Jirong stroked her cheek and said calmly, “Would you voluntarily tell me if you had harmed me? No, you wouldn’t. So Xiuzhu could never tell the Prince of Qin’s consort. On the contrary, she would become our best ally because… she has a fatal weakness that has fallen into our hands.”

These words truly awakened the dreamer. Ding Yang suddenly understood and said admiringly, “Your Ladyship is brilliant. This humble servant is in awe.”

“Enough. Instead of wasting time on such empty words, you’d better think about what to say to Xiuzhu in two days. You may withdraw.” After dismissing Ding Yang, Jirong suddenly frowned and covered her abdomen with her hand. Seeing this, Liyu hurriedly asked, “Your Ladyship, what’s wrong?”

After sitting back down in her chair, Jirong’s face was pale as she said, “I don’t know. It’s the same as last time – my lower abdomen suddenly hurts terribly.”

“Your Ladyship, please bear with it. This servant will immediately have someone fetch the imperial physician.” Saying this, Liyu hurriedly instructed the palace servants to go to the Imperial Medical Bureau, while she and Ding Yang helped Jirong return to the bedchamber to lie down.

Before long, a palace servant brought an unfamiliar imperial physician quickly to the bedchamber. After hastily performing the proper salutations, the physician took out a silk cloth, placed it over Jirong’s wrist, and felt her pulse. After a while, he withdrew his hand and asked, “May I ask Your Ladyship, how many times has this abdominal pain occurred?”

Liyu answered on her behalf, “Once two days ago, and today is the second time. Both were sudden abdominal pains without any warning.” She then asked anxiously, “What exactly is wrong with Her Ladyship’s health?”

The physician remained silent for a moment, then said, “I presume to ask – has Your Ladyship’s monthly flow consistently failed to arrive?”

Liyu counted on her fingers and calculated for a while, then nodded, “Since last month, it has not come at all. Counting the time, it’s been about a month.”

A trace of a smile appeared on the physician’s face. “That explains it.” He then rose and performed a deep bow to Jirong, “Congratulations, Your Ladyship! Felicitations, Your Ladyship!”

His reaction made Jirong vaguely guess at the truth, but she didn’t voice it aloud and only said, “What cause for joy?”

“Your Ladyship is already carrying a child of one month.” Before the physician finished speaking, Liyu exclaimed joyfully, “You’re saying Her Ladyship is with child? Is this truly so?”

The physician smiled and said, “How could I joke about such a matter? It’s absolutely true!”

Hearing this, Liyu and Ding Yang exchanged glances, then knelt down together with all the palace servants before Jirong, their faces full of joy as they said, “Congratulations, Your Ladyship! Great joy to Your Ladyship!”

Jirong had recovered considerably by now. She propped herself up and took her own pulse – the pulse was rapid and slippery, indeed the pulse of pregnancy. During this period, Li Jiancheng had just been enfeoffed as Crown Prince and moved from the Heir Apparent’s residence to the Eastern Palace. She had been constantly busy with affairs, having no time for other thoughts, to the point where she didn’t even know she was pregnant.

Ever since Li Chengzong was harmed by Zheng Shi and became deaf, Jirong had been longing to bear another child. Although Li Jiancheng had always favored her, no one knew how long this favor would last. Ultimately, children were the most reliable support.

After the initial joy, Jirong frowned and said, “If it’s a joyful pulse, why have I been experiencing continuous abdominal pain? Is there something wrong with the fetus?”

The physician bowed and said, “The reason for Your Ladyship’s abdominal pain has not yet been determined by this humble official. As for the fetus, it appears stable for now, so Your Ladyship need not worry excessively. However, from now on, Your Ladyship must avoid cold and spicy foods. This humble official will prescribe several doses of fetal-stabilizing medicine for Your Ladyship to take.”

“Thank you for your trouble, Physician.” Saying this, Jirong looked him over and said, “I have never seen you before. What is your name?”

The physician replied respectfully, “In response to Your Ladyship, this humble official is Gao Qi. I arrived at the Imperial Medical Bureau to serve half a month ago.”

