Chapter 427: Chapter 425: Going into Labor
Shen Yinning choked for a moment before she couldn’t help but spit out one word: "Leave."
Lu Ying didn’t leave. Instead, he held her hand gently. "Although I don’t yet know if the child will be a boy or a girl, it’s time to give them a name. Zhaozhao doesn’t want to name them Lu Wang, so what name do you prefer? Tell me, and I’ll help you deliberate."
"The child is mine; naturally, they will carry my surname." Shen Yinning narrowed her eyes at him. "I want to name the child Shen Ji, to always remember the anguish suffered by their maternal grandparents and the humiliation endured by their mother."
Lu Wang, Shen Ji...
Lu Ying understood clearly that this vixen was deliberately defying him.
But he didn’t care about her defiance.
He softly brushed aside the stray strands of hair at her temple. "As you wish."
...
Early spring in February, the earth was warming, and the peach trees outside Furong Palace were budding.
Shen Yinning woke in the morning feeling uneasy, with a vague sense that childbirth was imminent.
Unable to sit or lie down in comfort, she managed to endure until dusk, only to have an unexpected visitor.
Haitang furrowed her brows. "It’s Beauty Shen. She says she has urgent matters to report to the Commandery Princess, seemingly involving Miss Xue."
Shen Yinning, already irritated and unwell, was originally unwilling to see her, but upon hearing it involved Xue Mianmian, she asked Haitang to let her in.
Shen Xinya entered the inner hall carrying a box of pastries.
Surveying the room, she noted the jade-beaded curtains and green silk drapes, with every piece of furniture made from luxurious golden sandalwood. It seemed as if Shen Yinning’s safety was of utmost concern—thick Persian wool carpets even covered the floor to prevent her from falling and getting hurt.
Shen Xinya subconsciously tightened her grip.
Others may not know, but she was well aware that the Holy Emperor had been tending to Shen Yinning closely these days.
She and her elder brother had meddled, binding the Holy Emperor and Shen Yinning together, hoping to provoke Huo Mingyan’s jealousy so she would eliminate Shen Yinning for them. Yet Huo Mingyan had acted like a coward, doing nothing throughout the entire month of January!
Last night, her brother had sought her out, insisting that Shen Yinning’s child must not be safely delivered.
Having heard that Shen Yinning would give birth next month, she planned to use the arranged marriage between Xue Mianmian and Guan Songyuan as a weapon to provoke her.
It was already challenging for a woman to give birth; if she were to deliver prematurely, the dangers would multiply.
If the provocation was severe enough, there was even a chance Shen Yinning might meet her end alongside her child.
Even if the Holy Emperor held her accountable afterward...
Shen Xinya straightened her back confidently.
After all, the woman whom the Holy Emperor had fallen deeply in love with at first sight was Shen Xinya—not Shen Yinning.
This was her greatest trump card and her shield against death.
If the Holy Emperor didn’t hold her to account, all would be well. If he did, she would reveal the truth from back then!
Shen Xinya lifted her gaze and smiled, bowing lightly toward Shen Yinning. "Greetings, dear cousin. The affairs of early January were overwhelming, leaving me with no time to visit for New Year’s greetings. I can only make up for it today."
Shen Yinning toyed with a dish of green apricots on the small Buddhist table before her.
During pregnancy, she had developed a fondness for sour things, and Lu Ying often procured these items for her.
But today, she had no appetite for them. Her abdomen felt bloated and heavy, the little one moving ceaselessly and causing her great discomfort.
Suppressing her frustration, she didn’t even bother raising her eyelids, instead replying coldly, "Say what you have to say."
Shen Xinya set her box of pastries on the table and eased herself onto an embroidery stool, speaking softly, "They say that elder sister and Miss Xue are the closest of friends, yet Miss Xue is getting married today, and elder sister hasn’t gone to bid her farewell?"
Shen Yinning’s hand suddenly clenched tightly around a green apricot.
Shen Xinya took note of her expression, covering her mouth with a handkerchief as she chuckled lightly. "It seems elder sister wasn’t aware that Miss Xue is getting married today? I’m curious whether Miss Xue was worried about elder sister’s heavy pregnancy and didn’t invite her, or whether Miss Xue simply hasn’t placed elder sister in her heart at all."
