The Tyrant’s Drama Queen Empress

CHAPTER 67: The Truth Always Hurts

　　Shen Ling reacted quickly. She placed her right hand on top of Xie Yuanxun’s outstretched hand, clasped his fingers, and calmly pulled it back with her. Then she casually extended her left hand instead.

　　“Chief Physician, you can check my pulse again.”

　　The whole process was smooth and seamless. She did it so naturally it was almost effortless.

　　The Chief Physician acted as if he saw nothing at all and calmly began taking her pulse again.

　　Shen Ling felt like she had handled that little “public relations crisis” for Xie Yuanxun perfectly. She had stepped in right away to smooth things over for him.

　　Unfortunately, Xie Yuanxun did not cooperate with her efforts.

　　“You only just now decided to offer your hand?” he said. “And also, the Chief Physician never said for you to switch hands. Why did you change it on your own?”

　　Shen Ling: “……”

　　—Damn it!

　　—You ask me, and I should be the one asking why you stole my job.

　　—I was already on the same wavelength as the Chief Physician, both of us silently agreeing to ignore your embarrassing little moment, and you just had to bring it up again? Do you have no fear of secondhand embarrassment at all?!

　　But then she thought about it. Xie Yuanxun acting weird was probably because of the pregnancy news, and in a way, she did have some responsibility for that. So she quickly reached out and covered his mouth.

　　“Stop talking. I need silence right now.”

　　Xie Yuanxun raised a hand, trying to pull her hand away.

　　Shen Ling glared at him. “If you move again, my stomach will hurt!”

　　—What kind of troublemaker are you anyway? I’m trying to save your face here, and you just won’t cooperate. You insist on going against me, huh? Fine, then I won’t even give you a chance to speak.

　　—Hmph. I don’t believe you’d still talk nonsense after I threaten you with stomach pain.

　　In the end, Xie Yuanxun did pull her hand away, but he obeyed her and stayed silent. Only then did Shen Ling finally look satisfied and smile.

　　The Chief Physician checked her pulse again, and the result was exactly the same as before.

　　After confirming she really did have a little baby growing inside her belly, Shen Ling couldn’t help but say, “Well, at least it’s a ten-month pregnancy. By the time I give birth, it shouldn’t be the peak of summer anymore. It should be around late autumn.”

　　—That way, postpartum recovery won’t feel like suffocating in a sauna like it would in summer.

　　—Wait, am I thinking too far ahead? I’ve already jumped all the way to postpartum care…

　　Xie Yuanxun said, “When will he come out? Can we make him grow a little faster?”

　　Shen Ling: “……”

　　—Are you serious?!

　　—Do you think pregnancy and childbirth can be remotely controlled or something?! Where on earth did you get the idea that you can fertilize a baby inside the womb and make it grow faster like some kind of farm crop? Tell me who fed you that nonsense, and I’ll personally beat the life out of them. If I don’t, I’m not surnamed Shen!

　　Xie Yuanxun’s gaze rarely drifted off for a moment. So it turned out that before a child is born, they can’t just grow faster whenever you want. 

　　He had actually thought otherwise. After all, he vaguely remembered that when he was young, he once heard the late Emperor say he had grown very quickly, like in the blink of an eye.

　　Xie Yuanxun clicked his tongue. “It’s all the late Emperor’s fault.”

　　Shen Ling: “???”

　　—Why is he dragging the late Emperor into this again? What does this have to do with him?!

　　Feeling a little suffocated, Shen Ling said, “Your Majesty, from pregnancy to birth, it takes about ten months. Not more, not less. A baby starts off as something very, very tiny and slowly develops over time. That development period is also the mother adapting to it. In short, this kind of thing has to take it slow. You can’t rush it. That’s exactly why there’s the term ‘ten months of pregnancy.’”

　　Shen Ling roughly explained a few things, then felt she hadn’t been detailed enough. On top of that, she was a first-time “mom” herself, and most of the knowledge in her head had already been scrambled clean. So she asked the Chief Physician to give them, this pair of clueless first-time parents a proper lesson on pregnancy, newborn care, and everything in between.

　　As expected of someone who could lead the Imperial Medical Bureau, the Chief Physician explained everything clearly and smoothly. His words were simple and easy to understand, and Shen Ling couldn’t help but feel impressed more than once. With just a casual demonstration, he had completely “educated” both her and Xie Yuanxun, the two so-called illiterates in this area.

