Chapter 592: Sister Rujun is Pregnant

**Chapter 592: Sister Rujun Is Expecting**

Wei Shiqing’s voice was icy, sharp as broken glass, his eyes blazing with a fury so intense it made everyone’s blood run cold.

Pang Xinyue’s words seemed to catch in her throat.

Prime Minister Pang, however, kowtowed (bowed deeply in submission) before Mu Rujun. “Your Highness! This old servant begs you not to take my daughter’s rash words to heart! She has suffered a sudden calamity and speaks rashly in her distress! If anyone must be punished, let it be this old servant! I am willing to bear the consequences in her place!”

He then kowtowed again before the Crown Prince, his voice thick with sorrow. “Your Highness, this old servant knows that my repeated petitions urging you to take a secondary wife have long displeased Her Highness the Crown Princess. But I did so for the sake of the nation! Your Highness!”

Flames of anger ignited in Wei Shiqing’s eyes.

Yet before he could speak, Mu Rujun, standing beside him, had already risen.

The fury in Wei Shiqing’s gaze faltered for a moment—he didn’t know what she intended.

Mu Rujun took a step forward, raising an eyebrow at the kneeling Prime Minister Pang. “Lord Pang, you are truly amusing. Did I not say only one sentence just now? And yet here you are, spouting nonsense left and right—trying to drive a wedge between His Highness and me, right under my nose?”

Her expression remained calm, her tone equally indifferent.

“I believe I’ve understood your meaning, Lord Pang. In short, Miss Pang’s reputation was damaged at my birthday banquet, and you expect me to take responsibility—preferably by having His Highness welcome Miss Pang into the Eastern Palace as a consort. Am I right?”

Prime Minister Pang’s thoughts were laid bare. Though his aged face bore a look of defiant pride, his tone remained aggrieved. “Your Highness! This old servant never said such a thing!”

Mu Rujun replied coolly, “Frankly, Prime Minister Pang, it changes nothing. Even if you had said it, it would make no difference. Because whether you say it or not, Pang Xinyue entering His Highness’s Eastern Palace…”

She smiled faintly. “…is a pipe dream. As long as I remain Crown Princess for even a single day, I guarantee that Pang Xinyue will never become a concubine of the Crown Prince.”

Prime Minister Pang and Pang Xinyue froze in shock!

Pang managed to quickly regain his composure, but his daughter, still young and hopelessly infatuated with the Crown Prince, failed to mask the resentment flashing across her face.

Mu Rujun saw it clearly. She slowly stepped forward, her slender fingers tilting Pang Xinyue’s chin upward where she knelt.

Pang Xinyue now wore a look of tearful despair. “Your Highness, if you despise me so much, then I can do nothing but die!”

Mu Rujun chuckled again, her tone laced with amusement. “Oh? Miss Pang, are you truly ready to die? Judging by the games you played today, I find that rather hard to believe.”

Pang Xinyue’s face darkened with suppressed emotion. “Your Highness, a noblewoman would choose death over disgrace—”

A smirk played on Mu Rujun’s lips. “How honorable of you, Miss Pang. Yet after being poisoned, I see no trace of anger toward the culprit—only accusations hurled at me.”

“Unless…” Before she could finish, Mu Rujun suddenly furrowed her brow slightly and swayed dangerously, her vision blurring.

Wei Shiqing panicked instantly, but before he could move, Mu Rujun staggered and collapsed backward.

Acting purely on instinct, he sprang forward and caught her in his arms, urgently calling her by her given name: “Rujun!”

Mu Rujun had fainted.

Pang Xinyue’s first reaction was to blurt out, “I didn’t touch her! I didn’t do anything to her!”

Prime Minister Pang knew this was bad and quickly tugged at his daughter’s sleeve.

But Wei Shiqing paid them no mind. Cradling the unconscious Mu Rujun, he rushed toward the inner chambers. “Fetch the royal physician—now!”

Xingxing, who had been sitting quietly in a corner, unnoticed until now, finally stood up.

Seeing Mu Rujun faint, Xingxing jumped up from her seat and hurried after Wei Shiqing and Mu Rujun to the inner chamber.

Pang Xinyue and Prime Minister Pang shared a look.

Prime Minister Pang scowled heavily, convinced that the Crown Princess was faking a faint. He cursed inwardly—Mu Rujun was indeed devious through and through, just like the rest of the Mu family! By pretending to pass out, she had left them kneeling outside. Were they just supposed to keep kneeling here forever?!

Gritting his teeth in frustration, Prime Minister Pang signaled for Pang Xinyue to remain calm and continue kneeling.

Let them kneel—it would serve as a lesson. At his age, as a senior official who had served two emperors, to be humiliated by a young woman like the Crown Princess? Tomorrow during court, he would certainly report this to Emperor Jiazheng!

Prime Minister Pang calculated in his mind, completely unaware of what was happening in the inner chamber.

Xingxing had already reached the inner chamber, where she saw Wei Shiqing carefully laying the unconscious Mu Rujun on the couch. She stepped forward and called out, "Your Highness."

"It will take some time for the imperial physician to arrive. Let me take Sister Rujun’s pulse first," Xingxing said.

Wei Shiqing nodded, his voice solemn. "Thank you, Xingxing."

Xingxing approached and first took Mu Rujun’s left wrist to feel her pulse.

Her eyebrows shot up, and she let out a surprised, "Huh?"

That single sound nearly gave the usually composed Crown Prince a heart attack!

If even someone as skilled as Xingxing was shocked, could it be something serious?

Wei Shiqing’s heart pounded.

His voice was tight with worry: "...What is it?"

Xingxing shook her head. "Please wait a moment, Your Highness."

She switched to Mu Rujun’s other wrist, carefully checking for a long while before finally withdrawing her hand.

Wei Shiqing's face had already gone pale. Forcing himself to stay calm, he asked in a low voice, "Xingxing, just tell me directly—what’s wrong with Rujun?"

Xingxing looked up, her face breaking into a beaming smile. "Congratulations, Your Highness! Sister Rujun is expecting a baby! She’s about a month along!"

The words were simple and clear.

But to Wei Shiqing, they took a moment to sink in. Stunned, he managed to ask, "Xingxing, you said Rujun is..."

Xingxing grinned excitedly, overjoyed for Mu Rujun. "Your Highness! You heard right—Sister Rujun is expecting a baby! About a month now!"

Afraid he might worry, she added, "Sister Rujun is in excellent health, and the pregnancy is progressing very well. Her fainting was likely due to exhaustion from the recent birthday banquet preparations. She just needs proper rest!"

Wei Shiqing fought to contain his excitement, not wanting to appear unsteady in front of Xingxing. He nodded, keeping up his calm appearance.

Yet as he walked toward Mu Rujun’s couch, the dignified Crown Prince of the nation almost face-planted!

Xingxing bit back a giggle, then suddenly remembered something and smacked her forehead. "Ah! I almost forgot, Your Highness—judging by Sister Rujun’s pulse, this pregnancy could very well be twins!"