When Xiao Jingheng uttered the words 'stillborn', his tone was unusually cold and resolute.
He was used to holding others' lives and deaths in his hands, so he spoke lightly as if he was dealing with someone else's child instead of his own flesh and blood.
Those unaware would have thought so, but Song Zhao knew that this child born in the imperial family was more than just a baby. Behind him were many concerns:
The fortune of the great nation, the face of the imperial family, the dignity of the emperor...
The list went on.
In Xiao Jingheng's eyes, all of these were far more important than the child's life.
Although he was Xiao Jingheng's own son, that did not mean he was Xiao Jingheng's only choice.
Xiao Noble Consort may lose favor for the rest of her life for birthing this child, but what about Xiao Jingheng?
The imperial clan had endless generations, and the rear palace certainly had no shortage of women vying to bear him children.
As Xiao Noble Consort's heart-wrenching sobs rang out with the child's, Song Zhao's heart tightened again and again.
She lowered her eyes involuntarily, protecting her own belly.
Ever since entering the palace, she had witnessed Xiao Jingheng's ruthlessness and decisiveness as emperor countless times, but never had any moment allowed Song Zhao to see her own status so clearly and directly as today.
In the inner palace, no matter whether it was the Empress, Imperial Noble Consort, Concubine Hui, Xiao Noble Consort, and so on,
they were nothing but pieces on a chessboard, mere tools to Xiao Jingheng.
Then what about her?
Born from filth, how could she expect to remain untainted?
Right now, with just a look from Xiao Jingheng, Jiang Deshun was going to take people to snatch the young prince from Xiao Noble Consort's arms.
As for whether they would bury him alive or burn him after snatching him, that was uncertain.
In crisis, Xiao Noble Consort desperately shielded her child,
but unexpectedly, the obedient Imperial Noble Consort suddenly rushed forward.
Imperial Noble Consort kicked away the palace maid pulling at the young prince's arm, and spread her sleeves wide to shield Xiao Noble Consort and her son.
Facing Xiao Jingheng's astonished gaze, she demanded:
"Your Majesty! This is still your child! A tiger will not eat its cubs - how can you bear to kill your own flesh and blood with your own hands?"
Her words were harsh, touching Xiao Jingheng's reverse scales.
His gaze turned cold, his voice as frigid as the ice offered in the hall.
"Precisely because he is Zhen's child, and moreover Zhen's first son with Zhen's blood flowing in him, from the moment he was born, the burden of the state's fortune has been on his shoulders!
Do you know how great an impact it would have on Qi if this matter spread? Then there would be public outcry, enemies spreading rumors, and whispers could easily topple even a strong nation!"
Xiao Jingheng pointed at the ceaselessly weeping child, with a touch of warmth perceptible in his otherwise cold voice,
"Does Zhen not know this is Zhen's own flesh and blood? But for the sake of one fated to die anyway, must Zhen let worries run rampant among the people, even shaking the stable national fortunes? Zhen cannot do so!
Zhen must firstly be the ruler of this land, only then the father of this child!"
Xiao Jingheng had always been eloquent, leaving no openings for criticism.
Upon hearing this, Song Zhao only felt that everything he said was logical, yet every word preposterous:
Indeed, if the news that the esteemed imperial son was a miscarried freak spread, it would certainly stir up great waves, giving evildoers an excuse to make trouble, and would definitely whip up turmoil among the common folk.
And when turmoil arises, the common people would be the first to suffer.
This was the extent of Song Zhao's understanding. The rest were an emperor's considerations in governing, which Song Zhao did not comprehend.
But was discarding the child truly the only method to attain peace for the country and people?
Surely not.
So despite Xiao Jingheng's impassioned explanations just now, it was merely an excuse to comfort himself.
At this moment, whether it was to maintain her kindly disposition before Xiao Jingheng, or out of sympathy for Xiao Noble Consort and her son, Song Zhao could not just stand by silently.
She stepped forward and knelt properly before Xiao Jingheng, speaking earnestly,
"Your Majesty, this child was born from Xiao Noble Consort risking her life. He is also Your Majesty's first son since ascending the throne. Your subject understands that Your Majesty has the country's interests in mind, and has no choice but to abandon this child. Your Majesty must be hurting inside.
However, your subject believes there are still ways to delay this matter. As long as Your Majesty keeps this a secret within the palace, those outside will have no way of knowing, and turmoil will not arise.
Let the young prince be nursed and cared for in the palace. Who knows, with Your Majesty's blessings and Heaven's sympathy, a miracle may yet happen?"
As she spoke, she glanced meaningfully at Judge Chu.
Judge Chu immediately said, "This lowly official will definitely do his utmost to protect the young prince! Please spare him, Your Majesty!"
Xiao Noble Consort wept as she kowtowed ceaselessly, forehead bleeding as sweat and blood stained the ground.
"Your Majesty! This concubine begs you! Please spare our child!"
The young prince's cries were also piercing and heart-wrenching, too awful to bear hearing.
Xiao Jingheng was not heartless after all.
Under their pleading, after a long silence, he finally relented.
"This child will not be recorded in the imperial genealogy, but will be raised in the palace. If anyone dares spread word of today's events, Zhen will exterminate their entire clan - Zhen will show no mercy!"
Yan Jiude, who had been eavesdropping outside, hurriedly ran to Kun Ning Palace upon hearing the news to report the joyous news to the Empress.
The Empress was very weak after giving birth, and her lower abdomen still ached badly, making it difficult for her to sleep peacefully.
Although ice was offered in her bedchamber, because she could not risk any wind after birthing, the doors and windows were all shut tight, so the Empress still felt hot and bothered.
She told Shuang Ruo, "Go bring that ice tub here before Zhen's bed."
Postpartum women should avoid catching cold, so Shuang Ruo wanted to refuse at first, but the Empress glared at her, leaving her no choice but to obey.
After the ice was brought, the Empress felt cooler and saw Yan Jiude gleefully entering to announce,
"Empress, joyous news from Yonghe Palace!"
Shuang Ruo scolded him, "Stop beating around the bush and speak!"
Yan Jiude laughed. "Xiao Noble Consort gave birth to a boy, but he had snake skin covering his human skin - a freakish monster! His Majesty has decided to keep this a secret, not allowing the boy into the imperial genealogy, only to be raised in the palace."
Shuang Ruo immediately told the Empress, "It seems that Autumn Orchid has been somewhat useful after all. If not for her spying on Xiao Noble Consort bathing in Imperial Noble Consort's palace and noticing something off, we wouldn't have known that Xiao Noble Consort actually had snake skin lesions on her body."
The weakened Empress smiled. "Good. Since Imperial Noble Consort likes raising illegitimate sons so much, let that freak be raised under her care. Let's see how prestigious she still is!"
The mention of Imperial Noble Consort inevitably agitated the Empress.
Her words were followed by two violent coughs, and she suddenly fainted.
"Empress? Empress?"
Shuang Ruo called out to the Empress while covering her with the quilt.
But when her fingertips touched the quilt, she noticed a warm, wet sensation.
Pulling it back immediately revealed the bed and quilt to be soaked with bright red blood!
Shuang Ruo panicked at once, yelling hoarsely outside,
"Someone come quick! The Empress is hemorrhaging!"
