The Imperial Physician prepared to give Hua Manman the medicine.
Enduring the pain, Hua Manman asked, "Will taking the medicine affect the baby?"
The Imperial Physician did not dare to hide the truth and answered honestly.
"All medicine has some toxicity. Even the gentlest of remedies will have some effect on the child."
For this very reason, he rarely dared to prescribe medicine to pregnant women unless it was absolutely necessary.
Li Ying, however, paid no mind to this and directly ordered the Imperial Physician.
"Help Princess Consort Zhao with the pain first. Saving the mother is what’s most important."
"Yes, Your Highness."
However, when the Imperial Physician brought the bowl of medicine to Princess Consort Zhao, she knocked it over.
Hua Manman said, enunciating each word, "I will not drink the medicine."
Li Ying said sternly.
"This is no time for a tantrum. Be good and drink the medicine.
You’re still young. Even if you can’t save this child, you can have others in the future.
Don’t ruin your own body out of a moment of pique."
His words made Hua Manman laugh in anger.
"Listening to you, it’s as if you’re certain my child will be lost. What? Are you that eager for me to miscarry?"
Her words were too sharp, stabbing right into Li Ying’s heart.
His expression immediately darkened.
"Is that what you really think of me?"
Hua Manman retorted, "Am I wrong?"
Li Ying fell silent, but anyone could see he was in a terrible mood. His face was so grim it looked as if it might drip water.
The Imperial Physician was already scared into silence, not daring to even breathe too loudly.
After a long while, Li Ying finally spoke, his tone icy.
"Since you refuse to drink the medicine, then forget it. In any case, the child is yours, and the body is yours. Ruin it however you please."
With that, he turned and left, walking out without a single look back.
The Imperial Physician hesitated for a moment before following him out.
Only when Hua Manman and Qing Huan were alone in the room did Qing Huan dare to speak.
"Princess Consort, are... are you really... not going to drink the medicine...?"
She watched as the Princess Consort’s face grew paler and paler, and she was extremely worried.
But Hua Manman’s sharp demeanor from before vanished. Her body relaxed, and she said softly.
"Don’t be afraid. I’m fine."
Qing Huan didn’t believe her. "But... your... complexion... looks... terrible."
Hua Manman took a small porcelain vial from her sleeve.
She had once gotten a bottle of Fetal Protection Pills from a lucky bag. There were three in total. She had already taken one, and two remained.
To prevent any accidents, she had been carrying the Fetal Protection Pills with her at all times.
Today, they had finally come in handy.
"Get me a cup of water."
Qing Huan quickly poured a cup of warm water and brought it to the Princess Consort.
Hua Manman took one of the Fetal Protection Pills with the warm water.
Qing Huan watched her with wide eyes. "What... did you... take?"
Hua Manman: "Abortion prevention medicine."
She had deliberately angered Li Ying to make him leave, just so she would have an opportunity to take the abortion prevention medicine.
If Li Ying had stayed, she wouldn’t have had any chance to take the medicine at all.
The Fetal Protection Pill took effect quickly.
Hua Manman felt the pain in her abdomen gradually lessen until it disappeared completely. Along with it, the color returned to her face, changing from pale to a healthy pink.
Qing Huan witnessed the Princess Consort’s transformation firsthand and was dumbfounded.
’The effect of this abortion prevention medicine is too good, isn’t it? It’s practically a Miracle Medicine!’
Qing Huan was not an overly curious person and had no intention of prying.
After her brief astonishment, her worry immediately turned to joy. She was overjoyed. ’The Princess Consort and the baby are both safe! This is wonderful!’
Hua Manman also breathed a sigh of relief.
She once again silently rejoiced that she had brought the Fetal Protection Pills with her.
Otherwise, things would have been truly dangerous this time.
Hua Manman said to Qing Huan.
"Don’t tell anyone I’ve recovered. No matter who asks, you are to say that I’m not doing well."
Qing Huan didn’t understand. "Why?"
Hua Manman: "When everyone thinks I’m on the verge of death, they will naturally lower their guard around me. This will be a perfect opportunity for me."
Qing Huan listened, only half-understanding.
Hua Manman got up and walked to the dressing table, having Qing Huan apply "sickly makeup" to her face.
Her face was powdered a deathly white, her lips were colored to look bloodless, and shadows were applied under her eyes. Her hair was left unbound.
She looked exactly as if she were terminally ill.
Qing Huan helped her lie back down on the soft couch.
Perhaps because lying down was so comfortable, she accidentally fell asleep.
Qing Huan covered her with a blanket and tiptoed out of the study.
As soon as she stepped outside, she saw Prince Wu Zhang standing under the veranda.
He hadn’t left.
Li Ying’s expression was still grim, his voice laced with a frightening chill.
"How is she?"
Qing Huan, remembering the Princess Consort’s instructions at all times, said slowly.
"The Princess Consort... is not doing well."
Li Ying stared at the closed door behind her, his gaze so intense it seemed as if it could pierce through the wood to see how the woman inside was doing.
Qing Huan knew she wasn’t a good actress and was afraid of giving something away, so she kept her head lowered the entire time, not daring to move or speak carelessly.
After a long time, she finally heard Prince Wu Zhang’s voice.
"Does she want that child that badly?"
Qing Huan didn’t know how to answer.
Li Ying obviously didn’t need her answer either. He gave a self-deprecating laugh and answered his own question.
"Of course she wants that child. After all, it’s her and Prince Zhao’s first child."
Qing Huan remained silent.
Li Ying took a deep breath and said slowly, "Go and brew the medicine. Even if she doesn’t want to drink it, you must persuade her to."
Qing Huan replied, "Yes, Your Highness."
Li Ying: "I came over today to tell you something.
I have already ordered people to tidy up the small kitchen in Chaoyang Palace, and everything inside has been fully prepared.
I also had two chefs transferred over from the Imperial Kitchen.
If Princess Consort Zhao wants to eat anything, she just needs to give the order."
Qing Huan: "Yes, Your Highness."
Li Ying: "There’s an herb pot in the small kitchen that can be used to decoct medicine."
Qing Huan: "Yes, Your Highness."
He had said all that needed to be said. Logically, Li Ying should have left, but his legs seemed to have taken root, planting him firmly to the spot, unwilling to move.
If he didn’t leave, Qing Huan couldn’t leave either.
Silence spread through the air.
In the end, Li Ying left.
For the past few days, every time he came to Chaoyang Palace, he had been in high spirits. He would leave with a spring in his step, and his eyes seemed to shine.
But today was completely different.
He left with heavy steps, his eyes dim, and his expression dejected.
Seeing this, Liang Yong couldn’t help but advise him.
"Prince, if you can’t let it go, just have someone hold down Princess Consort Zhao and force the medicine down her throat.
She is just a delicate woman. No matter how unwilling she is, she can’t resist. In the end, won’t she just have to accept her fate?"
Li Ying: "She would hate me."
He had finally managed to get a little bit of warmth from Hua Manman; he didn’t want to lose even that tiny bit.
It would have been fine if he had never experienced that warmth at all.
To experience it and then lose it was what was truly, heart-piercingly painful.
He couldn’t bear it.
Liang Yong couldn’t understand Prince Wu Zhang’s thoughts. He only felt that the Prince’s personality was becoming more and more indecisive.
This was not a good sign.
...