Quick Transmigration: Survive to the End

Shen Ruyun's matter should be dealt with later; there's no need to concern ourselves with it now.

The most important thing right now is naturally the matter of Concubine Shen's upcoming childbirth.

The court is in chaos. Although the two officials in charge are not in the mansion, they have left capable matrons to keep them in check. Even if someone wants to take advantage of this opportunity, they will have to think twice.

Even if you fail, you'll be punished. But if you succeed, who can guarantee that you won't be found out?

At this critical juncture when the Second Prince was about to advance further in his career, no one was willing to give up their hard-won glory just to make a move against a pregnant woman.

We don't even know if it's a man or a woman. Unless they have a deadly feud, no one would go to such lengths.

So Shen Ruyin's visit to the mansion this time was really to accompany Concubine Shen so that she could give birth in peace.

“The New Year is just three days away,” Concubine Shen sighed as she looked at the snowy scene outside. “I wonder when this child will be able to come out.”

Shen Ruyin was cutting paper snowflakes with scissors when she heard this. Without looking up, she replied, "We should wait at least another half a month or a month to avoid the New Year holidays."

"Otherwise, if we celebrate both the holiday and the birthday these few days, putting aside the premature birth, will the child be celebrating the holiday or the birthday in the future?"

For ordinary families, celebrating together is perfectly acceptable. But for royalty, holidays are of paramount importance.

If the emperor likes it, he will remember the birthday; if he doesn't like it enough, he will ignore the past year, and the rest of the year will not be celebrated.

Concubine Shen was taken aback: "Indeed, you understand things more clearly."

Who wouldn't want to give their child an auspicious birthday during the holidays?

But as Shen Ruyin said, having one's birthday and the New Year fall on the same day is really not a good thing.

Aside from gaining a reputation that makes people wary, you won't get any real benefits, so it's better to just let things take their course.

Having figured this out, Concubine Shen was no longer worried about the upcoming New Year. Instead, she picked up a paper-cut window decoration to look at.

"Your hands are getting more and more skillful; you can even cut out such a complicated pattern."

She was holding a magpie on a plum blossom, and on the table were the symbols of fortune, prosperity, longevity, and happiness—none of them were simple items.

Shen Ruyin put down her scissors, blew the scraps of paper off her hands, and carefully placed the newly cut "Good Fortune Shines Brightly" figure away, intending to take a break: "When you're cooped up indoors in winter, this is the only thing you can do to pass the time."

This is true.

Concubine Shen glanced regretfully at the item in her hand: "In this state of affairs, no one dares to decorate with lanterns and colorful decorations. I don't know if you'll be able to use these beautiful paper-cut window decorations."

It was actually feasible, since the old emperor didn't die until after the new year.

Unfortunately, Shen Ruyin couldn't say these words, so she could only say to her, "It's not like you can't have it just because you don't need it. Just put it away for now and use it when you can."

“It’ll just go bad if you leave it lying around. Don’t waste your good skills,” Concubine Shen thought for a moment and called Nanxing over. “Just put it up in my room. It’s almost New Year’s, and it doesn’t look right if there’s nothing there.”

After Nanxing took the window decorations and put them up, Concubine Shen whispered, "Now I am even more cautious, and I dare not make a single mistake."

Shen Ruyin took her hand: "Isn't this a good thing for you too, sister?"

“You’re right,” Concubine Shen sighed. “I’m becoming more and more sentimental these days.”

Hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy make it normal to be more emotionally sensitive. Compared to Shen Ruyin, her sister is actually doing relatively well.

She thought for a moment and said, "Now that His Highness the Second Prince is in the palace, I'm afraid the Princess Consort won't be at home either. Sister, you're heavily pregnant, so I'm afraid we can't have you join us for the small gatherings at home."

"If we calculate it this way, it should be just the two of us sisters celebrating the New Year."

"Big sister, why don't you think about what dishes we should prepare to match the festive mood of the New Year?"

On the eve of New Year's Eve, the princess indeed sent someone to tell Concubine Shen that she could spend the New Year in her own courtyard, and gave her a lot of extra rewards.

Since the second prince was in the palace, his rewards were naturally given on his behalf by the princess.

To be honest, this year was the year in which the two of them had the fewest family members reunited since they were born.

But for Concubine Shen, having her closest sister and dearest daughter by her side was more than any of the previous liveliness.

After barely making it past the Lantern Festival, the emperor's health suddenly deteriorated to the point of near collapse.

The imperial physicians tried many methods, but could only prolong his life until the seventeenth day of the first lunar month.

The festivities of the Lantern Festival in the capital had barely subsided, and some of the decorated lanterns had not yet been taken down, when the palace began to toll a continuous chorus of deathly tolling.

The emperor passed away.

"Yinyin," Concubine Shen woke up with a start and grabbed Shen Ruyin's wrist, "Did you hear that?"

In the dim candlelight, Concubine Shen's eyes shone brightly in the flames.

Shen Ruyin nodded: "I heard you. Especially at times like these, you need to stay calm."

Concubine Shen patted her hand: "Don't worry, I will never let this child be born at this time because of my anxiety as the mother."

The late emperor's seven-day mourning period had not yet passed, and the birth of this child would not bring much joy.

But if the baby is born in ten days or so, right on the due date, and the new emperor ascends the throne before his spirit, the joy of the newborn, riding on this favorable wind, will bring even more benefits.

Having been awakened by the sound of the bell, Concubine Shen could no longer rest.

Shen Ruyin then called Nanxing and the others in to help her wash up and change into more formal clothes.

Even though she's so heavily pregnant, the new emperor, if he truly cares, wouldn't order her to perform the mourning ritual. But there's no guarantee that some people won't act rashly. So, preparing in advance is definitely the right thing to do.

But this preparation took from the early hours of the morning until dawn.

Only after the palace gates opened did someone come to the mansion to deliver an imperial decree, ordering all the female members of the household, except for Concubine Shen who was about to give birth, to enter the palace to mourn.

Concubine Shen breathed a sigh of relief and asked the eunuch who had come to deliver the message to convey her greetings to the new emperor before putting away her hairpins and jewelry and lying back down.

After the seventh day following the death of the late emperor, his coffin was moved to a temporary palace in the suburbs, where it would be buried after forty-nine days.

“My lord,” Nanxing tried to feign sorrow, but could not hide her joy, “I have heard that His Majesty has ascended the throne.”

Shen Ruyin exchanged a glance with her elder sister and whispered her congratulations: "His Majesty has ascended the throne. Elder sister is very fortunate in the future. Our little girl should also have a title."

“That’s not necessarily true,” said Concubine Shen. “The Emperor’s temperament is such that he will only give it to people he likes, otherwise…”

"Big sister," Shen Ruyin interrupted her, "don't you have confidence in our little girl's ability to be likable?"

"With our daughter's lively and sensible nature, His Majesty has always liked her very much, and he certainly won't change his mind after ascending the throne."

"You need to have some self-confidence, don't you?"