After a pause, her smile deepened. "By the way, I have something else to share with elder sister. Today, Miss Xue married Young Master Guan in a lively celebration—but Little Lord Xue single-handedly crashed the wedding, publicly beating Young Master Guan until his face was bruised and swollen. The Guan family was furious, and I heard Assistant Minister Guan has already submitted a petition to the Holy Emperor to impeach Little Lord Xue severely!"
Shen Yinning’s face darkened.
Mianmian wed too hastily.
Xue Ling’s anger was only natural!
Still, it wasn’t a serious matter—perhaps it would simply teach Xue Ling a lesson.
Besides, there were far more pressing concerns than the muddled affair between Xue Mianmian and Xue Ling.
Her stomach was one of them.
She stroked her pregnant belly.
The discomfort was becoming worse and worse. Doctor Xiao Chen had said delivery was imminent, and she suspected it might happen today...
Shen Xinya noticed her pale expression and inwardly rejoiced, certain her words had struck a nerve.
She added fuel to the fire: "Speaking of which, isn’t it strange? Aren’t brothers supposed to support their sisters’ marriages? Elder sister, could it be that Little Lord Xue and Miss Xue are siblings by name but have a sordid relationship in secret? What a scandalous thought! No wonder the Capital is abuzz with gossip about them—Miss Xue’s reputation has been utterly ruined!"
Shen Yinning rubbed the green apricot in her hand.
A ruined reputation was deserved if Mianmian had been so reckless.
Such an important matter as marriage, she neither consulted her nor informed her—utterly foolish!
A cluster of thoughtless people coming together; chaos was inevitable.
She closed her eyes, the abnormal sensations in her stomach intensifying.
Shunning further thoughts about Xue Mianmian and Xue Ling’s absurd affairs, she tried breathing techniques taught by Doctor Xiao Chen.
Suddenly, a damp sensation came from below.
Haitang spoke anxiously, "Commandery Princess, it seems your water has broken!"
Water breaking meant childbirth was imminent.
Wei Yu turned and dashed outside. "I’ll summon Doctor Xiao Chen and the midwives!"
Xiao Cui chimed in brightly, "I’ll fetch hot water from the small kitchen!"
Haitang, along with three nimble palace maids, helped Shen Yinning to the bed.
The maids of Furong Palace had been drilled endlessly by Lu Ying’s instructions, and as a result, their actions were calm and coordinated, without a hint of panic.
Shen Xinya eyed the bed, her lips curling into a satisfied smile.
Surely Shen Yinning’s water broke because she was overly provoked.
As the delivery approached prematurely, there was a risk of injuries—perhaps even death for both mother and child.
Shen Yinning likely hadn’t anticipated meeting her downfall at Shen Xinya’s hands.
Nanny Chen entered, her tone icy as she reprimanded, "Beauty Shen, this is not a place for you to linger!"
"No need to hurry, Nanny. I wasn’t intending to stay long—I’m leaving now." Shen Xinya laughed as she exited Furong Palace.
Standing under the eaves of the palace, watching midwives and palace maids busily coming and going, she began to hesitate.
Shen Yinning’s imminent childbirth might draw the Holy Emperor here.
She hadn’t seen the Holy Emperor in a long time.
Perhaps she should stay and wait until she could have a conversation with him.
They say women in childbirth tend to look disheveled. Once the Holy Emperor saw the stark contrast between Shen Yinning and her elegance, perhaps his interest in her would spark anew!
Meanwhile.
The news of Shen Yinning’s impending delivery was promptly reported by the Imperial Guard to Lu Ying.
Lu Ying, in the Imperial Study listening to several ministers debate issues regarding the spring imperial exams, abandoned the discussion at once and rose to leave.
Hastily arriving at Furong Palace, he faintly heard cries from within.
His face turned pale.
Having waited under the palace eaves for a long time, Shen Xinya saw him approach and joyfully said, "This consort greets Your Majesty—"
Before she could finish her sentence, a gust of wind swept past her, and Lu Ying had already stepped into the palace.