Arriving before Shen Yunan’s good news were letters from Cui Jinbai and Bu Shulin. Bu Shulin had also given birth – unlike Xue Jinqiao who delivered at full term, Bu Shulin delivered two months early because she had twins. With two sons at once, Bu Shulin was overjoyed.

In her letter to Shen Xihe, she explained her plan to separate the children – one would return to Shunan to inherit the position of Shunan Princess Consort, while the other would return to the Cui family once Cui Jinbai returned to court.

She planned to marry Cui Jinbai under the identity of the Shunan Prince’s long-lost sister. This was arranged with Cui Jinbai, and she had already crafted an elaborate story about her background – more moving than tales told by storytellers in teahouses. She would no longer manage the Shunan Prince’s mansion.

This meant either letting Shen Twenty-seven continue as Shunan Prince, or having Shen Twenty-seven “die” and installing the young heir – it was all up to Shen Xihe to decide. Bu Shulin had fulfilled her duty of preserving the Shunan Prince’s bloodline. As long as Shen Xihe ensured the title would be passed down, actual power wasn’t important.

It seemed Bu Shulin had been thoroughly captivated by Cui Jinbai’s beauty – no title or military power could compare to even a fraction of his charm.

However, Shen Xihe could read the joy and sweetness between Bu Shulin’s words.

With happy events coming one after another, Shen Xihe’s entire demeanor softened. She wrote a letter to Xiao Huayong daily, though none were sent, recording her daily life. When Xiao Huayong returned, he could read them – as if they had never been apart.

Upon receiving news of her new niece, the smile never left Shen Xihe’s eyes.

She prepared three generous gifts to send them. Placing her hand on her six-month-pregnant belly, she was full of anticipation.

“They’ve all been born safely. Mother’s Junsu, now we’re just waiting for you.”

In the tenth month of the twenty-third year of Youning, the imperial palace, gloomy for half a year, finally welcomed a joyous event – Princess Pingling’s wedding.

As the daughter of Noble Consort Rong and sister to two Prince Brothers, Princess Pingling’s marriage was especially grand under the Emperor’s indulgence, hoping to add some cheer to this wedding.

Civil and military officials all showed great respect, after all, it was still uncertain whether Shen Xihe would bear a son or daughter, and among the princes and kings, Xiao Changqing was second to none in capability.

Only the recently rising Prince Yan, Xiao Changgeng, who had gained the Emperor’s trust, could share some of the spotlight. No one else could compare.

On Princess Pingling’s wedding day, the Emperor personally attended the wedding feast. Only Shen Xihe, still in deep mourning as the Imperial Sister-in-law, didn’t attend. However, she had prepared generous gifts – not just because she currently had no conflict with Xiao Changqing, but also because Xiao Changqing had stopped the Emperor from examining the coffin that day, and Shen Xihe owed him for that.

However, Shen Xihe hadn’t expected the Emperor to faint at Princess Pingling’s new home!

“The Emperor fainted?” Shen Xihe’s gaze sharpened upon receiving the news.

With the Emperor’s shrewdness, how could he easily let others know of his poor health unless he wanted to?

The Emperor had been secretly consulting imperial physicians lately, though keeping it confidential, and his medicinal ink had never stopped.

This time, fainting in public at Princess Pingling’s wedding – was it deliberately casting bait, or had the Emperor been secretly attacked?

The former meant the Emperor was making a move; the latter meant someone was forcing those with imperial ambitions to act!

“Your Highness, Prince Xin has sent word: The heavens are changing!” Tianyuan hurriedly reported.

Shen Xihe touched her belly – less than eight months pregnant, a child born now would surely be weak. She had suffered enough herself and wouldn’t let her flesh and blood suffer the same.

Gripping her fingers tightly, Shen Xihe said firmly: “Tell Prince Xin – when and how the heavens change, I, Shen Xihe, will decide!”