The mistress has no feelings, why do you provoke her?

as predicted.

When the news of the Empress's suicide reached the Qiankun Palace, Emperor Wen's face remained as still as a stone statue, showing no emotion whatsoever.

His eyes were calm as still water, as if he had already foreseen the outcome.

Emperor Wen let out a soft breath, as if a huge weight had finally been lifted from his heart, and his expression showed a hint of relief.

He picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and said leisurely, "Since the Empress has already committed suicide, let's hold a funeral together with the Crown Prince."

As a wise and benevolent ruler, Emperor Wen naturally could not engage in large-scale killings.

Now that the empress has committed suicide by running into a wall, this outcome seems to be the will of Heaven, just as he wished.

Eunuch Fu responded respectfully, then quickly turned around and instructed his men to handle the matter.

Who would have thought that the funerals of the Empress, the Crown Prince, and the Crown Princess could be completed in just three to five days?

The whole process was rushed and hasty, and several people who were once very important in the palace were instantly swallowed up by the torrent of time and power.

Emperor Wen's health deteriorated further and further. Although he had only just turned sixty, his hair was already completely white.

On this day, Emperor Wen sat on his couch, his body trembling uncontrollably. He raised his withered hand and pointed laboriously at the roof beam: "Go, take that box down for me."

Seeing Emperor Wen's appearance, Eunuch Fu understood that the emperor's time was probably coming to an end.

In an instant, his eyes welled up with tears.

He didn't dare to delay, so he hurriedly brought over a ladder and struggled to climb up.

Grandpa Fu gently tapped on the wooden pillar of the roof beam, and a crack quietly appeared.

He pushed harder, and the thing hidden inside was revealed.

There lay there quietly, an old-fashioned sandalwood box.

Eunuch Fu carefully took the box down, held it with both hands, and respectfully handed it to Emperor Wen.

Emperor Wen took the box, gently stroking it with his wrinkled hands, a smug smile appearing on his face. He murmured to himself, "If the Empress knew that the Imperial Seal was hidden here, wouldn't she be furious?"

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Fu simply smiled faintly and remained silent.

There are some things that an emperor, as the ruler of the land, can say without any reservations.

But as a servant, he could not utter a single word.

After all, even though the Empress was considered utterly wicked during her lifetime, she was still Emperor Wen's first wife, and how could others arbitrarily judge her?

Emperor Wen chuckled. At this moment, the emperor's majesty had vanished, replaced by a childlike quality.

He opened the box, and the imperial seal appeared before his eyes.

He touched it gently and then put it down.

Then, he took out the imperial edict and began to write it.

Emperor Wen would cough violently every few words he wrote.

Mottled red marks spilled from the corner of his mouth, and when Eunuch Fu saw this, his eyes widened in shock.

Just as he was about to step forward, Emperor Wen waved his hand, signaling him to step back.

Eunuch Fu had no choice but to return to his original position, and soon the imperial edict was written.

Emperor Wen said to Eunuch Fu, "Let this edict be proclaimed to the world."

"Yes." Eunuch Fu stepped forward respectfully and accepted the imperial edict.

More than two months later.

Prince Chu's Mansion.

The atmosphere at the Chu King's mansion was heavy today, and all the servants looked anxious.

After ten months of pregnancy, Song Wenjun was finally ready to give birth.

She lay in bed, large beads of sweat rolling down her pale cheeks and soaking the bedding beside her pillow.

The intense pain from the contractions came in waves, making her clench her teeth so tightly that her lower lip bled slightly.

Xiao Tao stood by the bed, anxiously watching Song Wenjun's pained expression: "Your Highness, if it hurts, just cry it out. It's so uncomfortable to hold it in."

She couldn't be by Song Wenjun's side when she gave birth last time. This time, she finally managed to stay by her side, but she didn't expect the process to be so difficult. She was almost worried to death.

Seeing Xiao Tao's anxious expression, the midwife smiled gently and patiently advised, "Madam Tian, ​​please don't be anxious. Childbirth is a process. If the Crown Princess shouts now, she may not have the strength when it comes to pushing."

As she spoke, the midwife pointed to the inside and outside of the room, and continued, "With experienced midwives like us inside, and Miss Qin and the imperial physician guarding outside, everything will definitely go smoothly and without any mishaps."

