Chapter 186
**Chapter 184: All Set**
Back in the Liuli Pavilion, Shen Wei drank the medicinal soup that Rong Mama had brought her. The effects of the labor-inducing medicine had yet to take hold.
The fetus was already full-term; whether born early or late, Shen Wei's body would suffer. It was better to choose an auspicious time for the birth. Today happened to be the Empress's birthday, and Shen Wei wanted to give birth on this day, paving the way for her child's future.
Cai Lian rushed into the room, carefully supporting Shen Wei as she whispered, "My lady, I've already sent for the imperial physician and the midwife. They’re all trustworthy people, and everything is arranged. There are eyes on the Wangfei’s side; she won’t be able to sabotage things in secret."
"Ma Fei San, scissors, and sheep gut thread are all ready. Don’t worry, my lady. The midwife and the physician say that a woman usually gives birth faster with her second child."
"All the guards are patrolling outside the courtyard, and the two Tiger Guards at the gate are armed. They won’t let any ill-intentioned people in."
The medicine began to take effect. The servants of the Liuli Pavilion busied themselves, maintaining order. The physicians arrived with their medicine boxes, and the small kitchen had prepared soup and hot water.
Sweat beaded on Shen Wei's forehead, and the excruciating pain made it hard for her to stand. Gritting her teeth, she instructed Rong Mama and the two maidservants, "If I should unfortunately die, make sure to remind the Wangye to entrust the child to the Empress for upbringing."
It was the same old saying: do your best and leave the rest to fate.
For the child in her womb, Shen Wei had made all the necessary preparations. If her luck ran out and she perished during childbirth, it would simply be fate playing tricks.
...
As night fell, the commotion in the Liuli Pavilion soon attracted attention from the Wangfu. Zhang Miaoyu, who had the closest relationship with Shen Wei, had been living quite comfortably since Shen Wei took charge of the household.
Shen Wei had generously shared with her a recipe for digestion and health, helping to control Zhang Miaoyu's once-unrestrained weight gain.
Now that Shen Wei was in labor, upon hearing the news, Zhang Miaoyu dropped the snack she was eating and rushed to the Liuli Pavilion with her maid in tow.
The courtyard was brightly lit, and a faint metallic scent lingered in the air.
Zhang Miaoyu anxiously clutched her handkerchief and pulled a maid from the Liuli Pavilion aside, asking, "Is Sister Shen okay? Has the baby been born yet?"
The maid replied, "She’s still in labor. May the heavens bless her; the physician said the baby is in the right position, so the delivery shouldn’t be difficult, but my lady has lost a lot of blood."
Zhang Miaoyu scratched her head in distress and turned to her maid, "Xiangyu, hurry back to my mother’s house. She has a medicine for stopping bleeding and replenishing energy. Run fast and bring it back within an hour."
Xiangyu dashed out of the Wangfu, racing toward Zhang Miaoyu's family home.
Zhang Miaoyu didn’t dare to disturb the process and sat on a bench at the outer courtyard, waiting. After a while, Liu Ruoyan and Liu Qiaoer, the other two concubines, arrived late.
Zhang Miaoyu caught sight of Liu Ruoyan in her white attire and rolled her eyes in discontent. Someone was giving birth, and she was wearing such a ghostly outfit—was she trying to play the role of a grim reaper?
"Sister Liu, why don’t you go change into something else? Or at least rest in your courtyard," Zhang Miaoyu suggested.
Liu Ruoyan glanced at Zhang Miaoyu with indifference and replied calmly, "What, should I dress as garishly as you?"
Zhang Miaoyu, with her plump figure, wore loose, brightly colored clothes that always caught the eye. Liu Ruoyan had never liked her style.
Zhang Miaoyu clicked her tongue, "Then don’t go in to see Sister Shen later; I’m afraid she might get scared."
Liu Ruoyan replied coolly, "If this child is another girl, she’ll probably just keep having them, bringing trouble upon herself. What’s there to pity?"
Zhang Miaoyu wouldn’t let Liu Ruoyan have the last word and retorted, "We’re all women here; your words are too harsh. You must have read too many books. No wonder the Wangye doesn’t like you, always throwing shade."
