Yu Chunhua, seeing that the Imperial Guard was about to pocket her bribe without any intention of helping her, was infuriated, her face turning pale with anger.
She leaned on her waist, exasperated. "I am carrying the royal bloodline. Do you dare treat like this? Aren’t you afraid of losing your head?!"
"Have you heard of ’mother is esteed because of her child’?" she added furiously.
The Imperial Guard, still eyeing her belly with skepticism, couldn’t help but laugh. "Looks like you’re seriously out of your mind!"
He turned to the maid, "Your county princess seems to be having a hysterical episode. You should hurry and find a doctor for her. If the Ninth Prince’s secret guards overhear her nonsense, not only will your county princess be in trouble, but the entire Yu family could be dood!"
The maid quickly nodded and began to pull Yu Chunhua away. "County Princess, please stop..."
It was nearly impossible to et the Emperor. It would be better to suffer this indignity and return ho to live a peaceful life.
But Yu Chunhua was resolute. Having been abandoned by her parents and married off to a disappointing cousin, she was determined not to return. No matter how bitter the life, she refused to go back.
"I’m not having a hysterical episode. I truly am carrying the Ninth Prince’s child!" Yu Chunhua yelled, not caring about the consequences, "The Ninth Prince had a night of pleasure with while he was away on patrol! I am not lying!"
Her loud declaration imdiately drew the attention of many Imperial Guards. Even Xie Beihan, who was approaching the palace gate, heard her shouting.
Empress Xie, feeling anxious, had summoned Xie Beihan and Fan Yunxi to the palace for company. However, Empress Xie soon had a sudden headache and sent them out of the palace, which coincided with their encounter with Yu Chunhua.
Fan Yunxi, having been wronged by Yu Chunhua in the past, recognized her imdiately and glanced at Xie Beihan. "Isn’t that County Princess Yu?"
"County Princess Yu? Yu Chunhua?" Xie Beihan’s face darkened as he quickly approached the gate.
He saw Yu Chunhua still shouting, "How dare you push ? If I suffer a miscarriage, you’ll all be responsible for it!"
Furious, Xie Beihan glared at her. "Yu Chunhua, you are already married. How dare you co here and slander the Ninth Prince’s reputation!"
The Imperial Guard stepped aside.
"Lord Xie?" Yu Chunhua straightened her hair, her face full of arrogance. "I have not slandered the Ninth Prince. I swear on my family’s lives that everything I’ve said today is true!"
She knew Xie Beihan held Chu Nanli in high regard. Hearing that the Ninth Prince had fallen for her, he would surely be enraged.
Xie Beihan, however, remained stern and coldly ordered the Imperial Guards, "Deal with this madwoman. Execute her on the spot!"
Yu Chunhua shielded her belly, retreating behind her maid.
She hadn’t expected Xie Beihan to be so ruthless. Stuttering, she said, "Xie Beihan, I am the Emperor’s designated County Princess. How dare you judge ?"
"Ha! You dare defa the Ninth Prince? I’ll take action first and report later. The Emperor won’t fault for it," Xie Beihan said disdainfully.
Yu Chunhua retorted, "If you kill , you’ll be killing the Ninth Prince’s only child. I’m afraid you won’t be able to bear the responsibility!"
Xie Beihan let out a laugh, finding it utterly ridiculous. "Have you ever looked in a mirror? Do you even know what you look like? You think the Ninth Prince would be interested in you?"
His sixth sister was as beautiful as a goddess--there was no way he could believe that the Ninth Prince would be involved with soone like this.
It had to be Yu Chunhua trying to stir up trouble, attempting to drive a wedge between the Ninth Prince and his sister!
Thus, he waved his hand, signaling the imperial guards to take action.
But at that mont, Fan Yunxi stepped forward, tugging lightly on Xie Beihan’s sleeve.
He stiffened slightly, turning his head to glance at her. Their eyes t, and though they were husband and wife, an awkwardness crept between them in that mont.
Xie Beihan quickly averted his gaze.
Fan Yunxi withdrew her hand, then softly said, "She deserves to die, no doubt, but the child is innocent. If she is truly pregnant, you would have two lives on his hands."
"That child can only bla its mother," he replied coldly.
Fan Yunxi pressed on, "But she’s made this claim in public, and all these imperial guards have heard it. This will surely spread. If you have her killed now, there will be no one left to prove anything."
Xie Beihan cald himself, nodding in agreent. "You’re right."
Moreover, upon deeper reflection, he realized that even as foolish as Yu Chunhua was, she wouldn’t dare to cause such a scene at the palace gates, hurling accusations at the Ninth Prince without reason.
Could it be...
A shiver ran down his spine.
He trusted the Ninth Prince, yet he also knew the complexities of human nature. Who could say for sure that the Ninth Prince hadn’t, in a mont of weakness, done sothing that betrayed his sister?
This matter had to be investigated thoroughly, lest his sister remain blissfully unaware of the truth.
With his mind made up, Xie Beihan said, "Do you dare co with to the palace and prove your case?"
He feared his sister’s heart would break, so he resolved to keep this under wraps until the truth was uncovered.
Informing the Ninth Prince was too risky--what if the prince, out of guilt, silenced Yu Chunhua?
The only person who could fairly judge this situation was the Emperor.
Yu Chunhua had co to the palace seeking an audience with Emperor Muwu, and she had thought she wouldn’t get the chance. But to her surprise, this fool Xie Beihan was actually going to take her inside!
She smiled, "I have not lied. I’m not afraid to et the Emperor."
Xie Beihan turned and led the way, with Fan Yunxi following. The Imperial Guards did not obstruct Yu Chunhua but kept a close watch on her to prevent any deceitful actions.
In the palace, Emperor Muwu was feeling weary, resting in a side hall and nearly dozing off.
A young eunuch entered with an anxious expression. The chief eunuch pulled him aside, asking, "What’s going on?"
The young eunuch whispered hurriedly, "County Princess Yu has returned to the capital and is claiming she’s pregnant with the Ninth Prince’s child. Lord Xie is skeptical..."
"What?!" The chief eunuch could not contain his shock and exclaid loudly.
The commotion startled Emperor Muwu awake from his rest on the couch. He sat up abruptly, montarily disoriented as darkness clouded his vision.
Annoyed, he scolded, "You’ve been by my side for so many years, yet why are you still so flustered?"
The chief eunuch hurriedly stepped forward to apologize, but then, with a hint of grievance, added, "Your Majesty, it’s not my fault--this news is simply too shocking."
Emperor Muwu adjusted his robes and moved to put on his shoes, remarking casually, "You’ve weathered plenty of storms. What could possibly startle you like this?"
The chief eunuch swallowed nervously, hesitating.
"Speak!" Emperor Muwu raised his head, his tone sharp.
"It’s just... the County Princess Yu, who married out of the capital, has returned, claiming she’s pregnant with the Ninth Prince’s child. Lord Xie doesn’t believe her..."
Before the eunuch could finish, Emperor Muwu’s body swayed, and he nearly fell off the Luohan bed.
"Your Majesty!" Luckily, the eunuch was close enough to catch him in ti.
"What did you just say?" Emperor Muwu couldn’t believe his ears.
"The County Princess Yu claims she’s carrying the Ninth Prince’s child," the eunuch repeated.
Emperor Muwu’s expression imdiately shifted into a colorful range of emotions. He slapped his own mouth in frustration and muttered, "Heavens above, I wanted him and the sixth miss to have a child or two, not for him to have a baby with so stray cat or dog! Ah, my cursed mouth!"
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