Chapter 69 (1/2)

Chapter Sixty-Nine

The palace maids and eunuchs ran in different directions.

Some ran to the emperor, others to Pei Zhang, Pei Jin and Wang Fu Mu.

In the chamber, Dian Thi collapsed on the floor and was bleeding continuously. Tears fell down her pale face and her stomach ached unbearably. Even in her pain she didn’t forget to bite the powdered fingernail and swallow it.

Yan Shi Ning was too shocked to move. After she saw Consort Mu and Chu Thi approached the chamber too quickly, she regained her composure.

Yan Shi Ning didn’t know why Dian Thi cooperated with Consort Mu and Chu Thi to kill Dian Thi’s child and frame her. But she knew the consequences, the emperor wouldn’t spare Pei Jin and everyone at his manor for conspiring to kill the emperor’s grandchild.

‘Mistress, inside the tea are powder used to induce labour,’ Xiao Tu said.

Yan Shi Ning didn’t have any other options, she sipped the tea.

‘Mistress!’ Xiao Tu said.

‘Don’t worry, I only drank a sip,’ Yan Shi Ning said. ‘Little sister Xiao Tu, you need to be my midwife.’

‘Midwife?’ Xiao Tu asked.

Yan Shi Ning clutched her stomach, the powder was too concentrated.

‘My child is more than eight months,’ Yan Shi Ning said. ‘It’s possible. I’m begging little sister Xiao Tu!’

Yan Shi Ning laid on the floor. She felt her stomach contract and cried.

Xiao Tu thought about what happened and understood Yan Shi Ning’s logic. Yan Shi Ning wanted to save everyone at Pei Jin’s manor by drinking the dissolved power and giving birth prematurely.

Xiao Tu quickly helped Yan Shi Ning sit on the floor, pulled out a hairpin, pricked a finger and wiped the blood on Yan Shi Ning’s dress.

‘Ninth prince’s wife is bleeding!’ Xiao Tu screamed.

Xiao Tu’s fingers pressed on some of Yan Shi Ning’s vital acupuncture points and inserted a pill into Yan Shi Ning’s mouth.

Everyone rushed to the chamber and saw Dian Thi and Yan Shi Ning were bleeding on the floor.

Consort Mu and Chu Thi were startled Yan Shi Ning was giving birth too.

‘Ninth prince’s wife is in labour!’ Xiao Tu screamed.

A long time later Xiao Tu wiped Yan Shi Ning’s sweaty forehead.

‘Mistress, you need to push harder,’ Xiao Tu said.

‘Ah… ninth prince’s wife is bleeding!’ the palace maids cried out at the same time.

‘Get out of here!’ Xiao Tu ordered the troublesome palace maids.

Xiao Tu looked calmly at the panicked and tired Yan Shi Ning. ‘Mistress, it’s alright. Mistress, you need to push harder.’

Yan Shi Ning bit down on the cloth and pushed hard. She didn’t know her fingernails were piercing her palms because the labour pain overwhelmed her senses.

‘Son… you need to endure and survive,’ Yan Shi Ning murmured.

Outside the chamber Pei Jin saw a maid carry another bowl of blood water.

‘What’s happening inside?’ Pei Jin asked. ‘How is my wife?’

The maid shivered to see the usual gentle ninth prince glare deadly at her. ‘Ninth prince… I don’t know.’

Pei Jin was angry and anxious. His wife and child were healthy. There was no reason for Yan Shi Ning to give birth prematurely unless something happened while she wasn’t inside the banquet hall.

Dian Thi and Yan Shi Ning were in labour in chambers next to each other. Dian Thi gave birth to a stillborn child while Yan Shi Ning gave birth to a healthy child.

Dian Thi looked at her dead son’s purple face and sobbed loudly.