Chapter 37: At All Costs, Save the Child

It was precisely because of her gentle and virtuous nature that Consort Dowager Xu had repeatedly hoped she might rein in her behavior and return to her former self. Little did she know that Ning Junruo was stubbornly unyielding, impervious to both soft and hard tactics. Since that was the case, it would be better to divorce her—to put an end to all future trouble once and for all.

Despite the Consort Dowager’s previous displays of "protection," Ning Junruo knew well that the older woman was shrewd and had never truly trusted her, let alone opened her heart to her. If not for her son’s incompetence, she likely would never have been deemed worthy of the Consort Dowager’s notice. Given her understanding of the woman, she realized the Consort Dowager had truly begun to entertain the idea of casting her aside.

Wealth is easy to come by, but freedom is hard to find. In the past, she would have cried and begged, refusing to agree. Now, it was exactly what she desired.

Ning Junruo maintained a faint smile. "To be honest, I have already drafted the divorce letter; I am only waiting for the Prince to sign and seal it."

The Consort Dowager had not expected her to agree so readily. Choked by the suddenness of the reply, she began to cough violently. Her maid hurried to support her, patting her back to help her catch her breath. Yanyou opened a snuff bottle and held it under her nose for her to inhale. It took quite a while for the Consort Dowager to recover.

"Are you not afraid of ending up with nothing, reduced to a beggar on the streets?"

"There is no need for Mother to worry about that. Even if I am penniless, I will have a place to stay."

Looking at the Consort Dowager’s flushed face, Ning Junruo felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction. Whenever the Consort Dowager had fallen ill before, Ning Junruo had stayed by her side, tending to her every need. Yet, the Consort Dowager had been so quick to draft a divorce letter to drive her out of the estate and seize her dowry.

"No wonder you were so eager to leave! It seems you already had somewhere else to go!" The Consort Dowager’s icy gaze seemed intent on tearing her to pieces.

What did she mean by "somewhere else"? In the parlance of the streets, it implied having a secret lover or having found a new patron. A woman’s reputation was paramount; if the noble Princess of Liang were found to have lost her virtue, not only would she be divorced, but even if she were drowned in a pig cage, no one would dare utter a word of dissent—they might even applaud. It was clear that the Consort Dowager’s intentions were malicious indeed.

Ning Junruo smiled faintly, as if discussing something trivial. "Mother, please do not misunderstand. The Immortal Lady Qingchen of the Xuanu Temple says we share a karmic bond. If I have truly found another place, it is to renounce the world and pursue the Tao. Compared to life in this estate, I find the prospect of spending my remaining days before a green lamp and an ancient Buddha quite appealing."

The Consort Dowager had not expected this to be her destination. "Pursue the Tao? Ning Junruo, have you truly gone mad?"

In the Consort Dowager’s wide, disbelieving eyes, the woman before her seemed like a stranger—a stark contrast to the person who had once brought her such peace of mind. "You would forsake the wealth and glory of the Prince’s estate to practice in a desolate monastery? Are you playing a joke on me?"

"People have different aspirations. The glory you speak of is, to me, nothing more than a fleeting dream." Ning Junruo’s tone was calm, as if she had already transcended worldly shackles. "Rather than struggling day after day in this gilded cage, I would choose the freedom of having nothing."

"A gilded cage," she had called it. That phrase reminded the Consort Dowager of her own helplessness back in the imperial palace. In those days, had she not shared that very same sentiment? At the thought of this, the Consort Dowager’s cold, hardened heart seemed to soften slightly.

"Do you truly mean that? If you are divorced, will you have no regrets?"

"The Consort Dowager knows my character well enough; I have no desire to say anything more." Ning Junruo asked in return, "Shall I have Zisu bring over the divorce letter I have drafted?"

The Consort Dowager’s eyes flickered. She remained silent for a long time, as if weighing her options. The air around them seemed to thicken and freeze. Finally, she sighed softly. "Very well. Since you are so determined, I will not force you. But are you truly willing to give up everything, including the Ning’an Academy?"

How typical of her to claim she would not "force" her! It was the Consort Dowager who had insisted on the divorce, yet she cloaked it in such lofty language, as if Ning Junruo were the one choosing to leave. At the mention of the academy, Ning Junruo’s voice trembled, and a flash of hidden pain crossed her eyes.

She took a deep breath and said firmly, "The Huimin Academy is the hope of the scholars of Liangzhou. I trust that even without me, Magistrate Li will keep it running in perfect order."

"Good! Since the Princess has made up her mind, bring the divorce letter here!"

As soon as the Consort Dowager finished speaking, Yuzhu rushed in, breathless. "Consort Dowager, Princess! Something has happened to Lady Chang!"

Yuzhu knelt on the ground, her voice trembling. "Lady Chang is crying out that she is in pain. I went to fetch the house physician, but by the time he arrived, she had begun to bleed. The physician says it is a sign of premature labor and that we must summon a midwife immediately."

"Bleeding!" The Consort Dowager scrambled up, forgetting her own headache. "She is only a few months along! Hurry and call for a midwife! Quickly!"

"Yes!" Yuzhu scrambled to her feet. "I am going to fetch the midwife now!"

Ning Junruo stood stunned for a long moment, unable to believe her ears. In her previous life, Chang Yuniang had carried the child for the full nine months. Why was it happening early this time? Could it be the result of the bee venom?

No! Regardless, this child had to be born!

Ning Junruo quickly shook off her shock and, without a second thought, hurried outside. She prayed silently: no matter what happened to Chang Yuniang, the child must be saved. Only if the child lived would she have a chance to overturn the outcome of her past life!

In Yunmeng Pavilion, Chang Yuniang’s face was pale, sweat pouring off her like rain. Her intermittent moans sounded agonizing. In the main hall, the house physician was pacing anxiously. When he saw Ning Junruo rush in, it was as if he had found a savior.

"Princess, the Lady’s water has broken. I fear things are looking grim!"

"Regardless of the cost, the child must be saved! The midwife will be here soon. Find a way to steady her heart and mind," Ning Junruo commanded as she walked.

"Does the Princess mean... to save the child?" The physician finally found his resolve.

"Precisely. If it comes to that, you must do everything in your power to preserve the child."

After saying this, Ning Junruo hurried into the bedroom. Although Chang Yuniang’s face was swollen and distorted, Ning Junruo could still see the pain and despair in her terrified eyes.

"Princess, please save me and the child," Chang Yuniang pleaded, her voice barely a whisper.

"Keep your mind steady," Ning Junruo said, gripping her hand and smiling encouragingly. "Don’t worry, the child will be born safely."

"I believe you!"

Chang Yuniang looked like a fish on a chopping block, having lost all her former radiance. About the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the midwife arrived in a rush. As soon as she entered the inner chamber, she ordered the maids to fetch hot water and asked the Princess and other bystanders to leave.

For some reason, the moment the Princess had held her hand, Chang Yuniang had felt an inexplicable sense of peace. Thinking of her own schemes from that morning, she felt a faint prick of guilt.

Seeing the fierce look on the midwife’s face, she couldn't help but plead, "I want the Princess to stay with me."

"I heard the Lady was poisoned earlier; we don't know the state of the child yet. You had better save your strength and stop talking." The midwife took the ginseng soup from a maid and rudely poured it into her mouth.