Ruyi had inadvertently seen Imperial Physician Li hurrying past. After inquiring, she learned that something had happened to Zhangsun Shi, though she didn’t know the specifics. As soon as Yunyi learned of this, she immediately rushed over.

“In response to Your Ladyship, the Princess Consort has gone into premature labor.” These fewer than ten words struck Yunyi’s ears like muffled thunder, making her ears ring and her mind go blank. After a long while, she finally recovered and said in shock, “How could this happen? Wasn’t it said that the Princess Consort’s pregnancy was stable and there was no serious problem?”

“Originally it should have been so, which is why…” He glanced at Yunyi and said, “This humble official suspects that the Princess Consort came into contact with musk or safflower-type medicines, which caused her sudden premature labor.”

Having grown up in the palace since childhood, Yunyi had heard the names of musk and safflower many times and knew these two substances were taboo for pregnant women. If Zhangsun Shi had truly been exposed to them, premature labor would not be strange at all.

However, since moving to the Prince of Qin’s residence, Zhangsun Shi had been bedridden nurturing her pregnancy and rarely contacted anyone. How could she have encountered these substances? And who was secretly causing harm?

Yunyi was completely puzzled and turned to ask, “Can you stabilize the Princess Consort’s pregnancy?”

Imperial Physician Li shook his head, “Judging from the Princess Consort’s pulse and the blood flowing out, her cervix has already dilated fully. The child’s birth is now an unchangeable fact. As for whether he can survive, we can only do our human best and leave the rest to heaven’s will.”

Yunyi bit her teeth and said with a hoarse voice, “I understand. The Princess Consort and child are entrusted to Imperial Physician Li!”

After Imperial Physician Li agreed, Yunyi knelt halfway beside the bed and tightly grasped Zhangsun Shi’s hand, which was covered in cold sweat. “Don’t be afraid, everything will be fine. Imperial Physician Li’s medical skills are so advanced – he can surely save the child. When His Highness defeats Zhong Juchou and returns, he’ll be able to hold the child in his own hands. He’ll certainly be very happy.”

Zhangsun Shi was now in too much pain to speak and could only barely nod. After a while, the midwife finally arrived. After examining Zhangsun Shi, she indeed found that her cervix was fully dilated and the child could emerge at any moment – they needed to prepare for delivery immediately.

Since there shouldn’t be too many people in the room, Yunyi had to withdraw. Ruyi looked at the blazing sun hanging in the sky and said, “Your Highness, it’s very hot here. Let this servant help you to the side hall to sit for a while. Jixiang can watch here – it wouldn’t be good if you got heatstroke.”

Jixiang echoed, “Yes, as soon as there’s news from the Princess Consort’s side, this servant will immediately inform Your Highness. There won’t be any delay.”

Yunyi was concerned about the safety of Zhangsun Shi and her child and was unwilling to leave. She immediately said, “I’m fine. No need to worry.”

Seeing that Yunyi refused to leave, the two had no choice but to accompany her in waiting outside the hall. After a full hour and more, Imperial Physician Li finally opened the hall door. Yunyi’s spirits lifted and she hurried forward, saying, “How is it? Was the child saved?”

Imperial Physician Li bowed with an exhausted expression, “This humble official did his utmost, but the child was simply too small and couldn’t even breathe. Right after birth, he… passed away.”

Yunyi’s vision darkened and she staggered backward several steps, nearly falling down the steps. Fortunately, Ruyi firmly supported her. Jixiang asked from the side, “Was it a boy or girl?”

“It was a boy, already fully formed, but unfortunately…” Imperial Physician Li sighed deeply and bowed to Yunyi, “This humble official has failed Your Highness’s trust. Please forgive this humble official’s transgression.”

Yunyi tugged at her lips, forcing out a smile uglier than crying, “I know Imperial Physician Li already did his best. I don’t blame you. How is the Princess Consort?”

“The Princess Consort only lost some vital energy and has no serious problems, but… having failed to save the child, her emotions are very unstable.”

