NOVPUBBack inside the Glazed Pavilion, Shen Wei drank the medicinal broth brought by Nanny Rong.
The labor-inducing effects had yet to take hold.
The fetus was already full-term—whether born early or late, Shen Wei’s body would suffer damage. So, she might as well choose an auspicious time. Today happened to be the Empress’s birthday, and Shen Wei wanted to deliver the child on this day to pave the way for its future.
Cai Lian hurried into the room, carefully supporting Shen Wei and whispering, "Mistress, the imperial physicians and midwives have been summoned—all trusted allies, properly arranged. The Princess Consort’s people are being watched; she won’t be able to interfere secretly."
"The anesthetic powder, scissors, and sutures are all prepared. Don’t worry, Mistress. The midwives and physicians say the second birth tends to be quicker." 𝓃ℴ𝓋𝓹𝓊𝓫.𝒸𝓸𝓂
"The guards of the estate are patrolling outside the courtyard at all times. Two elite guards with blades are stationed at the gate—no intruder will get through."
The medicine’s effects began to take hold.
The servants of the Glazed Pavilion bustled about, maintaining order. Imperial physicians arrived with their medicine chests, while the kitchen prepared hot water and more medicinal broth.
Sweat beaded on Shen Wei’s forehead as excruciating pain nearly made her collapse. Gritting her teeth, she instructed Nanny Rong and her maids, "If I don’t survive, remind His Highness to entrust the child to the Empress’s care."
As always, she believed in doing her utmost and leaving the rest to fate.
For the sake of the child in her womb, Shen Wei had made every possible preparation. If luck was not on her side and she perished in childbirth, it would simply be "the whims of destiny."
...
As dusk fell, the commotion in the Glazed Pavilion quickly drew attention across the estate. Zhang Miaoyu, who had the closest relationship with Shen Wei, had lived comfortably ever since Shen Wei took charge of household affairs.
Shen Wei had even generously given her a health-preserving recipe to aid digestion and maintain her figure, allowing Zhang Miaoyu to control her weight instead of endlessly gaining as before.
Now that Shen Wei was in labor, Zhang Miaoyu, upon hearing the news, abandoned the pastries in her hand and rushed to the Glazed Pavilion with her maid in tow.
The courtyard was brightly lit, the air tinged with the faint scent of blood.
Clutching her handkerchief nervously, Zhang Miaoyu pulled aside a maid from the Glazed Pavilion and asked, "How is Sister Shen? Has the child been born yet?"
The maid replied, "She’s still in labor. Heaven be praised—the physicians say the baby is in the right position, so delivery shouldn’t be difficult. But the mistress has lost a lot of blood."
Zhang Miaoyu scratched her head anxiously and turned to her maid. "Xiang Yu, hurry back to my family home. My mother has a medicine that stops bleeding and replenishes qi. Run as fast as you can—bring it back within the hour."
Xiang Yu sprinted out of the estate, dashing toward Zhang Miaoyu’s family residence.
Not daring to disturb, Zhang Miaoyu sat on a bench outside the courtyard to wait. Before long, the two other consorts, Liu Ruyan and Liu Qiao'er, arrived belatedly.
Spotting Liu Ruyan in her stark white robes, Zhang Miaoyu rolled her eyes in displeasure. Who wears ominous white to a birth? Was she playing the role of the White Wraith come to claim a life?
"Sister Liu, perhaps you should change your clothes? Or just return to your own quarters," Zhang Miaoyu suggested.
Liu Ruyan cast her a cool glance. "What, should I dress as vulgarly as you?"
Zhang Miaoyu, plump and clad in loose, brightly colored garments, had always been an eyesore to Liu Ruyan.
Zhang Miaoyu clicked her tongue. "Then don’t go in to see Sister Shen later. I’d hate for her to be frightened."
Liu Ruyan replied indifferently, "If this child is another daughter, she’ll just have to keep trying. She brought this suffering upon herself—why pity her?"
