Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

Qiao Xinran, her expression grave, slowly emerged from the hall where Wang Yuyan sat. Her steps were light yet tinged with a subtle urgency. Once out of sight, she flashed towards the Crown Prince's study, as if she had something important to attend to.

Meanwhile, the maid who had been assigned to monitor Qiao Xinran's every move was hiding in the shadows, closely watching her. When she saw Qiao Xinran walk into the Crown Prince's study, she was startled, but remained calm, carefully backing away, trying not to make a sound.

Afterwards, the maid hurried back to Wang Yuyan and told her everything she had seen and heard. Wang Yuyan's eyebrows furrowed slightly, a flicker of anger flashing across her eyes. She began to wonder how she would manage in the palace now that she had a child.

Beneath Wang Yuyan's delicate exterior lies an incredibly strong heart. She always comes across as gentle and docile, but only those who truly understand her know that she is actually incredibly strong.

Growing up in an aristocratic family, she was well aware that it was common for men to have three wives and four concubines, and she also understood that it was difficult for her husband to be completely devoted to her alone. However, even though she had been mentally prepared for this, when the cruel reality was laid before her, she still felt heartbroken and heartbroken.

Shortly after her marriage, and even while pregnant, she was shocked to learn that her husband was secretly intrigued by her most trusted cousin! This news was like a bolt from the blue, crushing a heart once filled with hope and longing. The relationship she had once believed to be rock solid was instantly shattered; the lover she once trusted so deeply was now a complete betrayer. And the cousin she had cherished like a sister had now become her most hurtful enemy. This double blow plunged Wang Yuyan into endless pain and despair, as if the whole world had collapsed and fallen.

He had thought he could tolerate the prince's affections for other women, after all, love was an unpredictable thing. However, he never expected that the prince would secretly be involved with his cousin! Once, out of complete trust, he had casually asked his cousin about all sorts of details about the prince—his favorite foods, the places he frequented, and his aversions. But now, it seemed, she had long harbored ill intentions, targeting the prince.

Looking back, he had always treated her like a sister, confiding his heart to her without reservation and treating her wholeheartedly. But he had never imagined that, from the beginning, her only ambition was to become the Crown Prince's woman! This betrayal left him heartbroken, as if he had been stabbed by someone closest to him. Anger, disappointment, and pain mingled within him, making it impossible for him to calm down.

Wang Yuyan was now filled with anger and regret, nearly overwhelmed by the pain of the Crown Prince and Qiao Xinran's betrayal. At this moment, she suddenly felt a wave of sharp, intense pain in her lower abdomen, as if someone were ripping her internal organs with a knife. This sudden, intense pain instantly panicked Wang Yuyan, and her heart skipped a beat as she realized something was wrong—she might be in premature labor!

Enduring the wave after wave of labor pain that surged like a tide, Wang Yuyan struggled to her feet and slowly, with heavy steps, moved towards the door. Each step felt like treading on the edge of a knife, the pain nearly causing her to faint, but for the sake of her unborn child, she gritted her teeth and persevered. Finally reaching the door, she summoned all her strength, lowering her voice with a trembling whisper, "Madame Li... please come quickly... my stomach hurts so badly... I feel like I'm about to give birth..."

Nanny Li had been standing guard not far from the door, not daring to stray too far, for she was worried something might happen to the young lady. Hearing Wang Yuyan's weak and anxious cries from inside the room, her heart suddenly clenched into a ball, and she hurried forward, muttering as she ran, "Oh my, my dear young lady, how could this happen? The little one in your belly is so anxious!" As she spoke, she reached out and gently pushed open the door and walked into the room. Seeing Wang Yuyan's pale face and sweating profusely, Nanny Li felt distressed. She quickly stepped forward to support her shaky body and comforted her, "Don't be afraid, young lady, I'm here. Let's go back to bed first, and I'll find a midwife to help." After that, she carefully helped Wang Yuyan back to bed.

However, Wang Yuyan was filled with fear and anxiety. After all, the baby wasn't even full-term yet, and going into labor prematurely was truly worrying. She clutched Matron Li's hand tightly, tears streaming down her face. She choked out, "Matron Li, I'm so scared... What if something happens to the baby?" Matron Li patted the back of Wang Yuyan's hand and soothed her softly, "Don't worry, young lady. Heaven will surely keep you and your child safe. I'll go get some hot water and clean bedding, and send someone to get the midwife here quickly." With that, she turned and hurried away.