“I understand. Thank you for your trouble, Imperial Physician Li.” After instructing Jixiang to follow Imperial Physician Li to write prescriptions and gather medicine, Yunyi entered with Ruyi.

Inside the hall, Zhangsun Shi was holding a blood-covered infant slightly larger than a palm, crying mournfully. Xiuzhu and the midwife were trying to persuade her to let go so they could take the child away for burial, but Zhangsun Shi kept holding tightly and refused to release her grip no matter what.

Yunyi suppressed the sourness in her eyes and walked over, saying, “This subject knows the Princess Consort’s heart is in anguish, but since things have come to this, being sad won’t help anything. Please accept this condolence, Princess Consort.”

Zhangsun Shi didn’t speak or even look at Yunyi. She only kept weeping continuously. At this moment, her world contained only the child in her arms…

“Princess Consort…” Yunyi was about to offer more comfort when Xiuzhu suddenly interrupted her words, “Congratulations, Consort Yang. You’ve finally gotten your wish.”

Yunyi frowned and stared at her, “What do you mean by that?”

Xiuzhu wiped the tears from her face and said coldly, “What do I mean? Shouldn’t Consort Yang know best? Miss was fine before, but not long after eating the pastries you sent, she began having abdominal pain and bleeding. Does Consort Yang want to say this matter has nothing to do with you?”

Xiuzhu knew better than anyone why Zhangsun Shi had gone into premature labor and felt extremely regretful. But now she was in a difficult position – to protect herself, she could only splash dirty water on Yunyi.

Seeing her wrongly accusing their princess without distinguishing right from wrong, even Ruyi, despite her good nature, couldn’t bear it anymore and said coldly, “Don’t talk nonsense. The Princess has always been on good terms with the Princess Consort – how could she harm the Princess Consort?”

“Good terms?” Xiuzhu sneered, “Is it truly good relations, or is it all false sentiment? Actually, in her heart, she never wanted our Miss to give birth to this child.”

Ruyi knew that Xiuzhu had always disliked Yunyi, but she never expected her to say such excessive things. She said angrily, “The Princess cared so much about this child and even specially requested Imperial Physician Li to come stabilize the pregnancy for the Princess Consort. How could she harbor ill intentions? You’re really going too far – like a dog biting Lü Dongbin, not recognizing a good person’s heart!”

“Good person’s heart?” Xiuzhu scoffed, “If she were truly a good person, how could Miss have gone into premature labor, and how could the young master have died right after birth?”

“You!” Ruyi was so angry she couldn’t speak. After a long while, she said, “If the Princess really wanted to harm the Princess Consort, why would she wait until now?”

“That’s because His Highness was here, so she didn’t dare act rashly. Now His Highness has been ordered by His Majesty to lead troops against Zhong Juchou and isn’t in the residence – it’s the perfect time for her to strike!” Saying this, Xiuzhu stood up and pointed at Yunyi, gritting her teeth, “You’re just a fallen princess from a destroyed kingdom. It was Miss’s magnanimity and benevolence that allowed you to marry His Highness as a side consort and continue living a life of luxury. Yet you repay kindness with enmity, harming Miss and her child. You truly have the heart of a snake and scorpion!”

Yunyi met her hateful gaze and said word by word, “I have never done anything to harm the Princess Consort, nor have I ever even entertained such a thought. The one who harmed the Princess Consort is someone else!”

Xiuzhu snorted coldly and crouched down beside the ceaselessly grieving Zhangsun Shi, “Miss, please believe this servant. Consort Yang has never harbored good intentions toward you. Being kind to you, making pastries for you – all of this was to harm the young master. Consort Yang is so vicious – you absolutely cannot let her go. Otherwise, if the young master’s spirit is watching from heaven, he won’t be able to rest in peace!”

Ruyi trembled with anger. This Xiuzhu was truly unreasonable – without any evidence, she insisted it was the Princess’s doing. She was even worse than the former Princess Xin’an!