"But..." Xiao Tao wanted to argue a few more times, but the midwife had already pushed her towards the door: "No buts, you can't help if you stay here. Go out quickly, and besides, you are pregnant yourself, so you have to be more careful."

Xiao Tao was pushed out of the room, and she paced back and forth anxiously at the door, scratching her head and looking flustered.

Seeing her jumping around, Tian Qi was so frightened that he quickly ran forward to stop her: "Hey, don't jump around like that, be careful of the baby in your belly."

"I'm not even four months pregnant yet, what's there to worry about?" Xiao Tao, relying on her strong physique, didn't take the pregnancy too seriously at all.

At this moment, she was preoccupied with Song Wenjun and couldn't care less about herself.

Tian Qi was clumsy with words and couldn't win an argument with Xiao Tao, so he could only helplessly let her have her way.

Qin Qing is now five months pregnant, and her pregnancy is becoming more and more apparent.

Watching Xiao Tao and Tian Qi bickering, she couldn't help but chuckle softly: "Sister Song has already given birth once, so she shouldn't suffer too much this time. I've examined Sister Song's baby; the size is just right, and she's quite strong. In my opinion, she'll be able to deliver smoothly in half an hour."

Qin Qing's medical skills were superb, and she was very confident in her judgment. These words reassured the anxious crowd.

The people inside were no longer in a hurry, but outside, Xiao Ji was anxious to climb onto the roof.

He paced back and forth at the door, his brows furrowed.

He glanced into the room every now and then, looking like he wanted to ask but didn't dare.

Tian Qi chuckled: "This is the first time I've ever seen the prince so anxious."

Xiao Tao nudged him with her elbow: "Do you want to die? How dare you call me 'Your Highness'? If you don't change, your head will be gone."

"Yes, yes, I was wrong, it's Your Highness the Crown Prince." Tian Qi grinned from ear to ear and said smugly, "I won't be in a hurry when you give birth, I'm a real man."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Tao glared at him angrily and replied with a single word: "Get lost."

Tian Qi was speechless: "Ever since we got married, you've become more and more lawless. I'm your husband, and you actually told me to get out."

"You disagree? Let's fight!" Xiao Tao rolled up her sleeves, looking ready to fight Tian Qi.

Tian Qi shrank his neck: "I won't fight you."

Now that Xiao Tao is pregnant, he will give in to her.

Besides, even if he could beat them, he wouldn't be willing to do it.

Just as the two were exchanging banter, Xiao Nanzhi and Bai Shu arrived together.

The first thing they asked as soon as they walked in was, "Have you given birth yet? Have you given birth yet?"

Xiao Ji gave the two of them a cold look: "If she were already pregnant, would I still be here worrying?"

Seeing his expression, Xiao Nanzhi couldn't help but laugh: "Brother Xiao Ji, do you prefer boys or girls?"

Xiao Ji said with a smug look, "The imperial physician said that this baby will definitely be a girl."

He was so desperate for a daughter that he was practically going crazy.

I'm so excited I could jump for joy! I'm about to see it!

Just then, a loud "whoosh" was heard.

Then came the midwife's excited voice: "It's born! It's born..."

Xiao Ji rushed over and asked excitedly, "How is the Crown Princess? Is it a daughter?"

"Congratulations, Your Highness! It's a boy!" The midwife said happily, handing a small, wrapped baby to Xiao Ji.

Xiao Ji seemed to have been struck by lightning, his eyes filled with disbelief: "Impossible, this is absolutely impossible. The imperial physician said it was a girl."

The midwife was a little stunned; it was the first time she had ever seen someone who didn't want their son.

She pushed the child forward, exposing the child's genitals so Xiao Ji could see clearly: "Your Highness, look, it's a little teapot..."

Xiao Ji's eyes widened, as if he had forgotten to react.

Just then, the child suddenly urinated, soaking him.

"Ah, Your Highness." The maid hurriedly took a handkerchief and wiped Xiao Ji's face.

Xiao Ji finally snapped out of his daze and slumped into a chair, utterly dejected: "My daughter... is gone..."

After saying that, he fainted.

The servants rushed forward to help him.

The imperial physician stepped forward to take Xiao Ji's pulse and looked surprised: "His Highness the Crown Prince is fine. He just fainted from hunger."