When Zhen Si was helped up, she saw red. The Empress Dowager immediately ordered people to clear out a side hall in her palace and have Zhen Si carried over there. The Emperor also panicked and said anxiously: "Summon the imperial physicians and midwives!"

The Empress Dowager reassured: "I've already sent people to summon them. Your Majesty need not worry."

Seeing the spots of blood on the gold bricks in the hall, the Emperor was extremely alarmed. He muttered: "She absolutely mustn't have any mishaps."

The Empress Dowager looked with great disapproval at how the Emperor lost his composure whenever something happened. She pursed her lips and said: "Your Majesty, please go sit in the main hall first and drink some calming tea to settle your nerves. Zhen Si has reached her due date, there won't be any major issues. Granny Sun! Help His Majesty inside."

Hearing this, Granny Sun quickly supported the Emperor as he went in. Several palace maids guarding the side hall rushed over anxiously and said: "Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager, Consort Zhen is not doing well. The midwife asked this servant to inquire of the Empress Dowager, this..."

The Empress Dowager wanted to go over right away. But glancing back at the crowd in the hall, she hesitated. Arranging things for half the day had already exhausted her. Leaning on Chu Shaoling, she rubbed her temples wearily and said softly: "You all, you all..."

Seeing the Empress Dowager was mentally drained, Chu Shaoling took over and said: "Summon the grannies attending the princes and princesses outside to come in. Have them coax the princes and princesses back to their respective palaces, persuade them to sleep early, and not make noise or a fuss."

Several palace servants immediately bowed and went out to relay the orders.

"Also, invite the masters from Donghua Hall to come. Have them chant the Sutra of the Treasure Mountain of Meritorious Virtues outside the side hall of Ci'an Palace to bless Consort Zhen and the child in her womb." Chu Shaoling turned to the consorts and said: "All consorts of concubine rank and above shall remain here to assist the Empress Dowager in attending to Consort Zhen. The rest are to return to your own palaces immediately without delay, wandering around, or passing messages to each other. Consort Zhen's pregnancy is precarious. If anything goes wrong, you ladies best not bring calamity upon yourselves."

The consorts all lowered their heads and acknowledged the order. Seeing Chu Shaoling give instructions methodically and meticulously, the Empress Dowager nodded and said: "Do as the Crown Prince instructs. If anyone dares to act recklessly today, don't blame me for not sparing you! As for Consort Li..."

At this moment, Consort Li was completely dumbstruck, kneeling on the ground in a daze not knowing what to say. Seeing her made the Empress Dowager's heart clench. She said coldly: "First, confine her to Linzhi Palace! When I'm free, I'll deal with you then. Go!"

Chu Shaoling took the cloak offered by a palace maid and draped it over the Empress Dowager's shoulders. The Empress Dowager turned and patted Chu Shaoling's hand, saying softly: "Fortunately there's still you. I can't rely on your imperial father at all. Good child, you've worked hard for another night. If you're tired, go rest in my bedchamber for a while. Don't leave the palace for now. I really..."

"Imperial Grandmother, don't worry." Chu Shaoling inclined his head slightly. "This grandson will stay here tonight to accompany Imperial Grandmother."

The Empress Dowager felt greatly reassured. She turned and, supported by the elderly palace maids, headed towards the side hall.

Outside, Wei Ji heard the commotion in the hall and hurriedly had Wang Muhan, who was guarding with them, go in to check. Wang Muhan entered Ci'an Palace through a side door. After finding out what happened, he came out and told Wei Ji everything in detail: "It has nothing to do with our prince. I heard the palace maids inside say that Consort Li pushed Consort Zhen down, inducing labor. She has already been moved to the side hall."

Wei Ji was slightly relieved. Looking inside, one said in a low voice: "Will His Highness still come out today?"

