Chapter 441

Gu Ying worriedly pursed her lips. "I know," she said.

Things had come to this point, so she no longer thought too much about it. She just wanted to safely give birth to Nian Bao first, and then deal with Jiang Yin in due time.

After bathing, Gu Ying went to bed to rest.

After the Eldest Prince left, she had always been a light sleeper. As her belly grew bigger and bigger, she also often slept poorly. But strangely, tonight, as soon as her head hit the pillow, she fell asleep.

However, late into the night... The quiet Duke's Residence was suddenly awakened by an urgent knock on the door.

"Open the door quickly! Quickly open the door! Quickly open the door!"

"There is an urgent report from the frontlines!!!"

The calm in the residence was like a stone causing thousands of ripples in the water. People hurriedly lit lanterns in panic.

The sounds of clothes rustling and doors opening could be heard everywhere as people got dressed and opened doors.

Before long, the entire Duke's Residence was brightly lit, with lanterns lining the corridors like a fiery dragon.

Hasty and chaotic footsteps ran towards the outer gate.

As soon as the steward overseeing the back gate opened the door, he saw a little soldier covered in blood from the mountains of corpses crawl up and hold up a bloodstained military report before collapsing at the doorway.

He was so frightened that he stopped in his tracks. He quickly had people help the little soldier up and bring him into the residence, while he himself took the military report to Lingxi Pavilion to report to Zhao Hui.

...

Gu Ying was awakened by the noisy commotion outside her window. Her whole body was uncomfortable, especially with her large belly. Sleeping had left her back aching and legs sore.

She was too exhausted. Lying in bed, she was still a little dizzy when she woke up.

She could vaguely hear discussing sounds from outside again. As they noticed movement inside the room, the voices gradually quieted down.

After quite a while, she finally blearily opened her eyes and stared blankly at the golden silk canopy above her head. With great effort, she slowly pushed herself up into a sitting position on the bed. "Yin Lan?"

It was a while before someone entered the room.

Yin Lan lit an oil lamp. There was a smile on her lips, but her complexion was rather pale.

She looked distracted and preoccupied, seeming very unsettled all over.

"Is my lady thirsty?"

Gu Ying shook her head and said, "Help me get up. I can't sleep, so I'll go keep my mother company."

The discomfort in her belly was one thing, but what pained her even more were the dreams she kept having whenever she fell asleep. She dreamed of the Eldest Prince lying alone in a cold, dark coffin with closed eyes and no breath, his body covered everywhere with dark red blood.

These dreams were very ominous, so she didn't want to sleep anymore. Yin Lan froze in place at the bedside without moving.

Gu Ying looked at her suspiciously. "What's happened? Why is it so bright outside?"

Yin Lan didn't know what to say. Her eyes swiftly turned red around the rims. Suddenly, she cried, "My lady..."

Seeing the mist in her eyes, Gu Ying suddenly felt a strong sense of unease in her heart.

"What's happened?"

"It's nothing..."

"Don't lie to me."

"This servant..."

Gu Ying pressed her lips tightly together. Her small hand shakingly grasped Yin Lan's wrist to soothe her racing heart. She gritted her teeth and said firmly, "I'm going out to take a look!"

Yin Lan didn't dare stop her and supported Gu Ying as she walked outside.

When Gu Ying saw the bloodstained military report, she only felt a buzzing in her head, like thunder crashing in her ears, leaving her dizzy and her vision darkening.

Her body went limp and the world spun around her. She stumbled back a few steps, barely able to stand.

How could this be...

The Eldest Prince was supposed to win this brilliant battle, triumphantly return to Bianjing, dressed in finery with his mighty steed, and accept the highest admiration and worship of all the people.

How could he have been poisoned and be at death's door?

"Ah Ying, don't panic first..."

"Ah Ying, are you alright?"

"Ah Ying, don't worry first. Eldest Young Master Du is probably fine. The military report could be wrong!"

