Little Treasure, I Hope the One Taken Is Sweet Dumpling

"That's impossible. I don't believe it—Sweet Dumpling couldn't have gotten into trouble!" (When I was pregnant with Rory, the Phoenixfield Heiress Brand saved me. How could it fail now?)

"I don't believe it, I don't believe it..." Serena's sobs were silent; she was utterly unable to accept it. Her precious daughter had vanished into thin air...

"Back to the Capital. We have to go now." The two of them didn't care about the wind or the rain, racing their horses all the way home...

But...

Whether it was Rory's skeletal figure or the ruins before them, everything told Prince Nolan and Serena that the news was true—their beloved daughter, Sweet Dumpling, was gone.

"Sweet Dumpling..." Staring at the pile of rubble in front of her, Serena felt waves of dizziness; her vision went black and she collapsed to the ground...

"Serena!" Prince Nolan rushed to catch her.

He was heartbroken too, but he knew Serena was suffering even more. He had been watching her closely, afraid she couldn't withstand the blow—and now, it had really happened.

"Mother..." At this moment, Rory couldn't care about his own grief. He rushed to Serena's side, shouting urgently, "Imperial physicians! Summon the imperial physicians, quick!"

"Mother, Lily is missing. You can't have anything happen to you. Please, don't scare me." Rory gripped Serena's hand tightly, refusing to let go.

If something happened to Mother again, he wouldn't be able to take it...

"Your mother will be fine." Prince Nolan was worried too, but at this moment he couldn't afford to collapse.

Father and son forced themselves to hold back their grief and worry as they carried Serena back to her chambers. Just then, the imperial physicians arrived, trembling under immense pressure as they stepped forward to take Serena's pulse...

Prince Nolan and Rory stared unblinkingly at the imperial physician. Though they said nothing, their presence alone was enough to terrify him—he kept slipping as he tried to take Serena's pulse...

Each time the imperial physician fumbled, the chill around Prince Nolan and Rory only grew heavier, making him even more nervous and prone to mistakes. This cycle repeated until, at last, the physician managed to calm himself and quietly felt Serena's pulse, only to discover...

"Huh? Did I get it wrong?" The imperial physician thought he was just too nervous, so he checked again, face grave.

Prince Nolan and Rory were on edge at his actions, their hearts in their throats. If they weren't worried the physician would be too frightened to treat Serena, they would have rushed over and demanded answers: What exactly was wrong with Serena?

The imperial physician was so focused on wrestling with Serena's pulse that he had no energy left to worry about Prince Nolan and Rory.

He checked again and again, but the result stayed the same...

"How strange..." The imperial physician stroked his beard, but kept silent. Prince Nolan and Rory grew anxious, unable to wait any longer. They demanded sharply, "What on earth is going on?"

With Sweet Dumpling missing and her fate unknown, Serena absolutely could not have anything else happen to her.

If anything else happened to Serena, Prince Nolan swore he would lose his mind!

Only then did the imperial physician snap out of it. He jumped up and hurriedly announced, "Your Majesty, the Empress is fine—she's just pregnant."

"What?" Prince Nolan and Rory were both stunned—not happy, just utterly shocked.

If not for Sweet Dumpling's disappearance, this would have been wonderful news. But now?

For some reason, they wanted to smile, but no matter what, they just couldn't—because of Sweet Dumpling's disappearance, this news brought them no joy at all...

If only Sweet Dumpling were here. She'd always wanted a little brother or sister—after so many years, Serena was finally expecting another child. But...

Sweet Dumpling was nowhere to be found. All the power of the Phoenixfield clan and the Lan clan meant nothing compared to her daughter.

The imperial physician, aware of palace matters, dared not say much. He only advised, "The Empress is grieving deeply and exhausted from the past few days. Her body is very weak. Your Majesty, please urge her to rest and take care—otherwise, the unborn child will be in danger."

Serena was no longer young, and at her age, pregnancy was already difficult. With Sweet Dumpling missing, Serena's mind and spirit were shattered—if this went on, she could easily miscarry.

When Serena was pregnant with Rory, the Phoenixfield Heiress Brand saved her. But this time, there is no such protection.

Damn the Phoenixfield Secret Realm. Damn the Phoenixfield Heiress Brand.