12dz Chapter 157 Each Has Their Own Fate
Chapter 157 Each Has Their Own Fate
"Big sister looks so radiant."
"Really? I think so too. They say that having a daughter brings good fortune to the mother, so I think this baby will be a sweet and considerate girl."
"She's a daughter, and she's certainly thoughtful." He Lingyi's affirmative tone piqued Chi Guiwan's curiosity, so she leaned over and asked with a smile.
"If this baby is indeed a girl, then I'd like to borrow the Crown Princess's hand to hold. I overheard my husband saying that His Highness the Crown Prince mentioned that he would prefer a princess."
Princess?
Does His Highness the Crown Prince want a princess?
He Lingyi was somewhat surprised by these words. She thought that, given the current situation, the Crown Prince would prefer a prince, since it would affect the stability of the country. However, she did not expect that he would want a princess.
Seeing that He Lingyi didn't speak, Chi Guiwan thought she might be shy, so she leaned closer and added.
“My nanny has some excellent remedies for conceiving. Shall I get them for you to try? You’ve been married to the Crown Prince for half a year now, and there’s still no sign of pregnancy. You have no idea how many people outside are eyeing the position of the Crown Prince’s concubine.”
"Let them keep an eye on us, it'll only be a matter of a few months."
He Lingyi's words confused Chi Guiwan. "What do you mean by several months? Does that mean His Highness the Crown Prince intends to hold the grand election in the autumn?"
As she spoke, she became nervous. If she could, Chi Guiwan would love to give this baby to Crown Princess He Lingyi, since her situation was much easier. Whether she gave birth or not, or when she gave birth, would not have a significant impact on the Qiao family.
But the Crown Princess is different.
If her belly doesn't show any signs of pregnancy, just watch, within three years a new person will definitely move in.
Although Chi Guiwan knew it was unrealistic to leave the Crown Prince's harem completely empty, she felt that at least with the eldest son, or even the second son, the Crown Princess's position could be secured before introducing new women, which would be better than the current situation.
Seeing her mother's worried expression, He Lingyi was deeply moved and quickly comforted her.
"It's in the palace. His Majesty's health is failing. The imperial physicians say it's a miracle he's lasted this long, and they estimate he won't make it through the summer. So once the news comes out, who will dare to send anyone to the Eastern Palace? Wouldn't that be going against the royal family?"
"Your Majesty... is he failing?"
He Lingyi nodded, digesting Chi Guiwan's surprise and successfully changing the subject. Chi Guiwan never expected things to turn out this way, so she sighed.
"Then it will be difficult for me to see you again in the future."
He Lingyi remained silent. She understood her mother's meaning, which was simply that she wanted to go to the palace with the Crown Prince. However, He Lingyi was thinking that she wouldn't be able to stay for more than a few months. According to the due date, it would only be about three months.
Therefore, she needs to deal with many things quickly.
So she patted her mother's hand and said with a smile, "What's so difficult about that? I'm just afraid you'll be too busy raising the children to see me."
As the two were talking, Xingluo walked in from outside, his expression somewhat solemn. He glanced at Chi Guiwan but did not speak.
"It's alright, just say it."
"Your Highness, Consort Jia gave birth to a son, but he has died due to excessive blood loss..."
"Gone? So fast?"
He Lingyi blurted out her words without thinking, which puzzled Xingluo and Chi Guiwan. "Did you know she would get into trouble?"
How was He Lingyi supposed to respond to that?
She didn't know that Jia Meiren would get into trouble; in fact, she hoped that Jia Meiren would get into trouble.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to persuade the Crown Prince to hand over the power of the harem to Consort Liang. Consort Jia was already past her due date, and everyone was still talking about it when she gave birth.
It's good to be a prince, but it would be difficult for a prince who lost his mother at birth to survive in the harem.
"Is Your Highness aware of this matter?"
"I don't know yet. The message just arrived, and His Highness is still in the study talking with General Qiao."
"Well, I'll talk to them later. Also, have someone prepare a carriage; we need to go to the palace."
"Yes."
The death of Consort Jia was not too shocking for He Lingyi. She already knew that Consort Liang would not let her live, but she didn't know when she would make her move.
Being fast has its advantages; it allows her to close the net quickly.
Without the storyline involving Consort Jia in the palace, Lü Yi won't have an easy time!
A hint of hatred flickered in her eyes, which only deepened Chi Guiwan's confusion. "Crown Princess, what are you thinking?"
His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden words, and He Lingyi replied after regaining his composure.
"This Consort Jia's child lost his mother at birth. How many concubines in the harem are eyeing him? Just watch, before the little prince's mother is even chosen, there will be plenty of turmoil in the palace."
After saying this, Chi Guiwan realized it too late.
Suddenly remembering that Jia Meiren was the eldest sister of the Lü family, I felt that the Lü family had really suffered a great misfortune, with people dying one after another. However, since I had very little contact with them, I couldn't really describe my feelings.
He just sighed and then forgot about it.
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess were going to the palace, so Chi Guiwan naturally had to go home with Qiao Er. On the way, she sighed as she spoke.
"These past two years have been full of ups and downs. I feel like everyone around me is leaving too quickly. First it was Madam Guo, then my second sister and third brother, and then my grandmother and Aunt Zhao's unborn little brother. And that's just our family. The Lü family is the same. Madam Lü and Consort Jia are both gone. Sigh, I don't know why, but I always feel a tightness in my chest."
"not comfortable?"
"I can't quite put my finger on it, but it just feels a bit strange."
Chi Guiwan couldn't explain where this strange feeling came from, but it was all around her people who had once been alive and well, and who were gone one by one. It truly was the unpredictability of life.
Qiao Er put his arm around her and said comfortingly.
“My sister-in-law reminded me the other day that pregnant women tend to overthink things. I thought you wouldn’t, but now it seems she was right. Madam Guo’s death was my father-in-law’s fault. Your younger siblings’ accidents were accidental. Old Madam Chi was already injured and it’s normal that she couldn’t make it through her old age. And the Lü family is the same. If Madam Lü and your second sister hadn’t gone crazy and fought each other, they wouldn’t have ended up being sentenced to death. Consort Jia died while giving birth to the prince, which is a woman’s life-threatening situation. So, none of this has anything to do with you! Just don’t take these things on yourself.”
As he spoke, he stroked her protruding belly, and then Qiao Er said somewhat sullenly.
"I don't care what others are like, I'm only worried about you! Childbirth is tiring and dangerous, and we don't lack children in our household, so let's just have this one. We'll take good care of you from now on."
"What if it's a daughter?"
"Isn't our daughter good enough? Anyway, she has her older cousins to protect her. She can just be the most beloved child in our family, and that's all that matters."