With someone's help, she returned to the delivery room safely.

Xie Zhaozhao was in so much pain in the Wenhui Hall that she questioned the meaning of life.

I thought I would give birth quickly like Zhou Tangtang, but I've been in labor for over a day and still haven't given birth.

Each wave of pain surged like the Qiantang River tide, with irresistible power and destructive intensity, sweeping in wave after wave, one wave after another, without pause, seemingly without end.

Xie Zhaozhao gripped the bed curtains in pain, her knuckles turning white.

The news that Xie Zhaozhao was about to give birth had somehow leaked out.

On August 30th, both the old lady of the Xie family and Princess Changping requested to visit Xie Zhaozhao in the palace.

Xie Anfeng brought Chai Bo and Chai Shen to the palace and applied to help Xie Zhaozhao give birth.

Empress Xie kept everyone outside, saying that Xie Zhaozhao was doing well and had not yet given birth, but would inform them when she did.

The imperial physicians are all present; the local doctors and physicians do not need to come to the palace. Tell the Xie family not to worry.

In the afternoon, the people of the Earl's Mansion also heard the news: Gu Zheng was a man and could not enter the harem, but neither Madam Lu nor the Old Madam were qualified to enter the palace.

Mr. Lu was very anxious.

When I arrived at the Xie residence, I learned that the Xie family members had already gone to the palace to see Xie Zhaozhao.

Gu Zhongyu was displeased: "What does the Empress mean by this? Does she expect my third brother's child to be born in the palace?"

Lady Lu said, "The Empress and His Majesty mean well. It's so chaotic outside. Several princes have been killed. Our third brother is a high-ranking official and he's safe in the palace."

People from the Xie family came to see the emperor outside the palace. Empress Xie received the old lady Xie, Princess Changping, Xie Anfeng and others. Su Xiao once again made a decisive move to take Lu Feiyan out to give Emperor Hui acupuncture and detoxify him.

Lu Feiyan asked Emperor Hui if he had touched Di Yejia again. Emperor Hui said that he had never taken such a thing on his own initiative, and he had been more careful with his diet these past two days.

He didn't touch any of the dishes served in the palace, leaving them for Lu Feiyan to inspect.

What they actually ate were snacks that the secret guards had specially bought from outside the palace, and even the water they drank was the same water that Hanako and the others drank.

Looking at the various dishes, Lu Feiyan realized that Emperor Hui's meals were not actually too extravagant. In total, there were only a few dozen dishes and snacks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

She checked each item one by one, and finally, in a dish of "Drunken Battlefield" roasted meat, the strong aroma masked the addition of Seven Star Soul-Severing Powder. The amount was small, but it couldn't be hidden from Lu Feiyan.

There is a bottom in the soup bowl.

It wasn't found in any of the other dishes.

Emperor Hui's face turned ashen.

Lu Feiyan didn't care who poisoned her; she was only responsible for pointing it out.

She sincerely said to Emperor Hui, "Your Majesty, you are a great hero. In the past hundred years, almost no one who has been exposed to Di Ye Jia has been able to resist it. You are the first. Don't worry, you resisted it once yesterday, so you can resist it a second and a third time. As long as you resist it twice more, you will be considered to have quit."

Emperor Hui asked, "How is the Grand Secretary's wife?"

"She's about to give birth; I estimate she'll deliver around midnight tomorrow."

Tomorrow at midnight, which is tonight.

Xie Zhaozhao was unaware that Madam Xie, Princess Changping, and Xie Anfeng were requesting an audience outside the palace; Empress Xie had sealed off all information about them within the inner palace.

The contractions became more and more frequent, and the midwives from the Imperial Hospital arrived, saying that she was about to give birth and took Xie Zhaozhao into the delivery room.

They kicked out the homes of daughters like Yuanyuan and Lu Feiyan who had never given birth.

Empress Xie made meticulous arrangements for Xie Zhaozhao.

The waiting room and the delivery room are separate.

Two maids could stay with the baby in the waiting room, but servants, maids, and palace maids were strictly forbidden from entering the delivery room.

Even Empress Xie herself moved to the main hall because she had lost all her children and felt it was unlucky.

Only Liuli and the others were left to guard outside the Wenhui Hall, ready to step forward if needed.

Yuanyuan and Lu Feiyan were both worried. Yuanyuan cried and said, "Madam, this servant will go and beg Her Majesty the Empress to bring Aunt Chai into the palace."

Xie Zhaozhao shook her head, saying wearily, "No need..."

She's doing alright so far, so let's not drag Aunt Chai and Uncle Chai into this.

Empress Xie summoned all the imperial physicians specializing in gynecology, and she spared no expense in providing Xie Zhaozhao with things like thousand-year-old ginseng.

At the end of Hai hour, a commotion broke out outside Xingning Palace.

"His Majesty has arrived."

All the people from Xingning Palace went to greet him, and Empress Xie also went out and knelt on the steps to welcome Emperor Hui.

Emperor Hui was carried on a cot, covered with a thin blanket, leaving only his face exposed.

After alighting from the sedan chair, the imperial guards helped him into the main hall of Xingning Palace.

Empress Xie smiled and said, "It's so late, and His Majesty isn't feeling well. Why did you come out?"

"I've come to see Xie girl. Jingchen isn't here, so I've come to check on her..." He was truly unwell, panting heavily with every step.

He was helped in, and he had to rest twice on such a short distance.

Empress Xie supported him the whole time, touching his thin frame under his sleeves, but pretended not to feel anything.

Upon entering the hall, Empress Xie quickly helped him sit in a round-backed chair, placed a soft cushion on it, and covered his legs with a thin blanket.

"How is it? The baby hasn't been born yet?" Emperor Hui asked with a smile. "I've thought of a name for the child: Qiheng!"

Empress Xie smiled and said, "We don't know the baby's gender yet, but this name seems to be a boy's name."

Emperor Hui said, "It's good whether the first child is a boy or a girl."

While they were talking, the delivery room was in complete chaos.

"Madam, I can see the head! Push!"

"..."

The two midwives who were responsible for delivering Xie Zhaozhao's baby suddenly collapsed to the ground, for reasons unknown.

A familiar figure flashed in—it was Aunt Chai.

Xie Zhaozhao wasn't afraid; Long Liu had already told her that he would try to get Aunt Chai in.

Aunt Chai lifted a corner of her veil to show Xie Zhaozhao her face, then smiled and patted her hand.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!