Empress Yu was so sensible, and since he himself had always intended to use Empress Yu, the Emperor of Xiyun would not be so ruthless. Instead, he said, "The Yu Family has spread rumors and made a mockery of dukes and nobles, which should be severely punished; but considering she did so out of concern for me and without self-interest, I will show leniency. Today, the Empress is demoted to Concubine, and she shall be confined for one year without leave."
Thus, Empress Yu became Concubine Yu. In just a few days, she had been demoted from Imperial Consort to Concubine and was now also forbidden to leave for a year. Concubine Yu’s heart was filled with hatred, but she had no choice. To be with the Emperor was like being with a tiger; a single word from him could claim her life, or even the lives of her family’s Nine Clans. She could only accept this punishment.
And she had to accept it gratefully.
Concubine Yu gave the Emperor of Xiyun a heavy kowtow, "This concubine thanks His Majesty for the light punishment!"
All the ladies, with their children, knelt down together, "The Emperor is wise!"
The Emperor of Xiyun looked at Xiao Changyi, asking with his eyes: Are you satisfied now?
Xiao Changyi did not even bother with the Emperor of Xiyun, his gaze shifting away to look at his wife, An Jing.
Emperor of Xiyun: "..."
Only after Concubine Yu had been taken away to be confined did the Emperor of Xiyun speak again, "Yi Er, Jingjing, you were unaware of this matter before, but now that you know, and since they have already brought their children to the palace today, why don’t you consider it?"
An Jing was about to say she wouldn’t consider it, when suddenly a sharp pain in her abdomen made her immediately squat down, clutching her stomach. The pain turned her face pale, and cold sweat broke out on her forehead as she couldn’t help but moan lowly, "Husband, my stomach hurts... it hurts so much..."
Xiao Changyi was startled and quickly picked An Jing up, running towards Fenghua Palace while commanding Meng Zhuqing, "Summon the Imperial Physician!"
Meng Zhuqing immediately went to fetch the Imperial Physician.
The Emperor of Xiyun was also startled and hurriedly followed them to Fenghua Palace to see what was the matter with An Jing. His Yi Er had only just agreed to be with One Person after much difficulty; what would happen if she were gone?
The wives of the dukes and nobles looked at each other, unsure whether they should stay to see the condition of Princess An Jing or go home.
Those who wished to have their children adopted by An Jing and Xiao Changyi didn’t want to go home just like that; the Emperor of Xiyun had just started the discussion, waiting for An Jing and Xiao Changyi’s response, but then this happened, causing some of them to feel somewhat unwilling to leave.
Eventually, these people took their children to Fenghua Palace and waited outside, not under the pretext of awaiting adoption decisions, but under the guise of concern for Princess An Jing’s health, saying they could only leave with peace of mind knowing that the Princess was unharmed.
As for the ladies who hadn’t brought children with them, they all left the palace and went home.
The Imperial Hospital was not too far from Fenghua Palace, and soon several Imperial Physicians hurried over; naturally, the ones who arrived first were those who were nimble.
An Jing lay on the bed in the bedroom, tightly embraced by Xiao Changyi. Though her stomach no longer hurt and she was no longer sweating, her complexion and lips were still pale, clearly uncomfortable.
"Husband, don’t worry too much, I’m not in pain anymore, it shouldn’t be anything serious," An Jing comforted an anxiously worried Xiao Changyi.
She had stopped feeling pain on the way back to Fenghua Palace and had already told her husband, but he had not been reassured in the least, his face distinctly grim.
Xiao Changyi did not speak, his chin resting firmly on An Jing’s head, holding An Jing’s hand tightly without any sign of loosening, it was obvious that he was very worried and not at all reassured.