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Not only would she implicate him, but she would also cause him to become a sinner of the Cui clan!
Shen Xihe moved her lips but ultimately swallowed her words. If she were truly pregnant, keeping the child would be far too risky. The gestation of a child is a long period, and every day would be filled with fear and anxiety. Even Shen Xihe wasn't entirely confident she could help Bu Shulin safely deliver the child. Since she couldn't offer substantial help, she naturally couldn't advise keeping it.
"Alright, I'll have Beichen divert Cui Shaoqing away until we confirm whether you're pregnant. During this time, you must be extra careful," Shen Xihe instructed.
"I know, thank you, Youyou." Bu Shulin felt somewhat reassured.
In such a moment of confusion and panic, she was fortunate to have Shen Xihe by her side, preventing her from feeling isolated and hopeless.
Bu Shulin didn't stay long in the Eastern Palace, as if she had just come for a routine visit to see Shen Xihe. After sitting for a short while, she left.
Shen Xihe saw her out of the Eastern Palace and watched her figure disappear before turning to ask Sui Axi, "Has the task I previously instructed been completed?"
"Not yet," Sui Axi shook his head.
In truth, Shen Xihe already knew it wasn't completed since Sui Axi hadn't come to report, but she couldn't help asking. Hearing the expected answer, Shen Xihe could only say, "Hurry it up. I'm afraid we don't have much time left."
"Acknowledged," Sui Axi responded and immediately withdrew.
Ever since Sui Axi completed the task regarding Lu Bing and successfully placed him by Xiao Changfeng's side, Shen Xihe hadn't let Sui Axi rest. His first thought was of Bu Shulin. If they could create a replica of Bu Shulin, it might allow her to escape at the appropriate time.
Originally, there was plenty of time, but now that Bu Shulin had caused such a situation, they had to accelerate the process.
Since it wasn't completed yet, Shen Xihe couldn't bring it up to Bu Shulin, fearing that if it ultimately failed, Bu Shulin would feel even more despair after having her hopes raised.
As she turned away, she couldn't help but sigh.
"Youyou, what's wrong?" Xiao Huayong happened to emerge from around the corner just as he heard Shen Xihe's sigh.
Shen Xihe turned and glanced at him. When he approached, she took his hand and led him toward the bedchamber. Once they entered the courtyard of the bedchamber, she said, "Worldly Son Bu came to see me earlier..."
She told Xiao Huayong everything about Bu Shulin's situation. Xiao Huayong suddenly recalled Cui Jinbai's frequent distraction and absent-mindedness today. He guessed that after the court session ended, Cui Jinbai had gone to Bu Shulin again to confirm what he was already eighty to ninety percent sure about.
"This matter... if it's true, I support Worldly Son Bu's decision to terminate the pregnancy," Xiao Huayong said after a moment of contemplation. "However, I agree with her keeping it from Zhi He."
Cui Jinbai, despite his youth, had become the Deputy Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. He was by no means someone who couldn't endure life's separations and deaths. This situation wasn't due to Bu Shulin's cruelty; rather, no one could bear the consequences if it were exposed.
Xiao Huayong did have a way to make Bu Shulin disappear for two or three months, but a pregnancy lasts ten months, plus one or two months of postpartum recovery—a full year. Even if the pregnancy wasn't noticeable in the early stages, Xiao Huayong couldn't make Bu Shulin disappear for half a year.
After all, she was someone His Majesty kept a close watch on.
"I truly hope A Lin isn't pregnant," Shen Xihe sighed softly.
Otherwise, it would be too cruel for both Bu Shulin and Cui Jinbai.
"This matter can only be left to fate," Xiao Huayong didn't know how to comfort Shen Xihe either."Beichen, I have actually asked A Xi to perform bone restructuring, precisely because I feared that one day A Lin's identity might be exposed, so we would have an explanation ready. However, it hasn't been completed yet..." Shen Xihe thought of another idea. "Do you think it's possible for A Lin to conceal her condition for the first few months? Once her pregnancy advances and A Xi's work is done, we can help cover it up. Would there be a chance to deceive everyone?"
It wasn't just about looking identical to avoid suspicion. Bu Shulin had grown up in the capital, and too many people were familiar with her. It would be extremely difficult to have someone imitate her perfectly in a short time while also knowing about her past.
If they created an accident and pretended she had amnesia, it might not be difficult for others, but Bu Shulin was someone the Emperor kept a close watch on. If Bu Shulin truly claimed to have amnesia, the Emperor would surely try every means to help her regain her memories.
Not to mention distant possibilities, even Shen Xihe could use incense to confuse people, making them let down their guard and reveal the truth without realizing it. Additionally, Xiao Changyan had people who understood the Soul-seizing Art. Who knew if the Emperor also had such capable individuals?
Once Bu Shulin publicly claimed to have amnesia, the Emperor could openly use methods under the guise of treatment to manipulate her. They would have no grounds or reason to stop him, and it would only backfire.
Xiao Huayong considered the feasibility of Shen Xihe's idea and finally said, "There is some chance of success, but the risks are significant. If exposed, even if you aren't implicated, it might reveal that someone has mastered bone restructuring. You would be the first to be suspected."
If Bu Shulin's identity as a woman were exposed, many people would look back at Bu Shulin's kindness toward Shen Xihe and easily guess that Shen Xihe had known all along. The only person who could help Bu Shulin to this extent would be Shen Xihe.
Xiao Huayong didn't want Shen Xihe to take such risks for Bu Shulin, but Bu Shulin was Shen Xihe's close friend. He couldn't dictate her decisions, so he could only express his stance. Whatever she decided, he would respect and fully support it.
"I was just thinking about it for now," Shen Xihe said, sensing Xiao Huayong's disapproval. She hadn't truly decided to take this step.
"Let's wait until some time has passed," Xiao Huayong suggested. It wasn't yet certain whether Bu Shulin was actually pregnant.
Like Shen Xihe, Xiao Huayong hoped that Bu Shulin wasn't pregnant, as it would save them a lot of trouble.
As per Shen Xihe's request, Xiao Huayong sent Cui Jinbai out of the capital on official business again, which would take about ten days. In another ten days, they could confirm whether Bu Shulin was pregnant. Everyone hoped it was just a false alarm.
To avoid causing trouble, Bu Shulin deliberately got into a fight and dislocated her arm, using it as an excuse to rest at home. She frequently claimed to be ill, and both the Youning Emperor and the Marquis of Zhenbei were used to it, so no one thought much of it.
However, on the fifth day after Cui Jinbai left the capital again, while Xiao Huayong and Shen Xihe were playing chess, Tianyuan hurried in. After bowing to Xiao Huayong and Shen Xihe, he said, "Your Highness, the people you sent to keep an eye on Worldly Son Bu reported that others are also watching him. Luling investigated their identities and found they are under the Second Prince's command."
Shen Xihe looked up from the chessboard and asked Tianyuan, "Do we know when the Second Prince started sending people to watch Worldly Son Bu?"There had never been any previous indication of Xiao Changmin's interest in Bu Shulin, which led Shen Xihe to harbor uneasy suspicions that this matter might prove even more troublesome. To facilitate your next reading session, you can click the "Bookmark" button below to save your progress (Chapter 683: An Unexpected Complication). The bookmark will appear on your bookshelf when you next open it!
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