The maid walked in briskly and was startled by the sight of Princess Consort Rui.
"My lady, what's wrong? Are you in pain anywhere?"
Hearing the maid's question, Princess Consort Rui looked up.
This maid was her dowry maid, who had grown up with her since childhood.
"Jinzhi, what should I do?"
Seeing Princess Consort Rui's tearful face, the maid Jinzhi felt a deep ache in her heart and hugged her tightly.
"Your Highness, is it that Princess Changle cannot save the little master either?"
"Your Highness, perhaps we should give up. As long as you are safe, there will always be another chance!"
"Only if you live will the little princess have a mother!"
Jinzhi was terrified that her mistress would lose the will to live because of the unborn son in her womb.
Hearing her maid mention her daughter, Princess Consort Rui cried even harder.
Seeing this, Jinzhi became frantic with worry.
"Did that Princess Changle say something she shouldn't have to you, my lady?"
"I will have them arrested right now and handed over to His Highness for punishment!"
Jinzhi made to stand up as she spoke, but Princess Consort Rui hurriedly pulled her back.
"Don't go!"
Jinzhi sat back down. "Your Highness, what exactly is going on? I am worried to death."
Princess Consort Rui had cried enough. She dried her tears with a handkerchief.
Right now, she had no one else to consult, and Jinzhi was the only person she could confide in.
"Jinzhi, Princess Changle said that the child in my womb is not a son."
Jinzhi looked astonished. "The imperial physicians said it's a little heir. How old is Princess Changle? Could her medical skills really be better than the imperial physicians?"
An indescribable expression appeared on Princess Consort Rui's face.
"Her medical skills might actually be better than the imperial physicians."
"Jinzhi, look at my waist." Princess Consort Rui gestured for Jinzhi to examine where she had been bitten.
Hearing this, Jinzhi carefully lifted Princess Consort Rui's clothes.
She saw nothing but a patch of snow-white skin at Princess Consort Rui's waist.
"Huh? Your Highness, the bite mark is gone!"
Jinzhi could not believe her eyes.
She leaned in closer and examined it carefully.
"Your Highness, aside from the snake's fang marks, the blackened area has completely disappeared."
Jinzhi adjusted Princess Consort Rui's clothes and noticed the thoughtful look on her face.
"Your Highness, that Princess Changle looks to be only a few years old, yet she is so incredible. She managed to remove the poison that even the imperial physicians were helpless against."
Jinzhi murmured softly.
Princess Consort Rui nodded. "Therefore, when she says the child in my womb is not a son, I believe her."
Jinzhi still did not understand.
"Even though her medical skills are superb, the child is still in your womb. What if her diagnosis is wrong?"
Princess Consort Rui shook her head gently.
"She said that the venomous snake caused a change in my pulse and the child's."
"The difference is very slight, and even she is not completely certain."
"It's just that she wanted me to think clearly about whether I still want to save this child."
"Jinzhi, you know how His Highness is..."
"If the heir were still alive, I would definitely save her without hesitation."
"But now..."
Princess Consort Rui could not go on.
The child in her womb was her own flesh and blood too.
How could she willingly give it up?
But a son had turned into a daughter. What was she supposed to do?
Jinzhi lowered her head and thought for a moment. She leaned close to Princess Consort Rui and whispered an idea.
"Your Highness, I think we should still save the child."
"What if the child in your womb really is a little heir?"
"Besides, even if it is a little princess, once you recover your health, you can always have another."
"If worse comes to worst, we can secretly swap the child..."
Jinzhi kept her voice very low.
But the content of her words made Princess Consort Rui's heart skip a beat.
She glanced outside the room in panic.
"Do not worry, my lady. I have sent everyone else away," Jinzhi reassured Princess Consort Rui.
Princess Consort Rui pondered for a long time and finally made up her mind.
She wanted to take a gamble!
"Jinzhi, where is Princess Changle?" Princess Consort Rui asked the maid.
"Just now, Princess Changle said she was hungry, so I arranged for them to dine in the flower hall."
"Your Highness, are you hungry? Should I have the meal served?"
Princess Consort Rui shook her head.
"I am not hungry. Go and see if Princess Changle is free. If so, ask her to come over."
Jinzhi stood up. "Yes, I will go right away."
Watching her maid's hurrying figure leave, Princess Consort Rui fell deep into thought.
Before long, Jinzhi pushed open the door and walked in, leading Duoduo.
"Jinzhi, guard the door," Princess Consort Rui said, looking up at the sound of footsteps.
"Yes." Jinzhi bowed and retreated outside.
Duoduo curtsied to greet Princess Consort Rui.
"Did you enjoy your meal?" Princess Consort Rui asked Duoduo amiably.
Duoduo revealed an obedient and sweet smile. "Yes, the food here is very delicious."
Princess Consort Rui waved to Duoduo, and Duoduo obediently walked over to her.
Princess Consort Rui held Duoduo's hand. "How certain are you of what you said earlier?"
Duoduo blinked and saw Princess Consort Rui mouth a word to her.
Duoduo's eyes flickered. "Eighty percent."
Princess Consort Rui instantly deflated like a punctured balloon.
In truth, although she had made up her mind, she still harbored a sliver of hope in her heart.
"Did you say earlier that the poison in my body has been completely removed?"
"Now, only the poison that has transferred to the child remains. Is that right?"
Duoduo nodded. "Correct! If you choose not to treat it, you will suffer on the day she is born."
Duoduo cruelly stated the facts.
Princess Consort Rui squeezed Duoduo's hand, as if trying to draw strength from it.
"Changle, I want to ask you a private matter. If you find it difficult, you don't have to answer."
Duoduo tilted her small head curiously. "Okay."
Princess Consort Rui spoke with difficulty.
"If I abort her now, will I become infertile?"
Duoduo thought for a moment. "It will cause damage to your body."
Princess Consort Rui was stunned for a second. "Then, if I give birth to her, do you have a way to help me nurse my body back to health?"
Worried that Duoduo might be displeased, Princess Consort Rui hurriedly added, "I will pay your medical fees."
Duoduo tilted her head, her face full of curiosity.
"The imperial physicians can do all of that."
Princess Consort Rui squeezed Duoduo's hand tightly. "I only trust you!"
"I need to recover my health in the shortest time possible, and then conceive a son!"
Duoduo froze. "I cannot help you with that."
Duoduo was very clear in her heart. She was helping Princess Consort Rui for the sake of that jade pendant.
Prince Rui and her father were rivals.
She could not help a rival time and time again.
Right now, they were just taking what they each needed.
"I know you want the jade pendant that the Emperor bestowed upon His Highness. I will have someone bring it to you immediately. Please help me, alright?"
This was the first time Princess Consort Rui had ever begged someone so humbly.
Duoduo blinked her big eyes.
"I cannot help you with bearing children. However, I can give you a pill that can save your life at a critical moment."
"Oh, right, I forgot to tell you."
"The poison in your body is not just snake venom."
