Time Travel: Pampered by the Aloof Prince
Chapter 248: What is the Origin of This Princess?

Chapter 248: Chapter 248: What is the Origin of This Princess?

The Empress was so shocked by the news that she didn’t come to her senses for quite a while. Eventually, she spoke in disbelief, "How could that wretch suddenly be with child!"

The eunuch was kneeling on the ground, playing dead. He couldn’t answer that question either.

A hint of coldness and panic flitted through the Empress’s eyes as she covered her belly with her hands, her mind buzzing with noise.

How could this be, Lingya was a woman of Tulan. How could His Majesty possibly allow her to conceive the Dragon Son?

No, it can’t be true. This must be a lie!

The Empress steadied herself and then ordered the eunuch, "Quick, send someone to Xuanruo Pavilion to gather information!"

The eunuch hastily complied.

Soon, the news spread throughout the entire Imperial Palace, and the Empress, feeling powerless, closed her eyes and dismissed the eunuch.

When it was time for the noon meal, Treasure Bead came in. Seeing the Empress lying on the beauty couch, her expression unrestful, she whispered, "Princess, it is time to eat."

The Empress, having no appetite, waved her hand, "I’m not yet ready to eat."

Treasure Bead, with downcast eyes, persuaded her, "Princess, for the sake of the Dragon Son in your belly, you should at least eat a little."

Only then did the Empress open her eyes and stretch out her hand for Treasure Bead to help her up.

Looking at the table full of delicacies, she still had no appetite and barely ate a bowl of porridge before asking the Palace Maids to clear the food away.

Back in her room, seeing her furrowed with worry, Treasure Bead quietly asked, "Princess, are you feeling unwell? Shall we call for the Imperial Physician?"

The Empress let out a cold laugh, "The Imperial Physician? I’m afraid they are all busy in Xuanruo Pavilion right now, checking that wretched woman’s pulse for joy!"

With His Majesty’s favoritism towards that wretch, who would care about her at this moment?

Treasure Bead had just heard about this and knew that the Empress was upset.

Not daring to speak further, she quietly retreated.

She sneakily went to take a look at Xuanruo Pavilion and saw indeed a crowd gathered there. The spectacle was much greater than when the Empress herself had been pregnant.

Treasure Bead felt somewhat indignant.

How could His Majesty be so partial!

But at this moment, Li Tianze was also feeling very troubled. Lingya’s pregnancy was not something he had foreseen.

Or rather, from the beginning, he had never planned to let a foreign Princess conceive.

It brought no benefits to Dazhao.

But despite all his caution, an error had occurred.

This morning when Divine Doctor Lou reported the matter, his astonishment was no less than anyone else’s.

But since it was just an early pregnancy, if the child were lost now, he feared what rumors might spread throughout the harem.

He had no choice but to go with the flow, instructing the Imperial Physician to prescribe fetus-preserving medicine for Noble Consort Wan and sent her many gifts as well.

In Xuanruo Pavilion, Lingya had barely managed to deal with everyone when she sat on the bed, looking exhausted.

Adi closed the door, holding a bowl of fetus-preserving medicine in hand, "Princess, drink it while it’s hot."

She was only concerned about the Princess’s health, indifferent to other matters.

Lingya turned her head away, refusing, "Just pour it out."

Adi became anxious, "Why?"

This prescription had come from Divine Doctor Lou; it shouldn’t pose any problems.

In this devouring Imperial Palace, only Lou Qingming and the Virtuous Consort wouldn’t harm their mistress and her maid.

Lingya’s eyes filled with sadness as she said, "This child is doomed."

Although she felt no affection for the child, it was still a life.

She couldn’t bear it.

But who asked her to be a foreign Princess, with even her life held in Li Tianze’s hands.

Not to mention the child within her womb.

Adi, not understanding the reason, thought she was worried about the Empress making a move against them and hurriedly comforted, "Princess need not worry, just be more cautious around the Empress."

Lingya did not wish to discuss the filthy matters of the harem with her and simply waved her hand with a firm tone, "Dispose of it."

Adi, with a worried and distressed face, poured the medicinal soup into the flower bed by the window, feeling it was a pity in his heart.

The turmoil in the harem had no effect on Qi Yu, who was thousands of miles away on a ship returning to the capital city, leisurely enjoying the scenery on the river with Shi Zhou.

She appeared relaxed and comfortable, whereas Shi Zhou was frowning with concern, "Father has always forbidden me to leave the mountain, so why has he allowed me to return to the capital with you this time?"

She had pondered over this question for several days, yet couldn’t come up with a clue.

Shi Fuyou’s greatest loathing in life were the words ’capital city’ and ’court’; in his eyes, they were places that devoured people without spitting out bones.

When Shi Zhou was young and didn’t understand the disgust and hatred in his eyes, she would naively ask, "But, mother came from the capital, didn’t she?"

Whenever she said this, Shi Fuyou would pick her up in one hand and warn her fiercely, "Don’t you dare utter those two words!"

Shi Zhou’s temperament was cut from the same cloth as his, both more stubborn than the other.

Hearing this, Shi Zhou too would widen her eyes, put her hands on her hips, and defiantly respond to him, "Why not? Mother may be gone, but one day, I want to go to the capital and see for myself!"

Before her mother passed away, she would occasionally hear tales of the capital from her.

Over time, Shi Zhou grew fond of that distant place beyond the mountains and roads.

In the year she turned five, her mother passed away.

Shi Fuyou became even more reticent and bad-tempered.

Any mention of the capital city by Shi Zhou would earn her a severe beating from him.

After being beaten several times, Shi Zhou smartly learned not to mention that place in front of her father.

Yet unexpectedly, this time, without her saying a word, Shi Fuyou took the initiative to tell Qi Yu and Li Mingjue to take her to the capital.

She asked him for the reasons, but Shi Fuyou refused to tell her.

When questioned to the point of irritation, he would impatiently throw out, "Don’t you desperately want to be together with that pretty boy from the capital?"

Shi Zhou then chose to remain silent.

However, her many years of matching wits with Shi Fuyou made it hard for her to take this reason at face value.

Seeing her furrowed brows, Qi Yu smiled, "Why think so much? Since you haven’t been to the capital before, why not go and take a look?"

Her gaze fell on the shimmering surface of the water, her lips curved in a smile, but the mirth didn’t reach her eyes.

She had lied to Shi Zhou.

But she couldn’t blame her, for she truly couldn’t reveal the truth.

Perhaps, Shi Fuyou thought the same.

To let Shi Zhou follow the trail, step by step, and approach the truth that would change her life.

Shi Zhou felt that Qi Yu’s words made sense and decided not to think further on it.

After all, there would always be a way when it comes to it.

In the cabin, Li Mingjue was discussing matters with Song Feng.

Looking out through the narrow window of the cabin, he saw Qi Yu’s slender and ethereal figure.

Stroking his beard, Song Feng asked Li Mingjue, "Just what is the background of your Princess?"

He had previously inquired about her and found that the Princess was a daughter born on the side of the Qi family, dull-minded and ugly from birth.

It was for this reason that he was dissatisfied with the marriage.

But upon meeting her, he realized that not a single word of the rumors was true.

The real Princess was not only stunningly beautiful but also quite capable.

Just the fact that she emerged unscathed from Evil Valley was worthy of deep investigation.