“A gift?” Yin Gezhi frowned, looking at Lingshu puzzled.

Lingshu blinked, sighing as she said: “When the master was at Menghou Tower, she regularly drank contraceptive tea, which is something courtesans commonly drink. This servant has been helping prepare it for her, serving it to her every time.”

His heart sank, and Yin Gezhi closed his eyes: “She didn’t want any entanglements with me.”

“Yes.” Nodding without mercy, Lingshu said: “Though this servant doesn’t know what happened between you and the master, this servant can see that the master treats you very differently, yet doesn’t seem to wholeheartedly like you either.”

She had never asked the master about this until later when they returned to Wei country, where she secretly heard many secrets and pieced things together. Only then did she finally understand what was between these two people?

The master was the orphan of the Guan family, while His Highness was indirectly responsible for the destruction of the Guan family. They might have been in love once, but now their positions were different, making it impossible to be together. In other words, once her revenge was complete, the master would have no reason to live.

“This servant just doesn’t want the master to die.” Pouting, Lingshu rubbed her slightly sour nose, her tone becoming lower: “She clearly said she was waiting for me to earn money to show filial piety to her in the future, but looking at her actions, she never planned to wait until I grew up… she’s a liar. Only caring about her revenge.”

What about her? Who would she buy mung bean cakes for in the future?

His heart ached slightly as Yin Gezhi lowered his eyes, his gaze suddenly becoming distant.

Wasn’t she just a liar? She said she would stay alive to carve Guan Canghai’s tombstone, but she had planned all along to die together with Emperor Wei Wen. Almost, it was truly just almost. He had nearly fallen into that endless hell, never to be reborn.

“So,” pausing for a moment, Lingshu straightened her back, wearing the expression of a sulking child, and said through gritted teeth: “From the moment we entered Wei country, all the contraceptive tea the master was supposed to drink, I replaced it all with medicine to strengthen her body!”

Yin Gezhi, who had been immersed in sadness, froze, as if he hadn’t understood, looking up somewhat bewildered at the little girl before him.

Lifting her chin, Lingshu said: “This servant wants the master to have a child, as a gift to Your Highness, and also to give the master a reason to keep living. No matter what, this servant hopes Your Highness can make an effort to accept this gift!”

Outside, Guanzhi, who was driving the carriage, nearly fell off the shaft! The carriage shook, and the stunned Yin Gezhi held Feng Yue tighter.

“This servant has asked the doctor,” with no hint of joking in her expression, Lingshu said very seriously: “The doctor said conception is easiest about half a month before the monthly cycle. The master’s cycle is at the end of the month, which means, around mid-month, regardless of what methods Your Highness uses, please make sure to…”

“Mid-month?” Interrupting her words, light flashed in Yin Gezhi’s eyes as he suddenly asked: “What did the royal physician say earlier when he took her pulse?”

Lingshu froze, lowering her head to think for a moment before saying: “He said this soldier appeared to have internal injuries from extreme anger, damaged organs, disordered pulse, and needed proper care.”

“He thought she was a man, that’s why he said the pulse was disordered.” His eyes began to move slightly, and the usually composed Prince Yin suddenly lost his composure, trying to stand up while holding Feng Yue!

The result was predictable – the carriage roof wasn’t high enough, but it was solid enough that when his head hit it, there was a loud “thunk.”

Lingshu was stunned, watching Yin Gezhi’s panicked scrambling. She suddenly realized something and also began to panic, pulling open the carriage curtain and shouting: “Lord Guanzhi, quick, find a doctor!”

Guanzhi replied: “The royal physician returned to the palace with the imperial procession on the main road!”

“Then drive faster!” Yin Gezhi commanded in a low voice: “As fast as possible!”

Lingshu immediately added: “But not too bumpy!”

Guanzhi: “…”

Could someone teach him how to drive both fast and smooth? This was a mountain road!

Perhaps infected by the emotions of the two people in the carriage behind him, Guanzhi held his breath, chose the smoothest path, and rushed back to the prince’s mansion!

Many ministers were crowding the mansion gate, having heard the news and coming to discuss matters with Yin Gezhi. However, when they finally saw the prince’s carriage arrive, the person who got out didn’t even glance at them. Instead, he carried an armor-clad soldier and rushed straight inside.

“Your Highness! Your Highness!”

Ignoring the continuous exclamations outside, Yin Gezhi carried her into the main chamber, closed the door, personally changed her clothes, and only then let Lingshu enter.

Lingshu efficiently wiped Feng Yue’s face with water and tidied her hair. While waiting for Guanzhi to bring the doctor, she also took the opportunity to change her own clothes.

The doctor came to take her pulse, initially calm but ended up so nervous under the intense stares of the prince and the maid that his hands shook.

“This… this young lady appears to be weak, and seems to have a slippery pulse, though it’s not very obvious,” after carefully checking for a while, the doctor finally dared to speak: “She should first take some medicine to strengthen her body, and we can make a proper diagnosis after some time.”

Yin Gezhi frowned – what was a slippery pulse? He had no knowledge of medical matters and couldn’t understand at all.

Lingshu understood, her eyebrows lifting with joy. She pushed Guanzhi to follow the doctor to get medicine, then closed the door and said: “A slippery pulse is a pregnancy pulse! The pulse flows smoothly, like pearls rolling on a plate! But if the doctor says it’s not obvious, it means the pregnancy is very early and can’t be confirmed yet. After a few more days of care, then we can make a definite conclusion!”

