Chapter 164 Half a Month

Chapter 164: Half a Month

"I'll accompany Her Majesty the Empress."

Though summer nights come late, it had already been dark for quite some time.

Shen Huai had not been able to spare time to visit Su Jiaojiao for several days. Today, with official duties handled swiftly, he had originally planned to stay and rest with her.

But now, it was mid-July, and the Empress's due date was only half a month away. Fetal distress at this stage was a grave concern—it would be unthinkable for him not to visit.

If word spread, not only would the harem gossip and grow resentful, but the courtiers would seize the chance to make trouble, blaming Su Jiaojiao.

Yet if he went now, he would feel guilty toward Su Jiaojiao.

After all, the two women were like fire and water, and the one he loved was Su Jiaojiao, not the Empress.

The Empress's pregnancy... in the end, it was he who had wronged Su Jiaojiao.

As he hesitated, Su Jiaojiao seemed to sense his dilemma. Without a word, she steadied herself against the table and stood up, saying, "The Empress is the mother of the nation and about to give birth. It is only right for you to visit her."

Her generosity only made Shen Huai feel worse. Softly, he said, "I’ll go check on the Empress. If the situation is serious, I may not return tonight."

"Though we’re both expecting, my heart has always been with you."

Under the gentle glow of the candlelight, Su Jiaojiao's expression remained serene. She rested a hand on her swollen belly and said warmly, "Though the Empress dislikes me, she is still the mother of the nation. Now that I, too, am carrying a child, I understand how she must feel. Besides, my pregnancy is not yet far along, and my condition has been stable. It’s only right I go with you to see her."

Shen Huai swallowed hard as he gazed at the understanding Su Jiaojiao before him, his heart aching with tenderness.

He clasped her hand tightly and said, "Just for now. Once the Empress gives birth to the imperial heir, you’ll come first in everything."

Su Jiaojiao smiled faintly, offering no reply.

With the Emperor and Noble Consort Zhen moving about at night, the attendants naturally had to serve with utmost care. They followed closely in two rows behind, fearful of any mishap along the way.

The palace maids leading the way with lanterns stepped out of Guanju Palace's gates, and the summer heat still clung to the air.

Glancing up, the night was thick and suffocating, the stars dim and lifeless in the sky.

Summer nights, though stifling, were usually more bearable than the days. Yet for some reason, tonight felt unusually heavy, the air stifling.

Su Jiaojiao remarked casually, "The weather tonight is unpleasant—so stifling. It’s nothing like the cool comfort of the palace halls inside."

Shen Huai held her hand even tighter and said gently, "Summer rains come often. It’s likely to start pouring in the coming days."

He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I know you fear thunderstorms. When the rain starts, I’ll have Cai Shan move my work to Yaoxian Palace. I’ll be right beside you—you won’t have to fear a thing."

Su Jiaojiao paused for a moment, looking up at him before nodding.

Guanju Palace and Fengyi Palace stood just across the main path, so they arrived after a short walk.

The Empress's personal maid, Le He, had long been waiting anxiously at the entrance. The moment she spotted the distant lantern light, she knew the Emperor had arrived, and hope flared in her eyes.

She hurried forward, only to see Noble Consort Zhen accompanying the Emperor—their hands tightly clasped. Her excitement vanished like a candle snuffed out, chilling her to the core.

She could hardly believe it. When the Empress was suffering fetal discomfort so close to childbirth, the Emperor still brought Noble Consort Zhen along for the visit.

At best, it showed his favor for Noble Consort Zhen. At worst—it left the Empress nowhere.

She truly could not understand what was so special about Noble Consort Zhen that the Emperor could disregard his pregnant wife, his eyes only for this seductive concubine.

Other than being a Su and pretty, what exactly does Noble Consort Zhen have that compares to Her Majesty the Empress?!

Le He fumed silently, but with the Emperor present, she dared not act out. She could only curtsy and say, "This humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty and Noble Consort Zhen. The royal doctor has been summoned and is coming. Please, Your Majesty, hurry inside."

Shen Huai gave a faint nod and hummed in acknowledgment, holding Su Jiaojiao's hand as he whispered, "Watch your step."

The two walked closely together into Fengyi Palace; from behind, they looked like a perfect matched pair.

Le He bit her lip hard as she watched the Emperor and Noble Consort Zhen’s retreating figures, thinking how ridiculous it all was.

Even common folk know husband and wife should stand together, yet here the Empress suffers from fetal distress while a concubine walks hand in hand with the Emperor!

Her Majesty is enduring such pain for the Emperor's child—how utterly tragic!

The bedchamber of Fengyi Palace was brightly lit with candles. As soon as they entered, soft cries of pain and hushed voices could be heard from within.

Inside, the Empress lay on the bed with tightly furrowed brows, gripping the sheets as she let out continuous sounds of agony.

Her forehead was slick with cold sweat, her face deathly pale, her heavily swollen belly a clear sign of her dire condition.

Seeing her suffering, Yu He dabbed at her own tears anxiously and said, "Your Majesty, hold on a little longer. We've already sent for the Emperor and the royal doctor. They should arrive soon. Please endure—you and the baby will pull through."

At the mention of the Emperor, the Empress barely managed to open her eyes, tears welling in her sorrowful gaze as she struggled to speak, "Even though I carry His Majesty's child... and am about to give birth... he still cares more for Noble Consort Zhen..."

