Feng Jiu’er examined Lian Consort — there was nothing seriously wrong, though the baby had been mildly disturbed. The exact date of delivery was still unclear for now.

Expectant mothers whose babies have been mildly disturbed typically give birth somewhat early, but the current circumstances were far from reassuring.

The king did not believe Lian Consort and the Second Prince, and there were those working in the shadows to harm Lian Consort and the child. For a helpless woman like Lian Consort, alone and without support in the palace, the fact that she had survived this long was nothing short of a miracle.

“The Yurhe king is not yet ready to sentence you — is it because he wants to wait until you have given birth and then do a blood-testing to determine paternity?”

The only method ancient people had for determining whether a child was one’s own was the blood test: letting blood from two people fall into water and seeing whether it mingled together.

But in truth, this method was the least reliable of all. Moreover, the Second Prince was himself the Yurhe king’s son — whether the child belonged to the king or to the Second Prince, the probability of the blood mingling was considerable in either case.

Indeed, considerable in either case.

So what use could this method truly serve?

For people of this era, however, perhaps there was truly no other way.

“My relationship with the Second Prince has always been pure. When I… when I married the king, I was still untouched — the king knows this better than anyone.” Lian Consort’s face cycled through red and white, settling at last into pallor. She bit her lip and said, helplessly: “The king does not believe me. All he can do is wait until the child is born, perform a blood test — only then will the king be willing to believe that the child in my womb is his flesh and blood.”

Lian Consort looked at Feng Jiu’er again: “At that point, the king should also be able to believe in the innocence of what lies between me and the Second Prince. I ask you — how could someone nine months with child carry on illicit relations with a man?”

So this charge of illicit conduct was entirely groundless.

The king also knew that at a time like this, she could not possibly have done anything improper with a man — yet of course he still had a thorn lodged in his heart, suspecting they had long since been intimate.

“So some people also understand that once your child is born, the truth will come to light on its own. The only way to stop the Second Prince from clearing his name… is to ensure that your child is stillborn.”

The words stillborn — Feng Jiu’er merely spoke them aloud, and even she felt a pang of sorrow.

And yet, those people were truly so ruthless!

Lian Consort’s body began to tremble faintly. She looked at Feng Jiu’er, her eyes growing wet.

“You… you are not the Second Prince’s people. You referred to the king as… as the Yurhe king…”

Feng Jiu’er was taken aback. She had not expected this Lian Consort to be so observant.

The thought had been that among the people of Yurhe, there were many who bore a resemblance to the people of Bei Mu — Tuoba Keyan was one such person. Even looking the way they did, they might not necessarily arouse suspicion. Yurhe was, after all, a mixed people.

But she had not anticipated that even in her own choice of words, she had let something slip.

Lian Consort was not wrong. If Jiu’er and her companions were Yurhe people, they would never refer to the king as the Yurhe king — they would say simply the king, just as Lian Consort did.

Only a person of another nation would add those two words: Yurhe king.

“We are indeed not the Second Prince’s people. We are people of Bei Mu.”

Lian Consort’s expression changed. Feng Jiu’er continued: “You have no choice at this moment — you can only choose to trust us. Otherwise, if you remain in this palace, death is certain.”

Xue Gu moved to the window, judged that nothing seemed amiss, and gave a nod.

Feng Jiu’er went on: “When we were coming here, we noticed that the guards in the inner palace near your chamber were especially few — almost as though no one were keeping watch at all.”

“If we had not arrived in time tonight, you would already be dead at the hands of these two eunuchs. And yet, two eunuchs alone have no authority to reassign the palace guards. Do you understand what I mean?”

Lian Consort choked back a sob. The corners of her eyes glistened with tears. She nodded. “I understand. It must have been the eldest prince…”

The eldest prince’s power and influence were so vast he could blot out the sky. If she had become someone the eldest prince wanted dead, how could she possibly escape?

Pitiful only was the child in her womb — yet to come into this world and see even a single day of it, already…

“Now that I am here, I will not let anything happen to you and the child.” So ready to lose heart and despair at every turn — the women of this era truly were fragile.

Jiu’er said evenly: “Unless you do not trust us.”

“I do! Of course I do!” No matter who these people were, at the very least following them still left some chance of survival.

Just as this person had said — if she did not trust them, there was nothing left but to remain in the palace and wait to die.

The eldest prince was determined to see her dead. How could she possibly stand against him on her own?

“Then… what do I do now? What exactly is happening on the Second Prince’s side? Is he all right?”

“Do you still wish to be with him?” Feng Jiu’er asked suddenly.

Lian Consort was so frightened her face went bloodless, and her body shook again. “I and the Second Prince have never…”

“Never mind — pretend I didn’t say it.” Jiu’er stood up. She had momentarily forgotten the constraints this era placed on women. Having already followed the Yurhe king, how could she possibly be with the Second Prince?

Even if both hearts had longed for each other, it was impossible.

But these things were truly not what she ought to be considering right now.

She looked at Xue Gu: “If we leave her here, we have no one of our own in this palace. She and the child will certainly not be kept safe.”

“This child must come safely into the world. He is the only evidence that can prove the Second Prince’s innocence.”

A blood test was a blood test — at the very least it was something. When the time came, she would also think of a foolproof plan for the Second Prince to ensure the blood test went smoothly.

Just now, she had taken Lian Consort’s pulse. The delivery was likely only within the next few days — certainly no more than ten.

If there were no one of their own to watch over her during these ten days, remaining in the palace would most likely bring disaster.

Xue Gu considered it for a moment before saying: “If we truly intend to take her away, then now is the time.”

Tonight, in order to make it convenient for those two eunuchs to carry out their mission of “putting Lian Consort to death by royal decree,” the defenses on this side were undoubtedly more lax than they had ever been before.

Taking Lian Consort away at this moment was the best possible opportunity. For someone of Xue Gu’s capabilities, it was not beyond her.

Miss this night, and there would likely be no chance again.

“Then, what about these two eunuchs…” Lian Consort had already understood their meaning. But these were people sent by the eldest prince — without having actually killed her, would they simply let it rest?

“There is no need to worry about them. They were not acting on an order from the king — naturally they would not dare make any noise about this.”

“As for the eldest prince, he is presently still at the frontier. As for who is here managing everything on his behalf — that is something I also want to know.”

Feng Jiu’er walked over to the eunuch who had fainted, tore off a large strip of cloth, and pocketed it.

Only then did she turn to look at Lian Consort: “Remove your outer garment and put on palace maid’s clothing. We leave now.”

Lian Consort, however, stared at her — face flushed red to the tips of her ears, silent and motionless, making no move to undress.

Jiu’er paused, then remembered something. She immediately changed her voice and said: “Do not worry — I am also a young woman. Your reputation will not be compromised.”