Chapter 168
**Chapter 168: Unstable Fetus**
*Crack—*
The incense stick in the princess's hand snapped, falling to the floor and releasing a wisp of white smoke. Her head buzzed with disbelief.
Pregnant?
Shen Shi was pregnant again?
It had only been five months since Shen Shi had given birth, and now she was expecting once more!
The princess felt a surge of jealousy that drove her nearly mad, instinctively tightening her grip on the Buddhist beads in her hand. Alongside the jealousy, there was a chilling sense of dread. After returning to the Wang residence, she had slapped Shen Wei, causing Shen Wei to faint. If anything were to happen to the child in Shen Wei's womb, the blame would fall squarely on the princess.
The prince would surely fly into a rage, and the empress, who had always disapproved of the princess, would not hesitate to punish her.
Liu Mama, observing the princess's distress, spoke gently, “Your Highness, you really don’t need to hold a grudge against Shen Shi. If you can suppress your anger today and refrain from hitting her, the situation would be quite different.”
The princess looked up, puzzled. “How so?”
Liu Mama explained, “Shen Ci Fei (Concubine Shen) has just given birth and is now pregnant again; her body must be suffering. Since offspring are of utmost importance, you could apologize to the prince and suggest taking on some of the household responsibilities for the pregnant Shen Ci Fei.”
Shen Wei still had a daughter under one year old, and now suddenly being pregnant again would surely leave her exhausted. The other concubines in the Wang residence were not a threat, giving the princess ample reason to reclaim her authority over the household.
But alas, in a moment of impulse, the princess had struck Shen Wei, effectively closing off her own path.
The wise Yan Wang (Prince Yan) would never entrust the household management to a mistress who had assaulted a concubine.
The princess's face turned pale, her legs weak as she stumbled and collapsed onto the mat. It dawned on her that she had just let slip an opportunity to regain control over the household.
...
In the Liuli Pavilion, the servants bustled about, their movements orderly and efficient.
Prince Yan had sent for the palace physician to check Shen Wei's pulse.
After a careful examination, the physician reported that Shen Wei was a month pregnant, but the fetus was in a very unstable condition. She had not fully recovered from her last childbirth, and she needed to rest for a while.
After finishing the examination and prescribing the best medicine, the physician tactfully reminded Prince Yan, “Your Highness, forgive me for being presumptuous, but... you should exercise restraint.”
Prince Yan: ...
He reflected deeply, realizing that he had indeed been quite indulgent over the past two months. A young man full of vigor, encountering a woman who matched him perfectly in every way, naturally led to nights filled with revelry.
Amidst his frustration, a sense of joy inevitably bubbled up within him. His Wei Wei was expecting again, and the Wang residence would be lively once more.
Once the physician left, the maidservants began preparing the medicine. Shen Wei had not yet awakened, her head resting wearily on the pillow, the red mark from the slap still visible on her cheek.
Prince Yan's gaze fell upon that vivid red imprint, his eyes darkening. Shen Wei was already weak, and the slap from the princess had nearly harmed the child in her womb.
Prince Yan was utterly disappointed in the princess. The gentle and virtuous woman he once knew had unknowingly transformed into a hypocritical vixen.
Given the princess's jealous nature, she might very well target the pregnant Shen Wei. To protect the child in Shen Wei's womb and ensure the continuation of the Wang lineage, Prince Yan could no longer allow the princess to stir up trouble.
“Let the princess recuperate in the Kunyuyuan (Palace of Pure Jade) and restrict her from going out without cause.” Prince Yan had no desire to step into the Kunyuyuan again; he simply instructed his attendant to relay the message.
Restricting her from going out was, in effect, a form of house arrest.
Even Prince Yan himself did not realize that, unknowingly, his heart had completely shifted towards Shen Wei.
As night fell, the chirping of insects filled the air outside the courtyard. The evening breeze rustled through the window, creating a soft sound.
Shen Wei slept until the moon hung low, her stomach grumbling. Sleepily, she opened her eyes. The room was brightly lit by candlelight, and through a sheer curtain, she saw Prince Yan sitting at a nearby desk, holding a brush and writing documents.
Dressed in dark robes, his profile was sharply defined, and under the candlelight, his stern brows softened.
Hearing the movement from the bed, Prince Yan set down his brush. He lifted the curtain and saw Shen Wei sitting up in confusion, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders. The mark on her right cheek had already begun to swell down, and she looked like a beautiful cat just waking from slumber.
*Gurgle—*
Shen Wei, feeling embarrassed, touched her belly and looked at Prince Yan with wide eyes. “I’m hungry. Is there anything to eat?”
Her expression was simply adorable, and Prince Yan couldn’t help but chuckle.
The kitchen soon brought in the prepared dinner. Prince Yan had already eaten, so he didn’t touch his chopsticks, while Shen Wei, famished, devoured two bowls of rice and half a bowl of rich pork rib soup without a care for her image.
Her actions were anything but ladylike.
Prince Yan watched, exasperated, and couldn’t help but say, “Slow down; the child in your belly won’t compete with you for food.”
Shen Wei paused mid-sip, her eyes widening as if she had just realized she was pregnant. “Child... child?”
Prince Yan smiled and shared the good news with her. “Wei Wei, we’re having another baby!”
Shen Wei looked bewildered, her fingers brushing over her flat belly as if she had just discovered her pregnancy.
In fact, she had felt abdominal pain earlier that morning and had consulted the physician. Upon learning of her pregnancy, two thoughts flashed through her mind.
First, they shouldn’t have been so reckless with Prince Yan!
Second, the princess posed a threat to her.
With this pregnancy being unstable, the princess could use it as an excuse to reclaim her authority over the household. Thus, Shen Wei cleverly devised a plan, intentionally taking a slap to completely sever the princess's path to power.
A maidservant brought in a bowl of bitter medicine for preserving the fetus. Shen Wei grimaced at the bitterness, furrowing her brow as she downed the medicine, quickly popping a piece of sugar cane into her mouth to dispel the bitter taste.
As night deepened, Prince Yan and Shen Wei fell asleep with their feet touching.
Shen Wei caressed her flat belly, still somewhat in disbelief. “How am I pregnant again...?”
Prince Yan held her hand. “I work hard day and night; it’s not surprising that you’re pregnant.”
Shen Wei shot him an annoyed glare, but her expression was more playful than angry, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Prince Yan found himself captivated; sometimes he truly felt that Shen Wei was a fairy incarnate, and every time she drew near, he found it hard to resist.
However, with her pregnancy and the physician’s repeated warnings, Prince Yan could only suppress his restlessness.
As the night wore on, they chatted idly. Shen Wei brought up the idea of choosing a good name for their unborn child, and Prince Yan, intrigued, began to ponder names for the new addition.
...
The next morning, Prince Yan was in high spirits. After finishing breakfast, he went to the nursery to check on his sleeping little daughter, then strolled to the vegetable garden to pick a crisp cucumber before leisurely heading to court.
Prince Yan relished these smooth and carefree days, and he now had even more reason to ensure he wouldn’t fail in his quest for power.
For the sake of a stable future and the safety of his family, he had to seize that supreme throne.
As Prince Yan went to court, Shen Wei, having finished her breakfast, still felt a dull ache in her abdomen. After taking the medicine for preserving the fetus, she had no choice but to rest in bed.
This pregnancy had come too quickly, exceeding Shen Wei’s expectations. Given the circumstances, she needed to recover her health as soon as possible, maintaining her best physical condition to ensure this pregnancy wouldn’t deplete her vitality.
“Master, Mama Qian from the empress’s side has arrived,” Cai Lian announced as she entered the inner chamber.
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