Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

Chapter 21 Little Radar! A Fetus Can Predict Dangers a Meter Away

Chapter 21: Little Radar! A Fetus Can Predict Danger from 100 Meters Away

The days slipped by as I practiced martial arts, studied medicine, and worked on detoxification.

Shen Qingci is five months pregnant.

Although it was tightly bound with strips of cloth and covered by loose old clothes, a closer look revealed a distinct curve. Lately, when Jinshu sews clothes, she makes sure to widen the waistline as much as possible.

"Your Majesty," she whispered as she threaded the needle, "in another month, I'm afraid we won't be able to keep it a secret anymore..."

Shen Qingci was sitting by the window, adjusting her breathing. Upon hearing this, she opened her eyes and gently placed her hand on her lower abdomen.

indeed.

At five months, the fetus was already moving. And the movements were becoming more frequent and stronger. Sometimes, she would be woken up in the middle of the night by a kick.

But strangely, the fetal movements these past few days seem... to be regular?

She noticed that the fetus was particularly active during the hours of Chen (7-9 AM) and You (5-7 PM).

Chenshi (7-9 AM) is when the morning court session ends and Nangong Ye returns to Yangxin Hall from Jinluan Hall.

At 5 PM, before the palace gates are locked, the last shift of guards changes shifts.

coincidence?

Shen Qingci took it to heart.

The next day at Chenshi (7-9 AM), she deliberately stopped practicing and focused on feeling her body.

really.

The little one inside me started moving. Not the random kicks and thumps from before, but rhythmic, rhythmic movements. Like… counting?

She walked to the window and looked out through the crack.

On the distant palace road, the outline of the ceremonial procession could be vaguely seen—it was indeed Nangong Ye returning from court.

The third day, at the hour of You (5-7 PM).

She waited by the window fifteen minutes early.

As the sun set, the sky was tinged with orange-red hues. The sound of orderly footsteps echoed outside the Cold Palace—the changing of the guard.

Almost simultaneously, the little one inside my belly started moving again.

This time it was even more obvious, as if reminding her: Mother, there are people outside.

Shen Qingci's heart skipped a beat.

A thought popped into her head that she found unbelievable.

Is it...

"Jinshu." She turned around.

"This servant is here."

"Go outside now and walk around the yard," Shen Qingci said. "Start from the gate and slowly walk deeper into the yard. Take three steps and stop, take five steps and stop again."

Although Jinshu was puzzled, she did as instructed.

Shen Qingci closed her eyes, placed her hand on her lower abdomen, and focused on feeling.

Jinshu stepped out of the house, her footsteps echoing in the courtyard.

One step, two steps, three steps...

Inside the belly, all was quiet.

Four steps, five steps, six steps...

It remained quiet.

Until Jinshu walked to the center of the courtyard, about ten feet away from the house—

"Thump."

A gentle kick.

It was very slight, but Shen Qingci could feel it.

She opened her eyes and looked out the window.

Jinshu stopped right in the middle of the courtyard and looked back.

"Keep going," Shen Qingci said. "Go to the corner."

Jinshu nodded and continued walking.

Seven steps, eight steps, nine steps...

The kicking started again.

This time it was clearer, as if the little one was saying: "Mom, she's gone far away."

Shen Qingci's heart raced.

She had Jinshu try a few more times.

We travel to different distances and stop at different locations.

The result shocked her—

"Jinshu slowly walked out of the door, one step, two steps... When she was about five or six zhang away, the little one in her belly moved slightly."

As they walked further forward, to a distance of about seven or eight zhang, there was another, even more noticeable kick.

When Jinshu reached the farthest corner of the courtyard—about ten zhang away—the fetus kicked several times, as if to say: "Mother, she's gone too far!"

"But Shen Qingci also discovered that this 'warning circle' is not fixed."

Sometimes he can sense things ten zhang away, and sometimes only five or six zhang. It seems to be related to Bao'er's state—his range is larger when he is awake and active, and smaller when he is sleepy.

If Jinshu walks back to within ten zhang (approximately 33 meters), the fetus will calm down.

It's like there's an invisible warning circle.

With her as the center, the radius is ten zhang.

The fetus will receive a warning if anyone enters this area.

"Your Highness?" Jinshu returned and, seeing Shen Qingci's pale face, asked worriedly, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Shen Qingci shook her head, her voice trembling slightly: "It's not that I'm uncomfortable... it's just... I'm so surprised."

