Dethroned the Crown Princess? Then she became your mother

Your Majesty has decided to return to the capital.

It's time to inform His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

He slowly walked towards the towering tent of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, his eyes gently sweeping across the distance.

The guards stood tall and straight outside the tent, like pine trees and cypresses, guarding this forbidden area. Inside the tent, due to the distance, his vision was blurred, and he could not glimpse what was happening inside. However, even without looking, he knew that His Royal Highness's situation was by no means easy.

Since His Majesty issued that decree, no one, whether maids or guards, has been allowed to enter this place, leaving His Royal Highness the Crown Prince imprisoned here alone. Under such strict restrictions, His Royal Highness's life must be filled with loneliness and pain.

At this moment, he came here on the orders of His Majesty. Apart from him, no one dared to enter this forbidden area without permission.

He continued to move forward, his steps firm.

"Eunuch An." The guards saluted when they saw him.

"Hmm." Eunuch An responded in his unique shrill voice, flicking his whisk lightly, highlighting his noble status as the chief steward of the palace's internal affairs.

"His Majesty ordered me to come and visit His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and have a few words with him." Eunuch An conveyed His Majesty's oral instructions, hoping that the guards would let him pass.

"I understand." Upon hearing this, the guards had no more objections and made way.

Upon seeing this, Eunuch An said no more, waved his whisk again, signaling the guards to continue to hold their posts, and then stepped into the tent.

Inside the tent, there was a deathly silence, as if even the air had frozen. It was so eerie that not even a breath could be heard. What had happened to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?

Soon, he met His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Seeing His Royal Highness safe and sound finally put his heart at ease. Yesterday, it was he who had personally led his men to besiege His Royal Highness here and ordered his imprisonment. And today, he returned here again, feeling a mixture of emotions.

He slowly approached the Crown Prince, only to find him sprawled on the ground, his eyes staring blankly ahead. He couldn't tell if he was asleep or lost in thought. He wondered, worried that the Crown Prince might be in deep sleep, or perhaps driven mad by excessive grief.

So he raised his voice and asked respectfully: "Your Highness, are you awake? Are you okay? I am here and have something important to tell you. This is the decree from His Majesty." Since palace servants could not enter this place, he could only communicate with His Highness the Crown Prince in this way.

After a moment, Murong Shenxing slowly turned around and looked at him with deep eyes. His expression was still as calm as water, but his eyes revealed a deep sense of fatigue and illness.

"Eunuch An, how come you have time to come here? What's the important matter? What order does my father want to convey to me?" Murong Shenxing's voice was low and hoarse, revealing an indescribable sadness.

Upon hearing this, Eunuch An felt a wave of helplessness and sighs in his heart once again. He didn't know how to begin to break the cruel news to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

"Your Highness, please forgive my bluntness." Eunuch An took a deep breath and mustered his courage to speak. "Something happened a while ago. Due to the distance and the impact of the assassination of Your Highness, we have been keeping it a secret from you. But now, this matter can no longer be concealed, so I have come to report it to you."

Murong Shenxing's eyes suddenly became sharp. He stared at Eunuch An closely, as if waiting for a heartbreaking answer.

"The Crown Princess gave birth prematurely not long ago and delivered a stillborn baby." Eunuch An finally broke the cruel news and heaved a sigh of relief.

However, Murong Shenxing's reaction was beyond his expectations. He was shocked as if struck by lightning, and an expression of disbelief appeared on his face.

"What did you say?" His voice trembled, as if he had lost all his strength. "Ci'er... gave birth to a stillborn?"

His son! The eldest grandson of the emperor! Murong Shenxing's mind was in turmoil. He could not accept this cruel fact. His son, his son, his hope for the future, was gone from him just like that.

Seeing this, Eunuch An was filled with sympathy and sorrow. He spoke again, trying to comfort His Royal Highness, "Your Highness, please accept my condolences. This is an unchangeable fact, and we can only accept it."

However, Murong Shenxing seemed not to hear his words. He was still immersed in his own grief and unable to extricate himself.

At this moment, Eunuch An spoke again: "But Your Highness, I have another good news to tell you."

Murong Shenxing raised his head and looked at Eunuch An with empty eyes, as if he was waiting for an illusory hope.

"Another concubine in the Eastern Palace is pregnant," Eunuch An continued, "and this is one of the reasons why His Majesty is in a slightly better mood."

However, this news was like a sword piercing Murong Shenxing's heart. His son Ci'er had lost his child, while another woman was pregnant. Was this a mockery of fate or a trick of fate?

Eunuch An looked at Murong Shenxing's pained expression, his heart filled with helplessness and sorrow. He spoke again to offer his condolences, "Your Highness, please accept my condolences. We are returning to the capital, and you will know more after we return."

Murong Shenxing did not answer. He just sat there silently, like a statue that had lost its soul.

-

Inside the dragon tent, Zhang Tianai was anxiously awaiting Murong Shuo's response. Seeing Murong Shuo hesitate to speak, she felt filled with doubt and uneasiness.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong with you? Why don't you speak? After all, that person saved your life, and I want to thank her very much." Zhang Tianai urged again.

After a moment's silence, Murong Shuo finally spoke: "You...you remember?" There was a hint of uncertainty and expectation in his voice.

Zhang Tianai was stunned when she heard this, then realized that Murong Shuo might be testing whether she had recovered her memory. She smiled slightly, shook her head and said, "Your Majesty, you are mistaken. I have always remembered you and everything that happened."

Murong Shuo's heart sank when he heard this. He realized he was being too sentimental. However, he still asked unwillingly, "Do you really remember everything?"

Zhang Tianai nodded firmly: "Yes, Your Majesty, I remember everything."