Song Chaoyu stumbled in the rain, and if it weren't for Tiao Hong behind her, she would have fallen to the ground.
However, just as everyone thought Tiao Hong had caught Song Chaoyu, Song Chaoyu's body suddenly went limp—
"Your Highness, what's wrong?!"
Tiao Hong cried out in fright. Madam Liu and the Old Madam also stepped forward. Seeing Song Chaoyu's somewhat pale face, they realized something was wrong. "Someone! Please fetch a doctor!"
Madam Liu, disregarding everything, held Song Chaoyu in her arms, her eyes reddening. "Ayu, my Ayu can't be in trouble! What's going on, what exactly is going on?!"
The Old Madam, even more furious, walked towards Song Yanjiao. "I see that after becoming the Princess of Ning, you truly don't know the immensity of heaven and earth! It's one thing to run wild at your maternal home, but you still push your sister like this? Get out! You are forbidden from returning to the Song family from now on!"
"Grandmother... what are you saying?!"
Song Yanjiao felt as if she had misheard her grandmother. "I am now the Princess of Ning, and I am pregnant. Does Grandmother intend to disown me as her granddaughter?"
"Get out!"
The Old Madam's face turned red with anger, and she roared at Song Yanjiao. "Get out of the Song family! If you want to put on airs as the Princess of Ning, then go back to your Ning King's manor!"
When had Song Yanjiao ever been so humiliated in front of the Old Madam?
But the Madam beside her pulled Song Yanjiao's arm and whispered, "Today is your grandmother's birthday banquet. Why don't you say you're feeling unwell and leave first? Don't make a scene! Otherwise, if your grandmother gets truly angry and the King of Ning finds out, won't he give you a hard time again?"
Only at this moment did Song Yanjiao feel some regret.
She had originally intended to return to her maternal home today, thinking her family would be her support, and that the King of Ning would treat her better in the future because of the child.
She hadn't expected to see Song Chaoyu and couldn't hold back, leading to this situation.
Helpless, Song Yanjiao could only take her leave. "Your granddaughter is feeling unwell today, so I will take my leave. I will visit Grandmother again another day. Please, Grandmother, do not be angry."
Song Yanjiao left in a hurry. The doctor who was called from outside couldn't help but draw the attention and whispers of the Song family's guests.
Meanwhile, Song Chaoyu was sent back to her former boudoir.
When she woke up, even Song Yuan was by her side, asking anxiously, "Rain girl, do you feel unwell in any way?"
Her head was still a bit dizzy. Qiu Qing personally brought her medicine. "Your Highness, you are already three months pregnant! It is our fault for not being attentive enough to notice. Fortunately, you are fine today, and the child in your womb is also safe. Quickly drink this fetal-calming medicine!"
"Three months?"
Song Chaoyu had known this all along, but at this moment, she still had to put on a surprised and delighted expression. "I... I'm pregnant?! Where is Grandmother? Where is my second sister?"
Madam Liu also stepped forward, took Song Chaoyu's hand, and personally brought the fetal-calming medicine. "Ayu, drink the medicine first. Don't worry, your grandmother is fine. The birthday banquet has already started, and she has to attend to the guests. Your second sister has already left the Song manor, so don't feel wronged or anxious. Your father and I are here to accompany you. Just rest assured and take care of yourself."
"Alas!"
Song Yuan, who wanted to favor Song Yanjiao, could no longer do so. He sighed. "Just before the imperial physician left, he already sent word of this to the palace. Eunuch Xiao Wu, who is by the Emperor's side, personally came and said that the Emperor was very happy to hear of your pregnancy and repeatedly praised Prince Chang for finally having an heir. He told us to ensure your safety and the child's. You can rest assured."
He said in a low voice, "Now that Prince Chang is gravely ill, the Emperor misses him every day! With you carrying a child, I think the Emperor would be even happier than if the Crown Prince had an heir. You, girl, are truly something. You've been pregnant for three months, and you didn't even realize it yourself? If you had been angered by your second sister today and something happened to the child, what would our Song family do, and what would your Ning King's manor do?"
Song Chaoyu actually didn't want to deal with Song Yanjiao this way, but since Song Yanjiao had come to her door today, she wouldn't be polite.
After all, with a pregnancy of over three months, it couldn't be hidden any longer. Her pregnancy would start to show in April. Song Yanjiao's commotion today was perfectly timed!
Song Chaoyu sat up and, under everyone's watchful eyes, drank the fetal-calming medicine in one gulp.
Song Yuan finally breathed a sigh of relief and carefully asked Song Chaoyu, "How are you feeling now? I was thinking, with your current condition, it would be too taxing to return to Prince Chang's manor. Why don't you stay at your maternal home for a while?"
Song Chaoyu shook her head. "The Prince is still in the manor. How can I stay at my maternal home? Moreover, I came today to wish Grandmother a happy birthday. Father and Madam, please don't worry, I am fine. Didn't the imperial physician say that my fetal condition is stable? I want to go to the front hall to pay my respects to Grandmother now!"
"Alas, you are such a filial child!"
Song Yuan dared not force Song Chaoyu. He could only nod, help Song Chaoyu up, and not forget to instruct Qiu Qing and Tiao Hong, "Take good care of your Princess. Such incidents must not happen again."
—
By the time Song Chaoyu arrived at the front hall, most people already knew about her pregnancy.
Now, in this vast capital, perhaps no one dared to say that Mu Changxi was a "useless person who couldn't perform his marital duties" anymore.
The Old Madam now treated Song Chaoyu as a "treasure," having someone bring a cushioned stool and asking Song Chaoyu to sit beside her.
However, Song Chaoyu remained composed, blocking her grandmother's request for the kitchen to prepare separate dishes for her.
The invited guests felt that Song Chaoyu was a sensible and unpretentious person.
Compared to the trouble Song Yanjiao had caused recently, the difference between who was superior and who was inferior was clear.
After the Song family Old Madam's birthday banquet, the entire capital was filled with praise for Song Chaoyu.
At the same time, news also arrived from the palace, asking Song Chaoyu to take good care of herself and to visit the palace when she had time, as the Noble Consort wished to see her.
In the past, when the palace summoned Song Chaoyu, didn't she go whenever she was asked?
But even with such an imperial decree, Song Chaoyu still tidied herself up after returning to the manor and then proceeded to the palace in time for dinner.
Everyone in the palace now knew how precious Prince Chang's child was.
Therefore, as the sedan chair carried Song Chaoyu to the Noble Consort's Dengque Hall, she happened to encounter the Emperor, who was also dining with the Noble Consort today.
So, when Song Chaoyu alighted from the sedan chair, the Emperor and the Noble Consort came out together to welcome her.
The Noble Consort smiled brightly when she saw Song Chaoyu. "Oh my, why are you here so diligently? Come in quickly. It's time for dinner, and you haven't eaten yet, have you? You'll dine with this consort today, and let both the Emperor and I get a good look at you!"