Yu Jingchen's face darkened upon hearing this. Terminate the child? This was too cruel for Nan Zhiyun.
"Must it be terminated? Are there no other options?" Yu Jingchen was naturally unwilling, especially since Nan Zhiyun would not accept it. Her father had just passed away, and the Empress Dowager's condition was still unknown. If she were to lose the child as well...
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. Given the Empress's current state, forcing her to keep the child might cause damage to her body later. If the child cannot be saved, she might have difficulty conceiving in the future." The imperial physician was terrified, his whole body trembling. Why did this matter fall into his hands?
Yu Jingchen's hands tightened. Had it truly come to this?
"Your Majesty, if it is terminated now, there will be opportunities later. If it is not saved afterwards, the damage to her body will be even greater," the imperial physician continued.
Yu Jingchen had been unable to make a decision, but he must have been wavering. Perhaps terminating it now would be the best option...
"Your Highness?" It was Qian Xia's voice.
Yu Jingchen looked over and found that Nan Zhiyun had woken up and had likely heard the conversation.
"Yun'er..." Yu Jingchen's voice was a little hoarse. He strode forward and held her in his arms.
"Your Majesty... don't terminate it... I'll be good, I'll be good... don't terminate it..." Nan Zhiyun had clearly heard everything. She buried her face in Yu Jingchen's arms, crying miserably.
Yu Jingchen said nothing, only gently comforted her. It wasn't that he didn't want to keep the child, but if it couldn't be saved later, the damage to Nan Zhiyun's body would be even greater.
Not hearing Yu Jingchen's answer, Nan Zhiyun felt uneasy. She lifted her tear-streaked face, grabbed his arm with both hands, and pleaded with him, "Your Majesty, I beg you, please don't, okay? We can't terminate it... we can't..." Nan Zhiyun shook her head incessantly. Perhaps she couldn't listen to anything at this moment.
"Yun'er, be good, let's be obedient, okay?" Yu Jingchen had no choice, but Nan Zhiyun knew that his words meant he hoped she would terminate the child.
"No... Your Majesty..." Nan Zhiyun became somewhat agitated and tried to get up. Yu Jingchen dared not use force and could only follow her movements. To his surprise, Nan Zhiyun struggled to get out of bed and then knelt down.
"Your Majesty, I beg you, I beg you, don't do this. The child cannot be terminated. I have nothing left, nothing left... I beg you... please keep it, okay? I'll be good, I'll listen, I'll listen! I'll take good care of myself, I won't go anywhere, please keep the child, okay?" Nan Zhiyun had completely broken down.
Yu Jingchen said nothing and directly picked her up, seating her in his lap.
"Yun'er, be good, it's alright, don't be like this..." How could Yu Jingchen not be conflicted?
"I want the baby... Your Majesty, that's my child..." Nan Zhiyun could not accept it.
Seeing Nan Zhiyun like this, Yu Jingchen found himself in a difficult position. He didn't want Nan Zhiyun to suffer so much, but when he thought about the cost of her potentially not being able to keep the child later, and her body being ruined, rendering her infertile forever, Yu Jingchen couldn't bring himself to agree to her request.
If there was truly no other way, he would have to do it secretly... But doing so would be too unfair to Nan Zhiyun, and she would likely resent him.