Chapter 69 (2/2)

Outside the chamber the emperor heard Dian Thi’s sob.

‘What happened?’ the emperor asked Dian Thi’s midwife coldly. ‘How is my grandchild?’

The midwife knelt in front of the emperor and cried for mercy. ‘Your majesty, seventh prince’s second wife’s child died.’

‘Died?’ the emperor asked.

The emperor didn’t believe what he heard.  How was it possible for a woman who had a smooth pregnancy for nine months suddenly lose a child?

Pei Zhang acted shock and slumped on the ground and Consort Mu cried hysterically.

‘My grandchild was healthy,’ Consort Mu said. ‘Why did I lose my grandchild?’

Suddenly a child’s loud cry was heard and Pei Jin stood upright.

Another midwife carried a healthy child outside Yan Shi Ning’s chamber.

‘Congratulations your majesty,’ the midwife said. ‘Congratulations ninth prince, your wife gave birth to a prince.’

Pei Jin didn’t care if his child was a boy or a girl. ‘How is my wife?’

‘Ninth prince, your wife lost a lot of blood,’ the midwife said. ‘Your wife is in a weak condition.’

Pei Jin rushed into the chamber and parted the beaded curtains. Yan Shi Ning was lying on the bed, her whole body was sweaty and her hair was messy.

Yan Shi Ning cried happy tears. ‘Pei Jin…’

Pei Jin held Yan Shi Ning and cried. ‘Shi Ning…’

‘Yan Shi Ning!’ Dian Thi cried out from the neighbouring chamber. ‘I want to kill you! Give back my son!’

Yan Shi Ning gripped Pei Jin’s hand. ‘This is their scheme. Be careful.’

The emperor was sad to hear a grandson died but he was also happy to hear his other grandson was alive.

‘What happened?’ the emperor asked Dian Thi’s maid coldly.

The maid knelt in front of the emperor and cried. ‘Your majesty, I don’t know. I left to get lavender oil for mistress and after I returned I saw mistress lying on the floor and bleeding. I… I heard it was ninth prince’s wife who poisoned the tea.’

‘What poison?’ the emperor asked and signalled an imperial guard to investigate.

A while later the imperial guard reported to the emperor. ‘In ninth prince’s wife and seventh prince’s second wife’s tea are powder to induce labour.’

‘Who dared to do this?’ the emperor asked. ‘Find the culprit! Who were here when it happened? Who poured the tea?’

The palace maids and the eunuchs knelt and cried. ‘Your majesty, we were framed.’

‘Your majesty, the powder was only in their two cups of tea… it’s too coincidental… someone must have contaminated their tea in front of them,’ the imperial guard said.

Dian Thi and Yan Shi Ning were harmed so Xiao Tu was the biggest suspect.

Yan Shi Ning heard the emperor was interrogating Xiao Tu. She was weak but used her little strength to walk outside and kneel in front of the emperor.

‘Imperial father, Xiao Tu is like a little sister to me,’ Yan Shi Ning said. ‘Xiao Tu risked her life to help me give birth. If she wanted to harm me, she could have easily killed me and my son.’

Pei Jin’s heart ached to see Yan Shi Ning kneel too soon after giving birth, he could only kneel next to her.

The emperor believed Yan Shi Ning, he didn’t think the culprit was Xiao Tu.

‘If it isn’t her then who else?’ Consort Mu asked. ‘There were only three of them inside the chamber!’

‘Why did you kill my son?’ Pei Zhang asked. He knelt in front of his father and cried. ‘Imperial father, you need to give my son justice.’

***

End of Chapter Sixty-Nine