She took Jinshu's hand and gently pressed it onto her lower abdomen.

Just then, the fetus moved again.

Jinshu's eyes widened: "Did the young master kick you again?"

"It wasn't a random kick," Shen Qingci said. "He was... issuing a warning."

"Warning?"

"Hmm." Shen Qingci recounted her discovery.

When Jinshu heard this, her mouth gaped open wide enough to fit an egg.

"Young...Young Master...can he sense someone outside?"

"It's not just a feeling," Shen Qingci's eyes lit up, "he can judge distance. Within ten zhang, it's safe. Beyond ten zhang, if someone gets close, he'll warn me."

This ability...

That's simply defying the heavens!

In an era without surveillance or alarms, what does it mean to have a "living radar" that can provide early warnings at any time?

This means she no longer has to live in fear and anxiety, worrying about someone sneaking up on her.

This means she can detect danger in advance and prepare accordingly.

This means... there's a greater chance of survival.

"Baby," Shen Qingci lowered her head, gently stroking her belly, her voice so tender it could melt water, "you're Mommy's little radar, aren't you?"

The fetus seemed to understand and kicked gently again.

It's like saying: Yeah, yeah, I'm awesome, right?

Jinshu's eyes reddened: "Young Master... this is protecting Her Majesty..."

Shen Qingci smiled.

This was the first time she had laughed so happily and relaxed since she transmigrated.

It wasn't a sneer, nor a bitter laugh; it was a genuine, heartfelt laugh.

As I laughed, tears began to fall.

"Silly child," she wiped her eyes, "you weren't even born yet, and you're already protecting your mother..."

The little one inside her seemed to sense her emotions and moved again, this time very gently, as if to comfort her.

In the following days, Shen Qingci conducted more experiments.

She discovered that the fetus's early warning ability was indeed very accurate.

However, it has several characteristics:

First, the fetus only reacts to "strangers." When people it frequently interacts with, such as Jinshu and Eunuch Li, enter the vigilance zone, the fetus remains quiet. However, if Wang Fu or the monitoring eunuchs approach, the fetus will immediately start kicking.

Secondly, the intensity of the reaction is related to the other party's "malice." The kick was the hardest when Wang Fu approached. An ordinary eunuch passing by would only give a light tap.

Third, the closer the distance, the stronger the reaction. If the other person walks directly to the doorway, the fetus will kick violently, as if shouting: "Mother! Danger! Run!"

fourth……

Shen Qingci discovered an even more astonishing fact.

Not only can fetuses provide early warnings, they can also... distinguish directions.

That afternoon, Wang Fu brought two eunuchs to "inspect" the area. In reality, they just walked around the courtyard to see if anything was amiss.

The fetus kicked as Wang Fu stepped into the yard.

Wang Fu was wandering around the yard. Shen Qingci closed her eyes and placed her hand on her stomach to feel carefully—when Wang Fu moved to the left, there was a slight twitching on her left side;

When you move to the right, there is a reaction on the right side.

Although it was impossible to know precisely which tree or location Wang Fu had reached, they were actually able to discern his general left and right directions.

She tried a few times and found that her sense of direction was also very vague.

If the baby moves directly in front or behind, the movements will be concentrated around the navel, making it difficult to distinguish between front and back. Only when the baby moves from side to side will the movement be more noticeable.

With her eyes closed, Shen Qingci leaned against the bed, able to "see" Wang Fu's movements in the yard simply by listening to the fetus's kicks.

Exactly.

"God..." she murmured to herself.

This is no longer a warning.

This is... live surveillance.

"Your Highness?" Jinshu asked softly, "Has Eunuch Wang left?"

"They've left." Shen Qingci opened her eyes. "They just left the courtyard."

Jinshu ran to the window and saw that, sure enough, Wang Fu's figure had just disappeared outside the courtyard gate.

"Young Master... truly amazing..." She turned around, looking at Shen Qingci's belly, her eyes filled with awe.

Shen Qingci lowered her head and gently placed her hand on her stomach.

There, the little guy finished his last kick and quieted down, as if he were resting after completing his task.

"Baby," she whispered, "thank you."

Thank you for coming to my side when I was most helpless.

Thank you for not minding that your mother is suffering from severe poisoning and her life is hanging by a thread, and for still trying so hard to help her.

Thank you for every kick, every warning.

Thank you too... for letting Mom know that she's not fighting alone.

The little one in my belly seemed sleepy; it moved slightly and then fell silent.

