The Female Psychology PhD Who Time Traveled to the Royal Harem

Early the next morning, Grand Secretary Xie appeared at court with panda eyes and a swollen face, yet he praised the Empress Dowager's actions as benefiting the people.

Had Xie Huai undergone a change of heart?

Just yesterday, everyone had been dining, drinking, and cursing the Empress Dowager together. How had he transformed so drastically overnight?

The Xuanwu Emperor, looking at his injuries, couldn't help but chuckle, "Minister Xie speaks wisely. The imperial examinations next spring shall be entrusted to your arrangements."

Xie Huai: Your Majesty sure knows how to climb the ladder when it's offered!

The officials who had previously stood on the same side as Xie Huai now glared at him with fury, feeling betrayed and united in their resentment.

Xie Huai was unable to voice his grievances and could only grit his teeth and accept the task.

To make matters worse, that scoundrel Jiang Yankun, after the court session, warmly slung an arm over his shoulder, acting like they were the best of friends, "Ah, Brother Xie! Tomorrow is my day off. Bring your wife over for a meal. My wife will personally cook for you. Don’t you love Jiangnan cuisine? My wife is from Jiangnan, and her local dishes will surely suit your taste. It's settled then!"

"Was Xie Huai beaten by the Empress Dowager's people? Look at how terrified he is! Was he threatened?"

"Impossible. That scoundrel Xie Huai has been beaten plenty of times before. The Empress Dowager must have offered him immense benefits to make him change his tune so quickly. That cunning old fox has played us all for fools."

"So his opposition to the Empress Dowager was just a ploy to gain her favor? He’s using us as cannon fodder! What kind of future do we have now?"

Their fears were justified.

After Jiang Xinyue "gently" dealt with Xie Huai, her iron-fisted methods would soon be turned on them.

Over the next half month, they no longer had the energy to oppose the Empress Dowager's new policies, as each of their families faced calamities, with some even losing their lives.

The court officials were replaced one after another, and gradually, no one dared to utter a word of dissent.

Jiang Xinyue's presence made them realize a harsh truth: those who complied would thrive, while those who opposed would perish.

Reform required bloodshed, but it was the blood of those who opposed the Empress Dowager.

The day before Jiang Xinyue's due date, several officials who supported Concubine Shi as the new Empress were assassinated or investigated. Even among the common folk, rumors spread that the Empress Dowager would not tolerate any opposition.

Concubine Shi's popularity as a candidate for Empress was high, but it seemed she too would not live long.

Jiang Xinyue paid no heed to these rumors, calmly awaiting childbirth in Kunning Palace.

The Emperor, after morning court sessions, would return to Kunning Palace and stay by her side, not leaving even for a moment. Her first childbirth, when she delivered the Crown Prince, had left him deeply traumatized.

Nanny Xiang teased him, "Your Majesty, there's no need to be so nervous. Your anxiety will only make Her Majesty more fearful. Women who have given birth before often find the second delivery much easier. The Empress Dowager is in excellent health, and this birth will go smoothly."

"Ugh!"

The Emperor covered his mouth, his expression pained, "I don’t want to be nervous, but I feel so nauseous."

Even when the court officials threatened to boycott the court unless he stripped Jiang Xinyue of her power, he hadn’t been this anxious.

After all, if any court official were removed, their subordinates could immediately replace them. The Great Yan Dynasty wouldn’t collapse without any one person.

But if something happened to Yue'er, there would never be another Yue'er. If she were gone, she would be gone forever. Just the thought of it was unbearable.

Jiang Xinyue hadn’t been afraid initially, but seeing him like this, her heart, which had been calm, now felt three parts uneasy.

Frowning, she said with some irritation, "Why don’t you step outside? Your presence is making me more nervous."

The Emperor, still feeling nauseous, replied, "I really want to stay with you, but... I’ll wait outside. If you need me, just call for me."

The pain from her first childbirth was still vivid in her memory. Though she was mentally prepared this time, fear still lingered.

Nanny Xiang and the midwives all comforted her, "Your Majesty, don’t be afraid. Breathe deeply and exhale. The contractions have just started; there’s still a long way to go."

"Indeed, Your Majesty, the second birth won’t be as painful as the first. Don’t be afraid. The little prince will slip right out, quick and easy!"

Their chatter helped ease Jiang Xinyue's nerves, and the anxiety the Emperor had stirred in her gradually subsided.

Taking a few deep breaths, the waves of pain became more bearable.

Outside the room—

Concubine Shi clenched her fists tightly inside her sleeves, though her face maintained a composed smile.

"Clang!"

A young maid from Kunning Palace, serving tea to Concubine Shi, tripped over something unseen and fell at her feet, spilling tea on her embroidered shoes and the hem of her dress.

The maid glanced back but only saw the Chengqian Palace maids standing respectfully behind the Emperor.

Without time to think, she hurriedly begged for Concubine Shi's forgiveness.

This was Kunning Palace's territory, and even if Concubine Shi was furious, she couldn’t punish one of Jiang Xinyue's maids during such a critical moment.

She didn’t have the authority.

Concubine Shi smiled gently and helped the maid up, "I’m fine. Are you hurt? Get up quickly."

The maid, overwhelmed by her kindness, stood up but failed to notice the venomous glare Concubine Shi shot at her eunuch.

Mu Qianqian, standing behind the Emperor with her head bowed and bangs covering her eyes, smirked briefly before resuming her expressionless stance, blending into the background.

Consort Shu, Consort Liang, and Noble Consort Ye were all on edge. Yesterday, while playing cards with them, Her Majesty had suddenly complained of stomach pains. Unprepared, they had frantically rushed her back to Kunning Palace.

For this, the Emperor had scolded them harshly, even threatening to cut off their gambling hands if anything happened to Her Majesty.

Heaven knows, ever since the Second Princess's marriage to the grandson of Princess Yunyang was set for the new year, Consort Liang, being close to the Second Princess, had been as busy as a spinning top.

Moreover, the Empress Dowager had been preoccupied with reviewing memorials, and they hadn’t had a chance to play cards together in a long time.

Finally, on the eve of Her Majesty's delivery, with the Second Princess's dowry nearly ready, they had managed to arrange a game.

Who could have guessed that just before dawn the next day, the Empress Dowager would go into labor?Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Speaking of which, there were several joyous events coming up in the new year.

The Second Princess was to be married, the maid Xi Que was also to be wed, and it seemed the Empress Dowager's younger sister was set to marry into the Cavalry General's Mansion.

However, as the Second Princess was of royal blood, the Imperial Astronomers had chosen the most auspicious day for her wedding, and all other weddings in the capital would have to yield to hers.

Though their wedding dates weren’t far apart.

But I digress...

Why is the Empress Dowager so quiet this time during childbirth?