　　Near the end, the Chief Physician concluded with one final line: “During the first three months of pregnancy, one should avoid marital relations, and it is best for the couple to sleep separately.”

　　Shen Ling’s face turned a little red. It wasn’t really embarrassment, more like shyness, the kind you get when young couples are caught sneaking a kiss by adults.

　　She nodded along with an “mm, mm, ah, ah,” and then suddenly heard Xie Yuanxun beside her say, “No.”

　　Shen Ling blinked in confusion. “Huh? What did you just say?”

　　—Did I just hear him say “no”?

　　Xie Yuanxun said, “I said no.”

　　Shen Ling: “……!”

　　—Damn it, I really did hear it right!

　　She immediately flared up in anger. “No what no? The Chief Physician said no marital relations, so why do you have a problem with that? What, you think I’ll turn into a shriveled old woman and you don’t want to look at me anymore, so you’re trying to make me die with the baby? Huh? How did I end up with someone so heartless like you!”

　　—My life is so miserable!

　　—Other people break up in relationships and at most lose some money and face. Me? I’m risking my actual life!

　　—Waaah, my poor baby in my belly, remember this. Your death and mine both have everything to do with your awful father!

　　Xie Yuanxun: “……”

　　He rubbed his forehead. What exactly was going on in her head? When did he ever say he wanted to separate from her? And when did he ever say anything about her dying with the baby?

　　Xie Yuanxun said, “What I meant by ‘no’ was only in response to the part about us sleeping in separate rooms.”

　　Shen Ling froze. “I-is that so?”

　　—What do I do, what do I do, what do I do?!

　　—I misunderstood him!

　　—Should I just pretend nothing happened? Or should I act like, ‘I totally already knew you knew that I knew’? If I don’t, I’m not going to be able to recover from what I just said…

　　Before she could even apologize, Xie Yuanxun asked first, “So in your eyes, am I really that cruel to you?”

　　Shen Ling let out an awkward laugh. “N-no, not at all.”

　　Xie Yuanxun looked at her over slowly and said unhurriedly, “So I get tired of you easily and leave you behind? And even want you to die with the child?”

　　Shen Ling: “……”

　　“…I was just joking. You didn’t actually take it seriously, right?”

　　—Waaah, I really know I was wrong now.

　　—If you keep talking, my face is going to get so hot it could probably match the sun outside.

　　Xie Yuanxun said, “Come on then, tell me exactly how I’ve been cruel to you.”

　　Shen Ling replied, “Your Majesty, I was really wrong.”

　　—I want to dig a hole and bury myself in it.

　　Xie Yuanxun held her in his arms and let her curl up against his shoulder like an obedient little quail. One hand rested around her waist, his palm quietly over her stomach, while the other gently stroked her hair.

　　“Seems like I’ll have to treat my Empress a little better. Otherwise, she might feel uneasy and start thinking her Emperor is a cold and heartless man.”

　　Shen Ling: “Snoring…”

　　She had already fallen asleep. She didn’t hear a single word!

　　Honestly, once she leaned into Xie Yuanxun’s arms, sleep really did start creeping in.

　　The day had been one thing after another. First a palace coup, then the pregnancy news. When she was tense, she could hold on fine, but the moment she relaxed, sleep hit her like a wave.

　　Xie Yuanxun noticed her breathing change, and the hand gently stroking her head immediately softened its movement.

　　......

　　Shen Ling’s pregnancy news had not spread so quickly yet. However, news of Xue Yunshi’s palace coup and rebellion had already spread across the entire capital by the time the palace banquet ended.

　　All city gates were strictly guarded by soldiers. Without imperial orders, no one was allowed to leave. The gates were only open for entry, not exit.

　　The Duke of Fuguo personally led men to arrest everyone connected to Xue Yunshi’s faction. The citizens of the capital were highly alert to danger. Hearing the clash of armor and weapons in the streets, they all shut their doors tightly and stayed inside, not daring to even peek outside.

　　The wives, children, and families dragged down by their husbands and fathers who were being arrested and stripped of their homes broke down in tears. Regardless of whether they were kind or cruel in normal times, at this moment they all reacted the same way. They cried. They cried for their uncertain fate, for the possibility of execution, for being reduced in status, for going from noble young ladies to servants and slaves.