Wang Muhan paused and said: "Consort Zhen going into labor actually has little to do with our prince. But now there's no one in charge inside. From the sound of it, the Empress Dowager is having the prince stay inside to take command." When the news from Linzhi Palace was passed over today, it was Wang Muhan who received it. He also knew about the matter of Chu Shaoling secretly sending a message to Zhen Si. However, Chu Shaoling never allowed Wei Ji to know about these private affairs. Wang Muhan could only say vaguely: "If Consort Zhen gives birth to a little prince, then our prince will also need to enter the palace to offer congratulations. He might as well stay in the palace."

Wei Ji always felt uneasy. The group waited outside for a while. Then a young eunuch came out from inside, saying it was a message from Chu Shaoling, telling Wang Muhan to take Wei Ji to rest at Bitao Palace first. Wang Muhan couldn't wait to take Wei Ji away.

Wei Ji hesitated for a moment and said: "I can't go inside. Please trouble you to tell His Highness that I'm fine. It's not too cold outside today. I'll just stand guard here, so His Highness need not worry."

Wei Ji insisted on not leaving. Wang Muhan had no choice but to go in and tell Chu Shaoling. Wei Ji continued to stand silently behind everyone, guarding. Before long, the palace maids in front all knelt down with a whoosh. It turned out Chu Shaoling had come out wearing a cloak.

Wei Ji quickly knelt down to pay respects. Chu Shaoling walked over and helped Wei Ji up. Taking a few steps to avoid the crowd, Wei Ji felt a bit guilty and said with head bowed: "Troubling Your Highness... Your Highness, just let this servant stand guard here. This servant is not tired."

With so many people present, Chu Shaoling couldn't say much. He just took off his own black cloak and draped it over Wei Ji's shoulders, saying softly: "If you're tired, go back to Bitao Palace with Wang Muhan. Don't fall ill."

Wearing the thick cloak, Wei Ji felt much warmer. They lowered their head and said: "Yes."

Chu Shaoling helped Wei Ji up. Taking advantage of when no one was looking, he briefly squeezed Wei Ji' hand before turning and ascending the steps into the main hall.

In the side hall, Zhen Si's anguished cries were unceasing as she pulled on the red silk, straining with effort again and again. But the child was too big and not easily coming out. Zhen Si's face was deathly pale as she clutched the midwife's sleeve and said intermittently: "Help me... help me tell the Empress Dowager, tell her... ah ah! Ah..."

Zhen Si couldn't catch her breath. The midwife quickly took a piece of ginseng and put it in Zhen Si's mouth, saying anxiously: "Milady, don't speak for now. Push! If you can get through this, milady will surely have limitless glory in the future. Milady..."

Zhen Si chewed the ginseng a few times and swallowed it directly. The veins on her face bulged as she said in a low voice: "Go tell the Empress Dowager, if by chance this child is a prince, beg the Empress Dowager to persuade His Majesty to send the child to a feudal estate early on. Don't let him become someone else's puppet in the imperial city! If... if it's a princess, beg the Empress Dowager... beg the Empress Dowager to raise the princess by her own side. I don't ask that she find someone illustrious in the future, just... just marry her to an ordinary son of a noble family. I can't escape my fate... I only ask the Empress Dowager, in consideration of my merit in producing offspring for the imperial family, to show more care for my child..."

The midwife said with a pained expression: "My good milady, what time is it to still be saying this! Push!"

Zhen Si shook her head and said hoarsely, "There's more! Consort Li harmed me and the imperial heir. The Empress Dowager must punish her severely. Go!" Zhen Si pushed the midwife, causing her to stagger. The midwife had no choice but to let the other midwives attend to Zhen Si while she stumbled out to report back to the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager was sitting on the noble consort's couch outside. Upon hearing this, she couldn't help but feel heartache. If Zhen Si wasn't a daughter of the Zhen family, the Empress Dowager wouldn't treat her so harshly. Over the past year, the Empress Dowager had realized that Zhen Si wasn't a brainless person. If it weren't for her fatal family background, the Empress Dowager would actually be willing to have such a sensible person serving by the Emperor's side.

