WANG FEI AND JUN ZHU 3

"Your Highness, please excuse me for giving such an opinion, but... I hope you may cancel the sentence for Jun Zhu."

It was not only Zhu Su who got shocked by Hu Nayin's sudden plea, but also the princesses who looked at Hu Nayin in disbelief. Likewise with all officials and court ladies. Hu Nayin immediately became the center of attention.

"Nayin... get real! They're about to kill the baby in your womb, they're about to kill their own sibling, it's an offense that must be punished! Besides, this punishment is not meant to torture them, but to train them physically and mentally, so that they are not accustomed to being spoiled and always demanding lavish life. Before, Fu Huang demanded us - his family - to live modestly. When our country is in dire straits because it has just been founded, Mu Hou celebrated her birthday party with only four kinds of vegetables which were distasteful. The entire Ming people also live that way and nothing wrong happens to them. So don't listen to their sobs. They are simply unwilling that they'll soon lose their lavish life. Actually, this punishment is not so severe at all!"

"But you order me to wear clothes made from sack! It's so itchy! My skin is very sensitive! What if I catch a skin disease?!"

"And I'm not strong enough to carry water and do others nitty-gritty! My feet are small anyway, I will fall while carrying heavy water!"

"Jun Zhu is right. Your Highness, they won't be able to bear this punishment. May you forgive them."

"Why do you stand up for them?! They've done bad things to you, after all!"

"But... I also have wronged them. At that time... I was about to burn Jun Zhu's face with roasted iron, since I was too angry..."

Finally, Hu Nayin admitted it. Actually, she was unwilling to admit this for fear that Zhu Su would be angry with her. However, Hu Nayin was apparently a kind woman. She worried about the princesses' fate, she was not sure if they would be able to endure the sentence or not. She also had mistakes, and she must have the courage to admit it. As you make you bed, so you must lie in it

"What? You want to burn Jun Zhu's face?! Why?!"

Hu Nayin let out an embarrassed sigh. "That... I was too tensed by their bad threats, I was overpowered by rage, I went insane and suddenly I did that..."

"But nothing wrong with her face?"

"Because the soldiers had taken the iron from my hand."

"Ahhh!" Zhu Su sighed. "You make things get messy. Both of you are wrong..."

"May you excuse my interruption, Your Highness. Both Hu Wang Fei and Jun Zhus have made mistakes." A senior official came forward. "Jun Zhus tortured Hu Wang Fei without investigation, and almost killed the baby in her womb. On the other hand, instead of clearing misunderstandings, Wang Fei even left the Palace with Commander Wu Qi. Besides, Wang Fei also spreads a disease that kills so many people from two districts in Kaifeng. Hu Wang Fei, Jun Zhus, and Commander Wu Qi, all of them are guilty!"

The whole room shouted aloud. "May you review this case, to make this problem resolved properly!"

Zhu Su sighed once again. He knew, many senior officials and court ladies did not like Hu Nayin and Wu Qi. Both of them were "newbies" in the Zhou Fan Wang Guo but had gained much influence, this made them both envied by many people. This was indeed normal, earlier Liu Ku had ever experienced more or less the same problem. But Liu Ku is shrewd and thereby he can escape quickly from any problems. So even though he is also the creator of the epidemic, no one even mentions him. Unlike both of them, who are naïve and too frontal in showing their feelings, and make such big trouble right now.

Everybody exclaimed again. "Your Highness, please have mercy..."

"Okay, okay!" Zhu Su interrupted. "I will review this case. The sentences for the Jun Zhus will be postponed temporarily until the trial takes place. And everyone involved in this case must undergo the trial. Enough! Don't argue anymore!"

Everyone fell silent. But they were quite satisfied with Zhu Su's final decision.

"Aaahhh!" Hu Nayin screamed of a sudden. Very loudly. Both of her hands held her belly. She was in so much pain that her sitting position had changed - she was bent over while screaming aloud.

"Nayin!" Zhu Su jumped to his feet, rushing over to Hu Nayin. The whole room was in an uproar. Everyone was busy helping Hu Nayin. Physician Li, Guo Songmi, and other members of the Team of Wellbeing immediately examined Hu Nayin.

"Wang Fei is about to give birth!" Li Heng exclaimed. "Please make way! We must take Wang Fei to the delivery room!"

***

Hu Nayin screamed incessantly. The pain she suffered was unbearable due to the severe abdominal contraction. Even though she had been in a comfortable delivery room and was accompanied by many female physicians and professional court ladies, it did not let her pain reduce, instead, it was much more painful.

"Your Highness, the time has come! You have to endure it! You must be strong!" Qing encouraged her. She started on cue. "Hold the rope tight, and push it!"

Hu Nayin followed Qing's instructions. She pushed hard. "Aaahhhh!"

The pain was unbearable. It almost made her die. It felt like she could die right now.

But, she must not die. She must be strong. For her baby.

"Once again, Your Highness!" Qing encouraged again. "Come on!"

And Hu Nayin, pushed hard again while screaming aloud.

Outside the room, Zhu Su was pacing around restlessly. He indeed knew that it was near the time for Hu Nayin to give birth, but he did not expect it to be so fast. He looked worriedly at the delivery room which was now filled with Hu Nayin's screams. Can it be that, because of the recent problems, as well as her quarrel with those girls, she gives birth faster than it must be? Oh, Heaven... please protect Nayin. If there's anything wrong with her, I can't stop beating myself up.

"Your Highness, you have watched labor before, haven't you? You don't have to worry, right?" asked Li Heng. "It's a normal condition in birthing. After the baby is born, the women will be fine."

Zhu Su nodded weakly. "Yes, I know... I'm just worried about Nayin. She must endure a hard time during her pregnancy. I'm afraid, it's too difficult for her... and risky for her and the baby..."

"Wang Fei is a strong woman. She is different from ordinary noblewomen. You can trust her."

"Yes." Zhu Su looked at the sky. "I hope so."