Nan Gongyue’s figure flashed, and she moved swiftly. Feng Xie rushed out right behind her, but after a few steps, he dared not proceed further. What face did he have to see her? He turned around and headed towards Yong Yuan Palace, ordering another young eunuch to go to Wei Yang Palace to inquire about the situation.
As Nan Gongyue entered Wei Yang Palace, the eunuchs and palace maids immediately stopped their crying and cried out in unison, “Lord Nan Gong, the Empress, she…”
Nan Gongyue quickly walked into the sleeping quarters, ignoring the palace maids and eunuchs. On the large bed, Liu Liu’s face was pale, her eyes were cold, and a trace of icy air emanated from the corners of her lips. Upon seeing Nan Gongyue’s figure, a hint of warmth appeared in her eyes.
“Nan Gong, I…”
She wanted to tell Nan Gongyue what had happened, but Nan Gongyue did not wait for her to speak. He swiftly glided over and took her pulse. In an instant, his expression calmed down. Liu Liu weakly waved her hand, signaling Cui’er to go out and stand guard. “Yes, Your Majesty,” Cui’er walked out.
In the sleeping quarters, a flicker of heartache flashed across Nan Gongyue’s face, which was as refined as an immortal’s. He reached out and held her hand; it was cold and burning. His heart was almost driven mad. To think that she was actually fine.
“Why did you do this?” Her child was fine, but where did the bright red bloodstains on her lower body come from? The thought of her harming herself to protect the child in her womb made his eyes turn crimson, and hatred surged within him.
How could that detestable man bear to harm her?
“Help me. I don’t want to lose the child, so I want to leave the palace,” Liu Liu said calmly, looking at Nan Gongyue with firm eyes. Nan Gongyue nodded vigorously.
If there were any concerns in the past, there were none now. He would take good care of them, mother and child, even if she had lost her inner strength; he could protect them.
“Alright, but let me take care of you. Shall I take you out?” His voice was so soft it was almost dripping with tenderness.
“No, if I am taken out, he still won’t let me go. So I can only die and sever all ties with him,” Liu Liu panted. Due to excessive blood loss, her body was somewhat weak, and her complexion was extremely poor. Nan Gongyue was stunned by her words and shook his head, “You are pregnant now, you cannot take the fake death medicine.”
“Is there no other way?” She stared at him in disappointment, believing he must have another solution. His medical skills were the highest, something she most admired. How could he possibly not have a way to make someone feign death?
As long as it did not harm her child, she would endure any suffering.
Nan Gongyue hesitated for a moment, then remembered a method. However, it would cause her immense pain, and he truly could not bear to see her suffer such agony.
“There is a method, concocted from over a dozen types of flowers. It will not harm the child but will cause the adult to feel as if they are dying. Since it has not been fully tested, after taking it, the muscles all over the body will feel as if pricked by tiny needles. Ordinary people cannot endure it. Are you sure you want to use it? Otherwise, I can take you out, and if the Emperor dares to forcibly take you back, I will definitely protect you.”
“Use the newly developed fake death medicine. I am not afraid of suffering. As long as I can protect my child, I am not afraid of any hardship. As long as the child is well,” she said firmly. Nan Gongyue fundamentally did not want her to experience that kind of pain, but seeing her so resolute, this was currently the most viable method.
If she took the real fake death medicine, it would definitely affect the fetus, and perhaps even her brain. Then, all her efforts would be in vain.
“Alright,” Nan Gongyue nodded with determination. He took out several small bottles from his sleeve, selected one, and poured a pill into his mouth. Liu Liu took it without hesitation.
“I will smuggle you out. Leave everything to me. This medicine will only take effect after three days, and these three days will be very painful. If you can’t bear it, have Cui’er find me.”
“Alright, you can go now.”
Nan Gongyue walked out and announced that the Empress had a miscarriage, and even Imperial Physician Nan Gong could not do anything. Who else would have the ability to treat her? The Empress was exhausted and on the verge of death due to the miscarriage.
This news reached the Imperial Study. The Emperor skipped the morning court and went mad. He rushed to Wei Yang Palace, wanting only to repent to Liu’er and beg for her forgiveness. In the future, he would give her countless children, as long as she got better.
Feng Xie sped into Wei Yang Palace. Cries of grief filled Wei Yang Palace. Even the Empress Dowager and Princess Wu Yang were in the sleeping quarters. As Feng Xie entered, Wu Yang stood up and roared at her imperial brother in anger.
“Imperial Brother, what have you done? How could you harm the Empress like this? You killed her child, is she still alive? You don’t know how happy she was to have a child, and now you have extinguished her hope. How can she go on living?”
Feng Xie stared motionlessly at the small figure on the bed. Overnight, she had become gaunt and pale, her eyes tightly shut, with bloodstains on the hem of her white gown, as if announcing his wicked deeds.
His tall body moved with difficulty towards the bed. He was scum, a scoundrel. How could he fear his own child and want to seize his empire? Even if he seized it, it would still belong to their Feng family! Why could he not understand this simple logic?
The emperor, who had always been noble and domineering, shed a tear from the corner of his eye. He flashed to the bed and tightly embraced Liu Liu’s body.
“I’m sorry, Liu’er, forgive me, forgive me. It is I who deserves to die. Don’t punish me like this, okay? You must get better, get better. I’ll let you punish me however you want.” He held her tightly, his body trembling. Had he done something wrong, was it irrecoverable?
Liu Liu’s weak body woke up amidst his sudden movements. Due to excessive blood loss and taking the fake death medicine, she was now extremely ethereal.
But she knew it was that cold man falsely repenting to her. Why did he always ask for forgiveness after making mistakes? A smile appeared at the corner of her lips, and she spoke softly.
“Your Majesty, why go to such lengths? Isn’t this what you wanted?”
As soon as Liu Liu spoke, Wu Yang and the Empress Dowager cried out simultaneously, “Liu’er, you’re awake.”
Feng Xie released her, allowing her to see the bone-piercing regret in his eyes. Unfortunately, Liu Liu would not forgive him. If she hadn’t been vigilant, this child would truly have been lost. She dared not imagine what else he might do in the future.
She had no confidence that she could live safely in the palace, so she could only leave.
Feng Xie listened to her ethereal and cold words, so distant and unfeeling, his heart breaking. He embraced her.
“Please, give me a chance, okay? I will compensate you with many children in the future. By the way, as long as it’s born from you, it will be the Crown Prince. If it’s a girl, she will be a princess. Think about it, there will still be many children, as long as you are alright. Liu’er, don’t be so cruel.”
Liu Liu’s head felt dizzy, and her body began to tremble as if pierced by countless tiny needles. It was so painful, so painful, but she kept telling herself, Liu Liu, you can do it. For the child, you must persevere. Yet, a cold smile played on her lips.
“Your Majesty, who exactly is cruel? Because you suspected I was a princess of the former dynasty and feared I would seize the Feng family’s empire, you wanted to abort my child?
Actually, I am not a princess of the former dynasty; I am from the Su family. Do you know how the more than one hundred members of the Su family died?
It was killed by your father, Feng Buqing. He was a usurper. To seize the throne, he killed the entire family of his sworn brother, over a hundred people. Do you still think this empire was rightfully obtained?”