Stunned by her rapid-fire explanation, Yin Gezhi narrowed his eyes: “So you’re saying we can’t confirm whether she’s with child now, only that it’s possible?”

The face that had been smiling just moments ago immediately fell at these words. Lingshu said unhappily: “Can’t you say something more pleasant?”

“It’s fine,” shaking his head, Yin Gezhi’s gaze became determined as he placed his hand on Feng Yue’s belly, saying seriously: “Even if she’s not pregnant now, I can make sure she becomes pregnant again.”

“…”

What shameless words! Lingshu covered her face, but thinking it was for her master’s good, she decided not to argue for now!

Feng Yue remained asleep, truly appearing exhausted. The group from the courtyard gathered outside, with over a dozen heads huddled together, listening to Lingshu’s whispered words.

“Emperor Wei Wen has passed away, and the Guan family’s wrongful charges have been cleared. The young master has nothing else to do now,” Madam Qiu sighed: “What Lingshu says makes sense. We must persuade the young master and watch over her, we can’t let her do anything foolish.”

“It’s hard to stay positive,” Luo Hao pressed his lips together: “She’s lost everything.”

“Nonsense!” Lingshu glared at him: “Aren’t we still here?”

“That’s right,” Yin Yanzhong nodded: “The young master has carried this blood feud for four years, it’s time to let her put it down and live her own life properly.”

Everyone agreed.

However, while they thought this way, Feng Yue seemed unwilling to cooperate. Not only did she not wake from this sleep, but by evening she had developed a high fever. She spoke deliriously, and no matter how the people beside her called out, she wouldn’t wake.

“Father…”

“Feng Yue.”

“Emperor Wei Wen can’t die…”

“Guan Qingyue!”

Yin Gezhi’s expression was terrible as he sat by the bed, holding her head in his arms, constantly changing the cloth on her forehead while calling out to her.

The atmosphere in the room was heavy, with a row of elderly ministers standing nearby, their beards all white with age, trembling as they said: “Your Highness, the palace is still in chaos, Your Highness…”

Turning his head impatiently to look at them, Yin Gezhi said coldly: “What does that have to do with me? Haven’t the Empress and Crown Prince been condemned by the Imperial Clan Court?”

“But…” the elderly minister hurriedly stepped forward and said: “His Majesty has just passed away. The Crown Prince is guilty, if you don’t come out to stabilize the court, I’m afraid the Wei kingdom will fall into great chaos!”

“What is there to be chaotic about?” Yin Gezhi frowned: “Isn’t the Fifth Prince still there? Just have him ascend to the throne.”

Hearing these words, several elderly ministers immediately knelt together, crying out: “Your Highness! The Fifth Prince is only fifteen years old, Your Highness!”

“What’s wrong with being fifteen?” Yin Gezhi’s face darkened as he said: “I was already on the battlefield at fifteen!”

“Your Highness!” Wu Ze, kneeling behind them, said in a deep voice: “That’s why only you are worthy of the throne. You have brilliant military achievements, you were the Emperor’s most beloved Prince with the golden seal, and you’re the eldest son. By both reason and sentiment, only your ascension to the throne would satisfy the people’s hearts!”

Turning his gaze back, continuing to change the cloth on Feng Yue’s forehead, Yin Gezhi said coldly: “She hasn’t woken up yet, I don’t have time.”

Everyone’s hearts sank – heaven knows why this usually calm and considerate Prince, who always considered the bigger picture, was now being so stubborn. Who was this young lady on the bed? No one dared to ask. So how could they make her wake up?

The elderly ministers were worried, their hair turning even whiter with anxiety.

Knowing that Yin Gezhi was refusing to leave his chambers, the Shi clan took the opportunity to rebel, putting up a desperate resistance. However, Minister Chen and Commander Lian led their forces to suppress them mercilessly, imprisoning those who should be imprisoned, and preparing to execute those who should be executed. Many high officials of the Shi clan were dissatisfied – they had been a prestigious family for so many years, how could they be treated this way just because a few people rebelled?

Dissatisfied and wanting to make trouble, even while imprisoned, they used their remaining influence to loudly proclaim their innocence, seeking a way to survive.

Feng Yue’s high fever broke, and she woke up to drink a bowl of porridge, only to fall back asleep and develop another fever. Yin Gezhi was worried and in a bad mood, coincidentally when Lian Heng came to report that prisoners were causing trouble.

Causing trouble, are they? Very well – Yin Gezhi immediately went to the palace.

The civil and military officials still attended court daily, but without an emperor, they could only discuss matters among themselves below the throne, feeling anxious and unsettled. Finally seeing the Prince of Xiao, the ministers were so grateful they nearly knelt and hailed him as emperor on the spot.

“There’s something I want to ask everyone’s opinion about,” looking at these people, Yin Gezhi said: “The Shi clan committed treason, and while the main culprits have been punished, their clan members remain unrepentant and rebellious. Today is a good day, suitable for sentencing and executing the Shi clan. What do you all think?”

Ask their opinion. Several elderly ministers’ eyes shifted, and they immediately knelt and shouted: “We obey Your Majesty’s order!”

The current situation was precarious, and only Yin Gezhi could save them from disaster. They didn’t want to be ministers of a fallen country, didn’t want to watch Wei country walk toward destruction! Since this was the case, they could only forcefully respect him as emperor!