Chapter 19: The Scapegoat Princess Is Sentenced to Death

Originally, Ding Shui, who only possessed the original body’s memories, had little impression of Consort Guang and certainly did not regard her as a target for revenge, since the original body had met her only twice.

The first time was on the wedding day, when she paid respects to the Empress first, then offered her a cup of tea—something the Empress had specially permitted.

The second time was the day before leaving the fiefdom, again paying respects to the Empress first, then to her, before departing.

In total, they met only twice, with no more than half an hour of interaction. What impression could there be? Naturally, there was no resentment or desire for revenge.

Until today, when she saw her for the third time.

Seeing her words and actions, a surge of anger flared within Ding Shui. It was quite normal for other people’s own mothers or her own mother-in-law not to speak up for her, and one couldn’t expect that. But to twist truth and falsehood so brazenly, to curse her late at night instead of sleeping—Ding Shui truly could not tolerate it.

Even if she had cursed or scolded before, as long as she was asleep and Ding Shui hadn’t seen it, it was fine—out of sight, out of mind. Not knowing meant not being angry.

But now she had seen it and heard it.

If she did nothing, she could not swallow this anger.

After some thought, Ding Shui decided to make the three of them—mother, daughter, and the pig’s head in the storage synthesis space—share the same fate, selecting the pig’s head and Consort Guang’s uterus for direct fusion.

What would be the result? Ding Shui was uncertain.

So she did not hurry away but stayed to observe. The fusion progressed slowly. After three seconds, Consort Guang suddenly felt a stomachache, then looked on in horror as her belly gradually swelled, eventually growing as large as if she had been pregnant for over six months.

“Ah! Ah! Ahhh…”

A few sharp screams echoed through the night sky, sounding especially loud in the stillness of the late night, carrying far enough that nearly half the palace heard it. Nearby palace maids, eunuchs, and other consorts were awakened. The palace maids waiting outside the Buddha hall were startled awake, then immediately worried something had happened inside and rushed in together.

What followed were successive screams, panicked and confused.

Because those closest to her knew well the Emperor hadn’t visited Consort Guang’s chambers for over a year, and two months ago she had been confined due to the Crown Prince’s incident—now suddenly she was showing a swollen belly. Who wouldn’t be alarmed and fearful?

If it matched the Emperor’s visit, a swollen belly would be a joyful sign; if not, it was absolutely terrifying.

Consort Guang clearly did not match the timing.

For a moment, no one considered whether the belly swelling was reasonable.

After a long pause, it was Nurse Li who anxiously asked:

“Your Highness, what is happening with your belly? Is it sudden bloating or indigestion? How could this be…?”

No matter what, no one dared even think about pregnancy; it was not to be mentioned. After all, the Emperor hadn’t visited for over a year. Was this some divine conception or what?

“I don’t know! I was fine just now, then suddenly my belly swelled. It feels like something inside is growing rapidly. What’s happening to me? Hurry, fetch the imperial physician! There’s something inside me, a monster! Hurry, hurry, bring the imperial physician!”

Consort Guang was not clever to begin with, and now panicked and frightened, she lost her wits, unable to think clearly. She only wanted the imperial physician to come and save her life.

Collapsed on the floor, she screamed in terror.

“Your Highness, please wait, don’t panic…” Nurse Li quickly pressed Consort Guang down, then ordered the palace maids not to leave and to keep everything secret. She sent several nurses out to prevent outsiders from investigating, then began taking Consort Guang’s pulse, soothing and asking:

“Your Highness, don’t be afraid, it’s nothing.”

“We saw you this afternoon; your belly was clearly normal then, nothing like this. So you must be ill, nothing serious. Relax and breathe deeply, let me check your pulse. It will be fine!”

Nurse Li’s words were meant to calm Consort Guang and to warn others not to imagine wildly. They weren’t outsiders; having seen Consort Guang recently, they knew her figure was normal just days ago.

No fetus could grow that large in a single day.

Therefore, it must be an illness.

Just a strange illness, nothing more.

But shortly after comforting her, Nurse Li’s face suddenly changed drastically as she felt the pulse. She touched it again with both hands, disbelief flooding her expression—the pulse was a slippery pulse, a pregnancy pulse.

Although she was only a nurse and not a professional imperial physician, Nurse Li had formerly been a female doctor, trained extensively in medicine, especially women’s health, more skilled than many imperial physicians. While she might not diagnose every complex illness, the pregnancy pulse was unmistakable.

But how could Consort Guang have a pregnancy pulse?

This was… impossible.

She had been attending Consort Guang closely, never leaving her side. How could she be pregnant?

Yet no matter how shocked she was, Nurse Li couldn’t say this aloud. She gritted her teeth to suppress her panic and forced a faint smile, trembling slightly as she pretended calm and said:

“Your Highness, it’s nothing. You probably just ate too much at night and have bloating. I’ll massage and do acupuncture; there’s no need to summon the imperial physician. Don’t be afraid.

Everyone, return to your rooms quickly.

Xiao Hui, go to the kitchen and make a soothing soup to help with the discomfort.

Also, if anyone comes to inquire, say that Your Highness has been having poor sleep and nightmares lately, which caused the sudden screams. Apologies for the disturbance.

Don’t mention anything else, understood?”

“Yes!” “Understood!”

Though puzzled, everyone quickly withdrew. Once all had left, only Consort Guang and Nurse Li remained. Nurse Li hurriedly closed the small door of the Buddha hall, then pulled Consort Guang up from the floor, grinding her teeth as she said:

“Your Highness, what exactly are you trying to do?

Do you realize if His Majesty finds out about this, not only you but your entire clan and even us will lose our heads, or face dismemberment and ashes scattered.

Even the Crown Prince breaking his head couldn’t save you!”

“What are you talking about? What have I done?

Didn’t you say I had bloating? Then treat me! Why say these strange things?”

Consort Guang couldn’t understand nor empathize with Nurse Li’s panic. She truly believed it was just bloating; though the belly swelling was odd, she immediately relaxed and asked in confusion.

At this, Nurse Li nearly went mad with frustration.

Was this the time to feign ignorance?

She was already carrying a child—what innocence was she pretending?