Chapter 2 — Five Lives of Changing Mothers

Instinctively, Concubine Hoa raised her hands, firmly supporting Tham Nhuoc Vi's arm, firmly holding her suspended in mid-air, not letting her fall even halfway. The falling scene that Tham Nhuoc Vi meticulously practiced thousands of times, failed on the spot. The look of panic she had hastily forced was frozen on her face. For a moment she was stunned on the spot, not knowing what to do. This is the moment. The moment our skin touched each other, the heavenly chains that were binding us loosened for a moment. I gritted my teeth and broke through the thin tissue wall in Tham Nhuoc Vi's stomach. Transformed into a pale yellow soul, rushing out. Tham Nhuoc Vi's hand supporting Concubine Hoa's arm stiffened, her lips trembled, she couldn't utter a single sentence for half a day. Concubine Hoa let go, frowned faintly, her tone carrying a bit of impatience.
“Sister Tham Phi, why are you so hasty on the road? Be careful of yourself.”
Tham Nhuoc Vi completely failed to listen to the advice. Her heart was filled with anger because the plan had failed. She could only casually bow and leave. And I have completely stabbed into Concubine Hoa's warm, empty belly. A gentle, pure warmth envelopes me, a peace that I have never felt in the past five lifetimes. The bottom of my heart overflowed with joy that was hard to contain. Finally managed to escape.
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In the blink of an eye, the emperor's grand marigold banquet has arrived. The whole palace hung lanterns and flowers, and all the concubines came to attend the party. Concubine Hoa was in the concubine seat, sitting alone in the main seat on the east side of the banquet. Tham Nhuoc Vi deliberately accentuated her weak face, holding a cup of white jade wine, slowly walked in front of her, his face filled with a harmless smile.
"Sister Concubine Hoa has a peerless demeanor today. With you here, this banquet will be considered complete, and I am filled with joy."
Concubine Hoa raised her eyes and stood up, raising her hand in return. The moment the two passed each other. Tham Nhuoc Vi suddenly leaned backwards, the jade cup in her hand falling heavily to the blue tile floor. She clenched her lower abdomen with one hand and fell straight to the ground, her cries of despair immediately resounding throughout the main hall.
"My belly! Concubine Hoa, why did you push me, harming the royal family in my belly!"
The whole palace immediately stirred. The concubines all stood up, the palace eunuchs ran back and forth in panic, and the main hall became a chaotic group. Tham Nhuoc Vi curled up on the ground, blood slowly seeping out from under her skirt. The vast, dazzling red patch was heart-warming to look at. She cried until her heart and intestines were torn apart, tears streaming down her face.
"My child! Princess Hoa, if there is even a slight mistake in my belly, how should you tell the emperor?"
The Emperor quickly stepped down from his throne, his eyes as sharp as a knife, looking straight at Concubine Hoa.
“Concubine Hoa, did you push Concubine Tham?”
Concubine Hoa took a half step back, her expression calm and unruffled, neither arrogant nor cowardly, and opened her mouth to explain.
"Your Majesty, I have never touched her even a little bit. She fell backwards on purpose."
Tham Nhuoc Vi desperately shook her head, tears in her eyes looking towards the emperor, looking like heartbroken and desperate.
"Sister, you and I usually have no resentment or enmity. Why can't you tolerate the child in my belly? You must act cruelly?"
Blood stains on the hem of the dress The more it spread, the more concubines around it whispered. The concubine, who was sitting to the side carefully assessing the blood stains on the ground, suddenly spoke up to interrupt the chaos.
"Concubine Shen, please forgive me. The blood seeping out on your dress seems to be too thick, and the amount of blood is really abnormal."
Tham Nhuoc Vi's whole body stiffened, a flash of panic quickly flashed through her eyes, and in the blink of an eye she was covered by crying.
“Your Majesty, save my child…”
The Emperor bent down to support her, but before his hand even touched her sleeve, Tham Nhuoc Vi suddenly grabbed his wrist, crying urgently.
"Your Majesty, the female nurse who was close to you earlier checked your pulse and said that in my womb there is a man who can strengthen the country!"
Hearing the words male fetus, the emperor's face became even more ugly. He stood up straight and gave orders in a deep voice.
"Transfer physician! Immediately!"
The old physician carried a medical box and ran into the palace. The whole electricity was dead silent, everyone's eyes fell on Tham Nhuoc Vi. The royal physician knelt next to her, placed his fingertips on her wrist, carefully checking her pulse. His eyebrows furrowed even tighter, repeatedly switching to his other wrist to check his pulse. Layers of cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Tham Nhuoc Vi's heart was impatient and she urged in a serious voice.
"Why are you still in a daze? Tell me quickly how the child in this palace's womb is doing!"
The royal physician retracted his hands, his knees knelt heavily on the ground, his voice trembling uncontrollably.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty…”
The Emperor suppressed his immense anger and spoke in a deep voice:
“Speak.”
The royal doctor did not dare to raise his head, his clear voice echoed throughout the main hall.
"Concubine Tham's pulse is stable, her blood is full, and there are absolutely no signs of miscarriage or injury. What's more..."
"There is absolutely no blood in the womb, nor is there any pregnancy."
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