The originally tranquil little garden could only be heard with the rustling sounds of wind through grass and leaves, accompanied by the gentle chirping of summer insects, adding even more serenity to the scene.

This scream and cry of alarm was like suddenly and brutally tearing through this peaceful early summer scene, making one’s heart leap with shock.

Ren Yaoqi instinctively stood up.

Although she couldn’t see the situation in the garden from where she was, she could hear that the sharp, piercing scream from before came from Concubine Kang, while the subsequent cry of alarm was from Ren Yaoting.

Following the sounds, Ren Yaoqi quickly walked toward the garden.

The corridor where Ren Yaoqi had been sitting wasn’t far from where the sounds originated, but her line of sight was obstructed by a circle of shrubs alternating between large-leafed boxwood and pittosporum, along with several willow trees.

When Ren Yaoqi rounded the shrubs and willow trees, even though she had mentally prepared herself, she was still startled by the scene before her eyes.

Concubine Kang was clutching her stomach and collapsed on the small path paved with warm pebbles in the garden, her face deathly pale as she moaned in agony.

Today she wore a blue-green dress made of lu silk, completely unadorned except for a three-inch wide white border trim at the hem of her skirt. Dark red blood was continuously flowing along that white trim, quickly filling the gaps between the warm pebbles beneath her, with two thin streams of blood already spreading into the nearby grass.

The two maids beside Concubine Kang were both young servant girls who, witnessing this scene, had already gone weak in the knees from fright and were kneeling beside Concubine Kang, crying.

Ren Yaoting, who had cried out in alarm, seemed thoroughly frightened and had buried her face in the embrace of her senior maid behind her, trembling as she wept.

Ren Yaoting’s complexion wasn’t any better than that of Concubine Kang lying in the pool of blood. She stood two steps away from Concubine Kang, staring blankly at her until Ren Yaoqi suddenly appeared. Only then did she come to her senses and look down to discover that the blood flowing from Concubine Kang’s lower body had somehow reached the soles of her delicate pink embroidered shoes.

Fear suddenly flashed in Ren Yaoting’s eyes. She staggered backward two steps, then turned and ran. When she ran past, she nearly knocked Ren Yaoqi to the ground. Fortunately, Pingguo was quick-eyed and swift-handed, steadying Ren Yaoqi in time.

Ren Yaoqi had guessed there would be some commotion here, but she hadn’t expected it to be this serious.

Even though she had previously suspected that Concubine Kang might use the child in her belly to cause trouble, how could she have imagined that Concubine Kang would gamble with her own life? Looking at the blood that continued to flow endlessly, Ren Yaoqi did not doubt that Concubine Kang would take a trip to death’s door.

Seeing the situation completely out of control, Ren Yaoqi quickly calmed down. Not bothering with Ren Yaoyu, who had run away, she immediately instructed the maid behind her to quickly fetch Old Madam Ren and Eldest Madam. Then she hurried to Concubine Kang’s side. Ren Yaoqi carefully observed Concubine Kang’s complexion, and after some thought, didn’t dare move her carelessly. She only used the opportunity of crouching down to call to Concubine Kang to inconspicuously pull at the two maids beside her, making them change the angle at which they were holding her.

Although Ren Yaoqi had read some medical books and pharmacopeias, she had only theoretical knowledge and had never encountered such a situation before. Not knowing how to handle it, she sent her maid to the nearby Liuli Courtyard for help.

Regardless of whether Lin Shi was willing to send people over, this was all she could do.

Fortunately, people did come from Liuli Courtyard – an old nanny and two maids. The people from Old Madam Ren and Eldest Madam arrived even faster.

When the old nanny saw Concubine Kang’s condition, her face immediately changed. She stepped forward to examine Concubine Kang’s situation. From her demeanor and the instructions she gave to the two maids, Ren Yaoqi could tell this nanny understood childbirth matters, so she stepped aside to avoid causing trouble.

Before long, Eldest Madam came running over in a rush with others. Eldest Madam had indeed run here – fine sweat was already beading on her forehead. Along with Eldest Madam came Nanny Gui from Old Madam Ren’s side, though it was unclear whether they had met halfway or come together.

Finally, under Eldest Madam’s orders, Concubine Kang was carried to the nearest Liuli Courtyard.

Eldest Madam had no time to question Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaoting, hurriedly following behind the now-unconscious Concubine Kang toward Liuli Courtyard.

Ren Yaoqi walked to Ren Yaoting’s side and gently patted her shoulder: “Seventh younger sister? Let me accompany you to your grandmother’s place to rest.”

Ren Yaoting had come to her senses by now. Hearing Ren Yaoqi’s voice, she fearfully grabbed her arm, her face pale and lips trembling as she said: “Fifth elder sister, you didn’t see how terrifying eighth younger sister was just now! She screamed, ‘I won’t let the thing in your belly be born to upset my mother,’ and then lowered her head and charged at Concubine Kang. Then… then Concubine Kang fell to the ground and started… bleeding.”

Ren Yaoting seemed to recall the shocking blood that had filled her vision earlier, her voice becoming unsteady. She was just a teenage girl who had never witnessed real bloodshed in her life – she was truly terrified.

Ren Yaoqi grasped Ren Yaoting’s hand, but didn’t know how to comfort her.