“Mm. From now on, you shall come daily to check my pulse and stabilize the pregnancy.” After Gao Qi agreed, Jirong said to Liyu, “Go fetch that gold-inlaid folding fan to reward Imperial Physician Gao.”

“Thank you, Your Ladyship.” After receiving the gold-inlaid folding fan from Liyu with both hands, Gao Qi expressed his gratitude and withdrew.

Liyu handed a cup of freshly warmed goat’s milk to Jirong’s side, smiling brightly as she said, “This servant has already sent someone to inform His Highness the Crown Prince. Just a few days ago, His Highness said he hoped Your Ladyship would conceive again. Who would have thought his wish would be fulfilled so quickly? His Highness will surely be very pleased.”

Jirong lowered her head and stroked her still-flat abdomen, saying softly, “This time, I will never let anyone harm him again.”

Before long, Li Jiancheng strode in with his robes rustling in the wind, heading straight for Jirong. Before he had even steadied himself, he was already asking impatiently, “Is it truly joyful news?”

Jirong nodded slightly and said softly, “That’s what Imperial Physician Gao said – it’s just been one month.”

“Excellent! Excellent!” Li Jiancheng’s eyes were filled with joy, showing how happy Jirong’s pregnancy made him. After slightly suppressing his excitement, he said to the palace servants who had entered with him, “Pass down the order – from now on, all provisions for Changchun Pavilion shall be the same as those for Yiqiu Palace.” The Yiqiu Palace he mentioned was Zheng Shi’s residence.

Jirong’s eyes flickered slightly as she said, “Your Highness, this way, I fear the Crown Princess will be displeased. Perhaps… we should forget about it.”

Li Jiancheng said dismissively, “What’s there to be displeased about? Go and pass down the order as I said.” After the palace servants left, he grasped Jirong’s hand and said, “For the next nine months, you must carefully nurture the pregnancy and not overexert yourself. Leave palace affairs to others.”

“Your subject understands.” Saying this, Jirong asked with concern, “When will Your Highness dispatch troops against Xue Ju?”

“Three hundred thousand troops have been almost fully assembled. The dispatch should happen within the next day or two.” He then smiled and said, “Why, are you worried something might happen to me?”

Contrary to Li Jiancheng’s expectations, Jirong shook her head, “Your Highness is brave and mighty, invincible in battle. This campaign will surely be victorious. Since this is so, why would your subject need to worry?”

Her words were exactly what Li Jiancheng wanted to hear. He nodded and said, “Precisely. I will certainly defeat Xue Ju and let Father Emperor know who can truly help him.”

Jirong smiled and said, “Then your subject wishes Your Highness an early victorious return.”

In the palace, news always traveled fastest. The matter of Li Jiancheng ordering that Changchun Pavilion’s provisions be elevated to the same level as Yiqiu Palace reached Zheng Shi’s ears within an hour. The latter was so angry that she violently smashed the sour plum soup she had just sipped to the ground.

After Liuye had someone clean it up, she said softly, “Your Ladyship, please calm your anger. It’s not worth ruining your health over an ungrateful wretch. She has done so many evil deeds that even if she conceives a child, she won’t be able to keep it.”

Zheng Shi bit her lower lip hard, and the next moment, tears were already falling from her eyes. She choked out, “I’m not angry about the Ji woman, but about His Highness. He… just how far does he want to push me? Will he only be satisfied if he drives me to death?”

“That won’t happen.” Liuye said with heartache, “His Highness is just temporarily bewitched by Jirong’s fox-like charms. He will soon realize who he should truly care about.”

Zheng Shi shook her head mournfully, “You needn’t comfort me. Looking at His Highness’s behavior, I fear he will never awaken for his entire life.” After pausing for a moment, she laughed bitterly, “Yiqiu Palace… Changchun Pavilion… In Li Jiancheng’s heart, I am like autumn leaves – withered and fallen; while Jirong is like spring flowers – delicate and eternally blooming!”