　　In the Shen Manor, Shen Xi could hear the sounds of officials ransacking the neighboring residence, along with the heart-wrenching cries of the women. Without realizing it, she tore the silk handkerchief in her hands to pieces.

　　“Miss…” her maid called out in fear.

　　Shen Xi forced down the sudden panic rising in her chest and said as calmly as she could, “Go ask the steward to find out what crime the official family next door committed…”

　　At that moment, a servant rushed over with a terrified expression. “It’s bad, it’s bad! Miss, there are soldiers heading toward our manor!”

　　Shen Xi froze in shock. “What?!”

　　“Miss, what should we do?!”

　　“The master, madam, and young master are all not at home. You’re the only one here. If we don’t think of something, are we just going to let the soldiers in?”

　　“They look so fierce. If we really let them in and they end up offending you or the other ladies in the house, what are we supposed to do then?”

　　Shen Xi pressed her lips together and said to the servant reporting to her, “Take the servants and guards to the front gate. Ask those soldiers clearly what they want. They can storm other manors all they like, but this is the Shen manor, the maternal family of Bao Fei. Do they really dare barge in here and risk offending Bao Fei?”

　　At this point, Shen Xi could only rely on Shen Ling’s name to intimidate them. She couldn’t think of any better solution.

　　Even though she had never liked Shen Ling, she knew this was an emergency. In times like this, she just had to endure it.

　　Under normal circumstances, this would have been a good decision. Unfortunately, today, her words were completely useless.

　　The servants couldn’t even hold them off for a quarter of an hour before the soldiers forced their way in.

　　From a distance, Shen Xi watched their figures approaching and felt her throat tighten. “What are you doing? Don’t you know this is Bao Fei’s residence?!”

　　The leading soldier asked coldly, “Are you Shen Xi, daughter of Shen Kangzheng?”

　　Shen Xi forced herself to stay composed and lifted her chin. “Yes, I am.”

　　For a moment, Shen Xi didn’t even notice that the soldier had called Shen Kangzheng by his full name directly, instead of using the respectful title “Minister Shen.”

　　The soldier said, “Good, that’s enough. Men, arrest her.”

　　Shen Xi was both shocked and furious. “Who do you think you are? How dare you arrest me? Let go! You lowly commoners, let go of me! Do you even know who you’re touching?!”

　　“My father is the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and there’s a Bao Fei in our family! If you offend me, be careful you don’t lose your heads!”

　　“Stop struggling,” the soldier said coldly. “Shen Jinxiu participated in Marquis Xue Yunshi’s treasonous palace coup. He, along with Shen Kangzheng and his wife Madam Jiang, have already been taken to the imperial prison. You are the only one left. As long as you are a member of the Shen family, as long as you are connected to them, you cannot escape. We have not arrested the wrong person.”

　　Shen Xi went completely blank after hearing this.

　　“You’re saying Shen Jinxiu failed, and my father and the others have already been arrested?”

　　“No, that’s impossible…”

　　Then, thinking of Shen Ling, she suddenly shouted, “What about Shen Ling? Has she also been imprisoned?!”

　　The soldier frowned and shouted angrily, “How dare you! Who gave you permission to address the Empress by name?!”

　　Shen Xi froze. “S-she’s not Bao Fei? How did she become the Empress?”

　　She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. In her mind, Shen Ling becoming a Fēi was already the peak. She never imagined that Shen Ling would actually become the Empress.

　　The Empress, the mother of the nation.

　　A position second only to Xie Yuanxun himself.

　　And this happened while everyone in the Shen manor had already been sent to the imperial prison. What exactly was going on? Under normal circumstances, shouldn’t Xie Yuanxun be suspicious of Shen Ling? Why would he choose this exact timing to make her Empress?

　　Was he not afraid of criticism from the entire world?

　　If Xie Yuanxun heard this, he would probably scoff. Criticism? Who would dare criticize him? Who even had the courage?

　　He only acknowledged Shen Ling as a person, nothing else mattered.

　　Shen Xi did not want to be taken to prison. She knew very well that once a female member of the household was imprisoned, nothing good would come of it.

　　At this moment, she did not even think to ask about Shen Jinxiu. All she cared about was clearing herself of blame.

