Chapter 329: Chapter 330: Premature Birth
Hua Manman looked toward the door.
She knew Ah Qi was still standing guard outside. She could see all the emotions he thought he was hiding so well.
’If I’m looking for a way out, Ah Qi would be a perfect target.’
Using someone’s feelings to deceive them was a truly classless thing to do.
Hua Manman had always disdained such methods.
But the circumstances were dire. She had no other choice but to resort to this.
As the sky darkened, Ah Qi remained at his post outside the door.
He was in the same posture as always, leaning against the wall, lost in thought.
The only difference was that he used to stare out the window.
Tonight, however, he was staring at the closed door.
He didn’t know why he was acting this way. It was as if his eyes were beyond his control, always subconsciously glancing at the door.
More precisely, he wanted to see the person behind it.
CREAK. The door was pulled open.
Hua Manman stepped out.
Ah Qi hadn’t expected her to appear so suddenly, and he didn’t have time to look away.
His gaze met hers.
Their eyes locked.
Ah Qi’s heart began to race again.
He scrambled to stand up straight. Never one for words, he was completely tongue-tied, with no idea what to say.
Instead, it was Hua Manman who spoke first.
"It’s cold at night. You’ll get chilly standing guard out here. I found this blanket in the wardrobe. You should wrap it around yourself to stay warm."
With that, she held out the blanket in her arms.
Ah Qi stood there, flustered, and stammered.
"N-No, it’s fine. I’m not afraid of the cold."
Hua Manman chuckled softly. "Who isn’t afraid of the cold? Just take it. My arms are getting tired from holding it."
Her smile was so beautiful that Ah Qi couldn’t bring himself to refuse. In a daze, he reached out and took the blanket from her.
He’d been an orphan his whole life, growing up all alone. No one had ever shown him the kind of concern Hua Manman just did.
It left him feeling both surprised and deeply flattered.
Hua Manman smiled at him again.
"Well, I’m heading back inside. See you tomorrow."
Only when the door closed and she was out of sight did Ah Qi snap back to his senses.
He looked down at the neatly folded blanket in his hands, then back up at the closed door before him.
After a long moment, he was heard muttering under his breath.
"Thank you."
...
Hua Qingqing’s stomach pains grew more and more intense.
Even so, she clung to the Emperor’s hand, pleading bitterly.
"I beg you, save my younger sister! Please, save her!"
When the Imperial Physician rushed in and examined her, he announced urgently,
"Hua Jieyu is going into labor!"
The Emperor asked in a low voice, "But the baby is only eight months along. How can she be giving birth now?"
The Imperial Physician replied, "Her extreme emotional distress agitated the pregnancy, inducing premature labor."
The Emperor glanced at the deathly pale Hua Jieyu and instructed Zuo Ji, who was standing in attendance behind him.
"There’s no need to return to Wangyue Pavilion. Let Hua Jieyu give birth here."
It was quite a distance from Hanzhang Hall to Wangyue Pavilion. With Hua Qingqing in so much pain, moving her would only cause her more suffering.
The Emperor was unwilling to put her through that, so he decided to let her give birth in Hanzhang Hall.
Hearing this, Zuo Ji was utterly astonished.
Of all the concubines in the rear palaces, no matter how favored, none had ever been permitted to give birth in Hanzhang Hall.
Hua Jieyu was setting a precedent!
Zuo Ji quickly replied, "This servant will make the arrangements at once."
As he hurried out, he marveled to himself.
’Whether Hua Jieyu gives birth to a boy or a girl, as long as the child is delivered safely, her future is secure.’
The nannies responsible for the delivery had long been arranged, and all the necessary supplies were prepared. Everything was ready, and it didn’t take long to set up a birthing room.
The Emperor was respectfully asked to leave.
Before he left, he didn’t forget to reassure Hua Jieyu.
"Just rest easy. I will find a way to rescue Princess Consort Zhao for you."
Having received the Emperor’s promise, Hua Qingqing managed a weak smile.
Her eyes filled with tears as she choked out her words.
"This concubine believes you."
The Emperor released her hand and turned to leave.
As he reached the doorway, he glanced back and saw Hua Jieyu still looking at him.
Her face was pale, strands of hair at her temples were damp with sweat, and her lips were colorless. Even so, she smiled at him.
It was a smile both fragile and gentle.
For a moment, it left the Emperor in a daze.
It wasn’t until Zuo Ji quietly reminded him, "Your Majesty, it is time to go."
Only then did the Emperor come to his senses.
He strode out of the room.
Zuo Ji helped close the door.
The Emperor sat on a low couch, Hua Jieyu’s smile replaying in his mind.
He had seen many women smile.
Some were charming, some innocent, others sorrowful.
But none had ever smiled like Hua Jieyu, in a way that tugged at his heartstrings.
It was as if it was the last smile she could muster with all her remaining strength.
Zuo Ji noticed the Emperor was distracted. He didn’t dare make a sound, standing silently to the side and dutifully fading into the background.
After a long time, he heard the Emperor ask in a low voice,
"Hua Jieyu’s delivery should be safe, shouldn’t it?"
Zuo Ji replied without hesitation, "Hua Jieyu is a blessed person. Mother and child will surely be safe!"
The Emperor glanced at the closed door and murmured,
"Let’s hope so."
An unknown amount of time passed before a bloodcurdling scream suddenly came from inside the room.
This wasn’t the Emperor’s first time becoming a father, so he already had experience with this.
He knew Hua Jieyu’s labor had officially begun, so he wasn’t particularly nervous.
Just then, Wu Wang came in and bowed respectfully.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, this servant has brought Lady Liang."
The Emperor knew that childbirth could take a long time.
Since he had nothing else to attend to at the moment, he stood up.
"I will go see her."
When Wu Wang had gone to apprehend Lady Liang, he had considered finding an opportunity to kill her, leaving no one to testify.
But after some thought, Wu Wang ultimately abandoned the idea.
Given the Emperor’s suspicious and cautious nature, if Lady Liang were to die suddenly at this critical juncture, he would certainly become suspicious of those around him.
There was still a long way to go before the Fourth Prince could ascend the throne. Wu Wang couldn’t expose himself now. He had to protect his identity to scheme for greater gains in the future.
So, Wu Wang did nothing and obediently brought Lady Liang before the Emperor.
The moment Lady Liang saw the Emperor, the color drained from her face.
She knelt on the floor and wailed, "This concubine only exchanged a few words with Hua Jieyu! I never expected her to suddenly get stomach pains. If anything happens to her, it has nothing to do with me!"
The Emperor watched her with a cold gaze.
"Then why don’t you tell me exactly what you said to anger Hua Jieyu into premature labor?"
