Bing’er comforted her, “Don’t worry, young mistress. The Crown Prince will return as soon as he receives the news.”
Xu Qing’er relaxed momentarily, but another wave of pain hit, prompting her to instruct Bing’er, “This matter… will depend… on you…”
“Bing’er nodded, ‘What does the young mistress want?’
Xu Qing’er, covered in sweat and enduring pain, gritted her teeth and said, ‘Find a way to make the Crown Prince bring Qiu’er here. By any means necessary, make sure Qiu’er comes. Do you understand?’
Bing’er nodded.
Xu Qing’er grabbed Bing’er’s hand again, emphasizing, ‘You must understand. You must find a way to make the Crown Prince bring Qiu’er here.’
Long Hanjie received the news and hurried back to the palace, feeling anxious. The messenger’s words were unclear—what did his mother mean by leaving this matter to Xu Qiu’er? He didn’t know how Qing’er was doing and quickened his pace, wishing he could fly back.
On the way, he wondered what Xu Qiu’er would do. If his mother wasn’t going to intervene, would Xu Qiu’er harm Qing’er? The thought drove him mad. He considered that if Xu Qiu’er dared to act against Qing’er, he wouldn’t hesitate to ensure that Qiu’er and her unborn child faced the same fate.
When he reached the palace gates, Bing’er was already waiting. Long Hanjie grabbed her shoulders, shaking her angrily and shouting, ‘How could it happen so many days early? Where’s Qing’er? How is she?’
Bing’er suppressed her pain and knelt on the ground. Long Hanjie pulled her up, saying, ‘Let’s talk as we walk.'”
Bing’er cried, “This morning, the young mistress said the sun was nice and wanted to chat with the Crown Princess. But when she went to the Crown Princess’s chambers, something happened. Upon returning, the servant noticed she had been crying. The young mistress said she wanted to rest, had lunch, and then started having stomach pains. I went to see the Empress, but who knew…”
Long Hanjie interrupted, “Who knew what?”
Bing’er trembled and replied, “I don’t know what happened, but I was taken to the Crown Princess’s bedchamber. The Crown Princess hit me without explanation. I don’t know what I did wrong. Finally, when I mentioned that the young lady had sent someone to inform the Crown Prince, the Crown Princess summoned the imperial physician.”
Long Hanjie stopped and looked at Bing’er, suppressed his anger at her injuries.
Bing’er laughed inwardly. The Crown Princess?
Long Hanjie rushed outside and heard Xu Qing’er’s cry. He wanted to go in but was stopped.
“Your Highness, this is the delivery room. The Crown Prince cannot enter.”
Long Hanjie anxiously asked, “How is she? Qing’er, Qing’er…”
Inside, Xu Qing’er heard Long Hanjie’s voice, opened her eyes, and saw Bing’er, asking with difficulty, “Bing’er…”
A wave of pain struck, and Xu Qing’er cried out.
Bing’er held Xu Qing’er’s hand and nodded, “Young lady, rest assured.”
“The Crown Prince will definitely go find the Crown Princess.”
Hearing this, Xu Qing’er lay down, continuing to battle with her belly.
The imperial physician comforted Long Hanjie, “Your Highness, women need time to give birth. Please be at ease. The person inside is not in danger.”
Assured by the physician, Long Hanjie relaxed and recalled Bing’er’s words. He clenched his fist and rushed towards the Crown Princess’s bedchamber, entering the outer hall.
Xiaoju, seeing the Crown Prince enter in a rage, realized Xu Qing’er must have spread rumors. She couldn’t let anything happen to the young lady and blocked Long Hanjie’s path, kneeling before him:
“Your Highness, the young lady has just fallen asleep. Please come back later.”
Long Hanjie, furious, kicked Xiaoju aside and rushed in. Xiaoju shouted, “Nanny, the Crown Prince has gone mad, quickly help the young lady escape!”
Xiaoju’s heart pounded as she endured the pain, stood up, and followed, holding her abdomen.
