Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?

Chapter 1130 - 818: Each Day Feels Like a Year

In the following days, Shang Ruyi truly understood the meaning of a day dragging like a year.On the first day, she expressed at the Duke Mansion that she was feeling unwell, so she stayed at Qianqiu Palace to recuperate. However, even then, Yu Wenquan still sent several medical officers from the Imperial Medical Bureau to check her pulse and stabilize her pregnancy, fearing that any slight discomfort might affect the fetus.

But just as the medical officers arrived to check her pulse, Minister of the Ministry of Justice Wang Zhen also arrived.

He respectfully greeted King Qin and Princess Qin, then requested Prince Qin to visit the Ministry of Justice, reasoning that after the Longmen Crossing battle, two commandery princes died and were wounded respectively, while the emissary was under the command of Prince Qin. Thus, the Ministry of Justice needed to make inquiries.

Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi’s eyebrows furrowed.

Since her time in Luoyang, she never liked the place of the Ministry of Justice, despite having no relation to court cases. Back during the Xingluo Granary battle, Yu Wenye had killed Military Supervisor Kou Junliang, which led to his interrogation without rest for several days by the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice, though without physical torture, and it had made him suffer tremendously, causing Shang Ruyi great distress.

This time again—

She immediately said, "Mr. Wang, Prince Qin crossed the river to fight and kill traitors, to protect the king. Is there anything unclear about that?"

To her, Wang Zhen was rather polite and just smiled, "Princess is right, Prince Qin indeed worked hard and achieved greatly. However, after crossing the river, how to kill the enemy, how to fight, the court is unaware, yet the two commandery princes ended up dead and injured. Without understanding the cause, how can we convince the public?"

"Convince the public?"

Shang Ruyi’s willow-like eyebrows furrowed again, "Do you mean someone is not convinced by Prince Qin’s eradication of traitors?"

"Well—"

Wang Zhen hadn’t expected that while this princess was heavily pregnant and struggled to walk steadily, her words were sharp as needles, whereas Prince Qin, who’s almost always undefeated on the battlefield, sat leisurely beside Princess Qin without a move.

Realizing the moment, Wang Zhen’s back tingled with fear, but having served three emperors and seen some situations, he quickly flashed a smile, politely saying, "Princess, please don’t misunderstand. Prince Qin’s achievements are respected. It’s just that, after every battle, the court requires official documentation. If other troops were involved in the Longmen Crossing, the court would account for them all, and wouldn’t dare trouble Prince Qin. Yet, this time, only the prince fought, so—whatever the prince says is what it is."

Shang Ruyi cast him a piercing glance, making Wang Zhen lower his head immediately.

After pondering, Shang Ruyi laughed coldly, "Mr. Wang, it’s not about whatever Prince Qin says; rather, it’s about what he has done."

Wang Zhen quickly nodded, smiling apologetically, "Yes, yes."

Only at this point did Yu Wenye lift his robe and slowly stand up—he knew that post-battle interrogations were inevitable; Dong Bizheng couldn’t have died without a reason and Yu Dingxing couldn’t have been injured for no cause, even for Prince Qin.

Yet at this moment, though the circumstances didn’t allow relaxation, he somewhat enjoyed being shielded by his currently waddling and seemingly clumsy princess.

Of course, a moment’s enjoyment was enough.

After standing, he turned to Shang Ruyi and said, "Alright, some matters indeed need clarification. This battle’s merits and faults must be acknowledged."

Shang Ruyi immediately stood up, while Lin Shian, diagnosing her pulse, quickly released her hand and stepped aside. She approached Yu Wenye and adjusted his belt, whispering, "Take Mu Xian along."

Yu Wenye replied, "The Ministry of Justice forbids the entry of outsiders."

"Not inside, just let him wait outside. Back during the Fufeng battle, such a big scene didn’t warrant even a single day of inquiry."

"Alright."

"Will you be back for dinner?"

"That’s hard to say. It’s a pity I specifically prepared a refreshing herbal meal for dinner, planning to share with you. Since returning from Dayan Temple, you’ve had some heat in your system."

Upon hearing this and seeing his cold bright eyes, Shang Ruyi seemed to realize something, laughing, "No matter, I noticed father too has had some heat these past few days. I’ll send the herbal meal to Liangyi Hall for father later."

She added, "The Dayan Temple incident hasn’t been relayed to him yet. Now that it’s been days since returning, if not addressed, outsiders might embellish it, causing father undue concern. If you’re back late tonight, I’ll head to Liangyi Hall myself and explain it to father personally."

Beside them, Wang Zhen lowered his head upon hearing.

After these words, Yu Wenye patted her shoulder, then turned to Wang Zhen, saying, "Mr. Wang, let’s go."

Wang Zhen smiled apologetically, saluted Shang Ruyi, and then walked out with Yu Wenye.