Yu He shook her head vehemently, tears streaming down her face as she hurriedly replied, "No, Your Majesty, you are the Empress, the mother of the nation. No matter what, His Majesty would never forsake you. Besides, you carry the imperial heir. Given your condition, even if His Majesty favors Noble Consort Zhen, he will come. He will, Your Majesty—he must!"

The Empress's eyes brimmed with tears, her expression bleak.

In the current situation, were it not for her position as the Emperor's first wife and the debt of her past life-saving grace, even with the imperial heir in her womb, she would be no match for Su Jiaojiao.

Now, her biggest regret was not eliminating Su Jiaojiao when she first rose to favor, allowing her instead to grow step by step, worming her way into the Emperor's heart until she reached this untouchable position.

If only she had known... if only...

Blinded by bitterness, the Empress coughed violently in her agitation.

At that moment, Shen Huai entered the inner chamber with Su Jiaojiao, his voice low and grave. "How is the Empress now?"

The Empress's eyes suddenly brightened, and she struggled to lift her head, gazing toward the beaded curtain behind the screen as she murmured, "Your Majesty..."

But her joy lasted only a moment. When she saw Su Jiaojiao's figure appear right after the Emperor's beyond the screen, and their clasped hands, all her emotion and happiness vanished in an instant, replaced by bitter mockery.

At such a late hour, she, the Empress, lay in discomfort due to her pregnancy, summoning the Emperor for his presence—yet he brought his favored concubine along. Everyone in the palace knew she and Su Jiaojiao were rivals. Did the Emperor truly not realize this?!

The hope in the Empress's eyes died instantly, tears tracking down her temples into her sweat-dampened hair as the pain in her belly intensified.

She clutched the sheets even tighter. "Your Majesty..."

Su Jiaojiao observed her coolly, feeling not an ounce of pity—only amusement.

She'd made her bed. The Empress had brought this upon herself; she had no one else to blame.

She had known full well that coming with the Emperor would provoke the Empress. That's exactly why she'd talked him into coming.

After all, the Empress was already nine and a half months along. Even if she suffered some distress, it would at most mean delivering two weeks early.

A few days prior, she had received a secret letter from Su Chang, informing her that they'd caught the man out west and that they'd collected the rest of the evidence. They were smuggling him back to Chang’an—a journey that would take about two weeks.

Besides, she'd come bearing gifts today.

Imperial Physician Liu had spent these days immersed in studying medical classics within the library, honing his healing arts to greater mastery. Maintaining stable pregnancy conditions for two weeks would be no difficult task for him.

Su Jiaojiao gave a slight curtsy, her voice calm: "This concubine pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress."

"Upon hearing of Your Majesty's pregnancy discomfort today, I came especially to visit."

Shen Huai gently patted her hand and moved forward to sit by the Empress’s bedside, asking gravely, "You look terribly pale—what's wrong? I remember that Imperial Physician Lin and others had been making effective progress in your prenatal care recently. How did such complications arise so suddenly?"

He turned to Yu He, who was kneeling near the window, and asked, "Why have the imperial physicians not arrived yet?"

Yu He wiped her tears and replied, "We sent for them long ago. They should be here shortly."

As she finished speaking, two imperial physicians hurried in, visibly anxious: "We beg forgiveness for our tardiness, Your Majesty!"

The late hour and distance made delay understandable. Shen Huai frowned but restrained his impatience. "Quickly examine the Empress and stabilize her condition."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The two physicians hurriedly carried their medical cases inside, laid out their tools, and began diagnosing and applying acupuncture. However, as they worked, alarm deepened in their eyes.

They knelt abruptly and reported, "Your Majesty, Her Majesty's vital signs are dangerously unstable. If they cannot be stabilized soon, there is risk of premature birth… But with our current abilities, we fear we may not succeed."

Shen Huai snapped coldly, "You fear what?"

The physicians kowtowed deeply. "We fear we cannot manage it."

Seated on a chair brought by Yu Ying, Su Jiaojiao lifted her gaze and said calmly, "I have heard that Imperial Physician Liu has advanced remarkably in medical expertise recently. Perhaps he might offer a solution. Being of humble background, he has traveled widely and gained extensive experience. Why not have him examine Her Majesty? It may still be possible to ensure full-term delivery."

At Noble Consort Zhen’s suggestion, the physicians suddenly looked up eagerly. "Yes, yes! Imperial Physician Liu has indeed made advances in medicinal formulations lately, and his skills have always been exceptional. Perhaps he can find a way!"

The Empress’s pallor worsened. Shen Huai glanced at Su Jiaojiao and ordered firmly, "Send someone immediately for Imperial Physician Liu. He must ensure Her Majesty delivers at full term."

Just then, Cai Shan entered from outside, bowing respectfully with an anxious expression. He approached the Emperor and whispered urgently, "Your Majesty, the Xiao faction is acting. Several ministers are secretly waiting in Taiji Hall. You must return at once."

Shen Huai’s expression shifted slightly. Su Jiaojiao gave him a faint glance, her tone gentle and free of reproach: "If Your Majesty has urgent matters to attend to, please go ahead. I shall remain at Her Majesty's side."

"I shall see that no harm comes to Her Majesty."