Chapter 56: Miscarriage

Su Jin’s words struck like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, sending towering waves of shock through everyone present. Yang Siqiu, who had been somewhat cowering just a moment before, instinctively covered her mouth tightly upon hearing this. Yet, she could not completely hide the trace of joy that slipped into her eyes, though fortunately, the others were standing too far away to notice.

Shen Quanyi, however, saw it with absolute clarity. In her heart, she understood that Yang Siqiu’s hatred for Gu Dan was easily no less than anyone else's.

In truth, her own heart was pounding wildly at that moment, but she managed to restrain herself and lowered her voice: "Whatever a sister harbors in her heart, her face must never show the slightest hint of it. If anyone were to catch sight of it, how would you fare?"

Yang Siqiu hastily smoothed away that imperceptible trace of joy and gripped Shen Quanyi’s hand tightly. As the two women stepped out of the pavilion, they already saw Su Jin walking swiftly far ahead.

Reaching the covered veranda, Shen Quanyi turned back and frowned slightly at Xushang, only to see the maid quietly withdraw and step back into the shadows.

Yang Siqiu’s entire mind was consumed by the affair concerning Gu Dan, so she failed to notice this little interaction.

By the time they entered the Chunya Courtyard, chaos was already in full swing. Maidservants and matrons hurried back and forth across the courtyard, carrying out basin after basin of bloody water. The vivid, crimson color filling the basins was enough to make anyone’s scalp tingle.

Any young maiden who had never witnessed such a sight would surely have been frightened ashen-faced.

Yang Siqiu steadied her mind and glanced at Shen Quanyi beside her, noticing that although the latter's expression was grave, it held no trace of terror.

The door curtain had long since been lifted and tied back on one side to prevent it from falling down again.

Su Jin had arrived earlier and was already inside. With so many people bustling about busily, it was impossible to squeeze any further in, so they simply entered the room and stood by one side of the doorway.

Unlike the outdoors, the room was furnished with numerous charcoal braziers and a burning stove, making the interior warm and cozy. Shen Quanyi did not dare to get too close; her gaze caught Li Qian and Zuo Li sitting in the outer hall, both wearing expressions of deep anxiety.

For a long time after they entered, no one spoke. The room was so dead silent that the only sound audible was the piercing, agonizing shrieks of a woman coming from the inner chamber.

The curtain to the inner chamber was lifted time and time again, and dropped time and time again, yet no one from the Imperial Medical Bureau ever emerged.

Shen Quanyi knitted her brows and involuntarily glanced toward the window sill and wooden stand where the potted plants had previously rested. Those fully bloomed black orchids were still sitting right there, and a flash of surprise crossed her pupils.

She still harbored Madam Liu’s earlier words in her mind: if there truly was a problem with them, they should have been dealt with by now instead of still being displayed in this place.

A thousand thoughts surged into her mind.

Shen Quanyi was momentarily lost in thought and thus lost track of Yang Siqiu.

With so many people crowding the chaotic room, no one noticed when a little maidservant holding a bronze basin stepped out from the inner chamber. Walking with rapid strides and her head bowed, she took a turn and collided squarely with Yang Siqiu.

The impact sent Yang Siqiu staggering backward, and she would have fallen had the maid behind her not propped her up. Meanwhile, the maidservant who had caused the collision let out a startled shriek, and the basin in her hands crashed heavily to the ground.

Yang Siqiu’s clothes were soiled by the bloody water, and her shoes were soaked entirely through. Cursing her wretched luck inwardly, she opened her mouth to scold the little maid.

Before she could, however, a stern and furious reprimand rang out beside her ears: "What kind of uproar are you making? As if things aren't chaotic enough! Get out of my sight, all of you!"

Zuo Li’s previously sorrowful eyes flashed with a cold light. With an unpleased expression, after issuing the rebuke, she instinctively covered her nose and mouth upon seeing the blood-soaked floor near the doorway.

Yulan hurried over. She shoved the little maid and Yang Siqiu outward. Once they were outside the room, she frowned and rebuked: "How do you do your work? How can you still be so muddle-headed at a time like this?"