Zhang Miaoyu refused to indulge her. "We’re all women—must you be so cruel? Too much reading has addled your wits. No wonder His Highness dislikes you, always spouting such heartless remarks."
Liu Ruyan stiffened, her almond eyes reddening. "You—how dare you speak to me like this!"
While Zhang Miaoyu and Liu Ruyan bickered, Liu Qiao'er remained silent, dressed in a simple, unadorned gown, an unfinished embroidery piece in her hands.
Liu Qiao'er had grown wary of Shen Wei, who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. After her rebirth, Liu Qiao'er had never regarded Shen Wei as a threat—yet time and again, Shen Wei had defied her expectations.
Somehow, in just a year or two, Shen Wei had nearly monopolized Prince Yan’s favor, basking in glory. A peasant girl, yet she managed the inner household with flawless order.
Liu Qiao'er couldn’t help but wonder—perhaps she had misjudged. Perhaps Shen Wei truly could contend with that terrifying woman in the future.
But that had nothing to do with her. As long as she stayed low, avoided trouble, and steered clear of harem conflicts, she could escape the tragic fate of her past life.
As the three consorts waited, the sound of clashing weapons suddenly erupted outside the courtyard. Zhang Miaoyu shot to her feet. "What’s happening?"
A guard rushed in and bowed. "Assassins scaled the eastern wall."
Zhang Miaoyu’s plump face turned ashen, her legs trembling so badly she nearly collapsed. Liu Qiao'er, too, shuddered, gripping her embroidered handkerchief in fear.
Assassins—inside the heavily guarded estate!
The guard remained composed. "Do not panic, my ladies. Our men are already intercepting them."
Inwardly, he admired Consort Shen’s foresight. She had strategized and arranged defenses in advance—every guard on patrol tonight was armed and working extended shifts, allowing them to detect the intruders immediately.
The guard left, blade in hand.
Zhang Miaoyu paced in frantic circles like a plump dumpling rolling in place, muttering, "Sister Shen is in labor, and now assassins show up? His Highness is at Kunning Palace tonight—oh, merciful Buddha, let nothing go wrong. I don’t want to die yet! I still have pastries from Wei Yan’s shop left uneaten!"
Terrified, she glanced up and saw Liu Ruyan still seated calmly on the bench, utterly unruffled. The night breeze lifted strands of her dark hair, giving her an ethereal, immortal-like aura.
"Aren’t you afraid?" Zhang Miaoyu asked, astonished.
Liu Ruyan replied serenely, "Life and death are fated."
Zhang Miaoyu sighed at the sky. Your Highness, please return soon.
...
In Kunyu Courtyard, the Princess Consort knelt piously before the Buddha as usual, reciting scriptures.
"Princess Consort, Consort Shen is giving birth tonight," a maid reported softly.
The Princess Consort’s chanting paused. Slowly, she opened her eyes, gazing at the rows of flickering candles before the shrine. "Is it going smoothly?"
The maid shook her head. "This is her second child. They say she drank labor-inducing decoctions and hired the best midwife, so it’s proceeding without complications—no signs of difficult labor. The assassins who entered the estate were all captured."
The Princess Consort ground her molars, a cold smile curling her lips. "That wretch has luck on her side."
She had borne children herself. The first birth was always the hardest—subsequent ones tended to be smoother.
Fingering her prayer beads, she resumed chanting, silently praying that Shen Wei would deliver another useless daughter, sparing her the need to act.
The maid glanced around, ensuring no outsiders were present. Feigning concern, she said, "Princess Consort, your kneeling cushion is soiled. Let me replace it."
As she swapped the cushion, she whispered, low enough for only the Princess Consort to hear, "Prince Heng sends word: Within a month, it will be done."
The Princess Consort gently twisted the prayer beads in her hand, lifting her gaze to the merciful statue of the Bodhisattva shrouded in wisps of incense smoke, and murmured:
"May the Bodhisattva grant us protection."