Shen Qingci leaned against the headboard and closed her eyes.

My mind was racing.

The fetus's early warning ability is one of her biggest trump cards right now.

But it is also the biggest risk.

Because this ability is so unique, once it's discovered...

She remembered what Eunuch Li had said: "Although a spirit is powerful, it is also prone to attracting trouble."

We must be careful.

It must be hidden.

It must not be exposed until at least before the child is born.

Just then, I heard very faint footsteps outside the window.

It's very light and steady; it's made by someone who has practiced martial arts.

Shen Qingci immediately became alert.

But the little one inside me... is very quiet.

No kick.

There was no warning.

She was taken aback, then realized—it was Eunuch Li.

Sure enough, the door was gently pushed open.

Grandpa Li walked in with a hunched back, carrying a small cloth bag in his hand.

"Your Majesty," he said in a low voice, "this old servant just... sensed a peculiar aura."

Shen Qingci's heart skipped a beat: "What aura?"

"It seems like..." Eunuch Li frowned, looking at her lower abdomen, "a fluctuation of spiritual energy."

He approached, carefully examined Shen Qingci's complexion, and then reached out to take her pulse.

A moment later, he withdrew his hand, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Your Majesty," he asked, "has the fetus recently... shown any unusual signs?"

Shen Qingci hesitated for a moment.

But looking into Eunuch Li's cloudy yet sincere eyes, she still told the truth.

He explained the fetus's early warning abilities in detail.

After listening, Eunuch Li remained silent for a long time.

Shen Qingci had been waiting for this long enough to think he would say something like "This child is unlucky" or "We must be careful."

But in the end, he just let out a long sigh.

"As expected," he murmured, "the spiritual talent... is beginning to awaken."

"Master," Shen Qingci said nervously, "Will this ability... harm him?"

"Not for now," Eunuch Li shook his head. "It's his instinct, like a bird can fly or a fish can swim. But..."

He paused, his expression serious: "Your Majesty must remember, this ability must never be revealed. Especially now, when Liu Ruyan is investigating the pregnant concubines. Once she finds out the fetus has this ability..."

He didn't say anything more.

But Shen Qingci understood.

Once she finds out, Liu Ruyan will definitely not let this child go.

They might even go to great lengths to... transform the fetus into some kind of evil entity.

"I understand," Shen Qingci nodded. "I will be careful."

Eunuch Li looked at her, then at her protruding belly, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes, but more than that, there was... determination.

"Your Majesty, rest assured," he said, "with this old servant here, no one can harm you and the young master."

He put down the cloth bag: "This contains a new medicine for preventing miscarriage. If Your Majesty takes it on time, it will help stabilize the fetus's spirit and also... conceal fluctuations in spiritual energy."

Shen Qingci took the cloth bag: "Thank you, Master."

Eunuch Li waved his hand and turned to leave.

When they reached the door, they stopped again.

He turned around, looked at Shen Qingci, and hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.

"Does Master have anything else to say?" Shen Qingci asked.

After a moment of silence, Eunuch Li slowly spoke: "Your Majesty, the growth of a spiritual body requires a large amount of spiritual energy. Relying solely on Your Majesty's internal strength and the power of the medicine is probably not enough."

"What should we do then?"

"We need..." Eunuch Li paused, "...rare and precious materials."

Shen Qingci gave a bitter smile.

She's in the Cold Palace now, unable to even get a hot meal, so where would she find rare and precious herbs?

"This old servant will find a way," said Eunuch Li, "but it may require... a trip outside the palace."

Leaving the palace?

Shen Qingci was stunned: "Master is leaving the palace?"

"It's only temporary," said Eunuch Li. "Go and find some medicinal herbs. It will take at least half a month, or at most a month. During this time, Your Highness must be extra careful."

Shen Qingci's heart tightened.

Eunuch Li was her greatest support in the palace.

If he leaves...

"When is Master leaving?" she asked.

"Three days later," said Eunuch Li, "when there is something happening in the palace and the guards are lax."

Shen Qingci bit her lip.

After a long pause, she nodded: "Take care on your journey, Master."

"Your Highness as well." Eunuch Li gave her a deep look. "Remember my words: conceal your talents, be patient, and take care."

After saying that, he hunched over and disappeared out the door.

Shen Qingci sat on the edge of the bed, her hand gently pressing on her stomach.

There, the little one seemed to sense her unease and stirred slightly.

It's as if it's saying: Mother, don't be afraid, I'm here for you.