Chapter 161 Winds and Clouds Rise Again (2)

"Noble Lady Yun is going into premature labor!"

The eunuch's single sentence sent a jolt of shock through both Lanyan and myself. We immediately broke into a run toward the Palace of Concentrated Purity. But Lanyan, seemingly remembering something, turned back to call out to Xiaoyun, "Xiaoyun, do not step a single step outside the Palace of Subtle Fragrance until we and Her Ladyship return, do you hear me?"

"Yes, I understand, Sister."

As I ran alongside Lanyan toward the Palace of Concentrated Purity, I glanced at her, though the question remained unspoken in my throat. The reason she gave Xiaoyun such instructions made me realize that she shared the same ominous premonition as I did.

Shui Yunqiu's disaster did not happen sooner, nor later, but precisely on this day. It always felt as though something was gravely amiss.

When Lanyan and I reached the Palace of Concentrated Purity, we found its interior and exterior surrounded by an impenetrable wall of guards.

"Unauthorized personnel are not permitted to enter." Before we could even cross the threshold, we were intercepted by the guards.

"Good elder brother, we are servants from the Palace of Subtle Fragrance, here to find our mistress."

"His Majesty has issued a decree: aside from the maids, eunuchs, and imperial physicians attending to Her Ladyship's childbirth, all unauthorized persons are strictly forbidden to enter," the guard said sternly.

"My good brother, do you not know that we are from the Palace of Subtle Fragrance—"

"Sister Lanyan—" I stopped Lanyan. The guards were merely fulfilling their duties, and given the gravity of the situation, they were bound to strictly obey the Emperor's command.

That meant the Emperor had already arrived. The situation was escalating far beyond control!

Yet, being barred from entry filled not only Lanyan with anxiety, but me as well.

"Very well, let them pass." Just as we were running out of options, we suddenly heard a voice say.

I looked over and saw that it was Liang Zhenwu.

"This servant greets Lord Liang!"

Upon hearing this, Lanyan immediately mirrored my actions, curtsying to Liang Zhenwu and saying, "This maid greets Lord Liang."

"Hmm," Liang Zhenwu acknowledged indifferently, instructing the guards, "Let them both through. They are people from Consort Tong's side; His Majesty may wish to question them."

"Yes!"

"Many thanks, Lord Liang!"

"No need to thank me. Go on inside quickly."

"Yes!"

Lanyan and I hurried inside. Upon entering, we saw that the courtyard was already crowded with people, including the imperial concubines. The Emperor was pacing anxiously near the doorway, while the Empress, supported by Minghe, stood beside him offering words of consolation. Servants and eunuchs rushed in and out of the bedchamber in a panic, and the piercing, agonized screams of Shui Yunqiu echoed from within.

Yet, none of this was what concerned me the most. What shocked me above all was seeing Zhang Bitong and Yun Qing both kneeling in the very center of the courtyard.

For now, ensuring that Shui Yunqiu safely delivered the child took precedence over everything else, which was why the Emperor temporarily spared Zhang Bitong from punishment.

Overcome with anxiety, Lanyan made a move to approach Zhang Bitong, but I quickly pulled her back, signaling with my eyes that she should not go over at this moment.

Drawing her aside, I whispered, "Sister Lanyan and I managed to slip in here quietly. If we approach Her Ladyship right now, it will only provoke unnecessary trouble. This matter will soon reach a conclusion, Sister, there is no need to be hasty."

"You are always more composed than I am."

"Sister Lanyan, stand right here. I will go inquire among the others to see if I can find out what truly happened."

"Very well!"

I glanced around and spotted Long Zhan standing not far from the Emperor. His position was far too conspicuous, so I naturally could not approach him rashly.

Feigning curiosity, I turned to a eunuch standing nearby and asked, "This official brother, what on earth is going on here?"

The eunuch looked unfamiliar. He eyed me up and down and asked, "Which palace are you from? How can you still not know what has happened?"

I quickly improvised, "Ah, I stepped away for a moment to relieve myself, so I missed whatever took place."

"So that's how it is. But you're quite a fool not to be able to guess from this spectacle! It's Consort Tong; she caused Noble Lady Yun to go into premature labor."

"Consort Tong? Didn't Consort Tong arrive along with the other consorts? How could it be that she harmed Noble Lady Yun?"

"That wasn't just a brief absence to relieve yourself—you must have snuck off to slack off!"

I froze for a second, then forced an embarrassed smile. "Please forgive me, brother. The truth is, I stole a bite of food and ended up with a bad stomach. Please, do me the kindness of filling me in, otherwise I won't know how to report to my master later!"

"Fine, fine, I'll tell you then. Consort Tong arrived rather early. Nobody knows what transpired, but by the time the other concubines arrived, they happened to catch Consort Tong personally handing a bowl of labor-inducing broth to Noble Lady Yun. No sooner had Noble Lady Yun consumed it than she fell violently ill and went into premature labor."

Just as I was struck dumb with astonishment, a shrill scream pierced the air from inside the bedchamber, causing both the eunuch and me to snap our heads toward the room.

"Hot water! Bring hot water!" an elderly matron shouted from within.

"I can't talk with you anymore, I must go help prepare the hot water," the young eunuch said, darting away immediately.

"Your Majesty, please do not be overly anxious. Noble Lady Yun and the child will surely be safe," the Empress urged soothingly, noting the Emperor's mounting agitation.

