The blood-stained Xiao Rongyan, fearing that Dong Shi might worry more without understanding the situation, solemnly bowed deeply to her: “First Miss was speaking with Rongyan… and the masked prince of the foreign tribes when she suddenly collapsed. Please, Madam… Empress Dowager, do not worry. Physician Hong is already taking First Miss’s pulse.”

Physician Hong looked deeply at Xiao Rongyan, then stood and bowed formally to Dong Shi, saying: “Madam, please rest assured. First Miss is no longer in danger, but…”

“But?!” Fourth Madam Wang Shi, who had been continuously fingering her prayer beads, paused and gripped them tightly. “But what?!”

Physician Hong glared at Xiao Rongyan through gritted teeth, then bowed again and said: “Madam, may I speak with you privately?”

Xiao Rongyan’s palms tightened, not understanding why Physician Hong suddenly seemed to hate him to the bone.

Dong Shi’s heart leaped to her throat. She nodded and walked with Physician Hong to a corner of the hall where thirty-two branched lanterns stood. Only then did Physician Hong say: “Madam, First Miss… is with child.”

Dong Shi’s eyes widened in shock as she stared at Physician Hong. Her mind buzzed, and she instinctively looked toward Xiao Rongyan, seeing his sleeves mostly stained red with blood… the injured Xiao Rongyan, wrapped in gauze, was bending over to cover Bai Qingyan with a thin blanket. She steadied herself and asked Physician Hong: “But, didn’t you say that A’Bao’s condition made childbearing…”

“Childbearing is difficult, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Moreover… First Miss’s cold syndrome has been cured.” Physician Hong’s expression was grave. “However, First Miss’s body is still not quite suitable for pregnancy. Combined with her constant lack of rest and excessive toil, this caused the heart palpitations and fainting.”

“But… could there be danger?” Dong Shi’s throat tightened repeatedly. She could ignore matters of reputation—A’Bao was already Great Zhou’s Female Emperor, and countless people hoped A’Bao would establish an imperial consort and bear children—but she couldn’t ignore A’Bao’s health!

Since ancient times, women’s pregnancies were like stepping one foot into the gates of hell, let alone her A’Bao, whose body had been injured in her early years. With Physician Hong saying she wasn’t suitable for pregnancy, how could she, as a mother, not worry?

That damned Xiao Rongyan—if not for his past kindness to the Bai family, Dong Shi truly feared she couldn’t restrain herself from having the Imperial Guards throw him out right now!

Dong Shi clenched her fists tightly. Turning back to see several sisters-in-law looking at her with eyes full of worry, she forced herself to suppress her emotions and said to Physician Hong: “This matter should not be spread around for now.”

“This old man understands the gravity of the situation.” Physician Hong nodded.

Dong Shi took a long breath and walked toward the Bai family madams, saying: “Physician Hong says A’Bao is fine… It’s just excessive fatigue from recent days. A good sleep will cure it. Don’t all guard here—go back first! When A’Bao wakes up… I’ll send someone to notify you. Fifth sister-in-law… quickly go back and care for Little Eight!”

“But…” Third Madam Li Shi was about to speak when Fifth Madam Qi Shi grabbed her arm.

Fifth Madam Qi Shi was quite clever. If A’Bao truly had just overworked herself, why would Physician Hong need to speak privately? It seemed the sister-in-law wanted to send them away first to speak about something. Sister-in-law would surely inform them later—there was no rush.

“Sister-in-law is right. With so many of us crowding here, we’re not much use. Sister-in-law should care for A’Bao first. If you need anything… send someone to tell us.” Fifth Madam Qi Shi bowed to Dong Shi.

After seeing the madams off, Dong Shi looked at her son, Bai Qingyu. With outsiders present… she couldn’t be too obvious, so she said to Bai Qingyu: “Your Highness, His Majesty is no longer in danger. Your Highness should return to the guest house to rest early. Today has been alarming for Your Highness.”

Bai Qingyu’s fists clenched tightly behind his back. He bowed to Dong Shi: “In that case, this prince will take his leave first!”

Dong Shi nodded, reluctantly watching her son leave. Her expression immediately darkened as she looked toward Xiao Rongyan.

Xiao Rongyan stood beside the soft couch. Seeing Dong Shi’s gaze, he knew she had something to say to him.

“Wei Zhong… I have words for this, Mr. Xiao. Take everyone out—only leave Physician Hong!” Dong Shi spoke coldly with full authority, staring at Xiao Rongyan intimidatingly.

Xiao Rongyan’s palms tightened slightly. He respectfully stepped aside, assuming the posture of a junior… ready to humbly receive an elder’s instruction.

Dong Shi walked to sit beside Bai Qingyan’s soft couch, touched Bai Qingyan’s forehead, and tucked the blanket around her. Her eyes immediately blurred with tears.

In the past, because of A’Bao’s difficulty bearing children, she didn’t know how many tears she had secretly shed. Now that A’Bao was pregnant… Dong Shi was deeply worried again.

If anything happened to A’Bao because of this pregnancy, Dong Shi would rather A’Bao never have children in her lifetime!

Thinking this, tears couldn’t help but fall. She wiped them away with the back of her hand and looked at Xiao Rongyan with fury: “When did you… Consume your relationship with A’Bao?”

Xiao Rongyan’s pupils trembled. His gaze fell on Bai Qingyan’s pale face. Thinking of Physician Hong’s earlier reaction and Bai Qingyan’s mother’s current reaction, a notion began to form in Xiao Rongyan’s mind.

Not seeing Xiao Rongyan’s answer, Dong Shi bit her teeth hard, unable to restrain herself any longer. She lifted her skirt and stepped forward, raising her hand to slap Xiao Rongyan across the face, making half his face burn with pain.

Dong Shi’s tears fell like broken strings as she angrily demanded through gritted teeth: “When?!”

Xiao Rongyan’s throat rolled. In almost a flash of lightning, he understood everything.

He stepped back and, lifting the hem of his robe, knelt before Dong Shi, kowtowing to her solemnly: “Today, Yan originally intended to personally visit the Empress Dowager’s palace to be honest with her. Xiao Rongyan… my real name is Murong Yan, Great Yan’s Ninth Prince, the younger brother of Yan’s late emperor Murong Yu!”

Dong Shi’s eyes widened as the man before her suddenly seemed like a stranger.

“Murong Yan… first met First Miss in Shu’s imperial palace and greatly admired her. Later… when First Miss led the capital’s Bai family to survive desperate circumstances while never forgetting the aspirations that generations of the Bai family had strived for, I was deeply moved with respect. First Miss knew Murong Yan’s identity early on but never exposed it. She once said… a lesser hero draws his sword to help the weak, while a greater hero saves the masses. First Miss believed Murong Yan could save the masses.” Xiao Rongyan’s eyes reddened, each word coming from his heart. “Beyond respect, Murong Yan developed feelings of deep admiration. In this life… I will never marry anyone but First Miss!”

Murong Yan raised his head again, tears already in his eyes: “Murong Yan and First Miss are mutually in love. To Murong Yan… First Miss is my wife, my only one in this life! Please… Madam, grant us your blessing!”

After hearing Murong Yan’s words, Dong Shi staggered back a step and collapsed onto the soft couch: “You’re saying… you’re Great Yan’s Ninth Prince, and A’Bao… also knows you’re Great Yan’s Ninth Prince!”

Murong Yan looked at Dong Shi, nodded, then kowtowed to her again: “Please, Madam, grant us your blessing.”