USWHC -Chapter 498 If You Love, Then Love Deeply (Part 8)

“Princess Lanqin is injured?” Hearing the cry, Princess Pingning was momentarily stunned. Wasn’t it me who rolled down the stairs?

Immediately after, Lanyi added excitedly, “The Princess Pingning is injured too!”

Now that sounds right. The Princess Pingning lay there weak and powerless, barely able to breathe.

But in the very next moment, Princess Lanyi rudely reached out again. “Ah, Sister Ning’er, is your stomach alright?” she asked with exaggerated concern, extending her hand.

Princess Pingning had just opened her mouth to stop her, but before she could react, Princess Lanyi, without the slightest hesitation, lifted her skirt in one swift motion. In that instant, she clearly saw the cunning and vicious smile on Lanyi’s face.

Unfortunately, that smile lasted only a second. The next moment, Princess Lanyi abruptly threw herself forward, crying out in disbelief, “How could this happen?!” while trying to pull at Princess Pingning’s abdomen.

A soft groan was heard. “Aunt… Your Majesty… Ning’er’s stomach hurts so much…” The Princess Pingning no longer dodged, allowing Princess Lanyi to lift her clothes layer by layer in full view of everyone.

Luckily, just as the final layer of modesty was about to be exposed, the Empress finally regained her furious voice.

“Jingqi, what are you doing?! Lifting someone’s clothes in public—where is your decorum?!”

At her sharp reprimand, Lanyi’s hands trembled. Consort Duan quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

“That’s right, Qi’er. Even if you’re worried about Princess Pingning, you must consider her status. She’s not like you—she’s no longer a child!”

“Jingqi is no longer a child either!” the Empress snapped coldly, glaring fiercely at Consort Duan.

At that moment, the Emperor roared, “Why are you still standing there?! Pull them apart! Jinghan is still underneath!”

At his command, several eunuchs finally rushed forward. With much scrambling, they helped the Princess Pingning up. Only when she stood did she finally understand why she hadn’t felt any pain from the fall.

There had been a human cushion beneath her.

At that moment, Zhu Jie lay sprawled on the ground, limbs splayed, her head tilted weakly to one side—she had long since fallen unconscious.

“Princess! Princess Lanqin!” The Princess Pingning instantly panicked. If I really crushed a princess to death, that would be a grave crime!

“Reporting to Your Majesty, the princess was merely knocked unconscious,” a physician said timidly.

Everyone immediately let out a sigh of relief.

Yet even now, Princess Lanyi was unwilling to give up. “Physician, quickly check Princess Pingning’s pulse and see how the child in her womb is doing!”

“Reporting to Your Highness, Princess Pingning was only slightly frightened. The child in her womb is safe and unharmed,” the physician replied respectfully.

But upon hearing this, both Princess Lanyi and Consort Duan widened their eyes in disbelief.

What? She’s really pregnant? How is that possible?!

Meanwhile, the Empress wore a sorrowful and sympathetic expression, her voice choked with emotion. “Jinghan is truly a good child… to protect others, she was willing to sacrifice herself.”

“Why are you still standing around? Take them back to the palace at once!” the Emperor ordered grimly, his face dark.

“Better to keep them in my palace for now,” the Empress said gently. “In Jinghan’s condition, I simply cannot rest at ease letting her return like this.”

As she spoke, she tenderly reached out and stroked Zhu Jie’s head.

But the moment she touched her—

“Ah!” she cried out in alarm.

When she pulled her hand back, it trembled visibly. “Heavens… blood—there’s blood!”

On her originally pristine handkerchief were streaks of blood—not much, but enough to be alarming.

The Emperor grew anxious at once. “Where is the physician?! What is going on here?!”

The physician was also stunned at the sight of the blood. What’s happening? Wasn’t everything fine just now? He hurried forward to take a closer look, but after examining her, his brows furrowed.

There seemed to be nothing wrong.

But at this moment, the Empress was holding up clear evidence—how could he claim otherwise?

With a thud, the physician dropped to his knees. “This humble servant was negligent. The princess’s injuries are not light—she must be carefully nursed back to health!”