Save the Child at All Costs, the Child Must Be Saved!…
Ever since Xiao Fuying had made a scene at the residence, news of Ming Ying’s pregnancy had spread like wildfire, even reaching the ears of Crown Prince Xiao Lang.
The very next day, Pei Xiaoyun was summoned to the Eastern Palace.
After the eunuch served tea, Xiao Lang did not immediately bring up official matters. Instead, he began by saying, “Ling Yuan, this is the last time I will warn you—dispose of that cat you’ve been keeping. If you cannot bring yourself to do it, I will have to do it for you.”
The Emperor’s health was deteriorating day by day, and the various feudal lords opposed his succession. Now, he could only rely on Pei Xiaoyun to win over Prince Yi and secure his support.
If Xiao Fuying refused to marry because of that woman, this alliance would fail, and he would inevitably be unable to secure the throne.
This time, there was no friendly banter—only coercion.
Pei Xiaoyun took a calm sip of tea. Faced with this pressure, he showed no trace of panic, as if he had already made a certain decision.
“There is no need to trouble Your Highness. I will take care of it myself.”
To him, power—the ability to decide life and death—was the supreme authority. He had worked hard to reach his current position, but it was still far from enough. He needed to climb higher, to ascend the jade steps leading to the heavens.
Therefore, it was not yet time to break with the Crown Prince before him. For now, he had to comply with everything.
Pei Xiaoyun remained at the Eastern Palace until noon before he was finally able to leave.
Continuous heavy rains in Jinan Prefecture had caused severe flooding. The disaster relief funds allocated by the court had been embezzled by officials along the way. Xiao Lang assigned him and the Vice Minister of Revenue to investigate the whereabouts of the relief silver in Jinan.
By the time he returned from this trip, it would coincide with the wedding.
Pei Xiaoyun boarded the carriage, with Kong Qing waiting nearby. After hesitating for a while, Kong Qing finally spoke up, “Eldest Master, shall we head directly to Jinan, or should we return to the residence first…”
Having served by Pei Xiaoyun’s side, he was well aware that both the Crown Prince and Prince Yi’s household were pressing the Eldest Master to deal with Miss Ming.
But Miss Ming had been with the Eldest Master for nearly four years. She was an exceptionally good person, and even he could see her unwavering loyalty to the Eldest Master. Could the Eldest Master truly bring himself to be so ruthless this time?
“What is there to do at the residence?” Pei Xiaoyun’s eyes turned cold. He had never liked others meddling in his affairs. Lifting his robe, he sat down in the carriage and lowered the curtain. “Set off for Jinan immediately.”
The carriage slowly entered the bustling streets, filled with the sounds of people and horses.
Sitting inside, Pei Xiaoyun massaged his aching temples and closed his eyes as if resting. As if remembering something, he issued an order to the outside, “Go back and deliver a message. When the time comes, those who should not remain must be cleared away.”
Upon hearing these words, Kong Qing understood Pei Xiaoyun’s meaning.
He silently shook his head, unable to help but feel sorrow for Ming Ying.
Ming Ying had not seen Pei Xiaoyun for some time now. She heard he had gone to Jinan.
His absence was for the best. She was waiting for the day he would send her to the estate.
Unfortunately, the little money she had saved for herself had also been taken by him.
She caressed her swollen belly, filled with worry.
If she could truly leave, enduring hardship herself would not matter, but how would she support the child without any money?
Day and night, she persevered, embroidering several sachets until her fingers were pricked and covered in blood.
Ling Shuang could not leave the residence either, so she could only entrust the task to a few maids in the courtyard who were allowed to go out. “Bi He, when you go out to make purchases tomorrow, could you help me sell these sachets? Any price will do. We can split the earnings fifty-fifty, and I’ll give you extra for your trouble.”
Bi He couldn't care less about those few worthless trinkets. Moreover, since the Eldest Master had grown tired of her, she became increasingly disrespectful toward Ming Ying. "Take these back, miss. Someone is watching, and none of your belongings can leave this place. Besides, you live in the mansion with food and clothing provided—what do you need to exchange for silver everywhere?"
Ming Ying felt a sudden pang of disappointment. Afraid her true intentions might be guessed, she quickly made up an excuse: "I just wanted to exchange for some silver to buy things for the child."
"Miss is worrying over nothing," Bi He sneered. "Once the child is born, the Eldest Master and the mistress will naturally dote on it. What need is there for you to trouble yourself?"