　　Shen Xi said, “You can’t arrest me. I’m not a member of the Shen family. I have nothing to do with the Shen manor. I’m just a country girl. Yes, that’s right, a country girl. I’m the daughter of a peasant woman. I was switched at birth! I’ve always wanted to find my real mother, but the Shen family kept me here. They wouldn’t let me leave because they were afraid of losing face. Now they can’t keep me anymore. I’m innocent. I have no blood relation to them at all.”

　　The soldier, “……”

　　“It’s too late. No matter what you say now, it won’t change anything.”

　　Shen Xi kept insisting, completely disregarding everything else, that she was not a daughter of the Shen family, that she was only a country girl. That identity, which she once looked down on and pushed into the mud, was now something she clung to like a lifeline. Unfortunately for her, she was still taken away to prison in the end.

　　......

　　It took ten days for the aftermath of the palace coup and rebellion to finally come to an end. Everyone who needed to be arrested had already been sent to the imperial prison, and what remained was the trial and sentencing.

　　Yang Zuoxiang had just returned from the Dali Temple. Because the rebellion was so severe in nature, the trial was conducted as a joint hearing by the Three Judicial Offices, and he was one of the officials presiding over it.

　　The mastermind, Xue Yunshi, was sentenced to death by lingchi (slow slicing). Princess Yuzhen had her title revoked and was demoted to commoner status. The direct branch of the Xue family was executed, while the collateral branches were exiled three thousand li away. Shen Jinxiu, who should have been executed as well, was spared after Senior Eunuch Feng delivered a message stating that, due to the Empress’s plea for mercy, his death sentence was revoked. However, he would still suffer punishment. He and the rest of the Shen family would be permanently detained in the imperial prison, with no possibility of pardon even if amnesty was granted.

　　Other officials involved in the case were also punished according to the law. Those whose families were implicated were stripped of their status and had their property confiscated. Those banned from taking the imperial exams for three generations received that sentence, and those sentenced to exile were sent away accordingly.

　　Yang Zuoxiang pressed his fingers against his temple. Now that things had finally quieted down, he suddenly remembered to send a reminder to Jing Fei. He had someone deliver a message to her, and after receiving the letter from Yang Zuoxiang’s messenger, Jing Fei began reading it.

　　At the very beginning of the letter, Yang Zuoxiang went straight to the point, telling her to behave in the harem. Behave properly, and then behave even more properly. Do not provoke Shen Ling. She was not someone they could afford to offend. If she refused to behave and caused any trouble, he would not hesitate to remove her from the clan, erase her name from the family register, and ensure that after death she would not enter the ancestral tomb, but instead become a wandering spirit with nowhere to belong.

　　Jing Fei: “……”

　　She was still alive, thank you very much.

　　She kept reading.

　　Yang Zuoxiang continued in the letter, saying that after everything involving the Shen family’s involvement in the rebellion, Shen Ling not only remained unharmed as a Bao Fei, she even rose to become Empress. The Emperor still favored her, and now she was even pregnant. Shen Ling was like fine porcelain, while she was just ordinary clay tiles. There was no comparison between them at all. He also mentioned that he knew she was not favored, so his expectations of her were very low. There was only one requirement. Do not provoke Shen Ling.

　　Jing Fei: “……”

　　That honesty really did cut straight to the heart.

　　In truth, Yang Zuoxiang didn’t even need to keep reminding her not to provoke Shen Ling. Even if he hadn’t said a word, Jing Fei wouldn’t dare to anyway. After all, the last person who had been so lively and provocative in front of Shen Ling, Jiang Jieyu, had already been sent to “keep Su Pin company.”

　　And Su Pin’s life, where she had to personally handle even the most basic daily needs, was not something a normal person could endure.

　　Last time Jing Fei happened to pass by Su Pin’s palace, she caught a glimpse from outside and saw that Su Pin had already turned into a proper old woman. There was no trace left of the beauty she once had when she first entered the palace. As for Jiang Jieyu, she was slowly heading down the same path.

　　Without Shen Ling, Xie Yuanxun didn’t even notice them. With Shen Ling around, he noticed them even less.

　　Still, life was much better now than before. With Shen Ling by his side, Xie Yuanxun was not nearly as ruthless as he used to be. On top of that, Shen Ling enjoyed reading storybooks, so the Music Palace had started producing quite a few new novels. This has given Jing Fēi and the other concubines a new way to pass the time. 

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