Author note: the scene in the palace, specifically in court, was the idea that spawned the entire story, I'm so glad I can finally share it with you. Hope you enjoy this chapter and the rest of the story.

62. At the palace

Su took advantage of her, temporarily, clear brain and considered what had to be done when they reached the palace.

When they'd reached the palace Su was relieved to see that nothing seemed amiss. She was thankful she had ordered one of her guards to ride on ahead to request the captain of the Royal guard Fu, to welcome and accompany the Princess Consort Qi into the palace. She felt the chair being lowered and tipped to make it easier for her to step out. Making quick eye contact with Fu before grasping the wrist of the palace maid Su saw the flicker of surprise with Fu, but he was smart enough not to show it. "Your Highness." Fu bowed. Su quickly responded: "This palace maid came to deliver a letter from the emperor in which he urgently requested me to come to court." She indicated for one of her own maids to take the letter from her, after she'd showed it to Fu.

"Let me accompany you, Your Highness." Fu turned and walked through the gates, Su, the maids and two of her guards followed him. Once inside Fu ordered the gates to be closed with a hand gesture. Immediately after the heavy gates closed, Su turned to Fu and said: "Have this maid contained. I need to speak to her after I've seen the emperor." Su was still holding the maids wrist, but lifted it to hand her to one of the royal guards, who stepped forward. Then Su continued: "Tell princess Yunchuan to come and bring a set of regular clothes for Little Yue." Little Yue looked up at Su: "You knew who I was?"

"Not at first, but when you looked at me when we were attacked, that's when I realized who you were. You didn't know about the assailants, am I right?"

"Yes." Su nodded and then said to the guard: "Take good care of her, but make sure she isn't seen and doesn't run away." To Little Yue she said not to run away and that they would figure out what's going on together. The guard then took Little Yue away. "Why was she the one to deliver the letter to you?" asked Fu.

"I don't know." Fu seemed to want to say something more, then looked past Su in wonder and said: "Where is your husband, your Highness?" Su who was feeling some urgency to get to the emperor to ascertain everything was alright, so she could return home, said hurriedly: "Yan left to inspect a weaponry. I don't know which one. Please have some of your guards find him and bring him here."

"I'll go myself." Fu announced turning to return to the gate, but Su stopped him: " No, I need you to come with me to court." Something in Su's tone and face made Fu nod instead of protest. He called a few guards and ordered them to check the nearby weaponries to find Prince Qi. "Your Highness, do you have any reason to suspect something is really wrong in court?" Fu asked seriously.

"I don't know, but I've had cause to have my own coachman detained in Qi mansion. It is why I need you …" Suddenly Su stopped talking, closed her eyes and squeezed Fu's arm, which she had grabbed for support. "Your Highness!" came from different people, Fu turned fully to her reaching out his other hand as Su bend over a little. Her maids stepped closer, one of them supporting her other hand. Su didn't see Fu look at the maids questioningly, because she was again completely focused on dealing with the pain, which seemed to require her to close her eyes. "Your Highness, we should go back to Qi Mansion." One of the maids said, but Su couldn't respond. Fu asked the maids what was happening and they fold him that they highly suspected that the princess consort Qi was in labor. "She has had this pain a few times already, but she insisted on coming here. We couldn't stop her. His Highness is going to be furious." Fu felt Su loosen her grip on his arm and he saw her breathing level out and become deeper again. Then Su, still slightly bend forward, said: "He won't. Pfffhhh. Alright, it's fine. Let's go to the emperor, after we've seen everything is alright I'll return home." Understanding resisting would not result in any other outcome, Fu extended his arm so Su could place her hand on his arm and he could support her. In the back of his mind he thought the maid was right in thinking the Prince would be furious, especially if this trip would have a negative impact on his wife and child. So Fu hoped Su knew what she was doing. "None of the guards reported suspicious activity." He stated. Su simply nodded and then started walking towards the court where the officials would be convened. During their walk Su asked Fu to observe the officials while she walked in to see if someone reacted in a strange way. "I'll walk in on my own, just follow me and close the doors after we've entered. Is the empress in the palace today?"

"No, she left the palace for an outing, she took her personal guard. She's safe, but I've also sent out a guard to double check." Fu responded. They'd reached court, it had taken longer then Su would have liked, but she simply couldn't hurry anymore. Now she feared she would have another contraction soon as she had noticed that the time between the contractions was getting shorter, surely a sign that she would have to give birth sooner rather than later. This realization made her anxious. Fu supported her when she ascended the few steps up to the closed door of the court room. Then he opened the door, announced her arrival and stepped to the side to let Su enter. Su took a deep breath and mentally prepared herself for anything.

She focused on the emperor, who stood on the dais at the end of the room. His surprise was evident. From the corners of her eyes she could see the surprise, condemnation and indignation on the faces of the officials, but she pretend she didn't see them and kept her eyes on the emperor. "My dear sister-in-law, why are you here?" the emperor asked, taking some steps towards her, while Su continued to walk to him. When she started to bow the emperor quickly intervened: "Don't stand on ceremony, certainly not now in your condition."

"Your Highness, a maid from the imperial place came to Qi mansion. She carried this letter with the imperial stamp. According to the letter the emperor requests my presence at the royal palace." Su held out the letter on both of her outstretched hands. The emperor asked eunuch Liu to bring the letter to him, but just as the eunuch reached out for the letter Su bend over, unable to withstand the sudden pain running though her abdomen. She needed support but couldn't find is, so she sank down on her knees and placed her hands on the floor. The pain was much more intense and it took all of Su's effort not to cry out in agony. She wasn't able to hear what was happening around her, all she knew was the growing pain. So she didn't hear the emperor order everyone to leave the room and she didn't notice the emperor coming to her. It took a few moments before Su could lift her head and when she did she looked into the worried eyes of her brother-in-law, who was kneeling in front of her. "Are you alright?"

"I am for now." Su tried to say soothingly, but whether she had been able to sooth the panic the emperor seemed to feel was unknown to her.

"Are you going to give birth to the baby?" the emperor reached out his hand when he saw Su struggle to get up.

"I think so."

"Where is my brother, your husband?" the emperor asked as he supported Su while she rose. Su looked around and saw they were by themselves, except for Eunuch Liu. "Yan was called away to visit a weaponry, but I don't know which."

"Why did you come here? You know I have an agreement with my brother not to call you until you've had your child."

"There was something wrong with the maid and the letter. I just couldn't focus on what wasn't correct. Here take a look at the letter." Su started to bend to pick the letter up, but the emperor stopped her and picked the letter up. He quickly read it and then commented: "Many would indeed thing this was my handwriting."

"Except for your name." the emperor turned his attention to the signed name and saw what Su had seen. "That's not how I write my name."

"I know, but I only realized this when we'd been attacked and I recognized the maid."

"You've been attacked!" the emperor exclaimed in shock. "Where you wounded?"

Su first nodded and then shook her head and told him what exactly had happened that morning.