"Your Majesty, this concubine is truly wronged!" At that moment, Zhang Bitong crawled over to the Emperor's feet, pleading tearfully.

"Get out of my sight!" The Emperor kicked Zhang Bitong roughly aside. "I have no patience right now to hear whether you are wronged or not. Your only task at this moment is to pray that Shui Yunqiu safely delivers my child, otherwise I will never spare you!"

"Your Majesty, this concubine really—"

"Consort Tong!" the Empress interrupted sharply, cutting her off. "You should at least know the gravity of the situation. Your usual self-will is one thing, but what time is it now? Join me in praying for the safety of Noble Lady Yun and her child."

"Indeed! Sister Tong, your own affairs are hardly the most pressing matter right now. Let Sister Yun deliver the child in safety first," Lin Tanwei advised smoothly.

"Shut your mouth!" Zhang Bitong glared viciously at Lin Tanwei. "It is not your place to insert yourself into my affairs!"

Without arguing further, Lin Tanwei took a step back, curtsied toward the Emperor and Empress, and said, "Your Majesty, Empress, if it could guarantee the safety of Sister Yun and her child, this concubine would gladly give up ten years of her life."

"Your heart is commendable," the Emperor said, his expression softening slightly before another piercing shriek echoed from the room.

"Oh heavens, so much blood! Hot water, bring hot water!" the senior midwife cried as she dashed out, her hands stained crimson.

"How is Noble Lady Yun faring?" the Emperor demanded, stepping forward to enter, only to be blocked by the Empress. "Your Majesty, you ought not to enter such a place. With the midwife and imperial physicians inside, Sister Yun will certainly be fine. You must also take care of your imperial health."

Bowing deeply, the midwife replied, "Your Majesty, this old servant will do everything in my power." Without another word of delay, she hurried back inside.

The agonizing cries of Shui Yunqiu continued to tear through the air from within.

"Little Xiao, did you find out anything?" Lanyan approached me, asking with palpable urgency.

I shook my head. "I learned a few things, but as for the absolute truth of what happened, I cannot say for certain. Yet, judging by appearances, Her Ladyship is in grave peril this time—"

Lanyan gasped, horrified. "Her Ladyship must have been framed! How could she possibly harm Noble Lady Yun's child?"

I gestured for her to quiet down. "Once Noble Lady Yun delivers the imperial heir, the truth will come to light. Sister Lanyan, say no more for now, lest you draw fire upon yourself."

At my warning, Lanyan nodded and kept silent.

The noisier the surroundings grew, the more my mind settled into a strange stillness, and a multitude of thoughts rushed through my consciousness. First came my mother. When she gave birth to me, she must have endured this very same agony. My life was a continuation of hers; even if I could never enjoy wealth and glory, I had to live on properly—not just for myself, but for my mother, and for those in this world whom I still cared about.

Then, my thoughts were dragged back to the present crisis.

According to the eunuch, Zhang Bitong had indeed arrived earlier than the others. Could Zhang Bitong truly be foolish enough to harm Shui Yunqiu at a time like this? Was her stupidity deliberate, or was she framed? I could not fathom it, for Zhang Bitong was never blessed with an abundance of brains.

This incident inevitably brought to mind the earlier tragedy of Han Feiyue. Though that matter had supposedly been put to rest, it continued to haunt my thoughts. Who on earth had slipped the safflower into the food?

The timeline had no flaws. That bowl of squab soup had been prepared by my own hands; someone must have slipped inside and added the safflower during the time I was speaking with Jiang Chen. Han Feiyue had spoken as she did to protect herself, but also to save me. As for the Virtuous Consort, having taken vows of the Buddha, her intent was undoubtedly to save a life. But who possessed the capability to bypass the heavy guards of the Hanyang Palace, and even evade the perimeter set by Long Zhan?

Ah, Han Feiyue's confession was not merely a shield for herself and a way to protect me—it was also a shield for Long Zhan. Only now did I realize it with blinding clarity. If the true culprit remained unmasked and the case unresolved, Long Zhan, like me, would bear the guilt of dereliction of duty. Han Feiyue's self-incrimination had preserved Long Zhan.

Unbidden, the image of the woman in red rose in my mind—so untamed, so deeply passionate. She truly did not belong within the cold, emotionless walls of this imperial palace.

I lifted my gaze to the sky, silently wishing that Han Feiyue might find peace wherever she was.

Yet, who on earth had wanted to destroy the child in Han Feiyue's womb? Was it a conspiracy hatched jointly by the Empress and Gong Wu'e? For a moment, the answer eluded me completely.

At that exact instant, the piercing cries were abruptly pierced by the lusty wail of a newborn infant. I snapped my head back toward the bedchamber.

A look of joy washed over the Empress's face. "Your Majesty, the child is born! It is born! Congratulations, Your Majesty."

Scarcely had the Empress finished her congratulations when the midwife emerged holding an infant swaddling, announcing, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Rejoice, Your Majesty—it is an imperial prince! But... Her Ladyship is in a critical condition."

The Emperor demanded urgently, "How is Shui Yunqiu?"

The midwife stammered, "Severe postpartum hemorrhaging... the imperial physicians are treating her inside."

"Order them to save Shui Yunqiu at all costs! I will reward them handsomely!"

"Yes!"

Before the midwife could even step back inside, Imperial Physician Gu stumbled out of the doors, dropped heavily to his knees before the Emperor, and choked out, "This subject is incompetent... Her Ladyship has passed away!"