The Empress Dowager had originally hoped that Zhen Si would pass away because of this pregnancy, putting an end to everything. The Zhen family would also lose hope of rising again. But while that was the rational thought, emotionally it was a different matter. As women who had painstakingly endured in the palace, Zhen Si's situation moved the Empress Dowager to pity.

The Empress Dowager, supported by Granny Sun, stood up and walked directly to the front of the delivery room, loudly saying, "Consort Zhen! It's not over yet, why are you saying such dispirited words?! Use that energy to give birth to the child. Even if the child loses their birth mother, and I will take care of them, so what? It's the same to suffer people's bullying. Don't you understand these things?! Stop saying such words!"

Inside, Zhen Si closed her eyes and turned her head to take a few gulps of the labor-inducing soup handed over by the midwife. Her slender fingers dug deep into the bright red bedding. Following the midwife's instructions to breathe in and out and exert herself, she threw her head back and let out an "ah" in a miserable scream.

Unknowingly, it was already the Xu hour. Chu Shaoling was worried about Wei Ji and was about to go out to check on him when Wang Muhan entered. Wang Muhan approached and bowed, quietly saying, "Your Highness, Tingyu has returned to the imperial city."

Chu Shaoling's heart trembled. Tingfeng and Tingyu were the spies he had arranged by Chu Shaoruan and Chu Shaomo's sides respectively. Tingfeng was now with Consort Li, while Tingyu had always been by Chu Shaomo's side.

Chu Shaoling pretended to need the toilet and walked out, asking in a low voice, "What has he come back for?! What happened to Chu Shaomo?"

Just now in front of others, the old eunuch Wang Muhan was still fine. But now with just the two of them, he was sweating profusely on his forehead, trembling as he said, "The Third Prince plans to force his way into the palace tonight at the Zi hour! Tingyu knew there was no other way after finding out, so he directly escaped and came. The news came through the water tunnels. This servant just received it. The Third Prince only has that few soldiers, yet he's rushing to break into the Forbidden Palace. Has he gone mad and lost regard for his life?!"

Chu Shaoling tidied his wind-blown hair and sneered, "He's not that stupid. He must have received inside information from the palace. Today, all the princes and princesses are in the palace. As long as he succeeds, he can put all the imperial clan members in the city under house arrest. He won't need to worry about anyone coming to oppose him from outside. Moreover, with Consort Zhen in difficult labor, the palace is in chaos right now. This opportunity comes once in a hundred years. If I were him, I would also choose today."

Wang Muhan urged, "What should we do now? Issue orders to mobilize the imperial guards to surround and suppress them?"

Chu Shaoling was silent for a while before shaking his head, "No need. I want to wait and see how far the Third Prince can break through."

Wang Muhan had served Chu Shaoling for half his life and could more or less guess what his master was thinking. He couldn't help but advise, "I'm afraid the Third Prince won't be able to attack his way inside. Your Highness's plan is risky. A gentleman should not stand under a dangerous wall. Your Highness should first protect yourself."

Chu Shaoling chuckled, "I naturally know he won't succeed. But when the time comes, in the chaos of soldiers and horses, if something happens to the Emperor, it will inevitably be because he was harmed by the rebel army, right?"

Wang Muhan instantly understood and felt a chill in his heart. Marquis Zijun had been abandoned by the Emperor after he was used. Empress Ling had been humiliated because of the Emperor's favor towards Consort Li. In recent years, Chu Shaoling had nearly lost his life several times due to the Emperor's bias. Wang Muhan knew Chu Shaoling hated the Emperor in his heart. But the two words "loyal to the monarch" had long been deeply engraved in his bones.

After hesitating for a while, Wang Muhan asked in a low voice, "Does Your Highness really intend to take action?"

"It's not that I want to take action, but that Chu Shaomo wants to take action." Chu Shaoling adjusted his collar. "I don't know what the outcome will be either. If he can't even enter the palace gates, naturally there's nothing I can do. Let's wait and see."

