The Double-Chapter 574 - 169: Miscarriage_2

Jiang Li felt disoriented as she returned to the days of old, growing up under her father’s teachings.

Such tranquil moments had swiftly passed nearly a month, a month during which the Right Chancellor’s Residence had accumulated much activity, and the time for reaping the rewards had come.

...

Recently, there’d been cause for celebration within the Right Chancellor’s Residence.

Everyone in Yanjing City knew that Princess Yongning had become pregnant not long after marrying into the Li Family a month ago. This was both a blessing and a joyous occasion for the Li Family. The Emperor himself had instructed the Li Family to take good care of Princess Yongning. As such, the servants treated the princess like a deity, providing her with whatever she desired daily. Others looking in could only remark how different it was for a princess to marry; far from any form of restraint, she appeared even more carefree than before.

Princess Yongning resided in the Right Chancellor’s Residence, with a constant supply of nourishing items being delivered and fetus-preserving medicine taken daily. It seemed that the Li Family cared immensely for the child. However, for some reason, Princess Yongning always felt a chill of indifference, rather than warmth, from Li Xian’s gaze on her abdomen.

This made her extremely uneasy, constantly fearing that Li Xian had discovered the true identity of her child. Mei Xiang was always there to reassure her, insisting that if Li Xian truly discovered that the child was not of the Li lineage, he wouldn’t have taken such good care of Princess Yongning. The Li Family, upon receiving such news, would certainly demand an explanation, as they would not take matters lying down considering they were not at fault.

Princess Yongning thought about it and found the logic sound, so she decided to peacefully nurture the child. She touched her abdomen and said, "In a few more days, the child will be three months along."

Three months seemed like a brief period, but Princess Yongning had truly experienced an ordeal. It started with the discovery of her pregnancy, followed by the failed request for the Emperor’s blessing for marriage, and eventually marrying Shen Yurong. On her wedding night, she had to scheme to keep her secret safe, and after much fear and trembling, she managed to fabricate a perfect reason for the child’s existence. Every action here was fraught with tension; she was constantly on edge.

Princess Yongning never had anything to fear before, but these days were difficult to endure with an anxious heart, tossing and turning, coupled with Shen Yurong’s cold indifference and her discomfort from the pregnancy. In just a few months, her radiant complexion had wilted, leaving her looking haggard and weak, far from her usual beauty.

As she looked at herself in the mirror, she couldn’t help murmuring, "Looking like this, Mr. Shen would probably despise me, wouldn’t he..."

Suddenly she thought of Xue Fangfei. After the scandal of Fangfei’s affair, she was confined to the residence and fell ill with a "serious disease," being medicated daily, which made her look haggard too. When Princess Yongning saw Fangfei for the last time, Fangfei was no longer as dazzling as before, yet there wasn’t a hint of self-pity on her face, not even despair. She spoke to Princess Yongning calmly, her eyes bright.

Perhaps it was that composed demeanor that infuriated Yongning even more.

Princess Yongning, looking at her wretched reflection in the mirror and thinking of the woman who grew more hauntingly beautiful in adversity, suddenly felt a surge of inexplicable anger. She hurled the mirror aside and burst out, "I don’t want to stay inside anymore, let’s go out for a walk."

"Alright," Mei Xiang quickly came over to support her.

The servants of the Right Chancellor’s Residence would bow respectfully upon seeing Princess Yongning, but that day, finding their presence irksome, she felt dizzy from the constant motion and grew increasingly irritable. Moreover, once outside, she couldn’t understand why, but her heart began to race as if something was about to happen.

She had Mei Xiang escort her toward Li Xian’s courtyard.

Although Li Xian’s courtyard was secluded, it was serene and devoid of other servants. Only a mute who was locked in a study room was present there. The mute couldn’t speak, and she didn’t need to enter the study. She could just walk in the courtyard to enjoy a moment of quiet.

Perhaps Li Xian had intentionally arranged it so, as they walked for a while and saw no other servants. A few more steps and they would be able to see Li Xian’s courtyard. Princess Yongning said, "Li Xian really knows how to pick a spot."

Mei Xiang was about to speak when suddenly, someone leaped out from the bushes behind them. Mei Xiang hadn’t had a chance to react before she was struck on the back of the neck with a knife-hand strike, falling unconscious. Princess Yongning screamed, and the assailant harshly pushed her. Behind the bushes lay decorative steps, about five feet high, and with that push, Princess Yongning tumbled down!