Liu Ruoyan was momentarily speechless, her almond-shaped eyes reddening, "You... how can you speak so ungraciously!"
While Zhang Miaoyu and Liu Ruoyan exchanged barbs, Liu Qiaoer remained silent, dressed in a simple, plain long skirt, holding an unfinished embroidery project.
Liu Qiaoer had begun to feel wary of Shen Wei, who had suddenly emerged as a formidable presence. Since her rebirth, Liu Qiaoer had never regarded Shen Wei as a threat, but Shen Wei had repeatedly shattered her perceptions.
She couldn’t help but wonder what kind of magic Shen Wei had used; over the past couple of years, she had captured the favor of the Yan Wang, living in splendor. A peasant girl like Shen Wei had managed to run the inner courtyard of the Yan Wangfu with remarkable efficiency.
Liu Qiaoer thought to herself that perhaps she had misjudged Shen Wei. Maybe, in the near future, Shen Wei could indeed contend with that formidable woman.
But that was none of Liu Qiaoer’s concern. As long as she kept a low profile and stayed out of trouble, avoiding the palace intrigues, she could escape the tragic fate of her past life.
The three concubines waited patiently when suddenly, sounds of a struggle erupted from outside the Liuli Pavilion. Zhang Miaoyu jumped up, "What’s happening?"
A guard rushed in, cupping his hands in salute, "A few assassins have broken into the East Courtyard."
Zhang Miaoyu's face turned pale with fear, her legs trembling as she nearly fell. Liu Qiaoer also shook with fright, gripping her embroidery handkerchief tightly.
How could assassins infiltrate the heavily guarded Wangfu?
The guard remained relatively calm, "Ladies, don’t panic. The guards are already on their way to intercept the assassins."
The guard felt immense respect for Shen Wei. She had strategized well, anticipating trouble, and had ensured that the guards on duty tonight were armed and alert, allowing them to detect the intruders immediately.
The guard rushed out with his weapon.
Zhang Miaoyu anxiously paced back and forth like a chubby ball, muttering, "Sister Shen is still in labor, and there are assassins! The Wangye is at Kun Ning Palace tonight. Oh, Amitabha, please don’t let anything happen. I’m not ready to die yet; I haven’t finished the pastries I bought from Wei Yan Ji."
Zhang Miaoyu was both frightened and worried. Looking up, she noticed Liu Ruoyan still calmly seated on the bench, her expression unruffled. The night breeze lifted her hair, making her look almost ethereal.
"Aren’t you scared?" Zhang Miaoyu asked in surprise.
Liu Ruoyan replied, as calm as ever, "Life and death are fated."
Zhang Miaoyu gazed helplessly at the night sky, wishing the Wangye would return soon.
...
In the Kunyu Courtyard, the Wangfei was, as usual, kneeling devoutly before the Buddha, reciting scriptures.
"Wangfei, Shen Fei is going to give birth tonight," a young maid entered to report.
The Wangfei paused in her prayers, slowly opening her eyes to see the rows of flickering candles on the altar. She asked, "Is it going smoothly?"
The maid shook her head, "This is her second child. It’s said that Shen Fei has drunk several bowls of labor-inducing soup and hired the best midwife. The delivery is going relatively smoothly, with no complications. The assassins who entered the Wangfu have all been captured by the guards."
The Wangfei ground her teeth, a cold smile creeping onto her lips, "That wretched woman is quite lucky."
Having given birth herself, the Wangfei knew that the first delivery was often difficult, but subsequent births were usually easier.
She fiddled with the prayer beads in her hand and continued her recitation. In her heart, she secretly prayed that Shen Wei would give birth to a useless daughter, saving her the trouble of intervening.
The maid glanced around, seeing no outsiders. She feigned casualness and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Wangfei, the Heng Wang has asked me to convey a message: within a month, matters can be settled."
The Wangfei tightened her grip on the prayer beads, looking up at the smoke-wreathed statue of the compassionate Bodhisattva, murmuring, "Bodhisattva, bless us."
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