Jianyu’s two new concubines showed no signs of pregnancy, so he pinned all his hopes on Meiyun. She, in turn, became ostentatious again, boasting about prophetic dreams of a rainbow-feathered chick and claiming this pregnancy felt entirely different, promising a high-ranking heir.
Jianyu, thoroughly convinced, neglected his other consorts. Hearing the rumors, I shook my head—he was truly complicit in her schemes.
Heaven may forgive natural misfortune, but self-inflicted disaster is unforgivable.
As Meiyun’s due date approached, Liwei and I encountered her at a palace banquet. Her complexion was ghostly pale, her figure gaunt, cheeks sunken—she looked more like a long-suffering invalid than an expectant mother. Clearly, the secret arts had ravaged her body, and no amount of rare medicine could help.
Jianyu hovered protectively at her side, ambition gleaming in his eyes. As we passed, he glanced at my belly with disdain.
“So what if you conceived first? You’ll only give birth to another black-feathered freak! Liuzhu, this time Meiyun will definitely give birth to a rainbow phoenix!”
His words gave me pause. Was he so confident because of his memories from our past life, or did he know about Meiyun’s use of the illusion spell? Was he willing to accept a fake heir just to seize the throne?
Liwei, noticing my worry, squeezed my hand. “Are you nervous about the birth?”
After a moment’s thought, I decided to tell Liwei everything I’d discovered, omitting only the details about our previous lives.
He wasn’t surprised at all. “You noticed too?”
Liwei gently pinched my cheek. “Everyone knows how difficult it is for phoenixes to bear children. How could Meiyun, the daughter of an Azure Luan and a peacock spirit, have such miraculous fertility? It’s impossible not to be suspicious.”
My heart skipped a beat. “Does the Emperor know?”
“Of course,” Liwei said coldly. “But he doesn’t care. Whether or not Meiyun used forbidden arts, whether her body is ruined, it’s irrelevant to him. As long as the chick is healthy, that’s all that matters. If Meiyun dies, he’ll simply find Jianyu another suitable wife.”
There was a trace of sadness and bitterness in Liwei’s eyes, and I hugged him tightly. “The heart of an emperor is always cold and ruthless.”
Liwei looked at me with unwavering resolve. “That’s why I have no desire to be emperor. I only want to spend my life with you, Liuzhu. No matter what dangers or temptations we face, I will never abandon you!”
Moved to tears, I nodded. “No matter what happens, we’ll never be parted!”
When the day of my labor arrived, the pain was excruciating, my screams echoing through Vermilion Hall. I suffered for a day and a night, but the child wouldn’t come.
At noon, a matron claiming to be sent by the Phoenix Emperor brought me a bowl of ginseng soup. “Second Princess Consort, have some soup to regain your strength. The principal consort is also in labor, and some midwives have been sent to her.”
Meiyun was in labor too? She had conceived a month after me—how could she be giving birth now? Was she trying to ensure her child was born before mine, to claim the glory of a high-ranking heir?
Lost in thought, I didn’t notice the matron channeling spiritual energy into a blow aimed at my crown.
“What are you doing?!”
Weakened by labor, I could barely resist. The midwives could only cry out in alarm. In a flash, the pendant around my neck blazed with light, a phoenix’s cry reverberating with overwhelming power. The matron was thrown across the room, coughing blood.
A warm current surged through my veins, restoring my strength. Finally, wrapped in a gentle warmth, I mustered the energy to deliver a radiant white egg.
Liwei rushed in, binding the would-be assassin and holding me close. “I wanted to bring you the soup myself, but someone beat me to it. I should have been more careful!”
I shook my head. “It’s not your fault. Even if you hadn’t left, they would have found another way.”
Meiyun and I gave birth almost simultaneously, her egg dazzling with rainbow colors. The Phoenix Emperor held a grand banquet in celebration.
Upon learning someone had tried to harm me and my unborn child, the Emperor was furious and ordered the matron tortured. She insisted no one had sent her, claiming she acted out of personal dislike. The case stalled.
Liwei stepped forward. “This matron is unfamiliar. She’s not one of our palace’s own. We can use the Bloodline Stone to check her ancestry.”
At his words, the matron’s face turned ashen, and she tried to kill herself, but Liwei stopped her.
When her blood touched the stone, an enormous peacock appeared above it. The hall erupted in shock. Meiyun collapsed in terror.
“It wasn’t me! I swear, I had nothing to do with this!”
Jianyu, caught off guard, tried to defend Meiyun. “Father, Meiyun has been focused on her pregnancy. She couldn’t possibly have plotted against anyone. The peacock clan must have sent someone to harm us out of jealousy!”
He continued, “The peacock clan has always envied us. Lacking the strength to challenge us openly, they resort to underhanded tricks!”
Seeing Jianyu about to absolve Meiyun, I spoke coldly, “If the goal was to harm, why attack only me and not the principal consort? Meiyun’s mother is from the peacock clan—how can we not suspect her involvement?”
The courtiers murmured in agreement, the truth plain to all.
Jianyu glared at me, desperate. “Father, Meiyun is kindhearted—she would never harm anyone. The phoenix heir will soon hatch; please, for the child’s sake, trust her!”
The hall fell silent. All eyes turned to the rainbow egg—if it truly hatched a rainbow phoenix, Meiyun would be exonerated. The Phoenix clan hadn’t seen such a birth in a thousand years.
The Emperor’s gaze was inscrutable. “Take this peacock spirit, break her meridians, and send her back to the peacock clan. Demand an explanation from their king. As for the principal consort, there’s no proof of her involvement. We’ll discuss this later.”
The implication was clear: if Meiyun’s egg hatched a high-ranking phoenix, the matter would be dropped. If not, she would face punishment.
Now, everyone’s attention was fixed on the two soon-to-hatch eggs.
Chapter 03
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