At Wutong Courtyard, attendants hurried in and out. Xiao Hanyan lay unconscious on the bed, her face pale and frail.
Physician Su heard the Crown Prince’s furious voice and flinched. He turned quickly, just as Shen Qingchen rushed in, his face filled with urgency and anger.
Seeing Xiao Hanyan unconscious, Shen Qingchen’s expression darkened, oppressive and terrifying. “What has happened to Liangdi Xiao!”
He had not even had time to rejoice at her pregnancy before being struck hard by the news that she had stirred her fetus.
Physician Su knelt, his face grave. “Your Highness, Liangdi is with child, but as it is early, and she has been troubled with worry, the fetus was disturbed. She is weak now. I have prescribed medicine—once taken, she will recover.”
Hearing the physician confirm Xiao Hanyan’s pregnancy, Shen Qingchen’s heart pounded uncontrollably, his chest trembling with shock. “Is Liangdi in danger?” His voice was hoarse, thick with worry.
“Your Highness, it is only fetal agitation. With careful rest and regular medicine, she will be fine.”
“Good, good.” Relief washed over him. He looked at Physician Su. “Liangdi’s pregnancy will be entrusted to you.”
“This servant obeys.”
Shen Qingchen sat at her bedside, gazing at her pale face, filled with regret and guilt. He had endured so long—why had he gone to Xiwu Hall tonight? If he had stayed with Yan’er as usual, would she have been spared this suffering?
He clasped her cold wrist in one hand, stroked her face with the other, his eyes brimming with tenderness and sorrow. After a while, he stepped into the outer hall.
Liu Meizhao had already arrived. She had not wanted to come, but Nanny Zhang insisted she must. She had tidied herself, but her eyes were still red from crying, making her look pitiful.
The newly entered women of the Eastern Palace also hurried over. They had hoped to win His Highness’s favor tonight, but instead, he had gone to the Crown Princess. Just as they resigned themselves, news came that his beloved Liangdi Xiao had collapsed. Though weary from the day, they too came to Wutong Courtyard.
Shen Qingchen, already guilt-ridden for having gone to the Crown Princess and leaving Yan’er distressed, grew even angrier at the sight of these women.
If not for Liu Meizhao’s reckless schemes reaching his father, would the Emperor have forced a selection? Would Yan’er have been consumed with worry, harming her body, now lying unconscious?
He was about to lash out when the Empress arrived with Nanny Qin. Her anxious voice carried from outside. “What has happened? How is Yan’er?”
“Your Majesty, slow down…” Nanny Qin supported her.
Shen Qingchen stepped forward. “Mother… Yan’er is fine, only her pregnancy was disturbed.”
The Empress’s eyelids had been twitching since hearing of trouble in the Eastern Palace. Now, hearing that Xiao Hanyan’s pregnancy was unsettled, she was both furious and worried.
“Absurd! Why was such a serious matter not reported to me sooner?”
“Mother, Yan’er has been troubled lately, unable to bear it. Your son…” Shen Qingchen faltered. He knew it was because he had gone to the Crown Princess tonight that Yan’er had suffered so.
The Empress’s gaze swept the hall, her face darkening. When Yan’er awoke, how could she remain calm seeing so many women gathered here?
“Everyone, return to your quarters!” The Empress ordered coldly, without mercy.
Liu Meizhao felt utterly wronged, her eyes stinging. This wasn’t even her fault—yet she had received no kind word, only rebuke.
“Mother, your son did not know Liangdi Xiao was with child. Allow me to stay here, to watch over her until she wakes.”
Hearing Liu Meizhao’s choked, tearful voice only angered the Empress further. She had no tolerance for such petty jealousy. Always stirring up trouble over trifles, making everything known to the world, and burdening the Crown Prince with pressure. And now, with these new women brought into the Eastern Palace, how could Yan’er possibly feel at ease?
The Empress herself had already leaned completely toward Xiao Hanyan. She still resented that Liu Meizhao had not married into the Eastern Palace at the first opportunity.
“Crown Princess, take them back. Liangdi Xiao fainted because of her pregnancy. Remember not to spread idle talk.” With that, the Empress entered the inner hall, Shen Qingchen following behind.
Liu Meizhao’s tears fell freely as she stared at the inner hall for a long time.
The newcomers dared not leave on their own. Having just entered the Eastern Palace, they did not dare move without permission. Since the Empress had ordered them to follow the Crown Princess, they could only wait.
Molan’s eyes reddened with pity. “Crown Princess, let me help you back. Don’t anger the Empress further.”
Liu Meizhao trembled inwardly, biting her teeth hard, and left Wutong Courtyard.
The others followed.
Xiao Hanyan seemed to hear someone calling her. Struggling, she opened her eyes to see the Empress leaning over her. “Your Majesty… this concubine…”
“Don’t move, don’t move.” The Empress quickly stopped her. “Lie still. Your face is so pale. Yan’er, you’ve suffered.”
Xiao Hanyan looked past her to Shen Qingchen. “Your Highness… you came too?”
His face was full of tenderness. “Yan’er, I…”
“Yan’er, you are with child. You fainted, and the Crown Prince rushed back the moment he heard.”
The Empress held Xiao Hanyan’s hand gently.
Xiao Hanyan placed her other hand on her belly, her face full of self-blame. “When the physician diagnosed my pulse, I was overjoyed. I hadn’t wanted to trouble His Highness, but my body failed me. It is all my fault.”
Her words only deepened Shen Qingchen’s guilt and regret. He wished he could relive the moment, unwilling to miss the joy of discovering Yan’er’s pregnancy.
“Yan’er, I know you are sensible, always keeping things to yourself. This time, it is the Crown Prince who wronged you. I will punish him. You are with child—he should be rejoicing, not hearing such foolish words from you.”
Xiao Hanyan nodded.
“Enough. I will have Nanny Qin prepare food and send it here. Rest well.” The Empress, reassured by her condition, decided it was best to leave her in the Crown Prince’s care.
“Thank you, Your Majesty…”
After the Empress departed, Shen Qingchen sat at the bedside, speaking softly. “Yan’er…”
But before he could continue, Xiao Hanyan’s eyes brimmed with tears, silently spilling down her cheeks.
“Alright, alright—it was my fault. I should not have gone to Xiwudian Hall. I failed to keep my promise. Forgive me, Yan’er.”
Never had Shen Qingchen humbled himself so—only before Xiao Hanyan.
“Your Highness, I am with child. I was so happy, yet so afraid. I wanted to tell you, but you weren’t there…” She leaned against him, her tears soaking his chest.
“Don’t cry, don’t cry. Your body cannot bear it.” The more he listened, the more guilt and tenderness filled him.
How helpless she must have felt, with no one to confide in.
“Stay with me, Your Highness…” Xiao Hanyan clung tightly to his waist.
“I will always stay with you. I won’t leave.”
“Don’t leave…”
He soothed her gently. After a long while without response, he looked down. She had cried herself to sleep, tear stains still on her face, her eyes swollen red.
Shen Qingchen tenderly wiped away the traces of tears, holding her for a long time before finally laying her down.