IDWBE -Chapter 495 Birthday Celebration

A bitter feeling rose in her chest. It was good that Lord He cared for her—she could hardly contain her happiness—but such words might offend the princess consort!

It seemed a little too costly for the gain.

Thinking this, she pressed her hand harder against her belly, feeling the little life inside cheerfully jumping. How she wished it were a daughter.

Lord He was indeed kind, but she had grown up in the palace. She had seen and heard far too many sordid affairs, and one could never be certain there wouldn’t be some mishap.

Moreover, if nothing unexpected happened, Lord He would one day ascend the throne. At that time, the three palaces and six courts, all the concubines and courtesans, would surround him every day.

And she would grow old and lose her charm. How long could Lord He continue to favor her?
She did not have the background of Consort Yuan, with a father who was a pillar of the state and brothers who were grand generals and governors.

Sometimes, she understood things better than Lord He did.

The best outcome was to have a daughter.

A daughter would not threaten anyone.

And with one at her knees, she would have a bond, a tether of affection.

Hong Ying glanced at Mingyue but said nothing. Carrying the little princess with Lord He toward the pond, he did not follow.

Mingyue did not move either; she knew the steward wanted to speak with her.

Sure enough, she heard him say calmly, “Do not take Lord He for an ordinary man.”

“Lord He is so noble,” Mingyue whispered, “he is naturally not ordinary.”

“You know well I don’t mean it in that sense?”

“I dare not.”

Mingyue bowed her head.

“You carry his child. Your status is naturally different from before.”

Hong Ying stepped in front of her. Mingyue couldn’t help but shiver.

Facing him, she still felt fear.

“You flatter me too much,” Mingyue whispered. “I am but a lowly maid—what right have I to any wish?”

“Sometimes, being clever is a good thing,” Hong Ying said deliberately. “But be careful not to let your cleverness backfire.”

“Steward—”

Mingyue’s heart nearly stopped. The child in her belly kicked sharply, as if reacting to her fear.

Cold sweat broke out on her forehead.

“Hmph,” Hong Ying slowly said, “Put aside these petty thoughts. Don’t think I don’t know. Mingyue, I’ll make it clear: as long as I am around, your child will be safe every day. Live properly; don’t fill your head with useless worries, making Lord He fret.”

“….”

Hearing this, Mingyue burst into tears.

At that moment, someone finally understood her heart.

Since becoming pregnant, every day had been full of fear.

Her own life mattered little, but no matter what, even if it cost her life, she would have no regrets. As long as her child was safe!

Now, with the steward’s words, she could no longer hold back.

Yes!

Though harsh and ruthless, the steward never spoke lies.

And he had no reason to.

If he promised her child’s safety, the child would indeed be safe.

“All right,” Seeing Mingyue cry, even the usually expressionless Hong Ying felt a pang of worry.

If anyone saw this and it reached Lord He, what would it look like?

It would seem as if he had bullied her on purpose!

Though Mingyue had no official rank, she was still Lord He’s woman!

Not someone to be insulted lightly!

Seeing her cries grow louder, he finally said, “Stop crying.”

Even he was about to lose composure!

He wished he could disappear on the spot!

“Steward, I’m sorry,” Mingyue realized her loss of decorum, hurriedly wiping her tears. “I only ask that you continue to watch over this child.”

“My word naturally counts.”

Mingyue was about to say more, but when she raised her head, the steward had already vanished.

Spring had arrived.

Ankang City’s temperature gradually rose.

Duan Liang, wearing a single layer, stood at the governor’s mansion gate, watching soldiers march past with long spears. Without turning his head, he said to Fang Pi behind him, “This time, following Lord He’s highest orders, we will deal with the Beggars’ Gang. You, the Imperial Guards, must not slack off. Any news must be reported immediately.”

Fang Pi lazily said, “I’ve already given everything needed. You worry too much. Those beggars are worthless—none of them are competent. Just cut them down.”

“If it were that simple, we wouldn’t be making such a fuss,” Duan Liang said coldly. “Even the slightest profit makes them bold enough to commit the unthinkable—kidnapping children, cutting off limbs.”

He clenched his fists tighter, the joints cracking eerily.

His younger sister was still missing.

He was terrified.

A frail little girl, alone—if she met the psychopathic traffickers of Ankang City, what could be done? Those damn traffickers, that damned Beggars’ Gang!

He would wipe them out completely!

“Duan Liang.”

Fang Pi was startled by his fierce expression. “Those traffickers aren’t human. Lord He has already ordered them executed—no need to hold back. One slash, that’s it.”

“Do I need you to say that?”

Duan Liang realized he had shown too much emotion, exhaled sharply, then shouted, “All troops, move out! Not a single child trafficker in Ankang City is to escape!”

“Yes!”

The response was a deafening roar, mixed with the clash of armor.

He led the charge into the army.

Watching him vanish into the distance, Fang Pi sighed. “Ankang City is about to face another bloodbath.”

“Sir,” Little Flag Dan Sanguan said, “It seems Lord Duan is about to break through.”

“Break through?”

Fang Pi asked in confusion. “He’s already ninth-rank. How can he break further?”

After thinking, he exclaimed, “Grandmaster?”

Dan Sanguan laughed.

You’re asking that on purpose!

Since the return of Lord He’s steward, both army and Imperial Guard experts had shot up in skill as if they had consumed an elixir. Yu Xiaochun, Pan Duo, Yu Xiaoshi, Cui Gengsheng, and Cui Gengren all reached Grandmaster!

Even the gate guards of the He Mansion reached ninth rank!

Little flags like them, who didn’t even merit a glance from the steward, could only watch enviously.

“Sir, I heard the day after tomorrow is the Lord He’s birthday. The Military Department and Eunuch He are preparing a gift.”

Dan Sanguan’s only hope now was that the garrison commander, Fang Pi, would be around the steward more, so they could benefit from it too.

“Birthday?”

Fang Pi scoffed. “The steward is still young. Be careful of trying to gain favor and ending up with nothing.”

He knew the steward too well!

Lord He had never celebrated a birthday, and no one dared to with the steward loyal to Lord He.

Otherwise, they might even anger the steward.

He was just waiting to watch Ma Jie and He Lian’s fiasco!