"What did you say?" Ming Ying's long lashes fluttered slightly, her expression one of disbelief.
Bi He clearly had no desire to argue with her and replied sarcastically, "Does miss not know? The County Mistress has severe asthma and is unfit for childbirth. Your child is fortunate—it can be raised under the care of the legitimate mother."
They often moved about the main courtyard and had naturally heard such matters.
Though shocked, Ming Ying still didn't quite believe the words of these maids.
Pei Xiaoyun considered her lowly and despised this child as well. And the County Mistress had always loathed her—why would she ever raise her child?
She wanted to ask more, but Bi He, hearing movement in the courtyard, no longer paid her any mind and eagerly hurried outside.
A group of people had arrived in the courtyard, led by a matron from Prince Yi's residence. With the wedding date approaching, the interior and exterior of Lanqing Zhuoyuan were being decorated according to the County Mistress's preferences.
Ming Ying peeked through the window and saw that the tree she had hung with small lanterns on New Year's Eve was now draped with bright red wedding ribbons.
Vivid as rosy clouds, billowing like waves.
Yet reflected in her eyes, it all appeared dull and gray—after all, it had nothing to do with her.
She drew the curtains closed, intending to sit quietly for a moment, when she heard scolding from outside: "Who raised these flowers? How inauspicious! Our County Mistress has asthma and cannot tolerate even a hint of pollen. How dare you lowly servants keep flowers? Smash them at once!"
This was followed by Bi He's apologetic laughter: "Matron, please calm your anger. It's all the fault of the servants for being careless. We'll smash them right away."
Immediately, flowerpots were shattered one after another.
Listening, Ming Ying felt a sharp sting in her nose—these were flowers she had tended for so long.
With a single word from them, they were utterly destroyed.
She quickly slipped on her shoes and got off the bed, but her ankle twisted, and her abdomen struck the edge of the bed. A sudden spasm seized her. She cried out several times, and though footsteps could be heard outside, no one was willing to pay her any attention.
Only when the voices in the courtyard faded into silence did she realize that the flowers she had nurtured from winter to summer were completely destroyed.
Frowning, she lay on the floor. It was Ling Shuang, who had just finished her duties, who rushed in anxiously and went out through the side gate to fetch a physician for her.
After drinking a dose of medicine to calm the fetus, she gradually stabilized.
"It's just a disturbance to the fetus, nothing serious. Rest for a few days and you'll be fine. Try not to let your emotions fluctuate too much."
After Ling Shuang saw the physician out, Ming Ying suddenly wiped her tears and wept in despair.
Fortunately, she still had Ling Shuang by her side—otherwise, she might have died without anyone knowing.
She longed for such days to come to an end soon.
The next day, after Ming Ying awoke, a group of servants barged in without a word and began moving things out.
Ming Ying's room had never held many possessions, but even the few tables and chairs were carried away.
"What are you doing?" she asked, pulling on a robe as she rose, staring at the now-empty room.
Bi He stepped forward and said, "Miss, the matron from Prince Yi's mansion said yesterday that this room of yours will be given to the County Mistress's maidservant in the future. They want us to clean it out in advance to dispel any bad luck, and ask you to move to the innermost room."
Bi He casually pointed toward the innermost room, which was close to the woodshed, and kitchen smoke drifted into it.
It was originally a storage room, not even the lowest-ranking maidservants lived there.
Ming Ying said nothing.
The County Mistress's intention must also be Pei Xiaoyun's intention.
She felt a surge of resentment, resenting only that he hadn't grown tired of her back in Yangzhou, at the villa, and let her leave earlier.
What meaning was there in living like this now?
She silently took a few draft papers painted with camellias, shouldered her bundle, and moved out.
That storage room was hardly fit for living. When Ling Shuang returned from her duties and heard about it, she went to argue with Bi He and the others. She said to the old woman directing the move, "How can you do this? After all, Miss Ming is carrying the Eldest Master's child—"
Before she could finish, the old woman slapped Ling Shuang hard across the face. "Who are you to speak? Do you think you're still the glorious first-rank maidservant? I tell you, fortunes change. Everyone in the courtyard has been replaced, and a new mistress is coming."
Ming Ying pulled Ling Shuang back and shook her head at her.
These people must have all curried favor with the County Mistress. If they clashed head-on, how could they expect good days?
In just a few days, Lanqing Zhuoyuan had truly undergone rapid changes.
That night, Ming Ying stayed in Ling Shuang's room. Though small, it was a proper living space, and the two could squeeze in to sleep.
