Honestly, watching the two of them "fight like cats and dogs" made even Song Chaoyu want to laugh.
Seeing that Song Yanjiao was not one to be easily wronged, she stepped forward, intending to argue with Zhang Qiuhe.
However, as soon as she stepped forward, her expression suddenly changed—
Before anyone could react, Song Yanjiao clutched her stomach and said nervously, "I... my stomach hurts so much!"
She was only seven months pregnant, and a sudden stomachache was no good.
Zhang Qiuhe shot Song Yanjiao a glare. "What, your stomach hurts already? I'm telling you, this trick might work on others, but on me, it's just too fake! Stop pretending. You get a stomachache just because I say a couple of words to you? Who would believe that? When you made things difficult for others before, why didn't you have such a stomachache then?"
However, at this moment, Song Yanjiao couldn't hear anything Zhang Qiuhe was saying.
A thin layer of sweat soon broke out on her forehead. "I... I'm not lying. My stomach really hurts!"
She looked up, as if seeking help from everyone. "Help me, my stomach hurts so much! Please help me, won't you?"
Song Yanjiao's pained appearance finally made Zhang Qiuhe's expression change. "No way? You're serious? That's not right, aren't you only seven months pregnant? It's impossible for you to give birth this early, is it?"
"I... I can't!"
However, Song Yanjiao's eyes suddenly turned red, and she cried out in pain, "I can't! I really can't!"
At the same time, an unpleasant odor spread from Song Yanjiao's body, causing those around her to cover their noses and mouths. "What is this smell? Why is it so foul?"
Some women who had given birth immediately understood. "Oh no! This smells so much like amniotic fluid! I'm afraid Princess Ning is really going into labor! Her water has broken!"
Everyone turned their gaze towards Song Yanjiao. Even Song Chaoyu saw a cloudy liquid mixed with blood seeping out from between Song Yanjiao's skirts.
Song Yanjiao could no longer stand steadily and had to lean on her maid.
She tightly gripped the hand of the maid beside her. "I can't, it hurts so much! It really hurts so much!"
"Bad luck!"
However, someone nearby, covering their nose and mouth, said sarcastically, "Today is the Empress's banquet, and she's breaking her water here? It's truly inauspicious. Getting involved with the Ning Prince's estate, there's truly nothing good that comes from it!"
Song Yanjiao heard this and didn't even have the energy to be angry.
Yet, there were very few people around to help her.
Even the Empress, upon seeing the commotion, merely frowned and glanced over before continuing her conversation with Princess Ti Le.
It wasn't until Song Chaoyu stepped forward, took Song Yanjiao's arm, and then instructed the maid beside her, "Has the estate prepared midwives and wet nurses?"
The maid had never encountered such a situation before and repeatedly shook her head, disregarding what should and shouldn't be said. "The Princess Consort originally said she would prepare them. But the secondary consort said that having too many people in the estate would not be good for the Princess Consort's pregnancy. The Prince also said they would prepare in August. How could anyone have predicted that at only seven months pregnant, the Princess Consort would go into labor?!"
Is Mu Hansu's treatment of Song Yanjiao truly at this point?
Song Chaoyu looked around and said, "We can't let your Princess Consort give birth here, can we? How about this, our Chang Prince's estate has everything prepared. You can send your Princess Consort to our Chang Prince's estate. At least let the child be born first."
Song Chaoyu wasn't showing affection for Song Yanjiao, but rather felt that the child in her womb was innocent.
Song Yanjiao could no longer afford to care about anything else. She nodded at the maid, then leaned down and whispered something in the maid's ear before looking up at Song Chaoyu. "Thank you!"
Her words were spoken reluctantly, causing Song Chaoyu to nod and then personally approach the Empress.
Seeing Song Chaoyu approach and Song Yanjiao being helped away, the Empress naturally had to ask, "Princess Chang, what has happened?"
Song Chaoyu, adhering to protocol, first paid her respects before saying to the Empress, "Princess Ning's water has broken, and it seems she is about to give birth. However, I just inquired, and it seems the Ning Prince's estate had made no preparations. So I thought of having Princess Ning go to our Chang Prince's estate. Our estate has prepared midwives and wet nurses, and even imperial physicians are on standby day and night. It is most important to let Princess Ning give birth safely now."
Her words and actions were measured, causing the Empress to nod. "Since that is the case, you may go."
When speaking to Song Chaoyu, the Empress's tone became even more polite. "However, you are also with child now, so you must take care of yourself. Just look after the affairs of their Ning Prince's estate."
Song Chaoyu nodded, and then said, "I humbly request Your Majesty to assign one of your attendants to me. I am young and have not experienced such matters, so I fear I might make mistakes. If I handle this improperly, it would be detrimental to Princess Ning's condition. Perhaps Your Majesty could bestow an attendant upon me to guide me constantly, so that I may be at ease."
Although she said this, how could the Empress not understand Song Chaoyu's intentions?
She nodded, signaling the older attendant, Aunt Jin Yue, beside her to accompany Song Chaoyu. "Very well. You are young, and if there are any oversight, let Jin Yue handle it. She has been by my side for over ten years and is very experienced in handling matters. If there is anything you do not understand, you can ask her."
Aunt Jin Yue nodded and followed behind Song Chaoyu.
This also served as a witness. If Song Yanjiao's pregnancy encountered any problems, it would not be attributed to their Chang Prince's estate.
Song Chaoyu, accompanied by Aunt Jin Yue, then returned to the Chang Prince's estate.
It was unheard of in the capital for the Princess Ning to give birth at the Chang Prince's estate.
When Song Chaoyu arrived at the Chang Prince's estate, the Ning Prince's estate had not yet received the news.
However, Song Yanjiao had already gone into labor. Tiao Hong had instructed Madam Han to prepare a side courtyard for Song Yanjiao, and then sent the midwives and wet nurses originally prepared by the Chang Prince's estate to the side courtyard.
In front of everyone, Song Chaoyu loudly declared to the midwives, wet nurses, and imperial physicians, "Princess Ning is my sister. You must treat her with the same care and diligence as you would me. Princess Ning's pregnancy has not been easy. You must ensure that neither the Princess Consort nor the fetus comes to harm. Do you understand?"
Song Yanjiao, listening from inside, felt a complex mix of emotions.
She was unwilling to accept Song Chaoyu's help, but now she had no other choice.
"Ah—"
The pain in her abdomen struck again, leaving Song Yanjiao with no mind to think about other matters.
Aunt Jin Yue also entered the side courtyard, while Song Chaoyu waited outside.
Tiao Hong prepared a chaise lounge for Song Chaoyu and brought a cloak.
Song Chaoyu then turned to look at Qiu Qing. "Go and inform the Ning Prince. Princess Ning is giving birth here. If the Ning Prince still cannot appear, it would be inappropriate. Also, inform the palace so that the Emperor is aware. No matter what happens to Song Yanjiao at our Chang Prince's estate, we cannot bear the responsibility!"
At the same time, a maid beside Song Yanjiao also requested two wet nurses.
They were said to be there to assist Song Yanjiao's delivery, as chosen by Song Yanjiao herself.
Song Chaoyu looked at the two wet nurses. She didn't recognize them, but she didn't refuse either. She let them enter the side courtyard, but instructed Tiao Hong to keep an eye on them.