Chapter 38 The baby was born.

The following year, in the warm spring of March, the grass grew and the orioles flew. The crabapple blossoms in the courtyard of the Glazed Pavilion were just beginning to bloom, a scene full of vitality. However, the atmosphere inside the palace was more solemn and warm than usual—the Crown Prince's concubine, Su Jingyu, was due to give birth in the next few days.

Su Jingyu's due date is just around the corner. The entire Eastern Palace and even the Imperial Palace are on high alert. The head of the Imperial Medical Academy, along with two renowned gynecologists, are on duty day and night outside the Liuli Pavilion. Experienced midwives and wet nurses are already prepared, and all necessary supplies are readily available. Crown Prince Xiao Jingzhan has even moved all his government affairs to a side hall of the Liuli Pavilion, staying by her side without leaving for a moment.

Late at night, Su Jingyu suddenly started.

When the contractions first started, Xiao Jingzhan was holding her as she slept lightly. He immediately woke up, gripped her hand tightly, and asked in a barely perceptible tremor, "Sweetie, are you about to give birth?"

Su Jingyu's forehead was beaded with sweat. She nodded, forcing herself to remain calm: "Yes... Your Highness, don't worry."

Xiao Jingzhan immediately called out, and the entire Liuli Pavilion was instantly illuminated. Well-trained palace servants busied themselves in an orderly fashion. Midwives and imperial physicians quickly took their positions. Xiao Jingzhan was asked to wait outside the delivery room, as was customary.

However, how could he wait outside with peace of mind? Hearing his beloved wife's suppressed cries of pain coming from inside, Xiao Jingzhan felt as if his heart was being torn apart, and every second was like torture.

His face was ashen, and he stood with his hands behind his back under the corridor. The chill emanating from him was even stronger than the ice and snow outside, which frightened the palace servants into silence, and they didn't even dare to breathe.

The Empress rushed over upon hearing the news. Seeing her son in such a state, she sighed and gently comforted him, "Zhan'er, this is how all women are when they give birth. With the imperial physicians and midwives here, Yu'er will surely be safe."

Xiao Jingzhan pressed his thin lips together, remaining silent, his gaze fixed on the tightly closed door.

Time ticked by, the sounds from inside the delivery room rising and falling. Xiao Jingzhan's fists clenched tighter and tighter, his knuckles turning white. Just as he was about to lose control and rush in, a loud, clear cry of a newborn baby shattered the tense silence like heavenly music!

"It's born! It's born! It's a little prince!" the midwife's joyful voice rang out. "Congratulations, Your Highness, Consort Liang! The little prince is chubby and fair-skinned, and incredibly handsome!"

Almost the instant the baby cried, Xiao Jingzhan rushed into the delivery room like an arrow! He didn't even have time to glance at his wrapped-up son before rushing to the bedside and tightly holding Su Jingyu's weak and powerless hand.

"Yu'er! Yu'er!" His voice was terribly hoarse, his eyes bloodshot and filled with immense panic and heartache. Su Jingyu was soaked to the bone, her face pale, her eyes closed in exhaustion, as if she had lost all her strength.

Hearing his call, she struggled to open her eyes, meeting his worried gaze, and weakly forced a smile: "Your Highness... the child..."

"The baby is fine, her cry is very loud." Xiao Jingzhan lowered his head and carefully kissed away the sweat on her forehead, his voice trembling with relief, "You've worked so hard, my dear... thank you..." A thousand words stuck in his throat, turning into a heart full of tenderness.

At this moment, the midwife, now fully prepared, carefully brought the swaddled baby over. Xiao Jingzhan then turned his gaze to the tiny infant. Upon seeing him, his eyes instantly filled with astonishment!

Although the child was newborn, unlike ordinary infants with red and wrinkled skin, his skin was fair and delicate with a healthy pink hue. His eyebrows and eyes were clearly defined, his nose was straight and delicate, and his small mouth was rosy. He even showed some resemblance to Yu'er, and was as beautiful as a celestial child under the seat of Guanyin!

"Your Highness, look how handsome the little prince is! In all my years of delivering babies, I have never seen such a beautiful newborn!" the midwife exclaimed.

An indescribable surge of emotion, a mixture of excitement, joy, and pride, instantly coursed through Xiao Jingzhan's body! This was his and Yu'er's child! Their flesh and blood!

He reached out his slightly trembling hand and carefully took the tiny, light yet heavy life from the midwife's arms, his movements clumsy yet incredibly gentle. He looked at his beautiful and adorable son in his arms, then at his weak but contented wife on the bed, his heart filled with immense happiness.

"My goodness, our child is so beautiful," he whispered, his voice so gentle it could melt your heart, as he gently placed the child beside Su Jingyu's pillow.

Su Jingyu turned her head and looked at the fair and beautiful baby beside her. Her eyes were filled with maternal tenderness and pride. She reached out her finger and touched his little face very gently.

The good news spread throughout the palace the following morning.

The emperor had just finished his morning court session when he heard this good news. He was overjoyed and immediately set off for the Eastern Palace!

The Emperor and Empress arrived together at the Liuli Pavilion. Looking at the exquisitely beautiful, fearless grandson with his large, bright eyes in the wet nurse's arms, the Emperor stroked his beard repeatedly with delight: "Excellent! Excellent! My grandson is indeed extraordinary! This child resembles his father and will surely surpass him in the future! Heaven blesses my Great Sheng!"

He personally took out a crystal-clear jade pendant with dragon patterns from his bosom, placed it in the swaddling clothes, and said loudly, "The eldest son of the Crown Prince is a great blessing to the country! I am very pleased and hereby bestow upon him the name Chengyu! May he be blessed by Heaven and shine brightly! May he bring glory to the Xiao family!"

He bestowed upon him the name "Chengyu"! This name carries profound meaning, demonstrating the emperor's high regard and expectations for his eldest son, the crown prince!

Immediately afterwards, lavish gifts were carried into the Glazed Pavilion like a flowing stream: ten bushels of pearls from the East Sea, ten sets of red gold headdresses, one hundred bolts of various colored tribute satins, countless rare medicinal herbs… The sheer abundance of the gifts was astonishing. The Emperor even decreed that Consort Su would henceforth enjoy double the allowances and the same ceremonial regalia as the Crown Princess!

This is the highest honor that can be bestowed under the current circumstances! Everyone in the palace understands that Consort Su's status is now as secure as a rock, thanks to her son, and her future is limitless.

The Empress held the little prince, doting on him, and gently comforted Su Jingyu, bestowing upon her many tonics.

When the imperial decree arrived, Xiao Jingzhan was personally feeding Su Jingyu ginseng soup spoonful by spoonful. After hearing the decree, a look of satisfaction flashed in his eyes, and he looked down at the person in his arms and said, "My dear, this is what you and Yu'er deserve."

Su Jingyu nestled in his arms, looking at her beautiful son sleeping peacefully beside her, feeling the emperor and empress's attention and her husband's wholehearted love, her heart filled with peace and contentment.

When the news spread, the reactions from the court and the harem varied. But regardless, everyone knew that with this highly anticipated young grandson in the Eastern Palace, the foundation of the nation was becoming increasingly stable.

The wet nurse carried the well-fed and sleeping grandson away to take good care of him. Xiao Jingzhan carefully washed his hands, dismissed all the palace servants, and only the two of them remained in the inner hall.

He walked back to the bedside, but did not sit down immediately. Instead, he bent down and carefully examined the person on the bed.