Chapter 73 – Extra 1

In June, it was the rainy season.

In the imperial study, the eunuchs lit the lamps, and a group of high-ranking officials gathered to discuss the affairs of Beiyi. Recently, the health of the King of Beiyi had been deteriorating, and the princes were becoming restless. This news had just reached the capital, and the Emperor had summoned everyone to discuss how to respond.

Yan Yuanhua was among them, sitting on the left side, but he couldn’t help but glance outside, feeling distracted.

This matter had been discussed for three days, and he had been sitting there for three days, listening to the ministers go back and forth, finding it incredibly dull. He didn’t want to be there, nor did he want to get involved in court affairs. He just wanted to be a leisurely prince, but the Emperor clearly had other plans.

“Ahem.” Seeing him fidgeting, the Emperor lightly coughed as a reminder.

Even though he had been married for several months, why were they still so inseparable? It had only been three days, and he was already eager to go back. The Emperor thought his brother was really hopeless, being so easily controlled by a woman from the Lu family.

“Brother.” Seeing the weather worsening and thinking of Lu Minghua, Yan Yuanhua couldn’t help but feel uneasy. He stood up and said directly, “I just remembered there are some matters at the mansion that need my attention. I’ll take my leave first. You and the ministers can continue the discussion. Let me know the conclusion, and I’ll cooperate as needed.”

He looked at the Emperor, trying to suppress the anxiety in his eyes.

The Emperor finally sensed something was wrong. If it were usual, his brother wouldn’t be so impatient. There must be something else.

Thinking this, he didn’t stop him and let him go.

Yan Yuanhua strode out of the Taiji Hall, where the carriage was already waiting.

Since getting married, Lu Minghua has carefully supervised his health, avoiding wind and sun exposure. So, the once free-riding Prince Rui had to take a carriage. The coachman was used to it and started preparing the carriage but saw his master mount a guard’s horse and gallop out of the palace. The guards immediately followed, and the coachman had to drive the carriage behind.

The capital, being the Emperor’s city, strictly prohibited galloping horses on the streets. The guards cleared the way, driving away pedestrians. The City Military Command saw this from afar and was about to intervene but recognized Prince Rui’s guards. Seeing Prince Rui himself, with a golden crown, jade belt, and a black prince’s robe with a dragon head, looking solemn, they quickly retreated. The laws and regulations could bind many, but clearly not this master. Some people murmured, guessing what urgent matter Prince Rui had today.

Outside, the sky was overcast, and the window was half-closed.

Lu Minghua lay on the couch, feeling listless. She hated this kind of weather. Ping An lay on her lap. The cat, which usually loved to play outside, was unusually clingy today.

Lu Minghua scratched its chin, and seeing the little one purr, she couldn’t help but smile. She then gently stroked its back.

“Miss, have some sweet soup.” Mama Li came in with some snacks and placed them beside her.

Lu Minghua had always been meticulous about her food and clothing. After marrying Yan Yuanhua, it became even more luxurious. He gathered all the rare delicacies and nourishing products from around the world and piled them on Lu Minghua without any hesitation.

Taking a sip with a jade spoon, it was neither too sweet nor too greasy, just right. Lu Minghua leaned against the pillow, slowly finishing the sweet soup along with some snacks. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to sit up straight, but her sore waist made it unbearable.

Mama Li watched her with a smile, her gaze lingering on the red marks from Lu Minghua’s slightly open collar. Her smile deepened as she looked at her waist and abdomen. It seemed that her mistress’s monthly period had been overdue for several days. It was likely good news was on the way. These days, they should find an opportunity to have the doctor come and check.

She understood Lu Minghua. Since childhood, she had not been loved by her family, so she longed for a home of her own, especially a child. Back then, she didn’t want to think deeply about it. If she could have a child, her mistress would surely be happy.

As she slowly drank, a sudden clap of thunder startled Lu Minghua, causing her hand to tremble. The bowl she was about to put down clattered and nearly tipped over.

“Miss.” Mama Li was startled. The thunder came too suddenly, even though the sky outside wasn’t that dark. She was caught off guard and was startled herself, let alone her mistress. She quickly went over and gently patted Lu Minghua’s back.

Lu Minghua almost couldn’t catch her breath. She instinctively pressed her hand to her chest and took deep breaths. She had always been afraid of thunder but could usually endure it. However, today, for some reason, she felt especially panicked.

Breathing deeply, Lu Minghua didn’t notice that her face had turned as white as snow. The maids in the room were all shocked and quickly gathered around her.

“Mama, my, my stomach.” Feeling a slight pain in her abdomen, Lu Minghua’s expression changed instantly. She remembered her menstrual cycle clearly and had been carefully counting the days, but she hadn’t expected this.

“Quick, call the mansion doctor.” Mama Li, rarely flustered, spoke sharply.

The maids were stunned and quickly ran out.

The door curtain flew up as Yan Yuanhua strode in, waving the maids aside and directly pulling Lu Minghua into his arms.

“Minghua, I’m back. It’s okay, I’m back.” He held her tightly, gently patting her back.

“My, my stomach hurts.” Lu Minghua clutched Yan Yuanhua’s clothes, and as she spoke, she realized her voice was trembling with tears.

Yan Yuanhua’s expression changed. He knew Lu Minghua’s situation better than anyone. How could he not understand?

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Go, tell Zhao Shiyi to fetch the imperial doctor. Where’s the mansion doctor? Bring him here quickly.” He looked up and spoke to the maids.

His gaze was terrifying. Although his tone was gentle and patient, it seemed as if he was ready to kill. Xiao Chun was so frightened that she held her breath and didn’t dare say a word, quickly going to find Zhao Shiyi.