"Ah Ying! Ah Ying! Ah Ying!"

All the voices seemed to come from very far away.

Although countless people stood before her, it was as if she couldn't see them. She retreated several steps, her body swaying precariously.

She couldn't understand at all what had happened. Her mind was a mess, and she sat dazedly in the chair, for the moment even forgetting to cry.

Yin Lan cried as she supported Gu Ying. Qin's eyes were also red.

Mrs. Lin came up with red-rimmed eyes. "Ah Ying..."

Unable to continue, she also wept uncontrollably and fainted into Zhao Hui's arms.

"Quick, someone come!"

"Come, help the Madam back to her room first!"

"Quickly go summon the doctor!"

Chaos instantly erupted in Lingxi Pavilion.

The surrounding scenery was completely overturned, yet time seemed to freeze around her.

Gu Ying's eyes were blank and wooden. She opened her mouth, and it took her quite a while to find her voice again. "Yin Lan, did I see wrong?" With tears shimmering in her eyes, Yin Lan's voice trembled. "My lady, the Eldest Prince will be back soon..."

Gu Ying murmured softly, "Is Ah Du coming back?"

"Yes..."

"Then I'll go meet him."

As she spoke, she got up shakily from the chair and stumbled outside.

Qin quickly said, "Why are you still standing there stunned? Go stop her!"

Yin Lan and Yanzhi hurriedly went to catch Gu Ying.

Together with several servant women, they finally got Gu Ying, who looked devoid of any emotion yet extremely stubborn, back to Changfeng Pavilion.

Gu Ying felt choked in her chest, as if a huge boulder pressed down on her heart.

It weighed her down so much she couldn't stand up straight or breathe.

She was pressed onto the bed by Yin Lan and the others, gasping urgently as the rims of her eyes turned inch by inch crimson. "Let me go!"

"My lady, don't get agitated... You're still pregnant..."

"I'm going to meet Ah Du! Yin Lan, let me go!"

"Bang!"

Left with no other choice, Yin Lan could only knock her mistress unconscious.

Looking at the woman lying passed out on the bed, the group of servant girls all gave each other anxious looks, their faces etched with pain.

Yanzhi said apprehensively, "Sister Yin Lan, what should we do now... My lady is extremely anxious and angry, what if she..."

Looking at the mistress' huge belly, she was incredibly worried.

The mistress' life was so bitter! The little Eldest Prince hadn't even been born yet, how could this be happening!

Yin Lan pressed her lips tightly and wiped the blurry tears from her eyes. She said quickly, "Let my lady rest well for now... The letter didn't say the Eldest Prince was dead. It just said he was poisoned and critical. With Young Master Ye there, perhaps he can still be saved."

Ye Zhuojiang looked young and low-key, but his medical skills were above Shen Ru and Mrs. Lin.

The group was finally somewhat reassured.

Yin Lan said, "All of you may leave now. Remember, absolutely do not spread news of the Eldest Prince's injury."

She then hurriedly ordered, "Yanzhi, go quickly and bring Young Master Ye over."

Yanzhi's face was extremely anxious. "Yes!"

...

The Duke's Residence was busy the entire night.

The autumn rain fell lightly, dripping in the courtyard.

The rain had started since midnight, persisting until early morning the next day. Mist shrouded the eaves with lingering moisture, like the haze in people's hearts that they couldn't shake off, heavy and damp.

Gu Ying sat woodenly on the bed listening to Yin Lan speak.

"The one who brought the Eldest Prince back was Young Marquis Su... I heard that the Qiang Tribe was still defeated. Old General Gu stayed at the battlefield for aftermath efforts. By imperial edict, General Gu will negotiate peace with the Qiang at Zhumu Mountain, so he probably won't be back for some time. The Eldest Prince... was valiant and heroic in battle, with outstanding military achievements. It was just that in his final confrontation with Princess Lesu of the Qiang Tribe, he accidentally fell for the princess' scheme and was thus poisoned."