"My lady, after all, Lady Bai is with child. No matter how much you dislike her, it’s not wise to be so blatant. If others find out, wouldn’t it be disadvantageous for you?"
Yingshuang’s advice was loyal, but unfortunately hard to accept.
Initially, Lady Chu was quite wary and polite towards the palace maid and eunuch assigned to her by Princess Consort Yi.
Now, seeing that Princess Consort Yi is not interested in managing her trivial matters here.
She became increasingly arrogant and reckless.
It must be said that her temper really doesn’t follow anyone.
"What is there to fear, it’s just Bai Pin. If not for that piece of flesh in her belly, do you think she could have reached her current status? Hmph, if that piece of flesh were gone, I would indeed be entertained."
As Yi Changzai had anticipated, not long after she left, Lady Chu went to Lady Bai’s place.
At a glance, she saw those little shirts that had just been delivered.
Without Lady Bai’s permission, she picked them up and examined them carefully.
"Never expected, Yi Changzai is usually so sharp-tongued, yet her craft in making little shirts is decent. It’s just uncertain whether the dragon seed in Lady Bai’s belly could really put them on!"
Lady Chu dared to act this way, betting on the fact that the child in her belly wasn’t a dragon seed.
She lived in Changning Palace alongside Lady Bai, how could she not know about the other’s whereabouts.
Thus, at the time of reveal, the Emperor’s protection astonished Lady Chu.
But afterward, the Emperor never looked in on Lady Bai, giving her some confidence.
It wasn’t until a few days ago that she finally understood why the Emperor wanted to protect, after learning about the Imperial Family’s taboo against twins from the mouths of several older nannies.
Therefore, Lady Bai was considered to have a handle on her own situation.
So her blatant targeting of Lady Bai wasn’t feared for the Emperor’s post-incident finding faults.
Perhaps, she might even be rewarded.
After all, disposing of a bastard for the Emperor was like covering the disgrace for the Imperial Family.
Therefore, her tone became increasingly malicious.
"Both being pregnant, look at others, what kind of life do they lead? News from the palace says the Emperor isn’t returning to the traveling palace for the Mid-Autumn festival this time. One can imagine, he must be staying with Princess Consort Yi Ning and the two newborns."
While speaking, her expressions were full of disdain.
"But Lady Bai, just look at how your belly is so unappreciative. Served the Emperor several times before, never successful once, yet after passing a mere three months there’s a result. Results there may be, but no one is interested. You tell me, when the Emperor asked me to care for your fetus, what intentions did he have?"
Lady Chu’s words pierced Lady Bai’s heart like sharp swords.
She was already fearful and anxious, and being confronted by Lady Chu made her even more panicked.
At this moment, what she thought of was no longer wealth, glory, nor the Emperor’s favor.
It’d be fortunate to retain her life.
Hence, with a face full of terror, she asked Lady Chu.
"What do you mean by that? Is the Emperor wanting you to do something to me?"
Her hand rose to her belly.
Feeling the bulge, a shiver ran through her heart.
Lady Chu was not foolish; to act so openly against her was uncalled for.
So with a calculating smile, she spoke.
"No need to worry, the Emperor asking me to care for your dragon seed, naturally means being cautious in protection. As for whether it can be birthed, or live after birth, that’s another thing altogether. The children in this palace do tend to face difficulties growing up; this, you surely know, right?"
Upon hearing this, Lady Bai’s other hand, gripping the table tightly, was already white with exposed veins.
Clearly, she was using excessive force.
If it was before, Lady Chu daring to threaten her so blatantly would have long had herself punished.
But now, with a guilty conscience hidden inside, naturally her morale has been reduced.
With extended and excessive worry, suddenly her blood pressure shot upwards.
The pain in her belly compelled her to look down, only to feel a dampness on her pants.
Lifting her dress, she saw red flowing.
At that moment, panic spread fiercely in her heart.
"No, it can’t be, it’s only six months old, it can’t be!"
Turning to Lady Chu she shouted.
"Call the Imperial Physician, call the Imperial Physician!"
Even though Lady Chu was shouting dominantly, faced with blood, she was still frightened.
Immediately retreating three steps, she threateningly said to Lady Bai.
"I never touched you, don’t think of accusing me!"
Glancing at the little shirts not yet put away, she continued.
"Certainly, Yi Changzai harbored evil intentions. I’ll go seek her out for clarification."
After saying this, Lady Chu fled hastily. The rıghtful source is 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝✶𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮✶𝓷𝓮𝓽
Returning to her own courtyard, she gave Yingshuang a warning glance, then instructed.
"Today’s matter, not a word is to leak out. Otherwise, I’ll have my father take you back to the Northwest, and sell you off in some low-class brothel for you to become a shameless woman! Understand?"
Lady Chu, being the offspring of a military general, naturally her shouting was filled with threats when her temper flared.
Yingshuang, having never experienced such major events, was frightened and immediately knelt down, crying while nodding.
"I dare not, I dare not."
Thinking of Lady Bai with blood on her pants, she too gritted her teeth.
Praying for dear life.
Lady Chu never cared about Lady Bai’s life or death when she left.
As for Bai Zhi and Bai Ling serving beside her, ever since her pregnancy was found out, trouble befell them consecutively.
Either they were demoted to Yeyou Court for mistakes or died unexpectedly in the palace’s well.
Thus, she currently had no reliable person by her side.
Feeling the blood traces beneath her growing, she sensed a chaos of life slipping away.
With Lady Chu gone, she was left shouting into the void, with no earthly nor heavenly response.
Only by going out herself to find the Imperial Physician would there be a sliver of survival.
Yet, for her now, even moving was a struggle; rising from the chair proved extremely difficult.
"Child, you must hold on."
Lady Bai herself was uncertain about her feelings towards the child.
Before the Emperor had discovered it, she had intended to abort.
After all, she knew full well how the child was conceived.
But after nurturing it in her belly for months, occasional fetal movements brought about a change in her heart.
Feelings of reluctance were genuine.
In this moment, regret, resentment, and helplessness...
All emotions surged forth, but more so was a sense of powerlessness and drowning.
Thus she realized, Lady Chu’s words were not false.
She who has lost value, how could the Emperor possibly retain her.
It just left her pitiful child unable to see the outside world before everything was ended.
Weakly holding the table, she tried to stand and walk outside, to seek a path of life for herself and her child.