When she had heard the commotion between Ren Yaoyu and Concubine Kang earlier, her heart had stirred. Seeing that Ren Yaoting wanted to go over, after briefly considering it in her mind, she had made her decision and let Ren Yaoting go alone.

Ren Yaoqi admitted she had no feelings for most people in the Ren family, but the current Ren Yaoting was just a young girl. Having her witness such a scene, while Ren Yaoqi couldn’t say she felt very guilty, she did feel some discomfort.

Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaoting returned to Old Madam Ren’s Ronghua Garden.

Old Madam Ren was listening with a face dark as water to a nanny’s report about something – from what could be heard, it should be about Concubine Kang’s condition.

Seeing Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaoting return, Old Madam Ren beckoned them over.

“I heard you two were also in the garden just now?” Old Madam Ren asked with a frown.

Ren Yaoqi lowered her head and replied: “In response to grandmother, we originally intended to go catch butterflies under the camphor trees outside the garden.”

Old Madam Ren nodded and said coldly: “Then tell me what you saw.”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi looked at Old Madam Ren with some difficulty and said hesitantly: “Grandmother, I was resting in the corridor at the time. When I heard the commotion and ran over, Concubine Kang had already fallen to the ground.”

Old Madam Ren glanced at Ren Yaoqi, then frowned as she looked toward Ren Yaoting.

Ren Yaoting’s emotions had stabilized considerably by now. She took a deep breath before slowly recounting what she had witnessed.

When Ren Yaoting had walked over, Ren Yaoyu and Concubine Kang were already arguing, or rather, Ren Yaoyu had already begun berating Concubine Kang with all sorts of harsh words, and her expression was becoming increasingly agitated.

Seeing Concubine Kang slightly frowning and touching her small belly with a look of discomfort, Ren Yaoting had asked with concern and tried to persuade Ren Yaoyu: “Look, Concubine Kang seems somewhat uncomfortable. If you keep scolding her and she harms the child in her belly, how will you explain it to your father? You should let her go back and rest.”

This was what Ren Yaoting herself said – in this she had only played the role of a well-meaning mediator.

However, Ren Yaoqi knew that Ren Yaoting had gone over to watch the excitement, so she was noncommittal about her claims of trying to make peace. Whether Ren Yaoting had opportunely added a few provocative words that led to Ren Yaoyu’s trouble, she couldn’t be sure.

But looking at Ren Yaoting’s somewhat evasive gaze and her hesitant tone when mentioning certain details, Ren Yaoqi had a good idea.

Hearing about Ren Yaoyu’s actions, Old Madam Ren’s expression could be described as bone-chillingly cold.

Even Ren Yaoqi, who had never gained Old Madam Ren’s favor, had never seen Old Madam Ren show her such an expression.

Ren Yaoqi knew that Ren Yaoyu had now completely earned Old Madam Ren’s disgust.

Anyone would think that someone who dared to attack a pregnant woman so viciously was too cruel.

After a while, Eldest Madam returned.

“How is the situation? Can the child be saved?” Old Madam Ren asked with a frown.

Eldest Madam sighed softly and shook her head: “The fall was too severe – the child is gone. The physician has already examined her. Concubine Kang lost too much blood, but fortunately, her constitution is fairly robust, otherwise… The physician said this kind of situation could very likely result in two deaths.”

Although Old Madam Ren had expected the child might not be saved, hearing Eldest Madam say this still darkened her expression: “What a sin!”

Eldest Madam also shook her head.

Old Madam Ren’s eyes turned cold: “Where is that wretch! Have someone tie her up and bring her to me!”

Eldest Madam glanced at Old Madam Ren’s expression and tentatively pleaded for Ren Yaoyu: “Old Madam, Yaoyu surely didn’t do it intentionally. When I went to Liuli Courtyard just now, Yaoyu was hiding in her room, crying. No matter how her fifth sister-in-law knocked on the door, she wouldn’t open it. She’s also regretting it in her heart.”

Old Madam Ren remained unmoved: “This is a human life! Not some cat or dog! Go tie her up and bring her to me first! That wretch! That wretch!”

Eldest Madam finally sighed and went.

Before Ren Yaoyu could be brought over, tied up, people came from the Eastern Residence. It turned out that Ren Yaoting’s maid had just gone back to report, and after Su Shi learned of it, she sent a nanny from her side to fetch Ren Yaoting back.

Seeing Ren Yaoting’s complexion, Old Madam Ren knew she had also been badly frightened today. Her expression softened somewhat as she let her follow Su Shi’s nanny back to the Eastern Residence first.

Ren Yaoting was also eager to leave this place and followed Su Shi’s nanny without a word.

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment, then said to Old Madam: “Grandmother, I’ll go see the seventh younger sister off.”

Old Madam Ren had no time to pay attention to Ren Yaoqi at this moment. She waved her hand dismissively.

Ren Yaoqi bowed and withdrew. Seeing Ren Yaoting being supported by Su Shi’s nanny walking ahead, she quickly took a few steps to catch up, going forward to take Ren Yaoting’s other arm and softly comforting her: “Who could have expected to encounter such a thing? Seventh younger sister, after you return, rest well and don’t let your thoughts run wild.”