Emperor Jingxiao's dark face finally relaxed a bit after he saw Gu Yunyao finish up the whole bowl of abortifacients. Holding his hands behind his back, he stated coldly,

"Well done, my beloved Yunyao. You can see the big picture. You must be tired. Now take care of yourself. I will come to Jingyang Palace to see you once you're better."

Flicking his sleeves, Emperor Jingxiao strode out of the hall to avoid the upcoming bloody mess.

Concubine Xu watched petrified Gu Yunyao, whose wide eyes were dimmed and froze. As if stabbed by a dagger in her heart, she almost collapsed and was held by Jinzhu.

But Concubine Xu immediately used all her strength to break away and rushed to embrace Gu Yunyao, weeping,

"Yunyao, how do you feel? Tell me..."

Gu Yunyao managed to pull her dry lips into a sad smile. Pale and tearing, she whispered,

"This is the best... There's no other way but this one... I'm finally relieved..."

Empress Qian, a pious Buddhist, burst into tears when she heard Concubine Yu's words. But in the end, she could do nothing.

Gu Yunxi stood beside Song Qin, staring at them blankly. What happened now confused her so much that she couldn't distinguish between reality and illusion.

How could this be? Master Leng said that Yunyao would be fine...

He always strategized and wanted her to believe him...

The room full of crying people was so bleak that Gu Yunxi's eyes were stung. Her clenched fists shaking, she wanted to indulge in her grief.

She didn't believe it. She couldn't believe Master Leng would lie to her and abandon Gu Yunyao for fear of the Emperor.

Zhao An straightened his clothes and walked ahead of the people. Saluting Empress Qian and Concubine Xu, he said,

"Your Majesty and Your Grace, Concubine Yu has taken the medicine and needs to rest in bed. I'll help her into the warm pavilion. Soon it will be messy here and inconvenient for you to stay, so please retire to your Palaces. I thank you for your kindness today."

After speaking, he joined his hands together and bowed deeply.

Empress Qian knew the decoction would take effect before dusk and it would be better to avoid the miserable scene. Hence, she dipped the corner of her eyes with a silk kerchief and said to Concubine Xu,

"Lord Zhao is talking sense. Yuanjiao, let's leave and visit Concubine Yu again tomorrow."

"Yes."

Concubine Xu leaned close to Gu Yunyao who had a dull stare in her eyes,

"Take care of yourself. You are still young and will have children in the future. I will see you again soon."

With a sigh of worry, Concubine Xu and Empress Qian walked out of Xiaoye Chamber and left for their own residences.

Song Qin saw the crowds off in order and then hurried back. Shutting the gates of the main hall behind her, she whispered,

"Everyone has left. Lord Zhao, let's act, too!"

"Good."

Zhao An nodded. He knelt under Gu Yunyao's feet with a tense face and took her hands.

"My lady, pardon me. In order to protect the child in the womb, I had to conceal the truth from you just now."

...

When Gu Yunxi returned to Chuxiu Palace in grief and anger, she heard the servants gossiping about Concubine Yu in the small kitchen.

Some said the Emperor had a nightmare and summoned the Imperial Hospital doctors to prescribe the abortifacients overnight. Yet still, he hesitated and called in the Eastern Depot Master who concurred with Observatory Director. He asked the Emperor to act decisively in case that the cursed fetus would bring disasters.

Gu Yunxi found it hard to accept the rumors. She reprimanded the servants and ran out.

Rushing into the Imperial Ceremony Office, she kicked on the vermilion carved door of the main hall.

There was only Bingbi Liu inside who was having tea leisurely. Startled by the slam, he poured the hot tea on his hands and his face twisted in pain,

"Oh, Madam Mu has come to see our Master again?"

Standing up and shaking his hands desperately, Bingbi Liu smiled bitterly to Gu Yunxi.

"Where is he?"

Gu Yunxi questioned with an ill temper and slumped on the rose chair.

"The Master left the Palace before noon and hasn't come back yet." Bingbi Liu grinned.

"I'll wait for him right here!"

Gu Yunxi exclaimed. She couldn't believe that the Master lied to her about Yunyao's safety for his own interests and hid from her!

Bingbi Liu then asked, "Are you here for the sake of Concubine Yu?"

Gu Yunxi's eyes went red. She pressed her lips,

"Naturally! I have to ask in person why he talked nonsense to the Emperor and urged him to kill his own child!"

"Then you have misunderstood my lord. How can we prove Concubine Yu's innocence otherwise?"

Bingbi Liu glanced at the door, leaned close to Gu Yunxi's ear, and muttered a few words.

Gu Yunxi's brows relaxed as she listened. Her irritable expression also gradually changed.

Leng Qingtang walked in from outside. When he crossed the threshold, he took a look at the wood door and raised his eyebrow playfully,

"Why are you whispering? Got secrets?"

Bingbi Liu straightened up and smiled at Leng Qingtang,

"Master, welcome back. Madam Mu misses you so much. She visits the Imperial Ceremony Office twice a day."

"I didn't..."

Gu Yunxi bounced from the chair. Looking at the handsome man before her, she changed the subject with a glowing smile,

"I'm here to thank you, Master, for protecting Concubine Yu and her child."

"Thank me?"

Leng Qingtang held back the smile and looked to the door, pretending to be angry,

"Whose footprints are on that door?"

"Well…"

Gu Yunxi pouted awkwardly, her two slender index fingers gently bumping into each other.