Wang Muhan was extremely worried, "Although that's what you say, this servant is still concerned about Your Highness's safety."

But at this moment, Chu Shaoling was only worried about Wei Ji, as well as the fact that in fifteen minutes, the palace gates would be locked. There was still time to send Wei Ji out of the palace. Chu Shaomo knew he was in the palace and definitely wouldn't waste time taking a detour to the Qin Prince Manor. It was safe there.

However, Chu Shaoling couldn't bear to send Wei Ji away from his side at this time. That silly man definitely wouldn't be willing to leave. Chu Shaoling took a deep breath and said, "Tell Wei Ji to go to Bitao Palace. I'll wait for him there."

Wang Muhan bowed his head and left.

Bitao Palace was still empty. Chu Shaoling slowly made a round and entered the inner chamber of the bedchamber. The furnishings in the room had all changed, including the bedding. Chu Shaoling sat on the bed and felt the fluffy blanket. Outside, Wei Ji and a group of guards had all arrived. Wei Ji walked in by himself, asking in puzzlement, "Your Highness?"

Chu Shaoling chuckled, "Come here. It's been a while since we last came here. Do you miss it?"

Wei Ji paused for a moment, then remembering the familiar scenery he had seen outside, he nodded, "I miss it."

Chu Shaoling beckoned for Wei Ji to come closer, pulling him to sit by his side. He softly reprimanded, "I told you to come rest for a bit, but you just wouldn't listen. Aren't you tired from standing all night?"

Wei Ji smiled and shook his head, "I'm not tired."

Chu Shaoling laughed lightly. He pulled Wei Ji into his arms and kissed his forehead. From his bosom, he took out a small white jade bottle, opened it, and took out a pill. He said, "Open your mouth."

Wei Ji obediently opened his mouth. Chu Shaoling placed the pill into Wei Ji's mouth, taking the opportunity to mischievously touch Wei Ji's soft tongue. Wei Ji's face turned slightly red. He tilted his head back and swallowed the pill, then licked his lips and asked, "What did Your Highness give this servant to eat?"

Chu Shaoling chuckled, "You ask after eating it. Aren't you afraid I gave you poison?"

Wei Ji shook his head with a strange honesty, "I'm not afraid. Even if Your Highness gives me poison, this servant will eat it."

"How could I bear to give you poison?" Chu Shaoling laughed lightly. He held Wei Ji as they leaned against the bed together. He slowly said, "I was afraid you might have caught a chill from standing outside for half a day. It's just an ordinary pill. Are you cold?"

Chu Shaoling slipped his hand into Wei Ji's clothes and teased, "Let me feel and see."

Chu Shaoling was tickling Wei Ji. Wei Ji laughed and tried to hide inside, softly pleading, "Haha, this servant isn't cold. Your Highness, Your Highness, don't you need to return to Ci'an Palace?"

"I won't go back for now. I'm also tired from keeping watch for half a day. I'll rest for a bit." Chu Shaoling tidied Wei Ji's clothes and affectionately let Wei Ji rest his head on his arm. He asked in a low voice, "Are you sleepy?"

Wei Ji rubbed his eyes and nodded, "A little sleepy."

Chu Shaoling gently patted Wei Ji's back and said softly, "If you're sleepy, then sleep for a while. I'll also rest a bit."

Wei Ji was so tired that he couldn't keep his eyes open, and fell into a deep sleep in no time. Chu Shaoling slowly got up, carefully covered Wei Ji with the blanket, and quietly left the room.

Chu Shaoling's personal guards were all standing guard outside. Chu Shaoling whispered to Wang Muhan, "Keep watch here and don't let anyone in. If anything happens, there's cold tea on the table inside. Just splash it on his face and he'll wake up."

Bitao Palace was very far from the front, so even if Chu Shaomo had twice as many men, they definitely wouldn't be able to break through. However, to be prepared for any contingency, Chu Shaoling still made two sets of plans. After giving his orders, he headed to the front.