After living like this for a few days, she grew accustomed to it.
During the day, Ling Shuang was called by the Madam to serve in the main courtyard, while Ming Ying sat by the window sewing a bellyband for the child.
Many people in the courtyard still swaggered about arrogantly. All the flowers and plants had been trimmed and pruned, and red silk was everywhere, creating an overwhelmingly festive atmosphere.
Ming Ying moved her needle and thread, turning a deaf ear to it all.
Soon, Pei Xiaoyun would send her away.
She sewed until evening, when the night grew deep, and Ling Shuang still hadn't returned from her duties.
Ming Ying, feeling unsettled, accidentally pricked her finger with the embroidery needle. A steady stream of blood stained the white thread red.
For some reason, her heart pounded wildly, and a cold sweat broke out all over her back. An ominous premonition lingered in her heart.
Late at night, a few noises came from the courtyard. She threw on her clothes and got out of bed to investigate.
She saw two guards carrying a woman covered in blood into the courtyard. A trail of crimson stretched from the outer courtyard to the inner one. Recognizing the woman as Ling Shuang, Ming Ying felt as if she had been struck on the head with a club.
"What… what happened?" Her lips trembled as she followed the guards' footsteps.
The guard glanced at her disdainfully and said impatiently, "This is the Eldest Master's order. He only told us to give her twenty lashes. We've brought her back, but who knows if she'll survive."
With that, they threw her onto the floor in the room and strode away.
"Don't go! What exactly happened?" Ming Ying rushed forward, grabbing at them.
But one of them pushed her away impatiently. "We were just following orders."
Ming Ying was pushed back against the door. Seeing Ling Shuang lying on her back, covered in blood, her spirit shattered. In an instant, a chill surged from the soles of her feet straight to her heart.
"Sister Ling Shuang, Sister Ling Shuang!" Her voice tightened as she crouched beside her, calling her name.
She held Ling Shuang, her hands and clothes stained with sticky blood.
In her memory, Ling Shuang was gentle, steady, meticulous, and flawless. Seeing her like this now, Ming Ying felt a raw, cold fear gripping her throat tightly.
Ling Shuang had long anticipated this outcome, and when the moment arrived, she felt a strange sense of release.
Afraid of staining Ming Ying’s face with the blood on her hands, she only held her cold fingers. “I… I won’t make it to Suzhou, and I can’t leave… can’t leave Guogongfu. If you ever get the chance, go and see it for me.”
Madam had threatened her with her mother’s life, forcing her to steal Eldest Master’s jade seal. She had no choice. On her way to the main courtyard with the seal, she was intercepted by guards.
From the moment she began working for Madam, she knew she wouldn’t survive. Still, she had hoped to live a little longer—she couldn’t bear to leave Ming Ying behind.
“No, you won’t. You won’t.” Ming Ying stroked her face, wiping away the bloodstains.
The overwhelming darkness surrounding them was exactly like the night when soldiers raided her home when she was eleven.
She had sent off Yu Zhong, sent off Yu’er, and now she had to watch Ling Shuang go as well—all those familiar to her, leaving one by one.
What had they done wrong? Why was Pei Xiaoyun punishing Ling Shuang?
Ling Shuang offered a pale smile, weakly raising a hand to point. “Under the bed… there’s my bundle. That’s all I have left. Keep it safe for me.”
In the endless darkness, Ming Ying held a body growing gradually colder, hearing a faint whisper: “Take care.”
She wept until she was exhausted, unable to breathe or speak.
A sharp pain tore through her abdomen, and she collapsed into a pool of blood. The crimson beneath her was indistinguishable—whether it was Ling Shuang’s blood or her own.
She let out a soft, mournful cry in the long, dark night.
As dawn broke, her pupils were unfocused, her face deathly pale, trembling from the pain.
Fortunately, an old woman passing by saw her, crouched down to examine her, and realized something was wrong. She called out loudly, “It’s bad! Fetch the physician and the midwife quickly—she’s going into labor!”
Ming Ying had no idea how she was carried to the bed, the sheets soaked in scarlet blood.
She curled up in agony, her forehead beaded with dense, cold sweat. Her body felt as if it were being torn apart and stitched back together, each breath a struggle.
After a night of pain, she was truly exhausted, with no strength left…
The physician watched with dread. “Miss, you must hold on a little longer. If you continue like this, the child won’t be born.”
