The Child Who Could Not Stay

Selena’s pregnancy was unexpected.

In my previous life, Gideon had never touched her openly before victory.

This life, one favor was enough.

Seraphina and I met in a side courtyard.

“The child cannot stay,” she said coldly.

I nodded.

“If Selena loses the child in the palace, only you and I will be suspected.”

Seraphina’s eyes darkened.

Soon, we agreed.

The next morning, Seraphina, as empress, requested permission to pray for the imperial heir at Golden Light Temple a hundred li away.

As Noble Consort, I naturally refused to lose.

I requested the same.

Gideon thought we were competing again and approved.

At Golden Light Temple, Seraphina was like a bird released from a cage.

She found everything interesting.

After playing enough, she leaned on my shoulder.

“Yangyang,” she murmured, “how wonderful it would have been if I had never entered the palace.”

“I had to enter,” she said after a pause. “If I did not, I could not avenge the man I loved.”

I asked gently,

“How did you meet my second brother?”

“I was still the lively legitimate daughter of House Chen then. Once, dressed as a boy, I went to a temple fair. Bandits caught me on the road. Your brother saved me.”

“He was so handsome. When he stood before me, I thought I had met an immortal.”

“Later, I finally became acquainted with him, but he was sent to Fallen Horse Pass.”

“He said that when he returned, he would come to House Chen to propose.”

Her voice broke.

I pretended to be calm.

But when I turned away, I wiped tears from my eyes.

Before a month passed, news came from the palace.

Selena miscarried.

Seraphina and I were still at Golden Light Temple.

It could not be tied to us.

Consort Yu whispered to me that the old palace woman who acted died without confessing, only shouting that the emperor must protect her family.

So everyone guessed Gideon had sacrificed Selena’s child.

After all, how could a lowly consort bear a prince before the empress?

I did not correct them.

Years ago, I had saved that old palace woman’s son from death.

She said she would never forget my kindness.

I told her that if she helped me this once, I would give her son a future.

She died.

I buried her properly in secret.

When I visited Selena, she had grown terribly thin.

She looked at me for a long time.

Then whispered,

“I’m sorry.”

“What nonsense are you saying?” I smiled and approached.

Her eyes dimmed.

“Do you think imperial wealth is all a lie?”

I knew then.

The rumor that Gideon killed her child had entered her heart.

I looked concerned.

“Selena, you must believe His Majesty has his reasons.”

She answered softly.

Then turned away.

That night, I realized something was wrong with my own body.

I went to Seraphina.

“You’re pregnant?” she asked, stunned.

I nodded.

Only once.

And it happened.

Seraphina’s expression became both excited and deranged.

“Excellent. With a child, everything becomes legitimate!”

I sighed.

The urgent matter was how to hide it.

The next day, Seraphina announced that she was pregnant.

She intended to draw Gideon’s fire to herself.

For me.