Bingbi Liu shook his head smilingly and withdrew wittily.

Gu Yunxi grabbed the Master's sleeve and shook it gently, begging softly,

"Don't be angry. I can wipe it clean. You asked Imperial Doctor Jiang to replace the abortion medicine with decoction for miscarriage prevention and ordered Lord Zhao to put on a good show. Even I was fooled. Master, you are such an amazing individual with both wisdom and courage."

"Huh, what's the use of pretty words?"

Leng Qingtang shook his head, turned his eyes, and poked his face.

Gu Yunxi knew that he meant a kiss, so she smiled and kissed his smooth cheek on tiptoe. Leng Qingtang put his arms around her waist and took the lead, tasting her lips. Then he sat on the chair and placed her on his lap.

Gu Yunxi remembered something and looked a little worried.

"Master, the trick may protect Yunyao's child temporarily, but what can she do after her belly shows?"

Leng Qingtang smiled slightly and explained,

"There are people who are jealous of Concubine Yu's pregnancy and spread rumors to fool the folks. I have already sent the Eastern Depot secret guards to investigate this matter thoroughly, and found that there was no plague but someone had poisoned the well..."

"What? How could that happen?"

Gu Yunxi yelled as a chill went down her spine. But she instantly fell silent so the Master could continue,

"Someone is particularly interested in Yunyao's baby. Questioned by the Emperor, I had to walk along the path to play dumb and confuse the enemy."

"The midwife who will be sent to Xiaoye Chamber is my person. She will help Yunyao get through the rest of the play. When the news of the cursed fetus's abortion is released, I believe those people will eliminate the so-called plague to prove the rumors. If Concubine Yu's child is safe and sound after the plague, won't the rumors be self-defeating?"

With her eyes gleaming, uplifted Gu Yunxi took the Master's hands,

"Only you can make this plan! Why can't I do it?"

Leng Qingtang paused for a second. His eyes softened as he smiled,

"The Palace is treacherous and unpredictable. Dangers lurk everywhere. Girl, I don't want you to stay here too long. Come with me to the Master's Mansion after this. Qinger and Xiaoshen will be very happy to know it's you. Next year, I plan to finish their wedding. You cannot miss it in the auditorium."

The words changed Gu Yunxi's countenance as if she had been hit hard on the spot. Lowering her head to avoid the Master's eyes, she replied dryly and bitterly,

"Sure."

Leng Qingtang asked again, "Girl, do you have night clothes?"

"Yes, why?" Gu Yunxi was stunned.

Leng Qingtang said, "I will wait for you outside Chuxiu Palace past midnight. Put on your night clothes and come with me. Don't forget."

"Yes." Gu Yunxi pursed her lips and nodded.

...

Soon after the noontime snooze, terrifying wails went out of Xiaoye Chamber. The screams frightened the concubines and servants in the neighboring palaces so much that their hairs stood upright.

It was not long before it went silent.

The midwife Mrs. Tian walked out of the main hall with blood-stained garments in her arms. A maidservant carried a pot of bloody water and followed her numbly.

When the carved door was closed, Mrs. Tian shouted to the servants in the courtyard.

"Your Grace must be exhausted. Now that the filth has been removed, I shall immediately send the evidence to Observatory Director. Please rest well for the following month. I'll retreat now."

Song Qin hid quietly behind the window. She only minced to the bed after all the eunuchs had left Qinming Hall.

"Your Grace, it's fine now. Congratulations. You'll be blessed after the catastrophe."

Gu Yunyao leaned sideways on the bed. As soon as her heart loosened, she collapsed on the bed.

"I was so scared..."

Gu Yunyao patted her chest and said quietly,

"Quickly, call Zhao An in."

Song Qin agreed and lifted the curtain to summon Zhao An.

Soon, the loyal and infatuated man entered and sat on the bed without Gu Yunyao's gesture. He held Gu Yunyao's delicate fingers into his palm,

"Your Grace, you must be tired. From now on, just rest behind closed doors, and everything will go smoothly when the child is born."

"Thank you and Song Qin. Without you, I could not have made it this time."

Zhao An smiled, "Master Leng has thought ahead. Duchess Min also..."

Gu Yunyao's eyes were watering and then lowered. Finally, she asked after a mental struggle,

"Any news from the Mins lately?"

Embarrassed, Zhao An's brows moved,

"Your Grace is not well recently so I dared not to tell you."

"What happened?"

Gu Yunyao's face suddenly changed in horror.

A few days ago, she heard that Duchess Min kneeled down and prayed along the street every day, begging for the Emperor's mercy. And Gu Yunyao was deeply touched by that.

After all, she was an old lady in her forties. Kneeling in the snow for days might sow illness in the future.

Now that the baby was safe, Gu Yunyao remembered the mother who ran to the imperial city every morning to petition for her.

It might be for the physical discomfort after pregnancy, she gradually tasted the hardships of motherhood, and her subconscious hatred towards her mother gradually disappeared.

Zhao An noticed that Gu Yunyao's attitude towards Duchess Min eased. His eyes flickered and then he wore more sorrow on his face,

"I heard that Duchess Min got a fever after returning to her residence yesterday, and Duke Min urgently summoned a doctor. Fortunately, it's just a cold, and the recovery won't take too long."

"Good…"

After hearing the news, Gu Yunyao was startled. She turned her head to the side and said gently,

"As long as she is well."