Su Qingyue soon learned about the imperial decree.
She hesitated for a moment before opening the second letter from the Second Prince.
Unfortunately, this letter contained nothing that could move her.
The letter repeatedly stated that his heart belonged only to her, and no one could shake her position in his heart. He asked her to believe him, that the demotion was temporary. He urged her to consider the bigger picture and not to be petty. Finally, he said he would not give her a divorce letter.
The imperial decree had already been issued. She was now a concubine, completely a subordinate of the Second Prince, and even lacked the right to ask for a divorce letter.
Su Qingyue gave a bitter smile. The so-called love, the so-called regard, meant that he would rather make her a concubine than grant her freedom.
Su Qingyue gently stroked her slightly protruding abdomen, her expression shifting constantly.
The Second Prince had said he would protect her and the child, but she did not believe him. Rather than face a difficult life later, it would be better to...
Su Qingyue could endure suffering herself.
But Su Qingyue could not bear to see her child suffer.
If she couldn't protect the child, it would be better to be ruthless now and not have the child.
Su Qingyue called for Fei Xu and told her her intentions, hoping Fei Xu would return to the Duke's mansion to speak with Qi Zhenzhen and ask for an abortifacient.
Fei Xu was secretly surprised. She had been attending to Su Qingyue these days, and she could tell that Su Qingyue cherished this child. Why did she suddenly not want it anymore?
This was a major matter, and Fei Xu dared not delay. Before leaving, she specifically instructed a young maid to stay by Su Qingyue's side at all times, fearing that Su Qingyue might dismiss her to do something foolish.
Fei Xu returned to the Duke's mansion as quickly as possible and informed Qi Zhenzhen of the matter.
The matter of the bestowed marriage had been a grand affair, and Qi Zhenzhen was already aware of it.
Anyone in such a situation would find it difficult to remain calm.
However, she had not expected Su Qingyue's reaction to be so extreme.
Emperor Chongwen had instructed them to take good care of Su Qingyue. If anything were to happen, they would not be able to account for it to Emperor Chongwen.
"Pack up, we're going to the Gu mansion," Qi Zhenzhen instructed Er Xi. "Fei Xu, you go back first and make sure to look after her until I arrive."
As Qi Zhenzhen was about to leave, Gu Sinian returned.
"Where are you going?" Gu Sinian asked.
"Su Qingyue wants an abortifacient; she doesn't want the child anymore," Qi Zhenzhen told Gu Sinian concisely.
Gu Sinian's brows furrowed. "This..."
"Let's go over and try to persuade her. If we can't persuade her, you'll have to go to the palace again," Qi Zhenzhen said.
"I'll go with you. Just now, in the palace, His Majesty mentioned this issue. If I go, perhaps I can persuade Su Qingyue to be patient and wait. Maybe the outcome won't be as bad as she imagines."
Gu Sinian said Emperor Chongwen's intentions as he helped Qi Zhenzhen walk out.
Qi Zhenzhen breathed a sigh of relief. "If that's the case, I think Su Qingyue won't insist on not having the child."
Perhaps because she herself was pregnant, Qi Zhenzhen's heart was particularly soft, and she genuinely did not want Su Qingyue to give up the child.
Su Qingyue still found it hard to believe after hearing Gu Sinian's words. "Father Emperor, is that really what Father Emperor meant?"
"I have conveyed His Majesty's words to you verbatim," Gu Sinian said. "As for the meaning behind them, you must ponder it yourself. I cannot say more. However, one thing is certain: His Majesty has always been very fair and would not show favoritism simply because the Second Prince is his son."