Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress

The blood-stained Xiao Rongyan, fearing that Mrs. Dong might grow more worried not knowing the situation, solemnly bowed deeply to Mrs. Dong in greeting: "The eldest Miss was speaking with Rong Yan... and the Rong's ghost-faced Prince when she suddenly collapsed. Please, Madam... Empress Dowager, do not worry. Doctor Hong is already taking her pulse."

Doctor Hong gave Xiao Rongyan a deep look, then stood up and made a deep bow towards Mrs. Dong, saying: "Madam, rest assured, the eldest Miss is not in a critical condition. However..."

"However?!" The fourth Madam, Mrs. Wang, who was continuously fingering her Buddha beads, paused and tightly gripped them, "However, what?!"

Doctor Hong glanced at Xiao Rongyan, gritting his teeth, then, after another deep bow, said: "Madam, may I speak with you in private."

Xiao Rongyan clenched his palms, not understanding why Doctor Hong suddenly seemed to regard him with such deep resentment.

Mrs. Dong felt her heart leap to her throat, nodded, and walked with Doctor Hong to a corner of the hall lit by thirty-two intertwined lights. Only then did Doctor Hong speak: "Madam, the eldest Miss... is pregnant."

Mrs. Dong stared wide-eyed at Doctor Hong in shock, her mind buzzing as she instinctively looked towards Xiao Rongyan, seeing his sleeves stained with blood... Injured and with bandages, Xiao Rongyan was bending over to cover Bai Qingyan with a light blanket. She steadied her breath and asked Doctor Hong: "But wasn't it said that Kid's body, having offspring..."

"Having offspring is difficult, but not impossible. Moreover... the eldest Miss's cold syndrome has actually improved." Doctor Hong's expression was grave, "However, the eldest Miss's body is still not quite suitable for pregnancy, and coupled with not having rested well, due to overexertion, she experienced heart palpitations and fainted."

"But... could there be danger?" Mrs. Dong's throat tightened, indifferent to her reputation and such. Kid is now the Empress of Zhou, and many expect her to appoint an emperor consort and bear offspring, but she cannot ignore Kid's health!

Since ancient times, pregnancy for women was akin to stepping one foot into the realm of ghosts, especially considering her Kid's body was injured in the past. Doctor Hong also mentioned she wasn't suitable for pregnancy, which deeply worries Mrs. Dong as her mother.

This detestable Xiao Rongyan, if not for his previous goodwill towards the Bai family, Mrs. Dong feared she might not resist having the imperial guard throw him out right now!

Mrs. Dong clenched her fists tightly. Glancing back, she saw several sister-in-laws looking at her anxiously, full of worry. Mrs. Dong forced herself to control her emotions and said to Doctor Hong, "This matter, do not make it public."

"I understand the gravity of the situation." Doctor Hong nodded.

Mrs. Dong exhaled a long breath, turned towards the direction of the Bai family wives and said, "Doctor Hong said Kid is alright... just overworked during this time, a good rest will suffice. All of you, don't stay here, please return for now! When Kid wakes up... I'll have someone notify you, Fifth Sister-in-law... please go back to take care of Xiao Ba!"

"But..." The third Madam, Mrs. Li, was about to speak, but was pulled back by the fifth Madam, Mrs. Qi.

Fifth Madam Mrs. Qi was very astute, knowing that if it was truly overwork, Doctor Hong wouldn't have needed to speak in private, assuming Eldest Sister-in-law had something to say privately first, and would surely inform them later. There was no hurry.

"Eldest Sister-in-law is right, us being here in numbers isn't of much use, Eldest Sister-in-law, please take care of Kid first, if needed ... send word to us." Fifth Madam Mrs. Qi bowed to Mrs. Dong.

Watched the wives leave, Mrs. Dong then looked at her own son, Bai Qingyu. With outsiders present... she couldn't express overly explicitly, and thus said to Bai Qingyu, "Prince, His Majesty is no longer in danger, best for the Prince to return to the posthouse to rest early, today the Prince must have been startled."

Bai Qingyu's fists clenched tightly behind his back, he bowed to Mrs. Dong, "In that case, I will take my leave first!"

Mrs. Dong nodded, reluctantly watching her son leave, then her face turned grim as she looked towards Xiao Rongyan.

Xiao Rongyan stood beside the couch, noting Mrs. Dong's glance, he knew she had words for him.

"Wei Zhong... I have words for this Mr. Xiao, take everyone else out, leave Doctor Hong." Mrs. Dong said coldly, her gaze towards Xiao Rongyan full of authority.

Xiao Rongyan slightly tightened his palm, respectfully retreated to the side, making the posture of a junior... receiving instruction from an elder.

Mrs. Dong bit her teeth, walked to sit beside Bai Qingyan's couch, touched Bai Qingyan's forehead, covered him back with the blanket, and her eyes suddenly misted over.

In the past, because of Kid's difficulty bearing offspring, she didn't know how many tears she shed in secret. Now that Kid was pregnant... Mrs. Dong yet worries tremendously.

If due to this pregnancy, it caused Kid any harm, Mrs. Dong would rather Kid spend a lifetime without children!

Thinking this, tears uncontrollably fell down Mrs. Dong's face, she wiped them away with the back of her hand, looked at Xiao Rongyan full of resentment, "When did you... consummate with Kid?"

Xiao Rongyan's pupils quivered, his gaze fell upon Bai Qingyan's pale face, recalling Doctor Hong's reaction earlier and the current reaction of Bai Qingyan's mother, a thought began to form in Xiao Rongyan's heart.

Xiao Rongyan did not answer, Mrs. Dong bit her teeth, unable to restrain herself, lifted the hem of her skirt and raised her hand to give Xiao Rongyan a slap, hitting him such that half his face burned painfully.

Mrs. Dong, tears flowing like broken beads, angrily questioned: "When?!"

Xiao Rongyan's throat convulsed, in merely a split second, everything became clear to him.

He stepped back, lifted the hem of his gown and knelt before Mrs. Dong, earnestly kowtowing: "Today, I was originally going to personally go to the Empress Dowager's palace, to candidly reveal, I, Xiao Rongyan, am truly Murong Yan, the Ninth Prince of Yan, brother of Yan Kingdom's late Emperor Murong Yu!"

Mrs. Dong's eyes widened, suddenly feeling the man before her becoming a stranger.

"Murong Yan... first met the eldest Miss in Shu Kingdom's Imperial Palace, greatly admiring her. Afterwards... when she moved the Bai family from Dadu, even in dire straits, never forgetting the Bai family's generation-long ambitions, evoking deep respect. The eldest Miss has long known Murong Yan's identity, yet never exposed it. She once said... A hero of small virtue helps the weak, a hero of great stature rescues all people. The eldest Miss believes Murong Yan can rescue all people." Xiao Rongyan, his eyes red, uttered every word with sincerity, "Murong Yan, in admiration, developed affections... in this lifetime, I will never marry another!"

Murong Yan lifted his head again, tears already brimming in his eyes: "Murong Yan and the eldest Miss have mutual affections, to Murong Yan… the eldest Miss is my wife, in this lifetime... the only one! I ask... Madam to fulfill this wish!"

Having heard Murong Yan's words, Mrs. Dong staggered back in retreat, sitting weakly upon the couch, "You're saying... you're the Ninth Prince of Yan, and Kid... also knows you're the Ninth Prince of Yan!"

Murong Yan looked at Mrs. Dong, nodded, then kowtowed to Mrs. Dong again, "I beseech Madam to fulfill this wish."