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Days later, Gu Qianxian felt unwell, experiencing nausea and vomiting, and her monthly cycle was delayed.
A sudden realization struck her; she faintly sensed that she might be pregnant.
She couldn't believe it, nor could she be certain. The only thing she could do was secretly seek out an elderly woman in the Cold Palace who had once been a physician.
The old woman checked her pulse and confirmed that she was indeed over a month pregnant.
Gu Qianxian felt a mix of joy and worry; the joy came from carrying Xiao Yaohan's child, while the worry stemmed from how to protect this child within the confines of the Cold Palace.
"Child," Gu Qianxian gently caressed her belly and whispered, "Mother will surely protect you."
"Mother will ensure you arrive safely in this world." She forced herself to eat, no matter how unappetizing the food was; she had to push herself to consume it.
She carefully guarded her belly, terrified of any mishap.
Gu Qianxian attempted to seek help from Xiao Yaohan by writing him a letter, hoping to have a young eunuch deliver it.
However, the eunuch merely glanced at Gu Qianxian with indifference before tearing the letter to shreds.
"Gu, save your breath," he mocked, "the prince has long forgotten you; do you really think you matter?" With that, the eunuch turned to leave.
Gu Qianxian collapsed on the ground in despair, her face pale as she grasped at the eunuch's sleeve. "You must tell the prince I'm pregnant; he will be happy to hear it! He will surely take me away!"
The eunuch looked at her with disbelief and scoffed, "You think this excuse will convince the prince to let you go? Who doesn't know you've been unfaithful? Stop dreaming; wash up and sleep..."
"I heard that soon the prince is marrying a young lady from the General's residence," he continued. "The prince is busy with many matters; don’t waste my time or I’ll be punished by him." With that, he pushed past Gu Qianxian and left.
Stunned by the news of Xiao Yaohan's impending marriage to a lady from the General's residence, Gu Qianxian couldn't comprehend how quickly he had moved on to someone new. All those sweet words he had spoken were mere lies. With each truth that pierced her heart, it felt as if an invisible hand was squeezing it tightly, making it hard for her to breathe. Her mind went blank as she sat there, feeling as if she might collapse.
Gu Qianxian caressed her slightly rounded belly and shed silent tears. "I'm sorry, child; you shouldn't have come at this time. Your father no longer wants your mother, but don't worry—without a father, having me is enough. I will protect you well."
Months later, Xiao Mansion was adorned with red silk and festive decorations; a lively atmosphere filled the air as Xiao Yaohan faced off against a young lady from the General's residence in a ceremonial bow.
"Ritual complete! To the bridal chamber!"
In Xiao Mansion’s Cold Palace, Gu Qianxian listened to the raucous celebrations from the main hall and deduced that today was Xiao Yaohan's wedding day with the lady from the General's residence. She forced a bitter smile while touching her belly when suddenly a sharp pain shot through her abdomen. Gu Qianxian bent over in agony and sank to the ground.
"This is bad; it seems like it's time. There are no servants here, and everyone outside has gone to join the commotion. I can only rely on myself."
She gritted her teeth against the excruciating pain, struggling to get up. With unsteady steps, she made her way into the room, grabbed a pair of scissors, and lay down on the bed. By the time she finished these tasks, she was utterly exhausted, her pale face drenched in sweat.
Wave after wave of intense pain made Gu Qianxian clutch the blanket tightly, each contraction growing stronger. After another surge of effort, it felt as if something was finally released.
The sound of a baby's cries filled the air, and Gu Qianxian let out a sigh of relief. Gritting her teeth against the pain, she propped herself up against the edge of the bed, used the scissors to cut the umbilical cord, and held her child close.
"Don't be afraid, my child. Mother is here; I will protect you."
Meanwhile, in another part of Xiao Mansion, Xiao Yaohan entered the bridal chamber, ready to lift the veil when hurried voices from the servants reached him.
"Your Highness, something's wrong! Zhang Luoyi has come with soldiers!"
Xiao Yaohan's expression darkened. "What happened?"
"I... I don't know," the servant replied tremulously.
"Let's go see. This Zhang Luoyi must have ill intentions; let's see what tricks he’s up to."
Xiao Yaohan made his way to the main hall where Zhang Luoyi stormed in with soldiers in tow. "Seize Xiao Yaohan and his family!"
"Yes!" The soldiers began rounding up everyone in the mansion.
"What are you doing, Zhang Luoyi? On what grounds do you arrest me? Do you believe I won't bring you to justice?" Xiao Yaohan's face was filled with fury.
Zhang Luoyi chuckled at Xiao Yaohan's words. "Xiao Yaohan, you're at death's door yet still so defiant. Do you think the Emperor doesn't know what you've done? You've colluded with powerful officials to seize power. The evidence is irrefutable. The Emperor is furious and has ordered me to take you back for exile."
"Hmph, I see this is your doing," Xiao Yaohan replied darkly.
"And if it is? You handed me the evidence on a silver platter. In this world, it's survival of the fittest; surely you understand that, Lord Xiao!"
"Sir Zhang, we have apprehended everyone in the mansion," a soldier reported to Zhang Luoyi.
"Good. Let's go," Zhang Luoyi said as he turned to leave.
"What are you doing? Let go of me! I am a princess! Do you believe I won't have His Highness punish you?" Si Tu Rong shouted as she struggled against their grip.
The officials ignored Si Tu Rong's shouting and took her away.
Inside the Cold Palace, Gu Qianxian heard the commotion from the main hall and felt a surge of hope. This was her chance; it seemed they had been captured by the officials, and there was no one outside. She needed to find a way to escape.
Without hesitation, she grabbed a small blanket to wrap around the child. She remembered that there was a dog hole in the back palace that she could use to get out.
Carrying the child, she approached the dog hole and peeked outside. To her relief, there was indeed no one around. She carefully placed the child at the entrance of the hole, crawled out herself, and then lifted the child up to escape from Xiao Mansion.
Years later, Xiao Yaohan regained his title as prince after achieving merit. He set off for the capital with a large entourage, making his way through the bustling streets.
"How fun! Mother, hurry up!" Gu Xiantian exclaimed, running ahead with wide eyes full of curiosity.
"Xiantian, don’t run too fast! Wait for your mother!" Gu Qianxian called out as she and Gu Xiantian disappeared into the crowd.
Xiao Yaohan heard a woman's voice that sounded somewhat familiar. He turned to look but did not see who he hoped to find.
"Maybe I just imagined it," Xiao Yaohan thought, feeling a wave of disappointment wash over him. He felt ashamed to even think of her; after all, he had believed Si Tu Rong's one-sided story and had not listened to any of her explanations.
"Your Highness, is something wrong?" Tianchi asked when he noticed Xiao Yaohan had stopped to look back.
"Nothing. Let’s go!" Xiao Yaohan replied, pulling his gaze away.
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