healthy person and the dragon child in her belly."
The Queen's grip on the corner of the table gradually tightened, she took a deep breath and sighed, "Noble Li also has a miserable life."
When she looked up at the emperor, the queen asked softly, "Your Majesty, look, Noble Lady Li..."
Yan Shiyu sneered and said, "Noble Li slandered Ying Chongrong, causing her to give birth prematurely. She was buried as a concubine. Also, thoroughly investigate all the palace ladies in Jiefang Pavilion. I want to know the truth."
The queen winked at Zeqin behind her and said solemnly, "I understand. Your Majesty, please don't be angry."
Concubine De stood where she was. The current situation made her face burn with pain and she couldn't save her dignity at all.
"Lady Li is also the emperor's daughter. If she is buried as a concubine, I am afraid that there will be rumors in the harem."
"People's words are scary." Yan Shiyu looked at Concubine De indifferently, "She should have understood this when she was alive."
"It will also let the six palaces know the consequences of violating palace rules."
Concubine De was shocked by what the emperor said. She bowed slowly and said, "Yes, I understand."
The Queen also said: "It is because I have not managed the harem well. I will inform the six palaces about this matter."
Wei Maoyuan came in hurriedly with something, "Your Majesty..."
Yan Shiyu said in a deep voice, "Send it in."
Wei Maoyuan hurriedly handed the wooden box in his hand to the palace maid and watched her enter the inner hall.
The Queen said softly, "I heard that the Emperor didn't eat much for breakfast. It's almost noon. How about I ask them to serve you food? The Emperor cares about Ying Chongrong, but he should also pay attention to his own health."
"No need." Yan Shiyu raised his head and pinched his brows, "I have no appetite."
The Empress didn't know how to persuade her when she saw this, but Concubine De said, "Now that the ginseng has been brought, Ying Chongrong will be fine, Your Majesty, rest assured."
However, Yan Shiyu ignored what Concubine De said. The empress, who usually always said a few words when seeing such a situation, was unusually silent today.
In the inner hall, Ji Zhaoyi tied the loop around her neck and watched the palace maid take out the ginseng and put it in Ruan Yun's mouth for her to hold.
Soon Ruan Yun woke up, and Ji Zhaoyi said, "Sister Ying is awake!"
The midwives took action immediately, looking at the situation below Ruan Yun, and said repeatedly: "My lady, please push harder, I can see the end."
Tears flowed down Ruan Yun's face unconsciously, almost biting her lips. Yingning put a towel in Ruan Yun's mouth, feeling very distressed.
Ji Zhaoyi even wiped Ruan Yun's sweat personally and said gently, "It will be out soon. Sister Ying, please hurry up, it will be fine soon."
Ruan Yun felt as if her lower abdomen was about to burst with pain and she shook her head desperately. However, when she thought of the child in her belly, she followed the sound of her mother-in-law's voice and pushed hard.
Basins of blood were carried out from the inner hall. The side hall had been in disrepair for a long time and was leaking air everywhere. The palace maids carried a charcoal basin in and roughly covered the leaking areas with brocade cloth.
In the inner hall, Ruan Yun's voice was heard sometimes and then disappeared. The queen was extremely anxious and drank two cups of tea from the cup in her hand.
Although Yan Shiyu had not taken any action, Wei Maoyuan, who was beside the emperor, knew it very well.
The emperor has been like this since he was young. He never shows his emotions. Even if he encounters any other problems, he can always remain calm and think of a solution. However, the more important the matter is, the less the emperor says.
I still remember that when the emperor learned that the late emperor wanted to make the son of Concubine Tao the crown prince, the emperor sat alone in the study all night and went into the palace at dawn the next day. No one knew what happened in the palace afterwards. But since then, the emperor began to govern the country for the late emperor, and the late emperor's illness became worse day by day.
Others said that the late emperor acted like this because he knew that his health was about to fail. However, how could Wei Maoyuan, who had always been by the emperor's side, not know the reason?
In the inner hall, Ruan Yun's voice rang out again. The Queen stood up and said, "I will go in and see Ying Chongrong."
Yan Shiyu tacitly agreed to the Queen's words. At this time, only Concubine De was left by the Emperor's side. Seeing that the Emperor had the same expression as always, Concubine De suddenly felt a little flustered for some reason.
Her breathing became a little faster, but Defei quickly adjusted herself.
When looking towards the inner hall, Concubine De's eyes contained the same anxiety as the Empress'.
…
Shoukang Palace
Not long after the Queen Mother returned to the palace, Aunt Jingqiao hurried in and said, "Queen Mother, Ying Chongrong gave birth prematurely and is now in the side hall of Jiefang Pavilion. Noble Lady Li... has passed away."
The Queen Mother suddenly clasped the twisting beads in her hand, and Concubine Xian quickly asked, "Didn't you feel fine when you left just now? But what happened next?"
Aunt Jingqiao nodded, "That's right."
Aunt Jingqiao only knew the general idea of what happened in Jiefang Pavilion. She mentioned it at the end, "Noble Li said that he died of a heart attack. Ying Chongrong must have been frightened by Noble Li."
Concubine Xian staggered and stepped back unconsciously. She leaned her waist against the Eight Treasures Pavilion. She quickly recovered and knelt in front of the Queen Mother. She placed her hands on her knees and said, "Aunt, what should I do? Will the Emperor blame you for this and punish me?"
Fear lingered in Concubine Xian's heart. Although she had the protection of the Queen Mother when she was in Putuo Mountain, she had no hope at all.
She lived a miserable life every day, burning incense and praying to Buddha with the empress dowager, appearing to be extremely filial.
What she looked forward to every month was the arrival of people from the capital, hoping to hear the emperor's decree allowing her to return to the palace.
However, after waiting for four years, she was not only able to return to the palace, but also to raise the second prince. She originally thought that the emperor remembered her kindness, but it was nothing. Now, she only had the empress dowager. If the emperor was annoyed with even the empress dowager, how could she gain a foothold in the palace?
Concubine Xian stood up in panic, her face full of panic, "Aunt, will the emperor blame you? It was you who forced him to search the palace. Song Shuang is willing to apologize to the emperor. This was all Song Shuang's idea and has nothing to do with aunt."
The Queen Mother helped Concubine Xian up and let her little face rest on her shoulder. "My dear Songshuang, you are the apple of my eye. How can I bear to let you go?"
"I am the Queen Mother, the Emperor's mother. If he is dissatisfied with something, let him come to me!"
After hearing what the Queen Mother said, Concubine Xian felt much more relaxed. "Song Shuang knows. Song Shuang only has the Queen Mother."
The Queen Mother closed her eyes and shuddered as she recalled that an hour ago, Noble Li was still a living person.
…
It was getting dark outside and the palace ladies lit the candles.
Ruan Yun could no longer count how much pain she was feeling, she only knew that each time after that was much more painful than the previous one.
The midwives were all sweating, and from time to time they pressed Ruan Yun's belly and said, "My lady, please use more strength."
Yingning fed Ruan Yun some more ginseng soup, and the old lady's screams became louder. Ruan Yun exerted all her strength for the last time, and her fingertips were embedded in her palms.
Finally, when her body arched up and fell back onto the bed, Ruan Jun heard the crying of a child.
The mother-in-law was delighted and kept saying, "It's born, it's born!"
Ruan Jun had a smile on her lips, but her eyelids felt heavy, and she fainted as soon as she loosened her grip.
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