The Emperor’s expression changed.

He took out the two assignments to compare them—completely different handwriting, completely different viewpoints. One was parallel prose, one was a policy essay.

These two equally excellent essays were actually from the same person?

“It was… it was… Meng Shen helping…” The Sixth Prince struggled to find the right words. “I didn’t understand, so I asked him for guidance. He instructed me in writing it…”

The Sixth Prince’s mother, Noble Consort Yuan, hastily stepped forward. “Yes, yes, yes. Shen-geer is a good child—clever, sensible, and helpful. Shen-geer was helping his sixth maternal uncle write essays. After Shen-geer gives guidance a few times, sixth son will be able to write them himself in the future.”

“Is that so?” Seeing this matter about to be glossed over, Yun Chu spoke lightly. “No wonder Shen-geer is covered in injuries. It’s hard not to suspect that Prince Cheng used force to coerce Shen-geer into compliance. I ask Imperial Father to investigate thoroughly.”

“My poor Shen-geer!” Imperial Consort Yin walked forward crying and embraced Meng Shen. “Just now this consort asked Shen-geer where the bruise at the corner of his mouth came from. Shen-geer said he fell himself. Heaven have mercy—who would fall and end up like this? He must have been beaten into this state by Prince Cheng…”

Meng Shen wanted to say a few words.

But being held by Imperial Consort Yin as she wailed loudly, his voice was drowned out.

The Emperor’s fury could no longer be suppressed. If Teacher Wang hadn’t said that having someone write for him also had benefits, he would have loved to kick this worthless thing out the door.

“I had you study to become wise and understand principles, yet you use your status to oppress others.” The Emperor enunciated each word. “If you’re so unwilling to study and write, then stop studying. Leave the position for students who need it more. Starting tomorrow, sixth son, you need not come anymore.”

The Sixth Prince was completely stunned.

Although he didn’t love studying, he couldn’t not study—wouldn’t that make him useless?

“Imperial Father, your son was wrong!” He hastily wailed his admission of fault. “I beg Imperial Father to give your son one more chance. Your son will definitely study hard and not disappoint Imperial Father’s expectations…”

“I have no expectations of you whatsoever!” The Emperor lifted his foot and kicked him away again.

Keeping such a worthless son in the capital would only make him a pawn for other princes competing for power and position.

“In three days, leave the capital for your fiefdom! Keeping you in the capital is simply an eyesore!”

The Emperor turned and left with a flick of his sleeve.

The Sixth Prince crawled forward on his knees trying to follow, but was stopped by Eunuch Gao. “Prince Yi is a few years younger than Prince Cheng and has already gone to his fiefdom. Going to one’s fiefdom is not a bad thing. Prince Cheng should prepare early.”

The Sixth Prince wept bitterly.

Noble Consort Yuan held her head and wailed together with him.

“Shen-geer, oh you.” Imperial Consort Yin shook her head and sighed. “If not for today’s incident, how long were you planning to keep hiding it?”

Meng Shen looked toward Chu Yi and Yun Chu. “Thank you, Uncle and Aunt.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Teacher Wang walked over, stroking his beard. “Although Prince Cheng has left, you still cannot slacken. If you have the energy, you may continue to submit two essays each time.”

Meng Shen cupped his hands. “Yes, Teacher.”

Writing two essays was one thing when coerced to complete them, and completely different when done willingly.

At least, his whole person would no longer be oppressed.

The Sixth Prince, Prince Cheng, soon left for his fiefdom. The princes remaining in the capital were becoming fewer and fewer.

The Fourth Prince was dead, the Fifth Prince had been deposed, the Sixth and Eighth Princes had left the capital…

Prince Gongxi sat firmly in the Ministry of Revenue, controlling the population registers and money of the entire nation. His momentum was directly threatening the Eastern Palace, and many court officials were secretly changing ships…

The Empress was also constantly maneuvering behind the scenes. The war between both sides was on the verge of breaking out.

Although they fought fiercely in private, memorials about the succession struggle became fewer and fewer on the surface of the court. Many people sensed the calm before the storm.

Yun Chu’s abdomen gradually swelled, increasingly taking on the appearance of a pregnant woman.

“She moved! Little sister moved!” Chu Hongyu placed his hand on Yun Chu’s belly. After keeping it there for about half a shichen, he finally captured the fetal movement and immediately cried out excitedly. “Mother, quickly feel—little sister is moving!”

“Elder brother, can you please be a little quieter?” Chu Changsheng shushed him. “You’re scaring little sister!”

Chu Hongyu hastily covered his mouth.

“All right, your mother needs to rest.” Chu Yi spoke to shoo them away.

After the two children went off to study, only then did he kneel before Yun Chu, turning his face to press his ear against Yun Chu’s belly.

Perhaps sensing their father, the little one inside the belly moved about chaotically.

“Really moving!” Chu Yi’s voice contained hidden excitement. “This is a lively child!”

Although he could feel the fetal movement every day, each time he clearly sensed the child, he still became extremely excited.

He sometimes often thought—if only he had been by her side when she was pregnant with Yu-geer and Changsheng. But he could only think about it.

The past was already past. One must learn to cherish the present.

In the mornings he would go to the Court of Judicial Review to handle some official business. Afternoons and evenings he stayed home, pushing aside all trivial miscellaneous matters.

Every day he would handle some household affairs together with Yun Chu, then there was continuous eating—breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon snacks, various nibbles. Before sleeping at night, Yun Chu still had to eat another meal before she could fall asleep. Often in the middle of the night she would suddenly wake up saying she was hungry, so he would accompany her to eat some more.

Not only had Yun Chu gained weight, he felt he had gained weight too.

He could only wait until Yun Chu was asleep, then quickly pick up his sword and practice in the courtyard…

In the blink of an eye it was June and July. Yun Chu’s due date was in August.

Now even walking was a problem for her. After one circuit around the garden she would start panting heavily, leaning on Chu Yi and unwilling to move her body anymore.

Chu Yi said gently, “The imperial physician said that in the month before giving birth, one should move around more. That way the delivery will be smoother. Chu’er, be good—let’s walk one more circuit.”

Yun Chu also understood this principle.

If she were walking alone, she would definitely be able to walk three circuits in one go.

But she didn’t know why—with Chu Yi here, she became somewhat delicate.

In the month before giving birth, time was especially difficult to endure. Sleeping at night was also a problem. She could only sleep sitting up, sleeping for a while before being startled awake for various reasons.

“Chu’er, after this child is born, let’s not have any more children.”

Chu Yi held her and spoke softly.

The closer to the due date, the more afraid he became.

Afraid of her hemorrhaging, afraid something would happen to her, afraid something would happen to the child…

Yun Chu was also afraid in her heart.

Having experienced such despair once before, this time she was especially careful.

Enduring day by day, mid-August became increasingly hot. The court situation also became increasingly unstable. Prince Gongxi’s influence surged while the Crown Prince weakened. Among the common people, rumors were already circulating that the Emperor wanted to change crown princes…

Yun Chu knew that Chu Yi had long since obtained both witness testimony and material evidence of Prince Gongxi’s involvement in the imperial examination fraud.

But because she was heavily pregnant and afraid of accidents, he had forcibly held back from exposing it. Everything would wait until after she gave birth.

On a night at the end of August when the moonlight was bright and clear, Yun Chu’s abdomen suddenly began having regular contractions…

“Quick, the midwife!”

“You few, boil hot water!”

“Everyone don’t panic—listen to the midwife’s instructions!”

“…”