Outside, I had a feeling that new kindness was fake, but I wanted to believe she might be genuine, especially with her baby coming soon, and for the sake of peace between her and the emperor.
Mei's arms wrapped around Bella's waist with practiced ease as she "stumbled," her grip surprisingly firm for someone claiming concern. "Careful now, dear. Your legs must be weak after so long in bed."
She guided Bella toward the balcony with deliberate slowness, keeping one arm draped possessively over her shoulders. "There now, just take small steps. The garden path is quite uneven in places."
Chang Hao watched from inside the chamber, his knuckles white where he gripped the windowsill. His jaw worked silently as he fought the urge to intervene physically.
"Physician Tanaka, stay close to them at all times," he commanded through clenched teeth. "Do not let her out of your sight for a single moment."
Tanaka nodded quickly and followed the pair onto the balcony, positioning himself slightly behind them to monitor both Empress and patient.
Mei steered Bella toward a stone bench nestled beneath a weeping willow tree.
Mei settled onto the stone bench with a graceful sigh, arranging her silk robes carefully over her expanding abdomen. "Oh, this pregnancy is becoming quite demanding already," she mused aloud, rubbing gentle circles on her belly. "The royal seamstresses have been working tirelessly on new maternity gowns - did you know they've even started designing miniature kimonos for the nursery?"
She glanced sideways at Bella's strained smile, her own expression dripping with feigned sympathy. "You must miss having babies of your own own so terribly. His Majesty keeps telling me how much he longs for children with you."
"Physician Tanaka tells me your womb may never carry again after that terrible ordeal. Your children being ripped out from you, so malicious.Such a tragedy for someone so young."
Mei's voice lowered conspiratorially as if sharing confidential information.
As she was speaking, one of her personal servants , walks up to us and whispers something into her ear. Mei smiles , then excuse her self and goes behind a tall statue at the corner. I don't know what drew me, but I felt the urge to see who she was talking to behind the statue. So with effort , I walked quitely, I couldn't see the face, but the voice, the voice struck me. "Yes , everything is almost ready Mistress". Was what the lady said .
The voice it sounded so horribly familiar to the voice of the woman, who ordered and watched as my babies were ripped out from me. I start to point, wo-man , b-abies, was all I could utter as I start to panic. Hearing me, the woman fled, while Mei rushed to me , pretending I was going mad.
"What are talking about? Who did you see?
she feigned ignorance as she asked me, repeatedly. I point hysterically at the the direction where the woman stood before.
Mei rushed forward with exaggerated alarm as Bella's hysterical pointing began, her hands flying to her mouth in mock horror. "Goodness gracious, Tanaka! She's losing her mind completely!"
Physician Tanaka hurried to Bella's side, his face creased with professional concern as he assessed her panicked state. "Miss Bella, what is it? Who did you see?"
Behind them, servants scattered nervously while Mei shouted dramatically toward the distant palace entrance. "Guards! Guards, someone fetch His Majesty immediately! Our poor concubine has fallen into madness!"
From behind the statue, a figure in dark servant's garb disappeared into the throng of people gathering in the garden. Meanwhile, Mei knelt beside Bella's trembling form with practiced theatricality.
"There now, darling, shh..." she crooned soothingly while simultaneously signaling one of her own ladies-in-waiting with subtle hand gestures.
B-abies, b-abies, I start to scream my voice sounding hoarse as I relive the dreadful day my babies were ripped out from me.
Mei's face contorted into a mask of horrified concern as Bella's screams echoed through the garden. "Stop this immediately!" she commanded sharply, grabbing Bella's shoulders and shaking her roughly. "You're frightening everyone with your delusions!"
Chang Hao burst from the palace doors at the sound of Bella's distress, his face pale with terror. "What happened? Why is she screaming like that?"
He pushed past servants and guards rushing toward the scene, his boots pounding against the stone path. Upon seeing Bella collapsed on the ground, convulsing with grief, he dropped to his knees beside her.
"Bella! Look at me!" he pleaded desperately, cupping her face in his hands. "Come back to me! Whatever you think you saw, it wasn't real!"
Physician Tanaka knelt opposite them, attempting to examine Bella's pupils while Mei hovered nearby wringing her hands dramatically.
"This is exactly what I feared,"
"Exactly what I feared would happen if you pushed her too hard,"Tanaka interjected stepping closer. "The trauma of losing her children has finally broken her mind completely. She's reliving the worst day of her life because of your insistence on bringing her outside."
Chang Hao ignored him completely, his entire focus consumed by Bella's convulsions. He gathered her trembling body against his chest protectively, rocking her gently as if she were a small child.
"It's alright, my love," he murmured urgently against her hair. "I'm here. You're safe now. Those monsters are gone."
His voice cracked with emotion as he glared accusingly at Mei over Bella's shoulder. "Get away from us! Your false sympathy is only making this worse!"
Physician Tanaka tried to intervene professionally. "Your Majesty, perhaps we should bring her back inside where it's quieter. Her heart rate is dangerously high."