Chapter 423: Chapter 426: Too Dangerous
The Emperor rested for only a short while before changing into his court robes and heading to the morning assembly.
As he sat in the Dragon Carriage, he gave an order to Zuo Ji, who was walking alongside.
"Send someone to investigate the cause of the Seventh Prince’s illness."
"Yes."
Although the Imperial Physician said the Seventh Prince likely had a simple, acute skin condition, the Emperor wanted to have it investigated just to be cautious.
Zuo Ji carefully observed the Emperor’s expression and spoke cautiously.
"This servant had someone make inquiries. After Hua Zhaorong learned of the Seventh Prince’s illness last night, she did not send for Your Majesty. It was the nanny by her side who took it upon herself to dispatch someone to inform you."
The Emperor frowned. "Why was Hua Zhaorong unwilling to inform Us?"
Zuo Ji repeated, word for word, what Hua Zhaorong had said the previous night.
When he learned that Hua Zhaorong had been unwilling to inform him because she didn’t want to put him in a difficult position, the Emperor felt an indescribable emotion.
He sighed softly. "Hua Zhaorong always thinks of Us, yet never of herself."
Zuo Ji added in agreement, "This shows that Hua Zhaorong’s affection for Your Majesty is genuine."
The Emperor said, "Have someone select some fabrics from the storeroom to be sent to Hua Zhaorong. Choose soft materials suitable for making children’s clothing."
Zuo Ji replied respectfully.
"Yes."
In Moon Viewing Pavilion, Hua Zhaorong accepted the reward sent by the Emperor’s messenger.
She looked at the nanny standing beside her and asked with a frown.
"Didn’t I say not to inform the Saint for the time being? Why did you still send someone to notify him?"
The nanny knelt. "This servant acted on her own accord. I am willing to accept punishment."
Hua Zhaorong sighed, her voice filled with resignation.
"I know you meant well. Forget it. Get up for now. We’ll put this matter aside. The Seventh Prince still needs your help looking after him."
The nanny stood up, sighing to herself once again.
’Hua Zhaorong is truly too kind. She doesn’t even have the heart to punish me.’
’It’s a good thing the Emperor dotes on her. Otherwise, with a personality like hers, she’d likely be eaten alive by the other women in the harem.’
The Seventh Prince’s condition was no longer serious.
Hua Qingqing didn’t need to stand watch here any longer.
She planned to go back to her room to catch up on sleep.
Once she was lying in bed and everyone else had withdrawn, leaving her alone in the room, she could finally shed all pretense and completely relax.
The nanny was someone the Emperor had assigned to her. In a sense, the nanny was a spy the Emperor had placed by her side.
To solidify her image as a woman who adored the Emperor, she had to put on an act not only for him but also for the nanny.
The nanny thought Hua Zhaorong was a truly kindhearted person.
But a truly kind person could never survive in the harem.
...
Summer passed into autumn, and the temperature gradually dropped.
Pear Blossom Snacks no longer served crawfish and river snails.
They were replaced by various braised dishes and malatang.
Feihua Zhenren had become a loyal fan of Pear Blossom Snacks, coming for a meal every few days.
He didn’t just eat by himself; he would also drag his companions from the Seven Stars Temple along with him.
As a result, commoners would often see a group of ethereal and dignified Daoists sitting in Pear Blossom Snacks. They would be gathered around a pot, sleeves rolled up, eating malatang, each with a cup of hot milk tea in hand.
Eventually, this became a unique sight at Pear Blossom Snacks.
The direct consequence of this was that the weight of the ethereal and dignified Daoists skyrocketed.
Feihua Zhenren was quite pleased with this development.
’Isn’t the fastest way to lose weight to make everyone around you fatter?’
’Once everyone else gets fat, he naturally won’t seem so fat himself.’
’How brilliant!’
Hua Manman had no idea what little schemes Feihua Zhenren was plotting. She was now three months pregnant, but her belly was still flat, with almost no discernible curve.
Her appearance hadn’t changed either; she looked the same as always.
Every day, she ate and drank as she pleased, and her spirits were excellent.
As long as she didn’t say anything, no one could tell she was pregnant.
Li Ji, on the other hand, had become much more haggard recently.
To ensure Manman could give birth safely, Li Ji had recently been poring over many books and materials about childbirth.
He even had a few midwives brought in to ask them, face-to-face, what kinds of accidents could happen during labor.
The midwives didn’t dare hide anything, telling him about all sorts of potential complications, such as hemorrhaging and difficult births.
With every word they spoke, Li Ji’s expression grew darker.
By the time they had finished, his face was terribly grim.
He knew that childbirth was dangerous, but he had never imagined the reality was far more dangerous than he had anticipated.
Some pregnant women were lucky and delivered their babies without a hitch.
But many who weren’t so lucky not only failed to deliver their child but also lost their own lives in the process.
After sending the midwives away, Li Ji stayed alone in his study, a dark cloud of gloom hanging over him that was frightening to behold.
He didn’t leave the study until Hua Manman sent someone to call him for dinner.
Li Ji sat down at the dining table.
Looking at the delicacies before him, he had no appetite at all.
His mind was filled with images of Manman and the baby dying in childbirth.
If having this child would cost Manman her life, he would rather not have the child at all.
Hua Manman was happily gnawing on a chicken leg when she suddenly heard Li Ji say out of the blue,
"I regret it."
Hua Manman froze mid-bite, staring at him in confusion.
Li Ji said, "I shouldn’t have let you get pregnant."
Hua Manman was so shocked she dropped her chicken leg.
’What is this damn man freaking out about now?’
Li Ji said gloomily, "Childbirth is too dangerous. What if... we don’t have it?"
Hua Manman couldn’t understand. "Are you suggesting I get an abortion?"
Li Ji fell silent.
Of course, he didn’t want Manman to have an abortion, but even more than that, he didn’t want her to be in danger.
He was trapped in a state of extreme conflict, not knowing what to do.
Hua Manman noticed that his mood was off and asked tentatively,
"What happened?"
Li Ji didn’t know how to describe his current feelings, so he could only repeat the same sentence.
"Childbirth is too dangerous."
Hua Manman said, "I know it’s dangerous, but I’m already pregnant. I have to give birth."
Li Ji’s expression grew even more morose.
’It’s all my fault.’
’If I had been more careful, I wouldn’t have let Manman get pregnant.’
’I’m the one who put Manman in this dangerous situation.’
Hua Manman tried to soothe him. "It’s still a long time until the birth. Don’t let your imagination run wild. Besides, I’m perfectly healthy right now. Nothing will happen."
Li Ji also knew that his current state was not right.
But he just couldn’t help feeling anxious.
Not wanting to worry Manman, he forced himself to act as if everything was fine. "I know. Let’s eat."
Hua Manman thought he had come to his senses, so she picked up her chicken leg and went back to eating.
But she soon realized she had relaxed too soon.
That night, Li Ji had a nightmare.
He dreamed that Manman was having a difficult birth, and the doctor asked him whether to save the mother or the child.
He said to save the mother.
In the end, neither the mother nor the child could be saved.
He watched helplessly as the blood pooled beneath Manman, growing and growing until he felt like he was suffocating from the pain.
Then, he awoke from the nightmare with a start, still crying out,
"Manman! Manman!"
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