Time Travel: Pampered by the Aloof Prince
Chapter 296: Please Help Us, Princess Qi

Chapter 296: Chapter 296: Please Help Us, Princess Qi

"Her?" Adi clearly didn’t believe her words.

The Empress wielded such immense power, could a woman of fair appearance alone contend with the Empress?

Doubt filled her eyes, and her face showed utter disappointment.

Since entering the Imperial Palace, the days she and the Princess had spent in the harem had been far from easy, constantly suppressed by the Empress.

Particularly after learning of the Princess’s pregnancy, the Empress had become even more ruthless, attempting to poison her several times.

Now, the Imperial Hospital had been restaffed by her, the skilled and trustworthy Imperial Physicians had almost all been driven away.

The ones who remained, except for Divine Doctor Lou Qingming, were nearly all her underlings.

It was child’s play for her to have those doctors, loyal only to her, secretly sabotage the Princess.

Every day, Adi carefully checked the fetus-preserving medicine provided by the Imperial Hospital, fearing any slip-up that might allow the Empress to succeed.

Although the fetus in the Princess’s womb was destined not to survive, who knew what poison the Empress had used, and if it might endanger the Princess’s life as well, that would be disastrous.

The servant duo, trembling with fear, had survived a month, but at last, they could not hold back from striking back.

But with no backing in the palace, after much deliberation, they could only seek help from Prince Qiu’s wife.

Lingya remembered that before the State Preceptor left, he had told her he’d struck a deal with Prince Qiu’s wife and to seek her help in times of need.

Having no other choice, Lingya wrote a vague letter, and every day she had Adi inquire about news at Consort De’s place, hoping to encounter Prince Qiu’s wife to deliver the letter.

But after waiting for a long time, there had been no news of Prince Qiu’s wife entering the palace.

In the palace, it was not easy to send things out, and just as Lingya felt increasingly melancholic, finally, someone from Prince Qiu Residence came to pay respects to Consort De.

She quickly had Adi intercept the maid, instructing her to hide the letter well and take it back to Prince Qiu Residence to deliver it to Prince Qiu’s wife.

After a day of nervous anticipation, she felt relieved this morning when she heard from Adi that Prince Qiu’s wife had entered the palace.

Remembering the indignities they had suffered these days, the resentment in Adi’s heart could not be suppressed, and she burst out angrily, "The Empress really goes too far! Is she the only one allowed to bear a Dragon Son in this palace?"

Hearing her unrestrained words, Lingya quickly cautioned her, "Adi!"

Walls have ears, and although Xuanruo Pavilion was secure, no one knew if any of these palace maids and eunuchs might be spies placed by the Empress.

Adi, realizing her mistake, hung her head in annoyance.

However, the tight grip of her fists still betrayed the resentment in her heart.

Qi Yu merely smiled faintly and did not respond to Adi’s words.

Living every day in this lifeless Imperial Palace, how could anyone not bear resentment?

She took another careful look at Lingya, noting her eyes that used to sparkle with tenderness now tinged with weariness and an indescribable sadness, and sighed softly to herself.

It truly is a sin.

Now was not the time for sorrow or mourning their fate; since they could not defy it, they could only fight with all their might.

She asked Lingya, "Are you determined to keep this child?"

The letter from yesterday was not very clear, and she had only inferred Lingya’s intentions from a few phrases.

But to make a decision, she needed to hear Lingya’s thoughts clearly.

Lingya lowered her gaze, her eyes softly resting on her abdomen. She spoke gently, "I know this child is destined not to remain, but he is still inside my body, and every day I can feel him, seemingly growing a bit more than the day before."

"So, you have grown attached," Qi Yu’s voice softened as she helped complete the rest of her thought.

Lingya’s eyelashes quivered slightly, a faint smile flickered across her lips, and her eyes brimmed with deep sadness as she spoke lowly, "But, I am destined to lose him."

In this deep palace, she walked on thin ice every day, never living a single day in peace.

Her path ahead was dark and unknown.

But now, the appearance of this child had kindled a flicker of hope in her heart.

If only she could watch him grow up.

Adi looked at the Princess, her eyes already red.

Sniffing heavily, she said in a nasal voice to Qi Yu, "Please ask Princess Qiu for help."

Qi Yu felt sorry for their plight, but she couldn’t agree right away.

She wanted to help them, but she also needed to protect herself.

Now, she was no longer alone, and any mistake could bring trouble not just for her, but for the entire Prince Qiu Residence.

The Empress’s power was deeply entrenched, and it wasn’t something that could be undone overnight.

This could be seen from the fact that she had quietly replaced nearly the entire staff of the Imperial Hospital, and Li Tianze did nothing to stop her.

Qi Yu thought for a moment, then said to Lingya, "Last night, I also thought of some ways. To save the child in your womb, we need to convince two people."

Upon hearing this, Lingya understood her meaning and said gravely, "We must convince both the Emperor and the Empress, making them think twice before harming me."

Qi Yu nodded, her expression not lightening in the slightest.

Lingya knew how difficult it was to persuade these two people.

Adi couldn’t grasp the implications of their incomplete conversation, but she heard the mention of the Emperor and the Empress clearly, and her voice trembled as she asked, "How... how can we convince them?"

Lingya was silent, eyes downcast.

If she knew of a good way, why would she have gone through such great pains just to send out a letter?

For this, she had even bribed many Palace Attendants, and still needed to avoid alerting the Empress.

At the right moment, Qi Yu brought out Shi Zhou, saying to the two, "Didn’t I tell you from the beginning that the person who could help you against the Empress is right here?"

Lingya and Adi both turned to look at Shi Zhou.

Shi Zhou herself was very surprised, thinking, since when could she oppose the Empress?

Qi Yu winked at her, and Shi Zhou no longer doubted.

After all, this person always had a way.

Lingya didn’t take these words seriously at first; she thought Qi Yu was just joking.

But unexpectedly, she was serious.

Adi also furrowed her brows, pointing at Shi Zhou and asking, "Who exactly is she?"

This person was neither a Maid to Qi Yu, and yet she had come to the Imperial Palace with her, her identity must be complicated.

Qi Yu still did not answer this question directly, and replied with a light laugh, "Some things are better left unknown to you."

"What, all secretive!" Adi was very dissatisfied with this answer and muttered a complaint.

However, Lingya perceived something in Qi Yu’s seemingly casual smile.

It was then that she seriously observed the person who, since the beginning, had stood quietly at the side, serving as a backdrop.

Shi Zhou indeed possessed attractive features, especially those peach-blossom eyes, brimming with light.

Her facial features were also exquisitely delicate, and Lingya carefully traced the curves of her features with her eyes.

After carefully examining this person, her eyes suddenly widened, shock apparent in their depths.

Pointing at Shi Zhou, she asked Qi Yu in astonishment, "Could it really be?"