Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Virtuous Consort Is With Child

“Ning Lang…”

Pressed down, Princess Zhaoxi’s lips parted slightly, her mouth murmuring those two words. Her vacant eyes seemed to regain a sliver of self, and two streams of clear tears spilled from her eyes. Seeing her no longer struggle, the matrons relaxed their grip, leaving her to cry in silence.

“Zhaoxi.” Qin Zhiyi released Shen Fuyu and stepped forward. “It’s all right. You still have your brother. I will make sure you get justice!”

Princess Zhaoxi reached out and clutched Qin Zhiyi’s robes, sobbing uncontrollably. The grief in her face silenced everyone in the room. After a long while, she finally spoke, her voice low: “Ning Lang is gone… Brother, he’s gone…”

“I know.” Qin Zhiyi clenched his fists, his gaze darkening. “I will uncover the truth behind the arson, I promise.”

But Princess Zhaoxi shook her head feebly, teetering on the edge of collapse. “Brother, even if you find the truth, what then? The mastermind behind the arson—haven’t you and I always known who it is?”

“Zhaoxi…”

“Brother, I’m so tired…” Her voice was weary. “A few years ago, I married with joy. Then you ascended the throne, and I escaped the fate of being sent away as a diplomatic bride. I thought I would be happy, with Mother, my brother, and Ning Lang by my side… Why… why has it all come to this?”

“It’s my fault. If you must blame someone, blame me. I sent him to the Ministry of War, never imagining he’d become a thorn in their side.” Qin Zhiyi took all the blame upon himself. “Zhaoxi, it’s my fault.”

“Brother, if the truth really comes to light, would you be able to do what must be done?” Zhaoxi’s smile was bitter, her face mournful.

Qin Zhiyi was stunned, unable to answer.

Then, Princess Zhaoxi began to laugh uncontrollably, her words dissolving into incoherent ramblings. She was truly mad, unable to bear any more, and since she could not vent her grief on others, she had driven herself insane.

“Zhaoxi, don’t be like this!”

Seeing that Zhaoxi seemed ready to dash herself against the wall, Qin Zhiyi was quick to intercept her. “Zhaoxi! You’re pregnant—you mustn’t do anything rash!”

Hope flickered in her eyes, but it was quickly smothered by despair. Princess Zhaoxi sank weakly to the floor, muttering, “Brother, even beneath the Emperor’s feet, it is not safe. This child… will he truly be born?”

“If that person learns I am with child, Brother, can you protect me?”

“I will do everything in my power to protect you!” Qin Zhiyi tried to help Zhaoxi to her feet, silently vowing to safeguard both her and her unborn child. This time, he would not let anything go wrong.

“With what will you protect me? You can’t even best me, and anyone can talk pretty. Who doesn’t know how?” The words, tinged with sarcasm, changed the mood in the room instantly. Shen Fuyu, emotionally detached, seized every opportunity, convinced she spoke the truth. After a month in the palace, she understood everything she needed. Qin Zhiyi had grand ambitions, but what of it? He had not even passed the first hurdle. He was Emperor, yes, but they had killed her brother-in-law right under his nose—how hard would it be to kill his sister and her unborn child?

When disaster strikes suddenly, what protection is there?

“Then tell me, what should be done? Enough with your sarcasm—leave, now!” Qin Zhiyi, enraged, resolved to expel Shen Fuyu first. Did he not know how difficult things were? But difficulty was no excuse for giving up. If he could not even provide shelter, what else could he accomplish?

“Then watch carefully, Your Majesty.” Shen Fuyu’s lips curled into a smile—her aim achieved. “Isn’t it just a matter of protecting this child? I have a good method. When the time comes, don’t thank me too much! Kiss, kiss!”

One moment she was scornful, the next she sent him a playful air kiss. Qin Zhiyi felt as though she was making a fool of him.

Why was this anger in his chest so impossible to vent?

Shen Fuyu swept her sleeves and departed. Qin Zhiyi comforted Princess Zhaoxi at length and ordered the imperial physician to administer suitable medicine to stabilize her emotions. He assigned trusted matrons to watch over her day and night. Returning to the throne room, Qin Zhiyi sat and fell into deep thought.

No matter how he turned it over in his mind, he could not escape the grasp of that person. Moreover, the power-holders in the previous court were tightly intertwined, and with foes behind and before, to protect Zhaoxi and her unborn child seemed as difficult as scaling the heavens.

“How is Zhaoxi now?”

The imperial physician knelt and reported, “Your Majesty, Princess Zhaoxi’s madness will not improve any time soon. Now that she is pregnant, I dare not use strong medicine. We must wait until the child is born before making any decisions.”

Qin Zhiyi’s lips pressed into a thin line. Zhaoxi was mad; the death of Ning, her husband, was too great a blow—and especially since the culprit was that person. If that person learned there was still a child of the Ning family in Zhaoxi’s household, Zhaoxi would not escape death.

“Perhaps madness is a blessing,” Qin Zhiyi concluded after a long silence. At least, now that she was mad, the threat she posed was temporarily removed. “No one is to mention Zhaoxi’s pregnancy to anyone. If it is revealed, I will have your head!”

“Yes!”

Physician Xu was Qin Zhiyi’s confidant, one of the rare reliable people in the palace. Qin Zhiyi entrusted him with Zhaoxi’s care, but even so, the unborn child could hardly be hidden for ten months. When the day of birth came, the truth would be exposed; even if concealed, it could not last long. The child could not be hidden away forever.

Had Zhaoxi not gone mad, she could have lived in obscurity, as a widow with her child, somewhere far away. But now, Qin Zhiyi had to be cautious, unable to trust any servant with Zhaoxi’s care. In the palace, under his watch, the servants would not dare cross him, but outside his sight, disaster was inevitable.

Turning the matter over in his mind, Qin Zhiyi recalled Shen Fuyu’s bold words in the side hall today. For a moment, hope stirred—only to find himself ridiculous. If he had not found a solution, could Shen Fuyu have a better idea?

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Wonderful news!”

Just as he sat, troubled, Chang Fu rushed in, stumbling over himself to deliver the news. “Congratulations, Your Majesty! Messengers from Crescent Moon Palace report that the Noble Consort is one month pregnant! Congratulations, Your Majesty!”