These words forced Ming Ying to gather a shred of clarity. She was fed a few sips of ginseng soup, her knuckles white as she gripped the sheets, holding her breath.
She couldn’t die. She had to give birth to this child—the one she had fought so hard to protect.
Every ounce of effort felt like tearing her own flesh apart. Yet, for the child’s sake, she had to endure, inch by inch.
Blood soaked through the bedding, trickling down to the floor.
Seeing this, the midwife shook her head and sighed. “It’s no use. She’s too weak. I’m afraid… we can only save one—the mother or the child.”
Hearing this, Ming Ying’s tears fell like broken strings. Her lips trembled as she struggled to utter a single word: “Save…”
“Save the child!” A maid burst through the door, cutting her off. She addressed the physician and midwife, “Before Eldest Master left, he gave orders. The child is to be raised by the main wife. If there are complications during birth, remove the mother and keep the child—the child must be saved at all costs!”
Author’s Note:
Next chapter is a 10,000-word epic escape chapter!! [shy]
Here’s a preview of my next upcoming story: I Won’t Be My Late Husband’s Brother’s Concubine
Forced Love/She Flees, He Pursues/Over-the-Top Dramatic Melodrama (Please add to your collection!)
Synopsis:
【Clever, shrewd transmigrated heroine vs. even more cunning, ruthless brother-in-law】
Yun Xi transmigrated, becoming the daughter-in-law of a noble family—the widow of the Xie family’s Second Young Master.
The household despised her for her humble, rustic origins, believing she had used seductive tricks to climb the social ladder. As a widow, she was bullied relentently, living a life worse than that of the servants.
Yun Xi had had enough. Young and beautiful, with medical skills to her name, why should she waste away in this mansion? So, she packed up some silver and fled under cover of night.
This time, she didn’t even make it out of the capital before she was caught.
The one who captured her was none other than her never-before-met “brother-in-law”—Xie Xia, the heir to Duke Sui's Mansion, who had just returned from a three-year inspection tour of Jiangnan as Governor-General of Liangjiang.
Without letting her explain, the man tied her up with a rope and dragged her back.
Xie Xia stared at her slender willow-like waist and remembered his mother’s words: this woman was a femme fatale. Indeed, she was right.
A daughter of a fallen family, she had schemed to bewitch his second brother, and now she had stolen silver and run away.
He said coldly, “A disgrace to the family.”
After being dragged back, Yun Xi tread on thin ice. The west wing leaked when it rained, and she didn’t even have a piece of warm charcoal.
By chance, she heard that Xie Xia suffered from chronic headaches, and she set her sights on his Chi Xue Garden.
She made Xie Xia a promise: she could cure his illness, and once he recovered, he would grant her a divorce and let her leave.
Troubled by his condition and curious to see just how capable this cunning woman was, Xie Xia agreed to her request, smiling ambiguously. “Since you’re unwilling, our family won’t force you.”
Thus, Yun Xi moved into Chi Xue Garden as she wished. Under Xie Xia’s protection, she indeed suffered much less hardship.
To secure her freedom, she worked day and night preparing medicine for him, attending to him diligently, even tasting his medicine to check if it was too bitter or astringent.
Finally, Xie Xia’s headaches were cured, and Yun Xi brought up leaving again.
Xie Xia seemed to have forgotten all about it, replying casually, “If you don’t wish to remain a widow for him, that’s fine. I’ll speak to Mother.”
Yun Xi was overjoyed, but Xie Xia reached out and patted her cheek. “From now on, you’ll be my concubine.”
Yun Xi felt as if struck by lightning.
Xie Xia was a third-rank official in the court, deeply favored by the emperor and at the peak of his glory. In his daily life, he encountered only well-bred noble ladies and associated solely with dignified, principled gentlemen.
Until a woman like Yun Xi appeared in his own backyard.
At first, he detested this vain, fickle woman and felt it was a pity his second brother had married someone like her.
But when he saw her staying up late with reddened eyes to prepare his medicine, effortlessly solving the mysteries behind several major cases involving rare poisons, he thought—perhaps she wasn’t just scheming; she had some real skill.
With proper discipline and guidance, perhaps her nature could be reformed.
His family called her unorthodox and rebellious, so he would take it upon himself to teach her how to be a virtuous wife.
He proposed making her his concubine.
Even if she was unwilling at first, she eventually nodded in agreement.
That night, he drank the medicinal broth she brought him and fell into a deep sleep.
When he woke up, she had pulled the same trick again—she had run away.