Once their silhouettes vanished from the entrance of Qianqiu Palace, Shang Ruyi promptly turned to Wo Xue beside her, gesturing with her eyes. Wo Xue nodded and hurriedly exited.

After everyone left, Shang Ruyi sat back on the couch, looked at Chief Imperial Doctor Lin Shian waiting silently beside her, and smiled, "I’ve made Lord Lin witness a spectacle."

Lin Shian kept his head down, focused inwardly, only now looking up and smiling, "Princess speaks too highly."

Shang Ruyi glanced at her own wrist, then asked, "Should the diagnosis continue?"

Lin Shian quickly shook his head, "Just earlier, I’ve checked the princess’s pulse. The pulse—seems stable enough."

"Seems stable enough?"

Listening to these words and noticing his cautious expression, Shang Ruyi slightly furrowed her brow then smiled, "Lord Lin, speak freely if you have something to say."

Lin Shian hesitated briefly, finally speaking softly, "Princess has been pregnant over nine months, ordinarily ready for delivery, but there’s been no sign... yet."

Shang Ruyi, upon hearing this, lowered her head to look at her own enormously round belly.

This wasn’t her first pregnancy, yet it was her first childbirth. Everything was unfamiliar to her initially, but Yu had reminded her early, and even Su Qinglan had informed her. Though it’s often said that pregnancy lasts ten months, most women give birth after nine months. She had been pregnant for over nine months now, so indeed, the time had come.

She asked, "Is Lord Lin suggesting there is something wrong with this pregnancy?"

Lin Shian quickly waved his hands, "No, that’s not what I meant. It’s just—"

"Just what?"

"Just that the Princess is overly worried, which could affect the fetus."

"..."

"Especially as the time for childbirth approaches."

With a frown, Shang Ruyi slowly realized that Lin Shian meant her belly’s inactivity at this late stage was due to the major events that had been weighing heavily on her mind, potentially affecting both the fetus and the upcoming childbirth.

After thinking it over, Shang Ruyi asked, "Then, is inducing labor necessary?"

Lin Shian hurriedly responded, "No, that’s not necessary. For now, everything appears normal. However, based on my pulse reading, the Princess should give birth within these two days."

"Within these two days?"

"Yes,"

Lin Shian stepped forward with a smile, "I and the entire Imperial Medical Bureau will be on standby, and the Princess should also ease her worries."

"..."

"It would be worse to suffer any more shocks."

Unlike Su Qinglan, Lin Shian spoke cautiously, especially since Yu Wenye was not by her side. However, Shang Ruyi fully understood the situation. She wasn’t afraid of childbirth; after all, there had been experiences more painful for women than childbirth. This time, being in the palace with Yu Wenye at her side and the presence of the Imperial Medical Bureau, it wasn’t considered dangerous.

But within these two days...?

Thinking of this timing made Shang Ruyi’s brows involuntarily knit together into a frown.

After a lengthy silence, she took a deep breath, smiled slightly, and said, "I understand, Lord Lin. I appreciate your trouble coming here. Someone, see to the reward."

Tushere hurriedly stepped forward, presenting Lin Shian with a box. Lin Shian accepted it with both hands, paid his respects to Shang Ruyi, and then turned to leave.

Once he left, Tushere, who had been holding back her words, could no longer restrain herself and turned to Shang Ruyi, "Princess—"

Shang Ruyi gently waved her hand and looked down at her belly once again.

After a pause, she calmly said, "Some things have to be experienced; otherwise, how will my and his child manage in the future."

"..."

"It’s best if he understands now that being a Prince or a Crown Prince is not so easily done."

Tushere, hearing this, lowered her head.

The Qianqiu Palace quieted down, but it was a stifling silence, not peaceful, until after a meal’s time had passed. Wo Xue hurried back from outside, having sat by the couch watching the swaying shadows of the trees outside. Only then did Shang Ruyi, whose eyes were tranquilly as still water, slowly lift her head.

Wo Xue approached her, whispering, "Princess, when Mr. Wang left the palace, he indeed instructed his men to go aside."

"Where did they go?"

"I had someone follow halfway; it was towards the Wushan County Duke Mansion."

Shang Ruyi’s eyes twitched slightly, her lips parted, revealing a faint cold smile, "As expected..."

Wo Xue whispered, "What is the Princess planning?"

Shang Ruyi replied, "Have the Food Bureau prepare the medicinal meal. If Prince Qin doesn’t return by 5 PM, I will personally go to Liangyi Hall to have ’dinner’ with the Emperor."

"Yes."

Wo Xue immediately turned to leave.

Tushere, with a complex expression, watched her leave and then approached Shang Ruyi, whispering, "Princess, did the people from the Ministry of Justice come to inquire about the incident at Longmen Crossing under the order of Wushan County Duke?"

Shang Ruyi nodded.

Tushere took a deep breath and said, "No wonder the Princess hasn’t mentioned a word about the Dayan Temple incident since returning. Turns out it was all waiting for today."