Fighting back tears and thoroughly scolded into silence, the little maid was pushed aside and dismissed.

Glancing sideways at Yang Siqiu, Yulan’s expression softened slightly: "Since the concubine's clothes are soaked—which looks unsightly and easily causes a chill, especially given your delicate constitution—you should return early."

At these words, Yang Siqiu remained tight-lipped and silent. Yulan said no more, turned around, and re-entered the room.

Stubbornly, Yang Siqiu remained standing by the doorway, where a chilly gust of wind blew straight into her face, making her shiver.

Heavy footsteps sounded from behind her, and she hurriedly stepped aside. It turned out to be several robust matrons, each carrying buckets of water as they hurried into the house.

Once inside, ignoring the formalities of greeting Li Qian and the others, they strode swiftly toward the inner chamber. Through the lattice screens of rosewood inlaid with ivory and glass, one could see several figures casting blurred shadows as they moved about frantically inside.

Soon, the sound of splashing water could be heard from within.

Gu Dan’s previously high-pitched voice gradually grew weaker, instantly dragging everyone’s hearts down into the abyss. Zuo Li continuously rubbed a string of sandalwood prayer beads in her hands, her lips moving in a silent chant.

Su Jin’s eyes were brimming with tears. Holding a handkerchief, she gently dabbed at the moisture overflowing from the corners of her eyes, stepped forward to support Zuo Li’s arm, and said, "Today's events happened so suddenly. Imperial Concubine has truly suffered terribly. Fortunately, we now have Senior Official Lu administering treatment, so things should go smoothly. Let us hope the Imperial Concubine remains safe and sound."

Zuo Li silently shook her head, patted Su Jin’s hand, and murmured, "Alas, this is indeed something no one could have anticipated. If only she can come through this safely, I am willing to chant Buddhist scriptures a hundred times over, if only to accumulate blessings for that child."

Shen Quanyi lowered her gaze slightly, while out of the corner of her eye she glanced at Li Qian sitting high in the main seat. She noticed that the look of anxiety he wore earlier had subsided; only a trace of fatigue lingered between his brows, and his sword-like eyebrows were still lightly knitted.

His thin lips were pale, and a small crack had formed at the corner of his mouth, seeping a trace of blood.

Shen Quanyi paused, turned to pick up the teapot from beside the stove, and walked a few steps to the table, personally pouring a bowl of tea for Li Qian.

The teacup on the table had long since run empty.

Hearing the movement beside him, Li Qian raised a hand to massage his temples. Assuming it was just some maid, and feeling somewhat displeased, he said faintly, "That's enough, you may leave."

"Your concubine has overstepped, but I only pray that Your Grace will take good care of your health."

At the sound of the familiar voice, Li Qian jerked his head up. Before him stood Shen Quanyi, her eyes brimming with tears and full of concerned affection. With a faint sigh, he took hold of Shen Quanyi’s hand, feeling how icy cold it was.

"Your health has just recovered. You shouldn't have come out without wearing more warm clothes."

Feeling the stiffness in Li Qian’s hand, Shen Quanyi gripped it back in return. Although no words were spoken, their gazes met, a glimmer of light pierced into their eyes, and both of their expressions were filled with steadfast determination.

Yet right at this moment, another sharp, ear-piercing scream rang out. Gu Dan’s trembling voice was interspersed with a few fragile calls of "Your Grace..."

Li Qian could no longer sit still. He released Shen Quanyi’s hand, stood up abruptly, and looked toward the folding screen, but the intertwined shadows inside made it impossible to distinguish who was who.

With no other choice, he took a few hard strides forward, about to step directly into the inner chamber, when Shen Quanyi slightly narrowed her eyes.

"I know Your Grace is acting out of frantic concern, but there is bleeding from a woman inside, which is considered intensely foul and unclean. Your Grace must not go in. What would happen if you were to encounter this ominous energy?"

Zuo Li’s face was etched with frantic worry. Seeing that Li Qian had already grabbed the curtain to the inner chamber, she hurriedly reached out to grip his arm, offering earnest and painstaking persuasion.