The princess regretted it.

Chapter 393 Abnormal Fetal Position

As the side hall's door curtain lifted, Consort Lin Qian, draped in a peach-pink cloak woven with gold, gracefully entered. Plum blossoms embroidered with gold thread shimmered softly in the flickering candlelight, and her snow-white fox fur accentuated her cheeks, making them appear as if smudged with rouge.

Lin Qian raised her eyes and saw Concubine Cen sitting in the room. She quickly stepped forward and bowed gracefully: "Greetings, Her Majesty Concubine Cen!"

Concubine Cen's fingertips unconsciously rubbed the gilded, twined-branch-patterned armor, the hard lines pricking her palms slightly. The delicate scent of Lin Qian's rouge, mingled with the crisp, cool scent of snowy water, washed over her face. Suddenly, she recalled herself twenty years ago, when she first entered the palace. Back then, she had been this youthful and fresh, her skirt sweeping the palace path, a sight that had once drawn the young emperor to pause and gaze.

"No need for formalities." Concubine Cen suppressed the complex emotions surging in her eyes. She caught a glimpse of the ice chips still stained on the edge of Lin Qian's cloak. Her eyes were a little dark and unclear. She asked slowly, "It's snowing heavily outside. Why didn't you bring two more palace maids with you?"

"I was thinking about Sister Chun, so I left in a hurry." Lin Qian said as she untied her cloak and handed it to the maid, revealing a moon-white skirt embroidered with magnolias. As she moved, the mutton-fat jade bracelets on her wrists collided, making a crisp and pleasant sound.

Mingyue helped Gancao forward and saluted Concubine Xian. Concubine Xian gestured for them to skip the formalities and then looked at Gancao with some curiosity, "What's wrong with her?"

"She fell while walking too fast in the snow." Concubine Cen already knew how Gancao got injured from her previous reply. When she heard Concubine Xian ask about it, she replied calmly, "Mingyue, help her back to her room to rest. She can't help here, but I'm here to watch over her, so she'll be fine."

Gancao understood what Concubine Cen said. With Mingyue's support, he bowed to the two ladies again and limped out of the side hall.

After hearing what Concubine Cen said, Concubine Xian simply assumed that Concubine Chun had given birth suddenly today, and the girl had fallen in the rush. She didn't pay much attention to it. She slowly walked to a seat nearby and sat down, asking with some concern, "I just wonder how Sister Chun is doing now."

"You're so thoughtful," Concubine Cen whispered, her fingertips gently caressing the warm rim of the teacup as she took a sip. The warm tea slid down her throat, but it couldn't dispel the chill surging in her heart. "The imperial physician is already waiting, and the midwife and everything else are ready. As long as Concubine Chun survives this, both mother and child will be safe." Thinking of Gan Cao's words earlier, her voice was calm, with a hint of coldness, but the ending tone rose slightly, as if to comfort, but also as a warning.

Lin Qian keenly sensed the distance in Concubine Cen's tone and looked up at her with a touch of surprise. Unaware of Concubine Cen's suspicions, she saw Concubine Cen's downcast brows and cold expression, assuming that seeing Concubine Chun give birth had brought back the pain of losing her beloved son, hence her downcast mood.

Thinking of this, Lin Qian also felt that this topic should not be discussed further. She simply lowered her eyes and replied meekly, "Yes," and said no more. The sandalwood incense curled up, and the room fell into silence. Only the suppressed cries of pain from Concubine Chun could be heard intermittently, occasionally piercing the stagnant air.

At the same time, after Zhao Ma Ma took the things from the warehouse, Jin An immediately set off and hurried to Lanxin Palace with Han Shuang and Zhao Ma Ma.

When Jin'an arrived at Lanxin Palace, the emperor had not yet left his morning court. The Ministry of Rites had presented the agenda for receiving the envoys from the State of Yu. The two princes' supporters argued fiercely in the courtroom over whether to send a prince, and whether to send the second or third prince. The person Nanny Su had sent to inform the emperor stood outside the Golden Throne Hall, listening to the heated arguments within and pacing anxiously.

The copper bells on the eaves of Lanxin Palace jingled in the cold wind. Jinan hurried over in the wind and snow. The red plum embroidery on the hem of her skirt was soaked with mud marks from the accumulated snow.

When Concubine Cen, Noble Lady Xian and others in the hall heard the announcement of Jin'an's arrival, they looked at each other, quickly stood up and prepared to go out of the hall to greet him.

Nanny Su saw Jinan and his group from afar and hurried forward to greet them. Jinan hurriedly asked anxiously, "How is Concubine Chun now?"

"Princess, Concubine Chun is in good spirits. Luckily, Xing'er and Yue'er were by her side when she fell. They reacted quickly, one grabbing Concubine Chun's arm while the other used her body to cushion her. However, the imperial physician and midwife said that Concubine Chun might suffer some hardship, as the fetus is in an abnormal position." Nanny Su quickly reported as she led Jin'an to the side hall, "The midwife is currently using acupuncture to try to change the fetus."

"Well, hasn't the emperor come yet?" Jin An nodded and asked again.

"We sent someone to notify them a long time ago, but no one has come back yet." Nanny Su replied softly.

Jin An thought for a moment, then turned to Han Shuang and said, "Han Shuang, go and find Eunuch Fuquan first."

Han Shuang accepted the order, replied "yes", then turned around and walked quickly out of the hall.

Jin'an, Nanny Su, and the others had just reached the main hall entrance when Concubine Cen and Noble Lady Xian, having already drawn aside the curtain, emerged from the side hall. After exchanging greetings, Concubine Cen spoke first, "Princess, what brings you here?" As she spoke, she frowned slightly and glanced at Nanny Zhao behind Jin'an. Her gaze was filled with questioning, as if blaming her for not dissuading the princess. In her view, the princess, still unmarried, had no right to set foot in such a place suffused with the bloody atmosphere.

"I heard that Concubine Chun was in trouble. I was really worried, so I came to check on her." Jin An heard Concubine Chun's cries of pain, and his face instantly became solemn.

At that moment, a maid came out of the inner room beside the main hall, carrying a basin of blood. Jin An's eyes fell on the bright red blood in the basin, and his face suddenly turned pale, and his body swayed slightly. Madam Zhao was quick to act and quickly reached out to support Jin An's arm, calling softly, "Princess?"

Jin An looked away and shook his head gently to indicate that he was fine.

Lin Qian was no exception. Although she had already served in the emperor's bedchamber and was no longer an ignorant girl, she couldn't help but feel a chill in her heart when she looked at the basin of blood and listened to Concubine Chun's suppressed cries of pain.

Upon seeing this, Concubine Cen quickly said, "Princess, let's go to the side hall and wait. Let Madam Su keep a close eye on this place and report back if anything happens."

Nanny Su quickly responded, "Yes!"

They entered the side hall together. Just as Jin An sat down on the chair, Concubine Cen couldn't help but speak, "Princess, if you are worried about Concubine Chun, just let Nanny Zhao come and take care of her. You should step aside for a while." Her voice was different from the calmness she had used when she spoke to Concubine Xian. It was filled with concern. "The delivery room is full of blood. Your precious body..."

Jin An knew Concubine Cen meant well, but she had her doubts, so she had to come. She nodded gently, "Thank you for your concern, Concubine Cen, but I'll never feel at ease unless I come to see it in person." Before she finished speaking, a suppressed moan could be heard from afar, mixed with the midwife's anxious urging, reverberating through the hall with a heart-pounding echo.

Jin An suddenly turned around and told Nanny Zhao who was waiting beside him, "Go check if the licorice is feeling better, and also check if there is enough medicine for the wound."