Nanny Liu, hearing Xiaoju’s cries, hurried to the inner hall to wake Xu Qing’er. Before she could enter, Long Hanjie rushed in and pushed her aside.
Xu Qiuer had just fallen asleep when she heard a commotion outside. As she opened her eyes, feeling stomach pain, Long Hanjie was in front of her. Without hesitation, he slapped her across the face. Xu Qiuer, startled and weak from hunger, saw stars from the blow. Long Hanjie then grabbed her shoulders and shook her, “What do you want? Xu Qiuer, I really underestimated you. How dare you lay hands on Qing’er…”
Dizzy from the shaking and nauseous, Xu Qiuer tried to move, but Long Hanjie pulled her back forcefully. Nanny Liu and Xiaoju tried to intervene. Nanny Liu shouted, “Your Highness, please let go of the Crown Princess. Her body cannot withstand this.”
Xiaoju, in tears, clung to Long Hanjie’s leg, but he kicked her into the corner, causing her forehead to bleed. Nanny Liu was thrown to the ground. Seeing Xiaoju’s injuries, Xu Qiuer tried to get up, but Long Hanjie pulled her down again, making her belly hit the ground.
“Help…” Nanny Liu called. Xiaoju crawled to Xu Qiuer, “Young lady, don’t scare Xiaoju.” Xu Qiuer felt severe cramping, biting her lip in pain, her face pale. She attempted to protect her belly but lacked the strength. Long Hanjie, thinking she was faking, kicked her stomach.
Xiaoju pushed Long Hanjie aside and held Xu Qiuer, who felt warmth and saw blood on her hand, trembling.
Seeing the blood, Xiaoju screamed, “Help! Help…”
Xu Qiuer felt intense pain, her lips trembling, “The child… my child…”
Nanny Liu ran out in a panic, while Long Hanjie stared at Xu Qiuer’s belly, stunned.
Xiaoju attempted to stop the bleeding, crying, “Young lady, it’s only seven months. What should we do?”
Her cries summoned the servants, who rushed to find the imperial physician. Xu Qiuer glanced at the sky and passed out, a tear at the corner of her eye.
“Quickly, quickly…” Nanny Liu urgently pulled the physician in.
He immediately sat down to diagnose Xu Qiuer. “It’s happening. She’s going into labor.”
Nanny Liu panicked, “Can she give birth at only seven months?”
The physician ordered water to be boiled. The Old Buddha received the news and came with the Empress, while maids carried bowls of bloody water. The Old Buddha nearly fainted at the sight and asked, “How did Qiuer go into premature labor?”
The Empress glanced at Long Hanxie, having received information from the palace maid. She said, “It might have been a collision, leading to premature birth.”
The Old Buddha raised her cane and struck the Empress’s face. The Empress touched her face in disbelief, already bleeding. Long Hanxie stepped forward, saying, “If punishment is to be given, punish Hanxie. It has nothing to do with my mother.”
The Old Buddha ordered, “Everyone kneel down.”
The Empress and Long Hanxie knelt as instructed.
The Old Buddha, trembling, said, “Crown Prince, the person inside is your wife and child. You dealt such a cruel blow to Qiu’er. If my great-grandson has any mishap, you’ll follow him.”
The Empress hurriedly kowtowed, “Old Buddha, please calm your anger. This servant will severely punish Hanxie.”
The Old Buddha’s cane struck the ground heavily, “You’ll punish him? How will you punish him? This is the good son delivered by the Empress.”
Long Hanxie’s expression was complex as he looked inside.
The Emperor arrived after receiving the news.
“Long live the Emperor.”
The Emperor impatiently said, “Enough with the greetings.”
He looked at the Old Buddha and asked, “How is it?”
Before the Old Buddha could speak, a desperate scream came from inside, “My child…” and then silence.
The Old Buddha, supported by the Emperor, grabbed a person as they emerged, asking, “What happened?”