Zhao Shiyi, worried about his master’s hurried departure, hadn’t left and was waiting outside the main courtyard. Hearing Xiao Chun’s report and Lu Minghua’s condition, he immediately sent someone to fetch the mansion doctor and went to the palace himself to fetch the imperial doctor.

The guards were naturally faster than the maids. By the time the maid arrived at the mansion doctor’s residence, she found that the guards had already taken the doctor away.

In the main courtyard, the mansion doctor sat on a brocade stool, carefully taking Lu Minghua’s pulse. He felt the pulse jumping erratically, indicating she was startled. Besides that, he also detected a faint pulse, combined with the maids’ report and Lu Minghua’s complexion, he concluded that she was about a month pregnant and had been frightened, causing fetal movement. Because of the pregnancy, he didn’t dare prescribe medicine casually. After careful consideration, he finally wrote a prescription.

The maids immediately went to prepare the medicine. Lu Minghua knew her condition. The more anxious she was, the more intense the abdominal pain became. So she tried to slow her breathing and calm her mind.

The sky outside grew darker, and the thunder rumbled again.

At that moment, a pair of large hands covered Lu Minghua’s ears. Yan Yuanhua pressed his forehead against hers, and their eyes met, silently telling her not to be afraid.

Tears welled up in Lu Minghua’s eyes, filled with fear and anxiety. She was so afraid, afraid that she couldn’t keep this child, afraid that her baby would be lost because of her fear of thunder.

His hands blocked the muffled thunder, leaving only a faint sound. Lu Minghua buried her head in Yan Yuanhua’s embrace, allowing herself to hide. This embrace was warm and comforting. Her chaotic heartbeat and panic gradually faded, and she finally calmed down.

Yan Yuanhua looked down at her, listening to her breathing gradually steady, and finally felt relieved.

The thunder outside stopped, but not knowing when it might return, he didn’t remove his hands, firmly covering Lu Minghua’s ears.

With a sudden rush, the rain poured down.

Zhao Shiyi was drenched, but he didn’t care. He hurried into the palace, went straight to the Imperial Medical Bureau, and quickly brought the imperial doctor back.

The rain outside didn’t stop, and Zhao Shiyi, not caring about propriety, pulled the imperial doctor onto the horse. As he hurried out of the palace, the news reached several palace masters, all of whom were shocked.

At this time, calling for the imperial doctor, especially one specializing in fetal care, could only mean something had happened to Lu Minghua.

“What happened?” The Empress Dowager couldn’t sit still, frowning slightly.

Hearing the thunder outside, the nanny guessed, “Could it be that the princess was startled by the thunder and it affected the fetus?”

This reminded the Empress Dowager. The thunder had come so suddenly that even she was startled, let alone Lu Minghua, who was pregnant. She got up, paced a few steps, then hurriedly opened the storeroom and took out a longevity lock, sending it to the Prince’s mansion.

The late Emperor had worn this longevity lock since childhood. It was originally intended for Prince Rui, but the Empress Dowager feared it would make him stand out too much, so she kept it hidden, only giving him a peace talisman she had prepared herself.

The late Emperor knew and said nothing. Now, it was just right for Lu Minghua’s unborn child. She hoped the late Emperor’s spirit could protect him.

Upon receiving the news, the current Emperor frowned slightly. Finally understanding his brother’s urgency today, he couldn’t help but worry. The high-ranking officials still in the Taiji Hall exchanged glances, wondering what had happened.

When the imperial doctor arrived at the Prince’s mansion, he was soaked but still held the medicine box tightly. After catching his breath, he went inside to examine Princess Rui.

After the examination, he reached the same conclusion as the mansion doctor. He reviewed the prescription and approved it, but since it was an emergency measure, he wrote another prescription with milder effects, instructing them to follow it after the first dose.

The mansion doctor was originally an imperial doctor bestowed upon Prince Rui, but this imperial doctor was more reassuring in matters of fetal care.

As they spoke, everyone instinctively lowered their voices, afraid of startling the Princess leaning against Prince Rui.

Yan Yuanhua’s brows remained furrowed, coldly watching the people in the room.

The imperial doctor lowered his head, feeling anxious, knowing that if anything happened to Princess Rui, they would surely be blamed.

Outside, a maid brought in the prepared lukewarm medicine.

The sound of rain falling from the eaves into the water tank below made the lotus flowers inside tremble. The sound of the water droplets was pleasant, like a symphony, harmonizing with the sound of the banana leaves in the corner.

The tank was specially made by Yan Yuanhua, after many failed attempts, to provide some comfort to Lu Minghua on rainy days. But at this moment, no one in the courtyard could appreciate it.

The thunder had not sounded for a while, and it was time for Lu Minghua to take her medicine. Yan Yuanhua gently released his hands, brought the medicine, and said softly, “Minghua, drink the medicine.”

Since maintaining her calm, the abdominal pain had not been as intense, just a lingering ache. Lu Minghua was anxious but didn’t dare think too much. Smelling the medicine, she sat up and, without hesitation, took the bowl and drank it all. The warm medicine flowed down her throat into her chest and abdomen, and soon, a warm feeling spread throughout her body. She felt as if the pain had lessened, though she wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination.

“Open your mouth,” Yan Yuanhua’s voice sounded, and something touched her lips. Lu Minghua opened her mouth and felt a continuous sweetness spreading from her tongue, instantly masking the bitterness of the medicine. She looked up and saw Yan Yuanhua’s frown relax, leaving only a smile for her.

“I’m fine, don’t worry,” Lu Minghua said softly, holding his hand. Her heart trembled as she saw the worry and fear in his eyes.