Watching Nanny Li's departure, Wang Yuyan silently prayed for everything to go smoothly. She knew she was about to face a severe test, but for the sake of her child, she would face it with strength, no matter how difficult or dangerous it was. Because this little life was not only the fruit of her love, but also the hope of her future life.

Despite her inner panic, Nanny Li's years of cultivated composure allowed her to remain methodical. She quickly arranged all matters and passed on instructions one by one. First, she sent for two experienced midwives from the Shanpo family to enter the palace; then, she dispatched three additional skilled midwives to ensure adequate manpower.

Nanny Li also meticulously instructed several of her trusted maids to quickly summon the midwife and imperial physician. She also carefully selected a shrewd maid to inform the Crown Prince of the impending birth, and assigned another steady maid to go to the Qian Palace to inform the Emperor, so that the entire royal family would be aware of this crucial moment.

As the Crown Prince entered the palace, his gaze first fell upon the solemn and majestic Main Hall in the center. He saw his father and mother, seated firmly on either side of the main throne, like two immovable mountains. However, unlike usual, his father's expression today was extremely solemn, as if shrouded by a thick cloud of gloom. His usually dignified face was now devoid of a smile. Meanwhile, his mother, standing beside him, appeared anxious and uneasy. She frequently cast suggestive glances at the Crown Prince, as if silently warning him to proceed with caution and not to displease his father.

The Crown Prince, fully aware of the tense atmosphere, dared not delay. He hurried forward, bowed respectfully, and said, "Your son greets Father and Mother! May they enjoy a long and healthy life!" He then stood with his head bowed, awaiting his father's response. Silence fell throughout the hall, the only audible sound being the Crown Prince's gentle breathing. Time seemed to freeze, and an invisible pressure permeated the air.

Emperor Qian's face was as gloomy as water, with raging anger flashing in his eyes. He snorted coldly, and his voice exploded in the hall like thunder: "You are finally here! Where have you been?" His words were filled with endless majesty and rebuke.

At this moment, the entire hall fell into a dead silence. Everyone was as frightened as a cicada, not daring to even breathe. And the person being questioned—the Crown Prince—stood there with his head lowered, a look of panic on his face, sweat dripping down his forehead.

Emperor Qian continued in rage, "The Crown Princess's childbirth is such a major event, and you are the last one to arrive! Don't you know that this matter concerns the continuation of my royal bloodline?" At this point, he slammed the table, and the extremely sturdy dragon table made a dull sound, as if it was about to be shattered.

You know, the Dunhuang Ge Wang family was a family of heroes who had accompanied Emperor Qian on his campaigns and conquered this land. This Crown Princess was personally chosen by Emperor Qian as his daughter-in-law, and he held her in high hopes, treating her like his own daughter. Seeing the Crown Prince's careless and unimportant attitude now, how could Emperor Qian not be furious?

In the eyes of Emperor Qian, this incompetent son was a profound disappointment. As the crown prince and future heir to the throne, he spent his days idle and carefree, completely lacking any sense of responsibility. He was especially perfunctory when it came to family matters. How could Emperor Qian trust him with the throne?

The Crown Prince's mother was extremely worried and hurriedly said, "My son! Please tell me quickly, or you won't anger your father again! What on earth have you been doing?"

When the Crown Prince heard his mother's words, he naturally understood that she was trying to smooth things over, to find an excuse to appease his father. At this moment, an idea suddenly struck him, and with a whimper, he began to speak in a flattering and perfunctory manner, "Father, calm down! It's not that I'm not concerned about this matter! I specifically consulted the imperial physicians, and they said the birth is still a month away! I was truly worried about matters at court, so I went to the study to process those urgent reports, to see if there was anything I could do to relieve your father's worries. It's my fault that I was so focused on government affairs that I accidentally delayed..."

Just as the prince finished speaking, before anyone could recover from his words, a figure suddenly rushed into the hall like a gust of wind. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a panicked and hurried palace maid.

Panting, she rushed to the front of the hall and knelt without hesitation, her face etched with anxiety. After kowtowed to the almighty Emperor Qian, she spoke impatiently, "Your Majesty! This is terrible! The Crown Princess is in labor in the delivery room, and her condition is extremely critical!" Her voice trembled slightly with nervousness, as if you could sense the overwhelming tension. The entire hall fell into a dead silence, everyone stunned by the sudden news.